Meet a magnetic group of enterprising, strong women in Charlotte, all dedicated to making a difference in their professions and in our community. Discover the passions behind their pursuits and what drives them to serve their clients in exceptional ways. Top row, left to right: Tiffany Byrd, Andrea Seymour, Susan May. Middle row: Christie Boynton Hansen, DeAlva Wilson Arnold , Jaime Alicea. Bottom row: Maren Brisson-Kuester, Sonja Nichols, Faith Morley Tiffany Byrd Modern Legal Andrea Seymour Springdale Custom Builders Susan May Corcoran HM Properties Christie Boynton Hansen Cottingham Chal ..read more

When Susan May first entered real estate 30 years ago, a sales contract was three pages and there was no internet to scope out the hottest properties. Today, contracts come with 10+ pages and a lengthy list of details to navigate — from staging to surveys to new ways of negotiating the ever-changing Charlotte market. What hasn’t changed is May’s passion for what she does. “When it clicks, and a buyer finds the right house, the excitement is so much fun to watch,” she says. “On the seller’s side, getting a house ready for market is a really fun, creative process.” A native Charlottean, May liv ..read more

Spend just a few minutes with Maren Brisson-Kuester, and you’ll find her clients’ testimonials are spot-on. “Maren gets the job done. Period,” remarks one. “Professional, smart, driven and an absolute expert on the Charlotte market,” says another. A fourth-generation Charlotte native, Brisson- Kuester is eager to talk about her hometown, bullish on the real estate market and passionate about making a difference. “Charlotte is the crown jewel of the state,” she says, reflecting on the city’s booming growth. “But we’re not just a pretty place to live, we are a caring community. And I’m proud of ..read more

Christie Boynton Hansen is a native Charlottean and a second-generation Realtor. Her journey to real estate is preceded by a decade-long tenure as an educator for the American Heart Association, as well as teaching at Tryon Hills Elementary for five years. When it was time to make a career change, Hansen wanted to stay true to her passion for service and desire to make a difference in people’s lives. She went from shaping young minds to helping families find their dream homes as a Realtor at Cottingham Chalk, where she says she can flourish in the industry thanks to the education and resource ..read more

“In the end, it will always come back to family — the family you are born into and the family you create for yourself,” says family law and estate planning attorney Tiffany Byrd. “They are who you fight for, they are the reason you push to create a better, more secure future.” Helping those involved in family disputes turn confusion into confidence, helplessness into empowerment and frustration into action is what Byrd and others at Modern Legal work tirelessly for. “Knowledge is needed for you to make the best decisions,” says Byrd. “Making concepts within family law approachable and underst ..read more

DeAlva Wilson Arnold says her journey was more of a calling than a choice. After more than two decades of experience working at Fortune 500 companies, she recognized a prevalent gap: leadership programs that focus on the nuanced needs of culture and social class differences. Her entrepreneurial spirit led her to establish the D. Wilson Agency (DWA) in 2011, developing innovative programs for leaders aimed at uncovering and addressing the underlying factors of performance and business success that impact organizational culture and results. The firm has grown into a nationally recognized compan ..read more

Photo by Ryan Allen Born and raised in New York, Faith Morley ventured south after graduating from The Culinary Institute of America in 2018. Captivated by the area’s rich culinary heritage and vibrant food culture, Morley decided to make Charlotte her home. Her journey through esteemed establishments Copain Bakery & Provisions and Roosters Uptown led her to Peppervine, where she honed her skills before joining Counter-, an intimate, full sensory restaurant experience, as executive pastry chef. In 2023, Morley’s talent and dedication were recognized when she was awarded Pastry Chef of the ..read more

Starting a retail business wasn’t something Sonja Nichols had planned. But when the philanthropist and civic leader learned that retailer Blacklion Gifts & Home Furnishings Marketplace was closing after 27 years — leaving its longtime merchants and loyal customers (Nichols among them) with no place to go — she stepped in. Finding a 160,000-square-foot location in the former Sears building at Carolina Place Mall, she launched renovations to the ground level and opened a temporary pop-up shop on the top floor to house 80 merchants. The new name: Southern Lion, combining two of Nichols’ favo ..read more

Photo by Kenty Chung Jaime Alicea initially pursued a path in culinary arts at Johnson & Wales University, but a serendipitous encounter with Catherine Rabb, former chef-instructor at JWU and respected wine expert, ignited her passion for wine. Rabb passed away in 2021, but her influence inspired Alicea to enroll in JWU’s Sommelier program, setting the stage for a remarkable career in the wine industry. After sharpening her skills at lauded restaurants around North Carolina, Alicea was introduced to Counter-’s executive chef and owner Sam Hart in 2022 and joined the team as sommelier. For ..read more

Laura Park branches out with new lines that are all in the family. by Cathy Martin Laura Park never set out to create a flourishing home-décor brand. Eight years ago, the former schoolteacher and mother of four turned an art hobby into a bona fide business when she began photographing her paintings and transferring the digital designs to pillows, wallpaper, rugs and more.   The pandemic only fueled the business — those long months when everyone was sitting at home thinking, “I could really use some new throw pillows.” Today, along with a flagship store on Providence Road, Laura Park Desig ..read more