In her professional life Keri Ann Meslar is the a District Marketing Manager for Vitaminwater flavored drinks, but she is much better known for her fundraising savvy. From her first official benefit (charity match polo), through her many, MANY others, (the Corcoran Art Gallery Fall Fete, Fashion For Paws, etc.) Keri has made her mark, quickly realizing though that it is better to concentrate her efforts on one or two charities. Just as quickly it became apparent that getting the right people involved was the key to her fundraising success.

Losing is not an option. At least it’s not in the eyes of local boxer, Tori Nelson.

Four years ago, Tori walked through the doors of a local gym. She greeted the owner, Craig Fladager, with her sweet southern twang, and he proudly recalls their first meeting. “Tori came into the gym overweight and as burly looking as they come. When I asked what her goals were, I expected to hear what every other mom says- something to the effect of wanting to lose weight and get in shape. Not Tori. She looked at me and said, “I want to be the World Champion. I want to win the title.” That day, Fladager knew that he had found something special.

Never say never... At least that is what local realtor, Gina Tufano has recently learned.
Self-described as “quirky,” Gina has demonstrated a track record of success in real estate and in reproduction. If running a team consisting of two referral agents, two buyer’s agents, and a full-time assistant and having two boys ages fifteen and twelve at home wasn’t enough, Gina and her husband recently decided to add to the managed chaos. Gina is expecting a baby lovingly nicknamed “the bean” this January. With a whole new chapter about to start, Gina makes it known that recent life changes have definitely made her refocus and that “Life is a balancing act.”

They say home is where the heart is, and if so, Gladys Abi-Najm’s heart spans the globe. Her journey from Lebanon to America in 1976 at the age of 10 seems like something out of a movie, with her parents and four siblings fleeing in the night on a boat, in the midst of a civil war, with no more than what each could carry, representing the life of impoverishment they were leaving behind, without even the luxury of saying goodbye to their loved ones. Their only two material items of value: an onyx candy holder and vase, still cherished to this day, the symbols of poverty and wealth, and the fortitude of a family that bridged these two together.

“Everyone has something in them that they're supposed to do. They just have to find it.” Those words—spoken by clothing designer, Cindy Bapst—are so much more than words to her. Indeed, Cindy really believes that we all have a destiny of sorts and that it's up to each of us to seek out and fulfill our dreams.

Cindy has certainly done just that. Today, she's the founder and owner of Union of Angels, a women’s clothing line that epitomizes bohemian chic with beautiful silhouettes and effortless style. But she wasn't always a designer, and even though her designs have been recently been courted by Warner Brothers and Bravo Network’s The Real Housewives of D.C., she still very humbly refers to herself as an “aspiring designer.”

The dark wood paneling and low lighting at the Morton’s Steakhouse in Tysons Corner at first exudes a masculine environment from a bygone era - a smokey, gentlemen-only club with burly, pinstripe-suited men smoking cigars making deals across the white linen covered tables.

But as General Manager for Mortons, Maura Delaney soon brightens the room. She is a feminine, petite blonde in a fairly male-dominated industry. With an Irish brogue that will melt your heart, she makes you feel like you just came to Sunday dinner at a friend’s house. But being small in stature doesn’t reflect the intensity and drive that she exudes in her day-to-day management style.

“Joisey” Home to Bon Jovi, The Sopranos, Catch22, and Princeton University. Currently known as the place with big hair, fake tans, and home of Snooki. Many from here claim all roads… or turnpikes lead to Jersey. Meet Jersey girl through and through Rachelle Fletcher.

She might be known as the girl in the four inch heels and a fur vest screaming wildly at a football game. Or as the friend that throws parties for every holiday imaginable. But to many, this petite, dark haired raven full of spunk is known as the “Boss.” And we’re not talking Bruce Springsteen.

After having your "not so typical" Jersey upbringing- She went to a small, Quaker high school with a graduating class of 36, Rachelle set off to have the full college experience and attended Virginia Tech. She never looked back.

There's No Harmony If Everyone Sings the Same Song

I peer at the clock in the wee hours, moan in the dark, and turn over as I feel the vibration from my neighbor’s garage door open. There’s Jen, up at the crack of dawn heading out to work, where she drives a school bus for Loudoun County. Hauling her sleepy tot with her, she savors the short time she will have with her until she heads off to kindergarten. You may have noticed her blazing pink hair and white sunglasses one week driving through the Broadlands, and dark Merlot-colored hair the next. One never knows what color her closely cropped locks will be from week to week. She is always a work in progress.