Women in Profile

Dr. Jenny Andrus
As a native of the Hampton Roads area, Jenny knew she would return to practice medicine in the area where she grew up. Jenny was born and raised in Suffolk and after going to college at William and Mary, started medical school at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk. Upon completing medical school and her internship at EVMS, she and her husband moved to the Richmond area, where she completed her residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and her Interventional Pain Management Fellowship at Virginia Commonwealth University/Medical College of Virginia. She joined Orthopaedic & Spine Center in 2009 and was thrilled to become the first woman physician on their staff. Jenny was happy to return to the Tidewater area so that she could be closer to her family.

While Jenny lived in Richmond, her two sons (now 5 and 2 years of age) were born. While she loves being a physician and a wife, she really loves being a Mommy!

During her free time, Jenny loves to garden and read. However, with two little boys, her free time is mostly spent playing with trucks and reading dinosaur books!

Cynthia James
A native of Jamesville, North Carolina, Cynthia has been in the Hampton Roads area for 38 years. Being raised in a home of vulnerability, where there was much love, but not enough resources, her life goal has been to help people. Realizing her talent to fundraise, Cynthia got started making a difference in the world.

Prior to her current role as Director of Development at Samaritan House, she has worked to help many in need through her efforts at the following agencies: The Up Center, American Red Cross of S. E. Virginia, United Way of South Hampton Roads, the YWCA of South Hampton Roads and EVMS Area Health Education Center.

Cynthia serves on the Minority Advisory Council for United Way of S. Hampton Roads; on the board of directors for the Association of Fundraising Professionals and is also V.P. of “Spiritual Blessings”, a substance abuse program at Ebenezer Baptist Church.

Cynthia was recently honored by the United Way Minority Advisory Council and at the Beta Theta Zeta Chapter Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. as one of the “Five Pearls of Leadership”.

Cynthia is married, with one child and one grandson.

Ann Marie Jenkins
Ann Marie Jenkins is a 2004 graduate of James Madison University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Media Arts & Design and a minor in Educational Media. Mrs. Jenkins works as the Graphics Designer & Web Developer at the Virginia Air & Space Center in Hampton where she has been employed for the past six years. She has successfully brought the Virginia Air & Space Center into a new quality of marketing with her creative abilities in web development, print design and social media.

Mrs. Jenkins was honored during the 2008 Virginia Public Relations Awards with a Bronze Certificate of Merit for her design of the Virginia Air & Space Center’s 2007 Annual Report.

Ann Marie is a native to Hampton Roads and currently resides in Newport News with her husband. They are expecting their first child in June. On her downtime Ann Marie enjoys spending time with family & friends, photography, travel and is excited about the new chapter in her life: motherhood!

Patti Vera
Patti Vera, born in Decatur, Illinois, has been a Peninsula resident for 35 years.

A proud daughter of a military veteran, she has been employed with the Disabled American Veterans Thrift Stores for 9 years. Beginning as a cashier, Patti was quickly promoted to supervisor and worked at the Denbigh location for three years.

Given an opportunity to become the Gloucester Store Manager, she has successfully, with the help of her employees, been the manager for six years.

Under her management, the Gloucester Store has met and exceeded goals and continues to be a growing presence in the Gloucester community. Patti takes great pride in the honesty, dependability, and the teamwork displayed by her employees and herself.

Patti is happily married to her wonderful husband, Scott Vera. They have three sons and five grandchildren.

When not working, Patti enjoys spending her time with her grandchildren, going to the beach and walking. She also loves football and is an avid Steelers fan.

Dr. Bunan Alnaif
The overstuffed scrapbooks of patients’ thank you cards in her waiting room reflect Dr. Alnaif’s commitment and passion for the community. Distinguished physician; recognized by the University of London (UK) as the most distinguished graduate of class 1988 OB/GYN specialist program, by the University of Ottawa (Canada) as the best Resident researcher of the OB/GYN Residency and the only graduate to complete Residency with MSc in Physiology in the history of the medical School. After completing Fellowship in Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery from the University of Toronto, was recruited to Hampton Roads by the Eastern Virginia Medical School in 1998.

Bunan opened her private clinical practice in (Western Branch) Chesapeake in October 2000. She is a supporter and advocate of EVMS, and serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She is the recipient of Hampton Roads Health Care Hero Award in 2009, and Patient Choice Award each year since 2009, and also served on the Board of Directors of the Medical Society of Virginia.

She says “my proudest and best achievement is a happy marriage and having three wonderful children.”

Dr. Susan M. Hancock

Dr. Susan M. Hancock is an industrial engineer turned physician. Upon her graduation from Auburn University, she took a hospital consulting position and there discovered a calling to medicine. She came to Newport News in 2008 to join a vascular surgery group after completing her Vascular Fellowship in Atlanta.

Having practiced at Riverside Medical Center for three years within a group setting, Dr. Hancock elected to open a solo practice focusing on venous disorders and maintaining a personalized approach to patient care. Her daily goal is to educate patients and engage them during visits so that they leave feeling satisfied with the level of communication and attention they have received.

Dr. Hancock credits her value system and work ethic to her faith and strong family foundation. She believes in life balance and passes that value on to her patients and staff. In her downtime, she enjoys running, reading, and spending time at the beach with her husband.

Susan Mayo
In 2010, Mayo left the Farm Fresh grocery store chain as vice president for consumer affairs and public relations after an award-winning, 33-year career. During her career she provided information to consumers, such as nutrition and wellness information, food safety guidance and money saving tips, while also leading communications strategies and community relations. Along the way she was instrumental in establishing and directing the Farm Fresh Charitable Foundation, the company’s charitable arm working with over 1,500 nonprofit organizations.

After leaving Farm Fresh to start Susan T. Mayo Consulting, LLC, marketing and public relations firm, her main client was the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia, an organization she helped since 1981 and served as past chair of the board. The Foodbank hired her as its chief marketing officer in December, and she now directs its public relations, marketing, donor relations and community programs.

In January 2011, she was awarded the prestigious Esther Peterson Award for Distinguished Service in Supermarket Consumer Affairs by the Food Marketing Institute. Mayo says it was the highest honor she could receive, not only as recognition for her work, but also because of its namesake. Esther Peterson was a pioneering consumer advisor, who also worked as a special assistant for consumer affairs for two U.S. presidents.

Linda DeLoatch
Linda DeLoatch was born to serve. Talk to the client who just hit rock bottom with her hair or the sleep-deprived new mother in the adjacent yoga studio where Linda teaches basic breath work. Mention her name to family members of cancer patients she comforted during years as a volunteer with Lees’ Friends. Take one look at the woman who rebuilt her life trusting Linda’s vision for change. Clients, yoga students and teachers – and a circle of good friends—all know why multiple astrology charts point to a life dedicated to a greater good.

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. 29 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.