WIFE/MOTHER

dM has been married to her high school sweetheart, Darryl, since 2000. Darryl and their children, Brooks (19 months old) and Vanessa (3 years old) are dM's chief motivators and her biggest cheerleaders. Their presence in all she does helps make her life both fun and fulfilling. dM's first hand experiences as a business woman and home manager have empowered her with the type of valuable insights that allow her to inspire and encourage women everywhere to become successful in family and business -- without compromising either.

HANDMADE BEAUTY PIONEER/AUTHOR

dM began making her own cosmetics in 1993 when she became unhappy with the chemicals used in many commercial products. By 1995, she had left a lucrative job as a corporate attorney in a Fortune 500 company to start her own aromatherapy and bath shop, Maria Grace, in the historic district of Takoma Park, Maryland, located a few miles outside of her hometown of Washington, DC. Though she returned to full-time legal work a few times after that, by 2000, dM knew that she could never be happy unless she was able to contribute her time and talents to something that she really loved. In 1998, dM self-published 3 books containing information and recipes to help other people make quality cosmetics products at home. In July 2000, her first collaboration with a publishing house culminated in the publication by Storey Books of "Making Aromatherapy Creams & Lotions."

In 2000, dM left her last job as a "Legal Beagle" and launched the Handmade Beauty Network. With nearly 500 members around the world including Canada, the US, the UK, Japan, Africa, Australia and the Philippines, HBN is the leading handmade beauty industry trade organization providing business resources to manufacturers of handmade beauty products including soaps, cosmetics, candles, fragrances and aromatherapy products. Through the Handmade Beauty University, dM has condensed her decade of industry experience into 8 classes so that others can get their businesses off on the right foot, maximizing scarce resources and minimizing missteps and financial losses. HBN's suite of websites (including makeyourcosmetics.com and mangobutter.com), provide entertainment and valuable business building resources for millions of viewers each year.

ATTORNEY/BUSINESS COUNSELOR

In January 2001, dM launched dM Law Offices to provide legal and business counseling services to women-owned businesses who need quality legal assistance but do not have the resources to engage the services of high powered law firms such as the ones dM had worked for for years. In 2003, dM was named the Home-Based Business Advocate of the Year by the US Small Business Administration's Washington, DC office. Through her home-base legal and business counseling practice, dM helps clients visualize, plan and realize their dreams of owning and managing a successful business and creating familial wealth for themselves and their families.

PUBLISHER/TELEVISION PRODUCER

In November 2004, through her newly formed Lifestyle CEO Media Corporation, dM published the Handmade Beauty Cookbook: Do-It-Yourself Beauty Recipes & Secrets From Members Of The Handmade Beauty Network. The first printing, which features recipes from and business information about HBN members, was sold out completely within 6 months of publication. Today, dM is working on launching the Lifestyle CEO Magazine and the Lifestyle CEO series of books -- all designed to empower women in life and business. Through the Lifestyle CEO Media Corporation, dM is also launching the Lifestyle CEO Show, which will be co-produced with her husband.

ONLINE LEADER

HandmadeBeauty.com is a premiere women's small business website, offering advice to women on everything from making cosmetics to making their businesses a success while also keeping the home fires burning. Her popular weekly online newsletter, the Handmade Beauty Connection, has well over 5,000 opt-in subscribers. Her MakeYourCosmetics.com website enjoys well over 10,000 registered users and she successfully uses a variety of online locations to promote HBN member businesses and the sponsors who help bring her messages to so many people around the world. All of dM's website contain unique original content.

Annually, dM's collection of websites average over 4 million page views and about 1.5 million visitors, and dM receives nearly 1,000 email messages each week.

Donna Maria has been called "the essence of entrepreneurship." She is a passionate advocate for empowering women and is a leading voice of inspiration and encouragement for thousands of people around the world. Her popular weekly newsletter, The Handmade Beauty Connection, features columns designed to promote HBN member businesses. In conjunction with Hannah House, a homeless and battered women's shelter in Washington, DC, Donna started the Robin's Roses program to help improve women’s self-esteem by encouraging them to move forward with their lives with confidence and hope. She is a highly regarded speaker at conferences, trade shows and other gatherings where she inspires women to overcome all challenges -- regardless of how daunting they may seem -- to create the lives they have always wanted through small business ownership.

Donna Maria's articles have appeared in such periodicals as The Aromatic Thymes, The Aromatherapy Journal, The Natural Foods Merchandiser, The Saponifier, The Natural Health Magazine and The Handcrafted Soap Maker's Guild Newsletter. She has been featured, quoted or authored articles in several publications including:

• San Francisco Chronicle
• Ebony Magazine
• Parents Magazine
• ABC World News This Morning
• The Washington Times
• Global Cosmetic Industry
• Washington Woman
• Upscale Magazine
• The Aromatherapy Journal
• womentodaymagazine.com
• The Houston Chronicle
• The Chicago Tribune
• CNNFinancialNews.com
• Crystal City Magazine
• smallbusinessdepot.com
• The Natural Foods Merchandiser
• The Mansfiled Ohio News Journal
• The Washington Business Journal
• and others

SELECTED PRESENTATIONS & SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

What's In A Name?: How To Establish and Protect Your Trademark, One Of Your Businesses' Most Valuable Assets, World of Aromatherapy V, March 2004; Conference of Handcrafted Soapmakers, March 2002
Introduction To Aromatherapy, Smile Herb Shop, College Park, MD, June 26, 2001
Making Aromatherapy Creams & Lotions, Smile Herb Shop, College Park, MD, June 30, 2001
Establishing A Reliable, "Sticky" Web Presence, May 2001, Washington, DC
The Secrets of A Successful Handmade Toiletries & Aromatherapy Business, Sheffield Gardens School Of Aromatherapy, Chicago, IL, April 2001
Legal Issues Associated With Forming Your Business, April 2001, Washington, DC
Legal & Regulatory Challenges Facing the Handmade Toiletries & Aromatherapy Industries Today, Conference of Handcrafted Soapmakers, March 2001.
Expert Panel Member, "Nature's Best Products: A Growing Trend," September 22, 2000, EX*TRACTS, a trade show for aromatherapy, fragrance and personal care.
Legal & Regulatory Challenges Facing The Handmade Toiletries & Aromatherapy Industries Today," October 2000, National Association for Holisitic Aromatherapy World of Aromatherapy III International Conference & Trade Show.
Aromatherapy Series, Smile Herb Shop, College Park, MD, July & August 2000
Donna Maria Week, Sheffield Gardens School Of Aromatherapy, Chicago, IL, October 1999.
Soapmaking & Aromatherapy Series, The Learning Connection, Providence, RI, December 1998.
Soapmaking & Aromatherapy Series, The Pathways Center, Bethesda, MD, March 1999.
Making Aromatherapy Creams & Lotions, 2nd Annual Gathering Of Handcrafted SoapMakers, Brainerd, MN, October 1998.
Donna Maria's Aromatic Tea Party, The Vitamin Superstore, Fairfax, VA, October 1998.
Introduction To Aromatherapy, Taste Of Health Festival 1998, Silver Spring, MD, August 1998.
Handmade Soapmaking, The Learning Annex, New York, NY, June/July/August 1998.

DONNA MARIA IS FEATURED IN

Parents Magazine, July 2005
Ebony Magazine, June 2005
PG County Journal, December 2002
Upscale Magazine, October 2001
Washington Woman Magazine, July 2001, June/July 1998
Pregnancy Magazine, March 2001
Herbs For Health, January 2001
Natural Health Magazine, May 2000
"The Queen Of Creams, " The Aromatic Thymes, Spring 1999
"Making Scents For Valentine's Day," The Washington Informer, February 1999
"SoapMaker's Profile, Creative Alchemy & The Poetry of SoapMaking, Fall 1998
The Takoma Voice, May 1998
"Maria Grace's Body & Soul Therapy". The Takoma Voice, December 1995

SELECTED TOPICS IN THE LIFESTYLE CEO SERIES

Glorifying God Through Small Business Ownership
Build Your Own Corporate Ladder
Overcoming The Obstacles To Your Success
Creating A Successful Online Presence For Your Business
Making Yourself Memorable
How To Turn Your Passions Into Profit
What Every Small Business Owner Does NOT Need
Saving Your Business Before It Starts