With an undergraduate degree in Economics and Political Science from UCLA and a Masters degree in International Business from Harvard, Laura Lee did not set out to be a handbag designer.  She has held positions at Fortune 500 companies including Nike, Apple, American Express, and Ralph LaurenPrior to starting Laura Lee Designs, Laura Lee worked as the Global Marketing Manager for PCCW, Asia’s leading communications company in Hong Kong.  In this capacity she was responsible for developing and implementing major strategic marketing initiatives with companies such as Microsoft, Disney, AOL Time Warner, Hewlett Packard, and Oracle.

While in Asia, she switched over to focus on Marketing Initiatives with Ralph Lauren and then and there knew she had a love-affair with fashion. But she was still not in her comfort zone.  Monotony. It’s not a word that is typically associated with a positive connotation, but for Laura Lee Williams, that word was her inspiration. The same styles, the same shapes, and the same patterns had her wondering why there was no variety in the high end handbag market. Nothing even similar to the beautiful fabric she was seeing in Europe or colorful beads she had seen in Japan was out there, and that’s when it hit her.  She made a quick design on a piece of paper and asked a woman in a nearby craft bazaar while overseas if it could be made into a bag.  Give her one day, instructed the woman, and she would indeed sew the bag that Laura Lee had sketched out on the crumpled piece of paper.  On her way to the airport the next day, Laura Lee stopped at the market, picked up her bag, and placed the colorful creation over her shoulder. She had almost forgotten about the bag until people began staring and stopping her in the airport. “Where did you get that bag?” one woman asked.  The seeds of entrepreneurship were planted.

Since then, Laura Lee’s world has drastically changed. LLD has grown from a mere idea to a flourishing, sophisticated line. With a total of over 15 different styles, 10 different colors, 3 separate lines under the LLD name, and 3 exciting additions to the line in the works, there is never a dull moment.  The handbags have been featured on ‘Desparate Housewives’, ‘Gossip Girl’, worn by Kate Winslet and Helen Mirren and have been featured at the Sundance Film Festival and the Academy Awards. Each handbag is unique and one of a kind: No two are alike. Laura Lee likes to keep the line fresh and alive, and only makes 250 of any color, design and style. This gives an essence of art entwined with individuality, and the wearer can be assured that they won’t be in competition with any other ‘LL’ Designs at an event.

Laura Lee grew up in Southern California which influenced her love for athletics.  An avid runner, she has competed in 18 marathons: two Boston Marathons and two leading blind runners.  She has also competed in over 50 triathlons and numerous open water swimming events.  But her biggest influences came from her Mother and Grand Mother.  Her Mother always encouraged her to make the impossible possible. And her grandmother had a great quote, ‘Woulda coulda shoulda.’  It means don’t be afraid to do something out of the ordinary.  Don’t live a life wondering what you could have done. Grandma always did say it best.

 Lori has spent the past 10 years involved in the Virginia Wine Industry. She has garnered numerous awards from around the world for her wines, but continues to raise the bar every year with amazing wines.

Lori obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Administration of Justice from San Jose State University. Her original plan was to join the FBI, but married Jim had 4 kids and quickly became a stay at home mom.

Around 2000, 4 years after the family moved from CA to VA, she decided to put in a small vineyard and that was the beginning of her passion for wine. Then in 2002, she decided to take the plunge and open up a winery that was the beginning of now what is Corcoran Vineyards.

Today Corcoran produces premium wines and production for the 2010 vintage will be about 3000 cases, this is up from the original 550 cases she produced in 2004.

In the summer of 2011, Lori is excited to announce the opening of the Corcoran Brewing Company, the first Nano-Brewery in Loudoun County and excited to be the first Brewery/Winery in the Commonwealth. Stay tuned for the Grand Opening in June.

Volunteering her time is something Lori enjoys to do. She is always involved with her kids at school from the PTA to room mom, Lori has always felt it was important to be there. Lori has served on numerous boards here in Loudoun County and still resides on the Visit Loudoun Board, where she has served for the past 3 years. She also served as the Service Unit Manager for The Girl Scouts Council of the Nation’s Capitol here in Western Loudoun and President of the Loudoun Winery Association.

A native of Atlanta and a graduate of George Mason University, Anne McCabe has been in the financial services industry for over nine years. She has a passion for helping people feel more confident and secure about their financial futures utilizing the financial planning process.  Anne employs a comprehensive, client-focused approach that is consultative, not condescending.  Such discipline ensures that recommended plans encompass each client’s financial goals, values, time frames, and risk tolerances.  In 2007, she acquired the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor? (CRPC®) designation from the College for Financial Planning, demonstrating proficiency in all aspects of retirement planning.   She is a current candidate for the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) designation through Georgetown University, and will sit for the comprehensive exam in July of 2011.

For more information, please contact Anne McCabe at 703.956.2200, or www.CAMprivatewealth.com

Investment products and services are offered through Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC (WFAFN), Member SIPC. CAM Private Wealth Services is a separate entity from WFAFN. 

Featured Speaker for Thursday, January 13, 2011

About our Speaker

Seven has more than 20 years’ experience within the health care and event planning industries along with giving back to the community through her participation with non-profit organizations.

Ms. Seven chose to combine her background in sales and event planning when she founded 7Company, a 100% woman owned business, and one of the largest health event providers in the Washington Metropolitan Area. Utilizing her vision for assisting regional companies and government agencies to provide a greater awareness of health care issues.

7Company organizes and manages on-site health fairs, wellness seminars, flu shot clinics, health screenings, and other health care related events for its growing clientele. Some of 7Company’s most notable clients include the Executive Office of the President and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). 7Company manages multiple health fairs for FEMA across the country and FEMA was honored with an award for the Oakland, CA Safety and Health Fair, recognized as an outstanding accomplished for the year.

Additionally, 7Company maintains a Weight Loss and Wellness Center at its Leesburg, VA headquarters and is a leading provider of affordable speakers and workshops on nutrition, stress, and other health related topics. The company’s mission is to “help our clients achieve a healthier lifestyle and improved well-being at an affordable price”. The company has a friendly, well-qualified and knowledgeable staff committed to helping its client’s look and feel their best. During any one year, over half of Americans go on a diet to lose weight. For many people, it is difficult to lose more than a few pounds and few succeed in remaining at the reduced weight. The difficulty in losing weight and keeping it off leads many people to turn to the 7Company Weight Loss and Wellness Center for help. The fundamental keys to success for its programs are through emotional and social support, as well as community education.

Presently, Ms. Seven remains active with the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce, the Society of Human Resource Managers, and the Occupational Health Nurses Association. She is a speaker for several local organizations, as well as a speaker on behalf of 7Company at corporate and government health fairs.

Ms. Seven received her Bachelor’s Degree from Goucher College and her Master’s Degree from George Washington University. She lives with her husband and three children in Aldie, VA.

Featured Speaker for Thursday, December 9, 2010
About our Speaker

“Failing my way to the top!”
As CEO of Undercover Printer, Amy Zydel has learned to not only roll with the punches but to embrace them. Ramping up Undercover Printer perfectly timed with the downfall of the economy, Amy’s “learn from your failures and never give up” attitude has created a business that has grown over 50% in the past two years where others in the print market have declined, or even closed.

“Failing to learn from your failures is just a waste of failing.”

Finding humor in those speed bumps of business and of life, Amy is not afraid to share the non-successes with others.  “We all fail – everyday! It is how one looks at life and learns from these mistakes and challenges that separates the winners from the whiners.”

From a salon owner, to marketing director, to Chief Informant, Amy has developed the knowledge and resources to help small to mid-sized companies all over the U.S. acquire the products and services that they need to get their message out effectively and affordably.

Originally from Buffalo, NY, Amy has an AA in Graphic Design and a BS in Marketing. She is the founder of Girl Power Networking, current Chair of the DRCC Ambassadors  Committee and volunteers her time to women and children centric charities.

Undercover Printer was named Dulles Regional’s Small Business of the Year and is a WBENC certified Women Business Enterprise.

Featured Speaker for November 11, 2010

As Founder and CEO of Information Experts, Marissa Levin leads the effort to define, shape, and evangelize the organization’s values, mission, vision, growth strategy, brand, and corporate culture.

Information Experts is an 8(a) certified, award-winning consultancy that Marissa founded in 1995 in her spare bedroom. IE helps companies and agencies align their business & human capital strategies, and fulfill their missions through compelling integrated communications and educational programs.

Marissa has led the organization’s entry into the federal market to achieve a sizeable presence in 17 agencies spanning all facets of government, the capture of multiple GSA schedules, the award of the highly competitive OPM TMA Human Capital and Training Contracts, and many others.

Through her knowledge organizational development, integrated communications, and other areas critical to business and organizational success, Ms. Levin has become known throughout the national business community as a leader and visionary. She is also the national Women’s Entrepreneurship columnist for the DC Examiner (http://www.examiner.com/x-12152-DC-Womens-Entrepreneurship-Examiner), and is a regular columnist for www.womengrowbusiness.com and The Washington Post (http://views.washingtonpost.com/on-success/panelists/marissa_levin/).

Marissa is also a Co-Founder of Voice of Entrepreneurs, the association that provides a forum for entrepreneurs and business creators – from all across the country – to share their views, concerns, and insights. VOE carries these points of view, and messages from the economic front lines back to our elected representatives in Washington, and our friends in the media.

Under her leadership, Information Experts was named as a small business success story for USAID, has won more than 70 awards for creativity and leadership, was named as a 2010 SmartCEO GovStar Industry Star, and was named to the Inc. 5000 List of America’s Fastest Growing Companies for 2009 and 2010.

Under her leadership, Information Experts was named as a small business success story for USAID, has won more than 70 awards for creativity and leadership, was named as a 2010 SmartCEO GovStar Industry Star, and was named to the Inc. 5000 List of America’s Fastest Growing Companies for 2009 and 2010.

Featured Speaker for October 13, 2010

Hi, I’m Maggie.

Many people ask me where I find inspiration for my sensual designs, and they are expecting to hear that it came from one of my trips to Hawaii or the Caribbean islands, or in the fabulous cities like New York or Santo Domingo in my native Dominican Republic. But, the answer is not any of those. I find my inspiration in the women I meet daily and in the fashion district when I purchase my fabrics.  Women and fabrics inspire me. Here is a picture of one of my models, Ann.

Each woman is different and so is each fabric.

I’m a self-made designer who believes that every woman can look amazing in her own style. I believe that women can be sensual and beautiful no matter what age, ethnicity, or size.  
I found my passion in life and I’d like to share it with the world. My love for fashion goes beyond the runway and beyond department stores. Fashion is different for every woman
Who am I? I’m an ordinary woman who has been given the opportunity to do what she loves in life…. fashion.

I cannot wait to share my passion with you.  

Featured Speaker for September 9, 2010

Karen began her career at AES Corporation in Arlington, VA as a project development specialist in Applied Energy Services, then served as corporate counsel for N.E.W. Customer Service Companies of Sterling, VA, the extended warranty company founded by her husband, Fred Schaufeld, that exclusively represented clients such as Best Buy, K-Mart and Walmart.

Karen is involved with numerous local and international charities related to education, poverty, healthcare, environment, Middle East peace and the advancement of the arts.  Karen is the founder of All Ages Read Together (AART) which is a non-profit program dedicated to providing low and moderate income preschool age children with a free one-on-one reading experience with older members of the community.

She also founded a second non-profit, 100 Women Strong which is a group of women seeking to strategically invest in organizations and programs that enrich the lives of Loudoun County citizens. 

Karen serves on the Board of Directors of the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts in Vienna, VA and the Amazon Conservation Team (ACT) in Arlington, VA.

Karen and her husband, Fred are investors in Venture Philanthropy Partners (VPP), comprised of individuals, families and institutions supporting the National Capital Beltway Region. VPP serves the needs of children of low-income families and demonstrates an entrepreneurial approach to philanthropy by providing growth capital for investments in non-profits and by financing VPP’s operations and plans through 2014.

Karen holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and in Government from Lehigh University, College of Arts and Sciences, then received her JD from George Washington School of Law.Karen, Fred and their children Haley, Jake and Max reside in Leesburg, VA.

Featured Speaker for August 5th, 2010

A practicing pharmacist for over 20 years, Cheri Garvin is the President and CEO of Leesburg Pharmacy, Inc. Their three employee-owned pharmacies offer custom compounded medication, medical equipment, wellness screenings, immunizations and wonderful gifts. Leesburg Pharmacy also provides services to local Assisted Living Facilities. Cheri’s goal is to grow the business while providing a positive experience for each customer.

Cheri enjoys being involved in the pharmacy industry and the local community. She mentors students, and is a guest speaker at local schools, and for various pharmacy organizations. Cheri serves on The National Community Pharmacist Association’s Steering Committee and volunteers at many community events. She is a member of the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce, American Pharmacist Association, National Community Pharmacists Association, Virginia Pharmacist Association, Leesburg Daybreak Rotary Club, NAWBO and the eWomen Network.

Cheri is a graduate of The Medical College of Virginia, and has served as a faculty member at Shenandoah University and The Medical College of Virginia. She was recently honored as one of Loudoun’s Leading Ladies in Loudoun Business, and was awarded the SmartCEO Brava Achievement Award as a top female executive in the metro area. Cheri resides in her hometown of Leesburg, VA with her husband and two sons.

Featured Speaker for May 19th, 2010

Kim Lysik Di Santi is a wife, mother, sister, daughter, pet owner, friend, confidante and cheerleader to her clients, executive coach and president of Total Strategy. She provides coaching to clients around the country.

Kim launched her executive coaching business from her home office in Reston, Va., in 1999, after spending 19 years in sales and marketing in the newspaper business.  She held management positions at Gannett and Tribune Company newspapers as well as at the Newspaper Advertising Bureau and served as sales director at Washington Post-Newsweek Interactive.

A graduate of Coach University, Kim is an authority on the administration and analysis of behavioral assessments. She is a Certified Professional Behavioral Analyst and a Certified Professional Values Analyst. She works with small business owners, entrepreneurs, executives and sales professionals to help them increase their revenue.

At age 43, Kim found herself–pleasantly and unexpectedly–pregnant with her first child. Son Zachary, now 5, is her pride and joy. He also turned her life upside down. She had always been a focused, organized career woman. Kim’s challenge was to adapt herself at mid-career to having a young child, wanting to enjoy her time with him and keep her business going. This true-life experience is the basis for her column on WomenEntrepreneur.com, The Mother Lode.