Women in the News

Melanie Miles Becomes Certified Travel Ambassador

In early January 2010, Melanie Miles was notified that she had passed her qualifying exam and was named a Certified Tourism Ambassador.™ (CTA). The CTA Program is a ground-breaking, nationwide certification program that serves to increase tourism by training and inspiring front-line hospitality employees and volunteers to work together to turn every visitor encounter into a positive experience. The area of Virginia that Melanie is qualified to address covers the 180 miles from along Route 15/20 from Gettysburg in Pennsylvania to Monticello in Charlottesville Virginia.  This becomes the Journey Through Hallowed Ground -- a treasure trove of local culture, loaded with vibrant downtowns, wonderful inns, restaurants, markets and shops. It’s alive with breathtaking views, natural landscapes, and a bounty of farms, wineries and local foods for everyone to enjoy. One can explore historic places on and near this historic route, the Old Carolina Road, a scenic and historically rich landscape that has "soaked up more of the blood, sweat, and tears of American history than any other part of the country," according to the late historian C. Vann Woodward. For more information about the Journey Through Hallowed Ground, visit the website: www.hallowedground.org.

Rebekah Phelps. Local (Reston, VA) Entrepreneur of Personal Concierge Services

Some people are just natural organizers of space, of things and of people.  And so it was some 4 years ago that Rebekah Phelps realized that she could turn this passion for organizing into a business.  But the services go well beyond just the organizing. In fact, no two clients utilize the services in the exact same manner. This is the beauty of Extra You: Rebekah and her staff of part timers offer flexible hours to fit virtually any client’s needs.   Clients pay for the amount of time they need to keep their personal and professional lives running smoothly.  Extra You, LLC offers personal concierge & life management services in an innovative model to Northern Virginia and the Washington, D.C. area.  While many busy individuals can benefit from the utilization of a personal assistant (to help run errands, assist with bill paying, organizing your home or business, provide in-home senior services, or property management) the cost or hassle of employing a full-time assistant can be prohibitive.  In short, Extra You does things you’re too busy to do, don’t know how to do, can’t do or just plain don’t want to do!  

Leslie McKeough, LCSW

In these days of economic disparities, real estate difficulties and unemployment, many families have a very tough time coping.  Another friend of the Women’s Forum is Leslie McKeough, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker specializing in Perinatal/Postpartum issues, adolescent and family therapy, and maintains a private practice in Leesburg, VA.  With over 10 years experience as an individual and family therapist, and as a graduate of Boston College Graduate School of Social Work specializing in Cognitive-Behavioral and Interpersonal Therapy, Leslie currently serves as a private practitioner working with a broad spectrum of clients. Among her areas of expertise are individual and couple work related to pregnancy, perinatal loss, and postpartum issues.  Additionally I have many years of experience working with adolescents and families with issues related to depression, anxiety, bipolar, anger management, school refusal, substance abuse, conduct and behavioral issues as well as family dynamics and relationships.  We are glad to call Leslie a friend to our networking group.

Miriam Nasuti’s Loudoun Talk is spreadin’ the good news

One of Miles LeHane’s regulars to Women’s Forum is Miriam Nasuti, the Founder, CEO and Publisher of Talk Loudoun. With 25 years invested in a professional life that started in television journalism and public affairs in Philadelphia, and evolved to community and public relations, advertising, charity work, special event planning from concept through management and fundraising, Miriam has called Leesburg (Loudoun County), VA home for the past 15 years.

As its website describes, “Loudoun Talk is an e-zine with a mission: to build community through the sharing of positive stories about the people, organizations and events at the heart of where we live and work. Rooted in a belief good news begets good news, Talk Loudoun reaches beyond the daily headlines to report the stories behind the scenes—stories that evoke a smile, touch the heart, and maybe even inspire giving back to the community.  Delivered in the form of three eye-catching weekly e-newsletters (“e-zines”), Talk Loudoun is distributed through a large, expanding e-mail list of subscribers.” We are pleased and honored to count Miriam among our Forum friends.