Portraits of Virginia

It’s more important to understand someone than to judge them. We think the first step to understanding someone is asking them the fundamental questions about who they are and how they became the person they are today. Understanding and empathy are essential building blocks for a better, more compassionate world. We’re incredibly fortunate to be able to ask these questions each week through our interview series. Below you’ll find inspiring interviews from throughout Virginia.

Darla Bishop

I’ve been thinking about money, opportunity, and what families need to thrive for most of my life, long before I knew it would become my work. I grew up in Detroit in a family where money was often tight. Read more>>

Mitchell Fleisher MD DHT

Brief Professional Autobio: Mitchell A. Fleisher, M.D., M.D.(H), D.Ht., D.A.B.F.M., Dc.A.B.C.T., F.S.S.R.P. Dr. Mitch Fleisher is a double board-certified, licensed, Family Physician specializing in anti-aging, regenerative medicine, peptide therapy, exosome and stem cell therapy, advanced musculoskeletal injection therapy, constitutional homeopathy, nutritional and botanical medicine, I.V. Read more>>

Puzzlr Team

Cesar and Alvin have been friends since fifth grade. Long before Puzzlr, Cesar was the person who was always talking about escape rooms and trying new ones. When Alvin started school at Virginia Tech, the two kept coming back to the idea of building a room of their own. Read more>>

Jim Gottier

We owned a business next door, Greenleaf’s Pool Room. The large, pretty ugly (save for the front room) space that is now Hotel Greene kept beckoning. My wife and I recognized it had potential for something fun but couldn’t quite see our way through. Our first dates (rather a long time ago) were often spent playing mini golf at the Santa Cruz boardwalk. Read more>>

Brian Boenau

I started Lake Anna Threads in 2012 after my parents bought property on Lake Anna. I’ve always loved spending summers on the lake, and I wanted to find a way to take a little piece of Lake Anna with me whenever I went back home to Northern Virginia or traveled somewhere else. Read more>>

Chemise Taylor

My journey has been centered around one question: How can I create better support for children with special needs and the people who care for them? I began working in the field in 2012 and, over time, that question led me in several different directions. Read more>>

Adrian Mccavitt

Nearly eleven years ago, my partner Lauren and I founded The Yoga Dojo in Scott’s Addition after years of teaching across the greater Richmond area. We wanted a single home where our community could gather, navigate life’s challenges, and build an inner peace that ripples outward. As our community grew, so did our vision. Read more>>

Erin Stushek

Originally from Wisconsin, her journey began with a natural curiosity for exploration and a profound appreciation for the environment. Holding degrees in wildlife ecology and conservation biology, she spent formative years immersed in the lush landscapes of Central and South America, conducting research on extraordinary species such as jaguars. Read more>>

Angela Fleury

I actually grew up terrified of dogs, which is probably not the beginning you’d expect from a dog trainer. I grew up in Florida, and when I was about 10 or 11, I was visiting my dad in Colorado. He had a huge show dog named Aspen. Read more>>

Khusbu Patel

I got laid off from my corporate job in September 2025. It was the best and worst thing that’s happened to me. Read more>>

Arlette Simmons

Arlette Simmons is a wife, mother, and CEO of Clinical Services LLC, and a Licensed Professional Counselor in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Hailing originally from the Caribbean Islands of Trinidad and Tobago but raised in her beloved Brooklyn, New York, and now lives in Suffolk, Virginia. Read more>>

Laura Immelman

I have always loved animals and I always dreamed of owning land, opening a venue and having farm animals. In 2022 we purchased 74 acres in Waterford, VA and begin building what would become Scarlet Springs Farm. Our business journey so far is one built out of love, sweat and a lot of hard work. Read more>>

Sue Mondeau

I have always known I was creative but I didn’t have the typically encouraged skills of drawing and painting that we were exposed to at school. My mom is extremely creative and a jack of all trades and with her encouragement I started making and selling jewelry at local craft fairs when I was in middle school and high school. Read more>>

Bogi Kenney

It all began in our kitchen in Virginia Beach, shaped by Bogi’s Hungarian roots and a deep love for nourishing others. In her family, food is the language of love, respect, and gratitude. Her grandmother baked for everyone—from relatives to the mailman and even the family doctor—sharing homemade treats as a gesture of care. Read more>>

Greg Burns

My current work practicing the Art of Sound Healing and hosting Sound Baths is a culmination of several aspects of me finding a convergent path. My work background has been quite varied during my adult life. Read more>>

Kayle Terry

My journey into esthetics began long before I ever imagined it would become my career. It started when I was around 15 or 16 years old, when I began experiencing hormonal acne along my cheeks and jawline. I was raised by a single mother, and money was tight, so seeing a dermatologist simply wasn’t an option for us. Read more>>

Nicole Ferguson

I’ve always believed that tangible things matter, starting with my time at the Savannah College of Art and Design, designing for Fortune 500 clients and now as a small business owner. My passion is tangibility. Paper you can hold. A handwritten note. An invitation that becomes part of a family’s history. A gift chosen with care and kept for years. Read more>>

Anna Beall

I definitely didn’t set out with a plan to become a flower farmer or wedding florist. My husband and I spent the first decade of our marriage moving around with the Air Force and raising our three kids. When we finally settled in Northern Virginia, we bought an acre of land, and I started growing food. Read more>>

Amna Inam

Amna Inam The Powerhouse Behind Randhawa Brands and a Voice for Cultural Empowerment In an era defined by noise and novelty, few individuals cut through the clutter with clarity, purpose, and style. One of those rare voices is Amna Inam a Pakistani-American entrepreneur, fashion trailblazer, and community leader whose journey from beauty consultant to global fashion disruptor is as compelling as it is inspiring. Read more>>

Holly & Taylar Holmes

Holly’s Creations consist of two sisters. Holly and Taylar with Holly being the oldest. They are 7 years apart and growing up Taylar loved when Holly baked. She saw the BIG vision for her to bake and create. So they became Holly’s Creations. Read more>>

Erin Serpis

SeaBass Eco Chic Designs really started with one of those moments in life that completely changes your perspective. After a completely random, life-threatening medical event in February 2026, I decided to walk away from the traditional 9-to-5 to focus on spending time with my two-year-old son, Sebastian (whom we endearingly call Seabass). Read more>>

Kate Bowman

I have always wanted to own and run a small outpatient therapy practice. I had some amazing mentors in the field and was able to see first hand things that worked for them and on the flip-side see the things they learned from. I started in a small one room office in Elkton, Virginia until I grew and ended up moving to Harrisonburg. Read more>>

Kasim Hardaway

For nearly a decade, I built my career at the intersection of food, marketing, and digital media. I started in social media and eventually built an audience of more than 350,000 people around food and storytelling. That opened doors I never could have anticipated. Read more>>

Amy Calandra Davis

Art has been the energy behind my journey for more than 25 years. As an artist, designer, and entrepreneur, I’ve built my career around curiosity, creativity, and a constant search for the unexpected. In 2020, I founded Findings Art in Lynchburg, Virginia, creating a space where art, design, and craftsmanship come together. Read more>>

Terri Turner

My story and love for the field of Sport Psychology began in my twenties, when I competed as a professional and sponsored IFBB figure athlete. Being in that world of high performers, I saw firsthand how much of the game was mental. It didn’t matter how successful someone was, the mental battles of performance anxiety, self-doubt, discipline, and resilience showed up for everyone. Read more>>

Aaron Waters

just cold brew really started as a dream for my wife, Kailyn, and me. We met in high school, and for a long time we had talked about someday owning a cafe together. It was always one of those ideas that stayed in the background while life kept moving. Read more>>

Becca Richmond

I picked up a camera in May of 2025 after having my baby almost a year prior. I was just simply a mom that sort of lost all sense of self that first year and I was searching for some kind of creative outlet. Something to get me out of the house and allow me to be Becca again. Read more>>

Matt Cash

My path to Lily Clinic was not a straight line, and I never originally imagined myself becoming a business owner. I began my professional journey in social work, earning my undergraduate degree from West Chester University in 2003. That experience taught me how deeply a person’s health is affected by access to care, family support, finances, and the ability to navigate an often-overwhelming healthcare system. Read more>>

Maria Register

Before starting Pawfect Walks, I spent about seven years working in operations and hospitality. That experience gave me a strong foundation in customer service, relationship-building, organization, and managing all of the moving pieces that come with running a business skills I never realized at the time would eventually help me build one of my own. Read more>>

Raiken Cepa

For me, coffee has always been about much more than what’s in the cup. My love for coffee started when I was young, helping in my father’s coffee shop. I remember being fascinated by the aroma of freshly ground beans, the craft behind pulling a great espresso, and most of all, the way coffee naturally brought people together. Read more>>

Ada Haensel

I grew up taking lessons at a lesson barn once a week. It was never enough. When I got home, I would refuse to shower, trying to hold the smell of horses on my skin as long as I could — until my mom finally made me wash it off. Read more>>

Dana CARLSON

Nostalgia Tattoo was born from the desire to be closer to home so I could pursue professional growth and family goals. I accidentally began my career in the tattoo industry in 2014 shortly after graduating from VCU with a degree in Communications. Read more>>

Malik Tersoo

My journey began in 2015 when I joined the Army immediately after high school. For five years, I served as a 25B Information Technology Specialist, a role that was structured and technical. When my contract ended, I transitioned into cybersecurity, but that path took an unexpected turn when I faced a serious health crisis. Read more>>

CJ Salzano

I grew up in Arlington Virginia, went to DJ O’Connell high school and ended up at ODU in Norfolk in the mid 80s for my undergrad degree in the computer field. In the late ’80s I went to George Mason University for Master’s degree also in the computer field. Read more>>

Greg Treacy

My story begins when i was a teenager. When i got my first phone that was able to take pictures, i started capturing the world around me. Fast forward to 2019, I got enough money and bought myself my first DSLR camera. I started doing photos of nature and mountains when I took my first trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains. Read more>>

Carly Mandarano

My career in retail spans more than 20 years, but my path into visual merchandising started almost by accident. I was working as a salesperson at Ann Taylor and, if I’m being honest, I wasn’t very good at selling! I was much more interested in organizing, merchandising and making the store look its best. Read more>>

Jennifer Hinson

I learned how to play the violin in the third grade in the public school system in North Carolina. I participated in orchestras, ensembles, symphonies, and chambers subsequently performing in concerts, contests, and social events. It wasn’t until I went to college at Campbell University, and studied privately with a professor, that I noticed that I had endured a defective, sub-standard education. Read more>>

Crystal Napier

My entrepreneurial journey really began after my father passed away in 2011. Losing him caused me to pause and take a hard look at my own life. I found myself searching for something more meaningful and asking myself what I was truly passionate about and what I wanted my life’s work to look like. That period of reflection ultimately led me to fashion. Read more>>

Nicki Peacock

I started doing my own hair in kindergarten. My sister is only 16 months older than me, and when we were little, my mom used to dress us alike and do our hair exactly alike. I hated it. I wanted to look different and feel like my own person. Read more>>

Nathan Le Duc

I am a woodworker and sculptor in the DMV that makes custom sculptural urns based on photos. My small family studio is the only studio in the country that carves a memorial relief into the side of an urn. Read more>>

Lance Nelson

I commenced my food truck venture by repurposing a camper that was graciously gifted to me. I meticulously dismantled it, transforming it into a functional food truck equipped with a patio. Throughout this process, I relied on television and self-directed learning to acquire the necessary skills. Read more>>

Rajendra KC

My journey as an artist began when I was a child growing up in Kathmandu, Nepal. I discovered my passion for painting around the seventh grade, when my interest and talent for art really began to develop. Read more>>

Jenna Rose

I actually got my start in the event world back in 2016, while I was still in college, interning with a local wedding planner. I was doing a little bit of everything: weddings, wedding shows, social media, you name it. Read more>>

Mia Horton

I grew up in the DMV and studied Operations Research and Information Engineering at Cornell University. I’ve had multiple dogs in my household for my entire life but I’ve always loved all pets. Once I graduated, I joined a Big 4 consulting firm. Read more>>

Old Flame Secondhand & Vintage

Old Flame Secondhand & Vintage was launched in 2025 by siblings Ben Coe and Jess Coe. We have a lifelong love of vintage and antiques — born out of family vacation stops in junk stores, teenage hours spent in thrift stores, and an eclectic appreciation for the styles and craftsmanship of previous eras. Read more>>

Kevin Caffrey

I grew up on Long Island and developed a passion for music at an early age. When I was 13 I learned how to play the guitar so I could begin writing songs and 37 years later I’m basically still working at getting better at that. Read more>>

Levi Snapp

I am part of the 10th generation on my family’s farm located in Frederick County, Virginia. In the early 2000’s we made the decision to begin selling direct to consumer with selling sweet corn on the side of the road from the bed of a truck. Read more>>

Yaz

I immigrated to the United States when I was 3 from France. Because the culture was so different, I struggled to do well in school and ‘fit in’. For a long time it plagued me, but as an adult I realize it’s actually those differences that made me an entrepreneur. Read more>>

Atalaya Jolétte

My journey in entertainment started in 2010, when I was living in Atlanta. I started in theater and gradually found my way into different areas of the industry, both in front of the camera and behind the scenes. Read more>>

BeBe Jenks

Cypress and Sage developed pretty naturally. After planning my own wedding, I realized how much I enjoyed both the creative side and the logistics, especially seeing all the moving pieces come together in the end. That experience also showed me how much communication and organization matter. Read more>>

Rusa Topchishvili

I am a European woman living in the United States, and my work is shaped by two continents: the elegance and craftsmanship of the Old World, and the boundless energy of the new life I’ve built here. I was born in Tbilisi, Georgia, where I grew up immersed in fashion and design through my family’s business. Read more>>

Bryan Lindberg

It started with a combat related injury that ended up retiring me from the military in 1993. At the time, I was told that I had a substantial amount of money that could be applied to college tuition that is really how it started. My first job was as a senior substance abuse counselor. Read more>>

Irina + Viktoriya Dovganetskiy

After graduating from esthetics school as master estheticians, Irina and Viktoriya were presented with the opportunity to open a school of their own, an opportunity that grew from years of hands-on experience, passion, and shared desire to give the next generation of estheticians a strong foundation for success. Read more>>

Brett Megee

My name is Brett Megee, I am a health and physical education teacher at Prince William County Schools. Growing up I always played a lot of sports. That turned into a love for one sport in particular, soccer. I ended up playing 4 years of college soccer at Marywood University. Read more>>

Daniel Pruden

Hi! I’m Daniel Pruden, owner of That Guy Pet Services, in Blacksburg, Virginia, and I schedule clients as they request. If you have a plan in mind, I am willing to fulfill those ideas and make suggestions so everyone, especially your pet, is happy. Duh! I provide more than common dog walking. Read more>>

Rachel Topper

The Gothicary was born of love, loss, healing — and a trip to Salem. A few years ago, I lost my husband of 23 years, and suddenly found myself a widow, an empty nester, and 50 years old with a career in HR that was sucking the life force from me. Read more>>

Erin Lingle

I’ve always known I wanted to help people and have really been drawn to people my whole life. I wouldn’t have known to call it this then, but the psychology of people was very intriguing to me. And, so, since I was young, I’ve been noticing, observing, paying close attention to the ways people behave, how they interact. Read more>>

Leigh Heasley

I have always been sensitive, dreamy, inquisitive, contemplative, and creative. At a young age I was questioning separateness; people’s challenged relationship with themselves, each other, and nature. Gifted with a strong sense of self and deep care for all of life, I was always seeking ways to reconcile what seemed irreconcilable while also still being enthralled with insatiable wonder and a passion for sharing it. Read more>>