Chamber Insider Blog

Thank you to Carolyn Dobson, of Evergreen Sportsplex. Congratulations again!
Register here for the Small Business Awards on November 2, 2017. 

1. Tell us your story of how your company got to where it is today?

Our story began four years ago when the 44-acre hay farm where CroppMetcalfe Park at Evergreen Sportsplex now sits, was being converted into a sports destination to meet the increasing demand in the county for youth rectangular fields.

Evergreen Sportsplex is privately owned and during the initial planning phases, it was decided that this complex needs to be more than a few fields, fence and a concession stands. The concept of making this THE premier destination for sports, events and adventure in Northern Virginia, as well as the place where the athlete is more than just an athlete, took shape as the facility grew.

Just four short years later, CroppMetcalfe Park at Evergreen Sportsplex has Four FIFA certified fields, a 24,000 square foot pavilion with the best BBQ, RESQ Grille as our onsite food provider, a Wellness Center, Adventure Park with Zip-lines, rock walls and ropes course, a cross country path, a business and nonprofit partnership family, one of the fastest growing lacrosse clubs in the area, Evergreen Lacrosse, a youth American football club, The Evergreen Hammers and finally, the addition of  the FC Barcelona Soccer Escola which officially opened September 2017.

With our mission to create the next community leaders by focusing on our athletes health and wellness, nutrition, strength and conditioning, as well as helping them to be just as good or better in the classroom as you are on the field, giving them the confidence to succeed as an athlete and as a student and finally introducing our kids to local nonprofits so they can volunteer and give back through our Evergreen Cares program, is why we are so proud of being the 2016 Innovative Business of the Year for Loudoun County and the 2018 Nominee for Small Business of the Year.

2.  What would it mean to you and your company to win Small Business of the Year?

Winning Small Business of the Year would be such an honor to be included in the same category of the previous winners; business that set an amazing example of team work, innovative and community service.

3.  If you weren’t running your own business/working at this business, what would you be doing?

I have always had a passion for writing so if I wasn’t part of Evergreen and won the lottery I would love to write children’s books.

4.  What book are you reading right now? / What is your favorite book?

I am reading The Power of Habit: Why We Do What we Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg

5. If you have 24-hours off, and your family was out of town, what would you do?

Get together with my girlfriends and head to a local winery or two….maybe three.

6.   What is the smallest thing that has made the largest impact on your business?

It sounds simple and small, but ensuring people meet me here at the sportsplex. We are such a different product, that when you talk about a youth athletic facility, most don’t envision this complex.

7.  What did you want to be when you grew up as a child?

My parents still think this is hilarious…I wanted to be a crossing guard. I liked how she had control over the safety of the kids and could stop cars.

8.  Who is the one person that has influenced you the most in your career?

My father. He never gave up on anything. He is one of those people that always found a solution to the problem; even if the solution was to change your direction to change your trajectory. And he always had something funny or a story to tell to make you laugh during the most stressful days to put everything into perspective. I truly admire him and will always be daddy’s girl.

9.  What is your favorite thing about running a business in Loudoun County?

I LOVE helping other business owners, businesses, and brain storming with partners of Evergreen, the Chamber staff and members….getting to be creative with such talented people is amazing and it can put a new perspective on what they are doing and in turn what you are doing. Collaboration is such a core belief for me.

10.  If you’re not in the office where can we find you?

Hahaha…well a lot of the time I am still at “my office” since my son plays club soccer and plays at Evergreen for games. Other than that, Lake Anna during the summer and when local, usually in Western LoCo with friends at a local spot.

11.  What is your favorite weekend activity in Loudoun County?

Spending time checking out all of the local spots; farmers markets, restaurants, wineries, breweries and everything in between.

 Thank you to Carolyn Dobson, of Evergreen Sportsplex. Congratulations again!
Register here for the Small Business Awards on November 2, 2017.