Mary Anna Grove:
CLASS OF 1985
Warren County High SchoolClass of 1985
Front royal, VA
University of Maryland - CommunicationClass of 1999
College park, MD
University of Virginia - Arts & SciencesClass of 1995
Charlottesville, VA
Lord Fairfax Community CollegeClass of 1994
Middletown, VA
Mary Anna's Story
Life
Wow, life has taken me through many phases, the most enjoyable of which has been the past 10 years which has brought me the opportunity to travel the world, owning my businesses, and a beautiful little boy. I take the advice of my dad's last words to me "live life while you can, kiddo" and that's what I do.
I recently left a career as the owner of a communications and marketing firm in the DC area, and selling real estate in Maryland and Virginia to return to the Shenandoah Valley.
I took my 15 years of marketing and communications skills and launched my own business, "Mimi's Gift Baskets and Bears" in Front Royal (while worldwide on the web). I enjoy raising my son close to his grandmother and the slower pace of the "country." After one year, I purchased a flower shop and wed the flowers to the gift baskets and it's been great.
Travel and education are my passions and I try to join the two together. If you ever want to really know who you are inside, go out of your realm of comfort. That's one philosophy which I practice regularly in challenging myself to grow and experience all life has to offer.
Life currently has me spending time with my mom who has been diagnosed with stage IV cancer. We're currently doing chemo, and her faith and determination, as always, remain an inspiration to me.
If you'd like to catch up more -- drop me an email.
School
After taking a few trips down the aisle, I finally ...Expand for more
realized the aisle I needed to go down was the graduation aisle for college! (Those TLA, Humanities and all the other college prep classes burned me out for a few years following high school). I did an associates degree in biochemistry and a BS in Communications with a minor in English Literature. The best education has been travel, including much of Europe, Morocco and various islands, as well as across the US.
Workplace
After several attempts at a career in business, I learned that I should do what I love doing -- and that's writing and creating. After college, I started writing for a science trade journal, became editor then took on a children's magazine and web site as well. I moved from there to a director of communications doing a little bit of everything for another trade industry. I did a stint writing about international issues including refugee relief, poverty, hunger and peace/war. It fed my liberal heart and was gratifying. After that, I launched my own marketing and communications firm and edited several manuscripts for various authors.
With the knowledge of our son soon arriving, we decided we were ready to leave the corporate world as well as ready to grow our own business. We launched the storefront of our already successful Internet business: "Mimi's Gift Baskets and Bears." It's been fun and like bringing up an additional child -- it takes a lot of time, nurturing and patience. But, we're having a blast!
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Reunions
Photos
