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A Mindful End to a Beautiful Season
August has a way of reminding us that summer won't last forever.
The days are still hot, the pools are still busy, and vacation photos are still being shared, but signs of a new season are beginning to appear. Back-to-school shopping is underway, family calendars are filling up, and many of us are preparing to trade summer's slower pace for the routines of fall.
Before we get there, though, August invites us to pause.
Take advantage of those late summer evenings. Visit a local farmers market, enjoy an outdoor concert, gather with neighbors, or simply spend time outside after the heat of the day fades. Some of the best moments of the season happen when nothing special is planned at all.
As we turn the page toward a new school year and a busy fall season, this month is a reminder to enjoy where we are right now. Summer may be winding down, but there is still plenty of time to make a few more memories.
In this issue, we're highlighting local businesses, community stories, and neighbors who continue to make the area such a special place to call home.
Enjoy the final stretch of summer.
Warmly,
BREE KUNZEL, PUBLISHER @CHEVYCHASELIFESTYLE
August 2026
PUBLISHER
Bree Kunzel | bree.kunzel@citylifestyle.com
PUBLICATION DIRECTOR
Vivian Mammen | vivian.mammen@citylifestyle.com
SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER
Joy Turpin | joy.turpin@citylifestyle.com
AREA DIRECTOR
Roxy Kaplan | roxy.kaplan@citylifestyle.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Yvonne Siu Turner, Vivian Mammen, Jack Kiyonaga, Hank Dearden, Jessica DeArmond, Ashley Bronczek & Clair Harvey with Collab Collective
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Nate Wolbert with Camley Images, Ceylon Mitchell with M3. Joselito Padulla, Jamar Johnson, Hay Adams, Anne Kelley, Katie Mikey, Kate Melcon, Daniel Salvatore, Amelia Blair, Michelle Dawkins
Corporate Team
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
President Matthew Perry
COO David Stetler
CRO Jamie Pentz
CoS Janeane Thompson
AD DESIGNER Zach Miller
LAYOUT DESIGNER Liz Nixon
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Brandy Thomas
Print Prestige Meets Digital Power.
With City Lifestyle’s co-branded print + digital packages, your business captures attention wherever our community is looking. Build unmatched local credibility on the page, and drive immediate action online.
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city scene
WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN
1-10: People gather at the residence of Ike Ogbuebile & Elizabeth Ucheya to hear Maryland’s Governor, Wes Moore speak about exciting things ahead and how service to others creates stronger communities and better leaders.
STAY CONNECTED TO
by Joselito Padulla and Jamar Johnson.
business monthly
Pink Moon
Pink Moon is Bethesda's modern third place built specifically for moms. Located on Old Georgetown Road, this 3,000-square-foot community hub offers Pilates, Yoga, Dance Cardio, and BYO Baby fitness classes for postpartum bonding, plus a light-filled lounge with privacy pods, free coffee, and an included playroom. Moms can also rent flexible space for birthday parties or events. Pink Moon supports women through every phase of motherhood with movement, connection, and a true sense of community.
Scan to read more
Rythmaya Dance Studio
Now serving North Bethesda at CityDance Conservatory in Rockville, Rhythmaya brings the beauty and energy of Bollywood and Kathak dance to the DC Metro area. With six locations and 25 experienced instructors, the studio offers engaging instruction for students of all ages, blending traditional Indian dance with contemporary music. Rhythmaya also provides wedding and event choreography, costume rentals, and professional performances, creating a vibrant, culture-rich community through dance. Learn more at www.rhythmaya.com.
Sleepable Solutions
I’m Maura Negri, MSN, CPNP-PC, Certified Pediatric Sleep Consultant, mom of two toddlers with a third on the way, and founder of Sleepable. I help exhausted parents achieve the healthy sleep their families deserve through personalized, science-based sleep plans. Using a holistic approach, I educate, empower, and support families one-on-one, helping them build lasting sleep habits, restore confidence, and create more restful nights and happier days for everyone. Email to book a consultation today! Maura@SleepableSolutions.com
TREY & KATIE KENNEDY
ON MARRIAGE, KIDS, AND THE COMEDY OF REAL LIFE
Trey Kennedy makes a living finding comedy in regular life. Marriage. Toddlers. Yoga pants. The Thursday-night scramble between school dropoffs, soccer practice, and whatever has to be done by morning. Twelve years in, it shows: millions of followers across every platform, three stand-up specials, a sold-out Relatable Tour, and a style of humor fans send each other captioned, “Are you watching me?” He delivers the kind of comedy that travels because everyone’s living some version of it.
Katie, his wife of six years, is a former biomedical engineer who also built a modeling career. She’s now raising their kids and co-hosting Correct Opinions alongside Trey — the show where the two of them swap takes on marriage, parenting, and whatever came up that week.
Trey has been at this longer than people realize. An Edmond, Oklahoma kid who grew up playing basketball described himself as a “shy kid who never thought he’d be an entertainer.” He started making videos while attending Oklahoma State University. After building millions of followers on Vine before the platform shut down, he gave himself six months on Instagram and Facebook to see whether he could rebuild from zero. He did. Stand-up soon followed. His first special, Are You For Real?, streams on YouTube; the second, Grow Up, on Amazon Prime; the third, built around the Relatable Tour, wrapped earlier this year. “I’ve been trying to be funny every week for like twelve years now,” he says. A slow climb, made one bit at a time.
ARTICLE BY KALI KASPRZYK
JANIE
“I’ve been trying to be funny every week for like twelve years now.”
Most of what Trey writes lately starts in his own kitchen. Thomas is three and a half, and he is, in his father’s words, “a movie.” He narrates his own life from the moment his eyes open and mispronounces words in ways his parents now repeat to each other because no one else would believe them. His younger sister, Eva, is what Katie calls “the calm one.” With a third now in the mix, the Kennedys are officially outnumbered.
After six years of marriage, Trey and Katie have learned that the partnership runs best when it gets its own time on the calendar. So once a week, they leave the kids with a sitter and go out for coffee. “You need a system,” Katie says. “It’s about taking time to look each other in the eye. Not the kids. Not the cameras. Just each other.”
The same instinct shapes the work. Most of Trey’s trial and error happens onstage or on Instagram, but the first read is always Katie’s. “There’s only been one time ever I’ve had to be like, ‘you’re not doing that,’” she says. The rest of the time, she just laughs first.
FEATURING TREY & KATIE KENNEDY
Trey and Katie talk about marriage, parenting, and the moments that don’t make the Instagram feed.
Watch or listen to the full conversation wherever you get your podcasts.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY
JONES HAIR & MAKEUP BY MIKAYLA CRANE
EVERY THING YOU need TO KNOW
ARTICLE BY ALISON M. CHEPERDAK, J.D. PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED
Washington weddings are a fascinating study in tradition and evolution.
Even when couples call Washington home, many of their guests do not. Ours is a uniquely transient city shaped by people who have moved here from across the country and around the world. Weddings here often become a blending of regions, family traditions, cultural backgrounds, expectations around formality, and at times, strong political views, too.
Add in out-of-town guests, dietary preferences, and protocol questions, and Washington weddings can present considerations that feel both uniquely modern and distinctly local.
While I’ve taught etiquette seminars at the White House, the U.S. Congress, and offices along K Street, one topic comes up over and over again: weddings.
What is changing? What remains timeless? And what can Washington couples teach us about modern hospitality?
To find out, I spoke with Liz Wayland, Creative Director at DC Rental, and Sarah Lusk, Account Executive with Design Cuisine, sister organizations whose work spans everything from intimate entertaining at home to celebrations for thousands, with DC Rental shaping design elements like furnishings and tablescapes and Design Cuisine leading catering and hospitality; and Devin Murphy, Head Chef and Co-Founder of Murphy Hospitality, whose boutique events
often emphasize thoughtful hospitality and deeply personal food experiences.
PERSONALIZATION IS REPLACING FORMULA
One of the clearest shifts happening across Washington weddings right now is a move away from celebrations that feel formulaic and toward celebrations that feel unmistakably personal.
At DC Rental, Wayland sees couples increasingly gravitating toward weddings that reflect who they are rather than recreating something they have seen online or elsewhere.
“One of the biggest wedding design trends is creating celebrations that feel deeply personal and intentionally curated to reflect the couple’s personality, style, and story,” says Wayland.
Wayland says couples increasingly want spaces that feel layered and welcoming rather than formal simply for formality’s sake.
Custom lighting, collected décor pieces, mixed china patterns, and lounge furniture that encourages guests to gather and connect are replacing environments that feel detached or overly prescribed.
“Sometimes what may initially feel like an eclectic mix of patterns, colors, textures, china, and glassware can ultimately come together beautifully when thoughtfully layered,” says Wayland.
That same instinct toward storytelling increasingly shapes wedding menus.
“Couples seem to be prioritizing food memories over strict formality, which is a refreshing and fun change of pace,” says Murphy.
Increasingly, menus themselves become part of the story.
“Instead of classic wedding food, couples now frequently pick foods based on their relationship history (‘we ate this on our first date!’) or upbringing (‘this was something I ate all the time as a kid’),” says Murphy.
Lusk sees similar priorities emerging through food and hospitality.
“MANY
COUPLES ARE GRAVITATING TOWARD MENUS THAT
BALANCE familiar, comforting flavors WITH A FEW MORE unexpected or boundarypushing CULINARY
ELEMENTS…”
“One of the most common things we hear from clients is that they want to create an elevated dining experience that feels both exciting and approachable,” says Lusk.
“Many couples are gravitating toward menus that balance familiar, comforting flavors with a few more unexpected or boundary-pushing culinary elements… incorporating meaningful nods to their families, cultural backgrounds, and relationship story through the menu,” says Lusk.
Good etiquette has always made room for thoughtful personalization. The best weddings invite guests into a couple’s story rather than making them feel as though they are standing outside of it.
LUXURY LOOKS DIFFERENT THAN IT USED TO
Luxury has not disappeared from Washington weddings, but it has evolved.
Today, luxury looks less like extravagance and more like intentionality.
Wayland sees couples prioritizing experiences that create connection rather than grandeur for grandeur’s sake.
“Couples are prioritizing meaningful moments and creating celebrations that allow them to truly spend quality time with their closest friends and family,” says Wayland.
Photography By: Devin Murphy
Photography By: Hay Adams
“Rather than focusing solely on grandeur, today’s luxury weddings emphasize thoughtful details, exceptional hospitality, elevated design, and experiences that feel deeply personal and memorable.”
Custom linens designed specifically for an event, layered tablescapes, thoughtfully arranged gathering spaces, and wedding weekends structured to encourage meaningful time together increasingly shape what luxury looks like now.
We’re also seeing hospitality extend beyond décor.
“The goal is to ensure that guests feel comfortable and cared for while still being treated to a dining experience that feels memorable, refined, and uniquely reflective of the couple,” says Lusk.
Hospitality increasingly extends to food choices as well.
“I think we’re long past the days of ‘check chicken or beef on your RSVP card,’” says Murphy.
“There’s a huge emphasis on providing vegetarian, gluten-free, and vegetable-forward options, and ensuring that every guest is able to eat and enjoy.”
And communication is key.
“With so many RSVPs going digital, it’s easier than ever to ask guests to indicate any food allergies or sensitivities.”
Lusk says thoughtful planning increasingly means anticipating needs before guests ever have to ask.
“Our team takes allergies very seriously,” says Lusk.
“Our couples collect that information from guests and pass that information along to us so that we can ensure that each guest has a meal that is appropriate for them.”
Another shift wedding professionals are watching closely: beverage service.
“As alcohol consumption continues to plummet among young people, more wedding parties are embracing mocktails and non-alcoholic options,” says Murphy.
Thoughtful hospitality increasingly means making sure everyone feels included.
SOME WASHINGTON WEDDING TRADITIONS ENDURE
For all that is changing, some Washington wedding dynamics remain remarkably consistent.
Washington may be one of the few places where conversations at cocktail hour move seamlessly from travel recommendations to public policy. In a city shaped by government, law, advocacy, nonprofits, media, and business leadership, weddings often bring together guests with deeply held beliefs, varied professional backgrounds, and perspectives shaped by experiences from across the country and around the world.
Contrary to popular belief, etiquette does not require avoiding every potentially sensitive topic. It does, however, ask something increasingly valuable: curiosity without combativeness. Reading the room. Recognizing that a wedding celebration is not the place to win an argument. It is a place to strengthen relationships.
Washington also presents etiquette questions that feel uniquely local.
Does your former member of Congress friend still get introduced as “The Honorable”?
Photography By: Anne Kelley
“INSTEAD
OF CLASSIC WEDDING FOOD,
COUPLES NOW FREQUENTLY PICK FOODS BASED ON THEIR RELATIONSHIP HISTORY (‘we ate this on our first date!’) OR UPBRINGING (‘this was something I ate all the time as a kid’)”
In formal written correspondence, generally yes. Former members of Congress, governors, judges, ambassadors, and cabinet officials often retain honorific conventions even after leaving office.
Socially, however, warmth matters too. Good etiquette balances appropriate formality with helping guests feel comfortable.
The city itself also increasingly finds its way into celebrations.
“DC weddings love to acknowledge their DC-ness,” says Murphy.
That may appear through regional ingredients, references to local history, or thoughtful details that reflect the city couples now call home. Murphy, for example, is particularly excited about incorporating pawpaw, a Mid-Atlantic fruit often compared to banana and mango, into seasonal menus.
Perhaps that balance between tradition and evolution is exactly what makes Washington weddings so interesting.
Washington values history.
It also embraces reinvention.
In a city shaped by movement, ambition, service, and constant change, celebrations continue to evolve while remaining rooted in something timeless: bringing people together thoughtfully, generously, and well.
Wedding trends will continue to change, but hospitality never goes out of style.
Alison M. Cheperdak, J.D., is a bestselling author, internationally certified etiquette coach, and the founder of Elevate Etiquette. She is the author of Was It Something I Said? Everyday Etiquette to Avoid Awkward Moments in Relationships, Work, and Life (HarperCollins, 2026).
Bethesda
4733 Elm Street, Suite 300
Bethesda, MD 20814
301.656.2435
www.bethesdaspineandposture.com
Timeless Elegance in Design
Our
From Rescue to Recipe:
How One Pup Inspired a Line of Treats Made with Love
The most profound journeys often begin with the simplest of gestures—a quiet moment, a soft touch, or, in my case, the weight of a rescue pup resting her head on my shoulder. It was this small act of trust that anchored my heart, and in February 2021, my life was forever changed when I adopted Mayonnaise, affectionately known as “Mayo” from the Briggs Animal Rescue Center in West Virginia. While I was ready to give her the best life possible, I quickly hit a roadblock in the pet treat aisle. I wanted to feed her treats that were wholesome
and nutritious, but I struggled to find options that were small-batch, human-grade, and made with ingredients I could actually recognize. As a self-proclaimed foodie, I wasn’t willing to settle for heavily processed snacks. That search for quality sparked a new passion, and eventually, the creation of “Mayo & Mommy Treats.”
My food journey with Mayo hasn’t always been easy. On her first day home, she was so picky that she refused to eat the food from the shelter until I added a splash of organic chicken broth. It was in those early days that I realized
ARTICLE BY JOHANNA HSU | PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHELLE DAWKINS
how discerning she was, and that’s exactly why she became the official taste tester for Mayo & Mommy Treats. If she doesn’t love it, it doesn’t make the cut!
My philosophy is simple: our pets are family, and they deserve the same quality nutrition we would expect for ourselves. After years of perfecting recipes, I found what I now call my ‘recipe for love.’ That’s why I’ve developed a universal treat: the exact same, wholesome, human-grade recipe is formulated for both cats and dogs. You no longer need to manage separate treat jars, just one bag of goodness for all the paws in your life. Every treat is handmixed and hand-pressed in a certified kitchen, crafted without the heavy processing or preservatives found in mass-market brands. You can see the fresh ingredients in each bite, from parsley flakes to shredded carrots to minced sweet potato. The treats are purposely soft-baked for all stages of life, from puppies and kittens to senior dogs and cats.
This drive to create something meaningful didn’t just appear overnight; it was nurtured by my father. As an immigrant in the 70s, he fulfilled the American dream and started two successful restaurant businesses. He instilled in me a resilient entrepreneurial spirit and a deep-seated belief that with hard work and passion, I could build a business that truly makes a difference. Watching him navigate the challenges of his own ventures inspired me to take this leap of faith and launch a mission-driven brand that honors both my love for Mayo and the values he taught me.
My goal was never just to create a snack, but to formulate a source of wellness. I’ve carefully researched each ingredient to ensure every bite serves a purpose. Our salmon treats are packed with Omega-3s to support heart, brain, and coat health, while turmeric provides powerful anti-inflammatory benefits to help keep our pets comfortable. We also incorporate flaxseed and chia seeds to support digestion and immune function. It’s about providing functional nutrition so that every treat contributes to a longer, healthier life for your companions.
Launching this business has been a journey of faith and gratitude. I’ve been overwhelmed by the encouragement of my community, whose support helped me move from my kitchen to a commercial bakery. Whether it’s the “Superfood Salmon” treats or our “Perfectly Pumpkin” bites, every bag is designed to provide incredible health benefits to help your pets live a long and healthy life.
Looking back at that first day when Mayo rested her head on my shoulder, I never imagined that a small act of trust would evolve into this journey. Yet, here we are, a testament that the best ‘recipe for love’ is the one that grows to include others. I am deeply grateful that what began with one rescue pup has blossomed into a mission to nourish so many other pets, and I am honored to share this with you.
This journey started with one rescue dog and a desire to do better for her, but it has grown into a mission to serve pet parents who care just as deeply as I do. We invite you to join us, follow our journey on Instagram at @mayoandmommytreats, and help us celebrate the “recipe for love” that fuels our mission. You can also find our treats on the shelves at Petit Delice in Rockville and at Classic Bakery at their Olney and Gaithersburg locations.
If you’re ready to treat your own furry family members, you can place your orders directly at www.mayoandmommytreats.com Subscribe to our email list, and you get a welcome gift of 10% off your first order!
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PAWS OF THE Neighborhood:
MEET THE DOGS STEALING OUR HEARTS (AND OUR COUCHES)
Every great neighborhood has its characters; the ones who turn a quiet walk into a story worth telling. This month, we're putting the spotlight on three local dogs whose personalities are as big as their presence in the homes (and hearts) they rule.
Newman:
THE SPUDS MCKENZIE OF THE BLOCK
With his sharp black-and-white markings and unmistakable swagger, Newman could pass for the long-lost mascot of a vintage Budweiser ad — or, depending who you ask, the Target dog’s cooler cousin. A full-breed Miniature Bull Terrier, Newman has the kind of look that turns heads on every corner.
But behind that iconic face is a dog with very strong opinions about walks. When Newman decides he’s had enough, he doesn’t negotiate; he simply lies down, often mid-crosswalk, and refuses to move another inch. What follows is a comedic standoff that leaves his humans hauling what can only be described as dead weight back home.
At home, Newman fancies himself a lap dog, blissfully unaware that his solid, muscular build makes him anything but lightweight. He’ll climb aboard, shift his full weight from side to side, and settle in only once he’s found his “happy position”, whether or not anyone underneath him agrees.
ARTICLE BY JESSICA DEARMOND | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED
Marty
McFly:
SOPHISTICATION WITH A SIDE OF SASS
If Newman is all stubborn charisma, Marty is quiet sophistication. This French Bulldog arrived with an old soul from day one; patient, kind, and possessed of a calm dignity well beyond his years.
Don’t let the polish fool you, though. Marty takes his role as family protector very seriously. Any passerby is grounds for a ferocious bark, and that includes the neighborhood’s most harmless offenders: squirrels, mail carriers, and yes, the occasional chipmunk, all treated with the same level of high alert. At the dog park, his protective instincts go into overdrive. Marty has appointed himself the unofficial enforcer of the dog park, taking it upon himself to keep the other dogs “in line.”
Unfortunately, his self-assigned duties usually end with us either being asked to move along or escorting him to the small-dog section—mostly out of concern for what the bigger dogs might do if they decide they’ve had enough of his management style. Is he obnoxious? Absolutely. Endearing? Also absolutely.
These days, Marty is older and has slowed his pace, but his spirit and his sense of duty remain as bright and steady as ever, proof that the best companions only grow more beloved with time.
THREE DOGS, THREE PERSONALITIES, ONE SHARED TALENT FOR TURNING ORDINARY DAYS INTO STORIES WORTH TELLING. WHETHER THEY’RE REFUSING TO BUDGE, RIDING ALONG ON THE NEXT ADVENTURE, OR PERFECTING THE ART OF THE SIDE-EYE, NEWMAN, MARTY, AND HAL REMIND US THAT THE BEST NEIGHBORS DON’T ALWAYS WALK ON TWO LEGS.
Hallelujah “Hal” Herzog: THE NEIGHBORHOOD’S FAVORITE GRUMP
Three-year-old English Bulldog Hallelujah Herzog, known simply as Hal, lives up to his breed’s reputation in every way: stubborn, loyal, protective, and unfailingly funny. His name tells its own story. After the heartbreak of losing their first bulldog, Hal arrived as an answered prayer, earning him a name that says exactly what he means to his family.
Born in Norman, Oklahoma, Hal has earned a small constellation of nicknames over the years: Hallie Cat, Big Kitty, Hooz, Hoozy Doozy, Wub, Wubby, and the Lump. He’s also become an unofficial mascot for the St. Albans Bulldogs, where his brother is a student. If Hal had a human voice, his family is convinced it would sound exactly like Isaac McAdoo from *Ted Lasso* — equal parts gruff and lovable.
One memorable afternoon, while his dad John was deep in a workfrom-home conference call, a colleague asked about the strange rumbling sound in the background. It wasn’t a technical glitch. It was simply Hal, mid-nap, snoring loud enough to join the meeting himself.
Hallelujah for Hal, indeed!
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AFTER
THREE DECADES
BUILDING HEADFIRST,
BRENDAN
SULLIVAN
IS STILL FOCUSED ON THE SAME MISSION: HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE DISCOVER WHAT THEY'RE CAPABLE OF.
THIRTY SUMMERS IN
For thirty summers, Brendan Sullivan has been asking the same question:
How do you create experiences that help young people discover what they’re capable of?
The question has shaped Headfirst from the beginning. What started as a single private lesson has grown into an organization serving thousands of young people each year through camps, showcases, and educational experiences across the country and around the world. Yet the challenge remains remarkably similar to the one Sullivan was trying to solve three decades ago: creating environments where young people feel known, supported, challenged, and celebrated.
Today, Sullivan serves as Founder & CEO of The Headfirst Companies, but he still spends time at camp every summer. Not because he is running activities or checking boxes, but because the experience itself remains the most important signal.
“The moments we’re looking for aren’t always the biggest moments,” Sullivan says. “They’re
often the quiet breakthroughs. The first jump off the diving board. The young person who finds their voice in a group. The camper who discovers they can do something they didn’t think they could do.”
At Headfirst, those moments have a name: Headfirst Moments.
They’re the reason the camp exists.
Yet Sullivan believes the most important thing about the experience remains the same.
Growth should be intentional.
“We don’t believe confidence happens by accident,” he says. “Our job is to create environments where young people can try something new, succeed, struggle, try again, and discover what they’re capable of.”
That philosophy shows up everywhere at Headfirst. Counselors are trained to look for moments of potential, create opportunities for growth, and celebrate progress when it happens. Internally, the team uses three simple words to describe the approach: Spot. Create. Celebrate.
A camper who spends Monday nervous about swimming may be jumping off the diving board by Thursday. A child who arrives unsure about joining a game may be leading one by the end of the week. The
moments look different for every participant, but the process is remarkably consistent.
You can see it in the way the staff work. Headfirst counselors learn campers’ names quickly. Groups stay small enough for adults to know what excites a young person, what challenges them, and where they might need a little extra encouragement. The goal isn’t simply supervision. It’s connection.
That focus has become increasingly important as childhood itself has changed.
“We hear a lot about achievement,” Sullivan says. “What we’re interested in is confidence. Confidence to try something new. Confidence to make a friend. Confidence to take a risk. Confidence to discover that you’re capable of more than you thought.”
Today, Sullivan experiences Headfirst from a different perspective.
In addition to leading the organization, he now experiences Headfirst through the eyes of his own children. His daughters, Livi and Stella, and his son, Brendan IV, are all Headfirst campers.
“It’s one thing to build something for other families,” he says. “It’s another to watch your own children build relationships with counselors, gain confidence, overcome challenges, and come home excited to tell you about their day.”
That perspective has only reinforced what Sullivan believes matters most.
Not the activities.
Not the facilities.
Not even the schedule.
The relationships.
“The counselors are the magic,” he says. “The activities create opportunities, but it’s the people who make the experience meaningful.”
Parents often notice the difference in surprisingly small ways. A child comes home talking about a counselor by name. They tell a story about something they accomplished. They mention a challenge they were nervous about and then overcame. Those stories tend to matter more than any individual activity.
After thirty summers, Sullivan has become convinced of one thing: Confidence travels.
The child who learns to swim becomes more willing to raise a hand in class. The camper who leads a team challenge becomes more comfortable joining a team. The young person who discovers they can overcome a challenge at camp often carries that lesson into school, sports, friendships, and life beyond the summer.
The activity changes.
The confidence stays.
Sullivan believes growth is the easy part.
Scaling an organization while ensuring every participant feels known is much harder.
“At the end of the day, young people aren’t thinking about organizational charts, schedules, or strategic plans,” he says. “They care about people. They remember relationships. They remember how someone made them feel.”
That belief has shaped the company for thirty years.
Some of today’s Headfirst parents were once Headfirst campers themselves. Many counselors started as campers, returned as
teenagers, and eventually joined the staff. In a city where families have countless options for summer programming, Headfirst has become something of a generational tradition.
The logistics matter, too. Programs are designed to work for real families. Systems are built to reduce stress and create flexibility. Details are intentionally considered so parents can focus on what matters most.
But those things are supporting actors.
The real story is still the same one Sullivan has been watching for thirty summers.
A young person surprises themselves.
A counselor notices.
An opportunity is created.
A success is celebrated.
And someone leaves believing something about themselves that they didn’t believe when they arrived.
That’s the work.
And thirty summers in, Brendan Sullivan is still showing up to see it happen.
AUGUST 2026
events
A SELECTION OF UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS
AUGUST 1ST
Summer Performances at The Music Center at Strathmore
North Bethesda | 5:00 PM
Strathmore's summer lineup includes concerts, family programming, and cultural performances, making it one of the region's premier arts destinations. See schedule and program details at www.strathmore.org/events-tickets/summer-programs
AUGUST 3RD
Great American Farmers Market
National Mall, Washington, DC | 8:00 AM
A weeklong celebration of food, farming, live music, family activities, local vendors, and educational programming as part of America's 250th anniversary events. Great for families and food lovers alike. Learn more at www.washington.org/event/great-american-farmers-market
AUGUST 20TH
FGIDC Communique x Vince
Vince @ City Center DC | 6:00 PM
Fashion Group International DC invites you to an exclusive edition of FGI Communiqué, its signature seasonal event series offering a first look at fashion’s next chapter. Celebrate the debut of Vince’s Fall Collection through elevated shopping, stylish community, and immersive experiences. It’s where fashion insiders gather to connect, discover emerging trends, and enjoy an evening curated for the modern tastemaker. Learn more
