CONGRATULATIONS

TO THE 2023 CLASS OF MOST INSPIRING WOMEN!

( LOVINGLY REFERRED TO AS THE RED LADIES )

Each year, 12-15 local women are nominated and selected for this honor based on their recent achievements, service to the community, willingness to support their fellow female professionals and commitment to the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women® Initiatve.

Go Red For Women® is a comprehensive platform designed to increase women’s heart health awareness and serve as a catalyst for change to improve the lives of women globally. It’s no longer just about wearing red; it’s no longer just about sharing heart health facts. In the pages ahead, you will meet the women who have made a commitment to stand together with VIP Alexandria Magazine and Go Red. They are ready to take charge of their own heart health as well as the health of those they can’t live without. Are you?

Scan the code below to learn more about the American Heart Association and Go Red For Women.®

BE FIERCE. RAISE AWARENESS. SPREAD THE WORD. GIVE BACK. GO RED!

As co-owner of King’s Jewelry for the past 35 years, Cathy Bradford has always been a familiar face in Alexandria’s business community. A proud advocate of community needs, she volunteers her time and service, as well as financial support to various causes and organizations.

Cathy was born at the Alexandria Hospital to Greek Cypriot immigrants who eventually became restaurant owners on King Street. After working first in restaurants, then in travel, she settled nicely in to the jewelry business, joining her husband, Brad. They still work together with Brad’s daughter, Tari, and their two sons, Andrew and Gregory, in the family business, “King’s Jewelry”, which has been an Alexandria landmark for over 65 years.

“I believe that I have made my mark in the world by sustaining important relationships with my family, my extended family, our business relationships and our friends. They know that they can count on me whenever they need me.”

“Knowing how challenging it is to run a business, I am also most proud of my large extended family; Greek Cypriot cousins that have also settled in the Alexandria area and started their businesses here as well. I know that we all need a healthy heart balance in our lives, [which includes] equal amounts of working, socializing and, most important[ly], fitness, exercise and healthy eating. I am realizing that more of my focus needs to be on my personal health and my quality of life. My goal is to inspire my hard-working, extended family to do the same."

The owner of Nounou Nanny, Tiffany Green prioritizes early child development and creating a unique dynamic of care and trust between her nannies and the families with whom they are placed. As an Alexandria native, she has a deep love of the community and its cultural diversity. “I believe that culture is a huge part of what makes us unique and we should celebrate our differences as one,” she says.

To further education in the local area, Green is a supporter of PHILLIPS Programs for Children & Families. “They are an amazing nonprofit school and support system for neurodiverse children and young adults in the DMV area,” says the entrepreneur, who proudly holds a master’s degree in art. “School has been a great outlet and tool for me and I believe in the power of learning. It’s so very important to support children of all backgrounds, socioeconomic statuses and educational needs so that they have the tools they need to succeed, thrive and, most importantly, live a fulfilling life.”

Having needed help in the past, it is important to Green that she help others now. “I’m proud to have created job opportunities for young and ethnically-diverse women,” she says. “As a person who has struggled to find employment in the past, I know the grief associated with being turned away in a competitive market such as Washington, DC. I have found that it ultimately takes hard work, willingness to start at the bottom and climb your way up and a dash of luck to claim a rewarding career.”