Entrepreneur Hope Katz Gibbs, author, "Truly Amazing Women Who Are Changing the World."

Fran Drescher

Shoe retailer Toni Hall, Size 12 Shoes: "For women with a bigger stride."

Trudi Lacey, head coach and general manager, The Washington Mystics

Fine artist and writer, J. Ruth Gendler; author of "The Book of Qualities,” “Changing Light,” and “Notes on the Need for Beauty.”

Networking phenom Michelle Villalobos, owner of MIVISTA, and founder of the Miami Empowered Woman Success Summit

International AIDS Activist Sabine Durier

Professional speaker and speaking coach Dawnna St. Louis on why you should "Speak Naked"

Gina Schaefer, owner, ACE Hardware stores

Journalist and author Kati Marton

Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz

e-GLAM, Inc. founder Robin McDougal

Jennifer Niven, author and screenwriter of the series, "Velva Jean Learns to Drive"

Comedienne Fran Capo, America's Fastest-Talking Female

Author Margie Warrell, "Find Your Courage"

Executive Coach Laura Berger, Principal, The Berdéo Group

Shoe Designer Xiomara Arroyo, owner and founder, Xiomara Lisette

Margarita Rozenfeld, CEO, Incite International & YES!Circle

Molly Barker, founder, Girls on the Run

Kristina Bouweiri, owner, Reston Limousine

Andrea Keating, CEO and founder, Crews Control

Philanthropist Edie Fraser

Principal Nardos King

Episcopal Bishop Katharine Schori

Alice Waagen, Workforce Learning

Roz Schanzer

Laurie Strongin and baby Henry

Wendy Smith, author, "Give a Little"

Children's book author Beverly Cleary

Kathi Kamen Goldmark

Soprano Monica Yunus, co-founder "Sing for Hope"

Stephanie Bunt and her family

Lisa McLeod

Artist Sally Wern Comport, Art At Large

Sophia Nelson

Kathleen Jo Ryan

Nell Merlino

Analena Valdes Graham, MASH PIT

Barbara Lee Shaw

Paulette Brown

Kate Ludeman

Meg Carnes

Speaking Coach and Actress Hilary Blair is the co-founder of the Denver-based firm, ARTiculate

Coach and Motivational Speaker Robin Miller is the founder of the Denver-based firm, ARTiculate

Immigration Attorney Linda Rahal

Activist Jane Barker is working to build the Turning Point Suffragist Memorial

Sara Van Aken, SA VA

Bestselling Author Caroline Leavitt, "Pictures of You."

Dr. Salma Haque, Simplicity Urgent Care

Immigration Attorney Cynthia Hemphill

Rachel Machacek, author of "The Science of Single"

Miami photographer Cindy Seip

Joanna Barsh

Roxanne Ladd

Travel Writer Carla King

Travel Writer Lisa Alpine

Intro

Truly Amazing Women, LLC, is an organization that honors, connects, and promotes the women who are making strides and changing lives.

What makes a woman truly amazing? That’s the question I have been excited to answer since April 18, 2008—the day this big idea was born. Having been a journalist since graduating from the University of Pennsylvania in 1986, I have written hundreds of articles about the fabulous work women do every day as they juggle careers and finances, family and responsibility to their community—and try to hold onto a little something for themselves.

Inspiration to create this project came on the warm spring day when I had the privilege of being surrounded by dozens of dynamic, invincible women determined to create change. I first attended a luncheon hosted by Nechama Shemtov, the leader of the influential Jewish DC organization, Aura, at the Dupont Circle residence of the Ambassador to Colombia. Speakers included actress and Cancer Schmancer founder Fran Drescher, Hadassah Lieberman, and Holocaust survivor Nesse Godin. I then scooted across town to attend a fundraiser for Hillary Clinton at the home of philanthropist Edie Fraser, where hundreds of women gathered to help elect the first female president.

As I sat sipping my coffee the next morning with my husband, illustrator Michael Gibbs, I told him that I felt compelled to do something to honor all of the women who work so hard, yet often go unnoticed. He smiled a knowing grin and lifted his eyes to mine. “You know,” he said, “you are going to have to write a book about this.” We clinked our mugs together, and got to work. Within weeks, Mike designed this website, and our Inkandescent PR web guru Max Kukoy programmed it. The book—and a TV series—is in development. Click here to learn about our plans.

I invite you to join us on this journey. Start by perusing the website, beginning with profiles of three amazing women posted below. These rotate, so refresh the homepage to meet three more ladies. To view all of the profiles, click on The Women. The profiles are also sorted by The Industries that these amazing women work in. Then click over to the Submit a Proposal page, and tell me how you are amazing!

I look forward to meeting you! — Hope hope@hopegibbs.com • Inkandescent PR

Meet more of our Truly Amazing Women

DC Photographer Hilary Schwab

Who she is: Hilary Schwab has been an editorial and event photographer in the DC area for more than 25 years. She started out as a staff photographer for American University in 1986, and launched her freelance business in 1992.

What she does: In the last two decades, she has taken cover photos, portraits, and worked as a photojournalist for dozens of clients, including _Bethesda Magazine, Crystal City Magazine, Maryland Life Magazine. She also has continued to work with American University’s publications staff, and as well as many prominent PR firms, law firms, and real estate agencies throughout the Washington DC region.

Why she does it: “When I’m on a photo shoot I observe the people and their environment, and watch as they move around and interact with others. Then I find the angle and moment where they are most relaxed and comfortable, and then I start shooting. Whether it’s a public event or a portrait, I do everything possible to bring out the best in their photos.”

HR leader and author Barbara Mitchell

Who she is: _Previous owner of the HR firm The Millennium Group and co-author of “The Essential HR Handbook.”

What she does: With HR expert Sharon Armstrong, Barbara decided to write a quick-reference guide, published in the fall of 2008 by Career Press, to shed light on the issues that keep managers up at night. “Human resource professionals are not only charged with resolving labor issues,” Mitchell explains. “We also help acquire, train, appraise, and make sure employees are fairly compensated, while attending to their concerns about labor relations, health and safety, and fairness.

Why she does it: After working for a decade at Marriott Corporation, then several technology firms in the Washington DC area, Barbara launched her own company in 1998, The Millennium Group International. She sold that several years ago and now works as an HR consultant. She also travels around the country speaking about her book, and the path that got her to the place in her life when she accomplish nearly anything she sets her mind to.

Author Ashley Merryman, "NurtureShock"

Who she is: Award-winning science journalist, who with co-author Po Bronson made headlines in the fall of 2009 when they released “NurtureShock: New Thinking About Children.”

What she does: This anti-parenting manual is an insightful exploration of themes and issues that transcend children’s (and adults’) lives: intelligence, racism, civility and aggression, honesty and deception, morality and kindness, peer pressure, risk-taking, and the growth of family relationships.

Why she does it: The authors argue that when it comes to children, we have mistaken good intentions for good ideas. “Many of modern society’s strategies for nurturing children are in fact backfiring because key twists in the science have been overlooked.”

Click here to read the profiles of all of our Truly Amazing Women.