Women in Profile

Alexandra Lesmes
Alexandra Lesmes moved to Virginia from Miami in 2003. Two years later she started a Rapid Refill Ink franchisee in Virginia Beach. Her parents followed her as well to help support the family’s endeavors.

Alexandra ultimately chose Rapid Refill Ink because of its business model and true dedication to the environment. She felt by bringing Rapid Refill Ink to Virginia she could help businesses and consumers save money while helping the environment by recycling.

She is married to Frank Galarraga and has 2 young girls, Gabriela and Lauren. She enjoys the relaxation of the beach and enjoys Salsa music and dance.

Lisa Coughlan
Lisa Coughlan, grew up in Cape Cod, Mass., where she attended Cape Cod Technical High School in the Business Management Program. After living in New England most of her life, she moved to the Outer Banks where she practiced her business skills as a true entrepreneur.

Lisa bought small companies and restructured them into viable businesses. When they were turning a profit, she sold them. She did this nine times. It taught her children hard work can pay off, but it was not all about money.

Her last project before leaving the Outer Banks was a non-profit Drug and Alcohol Rehab for Women. She wanted to give back to a community that always supported her. “The joy I saw come from the women I helped was all the payment I needed,” said Lisa

Lisa Moved to Hampton Roads to help her dear friend Dr. Keith Nichols grow his business, She is the Director of Operations of Genesis Vein Specialist and Medspa which has two locations one in Suffolk and one in Virginia Beach.

Betsey Brooks
Betsey is a retired, retirement home administrator. She holds an associate’s degree in business administration, a bachelor’s degree in human services, and a master’s degree in transpersonal studies. She is a member of the A.R.E. In 2005 she became certified in Esoteric Healing.

Her journey with Personal Transformation and Courage Institute (PTCI) began in 2006. Since then she has taken multiple courses, including Energy Awareness Training and Leading from the Courageous Heart. In the past four years, she has assisted with courses and supported the work of PTCI in several different roles.

Her personal experience in meditation goes back 30 years. During those 30 years she has been on many retreats, from guided weekend retreats to a ten day silent retreat two years ago.

It was the ten day silent retreat that only changed her, but opened the door to offering a similar experience to other like hearted souls.

Wendy Rains
Wendy loves to watch people grow, heal and transform their lives. She is an assistant – facilitator for the non-profit educational organization, The Personal Transformation and Courage Institute. She also coordinates the Continuing Education Department for Atlantic University.

In both capacities, Wendy works with people as they come to recognize, heal and transform unhealthy patterns in their lives that hold them back from living their life’s purpose. She sees firsthand how we are on auto-pilot, reliving the same patterns day after day. Once we are able to see ourselves through the lens of wholeness and remember our gifts, strengths and talents, then we can really change old patterns of thinking and behavior and make conscious choices toward living a more joyful, healthy and harmonious life.

This work has made a tremendous difference in Wendy’s personal life, enhancing her life with her husband of 17 years and with her teen-aged daughter.

Joyce Elliott
Joyce Elaine Partain Elliott has lived in Norfolk most of her life. She was born in Georgia.

She has been an LPN since 2002, which started her journey toward her company. She has worked in the home health field for 15 years, in sales and marketing . She is a member of the Norfolk Task Force on Aging, a member of NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners, NAPW(National Association of Business Women and was awarded the Entrepreneur Excellence Award from the VanSycle Group for the 2010 year.She chose her career path because of the passion she has for the community and our senior citizens.

Her personal hobbies are the beach, boating and gardening.
Joyce has been married to Jim for 35 years, has two children, Jamie, son-in-law Rob, son Jordan, and her joy in life her granddaughter Jillian who is 3 years old.. Her family events are her joy.

To find out more information about Angel Care Private Duty Nursing Services,
757-480-2929, email joyce@angelcare-llc.com, web site www.angelcare-llc.com

Shelley Smith
Shelley Diane Smith resides in Newport News, VA for the past 18 year. She was born in Strasburg France and raised in Indiana. Shelley’s favorite hobbies include spending time with her husband of 18 years. She has three wonderful children, as well as a mix beagle found at the local SPCA. Shelley spends her time going to soccer, basketball and football games. She and her family love the beach, bike riding and playing board game and watching movies. Her passion is helping others succeed.

Shelley’s community service includes the MS Society, American Red Cross, Children’s Miracle Network and at her parish Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church. She is a current and active member of the Peninsula Women’s Network, National Association of Women Business Owners, Hampton Roads Chamber and Peninsula Chamber of Commerce’s, and the Williamsburg Business Association.

Shelley is the Owner of The Alternative Board, peer board facilitator and certified strategic business leadership coach. Prior to owning her own company; Shelley has spent several decades in top executive positions within Marriott Corporation, LTD Management and HMP Properties. Most of those years were spent working directly in the Hampton Roads area.

Cynthia Smith
Cynthia Smith was born and raised in Carlsbad, New Mexico. She attended college in San Diego where she worked as a LPN and fitness instructor.

Her passion for travel and taking care of others brought her to Virginia to pursue a career as a Flight Attendant. For 15 years she has been a flight attendant, in-flight service manager and instructor for World Airways a military/international charter. During that time she was able to expand her fitness education and become a Certified Master Personal Fitness trainer, Mat Pilates, Dance and Cycling Instructor with the American Aerobic Association International & International Sports Medicine Association.

She also volunteers as BLS/ CPR instructor for the American Heart Association. Her love for fitness and good health after 40 inspired her to develop AIRotique Movement a silk fitness program to improve core and flexibility strength

She is a proud mom and wife who lives for family downtime, her 2 dogs and adventurous vacations.

Nicole Stuart
Nicole Stuart always knew she would become a businesswoman, having grown up doing homework in her father’s office.

She is President of Top Guard Security, Hampton Road’s Largest Woman-owned business, and its largest private security officer firm with approximately 600 employees. She and her husband Chris have four children, Shelby, Chance, Cooper and Brody and reside in Hampton.

Though entrepreneurship was a given, Nicole’s commitment to charitable and community endeavors came as more of a surprise. “What was not as obvious to me growing up was the vital role that businesspeople play in improving the lives of Hampton Roads’ citizens” Stuart noted.

As the American Heart Association’s Chair for the upcoming Heart Ball on the Peninsula and spokeswoman for GO RED, Nicole is determined to raise awareness and prevention among women about heart disease. Because “sadly, all of us have family or friends who have been affected by heart disease.”