The Team Behind Our Community
Our dynamic and skilled team of writers are dedicated to uniting a diverse community of moms seeking the best advice and recommendations.
OUR STORY
Lisa Peri was raised in Annapolis and when she lived in LA she belonged to a Moms group that helped so much! Lisa saw a need for the same type of group back home and started the first of its kind in Anne Arundel County. Annapolis Moms was created in 2011 for Moms in Annapolis and surrounding areas to share our experiences and help each other. Like…Who’s a good plumber? Which preschools still have openings? What are you doing for summer camp?
Six months after starting Annapolis Moms, Lisa became friends with Jessica Opert at their children’s’ preschool. Jessica offered to co-lead the group and an amazing friendship was born. Today, Annapolis Moms Media reflects the values of Lisa and Jessica putting kindness first.
Lisa and Jessica hanging out with family and friends (2012)
OUR NON PROFIT ARM
After almost a decade of managing Annapolis Moms, Lisa saw a huge need for families in hardship and moms looking for a way to help. To fill a much-needed gap of emergency relief for local families, we established a non-profit 501(c)(3) , Friends of Annapolis Moms (FOAM), providing a safe way for our generous community of moms to fundraise and volunteer safely. To learn more, donate or volunteer, go to Friends of Annapolis Moms or contact Lisa at Lisa@Annapolismomsmedia.com
BUILD THE COMMUNITY
Join us in sharing the Annapolis Moms Facebook Group with fellow moms, fostering an environment where camaraderie and shared experiences flourish. Together, we can create a stronger bond within the community, offering a platform for open discussions, invaluable insights, local recommendations, and unwavering support. Let’s connect, uplift, and grow together as we navigate the joyful journey of motherhood.
-xoxo Lisa and Jess
OUR MOMS & A COUPLE OF DADS
Lisa PERI, MSW
Founder & Chief Enthusiast
Lisa Peri has dedicated her life and career to both the parenting field and has been integral in many business ventures in sales and media. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Clark University and a Master of Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania. Lisa is also a proud mother of two wonderful children and is married to Jeff Peri.
Jessica Opert
Co-Founder & Chief Mom Wrangler
Jessica grew up in New York on Long Island. It was tough leaving her family but found a close group of friends at The George Washington University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. After graduating, she worked at Digital Equipment Corporation for several years before embarking on a real estate career with Long & Foster Realtors enjoying 23 successful years as an Associate Broker licensed in Maryland, DC and Virginia.
Sandy Biello
Marketing Director
Sandy, a dedicated small business advocate with over a decade of experience, channels her passion for entrepreneurship from her roots in her family’s immigrant-run restaurant. Now residing in Edgewater, she brings a local perspective to her work, having transitioned from her North Carolina hometown to Annapolis area after meeting her husband in 2016.
JEFF PERI
Operations
Jeff is a seasoned entrepreneur who started his first company while still a student at UCLA. After graduating, Jeff dedicated 15 years to building successful film and television services company that worked with all of the major Hollywood studios and numerous independent productions. He also started an innovative, natural cleaning products company that sold its products in more than 500 stores, including Whole Foods, Disney, Smart Car and The MarMaxx Group.
Diana LOVE
Lifestyle Contributor, Foraging For Flavor
Diana Love is an award-winning journalist in Annapolis, Maryland. She is a 1995 graduate of Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and International Business and a minor in Spanish.
Chelsea Harrison
Editor
Chelsea earned her Master’s degree at Durham University (UK) in English Language & Literature with a focus in poetry. She was hired right out of graduate school to teach for Anne Arundel Community College (AACC), returning to her hometown of Annapolis as an English professor, teaching college-level composition and creative writing.
FRANK BOLINKSY
Parks & Rec Contributor, Are We There Yet!?
Frank works for the DOD where he manages a group of cyber defense researchers. His absolute favorite thing to do in his spare time is to drag his family all over the state to see new things. He loves to camp, hike, fish, bike, kayak, or do anything that gets him out of the house.
JILLIAN aMODIO, LMSW
Contributor, Mental Health
Jillian is a woman of many talents. She started her career as a business owner and yoga instructor and then spent many years as a freelance writer, editor, and content creator which eventually landed her at What’s Up Media as the Beauty Blogger and Product Reviewer. Later in her career she found a passion for women’s mental health issues and earned her degree as a social worker from Salisbury University.
PATRICE CRAIG
Contributor, Musing of a Hot Mess Mom
Patrice’s decades long career has focused on creating and implementing marketing and business strategies for woman-owned businesses with such companies as Athleta, Felicia Searcy and Peppy Profit Place. Most recently, she founded Rose Gold Consulting, where she is driven by a profound passion for empowering and supporting women in achieving their business aspirations.
Danielle LawrAnce
Contributor, Photography
After spending 15 years as a wedding and event planner in San Francisco and Boston, Danielle took a part-time photography passion spanning two decades and made it a full-time dream career when moving to Maryland in 2014. Being easily adaptable to any situation, along with years of experience, allows her to quickly anticipate what comes next.
Interested in Becoming A Contributor?
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