NASE member Knikki Hernandez is the founder of Turning The Tide Tutoring LLC in Ruckersville, Virginia, where she helps students become confident, independent writers by teaching them to turn their ideas into clear, effective writing.
With more than a decade of experience as a high school teacher, Knikki has worked with students of all skill levels and recognized that many understand concepts better than they can express them. Her structured, step-by-step approach helps students build confidence, strengthen organization, and develop critical thinking alongside their writing skills.
Through her four-stage program, students progress from learning the basics of clear expression to becoming independent thinkers who can communicate with confidence in school, college, and beyond.
Posted on
Jul 30, 2026
The House is adjourned for the August recess, the Senate is likely to recess the first week in August, what awaits when they return for the very short period post August and the midterm elections.
Here is what is on deck:
Every business owner starts out the new year with grand ideas. Whether your goals included rapid growth month over month, or just a more sustainable way of working that featured plenty of days off, you might not quite be experiencing the success you had envisioned.
But that’s okay. There’s always time to make adjustments and fine-tune your small business to inch closer to your objective. This post is going to break down how you can use a mid-year review and reset process to figure out what is working, what’s not, and how to make more progress on the things that matter.
Posted on
Jul 29, 2026
If you’re self-employed or running a small business, chances are you didn’t start your company because you aspired to become a marketer, spokesperson, or public relations professional. You started it because you had a skill, an idea, or a conviction—and because you believed you could offer something better, more personal, or more trustworthy than what was already in the market.
What many small business owners overlook is this: that journey is your story. And when told intentionally, it can become one of the most effective and affordable growth tools you have.
In today’s crowded marketplace, customers are no longer persuaded by polished advertising alone. They want credibility. They want to understand who they are buying from, why that business exists, and whether its values align with their own. For small businesses, that creates a powerful opportunity—because authenticity is not something you need to manufacture. You already live it every day.
Posted on
Jun 29, 2026
The 2026 midterm elections are shaping up to be one of the most consequential Senate cycles in a decade. Republicans enter November defending a 53-47 majority, and the battleground map — while favorable to the GOP overall — contains enough volatile seats to put majority control genuinely in play. Five races in particular deserve close attention from small business advocates: Alaska, Iowa, Maine, North Carolina, and Texas. Together, they will do more than determine which party controls the floor; they will reshape the committees, priorities, and personnel that drive small business policy in Washington.
Gary ONeill is the Managing Director of Examiners Edge® Patent Agency in Dallas, Texas, where he helps self-employed business owners and micro-business leaders turn innovation into defensible patent assets. A federally licensed U.S. Patent Agent and former senior USPTO Patent Examiner, Gary has supported the prosecution of 1,000+ patent applications across a wide range of technologies. Examiners Edge focuses on practical, business-aligned patent strategy—helping clients reduce competitive risk, improve negotiating leverage, and position their innovations for growth.
Because patents can feel abstract, the firm uses a managed-investment approach with clear decision checkpoints so clients stay in control of scope, timing, and budget. The typical entry point is a 45-minute Patent Asset Strategy Session™ using the Examiners Edge proprietary evaluation framework to clarify feasibility, priorities, and next steps.
Posted on
Jun 28, 2026
Artificial intelligence is no longer a technology of the future — it is a tool reshaping the small business landscape right now. A 2025 QuickBooks survey found 68% of U.S. small businesses now use AI regularly, up from 48% in mid-2024, and the momentum shows no signs of slowing. At the premier of Axios AM Live event in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, June 9, Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Kelly Loeffler told Axios’ Mike Allen that she believed small businesses will be the “biggest beneficiaries” of AI and called it a "huge leveler of the playing field for America.”
Posted on
Jun 17, 2026
Though many aspiring entrepreneurs may wish it were, starting a small business is not a set-it-and-forget-it endeavor. It takes work, perseverance, and for most, a whole lot of elbow grease. For self-employed professionals and small business owners, building something that lasts requires ongoing attention, thoughtful choices, and a willingness to adapt. Success does not arrive overnight. It is shaped over time and takes careful consideration of what you offer and why it matters to the people you want to reach.
Posted on
May 22, 2026
We are Charlene Beach and Bryan Goodman, co-founders of Armadillo Woolery, a Chesapeake, Virginia-based company building PFAS-free, FR-chemical-free Merino wool apparel for first responders and everyday wear. Bryan brings nearly two decades of experience in the fire service and a strong background in firefighter health and safety advocacy. Charlene helps lead the company’s vision, operations, and brand growth. Together, we started Armadillo Woolery to create safer, harder-working clothing after seeing how common textiles can expose firefighters and other workers to unnecessary chemicals. Our mission is simple: protect the people who protect everyone else.
Posted on
May 22, 2026
On April 30th, 2026, President Donald Trump signed an executive order expanding access to retirement savings plans for workers who don’t have access to a 401(k) or other employer-sponsored plans. This is particularly relevant for small business employees, part-time workers, independent contractors, and the self-employed.