Lynda
​The Artist Agency

Lynda Erkiletian’s passion and joy in life stems from her family, friends, fashion, and philanthropy. The nurturing mother of four children, she has been devoted to the growth of the Washington D.C. fashion industry since 1985 as founder and CEO of THE Artist Agency. Her eye for talent, savvy sense of style, and no nonsense attitude has attributed to her success in a city not often associated with fashion and beauty.

“By far my greatest accomplishment is surrounding myself with the love and support of my beautiful family and friends,” Lynda explains.

Erkiletian currently resides in the suburbs of Northern Virginia with her family and lovable pets Lady Violet Grey and Little BonBon. In addition to being a lifelong entrepreneur and philanthropist, she is well known for being a cast member as  “housewife” in the popular Bravo franchise series, The Real Housewives of D.C. Although the show was not renewed for a second season, Lynda is thankful to have had the opportunity to showcase her beloved business and charities on a national forum.

Lesli
Anchor, WUSA 9

Lesli Foster is a Murrow, Associated Press and Emmy award-winning journalist who co-anchors 9NEWS NOW at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m., covering all kinds of major consumer issues that affect area residents.

Lesli joined WUSA 9 in 2001, and has covered everything from the aftermath of the September 11th terrorist attack on the Pentagon, to the 40th Anniversary of the March on Washington, to the Serial Sniper story, to Chandra Levy's disappearance and murder, to HIV/AIDS and the "Down-Low."

Lesli is a featured journalist in the book, Women Journalists at Ground Zero, by Judith Sylvester and Suzanne Huffman, which documents the personal experiences of 24 female journalists who covered September 11th.

Lesli has interviewed many national luminaries.

Prior to joining 9 NEWS NOW, Lesli was a reporter for WBAL-TV, where she was named Best TV-News Personality by Baltimore's City Paper. She began her career in her native Michigan, where she was a weekend anchor and reporter for WEYI-TV, an NBC affiliate in Flint, Michigan.

As a graduate of DC's Howard University, Lesli gives her time to many causes and organizations throughout the metropolitan Washington, DC area. Journalism, she says, is her life's work, and an essential way to make a difference in the lives of people. Lesli lives in Maryland with her husband and daughter.

Maria
​Very Busy Mamá blog

María José Ovalle (which is Mary Jo in Spanish) has over 10 years of PR experience, is an aspiring actress, public speaker, mamá of two and the founder of Very Busy Mamá blog.

She is a native of Chile, lives her life in English and Spanish and is raising her children bilingual and bicultural. Don’t let their blonde hair and blue eyes fool you, they speak Spanish!

Very Busy Mamá focuses on motherhood, family, personal style and beauty — with humor. All women, no matter their size, budget or time constraints should look and feel their best, always!

Aside from blogging, she makes funny videos, beauty tutorials and how to's to make mom's lives easier. She's a recurring guest on local TV news show Let's Talk Live, has been featured in national magazines such as Redbook, NBC Latino, was named a Top Latina Blogger in 2012 and writes for various publications on parenting, bilingual issues, and beauty and fashion for moms.
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Connect with María José: Twitter — Instagram — Facebook — YouTube

Michelle
​Mom, Philanthropist, Model

Co-Owner, Director of PR and Marketing at Renu Med Spa and Facial Plastic Surgery - http://www.renudc.com/

Imagine unlocking the secrets to personal aesthetics and inner tranquility. Imagine a place where you can create a new sense of well-being, achieve your personal appearance goals, and improve your self-confidence.

Welcome to Renu Med Spa where we customize our signature services and transformational products to meet your unique needs for a truly unforgettable experience. Renu Med Spa is a state of the art facility specializing in facial rejuvenation and laser hair removal. Both men and women trust Renu Med Spa to provide individualized, comprehensive aesthetic services administered by certified medical professionals in a warm and welcoming, soothing spa setting.

Wendy
​My Bougie Baby

Wendy Pittman has been a sales executive for more than 15 years.  Consistently recognized for her sales and leader8ship success, including the prestigious President’s Club award, Wendy is also known for her professional presentation and passion for improvement.  As Executive Business Development Manager with Allergan, Inc., and previously as Account Manager with United Parcel Services Inc., Wendy has launched and managed major national sales campaigns, trained and managed hundreds of sales professionals and raised the bar for sales performance.  A University of Maryland graduate and current Maryland resident, Wendy is dedicated to serving her community by working with local and national charities including Courage for Kids where she currently serves as Vice President and previously, United Communities Against Poverty (UCAP) to which she served as a Board Member and Treasurer.

Never slowing down, in 2011 Wendy flexed her entrepreneurial muscles with the development, launch and continued growth of My Bougie Baby, a boutique clothing line of stylish and tasteful looks for young fashionistas.  She proudly remembers, “It was under my dad as a young girl that I first learned the art of negotiation and sales.”   Today, Wendy relies on those talents to make professional success personal.

Holly
​Pink Fortitude

Holly Bertone is an author, blogger, and breast cancer survivor and advocate. She is the President and CEO of Pink Fortitude, LLC, a company dedicated to providing inspiration to all women. Holly holds a Masters Degree from Johns Hopkins University, a Bachelor’s Degree from Elizabethtown College, and is a Project Management Professional (PMP).

Holly is an Ambassador for the Tigerlily Foundation, was accepted into the National Cancer Survivor’s Day Speakers Bureau, and was named a 2014 Woman of the Year by the National Association of Professional Women.  She is passionate about reaching out to breast cancer survivors, and also volunteers for organizations supporting our military veterans. In her free time, she loves to garden, hit flea markets, antique stores and yard sales, and drink a cup of coffee on her back porch. Holly is married to a retired Green Beret, is a stepmother, and lives in Alexandria, VA.

Kara
Best Face Forward

Kara Reade Gomez is a resident of Fairfax. Together with her Husband, Jo, she owns Reade Enterprises, an international marketing company. They coach many people all over the US how to be successful business owners. Together with her mother, Susie, she founded their beauty division, Best Face Forward- Skin, Makeup and Hair Artists. BFF is an on-site team of 20+ beauty pros from Maryland to Northern NC with over 100 years of collective experience in these fields, providing services from everyday lessons, to weddings and events. Commonly referred to by friends as “The Skin Whisperer,” Kara personally has a love for the science of skin care and loves mentoring other entrepreneurs. She loves being a step-mom to 15 year old Sebastian.

Angelica
​Clarendon Moms

Angelica Talan is the founder and publisher of www.clarendonmoms.com, one of the most popular parenting, mommy and lifestyle blogs in the Washington D.C. area.

Prior to becoming a wife, mother and blogger, Angelica was a DC based television actress appearing in over a dozen television commercials, print modeling magazine ads and featured in several major motion films, most notably Step Up starring Channing Tatum. She has recently been featured in numerous media outlets including: The Washington Post, Let’s Talk Live/WJLA/DC-ABC, The Food Network, NBC 4 Washington, W*USA9 News, Fashion Washington Magazine, Washington Post Express, Washington Life Magazine, K Street Magazine, Guest of a Guest, Northern Virginia Magazine,The Scene Bisnow, The Georgetown Daily, DC Modern Luxury Magazine,  In The Capital, Glitterazzi, DC Life Magazine, The Hill, Alexandria Stylebook, Daily Café, SnobSwap, DC Hot Spots, Revamp! and The Wild Kat Show on Satellite Radio and on IMDB.com.

ClarendonMoms.com was recently named one of the 2015 Top 5 DC Mommy Bloggers on Instagram by Red Tricycle, Top 10 DC Mommy Bloggers by Red Tricycle in 2013 and 2014 and one of the Top 15 Most Influential Mommy Fashion & Beauty Bloggers by Very Busy Mama and is also featured as a blog on The Clarendon Patch.

Angelica also contributes to Washington FAMILY magazine.

Angelica is currently featured in the March 2015 Edition of Spaces in Northern Virginia Magazine and was featured in the September issue of Washington Family Magazine (Trendy Mom Feature) and also appeared in the May 2014 Edition of Alexandria Stylebook. Angelica is a brand ambassador, fitness model and spokesperson for Sport and Health Fitness Clubs  and is prominently displayed in their billboard campaign in over 23 locations and on the SportandHealth.com website.  She was also featured as one of the featured bloggers in the first annual Old Town Blogger Crawl Look Book/Mini Guide in October 2014. She was also featured as one of the models for the Holiday Guide 2013 Lookbook for Periwinkle Boutique and has recently accepted the position as a Brand Ambassador and Mentor for CapFabb, the DC's area largest network of bloggers and social media influencers.

ClarendonMoms.com was established in 2011 as lifestyle resource for moms. The mission of ClarendonMoms is to introduce and connect moms to the best resources, luxury brands, high quality products and reputable services available to them locally, domestically and internationally. ClarendonMoms.com has consistently grown into a website that not only connects moms to the best brands and services but also to each other thru networking events . The blog is dedicated to helping others save time while discovering new and exciting things.There are tips on everything ranging from style & fashion, the best preschools in Clarendon, to the best places to travel with your family to the hottest fitness craze to the trendiest new restaurants for date night to the coolest events in the DC area and more. ClarendonMoms is all about helping others while making long life connections.

ClarendonMoms.com has partnered with such major brands as: UBER, Lee Riders Jeans, Sport and Health, Gillette, TJ Maxx and The Honest Company. Angelica has had the honor of hosting and emceeing events for companies such as AT&T, Smashbox Cosmetics, Barre-Tech, 529 Kids Consign and RockRecovery.org. 

Julie
​Pharmacologist

I've always been drawn to the creative but instead of completing a music major I chose science.  Science pays the bills, but if I could, I'd spend my day behind a camera lens or a sewing machine while listening to a copious variety of music.  Creating things is what makes me tick.  So does literature, poetry, and opera.  I'm a stoic romantic lost inside a hypothesis driven reality.

Tameka
Model

Emily
​D’Milikah

​Emily Gonzaga is a hands-on mom of a very active little boy and an avid artist. She is the owner and creative director of D’Milikah – Brazilian Fashion House. Emily uses her background in Kinesiology as well as her native country Brazil to inspire her designs. With a spirit of entrepreneurship, Emily is involved with fashion consulting and mentoring for variety of up and coming brands helping others to reach their full potential. With a heart for charity she is often involved in working with groups that empower women building their careers and businesses in Brazil. Here in the U.S., Emily volunteers for numerous charities such as We Will Survive Cancer and Single Mom Assistance Org.  She loves to travel and meet new people, but dance is her passion and cooking is her therapy. Her motto is: Do not leave for tomorrow what you can do today!

Shawn
​News Anchor, Fox 5

Shawn Yancy is an award winning Washington, DC News Anchor and Artist.

She grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana surrounded by a creative and adventurous family. From an early age, her parents exposed her to the arts and encouraged her creativity. They taught her "if the dream is big enough, the facts don't count", and she's been pursuing her dreams ever since.

Shawn's passion for visual arts and performance led her to pursue a career in broadcast journalism, but a paint brush and canvas were never far from her hand.

Shawn enjoys working with a variety of mediums to achieve a truly unique experience.

“In my world as a news journalist, my life is black and white, there's not a lot of room for opinion. We report the facts, the news of the day and tell people's stories. My art allows me to escape the box with vibrant colors, paint brushes and my imagination to express my opinions and tell my own stories.

Like most artists, I've been drawing, painting, and re-assembling anything that wasn't nailed down since I was a small child; and things haven't changed much now that I'm all grown up. When I work with my hands painting and creating, I'm reminded there are no limits or boundaries! I don't believe in coloring inside the lines.”

Maureen
​Journalist, Fox 5

Emmy Award winning anchor/reporter, Maureen Umeh co-anchors the weekend newscast (Fox 5 News) at 6pm, 10pm and the News Edge at 11pm. 

Maureen joined the FOX 5 news team in September 2002, after serving as one of the primary anchors for the late evening newscasts at WSPA-TV; the CBS affiliate in the Greenville-Spartanburg, South Carolina.

Maureen has been honored with several awards for her work. They include an an emmy for Best Investigative Series and Best Newscast. She has also been honored by many organizations, including the South Carolina Television and Arts Association; the Illinois Broadcaster's Association and the NAACP.

Maureen served as the chairwoman for the Upstate Leadership Council of the American Cancer Society and also worked with many nonprofit organizations including Big Brothers, Big Sisters and Mathew House, an agency for disadvantaged youth.

Maureen's career in journalism spans nearly two decades. She attended the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, where she received a degree in Broadcast-Journalism.

Kim
​Mom, Philantropist, Model

Christy
Public Health Professional

I am 40 years old, a wife, and mother to two wonderful boys (Owen, age 10 and Gabe, age 8). My husband and I are both very active with our sons' extracurricular activities, attending countless soccer practices and games, piano lessons and cub scouting activities. I have been Owen's den leader in scouts for the last 4 years, which can be both challenging and also immensely rewarding. I have worked at the Food and Drug Administration for over 20 years; 16 of which have been spent working with Oncology drug products. In my free time (which admittedly I don't have much of) I sing with the Frederick Chorale and play the piano. I also enjoy reading and traveling. And okay, I'll admit that maybe I also like to watch Project Runway on TV and fantasize about being a fashion designer myself someday.

Quianna
​Public Health Professional

Quianna is a native Washingtonian, who is married to her best friend and mother to a very active 2 year old son, named Garrett.  Quianna’s professional resume paints the picture of public health professional with a long standing commitment to advancing and protecting the nation’s public health, however it does not illustrate the burning passion that she has for working with children and the arts.  Outside of her scientific career and family duties, Quianna fuels her creative passions at the pottery wheel, on canvas, and on cake. 

Quianna is very active in her community and notes that sharing is one of life’s most valuable lessons that is learned from the sandbox.  She believes wholeheartedly in giving back and volunteers a large portion of her time, talents and resources as an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

She holds a Master of Health Care Administration degree from The George Washington University.

Christine
​Moms'N Charge

Christine St.Vil is a wife and mother of three who is committed to helping women take charge of their lives by defining and igniting their purpose in both life and business. She is relentless about helping moms and women learn how to feel good without feeling guilty. Through her work with Moms ‘N Charge™, Purpose Driven Media™, LLC (PDM) was created. PDM is on a mission to teach women entrepreneurs how to successfully leverage social media to start and/or grow their business and brand, while still being a great mom, wife, sister, or friend. Through her transformational book, live courses, workshops and consulting, PDM walks you through discovering and defining your life purpose, as well as making sure your business message aligns with your passion.

A sought-after social media expert and speaker with her own rapidly-growing blog, Christine has spoken at numerous events and conferences on blogging and social media, including Niche Parent Conference at Disney. She has also partnered and worked with organizations such as the Arthritis Foundation, Highlights for Children, Needs Brand (Tia and Tamera Mowry), African Pride and more to create successful digital media strategies/campaigns to promote and extend their brands. In addition to these opportunities, Christine recently partnered with Relativity Media and Gina Prince-Bythewood (Director of Beyond the Lights movie) to execute the official Twitter party to raise awareness, and increase box office sales for opening weekend of Beyond The Lights.
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Christine was selected to participate in a White House Social, for social media influencers to watch the State of the Union Address in January 2015, live from the White House. In Spring 2013, she was a featured panelist at the Fifth Annual Get RADICAL Women’s Conference, where keynote speakers included Jillian Michaels, Lisa Nichols, and Guiliana Rancic. And in 2014, she was a featured breakout speaker of the same conference. This year, she will be a featured breakout session speaker at Steve Harvey’s Act Like a Success Conference. Christine has co-authored her first highly acclaimed book, Whose Shoes Are You Wearing? 12 Steps to Uncovering the Woman You Really Want to Be, and has been featured in numerous local and national TV and online media outlets (including VOA, Fox 5, WHUR, AllParenting.com, Sirrius XM, amongst others). She received her BS in Biology from Marymount University.

Funmi
​TFM Consulting

Monica
​Baby Bash and Bling

​I’m Monica Byrd, a wife, Haute Mom, creator of Fashionista Flea Market, The Haute Experience: Roundtable Discussion Featuring Hair, Beauty and Style Brands and Bloggers, The Haute Collection: Fashion, Style, Decor and Home Living Gifts, Bump in the City Stationary Collection, Baby Bash and Bling Expo & Show featuring Bump the Runway.

Monica Byrd.com offers style advice, tips to fashion moms, product and book reviews, lifestyle journey and exclusive access to signature events and more! Monica Byrd.com connects readers with established brands to show an everyday life approach by giving the brands’ consumers new ways to love and trust their brand.Monica Byrd.com helps brands penetrate the area’s fashion market through social platforms, media coverage online and style events.

Gorgeous smile and sparkling personality is one way of describing this New Orleans, Louisiana native. In the presence of this charming southern bell, you definitely feel that southern hospitality shines through. As an experienced fashion and style professional, Monica’s passion and experience in bringing fantastic venues and beautiful people together to create sophisticated and spectacular events. She has worked in various fashion-related events including shopping parties, style events, fashion forums and trunk shows.

Monica is also a contributing writer for the Washington Post, the Examiner and fashion trend reporter for various fashion and lifestyles magazines, fashion blogs and style newsletters. As well as contributing writer for Foodie.com, writer on Tend.com, style writer for Glam.com, writer for the Spa Week’s Hot Mom Squad; Monica works to develop stories and layouts, featuring new trends in both fashion and accessories. She is extremely passionate about her craft.

Monica Byrd Brands
Dedicated to chronicling experiences of how pregnant women can maintain their sense of style while toting a baby bump – Baby Bash and Bling Expo & Show is an interactive lifestyle expo celebrating expecting moms, new moms and everyday moms featuring Bump the Runway and the Beauty and Bump Bar – nearly three years since its creation our past expos in cities from Washington, D.C.; Dallas, Texas; Atlanta, Georgia; New York City; and most recently the creator’s hometown, New Orleans, Louisiana and we will continue to embrace pregnant women from all cities and states!

Fashionista Flea Market (FFM) is an outdoor open-air flea market bringing together fashionable women, bargain shoppers and fashionistas. With the success of FFM, we’ve started an FFM Affiliate Program for the new year where interested fashionistas can bring bargain shoppers together in 2015, build their own following and have an FFM business of their own in their city – from Colorado Springs, Colorado to Houston, Texas. The FFM season starts March through November yearly – and held twice a month on the same dates in various cities.

Additionally we have carved out signature  ‘Haute Experience’ events – roundtable of Beauty, Fashion and Lifestyle bloggers and brands – to connect fashion, beauty and lifestyle bloggers, vloggers and enthusiasts to network, to have open discussions and shared experiences.

During our New York City show held during NY Fashion Week, we presented “Bump in the City” The limited edition stationary premiered in NYC with the fabulous celebrity mom, Nicole Ari Parker. Continuing in the theme of celebrating the expectant mom, I created a line of stationary bearing a custom illustration of 3 fabulous pregginistas. These notecards make a wonderful personal touch for sending thank you’s or personal notes to friends and loved ones.

And recently launched in 2014,  The Haute Collection: Fashion, Style, Decor and Home Living Gifts.

Katherine
​Availor Philanthropy

Katherine Kennedy is an entrepreneur, philanthropist and television personality with experience in logistical organizing, strategic partnerships, and corporate social responsibility as a means for both bettering community relations and strategic social marketing.

Ms. Kennedy is the Founder of KMK PR and Consulting where she advises on fundraising, strategic partnerships and marketing campaigns.  She has worked with organizations such as The United Nations Foundation, MS Society, Prevent Cancer, The Canary Foundation, and a dozen others while also consulting with social entrepreneurial ventures likes TOMS Shoes. Ms. Kennedy also launched an online social networking site using social normative reference to mobilize product acquisition.

She was recently honored as one of the World Economic Forum's Young Global Shapers. She was honored to be a part of the 2010 White House's "Next Generation Leaders" program, received an award in 2010 for the Rosewood 30 under 30 in Social Entrepreneurship, was honored as Loyola Marymount University's Leadership Institute's Service and Leadership recipient in 2010, received the Apex Society's 30 under 30 in Media and Philanthropy in 2010, and was celebrated as the 2008 Washington Center's award recipient for Civic Engagement.

She is a member of the following organizations: Association of Fundraising Professionals, Young Professionals in Foreign Policy, Society for Non-Profit Organizations and The National Association of Youth Service Consultants.

Ms. Kennedy has a Master’s Certificate in Non-Profit Management from Duke University, a Masters in Communication, Culture and Technology from Georgetown University and a BA in Business and Political Science from Loyola Marymount University.

Marianne
​Horinko Group

Marianne Lamont Horinko is the President of The Horinko Group (THG). Ms. Horinko’s expertise is in watershed-based approaches to cleanup and revitalization, corporate sustainability, and collaborative solutions to environmental progress through unique public-private partnerships. Prior to joining THG, she served as Assistant Administrator for the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER) at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from 2001 to 2004, and Acting EPA Administrator in 2003 between Administrators Christine Todd Whitman and Michael O. Leavitt.

Following the events of September 11, Ms. Horinko served at EPA assisting in environmental cleanup activities at Ground Zero in lower Manhattan, the Pentagon in Washington DC, and the U.S. Capitol due to anthrax contamination. In 2003, she oversaw EPA’s response to the Columbia Space Shuttle Disaster. As a result of these experiences, she crafted the groundbreaking National Approach to Response. She brought new approaches to environmental protection using partnerships, flexibility, and innovation to create environmental improvement. The Brownfields program, signed into law by President Bush in 2002, is the embodiment of these new approaches. Under her leadership, the budget for the Brownfields program more than doubled.

During the first Bush Administration, Ms. Horinko was Attorney Advisor to Don Clay, EPA’s Assistant Administrator for OSWER. Subsequently, she served as President of Clay Associates, Inc., a national environmental policy consulting firm, where she launched the RCRA Policy Forum. Ms. Horinko is an alumna of the University of Maryland, College Park (B.S. in analytical chemistry, 1982) and Georgetown University Law School (J.D., 1986).

Marianne lives in Chantilly, VA and has two teenaged children.  She resumed the use of her maiden name, Marianne Maccini, for personal reasons in 2012.  She is active in the lectors ministry at St. Timothy Parish, volunteers as food coordinator for the Chantilly High School choral boosters program, and serves as first vice president of the Chantilly High School Parent Teacher Student Association.

Awele
​Mom, Philantropist, Model

Awele is a wife, mother of two and a risk professional at a leading financial services company in the country.  She has a spirit which embodies ambition, determination, humility, persistence and pure laughter.  Since 2004, Awele has pursued volunteerism in her free time lending her expertise as a member and executive to organizations such as The African Women’s’ Cancer Awareness Association and Global Associations of Risk Professionals and Mentors, Inc. Awele believes that success is eminent to anyone willing to pursue and work for it. She lives with the words of the Great Nelson Mandela in mind, “Do not judge me by my successes.  Judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again”