Women in Profile

Kimberly Johnson
Kimberly graduated from George Mason University with a BA in Communications with a concentration on Public Relations.  She began her career at Virginia Stage Company at the historic Wells Theatre in Downtown Norfolk.  While at VSC, Kimberly was the Development Associate/Special Events Coordinator raising funds for productions created by VSC artists and performed live.  In addition, Kimberly also raised funds for the education department which included in-school productions and theatre education.

She is currently the Development & Marketing Coordinator for Samaritan House in Virginia Beach.  Kimberly works to raise funds and awareness for the organization’s mission “to foster personal safety, self-sufficiency and personal growth in adults and their children through freedom from domestic abuse and homelessness”. 

Kimberly resides in Downtown Norfolk with her tabby cat Ollie, who is her pride and joy.  She loves movies, cooking, the beach and recently yoga.  Another passion is her love for travel and culture which takes her on her first European adventure this summer to Italy. 
To inquire more about Samaritan House, please visit www.samaritanhouseva.org or e-mail kimberlyj@samaritanhouseva.org.

Lauran Strait
Whenever asked where she’s from, Lauran Strait answers cryptically—“everywhere and nowhere.”  Born into a military family, Lauran moved eight times before she married a naval officer.  They moved seven times but have lived in this area so long that Virginia Beach finally feels like home.

Lauran teaches creative writing and fiction classes and facilitates long-standing writers’ workshops at Virginia Beach’s Adult Learning Center.  She edited for a Canadian print magazine and is the managing editor of the columns section of Moondance, an international woman’s magazine.  She’s a freelance writer and editor of book-length fiction and nonfiction.  Most importantly to her, Lauran is the founder and president of the Hampton Roads Writers.

Nurturing writers brings her joy.  Over the years, many of Lauran’s students have experienced success getting their work published in print and electronic magazines.  Several of them have placed work in paying anthologies or have won cash prizes.  Few things make Lauran happier than seeing her protégés succeed. 

For more information about Lauran or the Hampton Roads Writers, visit: http://hamptonroadswriters.org/lauranstrait.php .

Debra Abrams Lee
Dr. Lee is a Hampton Roads native  originally from Yorktown, VA.  She is a graduate of York High School and VCU.  

She has lived in Chicago and New York and decided to return home to Virginia to establish her medical practice which she opened in 1999.

Two factors which brought her back to Virginia were her parents (family) and her love of Hampton Roads, be it the water at  the Virginia Beach oceanfront or the riversides of the York and James rivers.

Debra is active in the community as a City of Newport Youth Mentor and  as a volunteer tutor with The Rita Welsh Adult Literacy Program. Students there are assisted in English as a second language and  GED preparation.  

In her free/spare time she enjoys running, weight  training, Pilates, Latin Ballroom dance and cooking.

She and her  husband James reside in Williamsburg.

Helene Cirillo
Helene Cirillo was raised in Pittsburgh PA.  Upon earning her degree in Mechanical Engineering she moved to Southern California where she was introduced to a brand new world which included network marketing and living a healthy lifestyle.  

Health & nutrition has become her passion over the last 20 years.  During her brief time as a personal trainer she witnessed the frustration of people who were exercising and eating right yet not experiencing their desired results.  

She now knows that releasing toxins from the body was what was missing.  Helene has released more than 30 pounds since being introduced to Isagenix® and more importantly feels better than ever!  

Helene now lives in Newport News with her husband Anthony who is stationed in Yorktown with the USCoast Guard.  She runs her Isagenix® business from her home.

Linda DeLoatch
After high school graduation in Franklin, Linda left home and become a licensed hairdresser. Almost overnight she grew to love the business of hair and opened her own salon, a first in a male-dominated industry.

Twenty-nine years later, Images Unlimited is tagged the area’s only hybrid hair salon—a hair styling salon + hair replacement studio, with a small cult following.

In 1984, intrigued by an ad she received in the mail, Linda was the only person in Hampton Roads who attended a professional seminar on hair loss. This sparked a spontaneous meshing of the need for a local expert in hair replacement systems with Linda’s entrepreneurial spirit. In order to maintain a high level of expertise, Linda is a lifelong student who continues to attend national conferences and seminars around the country.
 
Designing hairpieces and wigs.  Guiding women in transition. Kayaking. Camping. Meditating daily. Co-creating Wise-Women gatherings. Hosting monthly Kundalini Yoga Community Day.

A dedicated yogic, lifestyle feeds Linda’s soul,  inspiring her to guide students and clients on their sacred journey. 

Jill Church
Jill was born in Winter Park, Florida and spent her first 22 years in the Sunshine State.  After graduating from the University of North Florida in 1993, she traveled and lived in many places before settling in Norfolk.

Jill began practicing at Hot House in September of 2008 after a traumatic neck injury. She had been an avid runner for over 15 years and wanted an activity where she could heal and sweat at the same time.  She credits Hot House Yoga with fulfilling both of those needs.

Her yoga training consists of workshops with Rolf Gates, retreats in Costa Rica and completion of 200 hr. teacher training with the Yax brothers.

Jill is a blessed wife and mother. She enjoys walking, reading, practicing yoga, and spending time with her family.

“The purpose of life is to discover your gift the meaning of life is to give your gift away”.
-David Viscott

Sheila Bogott
Sheila Bogott is the Communications/Marketing Manager, of Habitat for Humanity of South Hampton Roads (Habitat SHR). 

She’s lived in the South Hampton Roads community over 20 years and is engaged to be married in August 2010.

She’s a graduate of Old Dominion University.  Sheila has been with Habitat SHR for seven years (volunteered for three and on staff for four).
 
Sheila has a passion for communication – finding the most influential method to convey the message and disseminating the message to current and potential donors. 

Sheila takes pride in working for Habitat SHR and takes every opportunity to be onsite.  She is excited to be a part of the community that can and will eliminate poverty housing in South Hampton Roads.
 
Sheila invites local businesses, individuals, churches to become an active participant in eliminating poverty housing locally, feel free to reach her at 640-0590 or e-mail at marketing@shrhabitat.org or visit the website for more information, www.shrhabitat.org .

Yllianne Ida Ortiz Diaz
Yllianne Ida Ortiz Diaz was born in Chicago, IL in the 80’s.  Travels with a military family brought Yllianne to Virginia. 

She attended a school for Aesthetics in 2003 and has been utilizing those skills ever since.
 
She did take a small step out of the field in 2008 for a year when her daughter was diagnosed with epilepsy, and started a new education path at Thomas Nelson School to become a registered nurse.  Now in her last year there, she I will transfer to Hampton University to get her Bachelors in Nursing.

Yllianne is happily married and mother of three children ranging in the ages of 11 years to 11 months. 

She resides on The Peninsula near Yorktown and works in Virginia Beach, where she is a Master Aesthetician at Genesis Medspa and Vein Specialist.

She says Genesis is the best place to rejuvenate your skin and look 10 years younger, so call and make an appointment to see her!

In her spare time she enjoys traveling, reading and catching a good comedy show.