The partners and associates of Meridian care deeply about the communities we serve and the world we live in. On this page you’ll find a curated selection of the causes, culture, events, organizations and people we’re excited about. Stop by frequently for the latest additions.
Culture
Nudge by Thaler and Sunstein — A fun read, Nudge is all about choices, how our brain is wired to decide, and how we can make better choices. The financial chapter is interesting, showing how often our minds can work against our own best interests.
Lies About Money by Ric Edelman — If we were going to write a book on money and investing, it would look a lot like Ric’s. Granted, his tone is a bit forward sometimes (we’d be gentler…), but he speaks the truth.
Retire Right: 8 Traits of Highly Successful Retirees by Fraunfelder and Gilbaugh — Interestingly, we’ve seen the proof of this book with our own clients. Dr. Fraunfelder and Dr. Gilbaugh both lay out eight great characteristics that generally lead to a happy and successful retirement.
Flash Boys: A Wall Street Revolt by Michael Lewis — Best known for books like the Big Short and Moneyball, Michael Lewis takes aim at Wall Street in Flash Boys. A true story, the books heroes discover the stock market is rigged and decide to do something about it. Sarah was able to hear Brad Katsuyama speak at a conference, and his stories about the dark pools of Wall Street are truly disturbing.
Fortune's Children: The Fall of the House of Vanderbilt by Arthur T. Vanderbilt, II — Sarah was inspired to read this after a visit to the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina. The vast wealth of the Vanderbilt family was earned in two generations, then wasted by the next several. A rags to riches to rags story…
The Opposite of Spoiled: Raising Kids Who Are Grounded, Generous, and Smart About Money by Ron Lieber — Near to our hearts: how to raise kids that are financially savvy, yet are also generous and value what they have. This book lays out practical tips for any parent who wants to instill money smarts in their child.
Washington Capitals - “The Washington Capitals (often shortened to Caps) are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL) .”—From wikipedia.com
Events
First Friday – We love being a part of a Main Street community. What a unique privilege to stroll the streets of Old Town, shopping, eating, being entertained with musicians, artists, wine tastings…Warrenton’s First Fridays are a fun family night out on the town.
Twilight Polo – Bring a blanket and a picnic basket, and enjoy arena polo under a beautiful summer sky!
Barrel Oak Winery – A true “third place”—a destination other than home and work, where you can settle in and enjoy time with family and friends. We enjoy this winery and the beautiful Piedmont countryside that can be viewed from it!
Give Local Piedmont – It’s a one day giving extravaganza—usually in early May. In 24 hours, our community rallies to raise funds for local non-profits. Last year over $1 million was raised!
Old Town Warrenton Spring Festival – A one-day craft fair that draws 25,000-30,000 people from around the region, rain or shine. Main Street transforms into a fun festival featuring more than 250 artisans and crafters, food vendors, and entertainers offering something to please everyone in the family. Bring the kids and dogs and enjoy!
Warrenton Town Limits – This event takes place on the first Friday in July from 4pm until the fireworks conclude at dark. Put on by the Town of Warrenton, this free family event draws craft vendors, food trucks, and nonprofit information tables. A great way to kick off the summer stretch!
Great Meadow Independence Day Celebration – This is the place to go if you are looking for more than just fireworks as there are a huge variety of children's activities to participate in. Past activities include: rock wall for climbing, pony rides, moon bounces, and a giant rain machine! Leading up to the amazing fireworks display, you can also see a choreographed helicopter air performance, polo exhibitions, and rocketry demonstrations.
The Great Pumpkin Ride – It is a scenic bike ride through the beautiful fall countryside of Fauquier County. We enjoy participating in it each year!
People
Harmony Crew – This crew helped us craft the look and feel of our brand! We couldn’t be more pleased with how they interpreted what was in our minds and created a beautiful logo and website.
Jen Dowell Photography – We love working with Jen for our office and website photos. She can not only make all of us look amazing, but she also works well with our children!
Forward Communication – Frannie Barnes helps us manage our presence on social media.
Talk 19 Media – These guys work hard to provide affordable and quality marketing services for small businesses. All of our videos have been produced with the help of Talk 19 Media and we couldn’t be happier with the final product!
Shari Jaeger Goodwin – Shari’s innovative business coaching helped us define Meridian and gather the courage to launch. We are deeply indebted to her bold leadership.
SoBo Mobile – SoBo Mobile catered our Grand Opening event in April of 2016. We absolutely loved working with them. Rebecca and Bo provide amazing service, are easy to work with, and not to mention their Mexican food is to die for! The dishes are made fresh, with the meat and some produce taken directly from their farm!
Allen Wayne –We recently worked with them to create new advertisements for us and found the process to be smooth, professional, and delightful.
Organizations
The Boys & Girls Club – We love our local boys and girls club as it provides a safe place for kids to learn and grow, experience life-enhancing programs and character development, ultimately allowing the local children of Fauquier to reach their fullest potential.
Lord Fairfax Community College – As Dr. Cheryl Thompson-Stacy will tell you, studies have shown communities that have a community college have less crime, brighter job markets, and a strong and thriving local economy. We love LFCC for the amazing diversity and wide array of programs, all taught by deeply caring and invested staff. LFCC truly helps their students succeed.
Leadership Fauquier – Sarah’s project for several years, Leadership Fauquier is designed to give community leaders the tools, knowledge, and connections they need to make a positive impact in our community. Each year, Leadership Fauquier has a new class, that learns various aspects of the public, private, and non-profit sectors of the county, meet the local experts in each field, and learn how they all work together to make Fauquier County a place where people want to live and work. The classes integrate leadership skill sets at every session, allowing participants to graduate from the program not only with a broad understanding of the community, but also with a toolbox of practical leadership skills to be used in their current role. We love Leadership Fauquier! We believe in what it offers our community.
Didlake - Didlake strives to positively impact the lives of people with disabilities, with the mission of: “Creating opportunities that enrich the lives of people with disabilities.” Didlake is a provider of contract services and rehabilitative services. This organization reaches out to people with disabilities in Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia, serving individuals with developmental disabilities as well as a wide variety of other disabilities such as: autism, visual impairments, hearing impairments, mental illness, physical disabilities, substance abuse/addiction and traumatic brain injury. –From didlake.org/about
We are proud to be active with Didlake!
Evergreen Country Club - “Located in Haymarket, Evergreen Country Club is one of the leading private membership clubs in Northern Virginia. Known for its challenging, beautifully maintained golf course, Evergreen offers a full range of recreational and social amenities as well. With an atmosphere of unhurried tranquility and pristine beauty, this jewel at the foot of Bull Run Mountain offers a breathtaking backdrop to a charmed way of life.”—From evergreencc.org
It is one of Nathan’s favorite places to golf!
Cafe Torino - “Andrea and Amber Ferrero at Café Torino set up a family style restaurant that actively engages each customer in Torino energy. Rarely can you find a restaurant that encourages an open atmosphere and sharing conversations among separate tables. This encouragement helps make relationships among customers, creating a Torino Family.”—From cafetorinoandbakery.com/about-us
Hylton Center - “Hylton Performing Arts Center entertains, educates, and enriches the Northern Virginia community by providing diverse and accessible arts experiences in state-of-the art venues. The Hylton Performing Arts Center will be the creative commons of a vibrant region, inspiring the community to express its voice by participating in the Center's work as artists, audiences and lifelong learners.”—From hyltoncenter.org/about