Introducing Vienna Patch's Moms Council

The Vienna Patch Moms Council will help lead discussions on parenting issues and parenting in Vienna and the surrounding community.

Each week on Wednesday at 2 p.m. we’ll post about an issue relevant to the parenting community. Our council members will help start and drive the discussion on the topic and we invite our readers will weigh in as well.

Get to know the members of our council, then, jump over to Moms Talk to join in the conversation.

Chandra Keller-Allen
Children: Two sons, ages four and one and a half
Chandra moved to Vienna in 2008 and lives here with her husband and two sons. She is currently employed by Rose Li & Associates, Inc. working part time as a contractor for the National Institutes of Health and previously worked as an elementary school teacher, teaching both special and general education students. Chandra has an undergraduate degree in elementary and special education, a Masters of public policy, and a doctorate of education with a focus on special education policy.

Carol Lewis
Children: One son, stepmother of three and grandmother of six
Carol is a retiree who grew up in McLean and has lived in Vienna for 21 years.  She is the mother of a 29-year old gay son, stepmother of three and grandmother of six.  She is the organizer of FLY (Fairfax LGBTQ Youth) and the co-facilitator of Western Fairfax PFLAG, both support groups of Metro DC PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays).

Angela Sorrell
Children: Daughter, Teagan, two years old
Angela is a Vienna mom, wife, and business woman. She is an Assistant Director with Ernst & Young LLP(EY), where she serves as the Transaction Advisory Services (TAS) lead campus recruiter. This year she and her husband just bought their first home in the Town of Vienna and have enjoyed becoming active in the community.  When not traveling for work, Angela spends as much time as possible with her oh-so-serious daughter Teagan.

Katherine Hutt
Children: One son (college), one daughter (high school)
Katherine Hutt is a professional writer who has lived in Vienna since 1989. For the past 15 years, she has owned Nautilus Communications, an award-winning public relations consulting firm that works primarily with nonprofits. She also served for three years as the part-time Director of Children’s Ministries at Church of the Holy Comforter (Episcopal) on Beulah Road. A single mom, Katherine has a son who is a theatre arts major at Arcadia University in Philadelphia, and a daughter who is a sophomore at James Madison High School. She has been active in the community as a church, school and Scout volunteer, and loves being a “drama mama” to her talented children.

Christine Neff
Children: Annie, 15 months
Christine is a part-time writer/editor, full-time stay-at-home mom with 15-months of parenting under her belt and years of parenting joys and challenges ahead of her. She has mothered her daughter, Annie, through sleepless nights, napless days, first colds, first falls, first tantrums -- with parenting books and websites never far from reach. Christine moved to Northern Virginia just before the birth of her daughter in October 2009. She is a writer for Vienna Patch, and is always on the look-out for fun things to do with a toddler in the local area.

Laura Goyer
Children: One daughter, two sons, ages 8 to 14
Laura is Pediatric Physician Assistant, Photographer and Mom to three children. She and her husband, both Boston natives have been in Vienna since 1993, when they stumbled upon an open house ad for their first home, on Park Street. John and Laura have three children: Julia 14, Michael 12 and Owen 8. Laura . She spent two years as the president of Vienna Elementary School's PTA and believes Vienna is an extraordinary place to live for families with children. Her personal interests include kayaking, running slowly, cooking, and reading, ideally all with her family. Professionally, she loves helping first time moms acclimate to the demands and joys of parenthood, helping women embrace aging gracefully, and whenever possible, getting to photograph those transitions.

Christine Smith
Children: Four daughters, ages eight through 12
Christine Smith grew up in Vienna and has four daughters (ages 8 through 12) who are also growing up in Vienna.  Her grandmother will  celebrate her 50th year living in Vienna in September!  Christine helps non-profit organizations with technology and business process reengineering.  When she is not working, she stays busy ferrying the girls to school, youth group, lacrosse, softball or swimming.  Christine and her husband Stan are active members of the Vienna Woods Swim  & Tennis Club, and teach Sunday school to  four-year-olds at Immanuel Bible Church in Springfield, Virginia.

Kelly Murphy
Children: Four
Kelly is a Vienna mom who moved to Vienna from Arlington when she was expecting her fourth child 11 years ago. She runs her own aviation PR/Media relations business.

Shannon Sieff