History
Supporting entrepreneurs since 1985
Entrepreneur's Exchange, LLC started as an informal group in1985 when Nancy Badertscher and Carolyn Woodie met for lunch to discuss their goals for their personal businesses. They were taking a class at Anne Arundel Community College on how to start a small business. The two quickly realized that the discussions occurring provided them with the hope, encouragement, and invaluable business development support they had long missed.
The following month, they decided to invite another friend who had been in one of their courses. Discovering the value of diverse opinions and backgrounds, Nancy wrote a press release announcing the dates of future lunch meetings to other interested entrepreneurs. Quickly the group grew. Incorporation as a 501(c)6 non-profit association followed. The meetings offered by Nancy and her colleagues have become a valuable business development and supporting resource to many throughout the region.
Pat Troy launched Bay Media in 1989 and quickly joined EE. When Nancy left to take a position as Executive Director of the Bowie Chamber in 1993, Pat was asked to take over the management of EE. A few years later, Nancy joined Pat’s firm and for some years the two served as EE Co-Executive Directors.
Pat spun off Next Wave Group, LLC, an association management firm in 2000 and took it virtual in 2006. Next Wave Group continued to manage EE until 2011. Next Wave Group went on to develop a regional and national association management clientele. Nancy took a 10 year hiatus to care for her ill husband.
From 2011 through 2017, Karen Bailey ably provided administrative services to EE and during that time the organization added new educational programming and an active sponsorship program. Board member volunteers took on the executive management role.
In fall of 2017, EE board leaders contacted Pat and Nancy and asked them to consider once again collaborating to manage EE. They agreed to do so under the auspices of Next Wave Group, LLC and held a reorganization reception in November of 2017. By January 2018, a new board of directors was in place. The board selected Brio in Annapolis Town Center at the new luncheon venue and has gone about the process of reframing the organization to meet the needs of modern entrepreneurs.
The next chapter is EE’s life has begun. An energized board and seasoned management have joined forces to take EE to new levels.