Black History Month Spotlight: Rachel Payne, Ph.D, Vice President of Advocacy and Public Policy, Didlake Inc.

by Sarah Spencer

Thank you to Rachel Payne of Didlake for answering our questions! Where were you born and raised and, if it was someplace else, when and why did you come to Loudoun? I was born and raised in Newport News, VA, but my father’s family was originally from Loudoun County, and I grew up visiting the […]

Hispanic Heritage Month Spotlight 2025: Jack Vega, Claude Moore Charitable Foundation

by Andrea Winey

Thank you to Board Member Jack Vega of the Claude Moore Charitable Foundation for answering a few questions about your journey. Where were you born and raised, and if it was someplace else, when and why did you come to Loudoun? I was born in Medellin, Colombia, and was raised there until the age of […]

Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month Spotlight: Yasmin Virani

by Andrea Winey

Thank you to our DEIA Committe Vice Chair Yasmin Virani, owner of Yas Consulting Services (YCS), for being our spotlight this month! Where were you born and raised, and if it was someplace else, when and why did you come to Loudoun? I was born in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and raised in a Pakistani […]

Women’s History Month Spotlight: Michele Burton

by Andrea Winey

Thank you to Michele Burton, Founding Partner at Clark Nelson & Burton, PLLC, for answering our questions! Where were you born and raised and, if it was someplace else, when and why did you come to Loudoun? I was born and raised in Portsmouth, Virginia, an Official Coast Guard City located in Hampton Roads. After graduating from […]

Women’s History Month Spotlight: Krishna Cart

by Andrea Winey

Thank you to Krishna Cart, MA Ed, NBCT of The Masterpiece Academy for answering a few of our questions! Where were you born and raised, and if it was someplace else, when and why did you come to Loudoun? I was born and raised in the Philippines, where I founded and operated my own private […]

Women’s History Month: Susan Carroll, Inova Loudoun Hospital

by Andrea Winey

Thank you to Susan Carroll, President at Inova Loudoun Hospital, for taking the time to answer a few questions for Women’s History Month. Where were you born and raised and, if it was someplace else, when and why did you come to Loudoun? I grew up in Northern Virginia — born in Alexandria and raised […]

Women’s History Month Spotlight: Therese Cashen

by Andrea Winey

Thank you Therese Cashen of Loudoun Habitat for Humanity for answering a few of our questions for Women’s History Month! Where were you born and raised and, if it was someplace else, when and why did you come to Loudoun? Born in Germany, my father was stationed there during his military service. Raised in Baltimore […]

Women’s History Month Spotlight: Bernadine J. Dykes, PhD

by Andrea Winey

Thank you to Chamber Board Member Bernadine J. Dykes, PhD, Associate Dean of Graduate Programs and Professor of Management at Shenandoah University School of Business, for answering a few questions for Women’s History Month! Where were you born and raised and, if it was someplace else, when and why did you come to Loudoun? I was raised in […]