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Caroline County native and entrepreneur Savannah Winston is a busy woman.
Besides lending her leadership skills and experience to a variety of local organizations, this Caroline County native is finishing work on her doctorate and serves as president of the Preston Town Commission.
She also is welcoming the business community and freelancers to her Preston OfficePlex, housed in the recently renovated former Provident State Bank building at 239 Main Street.
While she celebrated her grand opening May 3, starting September 1, Winston will establish regular business hours from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm for small businesses, freelancers and remote workers to spend time working in the internet café, watching programs on a large screen TV, enjoying a cup of coffee and taking advantage of the business center services.
“I just want to get a little Starbucks vibe going on,” she said. “If you just need a space to unwind with your computer with free Wi Fi, we’re here to serve the community.”
The large building stood empty for about three years until Winston purchased it for $300,000. She completely remodeled it, creating office and meeting spaces and a cold kitchen area for her tenants.
“This building is old, but it’s solid,” she said.
Easton-based Gibson Construction & Management completed the renovations, freshening up the exterior, and pulling up old carpet and applying fresh paint in neutral colors. “The guys did a beautiful, beautiful job,” she said.
Elegant Affairs, based in the OfficePlex created a contemporary, inviting atmosphere.
Winston’s tenants offer a variety of services. Vernon Spriggs’ niche business is devoted to servicing Hammond organs. Eternal Love Cleaning Service LLC is owned by a husband-and-wife team. Robin Sample offers counseling services, and she’ll be celebrating the grand reopening of Peace by Pieces and Journei by Robin LLC 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 31, at Preston OfficePlex.
And then there’s Savannah Winston.
Her work for the federal government as an accountant has given her a wealth of experience and valuable expertise in administrative project management and information systems. She earned her degree in accounting from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.
As chief executive officer of VanTech Business Solutions she and her team provide call center services, bookkeeping, tax preparation, and administrative support and payroll services.
She’s even repurposed the old bank vault as a gift shop that currently displays her Mary Kay cosmetics, another client’s line of fashionable sunglasses and readers, and another’s handmade greeting cards. Her goal is to offer Hallmark cards, as well. One of the businesses on the outdoor marquee is her own “Let’s Paint,” where she hosts artists and groups for themed paint nights.
As Commission President of Preston, she is excited about the economic development and growth along Main Street, where she is joined by her business neighbors Advantage Rehab – “Kim Schall is amazing” – and LNT Seafood “and all of the amazing work Lindsey (Vanous) is doing,” Winston said. She’s also grateful for Ian Fleming for giving Preston a restaurant again, the Preston Roadhouse and Grill.
Perhaps nothing illustrates her drive more than two cherished photos on the wall of the business services center just inside the entrance. Above the photos are the words “Family Legacy.”
“These are my parents,” Winston said. Walter and Theresa Winston, in formal military portraits, were also Caroline County natives and resided in Jonestown, a mostly African American community just east of Preston, where their daughter Savannah serves as president of the Jonestown Community Development Corporation.
Winston’s son Jeremiah Ricketts is entering seventh grade this year, but she said she wants to continue the family legacy through him.
Winston is confident she’s on the right path, and she’s trusting God to help her fulfill the vision she has for her business and the community she loves. “I’m a firm believer everything works out the way it’s supposed to,” she said.
“He’s gotten me this far, so he’s not going to let it fail,” she said. “I love my town, love my community. I’m a leader, and I love to serve. So that’s what it’s all about.”
For more information about the Preston OfficePlex, visit www.vantechoffice.com, or call Savannah Winston at 410-673-8731.
