Visitor Information Center
112 South Street SE, Suite 200
Leesburg, VA 20175
800-752-6118 | 703-771-2170
Speakers:
Rebecca Boyle – The Knot Worldwide
Rebecca Boyle has over a decade of expertise in sales and marketing, including years dedicated to the wedding industry. A University of Maryland graduate in Marketing and Leadership Studies, Rebecca made her mark at WeddingWire from 2013 to 2017 as a part of the Sales and Account Management teams. She then led Account Management teams at three B2B software companies before rejoining The Knot Worldwide in April 2023. Now serving as an Associate Director of Sales, Rebecca leads a dynamic team dedicated to helping wedding professionals secure more bookings and grow their businesses. Rebecca’s connection to the wedding industry extends beyond her professional life; she experienced it firsthand as a bride in 2024 when she married her husband, Brendan. The couple is now looking forward to welcoming their first child in April 2025.
Mimi Ebichi – Mimi Ebichi Events
Mimi Ebichi is the Founder and Creative Director of Mimi Ebichi Events Inc., a dynamic and thriving multicultural event planning and design company with a team of six based out of Leesburg, VA. She celebrated the company’s 14th year of business in 2024, serving couples in the multicultural and luxury wedding market all over the world. Beyond the wedding and events industry, Mimi leveraged her skills, education and connections to own and operate 3 business in the healthcare space, where her passion to care and serve is magnified. As a powerhouse of entrepreneurial information, Mimi prides herself on supporting both small and medium sized businesses and is dedicated to educating upcoming entrepreneurs.
Nicole Fingers – FINGERS IN INK
Nicole Fingers is the owner of FINGERS IN INK, a stationery boutique specializing in custom invitations and stationery. With a passion for paper and contemporary art, Nicole creates unique and creative designs for all social and corporate occasions. FINGERS IN INK opened in 2002 with the goal of providing extraordinary invitations that stand out and leave a lasting impression. Nicole believes that the details in an invitation are what make it special and memorable, and each design is created with love and care. She is currently the President of the Association of Wedding Professionals of Greater Washington DC. Nicole takes pride in her dedication and contribution to the wedding/event industry. As a testament to her dedication and hard work, Nicole's reputation precedes her as someone who consistently delivers outstanding results in the world of weddings and events.
Ellen Goldberg – The Briar Patch Bed & Breakfast Inn
After spending more than 20 years in the financial services industry, Ellen decided to make a career change by purchasing a former dairy farm and turning it into a bed & breakfast and event site. daunted by the fact that she knew nothing about the hospitality business, Ellen wholeheartedly embraced it, purchasing a 47-acre property in Middleburg. She and her husband Dan spent a year renovating the 200-year-old, 8-bedroom main house, which opened for business in 2002 as the Briar Patch Bed & Breakfast Inn. During its first two years, Briar Patch held weddings of various sizes outdoors in tents. The success of the wedding business prompted Ellen to take on an even more ambitious renovation project by turning a former tractor barn that was in disrepair into an indoor facility for up to 200 people that hosts such events as weddings, parties, meetings, fundraisers, cooking classes, and retreats. Now, after 22 years in business, Ellen and the Briar Patch Bed & Breakfast Inn are still going strong, welcoming guests from all over the world.
Lynn Ianizzi – The Finer Points Event Planning
Lynn Iannizzi holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a concentration in Human Resource Management from John Carroll University and a certification in Event Management from George Washington University. She began The Finer Points Event Planning 20 years ago after several years of event management experience working in the catering departments at both Westfields Marriott and Lansdowne Resort. The Finer Points has expanded over the last few years down to the Outer Banks of North Carolina and has its own brand for this location called The Finer Points Coastal. Recently, Lynn became a Civil Celebrant in Virginia to service many of her couples who need someone to make their marriage official. Lynn is a member of Visit Loudoun, serving on the organization’s Wedding Advisory Committee for several years, and is also a Certified Tourism Ambassador for Loudoun County. She is also a member of Hunt Country Celebrations and enjoys networking with her peers in this organization.
Becca Mai – Wed 2 You
Becca Mai is a seasoned wedding industry professional with over a decade of experience crafting unforgettable celebrations for all humans. Her journey began in hospitality and has since evolved into a mission to champion true inclusivity, accessibility, and safe spaces for everyone. Beyond planning, Becca empowers wedding professionals by streamlining, automating, and organizing their businesses through the implementation of standard operating procedures. With mentorship, tool integration, and custom workflows, she helps elevate wedding businesses to new heights of success. A passionate advocate for diversity and adaptability, Becca combines her expertise as a wedding planner and business strategist with her lived experience managing multiple sclerosis. She is redefining what it means to create a truly inclusive and welcoming environment within the luxury wedding industry.
Anisha Ninan – Our Day Events
Our Day Events by Anisha Ninan began in 2019. It is a small yet growing event planning company that caters to individual event planning needs in the DC metropolitan area, Houston, Philadelphia, and NY/NJ metropolitan areas as well. Anisha believes wedding planning is an art and found she loved the thrill of working with a wedding coordinator so much when she got married that it led her to coordinate celebratory events with great success. As a direct result, she founded Our Day Events, working over 100 weddings with her team of 16 staff members.
Kevin Olivera – Olivera Music Entertainment
For over 35 years, Kevin Olivera has worked in the special events industry as an event producer, entertainment manager, and musician. He is President of Olivera Music Entertainment, a professional, full-service music entertainment agency, located in Ashburn, Virginia. With his wife Connie, they have won five International Live Event Association Awards! Talent, experience, and service are hallmarks of every Olivera Music Entertainment event.
Virginia Perry – VP Event Design
Virginia Perry owns VP Event Design. Her industry experience runs deep, having worked in hospitality and events with Marriott and Hilton for over 15 years, planning luxury weddings, managing large conferences for high level clients such as SAIC, CACI, government contractors and the DOD, not to mention designing events for high-level socialites. Virginia's team has been hired to design and execute over 500 weddings and social receptions in the Northern Virginia/DC/Maryland area. She leverages her experience with the most up to date knowledge, current trends, and unique creativity in effort to create an experience that will wow the most distinguished of clients and the savviest of guests. Her work has been published in Virginia Bride Magazine and United with Love. Recently Virginia was recognized by Visit Loudoun for floral displays she created for the Visit Loudoun Annual Meeting & Tourism Awards in May 2024.
Debbie Zurschmeide Schoeb –The Stable at Bluemont Vineyard & Great Country Farms
Debbie has been in the been in hospitality business since elementary school. As a child she began helping her grandmother sell fruits and vegetables from her carport, then in college she assisted her parents in managing their garden, fruit, and vegetable markets in Leesburg and Purcellville. After running her own gymnastic and fitness center in Purcellville for a decade, Debbie became immersed in the Loudoun wedding industry, accumulating 20+ years of selling and managing weddings at Bluemont Vineyard. To date, Debbie has transitioned into a role dedicated to mentoring aspiring hospitality professionals, sharing her knowledge and insights to inspire the next generation of leaders in the industry.
Rosanna Funiciello Smith – Bella Villa Antiques & Vintage Rentals
Rosanna Funiciello Smith likes to tell stories about the vintage and recycled items that she has squirreled away over the last 21+ years. Though she began her professional career at PricewaterhouseCoopers, Rosanna's entrepreneurial spirit led her to open her first antiques shop, Bella Villa, in Aldie in 2007 and style her first wedding in 2012. In 2017 she closed the Aldie shop to focus on weddings, moving her “squirrel stash” to Marshall. For the last five years she also operated Marshall Curated, an antique store which recently closed so she could once again devote herself fully to the events rental industry. From her years in corporate, Rosanna recognized the value of collaborating with and leveraging the strengths of colleagues, leading her to assemble a team of seasoned decorators, vendors and pickers. She has worked with numerous wedding professionals to create countless lounge areas, bars and other vignettes adding unique touches throughout an event to help convey a story. In a nutshell, Rosanna loves combining rustic and elegant decor through her genuine passion for using heirlooms to recount stories in memorable atmospheres. Her styling abilities and joyful demeanor contribute to her success in making special events like weddings and birthdays a beautiful reality.
Rick Thompson – Rick’s Flowers
Rick Thompson has passionately worked in the floral industry for over 35 years, creating memories that last a lifetime through beautiful weddings and events that inspire and enchant. As owner of Rick’s Flowers since 2010, he brings forth his knowledge of working in several industries (catering, window and corporate scenery staging, interior merchandising staging, and antiques dealer) that enhance his design ability to effortlessly mesh his floral creations into joyous celebrations. His deep knowledge of over 100 area venues allows him to work hand in hand with clients as they plan their events.
Katie Barchas Wilson – The Market Group
Katie Barchas Wilson is a seasoned marketing strategist, event planner, and brand consultant with over 13 years of experience helping businesses and professionals elevate their visibility and impact. Her expertise spans a wide range of event types, from brand launches and grand openings to intimate weddings and community-driven initiatives. As the founder of The Market Group, Inc., she collaborates with event professionals, venues, and destinations to craft tailored strategies that build stronger client relationships, enhance brand storytelling, and create unforgettable moments. Known for her sharp insights, creative problem-solving, and results-driven approach, Katie is passionate about helping her clients turn their vision into reality with confidence and clarity. Her ability to integrate digital marketing, loyalty programs, and content strategy into event planning ensures her clients stand out in competitive markets. Whether leading dynamic campaigns for high-profile clients like Tuskies Restaurant Group, Loudoun Times-Mirror, and The National Conference Center, or coaching businesses to refine their messaging, Katie is committed to delivering impactful results that elevate her clients' brands and businesses.
Joan Wolford – Savoir Fare Catering and C’est Bon
Joan Wolford has over 30 years of event planning and fine culinary experience. Joan moved from New Jersey when she was awarded a position at the Heart in Hand in Clifton, Virginia. It was there that she fell in love with the great hospitality and cuisine of the South. Joan left the Heart in Hand in 1986 to launch her own dream—the Hamilton Garden Inn, a fine dining restaurant and bed and breakfast in Hamilton, Virginia. Joan’s dear friend and loyal patron of the Hamilton Garden Inn, Mr. Gus Eyssell often expressed to Joan after his dinner that she had “such Savoir Faire.” In 1997, Joan decided to start her new catering company, Savoir Fare and opened its new commercial kitchen and today caters to many couples throughout Northern Virginia.
