What keeps you from doing something different? Our @womenofclt have taken many different paths to get them to where they are. Courageously. Everyone has a story. We share the stories of women doing spectacular things here in CLT our instagram account @womenofclt.
For inspiration.
Here’s just a sampling of some of the women we have featured this summer on @womenofclt.
For a reason to believe in yourself:
Ebony Stubbs is founder of Rae Images, a portrait photography studio specializing in business headshots and branding photography. They partner with purpose-driven entrepreneurs and corporate executives who want to grow their online brand.
So we can have greater impact.
Ebony first picked up photography as a hobby. She quickly found that she had a gift of connecting with others and putting them at ease in front of the camera. She worked freelance for several years, then launched Rae Images in 2012.
Even beyond the photos, Ebony thrives knowing that she’s helping clients see themselves in a new light.
Michele Morgan owns and cares for Charlotte the Figgy — a rare, vintage Nissan Figaro.
Made exclusively for the Japanese market for 1 year as a special project, only 20,000 were made and only around 5,000 are believed to be currently operational. Much like “The Notebook” Michele’s love affair with this sweet vintage car began in Charleston.
Michele booked a photoshoot with the lovely Pink Figgy for her daughter but looking for something like this in Charlotte, where a car could be rented as a unique photo prop, she found some lovely options — but nothing was unique in a fresh and modern way.
The Figaro is James Bond meets Audrey Hepburn. Once Michele began researching the history of the Figaro she was hooked. She bought her sight unseen and after much work, some nail biting situations with regard to finding parts and finding the perfect, skilled mechanic for her, Michele was in business.
Charlotte the Figgy was met with an incredible amount of enthusiasm both online and in person. She is very popular to use for weddings, staging the coveted getaway shot and for birthday photoshoots, senior pictures and more.
And they recently began doing roadside GlamPicnics with Charlotte the Figgy. Complete with food, beverages, vintage dishes and more.
As a mom of two boys (with a third on the way) and one daughter, Karly Barker struggled to find activewear that looked cool enough for her boys but presentable enough for school, golf and tennis. Karly partnered with two former lululemon designers to develop activewear for boys that’s made out of performance fabric, has classic designs and a modern fit.
And now, her courtside kids is here.
Before Karly was a mom, she was a broadcast news reporter and anchor. She got her start as an intern at the Today Show in NYC. While she took two semesters of clothing design in college, Karly’s experience in fashion was limited.
When her husband brought home Masters Polos for her boys she was flabbergasted at the quality — and wondered how she could make them available to moms other than in the Masters Pro Shop.
I mean. Smart.
After listening to Sarah Blakely, CEO of Spanx, story – Karly decided to start cold calling manufacturers in North Carolina (where she got her start). As it turns out, one of the main manufacturers of the Masters polos is based here in Charlotte. He was hesitant to talk to someone with zero experience in the industry.
Hurdle?
But when Karly mentioned Sarah Blakely’s podcast on “How I Built This” he said, “I love that podcast — you have a spark. Come on in.” He was the first one that gave Karly confidence in the idea, and led her to find the lululemon technical designers.
Hurdle crushed.
Along the way, courtside kids has developed the mission to help give boys a voice in today’s world. While Karly loved the motto of girl-power and the ‘future is female’ for her daughter, Karly wondered who was cheering on the boys.
We are.
April A. Carter is an author, certified expert relationship coach, and owner of So Long Single.
It’s all in a name.
April keeps it simple: she helps women say goodbye to the single life after years of dating inconsistent men. She tackles how you choose, why you choose who you do, and why you stay in relationships with the wrong people. How does she do this?
It starts with us.
As a victim of domestic violence, April used to cry herself to sleep at night praying for help to break free from the daily heartache and suffering she was struggling with. She knew there was more to love. More to life.
She deserved better.
April put together her strategy, left a bad marriage, and soon met an amazing man. Many friends and family wanted to know what she did and if she could help them.
She sure could:
#1 New Release: Compatible Companion, featured on NBC, CW, BNC
Heather Ison never saw herself becoming an entrepreneur. And yet here she is — owner of Heather Ison Photography, published in Charlotte Home Design & Decor Magazine, Charlotte Magazine, Southpark Magazine, Axios Charlotte, & Scoop Charlotte.
Big things happen when you’re big time driven.
Heather began as a portrait photographer around 2018 for friends and family and made her business official in 2019. In 2020 after interning with Cheyenne Schultz Photography, she decided to shift her focus solely to interiors. It was the best decision Heather has ever made for her business.
So far.
Heather loves the diversity and challenges that interiors bring. She enjoys building a relationship with her clients — helping them capture the story of their final designed spaces. Heather understands that clients work long and hard on these projects and she’s honored when she’s the one that helps bring together all of their hard work and passion into one final piece.
Her business goal is to be the photographer designers can come to for publish-ready imagery that will last for years to come.
Priscilla Green is owner of Priscilla Green Photography — a creative photography studio specializing in baby bumps, maternity, newborn, 1 year & family portraits.
As a teenage girl visiting her family’s home in The Dominican Republic, Priscilla got a camera as a present from her dad. She spent every moment there capturing connections and finding beauty in the ordinary.
Priscilla’s father said she would never make it as an artist. He wanted her to become a civil engineer like everyone on his side of the family. That only motivated Priscilla to keep pushing to make her own dreams come true.
As we do.
Priscilla attended the Art institute of Charlotte for a BA in fine art photography where she learned the technical side of photography, lighting and retouching. After 2 years she had to step back to take care of her newborn son.
Clients kept calling.
In 2019, just before the Pandemic hit, Priscilla transitioned to a retail studio. It was scary. And yet, in 2020 she hired her first two employees. She’s grateful for the journey to becoming a leader in the space, as well as working to balance life as a mother of 2 and a wife.
Sweet dreams do come true.
Angela Dotson is the owner of Spavia Day Spa of Strawberry Hill — an affordable, resort-like quality day spa originally based out of Denver, Colorado. Her Charlotte location is located in the Strawberry Hill Shopping Center. Where they offer relaxing spa treatments.
Conveniently.
Angela’s a certified yoga instructor and licensed esthetician. She’s a busy women. Angela’s been a member of the South Charlotte Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. (@jjoasouthclt) for eight years. She’s been married to her wonderful husband, Dana, for 26 years and they have three children.
She understands the need for spa treatments.
Angela wanted to bring an affordable experience to the area but with the feel of a resort spa. Angela has brought us a place where women and men can relax, recenter and renew.
Needed.
In the mood to celebrate somewhere delicious? Jamie Brown, owner of Supperland, Haberdish, Ever Andalo, Growlers Pourhouse, and Reigning Doughnuts, has a few options for you.
Jamie and her husband Jeff had been working very stressful corporate jobs before kids. One day, they put their stuff in storage, quit their jobs and took a flight to London.
So good.
They ended up being gone 8 months, traveling the world — the entire time dreamily talking about opening a restaurant. However, they arrived back in the States during the 2008/2009 recession. Jeff took Jamie to dinner one night and told her he wanted to do it…open a restaurant.
Her heart sank.
Jamie never said “yes” and officially never said “no” — eventually Jamie watched how passionate Jeff was. She went out and found a full-time job, with benefits, while Jeff put their dreams in motion.
Nine months later, Crepe Cellar Kitchen & Pub in NoDa was born. It had just 11 tables. It’s since been overhauled into a new concept, Ever Andalo.
And Jamie hasn’t stopped since. Their deck of restaurants are some of Charlotte’s absolute best. With new concepts still to come. Soon.
Love. The ultimate teammate.
Vanessa Kenon-Hunt is the creator of O+A|EVERYDAY® — a rich and creamy body oil with minimal ingredients and maximum results.
Obsessed.
O+A| EVERYDAY® was created when Vanessa’s eldest son, Gregory was born premature over 20 years ago. When Gregory was released after months of care in the NICU his skin was extremely delicate and dry. Vanessa needed a moisturizer that was made without harsh chemicals and complicated ingredients. She searched for a skin moisturizer and could not find what they needed. So she whipped one up using simple and proven ingredients that she had in at home. She hand-blended extra virgin olive oil, aloe vera gel and shea butter. The final product was an outstanding, soothing and creamy body oil.
Mothers will move mountains.
After much encouragement, Vanessa introduced O+A| EVERYDAY® to the world in 2017 as a full body moisturizer, aftershave care, sunburn reliever and hair balm. Made with organic extra virgin olive oil, organic aloe vera, the perfect amount of organic shea butter, vitamin E and soothing essential oils.
As of today, O+A|EVERYDAY® can be purchased online, at all 3 Moxie Mercantile locations (Plaza Midwood, Matthews and Davidson), Musa Moon Apothecary (SouthEnd), NODA Yoga, NoirLuxe Beauty (Steel Creek) and Embellish Asheville.
Problems solved.
Christina Britt Lewis, is founder and creative director, The Redesign Company. Their easy approach to design and fierce determination to exceed expectations has found success.
Keeping up with the Joneses and climbing ladders used to be her thing. Until one day it dawned on her…. The Joneses she and her husband were comparing themselves to weren’t happy. So they said goodbye, climbed down the ladder, and headed here to Charlotte to begin again.
They sold their big house in New England almost twenty years ago. On purpose. So they could afford to start over and do what they love for a living.
A choice Christina never regrets.
They downsized, rescued a dog, redesigned their garage into a teen cave that HGTV and Apartment Therapy loved, raised two happy boys, became football parents, empty nested, downsized again, and learned that everything they really needed, they already have.
The people, the stories, the memories and the things we already have and love make a house your home.
Christina’s company redesigns homes all over the country — and receives high praise. She’s quick to note that accolades, awards and articles are awesome, but the credit really belongs to the ones who believe before you believe in yourself. You are only as good as your people.
And her people are the best.
Designing your home does not have to cost a fortune and Christina has built a firm that redesigns with your things and nicely priced new things to make home your happy place.
We really do already have it all.
Charlene Ridley used to cry in her car before work. With her Unpause Your Dreams she’s a dream coach that empowers women.
No more tears.
Charlene helps those of us who have unfulfilled goals and therefore have, paused or forgotten our dreams. Charlene provides 1×1 coaching, group coaching, workshops, conferences, and retreats.
As a little girl, Charlene was taught that dreaming was unrealistic and even dangerous — if you had lofty ideas and did not achieve them, you’d suffer the disappointment of failure. Instead of dreaming, she focused on getting a job that would provide the ability to take care of herself. She got a bachelor’s degree, then an MBA. She had many jobs — searching for the thing that fit and felt like her.
She’d get promoted quickly, grow her salary and climb the ladder but wouldn’t stay with a company for long. She found her satisfaction came from helping her team grow their talent.
But she was left without growing her own.
Yes, Charlene’s parents were proud but she was terribly unhappy, unfulfilled, and empty. Charlene got curious and determined to create a life that she loved. She knew she was an encourager, great at developing people, & creating strategies.
Coaching others is where she belonged.
Valieta Mati is Senior Director, hairstylist and Director of Education at Modern Salon and Spa. Most importantly? Wife & mom of two children.
Her family.
Val was born in Kosovo and as a young girl, fled war to have a better life, moving to America with her family. She will now do anything for her own.
Perspective.
This country gave her family freedom. And opportunity. Val grew up appreciating a life where opportunities were up for the taking — with the right circumstances.
What does she now teach her own kids? That anything you put your mind to, can be done.
To be happy.
The hair industry gave Val the opportunity to be one of the best in the world. And she made it happen. She’s traveled to some of the most beautiful places around the globe making clients family along the way — and to her homeland. Where she is lucky enough to go back and visit.
With her family.
Celebrating? In Charlotte, you need a yard sign or it didn’t happen. Christy Potter, owner of Magnolia Storks & More has all the necessary celebratory signage. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
And flamingos.
7 years ago, Christy had two young children and was looking for something part-time. A project. Grown quickly, Magnolia Storks, has now become a full-time job. One that allows her to celebrate full-time.
That’s pretty cool.
Her best moments? Setting up for NICU homecomings, a new set of twins or triplets coming home — or maybe it’s a great grandmas 100th birthday. Christy never knows exactly where she will be any given day but knows it’s a big day for someone.
Sounds lovely.
Riley Moody is Good Mood Design Co — a graphic designer specializing in brand identity design for small, women-owned businesses. Riley enjoys incorporating artistic elements into her design to create branding that is unique, genuine, and strategic.
Like us.
Riley’s been creating art in some capacity for as long as she can remember — her mom loves to tell stories about her sitting on the kitchen floor at age two painting with watercolors on baby wipes.
Cutest messes.
As she got older, Riley continued in art but also began translating that into design. She had amazing teachers in high school that gave her a foundation of knowledge for both fine art and the design software that she still uses daily.
Good teachers change everything.
Riley studied art and advertising at the University of Alabama and decided graphic design was the perfect intersection.
Direction.
We watch Alicia Barnes every night on Queen City News on FOX. As a lead news anchor here in the QC — she knows things.
And we appreciate.
Alicia has always been fascinated with all things happening. One minute she’s carrying the Olympic Torch through her hometown of Atlanta — the next she’s sitting behind the news desk.
Alicia fell in love with all aspects of news. She is determined to hold the powerful accountable — informing viewers while seeing truth, action, and solutions. She feels it’s important to be the voice for the voiceless.
And share it all.
Alicia is also impassioned about celebrating those who make our community better.
We relate fully.
Margo Zoeller is a wedding planner and social media coordinator at Plain with Sprinkles & a floral designer at Seeded Events and Design.
Over a year ago, Margo was working in healthcare ophthalmology and planning her own wedding. After years in corporate healthcare, she was exhausted. To the point where she had no idea what to do with her life.
Been. there.
Margo did know she wanted to keep working with amazing people like her previous patients. Her fiancé (now husband) suggested she become a wedding planner, based on how much she enjoyed the process.
She thought… why not?
Additionally, as a woman of color, Margo now has the distinct platform in which creating and building relationships with other minority local CLT businesses is possible.
And they are giving back. Plain With Sprinkles helps support organizations like Racial Justice Coalition of Asheville, Black Lives Matter, and The Innocence Project.
Substantially.
Stephanie Cornelius is CEO and hairstylist at The Hair Mayven Salon. She caters to women who need and want care for their real hair.
We always keep it real.
Stephanie got started in the beauty industry at a very young age. She went to cosmetology school while in high school and upon obtaining her high school diploma, she also received her cosmetology license. She started working in a salon at the age of 17.
After years behind the chair, her passion for hairstyling began to grow into helping women with the integrity of their hair fibers and scalp maladies. This sparked her interest in Trichology. She attended The American Academy of Hair & Scalp Diseases and became a certified Trichologist in 2022.
Stephanie’s priority and mission is to help the novice woman who is struggling with length retention, scalp maladies, breakage, excessive shedding or hair that just has no life. They’re something of a rehabilitation center but for hair. Stephanie gets it.
It’s all about the hair.
Veronica Ospina is the US and Mexico program manager for Stronger Together, an international non-profit organization with the mission to create a world where all workers have fair and decent work, free from exploitation.
Colombian born, Veronica grew up in Charlotte — her family has been here since the 90s. Five years ago, Veronica decided to make a huge career change. After more than a decade, she left the corporate sector, went back to school, got a Masters in International Relations & Sustainable Development from American University, and began working with Stronger Together, helping launch the US program.
Charlotte girls make us proud.
Last year, Veronica began launching the Mexico program. In both projects, Veronica focuses on bringing agricultural groups together to find solutions to broad challenges in our food supply chains. It was scary to make the change.
But she knew she had to.
Everyone kept telling her… “You can’t do international relations and development work from Charlotte. You have to be in DC and NY.” Veronica confidently knew that not to be true anymore…the pandemic has now proved that work from anywhere is possible.
Confidence is always the key.
Last month, Veronica got to visit Costa Rica to see how pineapples are harvested.
Incredible.
Dana Johnson is co-owner and Director of Operations at Dotted8 — a creative agency helping businesses tell their stories, and achieve their goals — through design and marketing.
It’s all about the story.
Dana’s own story includes a partnership. Her husband started the business over 10 years ago as a freelancer. After they got married in 2015, they were looking to have more control of their schedules. Dana longed to leave the demands of the medical field.
Change can be what we need the most.
Dana left her full time job to join her husband in building the business and she now oversees all operations and project management. As an immigrant and mother of two, Dana feels fortunate to have had the opportunity to watch the business grow to where it is today.
True value.
Dana and her team offer branding and identity, website design & development, UX/UI, graphic design, and more. They work with everyone from small businesses and non-profits across different industries to large tech companies.
Know your worth.
Emily Musgrave is Glo by Emily — her custom mobile spray tanning business that keeps us glowing. We are into anything that does that.
Emily started her business 5 years ago when her kiddos were babies. She wanted to stay home with them but also had a desire to start something on her own that allowed the best of both worlds.
Or at least get close to it.
Emily has always loved all things beauty and helping women feel their best. She sees spray tanning as a simple thing that gives out unmatched confidence. Emily tells her clients that there is no room for an explanation of yourself or your body when steeping into her spray tent.
Come as you are.
Emily moved to Charlotte when she was in third grade to have a fresh start — raising her children here with her husband makes her journey even more beautiful.
Start with that glo.
Monica Patel, DMD is co-owner of Craft Smiles Modern Family Dentistry in Matthews. Where she’s a dentist.
And a driven WOMAN of CLT.
Monica became a dentist because of her grandfather. He took her to school every morning, picked her up, helped her with homework and so much more — yet Monica never saw him smile.
She grew up thinking grandpas don’t smile.
Monica later learned it was because he didn’t have teeth. Dental care was not a priority in the old days in India. After he was fabricated a set of well-fitting dentures, it changed his personality. Seeing what a difference that made, Monica had no doubt she wanted a career in dentistry.
Smiling.
A Huntersville native, Monica went to NC State for her undergrad degree, and then lived in NY and Boston for her master’s and DMD degrees. Monica moved back to Charlotte in 2016 and was thrilled at how much Charlotte has grown.
Yep, that’s us —
Women of CLT.
Inspired? Follow along @womenofclt
And become a Woman of Charlotte.
