Thursday, November 12, 2009
Conference
8:00 am to 4:00 pm
Networking Reception
4:30 to 6:30 pm
National Conference Center
18980 Upper Belmont Place
Lansdowne, VA 20176
get directions
Speaker Bio
Heidi Kallett
CEO & President, The Dandelion Patch
Heidi Kallett is the CEO & President of The Dandelion Patch, a 15 year old fine stationery store with locations in Vienna and Reston Virginia. With oversight of both the day to day activities associated with running a small (but rapidly expanding) business and all purchasing, marketing, personnel and strategic growth initiatives, Heidi is responsible for growing her business by over 425% in the past three years. Most recently, Heidi also launched Wish Special Events as a sister company to The Dandelion Patch.
Prior to her current entrepreneurial life, she was charged with many of the same issues as President of the Junior League of Northern Virginia (JLNV). In this role, Heidi was the principal executive officer, official spokesperson and representative of the JLNV. She was responsible for the operation, achievements and morale of the 600+ women volunteers she represented.
While Heidi envisions making The Dandelion Patch the area's leading stationery retailer, she also strongly believes that the true definition of success includes playing a meaningful role in the community in which she lives. To that end, Heidi is a community role model and has served/serves on many non-profit Boards, including: the Junior League of Northern Virginia, ChildHelp USA, Volunteer Fairfax, Children's Science Center of Northern Virginia, Medical Care for Children's Partnership, Advisory Social Services Board of Fairfax County, Greater Washington Boys and Girls Clubs of Fairfax County, Charity Works and the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Most recently, in large part due to her vast volunteer leadership experience in the area, Heidi was asked to serve as a Board Trustee for the Campbell Hoffman Foundation. She is a graduate of the Greater Washington D.C. Cares Board Training Program and is also a member of the Leadership Fairfax Class of 2006.
Her volunteer commitments expand into her professional life too. Heidi serves as a Board member for the Association of Wedding Professionals, and is a member of the Reston Chamber of Commerce, the Vienna-Tyson Regional Chamber of Commerce, e-women network, NAWBO, Entrepreneur's Organization of DC, Success in the City, Women in Technology, Executive Women's Roundtable and the National Retail Federation.
Heidi is often recognized for her energy, dedication and leadership, including "Most likely to make a difference" by the Leadership St. Pete Class of 1999 and as "Volunteer of the Year" by the JLNV in 2000 and again as "Woman of Vision” in 2008. Most recently, she was highlighted in DC Modern Luxury Magazine as one of "Washington’s Most Dynamic Women", followed by the Washington Business Journal honoring her with their prestigious "Women Who Mean Business" award as a Rising Star. And finally, in 2008, Heidi received international recognition from the Stevie Awards for Women as a finalist as Best Entrepreneur of the Year.
A transplanted Texan, Heidi has a degree in marketing from Texas Tech University. She and her husband, Joel, have two children. Ethan (9) and Jordan (7) both attend The Langley School.