Street Style: Meet Maurisa Potts
As a local writer I had exchanged emails with Maurisa more than a dozen times, but had never met her in person. Elizabeth at The Hive had told me she was going to suggest a red dress for Maurisa’s photo shoot. As she glides down the hallway, it’s evident they both delivered. She’s red carpet ready. Other members at ALX Community remain focused on the laptops in front of them, but I know they’re sneaking a peek, too. A quick tour of the space reveals Maurisa’s office is literally steps from a door that opens onto the pedestrian plaza, overlooking the waterfront. The Woodrow Wilson Bridge gleams in the distance, it’s a beautiful winter day and the sun is bright.
Stepping back inside, Renee admires the black vintage phone hung on the wall (it also makes for a great prop), and we discover Maurisa has a collection. While I’ve heard of people collecting vintage cameras or typewriters, I’ve never met someone who collects phones. Maurisa shares, “When I collect a new one, the first thing I think of are all the conversations that might have transpired on this phone. Good news, bad news, breaking news. This is part of the history of how we communicate. The younger generation only knows about the iPhone. There weren’t text messages — this is how we dropped our news.” Her collection, which includes a banker phone and dial pad phone, have personal significance because they are representative of her career in public relations.
Photography: Renée C. Gage Photography
Dress: The Hive, Earrings + Cuff: Sophie Blake, Shoes: The Shoe Hive
Shoot location: ALX Community Waterfront
Maurisa grew up in Vienna and moved to Alexandria in 1995. “I have a 15-year-old son, Derek, who goes to Edison High school and my lovely husband David – we’ve been together since 1995 and married in 2006.” She also recently celebrated 15 years of business as the sole proprietor of Spotted MP, her marketing and communications firm.
She shares the impetus for her move into entrepreneurship. “I started in 2008, it was a crazy year and we were in the thick of the financial crisis. At the time, I did not have a boss that was supportive of women.” While on maternity leave and nursing an 8-week-old, she began thinking about venturing out on her own. With the encouragement of several business mentors and a leap of faith, she sent a simple email to her network: “I’m going to embark on this crazy journey called entrepreneurship, and if anyone needs any marketing and consulting work, let me know.” Within three days, she received her first project, and “the ripple started from there.”
She said her fuel came from “the combination of having had an unsupportive boss, and others that said as a woman of color that going out on my own would be a hobby, and that I’d be laughed at. I wanted to prove folks wrong.” And she has. “My work is different every day and that’s what I like about my business. I work hard and play hard.”
As a die-hard Hokie, active alumni, and season ticket holder, she says, “I bleed maroon and orange, I love my school so much. I’m the first girl in my family to graduate from college, raised by a single mom. I owe so much to Virginia Tech in terms of the person I am today.” Last year, she was a recipient of the 2023 Entrepreneur of the Year Award during a weekend that recognized Black alumni that are doing great things in their field.
As a woman of color, she loves to share her story, the challenges and the triumphs. “I’m in a class of a handful of Black-owned comms firms in this area and I’d like to see that grow more.” She has spoken at both Bowie State and GW University on the topic of entrepreneurship. She says these types of entrepreneurship tracks didn’t exist when she was a student, and she’s so happy to see their evolution. She advises students majoring in marketing communications today to start their network early. “Don’t be afraid to go to networking events, introduce yourself and ask for what you want. Your voice is your most powerful tool.”
One only needs to glance at Maurisa to see she’s exceptionally fit. She shares, “I’m a runner and I've lifted weights since high school. It’s so important for women to do strength training. I’ve fixed perimenopausal issues through food, diet and fitness. I try to do everything as natural as possible.” She works out six days a week at 5 a.m. “It’s work before work, and it’s non-negotiable. I need to be in the right headspace and physical space for my family, for my clients and to make decisions.” She says she sees the results (we do, too) and laughs, “I’m chasing J. Lo…I’m coming for her. I’ve been called the J. Lo of Alexandria.”
I ask how she stays disciplined when traveling. “Wherever I go, I always get my workout done first thing in the morning. Covid taught us lots of options to stay fit. There are many apps where you can do a full intense workout from our phone. You can be creative – use a coffee table to do tricep dips.” And I think she does this…can anyone at ALX Community verify?
Maurisa says her best ideas come when she’s listening to one of her favorite artists, Prince. “He was such an icon and creative mind, pushing the envelope in a number of ways. His music fuels me to come up with an idea and to do the same– keep pushing the envelope.”
At 50, she looks back at the support she’s received over the years, and is incredibly grateful. “I want to continue to do good work and kick ass and take names. One of my clients, Sheila Johnson, owner of Salamander Resort, told me when I turned 50, ‘My 50s were one of the best decades of my life. Keep going. You’re not done.’ And I’m still doing my thing…until I choose when it’s done.”
Check out Maurisa’s Street Style:
ABOUT MAURISA
Neighborhood: Rose Hill/Kingstowne
What is your hometown? Vienna, VA
What would surprise people about you? That I am a huge Stevie Nicks fan. Also, I am a huge sports fan. One of my bucket list goals is to visit all the pro sports Hall of Fames. I am making my way through that list.
Favorite movie: Purple Rain - 40th anniversary this year!
Guilty Pleasure: Real Housewives of….pick one.
Latest binge-watch: Late to the game, but started watching The Queen’s Gambit with my husband. Not really a binge-watcher, not unless it is old Sex And The City classics. Ahh….
Bucket list travel destination: Full disclosure, never been to Europe (I know gasp!), so I guess this would be my answer to this question. First stop would be Croatia.
STYLE
Define your style in three words or less: Bold, Unexpected, Edgy. For cocktail attire (I go to a lot of special events for my job) always Old Hollywood glam vibes (more than three words - ha, sorry!)
The go-to piece in your wardrobe: Something/anything with animal “spots” on it. It’s part of my personal brand.
Favorite trend: Love that the ‘mob wife glam’ is starting to trend, diverting away from quiet luxury. A trend full of sexiness, opulence and confidence. This speaks to me.
Beauty products you can’t live without: My T3 Flat Iron, my P50 Face Exfoliant by Biologique Recherche, purchased at Sarah Akram Skincare and Dior Lip Gloss.
Boots, sneakers, or sandals? Most of the time you will always find me in heels. I am 4’11”. Might be odd, but I am more comfortable in heels vs. flats. But I also have a Golden Goose sneaker addiction when I need to be casual.
WELLNESS
Go-to way to de-stress: Working out or cooking a great meal for the family.
Most fun way to stay active: I am three years into being a new dog mom, yes, I was one of those pandemic pup owners. My little Lainey keeps this 50-year-old active and young playing and running around with her. She is named after my alma mater’s football stadium at Virginia Tech (Lane Stadium).
Wellness goal: Staying disciplined and continuing to address and conquer perimenopause symptoms through food and fitness. Reading this article back in 2021 changed me and helped me understand the issues I was having in trying to figure out the root cause of crazy symptoms. Come to figure out, I was starting to go through perimenopause. I am loving the mind and body results I have achieved through honing in hard on fitness and diet - fueling my body with the right food and using it as “medicine”. I am proud of what I have accomplished so far to help naturally navigate this next phase of my life. We need to talk more about this topic and make it mainstream.
Want to try: Swimming. As much as I love bodies of water, I really need to learn how to swim. I need to rip the bandaid off and learn this important lifesaving skill. Just need to sign up and dive in.
Proudest wellness achievement: Being my strongest self inside and out at age 50. Also utilizing the power of “saying no” more and more for my mental wellness; this includes instituting “Meeting-free Fridays” (as much as possible).
HOME
Favorite room in your home: My kitchen. I like the direct sunlight it receives and many times I will work from the kitchen island for a change of scenery from my home office.
Antiques, modern, or a mix? Mid-century modern girl. Think Mad Men vibes.
Favorite way to entertain: Cooking for close friends and having great conversations around our dinner table.
Clutter-free or well-lived in? Clutter-free all the way! I am a chronic “throw it away” person. Recently loving this IG that is challenging folks to declutter.
Next planned purchase: To pull carpet out of our bedrooms and put hardwood down.
ALEXANDRIA
What do you love about Alexandria Stylebook? I learn something new everyday and enjoy the profiles on folks that make Alexandria so special. The Doers, The Change Makers, The Disruptors – the fabric of Alexandria is made up of so many amazing and inspiring people and I am proud to be a part of this great community of doers.
Favorite spot in Alexandria: Jones Point Park
Your go-to shop: The Shoe Hive. I think 85% of my shoes in my closet are from The Shoe Hive since she opened 20 years ago. I could open up a Shoe Hive museum of great timeless shoe classics Elizabeth has carried over the years. The shoes worn in my photo shoot are by DVF and are Circa 2016!
Best food spot: Really liking what Zen Press is dishing out. I am also a Pho fanatic. I love me some delicious Pho at my spot Caphe Banh Mi. I am a regular there and it's my spot when I need to decompress after a long day.
Favorite local organization: Move 2 Learn
Annual Alexandria event you most look forward to: The Annual Alexandria Warehouse Sale of course! This year marks 20 years! And I remember Year One. It’s a great winter tradition.
