“20 years ago, I visited a friend’s older sister at her workplace, a trendy PR powerhouse on K Street in Washington, DC. I still remember how excited she was to tell me all about what public relations professionals do and how she thought I’d be great at it. I decided right then and there to major in communications at Old Dominion University. From interning at ODU’s development office, to the media relations firm in New York City where I landed my first media pitch, to the small, woman-owned business in DC where I spent over a decade supporting federal government contracts, through my own challenges—and let’s call it an ‘evolving’ understanding of what public relations should look like—I remain committed to helping clients and stakeholders communicate effectively. I founded Avid Core to better achieve this commitment to myself and the individuals and communities I’ve worked with throughout my career. I live in Woodbridge, VA—my hometown—with my parents, husband, pre-teen, and toddler. We spend most of our weekends traveling the east coast watching my oldest play softball for Hampton University.”