Discover how Chris Peden’s FACT Maps help entrepreneurs uncover hidden financial challenges, tackle misconceptions, and make smarter decisions to drive sustainable business growth.
Building a successful business takes more than passion and hard work—it requires a clear understanding of one’s financial health. Chris Peden, a financial consultant with years of experience helping businesses thrive, shares insights into how his FACT Maps empower entrepreneurs to uncover hidden financial challenges and chart a path to success.
Facing Financial Realities with FACT Maps
“Sometimes, you need to slow down and see where you are,” says Chris. His FACT Maps address the fears that keep business owners awake at night. “We sit down and go through business and personal fears to make sure everything is out in the open,” Chris explains. From assessing cash flow and net worth to addressing debts, the process lays a foundation for growth by providing a clear picture of the current financial state.
Peden emphasizes the importance of starting with the present before moving into future planning. “You have to start with where you are first,” he advises, “then you can move into building the business you truly want.”
Addressing Common Misconceptions About Cash Flow and Profitability
One of Chris’s biggest challenges is helping business owners understand that profit and loss statements don’t tell the full story. “A lot of things don’t show up on a profit and loss statement,” Chris explains, citing taxes and loan principal payments as examples. His approach factors in these additional obligations to prevent surprises like a client’s unexpected $50,000 tax bill.
By looking beyond basic financial metrics, Chris ensures his clients are prepared for all aspects of their financial responsibilities. “We make sure these factors are accounted for so that you’re not blindsided,” he says.
Empowering Better Decisions Through Financial Awareness
Understanding the full financial picture isn’t just about solving problems—it’s about making better decisions. Chris recalls a client who wasn’t tracking the return on investment from their advertising. “I told them to ask, ‘For every dollar I spend with you, how much money do I get back?’ If the answer isn’t clear, it’s time to reconsider,” he advises.
This simple yet powerful approach enabled the client to make informed decisions and prioritize spending that directly benefited their bottom line. Chris’s advice is clear: “Ask the tough questions and focus on what really drives your business forward.”
With his FACT Maps, Chris Peden helps business owners face their financial realities, correct misconceptions, and build confidence in their decision-making processes. His practical insights ensure entrepreneurs are equipped to achieve sustainable growth while avoiding costly pitfalls.
Ready to take control of your business finances? Contact Chris Peden at Peden Accounting Services by calling 703-967-1948 today to get started with a FACT Map tailored to your unique needs.
Owning rental property can be a great investment, but maximizing rental income can be challenging without the right expertise. Freedom Property Management, led by Principal Broker and owner Tiffany Izenour, is dedicated to delivering top-notch property management solutions that increase rental income while ensuring smooth day-to-day operations for property owners. Tiffany and her team bring a wealth of experience, employing data-driven strategies to help clients achieve their investment goals.
Optimizing Rental Pricing
At Freedom Property Management, determining the best rental price is both an art and a science. “We analyze current market trends, neighborhood data, and specific property features to set a price that’s both competitive and attractive to high-quality tenants,” Tiffany explains. This approach ensures that properties are leased quickly and owners aren’t missing out on potential income. Freedom’s team continuously monitors the market to adjust pricing as needed, always staying one step ahead to maintain high occupancy rates.
A Success Story: Income Growth for Property Owners
One of the most significant rewards for Freedom Property Management is helping owners realize the full potential of their investments. Tiffany recalls a recent success: “We had a client managing their property independently and facing high vacancy rates. After coming on board with us, they saw a 20% increase in their annual rental income, just from our strategic adjustments to the rental pricing and leasing approach.” This success story is just one example of how Freedom’s expertise can significantly boost property income, transforming an underperforming asset into a solid revenue generator.
Efficient Tenant Turnover for Consistent Profitability
Freedom Property Management recognizes that tenant turnover can impact profitability if not managed well. “We have a structured process in place to handle tenant turnover seamlessly, from conducting timely inspections to promptly addressing repairs and marketing vacancies. Our goal is to minimize downtime and keep properties profitable year-round,” says Tiffany. With a network of trusted vendors and an efficient turnaround system, Freedom ensures that properties are re-rented quickly, maintaining a steady income for owners.
About Freedom Property Management
Located in Manassas, Freedom Property Management provides comprehensive property management solutions to the Northern Virginia community. Led by Tiffany Izenour, Freedom is known for its proactive approach and commitment to delivering the best possible outcomes for property owners. Whether it’s pricing strategy, tenant retention, or property upkeep, Freedom Property Management ensures each property is professionally managed with an owner-focused approach. The team prides itself on being highly responsive, dependable, and dedicated to maximizing each client’s investment.
For more information on how Freedom Property Management can help you achieve your rental property goals, visit freedompm.com.
This year RSVP Catering is making it easier than ever to enjoy a luxurious Thanksgiving feast, delivered right to your door.
Whether you’re hosting an intimate gathering for five or a larger group of ten, we’ve got the perfect menu to suit your celebration. Reach out today, and we’ll ensure your Thanksgiving is effortless and delicious!
Customize your meal with our Thanksgiving Family Meal & Fixings option, where you can choose between an Herb-Roasted or Honey-Citrus Glazed Turkey, accompanied by four decadent sides. Enjoy our traditional favorites like Creamy Mashed Potatoes, Sage & Turkey Sausage Cornbread Stuffing, and Maple Sweet Potato PurĂ©e. Every order is thoughtfully prepared and includes our signature Turkey Gravy, Cranberry Orange Relish, and a selection of Homemade Rolls and Biscuits — ensuring your table is set for an unforgettable Thanksgiving.
Looking for something a bit more rustic for your potluck or gathering? Impress your guests with our Pomegranate Roasted Root Vegetables or the vibrant Fall Harvest Salad featuring Roasted Delicata Squash, Pickled Cranberries, and Cider Vinaigrette.
Of course, no Thanksgiving is complete without a hit at the kids’ table — our Ultimate Mac and Cheese is always a crowd-pleaser. When it’s time for dessert, why not skip the stress and savor the sweetness? Treat yourself to our homemade Pumpkin Chiffon Pie or Bourbon Pecan Pie, each one a perfect, mouthwatering finale to your holiday feast.
Orders must be placed by Friday, November 22nd, at 5 p.m., and we’ll deliver your feast—complete with heating instructions—up until 1 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.
As December approaches, don’t forget that holiday entertaining is our specialty. Whether you’re planning an elegant office party or a cozy at-home celebration, RSVP Catering offers exquisite menus that are sure to impress.
Check out our Holiday Menu and contact us today to plan a festive event your guests will remember!
As the holidays approach, Dixie Bones extends a heartfelt “thank you” for your support through rising food costs. We’re grateful to continue serving you, offering the best possible prices to make your celebrations special. Whether you’re planning a family feast or a small gathering, we’ve got everything you need to make the holidays deliciously memorable.
Holiday Ordering & PickupÂ
From savory holiday entrees to classic Dixie Bones BBQ, you can order any item individually or as part of a full meal to suit your holiday needs. Don’t forget to include dessert – our homemade pies, cobblers, and bread pudding with caramel sauce make a perfect finishing touch!
Special Pie Deal – Only $20.95 for Pre-Orders!
Pre-order any of our pies for just $20.95 to pick up on:
– Thanksgiving: Nov. 25 – Nov. 27
– Christmas: Dec. 23 – Dec. 24
– New Year: Dec. 30 – Dec. 31
Pre-order your favorites by these dates to guarantee availability; otherwise, pies will be sold at the regular price on a first-come, first-served basis.
Order & Pickup Deadlines
Thanksgiving
– Order By: Food by Sun, Nov. 24 | Pies by Mon, Nov. 25
– Pickup: Tues, Nov. 26 (10 am-7 pm) | Wed, Nov. 27 (10 am-8 pm)
– Closed Thanksgiving Day
Christmas & New Year
– Order By: Food by Sat, Dec. 21 & 28 | Pies by Sun, Dec. 22 & 29
– Pickup: Dec. 24 & Dec. 31 (before 4 pm)
– Closed Christmas & New Year’s Day
Skip the holiday stress and let Dixie Bones handle the cooking. Order early to enjoy a hassle-free, flavor-packed holiday season!
Uriah’s note: Welcome to another installment of our History and Heritage Feature Series, which was made possible through the support of Sentara. This series celebrates the rich cultural heritage and history of Prince William County, Stafford County, Manassas, Manassas Park, and Fredericksburg.
Through articles on crucial historical events, profiles of notable landmarks, and personal stories from residents, we aim to connect you to the past meaningfully. Sentara’s commitment to community involvement helps bring these stories to life, preserving our region’s heritage for future generations.
Thank you for supporting local journalism.
In Fredericksburg, there are a couple of newspapers and radio stations but no local television station. Residents must rely on TV broadcast signals from Washington, D.C., or Richmond, beaming from as far as 53 miles and 58 miles away, respectively.
However, in the early 1970s and mid-1980s, a couple of entrepreneurs took a stab at bringing local broadcast TV to Fredericksburg. In October 1973, WHFV-TV was launched from a building of the current-day TV Drive just off Patriot Highway. The tower is still there.
“It was local, board meetings and stuff like that,” said one of the staff at the Spotsylvania Animal Shelter, which sits across the street from the old TV station and tower. “Used to be in that building…” they said, pointing to a tower right across TV Drive from the shelter. Another member of the staff named Natalie “used to do one of the worker’s hair,” when she dabbled as a hair stylist.
Captain Willy Tydings works in the shelter and remembers his stint at the Rappahannock Cable Company or RCCTV in the mid-1980s. “I remember being on that station when I was a young man,” he said, remembering his role as a representative for the Future Farmers of America he said.
Delegate Bobby Orrock (R-66) was the newscaster at RCCTV and remembers rushing from one job, changing into a coat and tie and dashing into his studio. “I did the evening news for four to six months,” he said, “we never had a large audience.”
The lead sentence in a Free Lance-Star article dated October 8, 1973, states, “Telecasting will begin today by WHFV-TV, an NBC-affiliated television station in Fredericksburg.” It had a local news show called “Newswatch,” and the program director, Monty Smith, quoted it. It mentioned the 499-foot transmitting tower on Hudgins Road, still standing today. In addition to Fredericksburg, it covered Stafford, Spotsylvania, Caroline, and King George counties.
Another Free Lance-Star article, dated December 18, 1974, stated that an evangelist, Chris Panos, was slated to buy that station. Panos was working with executives from the KVRL station in Houston, namely Marvin Picard. While in town, Picard was interviewed by the then-news director Tom Delancy, and Picard discussed a plan to keep the station in operation.
On Wikipedia, the station was listed as WHFV TV 69. It started in 1973 but only lasted until 1975, when it “found itself in debt and losing money. “
Fredericksburg has dabbled with the television station idea several times since the early 1970s. In May 1971, an application was filed to create a UHF station; in 1976, another application was filed to start WNVI, but it was unclear what happened to them. In March 1981, more station efforts went forward, and in 1984, plans were made for another Channel 69 station, which ended up being RCCTV. However, the ads could not support it, so it folded after a few years.
In October 1976, the empty television station building on Hudgins Road was slated to become a media center for various churches. “Media center” was a common term used at that time when libraries expanded by carrying many electronic means too. This effort was led by Tower Ministries and included rooms for the churches for meetings, banquets, counseling with food, and piped-in gospel music. Now TV Drive has the animal shelter, a few car repair shops, and a 499-foot, red and white tower as a reminder of the local stations that once gave it a try.
The holiday season is fast approaching and with Thanksgiving arriving later this month, December will be here before you know it. Before you’ve even packed away the turkey carving knife and gravy boat, it’ll be time to start planning your holiday party.
But don’t worry — contact RSVP Catering, and we’ll take care of all your holiday celebration needs!
The end of the year is full of festive celebrations, and whether you’re planning an intimate family gathering or an impressive company holiday party there’s a lot to consider, but with RSVP Catering by your side, you can relax and enjoy the process.
As one of the region’s premier catering services, trusted by both corporations and wedding planners, RSVP offers a wide range of elegant menus for in-home parties and off-site corporate events. Whatever your budget, RSVP Catering ensures your celebration is seamless, sophisticated, and stress-free.
If you’re looking to design a custom menu that reflects your style or prefer one of RSVP’s chef-curated prix fixe reception menus, RSVP Catering has options that suit every need. You focus on what to wear, and let us worry about the rest.
Just a few standout items from this year’s Holiday Menu include the savory Sunday Parm Station with crispy chicken cutlets and creamy Stracciatella, our festive Bubble Bar cocktail station to keep your spirits high, and the indulgent Chocolate Grazing Table filled with holiday chocolates and house-made confections. And for dessert lovers, you won’t want to miss the Melt-A-Way Tiramisu Bar or our fan-favorite Build Your Own Sicilian Cannoli Cart — you might just need to have both!
If you’re planning a holiday celebration at home or in the office, RSVP Catering is ready to bring the magic to your table. Let us handle the details so you can enjoy every moment of the season.
Dear Readers,
We are excited to present to you the second installment of our History and Heritage Feature Series, sponsored by Sentara. This special series celebrates the rich cultural heritage and history of Prince William County, Stafford County, Manassas, Manassas Park, and Fredericksburg.
We will delve into the historical events, landmarks, and personal stories that have shaped our communities. From in-depth articles on significant historical milestones to spotlights on notable landmarks and engaging oral histories from long-time residents, our series aims to connect you with the past in a meaningful and enlightening way.
We are proud to partner with Sentara, a name synonymous with community involvement and support. Sentara’s sponsorship helps make this series possible, allowing us to bring these important stories to you while highlighting their commitment to preserving our local history.
Join us as we explore the places, events, and people that tell the story of our region’s past. Understanding our history is crucial to building a better future and maintaining the rich traditions that define us.
Thank you for your continued support of local journalism.
Uriah Kiser
Founder & Publisher
Potomac Local News
Annaburg Manor Unveils First Phase of Renovations, Opens to Public
This Saturday, the City of Manassas will celebrate the ribbon cutting for the newly renovated Annaburg Manor, a historic estate built in 1892 by the Portner family. Once a nursing home and hospital, the manor was purchased by the city in 2019 with the vision of transforming it into a public park. After years of renovations, the first phase of the project is complete, opening the grounds to the public.
Mary Helen Dellinger, Curator at the Manassas Museum, spoke about the challenges the city faced while restoring the manor. “The single biggest challenge for us was that there were no architectural plans showing what the building looked like before. We don’t know what the inside of it looked like during Portner’s time; we only have pictures of the outside,” Dellinger explained. Changes made by previous owners complicated efforts to determine which parts of the house were original and which were later additions. To aid the process, the city worked with Portner’s descendants and used old photographs.
The restoration of Annaburg Manor was more of a renovation than a true historical restoration, according to Dellinger. “The home was in rough shape. There was mold, debris, and old systems that needed to be replaced,” she said. While they chose not to fully restore the home to its original 1892 condition, the team aimed to stay as faithful as possible to its historic design.
One notable feature of the renovation is the addition of a fountain to the manor’s grounds. While the original fountain was custom-cast and could not be replicated, a new fountain was installed that pays homage to the original water feature. “It’s not the exact sculpture that was there, but I think it’ll make the house look nice and is a nod to the original fountain,” Dellinger noted.
Beyond the structural renovations, the project aims to enhance the community’s green spaces. “One of the things we heard from the community was that there was nowhere in that area of town that was walkable,” Dellinger shared. Annaburg Manor is expected to provide much-needed green space where locals can relax and enjoy nature.
Looking ahead, there are plans for further development. While the public will initially only be able to tour the grounds, Dellinger hinted at future events and rental opportunities. “You’ll be able to rent the space for any kind of event,” she said, adding that the manor’s spacious porch would make it a picturesque wedding venue, with meetings and other gatherings possible inside the house.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, October 19, at 9201 Maple Street, Manassas.
In this Local Business In Focus, we talked with Cristian Abrigo, operations manager at NV Waterproofing & Foundation Repair. Call them today at 703-690-3889 or nvwaterproofing.com for all your wet basement solutions, foundation repair, crack repair, drainage systems, and new home waterproofing needs.
Cristian Abrigo, Operations Manager at NV Waterproofing & Foundation Repair, emphasizes addressing home repair issues promptly to prevent them from escalating. He shared experiences from his fieldwork that highlight why timely intervention is crucial.
Abrigo recounts instances where minor issues became major problems due to delays in addressing them. “That happens far too often. Homeowners deal with these issues, and they hope that maybe it can go away at some point,” he explained. This common procrastination can lead to severe complications that significantly increase the scope and cost of repairs needed.
Discussing a memorable case, Abrigo detailed a scenario where a small leak led to the discovery of a much larger issue. “A waterproofing insulation. It’s a completely finished basement, so they can’t see what’s behind the drywall. They experienced water coming in and didn’t think too much of it because, unfortunately, it’s water coming in, but we’ll let it lie, and then they finally decided to do something.
While we were cutting that drywall to expose the area behind it, we found massive foundation issues, so much so that not only was water coming through the foundation wall, but dirt and silt from the outside was coming through,” Abrigo recalled. This example illustrates the potential risks of neglecting seemingly minor issues.
NV Waterproofing’s approach to inspections and consultations is to educate homeowners about the issues and the potential consequences of inaction. “So it definitely does come off a little bit as a consultant because, for us, the biggest thing is education. We want the homeowner, whoever we’re dealing with, to understand what is going on, I mean, you’re not going to make this larger investment Unless you fully understand what the issue is and how we’re going to address that,” Abrigo stated.
By conducting thorough inspections and sitting down with homeowners to discuss findings, NV Waterproofing ensures that clients are fully informed and can make educated decisions about how to proceed with repairs.
“I advise the customer on what I would handle based on my expertise. This is something that I noticed during my inspection that maybe you didn’t flag as super what you called us out here for, but for example, installing downspout extensions to prevent foundation issues from happening in other areas,” said Abrigo, highlighting the company’s proactive approach to preventing further damage.
Through education and detailed consultations, NV Waterproofing helps homeowners understand the importance of prompt action, thereby safeguarding their properties and avoiding more extensive issues in the future.
The Office of Historic Preservation serves as stewards of County-owned historic structures, cultural and natural resources, historic landscapes, and artifacts.
