Barrett Balzer 
Northern Virginia is a hub of innovation, creativity, and expression. We’re launching a longtime favorite series from The Local Girl, called Locals to Watch. Since this is The Fairfax Girl’s first edition, and March is Women’s History Month, we’re kicking off the series with an all-female lineup. These five women express their creativity through entrepreneurship. From food and drink, flowers and jewelry, these five women cover it all. Read on for a list of female entrepreneurs in Northern Virginia.
Catherine Ahearn | Tysons Creamery
Catherine Ahearn is the founder of Tysons Creamery. Catherine created Tysons Creamery from her lifelong passion for culinary arts and entrepreneurship. This woman-owned business is recognized as a National Award-Winning brand and has been featured in Virginia Living Magazine.
With more than 25 years of leadership in healthcare quality, she has guided organizations to develop effective, standardized approaches to excellence. Catherine is inspired by her “tremendous passion for food, good food, in moderation, healthy and decadent.” She strives to “create something everyone can enjoy.”
She completed her studies at L’Académie de Cuisine and further expanded on her abilities with Penn State’s Ice Cream Short Course (Ice Cream University) in 2020. She hopes to make Tysons Creamery a regional brand known for its “exceptional and ‘go-to’ ice cream to order.”
Gurpreet Kaur | Saaj By G
Gurpreet Kaur is the founder of Saaj by G, a Northern Virginian-based South Asian Jewelry brand. Her love for South Asian heritage aesthetics is tied to her platform, which focuses on identity, artistry, and representation. Partnering with skilled artisans across India, Saaj By G serves a growing clientele of brides and collectors seeking meaningful, modern heirlooms.
She is most inspired by her work, which explores the intersection of identity and expression. “I’m inspired by the evolution of our community – women who are global, ambitious, rooted yet modern. Brides who want to honor tradition but wear it in a way that feels like them.”
Gurpreet Kaur strives to create a space where culture is contemporary and inclusive. She plans to achieve this through collaborations, curated and pop-up events. Her vision is simple: “To build something that bridges generations – honoring where we come from, while confidently shaping where we’re going.”
See more: Where to Find Easter Brunch in Northern Virginia
Kamilia Jackson, ArTeA Restaurant & Bar | 6635B Old Dominion Drive, McLean
Kamilia Jackson is the Chef at ArTeA Restaurant & Bar and ArTeA shop in McLean. To Kamilia, tea has been more than just a drink; it’s been a comfort, a connection, and creativity all in one. “I share my passion with our guests the same way I pour love into every cup of tea I prepare at home for my husband, a proud U.S. Army officer.”
Kamilia aims to elevate the cultural experience of tea, redefining culinary wellness, and bringing people together with food and drink by designing every dish with precision nd artistry.
She hopes to inspire people who leave her table to create small, meaningful moments. Her signature Afternoon and High Tea experiences bring together dessert, savory delights, and paired teas. “I thoughtfully balance traditional, gluten-free, and plant-based dishes with precision, artistry, and joy. I also pioneer modern preservation techniques that maintain ingredient integrity while enhancing nutritional richness.”
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Lisa Gloff, The Rosy Posy | 8054 Flannery Court, Manassas
UK-born Lisa Gloff is the founder of The Rosy Posy, a wedding and event florist business. Her inspiration comes from her love of flowers. “Flowers have this incredible way of telling a story without words.”
To Lisa, flowers are more than decoration. “They set the tone, create atmosphere, and tell a story.” A proud mother of three daughters, a crazy dog, and chickens, she is surrounded by nature and family, which inspires her designs.
Her biggest inspiration is her ability to turn emotions into something tangible. To Lisa, flowers tell a story without words, whether it is during someone’s wedding day, a celebration, or a personal moment. She is inspired by the seasons, movement, and colors and textures that can be found in a garden.
Victoria Azor, Victoria Azor Body Imperium | 323 South Washington Street, Alexandria
Victoria Azor is the founder of Victoria Azor Body Imperium. The Imperium is a private, woman-owned, technology-powered strength training studio in Alexandria.
Victoria’s biggest inspiration is the results from the services she provides. “I’ve created the safest, most efficient way to train that gets results people could never dreamed of. “
Victoria’s local favorites are Caphe Banh Mi for pho, Zen Press for coffee, Couhlier House for hair, and Mai Glo for nails.
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