Community & Guest List
Beth McRae is president of The McRae Agency, celebrating 25 years in 2020. She has represented clients for PR work in numerous industries and has notable clients such as Google, Sprint, CBRE, KB Home, Sunny Delight and Solatube International, to name a few. She has received over 45 awards for her work, including the Bank of America Enterprise award. She has a journalism degree, a marketing degree and an MBA, unusual for her field.
Dr. Lisa Lewis Ellis is a John Maxwell Team Certified Coach, Speaker, Teacher, & Trainer, a best-selling author and sought-after Spiritual Strategist. She is the CEO & Founder of Kick Boxing Believers, L.L.C., a transformational business dedicated to teaching individuals and groups how to achieve prosperity and personal success by releasing mental restraints of self-limiting belief systems. Dr. Lisa is the host of the television and radio show Living Outside the Box Broadcast. She is also a contributor to KivoDaily.com.
Michael H. Drobnis is the CEO of OptfinITy, LLC, , a technology solutions firm which has received numerous industry awards including a ranking of the top 250 small technology businesses worldwide. Mr. Drobnis has over 22 years of technology experience across many different industries and disciplines, including but not limited to records management, disaster recovery and business continuance planning, system security, web design and development, project management, technology and infrastructure design. As an accomplished technology executive and project manager, his vision and expertise have helped hundred's of organizations work smarter and more efficiently through the use and development of proper technology solutions and collaboration tools. Mr. Drobnis received his MBA with a concentration in technology from the McCallum Graduate School of Business at Bentley University in Massachusetts. He has served on the Fairfax County Information Technology Policy Advisory Committee, the ITT Technical Institute Curriculum Advisory Board, as the President and on the board of the Springfield Chamber of Commerce and on the board of the Central Fairfax Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Drobnis is an alumni of Leadership Fairfax and The FBI Citizens Academy and is the proud father of 3 girls in West Springfield.
Christine Brooks-Cropper is President and CEO of the DC Fashion Foundation (DCFF). She holds a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Delaware and received a Bachelor of Arts-Sociology degree from Delaware State University. She is a proud mother to her son, Christian.
As President and CEO of the DC Fashion Foundation, she identifies ways to retain and support new and established designers, fashion retailers, professionals and assist design students transitioning from school to career. Christine spearheaded the formation of the Commission on Fashion Arts and Events in DC Government with the message that fashion is an asset to economic development, served as Chairman for Mayor Gray and Mayor Bowser from 2013 to 2017.
As President and CEO of the DC Fashion Foundation, she identifies ways to retain and support new and established designers, fashion retailers, professionals and assist design students transitioning from school to career. Christine spearheaded the formation of the Commission on Fashion Arts and Events in DC Government with the message that fashion is an asset to economic development, served as Chairman for Mayor Gray and Mayor Bowser from 2013 to 2017.
As the founder and president of By George HR Solutions, Diana found a common thread with most of her clients; the ability to hire employees that fit their company culture.
Diana has worked with global companies such as BOSE and the luxury watch company OMEGA. Diana brings with her over three decades of experience and learned early on how to motivate and get the best out of people which she now teaches organizations.
A co-author in “Anatomy of Accomplishment” Diana’s shares seven strategies on how to have a winning company culture. She teaches companies how to attract, hire and keep their top talent. Diana is the number one person you go to when you want to hire right the first time.
Diana has worked with global companies such as BOSE and the luxury watch company OMEGA. Diana brings with her over three decades of experience and learned early on how to motivate and get the best out of people which she now teaches organizations.
A co-author in “Anatomy of Accomplishment” Diana’s shares seven strategies on how to have a winning company culture. She teaches companies how to attract, hire and keep their top talent. Diana is the number one person you go to when you want to hire right the first time.
Dennis Glennon is an award winning wildlife, landscape, and dog photographer. He is also the author of the 2 time Benjamin Franklin award winner for his Best Children's Picture book Buddy's Magic Window. Mr. Glennon can be found at juried Art and Craft shows and author events all over North America. Learn more about him at Dennisglennon.com
Kate is the founder and CEO of People First Content. She has a PhD in English Language and Literature from the University of Tulsa and has been writing web content for over a decade. She loves working with business owners and company leaders to develop content strategies that will create a lasting impact.
Sophie Chiche is a multi-talented entrepreneur, author, speaker, journalist, and psychologist. Equal parts philosophical and practical, Sophie has a unique ability to cut through the BS that keep people trapped in frameworks that don’t match their dreams. Her newest venture, becurrent, is a unique productivity method that shows people not just how to be productive but to be "productive with purpose." One of her most notable entrepreneurial ventures was the creation of Shape House, an L.A.-based "sweat shop" featured on Good Morning America, The Doctors, and Ellen.
For as long as the commercial internet has been around, CEO and co-founder of Healthy-Finds, Pete Meyer, has worked in the online marketing industry. In that time, Pete and his business partner Scott Black have generated over $100 million in online sales through their company, BCM Direct.Pete has poured his wealth of knowledge into Healthy-Finds with the vision of helping brands create and sustain customer relationships in a digitized world. Pete and his wife Elisabeth also have 5 wonderful children who keep him (almost!) as busy as his unwavering work ethic and commitment to innovation.
Michael Rasile is the Founder of Our Athletes where he helps Olympic athletes and hopefuls find sponsorship and endorsement opportunities. He has also started the 'Our Athletes' podcast where he speaks with Olympians on their story and path to the games, as well as 'For the Love of Sports' where he speak with people in the sports world about what they do, why they love it, and the mindset they employ on a daily basis to take it to the top!
