"My love of foreign languages and other cultures became a guiding influence in my life at a young age. Throughout my formal education, I studied Japanese, Chinese, French, and Spanish, and I had the opportunity to study abroad in several countries. I think nothing impacts young minds like seeing firsthand how other people live. After leaving James Madison University with a B.A. in International Affairs, I began work at the Virginia Governor’s Office where I found my second love – editing. There is something very satisfying about transforming a document into clear, understandable communication that audiences can appreciate as relatable. My third love, local government, found its way to me a few years later. I appreciate the direct and daily impact on local communities that municipal work offers.  Avid Core’s mission and the projects we support allow me to nurture all three of these passions. I live in Spotsylvania, Virginia, and have a 15-year-old son who is the love of my life. We spend our weekends travelling for volleyball, and our goal is, once a year, to go someplace we have never been."

“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.”

“I’ve always disliked the feeling of being on the sidelines and not having a voice in decisions that impacted my daily life. At a young age, that discomfort led me to work with the Superintendent of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (NC) and eventually the Mayor’s Office to improve educational outcomes for local high-need schools. Since graduating Davidson College with a degree in Political Science and Economics, I’ve strengthened this passion and experience into engaging and equipping underrepresented groups to have direct control over their built environments. From working with cities across the country to shape the next generation of workforce development to exploring how parking subsidies can be used by individuals without cars, I work every day to ensure more people feel empowered to come off the sidelines and be active organizers of their lives.” 

“As a young arts student, I was fortunate to live near Washington, DC and have parents who appreciated the great resources the city had to offer. I distinctly remember visiting The Phillips Collection and my father excitedly pointing out a Paul Klee. I was unimpressed. My perspective aligns more closely with my father’s now, and I’m happy to report my own seven-year-old is more receptive to the nuances of different styles and movements. Like me, she only has a favorite color to be succinct when asked. Her real favorite “color” is the rainbow wheel we make at least weekly, using Adobe Illustrator. There’s beauty in every color, every style, and every story. That’s what makes working with Avid Core so rewarding. We build stories that empower and connect communities and individuals. I’m proud to support the team with my almost 20 years’ experience uniting creative elements into cohesive, impactful packages. Also, I’m happy to send you a rainbow wheel on request.”

“Live with Regis and Ashley! That’s what my mom called it when I would bring in my toy microphone and host my own show, interviewing everyone from my stuffed animals to any friend of my parents that happened to stop by. Since graduating from Southern Methodist University with a degree in journalism,  I’ve worked as a journalist across the South and in DC, crafted social media strategies, and spearheaded communications training at nonprofits and associations, but my core values and focus have remained the same as they were in my parents’ living room—I want to get to know your ‘why’ and help you communicate with impact.”

In my last position working in the research field, I realized we know a lot about how to keep kids safe in cars; the issue was that information was not communicated to the public. As I started to look forward to the next steps of my life and starting graduate school to potentially go into a career in the research field, I wanted to learn how to communicate findings in an effective way. This is what drew me to Avid Core. During the day, I learn about how to effectively message ideas, while at night I am a graduate student at American University working towards a master's in Terrorism and Homeland Security Policy. I hope to learn from Avid Core how to engage all necessary stakeholders into a conversation and how to inform the public about relevant findings.

If anybody had told that middle child from a small town in Colombia that one day she’d go across the continent on her own to experience a different culture, speak another language, and even jump into a shark cage, she wouldn’t have believed it. Imagine her surprise now that she’s close to graduating from Marymount University with a degree in Communications, a minor in Business Administration, and a certificate in User Experience Research and Design. The same desire for growth and curiosity for people’s stories that has led me through initiatives in radio, communications, film, and content creation, today motivates me to help others from diverse backgrounds like myself feel seen, heard, and connected. I enjoy collaborating on innovative projects that inspire, empower, and engage audiences through strategic communications, compelling digital experiences, and human-centric approaches. My journey now continues at Avid Core, where I’m getting equipped for yet another adventure learning how effective outreach and impactful messaging move the conversation forward and bring communities and organizations together. Needless to say, that child still can’t believe it!

“As a young child in Cuba, I wasn’t used to seeing women in high-regarding positions. When my family and I relocated to the United States as refugees, I remember being starstruck by women in leadership. I would play pretend “businesswoman” as one of my favorite pastimes and my love of business and project management has only grown since that time. Being part of the Avid Core team is the ultimate manifestation of that childhood dream and then some. Engaging and working with our team is always insightful and empowering. Seven-year-old me would be proud!”

“Throughout college I was unsure of what I wanted to do with my degree in political science, but I knew I wanted to make a difference. This desire to make an impact led me to explore a career in outreach and communications. I wanted to help people learn about the projects in their communities. Although this may seem like a completely different career path, my political science degree allows me to implement my research skills and knowledge of the impact of political systems into outreach and communication. Joining Avid Core gives me a chance to be part of a team that focuses on reaching underserved communities and informing those who have typically not been made aware of major programs or projects.  I’m learning how to make connections through writing and have the opportunity to do what I always wanted — to reach the unreachable.”

"My fascination with the natural environment influenced my career path - from starting in a laboratory analyzing contaminants, to field investigation, regulatory reviews and program management. Growing up without handheld devices, I was left with idle time wandering through creeks, wetlands, sewers, and forests. After finishing at Virginia Tech with a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology, a minor in Chemistry and a concentration in Molecular Biology, my first stop was at a professional laboratory analyzing biological tissue, water and soil contaminants. After spending time supporting multiple Federal clients, I completed a Master’s program in Environmental Management while balancing family life raising three very young children with my wife (and high school sweetheart). In addition to serving as a subject matter expert, I had the opportunity to manage large Federal contracts and mix-disciplined project teams supporting clients across the United States and internationally. I am passionate about understanding a client’s needs, educating them on regulatory requirements, and the steps they can take to mitigate and minimize environmental impacts. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family, coaching football, attending equestrian events and cheer competitions, and taking every opportunity to put down the electronic devices and enjoy nature."

“As the unofficial family administrative assistant and gadget guru, I quickly learned the importance of clear communication, new technology and building relationships. Shortly after graduating from York College of Pennsylvania with a degree in Public Relations and Marketing, I was able to launch my career in public service. My first project gave me the opportunity to travel across the country and meet fascinating people that wanted their voices to be heard. This sparked my passion for connecting people to find solutions. Since then, I’ve worked with various agencies to help promote innovative technology and improve users’ digital experiences for nearly 20 years. When I’m not on my devices, I am chasing the next adventure with my husband, daughters and dog.”

"I love being part of an organization where I can have the opportunity to thrive and make a difference. As an administrative professional with over 25 years of experience working in numerous industries, I've gained knowledge that has strongly contributed to my work ethic. I strive to make an impact in the work that I do and work alongside my peers for the success of the business and our mission."

“Ever since I was the editor of my high school newspaper, and throughout my career, I’ve loved being close to the sources of information and being able to tell stories in a way that addressed all perspectives. It was this love for information sharing that led to me to pursue a degree in Integrated Marketing Communications at Ithaca College. I’ve combined my communications expertise with my passion for fairness and objectivity to help my federal government and private sector clients reach new audiences and encourage public involvement. Along the way, I have developed a robust understanding of federal government contracting, project management, and business development. I live in Northern Virginia with my husband, my cat, and my two young children, who constantly test my empathy and communications skills.”

"My career path has seen a lot of twists and turns, but at the end of the day, the one craft I consider integral to my being, both personally and professionally, is the art of writing. The written word has meant a lot to me for a long time. Finding authors I still love to this day helped me get through high school; being able to express myself through writing allowed me to better grasp various concepts and themes in college while taking aesthetics and art history courses; and writing in my spare time, from poetry to short prose, lets me discover new ways of communicating my ideas and feelings. After interning or contributing at various places, I worked at a locally-owned newspaper in Falls Church, Virginia, just outside of Washington, D.C. While what I do at present is nothing like being part of the weekly news business, my appreciation and respect for the craft of writing and for all the benefits that come from clear, equitable communication have led me to Avid Core. With Avid Core, I'm given the opportunity to apply my knowledge and experience to a very different sort of writing, learning new things along the way, and helping push forward a variety of dialogues and projects in the DMV region and across the nation."

"I am fascinated by how the world works. My grandparents lived in Japan and traveled extensively. Their stories enchanted me, and I wanted the same experiences and insights. I studied economics and history at Miami University (Ohio) and then set off traveling. I spent a year in China and two and a half years in the Peace Corps in Bulgaria. The time abroad deepened my appreciation for the complexity of world systems and how we manage them. I have worked with an array of government clients providing strategy, budget, and systems and operational solutions that impact not only our nation, but our international partners. I love building teams to solve analytical challenges and helping our clients execute their mission. While traveling, I met my wife and she convinced me to move to Northern Virginia. We have two children whose activities are my other full-time job."