Chamber Insider Blog

I founded Bow Tie Strategies in September 2012 in Leesburg, the town where I grew up. Over the past 14 years, the business has grown into an award-winning community affairs and event management firm, helping businesses and organizations tell their stories, build relationships, and bring people together.

A defining chapter began in 2016 when we took over management and production of the Tarara Summer Concert Series. For 11 seasons, our team handled everything from marketing and sponsorships to staffing and the guest experience. We navigated the pandemic, rebuilt attendance, and eventually surpassed our successes before COVID.

That experience helped expand our work in tourism and economic development. We’ve seen firsthand how a well-produced event can introduce people to Loudoun, support local businesses, and become a tradition that families build their summers around.

I’m most proud of the ownership our team takes in the work. They care about the details, look out for one another, and understand that how we treat people matters.

At Tarara, the team’s Saturdays started long before the gates opened and continued after the last guest left. In 2026, 54 people helped make that experience possible. Behind every evening of music were people solving problems, welcoming guests, and doing the work that allowed everyone else to relax and enjoy themselves.

I’ve also had the privilege of watching team members grow in confidence and take on more responsibility. Seeing someone discover what they’re capable of is one of the most rewarding parts of owning this business.

What sets your business apart?

We understand how to connect the story we tell with the experience we deliver. We can help a client develop their message, build partnerships, attract an audience, and then be there making sure the event runs well when everyone arrives.

Producing Tarara for 11 seasons gave us a practical understanding of what it takes to earn people’s trust and keep them coming back. A compelling promotion gets someone through the gate; every interaction after that helps determine whether they return.

We bring that same care to our client relationships. We get personally invested, ask questions, and take responsibility for the outcome. Our clients work directly with people who care deeply about their success.

How do you give back to Loudoun?

As a ninth-generation Loudouner, giving back is personal. This community has shaped my life and supported my business, and I want to help create opportunities for others here.

Through the Bow Tie Fund, we support the arts and education initiatives, with particular attention to children from single-parent households. Our school supply drives have brought concert guests and community members together to support local elementary students, including students at Frederick Douglass Elementary School.
I also serve through Visit Loudoun, the Town of Leesburg Economic Development Commission, and the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington. Those roles allow me to contribute to conversations about tourism, small business, and opportunities for families. I care about how Loudoun grows and who gets to benefit from that growth.

What would it mean to you and your business to win a Loudoun Small Business Award?

Being recognized by the community where we live and work would mean a great deal to us. Loudoun has been part of Bow Tie’s story from the beginning.

For our team, this award would recognize years of dedication, including the early mornings, late nights, and unexpected challenges that guests and clients rarely see. I would love for the team to have that moment together and know how much their work is valued.

It would be especially meaningful following our final season at Tarara. We put so much of ourselves into that experience, and we’re proud of what it contributed to Loudoun’s tourism community.

Who is one person who has influenced you most in your career?

My mother. Her advice has always been, “Never wonder what if—and be willing to fail.”

That advice has stayed with me as a business owner. Starting a company means making decisions without knowing exactly how everything will turn out. Taking on Tarara was one of those decisions, and I’m grateful I didn’t leave myself wondering what might have happened.

Her words remind me that I don’t need every answer before taking an opportunity seriously. I need to be willing to try, do the work, and learn along the way.

One of the most meaningful things I’ve had the opportunity to do outside of work is officiate weddings. Being trusted to help tell a couple’s story and stand beside them during such an important moment is a real privilege.

I enjoy getting to know their story, finding the humor in it, and creating a ceremony that sounds and feels like them. There’s usually plenty of laughter and a few tears.

I’ve also learned that an essential part of the job is getting out of the way quickly enough to stay out of the first-kiss photo.

How do you see your business evolving over the next five years?

I see Bow Tie continuing to grow in community relations, event production, and tourism and economic development marketing. We’ve learned a great deal about bringing people to a destination and giving them a reason to return, and I want to build on that experience.

After 11 seasons at Tarara, I would love to create new opportunities for live music and community gatherings in Loudoun. I also want to continue investing in our team, developing future leaders, and building lasting client relationships.

My goal is to grow a business that creates meaningful opportunities for our people and contributes to the community that has supported us.