Sue Hough, Owner of Octavo Designs, an award winning graphic design firm that specializes in small, niche pieces that are fun, dynamic and unique, located in downtown Frederick, Maryland. Octavo Designs is a strong force in the design community along the East Coast with a concentration of clients in the Mid-Atlantic region. They service a wide range of businesses including clients in the areas of publishing, education, retail business, professional and non-profit organizations, and national associations. 

Tiffanie Williams is the founder of Cleo Caryae, a general contracting company that focuses on interior design (build/construction) for commercial, residential and multifamily unit dwellers. Her background extends over 15 years in kitchen renovation builds and interior modifications.

Fueled by a passion for sensory science, Rachel Toner is the founder of Taste Strategy, LLC, a consulting company that helps Convenience Retailers, QSRs, and their suppliers make confident decisions about taste and product quality. She specializes in product and consumer testing that supports new launches, vendor selection, cost savings, reformulations, shelf-life, packaging, in-market performance and more. 

Peggy Cormary is a Washington DC–based commercial and editorial photographer specializing in food, interiors, and business portraits. Her work blends artistry, sustainability, and mindful design to create refined, story-driven imagery. Through color, light, and environmental awareness, she helps chefs, designers, and hospitality brands craft visuals that reflect authenticity, beauty, and purpose.

Shani Whisonant doesn’t play small. As an attorney, strategist, and Principal of Tavola, she brings nearly twenty years of precision legal training and the clarity of business architecture to every engagement. Tavola partners with future-minded leaders: solopreneurs hungry for aligned growth, organizations seeking to empower their members, and enterprises ready to evolve past tired corporate playbooks that no longer serve them. If your business is built on values as much as vision, we’re here to help you design a revenue-generating table that reflects both.