Monrovia woman tries to keep it simple

Thompson launches events consulting firm

Thursday, April 27, 2006

Click here to enlarge this photo Tom Fedor⁄The Gazette Starting her own consulting business was ‘‘a scary experience,” says Filomena Thompson.

Thompson, 41, launched her own events consulting business, Events Made Simple, in February after leaving the Tech Council of Maryland, where she was director of information technology and advanced technology networks.

‘‘A couple of years ago I was thinking of starting my own company,” said Thompson, who runs her business out of her Monrovia home. Now was ‘‘just the time to do it.”

Two years ago, while still director of programs and operations for the Tech Council, Thompson registered her company name and researched the need for a company such as hers.

She took the plunge, she said, ‘‘when I felt comfortable starting my own business. It’s a scary experience, but if you don’t put your foot out there, you can’t do it.”

Thompson’s first major contract is with the mid-Maryland chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, a relatively new chapter of the association in its third year.

The contract calls for Thompson to be executive director, responsible for day-to-day operations and for growing the chapter’s membership.

Filomena M. Thompson Born in Lisbon, Portugal. Came to the United States at age 10. Graduate of Albert Einstein High School in Kensington. Lives in Monrovia with husband, David, and son, Jonathan, 14. Founded Events Made Simple in February.

Thompson’s pay will be based on how many members she enrolls, said chapter president Douglas Fauth, owner of Carriage Hill Cabinet Co. in Frederick.

‘‘She’s been doing a great job for us,” Fauth said. ‘‘If we had to make a decision today, I would say the [one-year] contract would be renewed.”

The chapter, with members from Frederick, Carroll and Howard counties, plus upper Montgomery and parts of Baltimore and Washington counties, was stuck on 30 members for about eight months, Fauth said.

‘‘We’re all volunteers running our own businesses,” he said. ‘‘To get the organization to grow, we decided to outsource.”

Thompson has already grown membership by more than 30 percent. Her goal is to reach 100 members and to reach out to the other counties that the chapter serves.

‘‘We haven’t held events in other counties,” Thompson said. The chapter has been having dinner meetings with a speaker about five times a year. ‘‘We would like to spread out to other counties surrounding Frederick with breakfast events.”

Thompson connected with the chapter after a friend, whose husband is a member, told her to check out a chapter event, she said.

‘‘I went to a board meeting and got involved in what they needed, set up my proposal” and landed the contract, Thompson said.

Not all members are in the remodeling industry, she said. Members include contractors, insurance companies, payroll service companies and banks.

‘‘Contractors need services as well,” she said.

The chapter is one of 53 nationwide. The association, headquartered in Des Plaines, Ill., traces its roots to the National Recovery Act of 1935, part of President Roosevelt’s New Deal. It took its current name in 1982, according to its Web site.

Helping business grow

When she was with the Tech Council, Thompson often organized its events. Earlier, she was the office services coordinator with the Montgomery County Department of Economic Development.

‘‘I think one of my loves in doing what I do is watching companies grow,” Thompson said. ‘‘It was neat to work with companies and watch them grow with one another. I want to [help companies] build on those relationships, I want [to help] small businesses grow [through relationships] with larger corporations.”

Her new business — a one-woman show — required what she called ‘‘a minimal investment.” She designed her own Web site and makes contacts by attending networking events held by groups such as Business Network International, the Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce and Women in Bio.

Thompson performs many of the same services for her clients that she did at the Tech Council, such as organizing events, including soliciting participants, selecting a site, registration and production. She also provides management services for nonprofits and small businesses.