Women in Profile

Allison Enedy
Allison Enedy joined the VBSPCA in August as the Events Director. She is native to the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia but has been a resident of South Hampton Roads since 2001.

She comes to us from APM Terminals where she served as Director of Communications for two years. She has also worked in Public Relations for Norfolk Southern Corporation and the City of Virginia Beach.

Allison and her husband, Tom Cholis, make their home in Norfolk with their three dogs, Quinn, Kiely and Theodore Roosevelt (pictured).

She enjoys reading, cooking and hiking with her animals. Allison is very excited to be at the VBSPCA and is looking forward to increasing our community reach with events! Call her for information on event opportunities for you or your business – 427-0070 ext. 20 or email her at events@vbspca.com.

Robin Richards
Robin Richards, a native of Massachusetts, moved to Virginia Beach in 1978, where she currently resides.

During high school, Robin competed in varsity field hockey and soccer. After high school, she volunteered as a missionary within the U.S., while earning her degree in Theology. During which time she developed a real passion for helping people.

Robin became certified as a personal trainer, through AFAA, (Aerobic and Fitness Association of America), in 2004. Combining her passion for helping people and her interest in health, nutrition and fitness, Robin opened her own facility, Beach Body Fitness Studio on Shore Drive.

After some success, she and her partner sold the studio and Robin began training her clients in the privacy of their own home, eliminating travel time and costly overhead fees for her and her clients. Today she helps people from all walks of life become more healthy and fit from the inside out. She loves helping people succeed at something they once thought was impossible.

Jennifer Wheatley
Anyone who has known Jennifer for any length of time knows that she is passionate about people.

A mother in her late teens, Jen found being a parent a fulfilling and stimulating role, and has often been heard to say, that raising healthy, well adjusted young people is her definition of success in her life.

This upbeat philosophy of life and the commitment to helping others is the foundation on which Jennifer has built her business.

While working on a client, she not only works on their physical body, but she also offers common sense tips on maintaining health and wellness. She calls it “planting seeds”.

Jennifer plays an active role in a fellowship group that supports and encourages women who are recovering from substance abuse. She believes that sharing ones strength, hope and experience benefits not only the recipient, but also the giver. She considers it a gift to be of service.

Megan Zwisohn
Megan always believed in volunteerism, but also believe the volunteer work has to fit the volunteer. She was looking for a place to volunteer when she found a small notice in the volunteer section of the newspaper describing REACH. She knew immediately that it combined her volunteer interests; reading, mentorship, and local public service.

She has worked as a prosecutor for the past thirteen years and had struggled to find ways to be part of her community before victimization occurs. In both her personal and professional life she has seen the affects of homelessness, illiteracy and the lack of positive role models. Within an hour of reading the notice she was in contact with the Volunteer Coordinator. Within a few days she was assigned to a Read-Aloud team in a shelter located in a neighboring section of Norfolk.

Once she started volunteering as a Read-Aloud team member, she started volunteering for other REACH needs, such as fundraising events and book collections. Wanting to become even more involved she eventually joined the Board of Directors and this year took on the job of Board President.

Nancy L. Zingrone
Nancy L. Zingrone, the new Director of Academic Affairs at Atlantic University, has degrees in psychology and education, the most recent being her Ph.D. from the University of Edinburgh.

Her career has bridged business, education, publishing and research in small institutions dedicated to scientific parapsychology.

She and her husband AU’s new Scholar in Residence Carlos S. Alvarado, also an Edinburgh Ph.D., have collaborated on research for almost 30 years. Their work suggests that we are all interconnected in meaningful and transformative ways.

At Atlantic University, a unique not-for-profit online graduate school with a student-centered faculty, the curriculum provides an environment in which students can explore their spirituality, seek personal transformation, and learn the skills needed to mentor others on their own spiritual quests. Zingrone finds this combination to be a perfect match between science and spirituality. She hopes to contribute in a substantial way to Atlantic University’s future.

Mary Elizabeth Lynch
Mary Elizabeth Lynch is president of the non-profit educational organization, The Personal Transformation and Courage Institute, which she runs with her husband of 30 years, Mark Thurston.

Transformation is at the heart of who Mary Elizabeth is and what she does. After graduating from the University of Virginia School of Law, she practiced law for a period of time.

She transformed her law practice into a mediation practice because she believed people could resolve their disputes with the assistance of skilled professionals.

That led to her current career -helping people resolve inner conflicts. Mary Elizabeth believes you can transform conflict into a creative opportunity for growth only if you are purposely using your gifts and talents. That way, you are able to meet conflict with courage, compassion and creativity.

Currently, she divides her time between Virginia Beach and Fairfax where she is an adjunct faculty member at George Mason University.

Regina Grant
As the wife of Tony for thirty years, the mother of two and grandmother of two, loyalty ranks #1 with Regina.

While devoted to her family, Regina’s faithfulness can also be found as manager of the Hampton DAV Thrift Store where she exemplifies superior customer service and excellent motivational skills for the training of her employees.

Regina is also active in the community as a Children’s Ministry Leader and event planner. Dedication is found in every endeavor she embarks upon.

Regina experienced the opening of the first DAV Thrift Store and 25 years later she remains a vital part of the company. The DAV utilizes Regina’s ability to showcase merchandise and offer the best prices to satisfy the customer as well as the charities that benefit from the sales.

In 2009 and 2010, the DAV was voted best thrift store by the Daily Press readers. Commitment and devotion are synonymous with Regina Grant.

Angela Lawrence
Angela is from everywhere and nowhere. A child of a dual Air Force family she moved extensively throughout her childhood and eventually joined the military herself. After 8 years in the United States Army, she chose to pursue and finish her education and graduated from Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, TN with a Bachelor of Science in Public Management and Criminal Justice.

Through her Army career, Angela developed a passion for training and leadership that serves her well as a community educator. A staunch advocate for social justice, she found a natural home as the Education and Outreach Coordinator for Samaritan House, where she helps to increase prevention and intervention of domestic violence and homelessness through education.
Angela organizes and participates in a variety of workshops throughout the Hampton Roads community covering a wide variety of topics to include; healthy relationships, dating violence, domestic violence and the healthcare community just to name a few.

Angela and her family migrated to Virginia Beach in 2008 where they plan to finally plant some roots!

If you are interested in hosting or attending a workshop or just want more information about Samaritan House, please visit www.samaritanhouseva.org or e-mail angelal@samaritanhouseva.org.