Women in Profile

Kirsten Ponton
Kirsten Ponton is a VB native, born and bred. A graduate of James Madison University with a BS in Communication, Kirsten got her feet wet in the real world with a role in the financial planning industry.  A year later, she took the publication plunge as an Advertising Executive with a local newspaper, and remained there for 4 years.  Kirsten is currently General Manager for Tidewater DistribuTech—the company responsible for stocking and maintaining displays for free publications, like Virginia Beach Woman, in over 300 local grocery & convenience stores.

If she weren’t your local DistribuTech GM, Kirsten’s dream job would have her in Hollywood, as a makeup artist for the stars.  In her spare time, she enjoys relaxing on the beach, biking around town, cake decorating, playing kickball, and spending time with family and friends.  Kirsten works hard, but plays harder; she is a beach girl through and through.

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.

Tyra Raymond
Tyra Raymond resides in Virginia Beach.  She was born in Pt Hueneme, CA and raised in Oak Harbor, WA. In 1977 she joined the navy and embarked on a 20 year journey around the globe specializing in logistics.   Along the way she found many new friends, one patient husband and three great kids. 

Upon leaving the service in 1997 she relocated to St Cloud, Minnesota and went back to school to learn Home Architecture & Drafting, graduating with an Associates in Applied Sciences and eventually falling in love with the remodeling of kitchens and baths , joining the National Kitchen and Bath Association in 2001. She relocated back to the beach in 2003.

She currently sits on the Board for Virginia Chapter of the NKBA, which provides training, information, and networking opportunities to all members.

Tyra loves the ocean, reading and gardening.  She currently has a dog, cat, and a very noisy parrot.

Office :757-430-1431 Email: kbtdesign@verizon.net

Susan Elise Morton
Susan Elise Morton, who has a Masters Degree in Education from Bowling Green University in Ohio, found herself a new and rewarding career ten years ago.  Up to that point in her life she had taught elementary and special education students; directed community programs for disabled individuals; directed the campaign for the renovation of the Wells Theatre in downtown Norfolk and was Assistant to the President of Central Fidelity Bank.  Leaving Central Fidelity, her new career led her to become a full time Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator.

For those not familiar with Stampin’ Up!, it is a direct sales company that celebrates people, relationships and creativity. 

Since 1988 the company has produced an exclusive line of decorative rubber stamp sets and accessories for handmade cards, scrapbooking, craft projects and home décor! 

She and her husband, Alan, live in Norfolk.  Alan recently built classroom space, the Cat/Art Studio, that Susan Elise shares with the family cat, Princess.  She would love to have you visit and you can email her at:  yourstampteacher@susanelisestamps.com or visit her blog for more information ~ stampingpurrfection.typepad.com

Ann Leister
The creator of VA Fashion Week and owner of Splash Model Management, Ann Leister has over twenty years experience in the modeling and talent industry and eight total years as director of a model management company.   Born and raised in Suffolk, she has a B.A. from the College of William & Mary and resides in Virginia Beach with her husband and teenage daughter.  A few of her achievements include producing, directing, and supplying the models for multiple fashion shows.  In addition Ann has placed talent in catalogs and ad campaigns, TV series, films and commercials as well as taken models to New York to assist them in launching their careers. Ann also has experience as an actor and model having worked in print, film, and television. 

She is also, along with her husband, a real estate investor and online entrepreneur.   Her hobbies include fashion, music, travel, shopping, film, reading, and photography.  She feels extremely blessed to have incorporated many of her interests into her business!

You can contact Ann by emailing ann@splashmodel.com .

Tyra Chisholm
Tyra Chisolm has a passion for the Network Marketing industry and assisting others in achieving their goals and dreams. She says she is an ordinary person, who has created extra-ordinary success by having vision, obtained by setting goals to get there!

Tyra enjoys the freedom of working in a home-based business. It all started when she was on a job and realized that she wasn’t the one who decided when she worked and when she took a day off. This was no fun!

Believing that best way to maximize, protect and build your income is to surround yourself with the right people, she began working with Financial Destinations. to help people move toward their goals.

Tyra lives in Newport News with her husband. She has four children and three grandchildren who are her pride and joy.

Cristina Bliss
Originally from New Jersey, an ordained Licensed Minister of the Universal Life Church of California, certified Reiki Master; this is Cristina Bliss.

Cristina resides in Virginia Beach, commuting daily between her Bennett’s Creek/Suffolk Salon and her office in Virginia Beach.  She has successfully owned and operated her own business since 2000.

Cristina, gifted since age four, accepts the skills she receives from a higher source.  Through intense research, training from experienced mediums/mentors, and paying close attention to the spiritual messages from above, she provides Reiki and holistic healings to those in need.  Cristina encourages, teaches and mentors others with the same amazing gift of mediumship and spiritual healing.

Reiki, the combined Japanese word of Rei (God’s Wisdom/Higher Power) and Ki (Spiritual Guidance/Life Force Energy) is a world-renowned Eastern technique perfected by those with a natural ability to sense spiritual energy and act as a channeling force in healing and strength.

Christy Wood
Christy Wood tries to live each day with the wind in her face.  When she’s not riding her jet ski in the Chesapeake, she’s an 8th grade math teacher. She has fun teaching, and enjoys the challenge of being innovative enough to keep the kids interested in learning. “Every day is different,” she says.

A Virginia Tech graduate, Christy is also a business owner and likes learning about new business opportunities.

Christy has a love of outdoor concerts, dance, travel and meeting new friends.  And of course, her three kids, who she says are awesome. “They are my life. They’re number one,” she says.

She believes that every day is a joy. Waxing poetic, she says that when you end up on a cliff in life, two things will happen. When you jump, either God will catch you or He’ll give you wings to fly.

Living her life to the fullest, Christy rides her jet ski to have fun and keep in shape. But she also lives by the slogan: “I have to get back to the sea, ‘cause it helps me get back to me”.