10 under 4 - November 2023

Wednesday, November 22 2023 Harrisonburg, Va.

Proudly presents...

10 Under 40

2023

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Wednesday, November 22, 2023

10 UNDER 40

Harrisonburg, Va.

10 UNDER 40

Wednesday, November 22, 2023

This Year’s Winners

Eleanor Held, Page 8

Harrisonburg, Va.

Amanda Bomfim, Page 4

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Age: 27 Age: 39 Hometown: New Fairfield, Hometown: Memphis, TenConnecticut nessee and Harrisonburg Current Town: resides in lege (MS) Current Town: HarrisonEmily Dennis, Page 10 Title: Assistant Town ManWinchester, works in Harriburg Age: 38 ager for Public Works, Town sonburg Education: Harrisonburg Hometown: Elkton Of Bridgewater Education: Bachelor’s and Current Town: Harrison- High School, Randolph Mamaster’s degrees from James con Women’s College (now burg Seth Crissman, Page 8 Madison University Education: Graduated from Randolph College); M.A. at Age: 37 Title: Director of Marketthe Upper Room Christian Durham University, Durham Hometown: Windber, Penning Programs & Initiatives, Academy, and then went on to England The Community Foundation sylvania Title: Founder and owner study at Blue Ridge CommuCurrent Town: Harrisonof Harrisonburg & Rockingof The Green Hummingbird nity College burg ham County Title: Founder and Owner shop Education: BA in EducaHenhouse Shoppe tion, Eastern Mennonite UniMegan Byler, Page 4 Frank Nolen, Page 5 versity; MDiv, Eastern Men- Irina Dovganetskiy, Page 9 Age: 39 Age: 36 Hometown: Rockingham nonite Seminary Hometown: Alabama Age: 39 Title: Founder of The Soil County Current Town: Augusta Hometown: Born in Krymsk, Current Town: Bridgewater and the Seed Project; song- Russia; grew up in Cleveland, County, works for SVEC Education: Eastern Menno- writer/instrumentalist with Ohio Education: University of nite High School, Bridgewa- The Walking Roots Band and Current Town: Harrison- Alabama (electrical engineerter College (BS), Mercy Col- special education teacher ing) burg Title: System Engineer, Education: Graduated from Shenandoah Valley Electric a high school in Cleveland. Obtained her Masters in Esthet- Cooperative ics from Blue Ridge School of Courtney Pitts, Page 5 Esthetics. Also obtained a cerAge: 35 tification in natural cosmetic Hometown: Broadway on being selected for the SVBJ’s 10 under 40! formulation from a school in Current Town: HarrisonLondon, England. burg Title: Owner and founder of Education: Broadway High withSimplicity beauty School graduate, BFA in

Congratulations Frank Nolen System Engineer

We appreciate your dedication and enthusiasm in everything you do for SVEC and its members!

Graphic Design from James Madison University Age: 30 Title: Content Marketer at Hometown: Cape Coral, Estland Florida Current Town: Harrison- Daniel Upton, Page 7 burg Age: 34 Education: University of Hometown: Madison, Va. Florida and Virginia CommonCurrent Town: Harrisonwealth University for Doctor of burg Dental Surgery, Orthodontics Education: Madison County Specialty Certificate, Master’s Public Schools, bachelors and of Science in Dentistry. master’s in music education Title: Owner and orthodon- at Virginia Tech tist at Giardina & Kray OrTitle: Harrisonburg High thodontics School’s Band Director

Julia Giardina, Page 6

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Wednesday, November 22, 2023

10 UNDER 40

Harrisonburg, Va.

Bridgewater Public Works Admin On The Ball For Residents

By HARLEIGH CUPP Daily News-Record

When most people categorize a young, successful careerperson, they may picture an educator or doctor or small business owner.

Megan Byler spent the first few years of her working life as a teacher, she bears none of those titles — yet has still worked her way through the ladder to hold a position that affects many people in the community.

As assistant town manager for public works for the town of Bridgewater, Byler oversees a variety of projects that keeps the town running smoothly each day.

She played a pivotal role on the team who opened the ice skating rink at Generations Park, Sandy Bottom golf course and the Sipe Center and it all started with a part-time position making reservations for players at the tennis center.

Byler is a Rockingham County native who now raises her three children in Bridgewater alongside her husband. After graduating from Bridgewater College

Harleigh Cupp / DN-R

Megan Byler is Bridgewater’s assistant town manager for public works. in 2006, she lived in New York City for several years as she pursued her Masters degree. Throughout her schooling in New York, Byler worked within the education system and continued in that field for eight or nine years following.

“We have been rooted in this community as we started to grow our family,” Byler said.

As she and her husband looked to

start a family together, Byler decided it was time for a career shift and settled into a 10-hour weekly commitment at the Doug Will Tennis Center in 2015 as the opportunity arose.

“I took that on because it was a good fit for our family at the time,” Byler recalled, “and over the course of [eight years] that has grown into the position I have now.”

After proving her strong work ethic at the tennis center, Byler was asked to serve full-time for the department of parks and recreation. In February, 2020, Byler was promoted to her current assistant town manger for public works position and continues to foster the slow and steady growth of Bridgewater.

From talking to residents — of which the town has more than 6,000 — about their ideas and concerns to meeting about upcoming projects, every day at work looks a little bit different and each project the town sets out to tackle brings many new opportunities for Byler to expand her knowledge, whether it be about how a movie studio runs or what

Bomfim Finds ‘Her People’ At The Community Foundation

By VIC YOUNG

Daily News-Record

She is a TV connoisseur. She’s The Community Foundation‘s director of marketing and program initiatives. She is on the Daily News-Record’s Top 10 Under 40 list. She is Amanda Bomfim.

While Bomfim has worked with The Community Foundation for six years, she has been a part of the Harrisonburg community for longer.

Amanda first came to the Harrisonburg area from New Fairfield, Connecticut, when she decided to follow her cousin to James Madison University for undergrad.

“Whether she picked the University of Alaska or Oregon, it didn’t matter.

Wherever she was going, I was following. Luckily she picked JMU,” Amanda said.

While at JMU, she not only dove into student life, but she immersed herself in the community. She worked

We are honored to have Amanda as part of the team at TCFHR! Daniel Lin / DN-R

Amanda Bomfim, The Community Center’s Director of Marketing and Program Initiatives, poses for a photo. at Kline’s Dairy Bar, and, through her social work studies, she volunteered at Open Doors where she was able to chat with clients she served, which she said was a game changer.

See BOMFIM, Page 10

Congratulations and thank you for your leadership and service to our community.

resources are needed to re-paint faded lines on the roadway or putting a recycling center in place.

“I truly believe that I work for a very unique organization,” Byler noted, “but for me, I believe my success has been geared around the willingness to put in the hard work and effort. I love seeing how what we do here [in the office] makes such an impact out there [for each of our residents]. I had no idea that this was the direction my career would take, but I can’t think of a better career — I’m where I’m meant to be.”

Aside from her dedication to taking care of the town through public works, Byler is dedicated to taking care of her family and much of her spare time is spent at baseball fields and basketball courts.

“I love that I have a career,” Byler said, “and that is a blessing, but when the day is over I want to be there with my family.”

Contact Harleigh Cupp at 540-5746279 or hcupp@dnronline.com

10 UNDER 40

Harrisonburg, Va.

Wednesday, November 22, 2023

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Harrisonburg Native Builds Life In ‘Burg As Content Marketer

By RICHARD H. HRONIK III

Courtney Pitts, a content specialist with Estland, poses for a photo.

As a content marketer, Pitts helps Estland’s clients tell their stories authentically.

While she has only been with the firm for three months, she feels she has already gained invaluable resources.

Daily News-Record

Courtney Pitts, a content marketer with Estland, was selected for Shenandoah Valley Business Journal’s 10 Under 40 list.

The list is meant to honor the best and brightest young professionals in the region. Pitts said she was happy to receive the award.

“It was a wonderful surprise,” said Pitts. “I’m looking forward to hearing about who else won, and what they are doing in the community.”

As a content marketer, Pitts helps Estland’s clients tell their stories authentically. While she has only been with the firm for three months, she feels she has already gained invaluable resources.

“It’s been incredible,” said Pitts.

“Everyone working there is incredible, and I’ve learned more than I ever could have imagined. I’m really happy

Daniel Lin / DN-R

See MARKETER, Page 11

Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative engineer Frank Nolen poses for a photo in the cooperative’s operations room.

Daniel Lin / DN-R

Systems Engineer Has Built Local Solar Safely With SVEC For 5 Years

By RICHARD H. HRONIK III Daily News-Record

Frank Nolen, a systems engineer who has worked with Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative for over five years, was selected for Shenandoah Valley Business Journal’s 10 Under 40 list.

The list is meant to honor the best and brightest young professionals in the region. Nolen said he was honored

to receive the award.

“I knew what it was about, and I appreciated the opportunity,” Nolen explained. “I was just grateful that I was able to get that award.”

As a systems engineer, Nolen is responsible for creating safety protocols for SVEC, as well as managing interconnection projects, such as connecting a

See ENGINEER, Page 11

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Wednesday, November 22, 2023

10 UNDER 40

Harrisonburg, Va.

Orthodontist Makes Smiles, Holiday Season Brighter

By JILLIAN LYNCH Daily News-Record

Walking into the doors of a Harrisonburg orthodontist’s office, the first greeter isn’t a receptionist, or a sign-in sheet.

It’s a friendly goldendoodle, Jerry, who wears a “therapy dog” vest.

Jerry is Dr. Julia Giardina’s dog. He comes to work with her every day at her Harrisonburg orthodontics practice she has owned since 2021. Jerry is just one of the many reasons people in Harrisonburg can’t seem to get enough of Giardina and her practice.

Julia Giardina, 30, is the owner of Giardina & Kray Orthodontics at 2505-A Evelyn Byrd Ave., in Harrisonburg. Dr. Frances Kray first opened the orthodontics practice in the late 1980s, Giardina said. Kray sold the practice to Giardina in July 2021 and is mostly retired, Giardina said. Julia Giardina received multiple nominations for the Daily News-Record’s 10 Under 40 honor roll and was named to the list by the DN-R’s editorial board.

The many nomination forms came from the perspective of Giardina’s coworkers, clients and fellow community members. According to the nomination forms, Giardina has presented to local schoolchildren about topics related to dentistry and orthodontics, offers a strong professional background and cutting-edge services and has made the practice an engaging place for local youth and their families.

“Dr. Giardina exemplifies the nature of why this award exists: She is an individual with intense work ethic and compassion who is making a difference in their field while also holding the potential to continue to make large differences in our community,” said Lauren Patton in a nomination.

Giardina said she uses her master’s thesis in pediatric obstructive sleep apnea to screen all of her patients for sleep-related breathing disorders. Nominators said she has encouraged other local doctors to do the same by hosting seminars.

Giardina said the practice offers some cutting-edge technologies that cut out the need for casting molds of the teeth, using computer models.

“From the moment you walk into her practice, you are welcomed with open arms, and you can feel the positive energy

Contributed Photo

Julia Giardina is the owner and orthodontist at Giardina & Kray Orthodontics in Harrisonburg. and passion she brings to work each day,” said Leslie Kapuchuck in a nomination.

“Her office feels like a family. Dr. G. is a ray of sunshine and a blessing to our community.”

Kapuchuck said Giardina does patient giveaways each month, with prizes like a Nintendo switch. She celebrates important milestones in her patients’ lives, even sending flowers or a special phone call, Kapuchuck said in the nomination form.

Nominators said Giardina’s office is buzzing with community initiatives year-round. In the summer, Giardina

See ORTHODONTIST, Page 11

Born & raised in the Shenandoah Valley, this mother + daughter entrepreneur team have been styling women since 2018 with trendy and size inclusive fashion. Come visit one or both of our local store locations!

Congratulations Harrisonburg High School Band Director

Mr. Daniel Upton

on being selected as one of the

Top Ten Under 40

193 W Spotswood Ave, Elkton, VA 12 E Main Street, Luray, VA

Harrisonburg, Va.

10 UNDER 40

Wednesday, November 22, 2023

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DN-R File Photo

Harrisonburg High School band director Daniel Upton directs the symphonic band during an outdoor concert in the stadium in June 2021.

HHS Band Director Brings Music Community Together

By ASHLYN CAMPBELL Daily News-Record

Growing up, Daniel Upton was convinced he would be an architect.

“I wrote to Virginia Tech in third grade ... about the architecture program and was pretty stuck on that for a long time,” Upton said. “It was so publicly known that I was gonna be an architect.

I told my high school band director like, ‘Hey, I think I want to be a band director.’

And he had a very puzzled response.”

After getting involved in middle school band and later taking engineering classes, Upton, who’s from a “bumpin-the-road spot” in Madison County, said he realized architecture wasn’t for him. “[Band] was really the only thing I did in high school,” Upton said. “I was

at every band thing that could happen … it was kind of like, ‘Huh, why didn’t I think about this sooner?’”

Now, Upton is one of the leaders of the award-winning Marching Blue Streaks at Harrisonburg High School and is deeply entrenched in the local music community.

Upton did end up attending Virginia Tech, only for music instead of architecture. After coming to Harrisonburg for a part-time music gig at HHS, Upton stuck around.

“I love the community — the support is it’s just unheard of,” Upton said.

Directing a marching band made up of 100 – 125 members and other ensembles, Upton said he puts his heart and soul into the program.

Being one of the multiple band directors at HHS, Upton said, gives him the

ability to get involved in other things throughout his time — from hosting district band events, serving state organizations and coordinating professional development workshops — serving as a servant leader before he even knew the term, he said.

HHS and Upton also host and organize the Shenandoah Valley Marching Invitational, which brings in high schools from all over Virginia to compete.

SVMI started as a competition for about 12 bands to compete. Now, it hosts upwards of 30 bands and, almost annually, has exhibition bands like the JMU Marching Royal Dukes or the Christopher Newport University Marching Captains.

Bob Adamek / For The DN-R

Daniel Upton, pictured, serves as one of the

See DIRECTOR, Page 9 band directors at Harrisonburg High School.

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Wednesday, November 22, 2023

10 UNDER 40

Harrisonburg, Va.

Fair-Trade Entrepreneur Connects Global And Local

By LISA LANDRAM Daily News-Record

Eleanor Held, the owner of The Green Hummingbird Fair Trade Clothing Store in Harrisonburg, is a native of the area. She moved to England to grow her wings, but moved back to the Friendly City to nest.

Eleanor considers Harrisonburg her hometown, since she moved to the area at six years of age from Memphis, Tennessee.

She attended Harrisonburg High School and then went to college at Randolph Macon Women’s College, now known as Randolph College. Eleanor then decided to further her education, where she moved to Durham, England to attend Durham University for her master’s degree in religion and society, according to Held.

Daniel Lin / DN-R After college she set her goals on working with interfaith communities, Eleanor Held, owner of Green Hummingbird, poses for a photo in her Harrisonburg store. said Held. So, she moved to Stony Point, Held, who never enjoys getting up New York and lived in an interfaith had a fair trade presentation, and she was invited to share some of “the com- early, called her mother in the early community.

Living in the community allowed munity’s” products from the fair trade morning and told her about her plans.

She asked her mother, Ann Held, her to focus on figuring out what she gift store.

During the event she was handed a what she thought of the idea. She said, wanted to do for a career. She worked for the community and in return had piece of paper that listed different fair “Whoa, I actually think that’s a nice idea,” Held said. room and board, said Held. She worked trade websites, said Held.

“There was a clothing category that Eleanor then moved back to Harrivarious jobs such as transportation. sonburg and started The Green HumAt one point, “they put me in their I … zeroed in on,” Held said.

She spent hours looking at different mingbird Fair Trade Clothing Store fair trade gift store,” Held said.

Eleanor enjoyed working in the gift fair trade clothing and started to de- in 2014, with the help of her mother.

The Green Hummingbird Fair store. She recalls a time when a church velop a business plan, she said.

Trade Clothing Store’s merchandise is made by artisans located anywhere from the Shenandoah Valley all the way to the mountains of Nepal, according to Held.

A lot of her products come from India, Nepal and Thailand, said Held.

However, the store also has products from Indonesia, accessories from Guatemala and sweaters from Ecuador and Peru.

In 2020, before the COVID-19 pandemic, The Green Hummingbird Fair Trade Clothing opened a second location in the Dayton Market, in Dayton.

The store at the market does well, according to Held.

Eleanor likes to participate in events across Harrisonburg and surrounding areas, help those in foreign lands, and provide local organizations with merchandise for raffles.

Looking to the future, she hopes to purchase a boutique bus. This will allow her to attend more festivals and venues than she currently attends, said Held.

Eleanor’s early goals of working with interfaith communities have been met, as she brings together different cultures and helps make a difference in the lives of others, both locally and overseas.

Contact Lisa Landram at 540-574-6299 or llandram@dnronline.com. Follow Lisa on Twitter @LisaLandram.

Christian Musician, Special Education Teacher Sows Seeds Of Welcome

By ASHLYN CAMPBELL Daily News-Record

COVID-19 disrupted all aspects of life in 2020, stopping schools, communities and churches from gathering in person. By the winter of 2021, Seth Crissman pitched an idea to try and help: The Soil and Seed Project.

“I had a lot of conversations with … friends who were conCrissman nected in church communities, but all the ways that they engaged their faith and related to community were just gone,” Crissman said.

“The idea was to help empower and equip parents to be able to talk about their faith at home with their kids and be able to do something that stabilizes family systems.”

Now, Crissman, the project director, will get to expand the faith music project’s impact — and his own — thanks to a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. The Soil and Seed Project nurtures faith by creating and sending out music, art and “Little Liturgies.” When they first started, Crissman said, he thought they would start sending out material to about 300 families but ended up sending out 800. Now, every week, copies are sent to around 30 states around the country.

In 2022, the Lilly Endowment’s Christian Parenting and Caregiving Initiative was announced, and Crissman said his inbox was flooded with friends suggesting he take a look. Crissman did, and with the help of friends, wrote a grant proposal.

Thanks to the grant, Crissman is now working full-time on the project and will be expanding the project to bring the community together through things like concert series.

“I love building things like things that probably wouldn’t exist without some care and then helping people work together to create beautiful things,” Crissman said. “A lot of the people who engage it are part-time or they do it on

the side … I love being able to see that kind of community cultivated amongst that group of people.”

Even before establishing the Soil and Seed Project, Crissman made a mark on the local community after following his wife here from his hometown in Western Pennslyvania in 2005.

Here, he’s worked as a special education teacher in Rockingham County, graduated from Eastern Mennonite Seminary with a Master of Divinity, co-directed after-school community programs, established the Soil and Seed Project and is even a member of The Walking Roots Band.

See MUSICIAN, Page 9

Harrisonburg, Va.

10 UNDER 40

Clean Beauty Maven Creates Her Own Cosmetics Community

By LISA LANDRAM Daily News-Record

Irina started experimenting and making skin care products as a hobby in 2015, after the birth of her third baby. She made mixtures of products in her kitchen with a lot of passion and drive, said Dovganetskiy.

At the time, little did she know that she would be the owner of withSimplicity.

A company that utilizes the nourishing power of natural plant-derived ingredients without compromising clean lifestyle choices, according to the company website.

Products range from skin and body care to makeup.

In 2015, she was detoxing from chemicals in her home and was going through her cleaners and anything that she thought would be unhealthy for herself and her children.

Dovganetskiy said she started to go down a rabbit hole. Thinking about how people could put bad ingredients in products and sell them in stores.

As she was making her own products, she started giving some of them to other people and to local markets.

“I saw that demand locally,” Dovganetskiy said. “I’m like okay … maybe I could do a store.”

She quit her job, stayed home with her children and dedicated herself to conducting research. She took classes in organic science and formulations and got her master’s esthetics license, according to Dovganetskiy.

She then purchased an Airstream to sell her products out of. The Airstream was parked in downtown Harrisonburg, next to the Taj of India, according to Dovganetskiy.

“I started ... out of the trailer selling my cosmetics and skincare,” Dovganetskiy said.

In 2016, after a year using the Airstream, she moved next to Shirley’s popcorn and then to her current location, on Market Street, in August. The building was entirely renovated, according to Dovganetskiy.

“I never intended for it to be ... big,” Dovganetskiy said.

“It started as a hobby and … my passion grew, my team grew, my education

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Wednesday, November 22, 2023

Director

FROM PAGE 7

“I don’t think I realized how big of an event was really until this year,” Upton said. “I had two things this year that kind of blew my mind. One of the bigger bands in Northern Virginia came down, he posted something on Facebook.

He said, ‘I had no idea the hype behind this event,’ and the thread just went crazy of people supporting that.”

The best part of his job, is clear, though.

“The students — without a doubt, always,” Upton said.

“They’re funny, and they’re challenging, and they pick on us … seeing them achieve things that they don’t think they can achieve is really special.”

Contact Ashlyn Campbell at 540-5746278 or acampbell@dnronline.com | Follow Ashlyn on Twitter: @A__Campbell

Musician

Nelli Gordox / For The DN-R

Irina Dovganetskiy is the owner of withSimplicity. grew and then just kind of snowballed from there,” Dovganetskiy said.

Currently withSimplicity products can be purchased in the Harrisonburg store, online and at 80 boutiques in the U.S. and Canada, according to Dovganetskiy, who is hoping to grow internationally, in Europe.

Dovganetskiy came to the U.S. from Russia, when she was very young and had to learn how to speak English, according to Carter Traver who has been Dovganetskiy’s employee for over a year.

Irina worked several odd jobs before she was able to start her business.

“Irina is genuinely one of the most inspiring women that I have worked under or met,” Traver said.

Irina has a passion for others, said Traver.

As a mother with one income, it is important to make products affordable, said Dovganetskiy. However, she wants her products to be high-end and something customers are proud of.

One of the exciting parts of her job is creating new and different batches of products, said Dovganetskiy. To this day she spends time creating new mixtures of products for her customers. But her favorite moments are with her customers and employees.

“I love the part of building [a] community and building our team and customers,” Dovganetskiy said.

Contact Lisa Landram at 540-574-6299 or llandram@dnronline.com. Follow Lisa on Twitter @LisaLandram.

FROM PAGE 8

So much of his community involvement has a common theme: creating welcoming, inclusive and diverse communities through faith, music and education. His involvement in these worlds stems from his family, many of whom worked in the church, special education and music.

While Crissman said he deeply misses his students and that education is vital work, The Soil and Seed Project gives him the unique opportunity to hear back from people who’ve been impacted by their work from all over the world — stories educators don’t always get to hear.

As for his community work, Crissman said his wife Theresa has been a great supporter, as well as those in the community.

“I could never have dreamed that I’d be doing this in my late 30s.

It’s way too big and beautiful for something that I could have even imagined in my early 20s,” Crissman said. “When you work in nonprofit work … for me, I recognize how much partners are like a big part of it.”

Contact Ashlyn Campbell at 540-5746278 or acampbell@dnronline.com | Follow Ashlyn on Twitter: @A__Campbell

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Wednesday, November 22, 2023

10 UNDER 40

Harrisonburg, Va.

Fashionista Opens Elkton Boutique After Career As Paralegal

By HARLEIGH CUPP Daily News-Record

If Emily Dennis had to describe the life of a small business owner using two words, she would say it is both terrifying and exhilarating at the same time.

“It feels very empowering to be a small business owner,” Dennis said, “but the side that people usually don’t talk about is that you will work more than you ever worked before for someone else. Sometimes you just have to jump in without knowing what might be on the other side.”

Dennis is the founder and owner of Henhouse Shoppe — a women’s boutique located in her hometown of Elkton and the nearby mountain town of Luray.

As the story goes, the name and idea for the business came many years before an online store or retail front took shape. Dennis was a single mom at the time and Henhouse came together in her mind as a place for women to gather and feel accepted in addition to having a business that could support other struggling single mothers.

Henhouse got its official start in 2018 with online sales and just a year later, Dennis was able to open her first brick and mortar storefront. Henhouse continued to grow and in 2021, a second location opened in Luray — all while maintaining online orders.

“We often tell a story with our cloth-

Bomfim

FROM PAGE 4

“That was a big turning point for me,” Bomfim said. “It broke down a lot of the ideas I had in my head of people experiencing homelessness.”

After completing her bachelor’s degree in social work, she attended JMU’s public administration graduate program.

“When I was in school for social work, I new I wanted to do macro-work — a greater level of social work in the community large-scale,” she said.

She is a fan of the sitcom “Parks and Recreation,” and loved the Leslie Knope character.

“While I was thinking of next steps after undergrad, I came across the public administration program at JMU. When you read the description, it is copy-paste from ‘Parks and Rec.’ So I

Harleigh Cupp / DN-R

Emily Dennis — owner of Henhouse Shoppe in Elkton and Luray — was named one of this year’s DN-R “10 under 40” honorees. ing,” Dennis remarked. “I’m an extroverted introvert and my fashion was a way that I could be loud.”

Prior to jump starting her own business, Dennis worked as a paralegal for nearly a decade, but her passion for fashion goes much deeper than that. In-

spired by her own mom who took pride in being presentable, Dennis recalled being just nine years old wearing an Aztec styled outfit complete with belt, boots and wool hat. Every holiday gave her something to look forward to, because she could spend days pondering the per-

knew that is what I wanted to do. I wanted to do community building and advocating for the community in my own way,” she explained.

While in the program, she was offered a graduate assistantship with The Community Foundation.

“When the community foundation was preparing for the giving day, they needed an assistant to take the lead in planning it and coordinating it. I felt like that was in line with everything I wanted and valued,” she said.

Through high school and college, Bomfim was involved in Relay For Life, sharing that many people in her life — both family and friends — have been impacted by cancer. She has always loved helping community rally together for other people, she said. So finding a career that embodied that was

important to her.

“I am big into that community building and togetherness. It hit a cord with me,” she said about The Community Foundation. “In every occasion, I love bringing people together — whether family, friends or professionally. I am a people-oriented person. I just love when I am with my people.”

She feels like she has definitely found those people, she stated.

“We started Great Community Give together, and we started Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership together,” she said.

She said her greatest and happiest moment at The Community Foundation so far was when she helped establish the Imagination Library in Harrisonburg in March 2022. The library was estimated to potentially reach 900 kids

fect set of clothes to wear to the occasion.

Dennis and other boutique owners scattered throughout the Shenandoah Valley have worked locally to fill a hole in women’s fashion and redefine what boutique shopping means — and who it’s for. Shortly after having a baby, Dennis remembered the scarcity of plus-sized attire that she could still “feel cute in” and she felt that other women were experiencing the same need.

Henhouse now has more than 8,000 registered customers and has been recognized as Virginia’s Best multiple times.

Each year, Henhouse holds true to its mission of giving back to single moms in the area and has supported 90 community members thus far.

“We are more than a boutique,” Dennis observed. “We are a place where women can come, feel good in their skin and find clothes that represent their personality and style.”

In her endeavors, Dennis works alongside her daughter Briana Dean to run both boutiques and is greatly supported by her husband Joe Dennis — who she credits as the “hands behind the dream.”

A dream, that is, that Dennis just keeps dreaming. In the future, Dennis and Dean hope to move from not just selling fashion but to designing a creating fashion pieces of their own.

Contact Harleigh Cupp at 540-5746279 or hcupp@dnronline.com

by the end of its first year. It actually reached 2,100.

With only six years of experience under her belt, she said there is more in the community for her to touch in the future, but one quote has definitely helped her along the way.

“Ted Lasso, in one of the TV episodes, quotes Walt Whitman and said always ‘be curious.’ I have taken that to heart big time in my professional and personal life,” she said. “And what he was trying to say is that everyone has their own story. You don’t know what people are going through, so never assume. I feel like that has helped a lot with my empathy toward people. The best thing we can be is to be kind to others.”

Contact Vic Young at vyoung@ dnronline.com or 540-574-6273.

10 UNDER 40

Harrisonburg, Va.

Wednesday, November 22, 2023

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degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. She also completed her resihas had a free Smiley’s Ice Cream truck dency in orthodontics at VCU and earned a master of science degree in dentistry for her patients at her office, the seventh year of this initiative. When Hurricane and earned an orthodontics board certiIdalia hit Florida in late August, nominafication, Giardina said she loved the protors said Giardina hosted a fundraiser for grams at VCU. victims. In the fall, there’s a pumpkin decGiardina said that she had been drawn orating contest — the decorated pumpkins to Virginia, but wasn’t sure if running her go to elder care facility Bellaire at Stone own practice was the direction she wanted to go in. Kray supported her and showed Port for the residents to enjoy.

She even bought a goat from one of her what Virginia was like, Giardina said. her patients at the Rockingham County While at VCU, Giardina said she met Fair youth market sales, nominators said.

Dr. Kray, who was a faculty member in “Dr. Giardina has essential leadership Giardina’s residency. Giardina said Kray qualities. She has demonstrated excepintroduced her to the area, inviting Giartional leadership to her staff by ignitdina on a fall hike in the Shenandoah Valing the office to attend events that raise ley in 2019. money and awareness for breast cancer Giardina said she was thrilled with and Down Syndrome,” Patton said in the Kray and her practice. Giardina ended up buying the practice from Kray, who still nomination.

This season, Giardina & Kray is worksticks around to help out at times.

Contributed Photo ing with Honor Project Movement to host “I ended up just like falling in love with a toy and gift drive for survivors of doher, like learning and working with her, Dr. Julia Giardina and staff pose for a picture at Giardina & Kray’s 7th Annual Ice Cream mestic violence and their families. Accordfalling in love with this office and then Truck Week enjoying free ice cream with dentists and patients. ing to its Facebook page, the orthodontics the Valley,” Giardina said, of Kray. “I work practice is collecting toy and gift donations with me every single day. I love to help The front reception area of the office has with some really sweet ladies. Everyone until Nov. 30. children; I love to make them feel good been renovated since she joined the prac- here is the kindest, nicest person so I just “My mission as a doctor is to create about themselves.” tice, Giardina said, with neat fixtures ac- have all of those people together.” healthy and beautiful smiles,” Giardina Giardina is from Cape Coral, Florida. cented with forest green. said. “My mission as a person is to help She likes to paint with watercolors for fun.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in biolContact Jillian Lynch at 540-574children and to help animals. I love an- She said she has made some watercolor ogy from the University of Florida. Giar6281 or jlynch@dnronline.com. Follow Jillian on Twitter @lynchjillian_ imals, I have a dog that comes to work paintings that are hanging in the office. dina earned her doctor of dental surgery

Orthodontist

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Marketer

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to be on the crew there. The growth in the last three months, for me, has been pretty exponential. I’m excited to continue that.”

As well as managing Estland clients’ social media, Pitts acts as a community engagement specialist. She explained that this role involves going to community events, making connections, and spreading the firm’s aware-

Engineer

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new solar generating array near Mount Jackson. Nolen said he estimates this project to be completed within the year.

“I love the people I’m working around,” said Nolen. “Smart people.

They’ve helped me develop as an engineer. That’s one thing about the co-op, they invest in you. There’s no better place to work than somewhere where they actually help you grow. I love what I’m doing here, and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

ness around the community. Pitts added that, going into 2024, this will become a larger part of her role.

In addition to her work with Estland, Pitts is a member of Rocktown Rotary. During her time as a Rotarian, Pitts said she has worked on projects such as planting trees with James Madison University and procuring and delivering supplies for Harrisonburg-based nonprofit First Step.

“We meet once a month instead of

once a week to cater to busy schedules,” Pitts explained. “First Step recently had an influx of babies. We have a registry that I bought supplies for and had delivered to them. Last year I planted trees at JMU, that was a fun day. That’s probably my favorite thing I did.”

Pitts was born, raised, and educated in Harrisonburg, receiving a B.A. in graphic design from JMU. In the past year, she has become engaged and purchased a house in addition to starting

her new position at Estland.

“I’ve lived here my whole life,” Pitts said of the Friendly City. “But, home is really defined by your involvement in the community. You can live in a place your whole life and not really know the people and the needs until you really step in and talk to people.”

Nolen also said that his biggest focus is keeping everyone safe.

“My biggest consideration is making sure the guys in the field — everyone — makes it home to their families,” Nolen explained. “That’s the biggest one for me. It doesn’t get bigger than that.”

In addition, Nolen said he has to account for workers who cover the coop’s extensive network, which draws power from a variety of sources, including solar farms, Old Dominion Electric Cooperative, and Dominion Energy.

“We have [lines] from a little south of Staunton all the way up to Winchester,” Nolen explained. “Almost 100,000 meters.”

While originally from Talladega, Alabama, Nolen said it was a desire for change that brought him to the Shenandoah Valley.

“I really wanted something different,” Nolen explained. “My grandparents, their siblings are in Maryland, in the Washington, D.C. area, so we traveled I-81 quite often growing up.

I just wanted to look for something

along that route.”

After looking for engineering jobs at other co-ops in the region, Nolen found SVEC and joined as a power distribution engineer before being promoted to systems engineer.

Nolen currently lives in Augusta County with his wife Markita, their three-year-old son Easton, and their two-month-old daughter Emeri.

Contact Richard H. Hronik III at rhronik@dnronline.com, 540-2083278, or on Twitter @rhronikDNR

Contact Richard H. Hronik III at rhronik@dnronline.com, 540-2083278, or on Twitter @rhronikDNR

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Wednesday, November 22, 2023

10 UNDER 40

Harrisonburg, Va.

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