West Nova News

On being nominated for the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce's 2021 Leadership Awards, Erin Lombardi, owner and operator of EL Strategic, said that she was "beyond humbled."

While Lombardi quickly demonstrates her ability to convey a brand identity even in describing her business, she told the West Nova News that she was appreciative of being one of the four individuals nominated for the Young Professional category.

With experience both previously as an entrepreneur and, most recently, the business development director at Tarara Winery, Lombardi set out once more on her own in September when founding EL Strategic.

"I'm focused on brand engagement and business development services," she said. That means she helps her clients create strategies that make them stand out in their industries.

And that means more than just a slogan or a logo, as Lombardi helps clients to find where their strengths are and how to invest time and resources best to grow as a company, she said. 

While the COVID-19 pandemic does present challenges to all businesses — particularly the hospitality industry — Lombardi said that this is also an optimal time for the work she does.

"Now is the time, more than ever, for somebody to have a business like mine," she said. "If people don't have [a] good, sound strategy — if people don't have engagement — their businesses are not only falling to the wayside, but they're not going to be able to sustain, let alone grow and thrive inside these challenging times."

And that means more than receiving a lot of "likes" on Facebook. For instance, Lombardi said a winery might look at matters, such as building membership programs, to make up for lost direct engagement created by the pandemic.

"The way I work is incredibly different than what most people do," she said. 

With her background, Lombardi can help businesses understand the data they have about customer engagement to see what strategies are working and where their investment won't be wasted, she said.

The response from those around her has kept Lombardi mindful that nothing is accomplished truly alone when one is part of a community. Even in a few short months from the local community, the response has been "beyond incredible," she said. After eight weeks, she had a full book of business and is already looking at making her first hire.

"It's been quite the whirlwind, and, again, beyond humbling," she said. 

Lombardi acknowledged that, as fortunate as she has been, luck doesn't build a business. Both the knowledge she has gained throughout her working career and her reputation have contributed to her success.

"Nothing happens in a vacuum," she said. "... The positive response that I have achieved in the community is directly correlated to the fact that I have been a member of Loudoun, inside this small business community, for years," she said.