DCFunemployment: Tell the people – Who are you?
My name is Lauren Friedman and I am an author, illustrator, and stylist. I am the author of 50 Ways to Wear Denim and 50 Ways to Wear a Scarf, and the creator of the My Closet in Sketches project.
DCFunemployment: Tell the people – Who are you?
I am Rosana Vollmerhausen, the founder and chief stylist of DC Style Factory. We are a full-service personal styling company based in the DC area. We audit closets, shop with and for clients, help define personal style, and make life easier for hundreds of men and women each year. We also produce style workshops, give style talks, host area fashion events, and provide pro style advice that appears in local media (Bethesda Magazine, The Washingtonian, The Washington Post, NPR, WJLA News Channel 8).
RV: We believe personal is for everyone regardless of age, size or budget. If key wardrobe pieces make sense for who and where you are, a put- together and polished personal style is accessible to anyone who wants it. I am married with three kids ages 11, 8 and 5. I have a middle schooler and a kindergartner this year, which is definitely keeping me on my toes!
DCFunemployment: Tell the people – Who are you?
My name is Darin Michelle (full name Darin Gilliam). I am a Lead Designer for the Symmetry Agency and 19FIFTYTHREE, blogger at darinmichelle.com and foodieannapolis.com, and a lover of music and fresh baked doughnuts. (DCF: She’s also the rock star that designed the DCFunemployment logo and the soon to be revealed logo for As It Happens!!)
DCFunemployment: Tell the people – Who are you?
Susannah Marlowe-Galan – owner – Alumbra Photography
I follow Jesus.
I’m a mama to two crazy little girls (and a little boy coming soon!), and wife to my handsome husband Josue.
I love salt and vinegar chips and coffee (not together, silly!), foreign language, my backyard hammock, DIY remodeling our home with my husband and our little helpers, and games of all kinds (but especially the loud, yelling, laughing kind).
I own Alumbra Photography and Unveil by Alumbra; two photography brands that are committed to photographing people authentically and beautifully and capturing seasons of life so that they may be remembered for generations to come. (DCF: Her work is AMAZING!!! She makes you look good!!)
DCFunemployment: Tell the people – Who are you?
I (Christine Swanson) had an interesting and circuitous trajectory. I had a stellar beginning, earning my MFA in Film from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. I was selected by NYU faculty as the Willard T.C. Johnson Fellow, the most prestigious fellowship given to the student who has achieved high standards in his or her work. CNN identified me as one of the most promising filmmakers to emerge from NYU’s graduate film program since Martin Scorsese, Ang Lee, Oliver Stone and Spike Lee (her directing teacher) – (DCF: no pressure lol). I have developed, written and/or directed movie projects for HBO Films, Magnolia Pictures, State Street Pictures, TV One and Faith Filmworks. I am also a professor at the MFA Screenwriting Program at the University of Georgia as well as an advisor to the Film and Television program at the University of Notre Dame, my undergraduate alma mater. My upcoming feature, “Buffalo Soldier Girl,” is written by best-selling author and 2015 Texas Writer of the Year, Sarah Bird, as an original work inspired by historical facts. The screenplay is also a winner of the Meryl Streep Writer’s Lab Screenwriting Competition.
Recently I co-wrote and directed, “The Miki Howard Story” which broke network ratings as the most watched original movie in the network’s history.
DCFunemployment: Tell the people – Who are you?
Kenya Bryant, One in the Oven: Women’s Business Incubator, Head Vision Enthusiast and Owner
“She believed she could so she did” encompasses the vision behind One in the Oven. We carry something so important that it needs to be pursued now. It could be a dream to teach English to students in Costa Rica or a vision for a business that will change our community. We each have a vision inside of us that if pursued, even if we fail to achieve it fully the world is better off because we tried (Tim O’Reilly). One in the Oven is an incubator where women are growing in empowerment; which already exists deep inside them to fulfilling dreams and crafting reality to where life is given to their visions that are continuously placed on their hearts. It’s where women can run, succeed and establish the foundation for long term growth. It’s where passions are birthed, ideas incubated and businesses transformed from thoughts to entrepreneurial reality. There’s support, resources and mentorship to embrace every woman’s desire and move it to the next level, where she can meet an eager world’s needs. What’s your dream? What vision are you holding and how can One in the Oven help you bear it to life?
DCFunemployment: Tell the people – Who are you?
Noor Tagouri, Newsy , Anchor
Since launching the viral #letnoorshine campaign in 2012, Noor Tagouri has gained international attention as one of the most talked about young adults in the country. Determined to become the first hijabi journalist on commercial television in the United States, Tagouri has embarked on a unique journey to achieve her dream, breaking down significant barriers in the process. She has since become an associate journalist for CBS radio in Washington D.C, graduated from one of the top journalism schools at the age of 20, become a local news reporter in the DC metro area for CTV News, and has traveled all over the world as a motivational speaker.
DCFunemployment: Tell the people – Who are you?
My name’s Kimberly Kong, and I’m the lifestyle blogger behind Sensible Stylista. I first started blogging in 2011 because I wanted to learn more about social media (DCF: Way to take the plunge right in!). I had just graduated from Juilliard with my Master’s degree in Piano Performance, and I felt like my career needed a pick-me-up. I was trying to, in essence, become my own manager by learning the ropes firsthand. and I knew the internet was where the party was at. After posting for a solid month or so, I started to really get into it! Fast forward 5 years, and here I am posting about life + style at least 4x a week.
DCFunemployment: Tell the people – Who are you?
Ciera Gallub, Pelonkey, Operations Unicorn (DCF: Love your title!). Pelonkey is your one stop shop for everything entertainment! If you are planning an event or a party, sign up for free and shop online at Pelonkey.com; if you are the entertainment, sign up for free and use Pelonkey.com to secure your bookings, manage your schedule, and promote yourself!
I am happiest with the sun on my face and great company by my side. I have a hard time sitting still in all manners of life. I love genuinely getting to know people and learning what makes them laugh. A hot cup of tea can calm me down in seconds, and I love all things beige. On a more serious note, I graduated from Christopher Newport University with a BA in Communications & Leadership, and I have been working with my sister, Nicole, in DC ever since!
DCFunemployment: Tell the people – Who are you?
My name is Stephanie David and I’m the founder and CEO of POPNOD, a marketing strategy studio that champions brands with purpose. In 2013, I took the plunge (DCF: whooooo, sometimes you gotta take the leap) and left corporate life at Microsoft, where I led teams in business development and partnerships. Inspired by a memorable trip to Thailand, where I witnessed the powerful work of a humble family rescuing elephants, I decided that I wanted to help the powerful stories that matter be heard. Our team at POPNOD helps brands grow through marketing strategies and creative campaigns that amplify their stories. We are based in DC, but our clients include fashion and lifestyle brands in DC, Nashville, and LA. This is my dream job, because I’ve always loved storytelling!
The Funemployed 