Meet the Team Behind FXBG Neighbors

We’re a passionate group of storytellers, marketers, and community connectors dedicated to sharing meaningful, relevant content with the Fredericksburg area. Every issue is a collaborative effort to inform, inspire, and bring neighbors closer together.

Thank you for being part of the journey. Welcome to the neighborhood!

Dori Roberts Stewart: Publisher


Dori, with an 11-year tenure as a high school engineering teacher at Colonial Forge High School, transitioned into entrepreneurship, establishing a company that garnered numerous accolades. Her business acumen and innovative strategies have been recognized in prestigious publications like Forbes, the Wall Street Journal, CNN Money, Fox Business, and Kiplinger’s. Her contributions to the business world earned her the title of Stafford County Business Innovator of the Year.

Beyond her entrepreneurial ventures, Dori is deeply involved in her local community through her roles as editor and publisher of Neighbors of Courthouse, Neighbors of Chancellorsville, and Stafford Living Magazine. Her dedication to her hometown is evident in her efforts to foster community spirit and support the growth of local businesses. As a committed and long-standing member of the community, Dori's enthusiasm for bringing people together and nurturing local enterprises is a testament to her passion for serving the area she calls home.

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Mallory Hardgrove: Content Coordinator

Mallory is a former teacher and coach turned freelancer, deciding to pivot her career when her husband's military career took their family to Italy. She has since begun a career in digital marketing where she enjoys blogging, writing copy, and designing new, creative ads to catch the attention of client’s respective audiences.

Since returning to the States and settling down in Stafford, she's added a few other projects to her plate, including her role as the content coordinator for all three FXBG Neighbors magazines. As a former sports editor of her college newspaper and high school yearbook editor-in-chief, she's enjoying being "back in the saddle" of local journalism and making connections throughout the area.

When she’s not working, she can be found controlling the chaos of her #girlmom and #armyspouse life, playing referee, mediator, and short-order cook; planning her next European adventure and reminiscing about her #ladolcevita life; reading the next novel on her TBR list; or cuddling with her bully breed dogs, Murray and Della.

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Karen Presecan: Photographer

Meeting Karen is walking into a room full of joy. That is what her photography sessions provide. A military spouse, Karen found her love for photography after her husband left on a deployment. Looking for a creative outlet, Karen Presecan Photography was born. Now, the whole family is involved. Her children help her with setups while her husband handles the finances. Talk about teamwork!

Karen’s sincere passion for her work speaks for itself. Her philosophy is to bring joy to the home with stunning photographs of special moments. Her photography portfolio ranges from professional headshots, families, senior portraits, and my personal favorite pets.

Karen's photos can be seen on our cover and for many of our family features. She is thrilled to be part of the FXBG Neighbors team.

Crissy Hall: Account Manager

A graduate of Mary Washington University, Crissy is forever rooted to our community.  She graduated with a degree in Business Management and had a long career building/growing several national retail brands starting in stores and moving into various corporate settings.  This involved traveling abroad as well as moving several times to some of the greatest cities in the US. While living in Boston she met her husband and moved back home to Virginia to marry and start her family.  

She is now the mom of twins who wanted to have a great career, with the flexibility to spend more time with her son and daughter.  That's when she started developing the plan to create her own business.  Crissy saw an opportunity to help small business owners with their administrative tasks so that they could concentrate on growing their own businesses.  Starting with one client in 2020, her dedication to customer service and efficiency has garnered her 13 clients. Together with Dori and the entire FXBG Team she helps nurture and coordinate advertising for over 70 locally owned small businesses every month!

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Cherice Taylor: Contributing Writer

Cherice Taylor, M.A. Education Administration, is a Part-Time Career Advisor for Germanna Community College. She is the 2022-2023 Past President of the Rotary Club of Stafford and a Charter Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Psi Psi Omega Chapter. She is a relationship builder, poet and a former educator with over 10 years experience at the preschool through high school levels. Cherice earned her Bachelor's degree from UCLA and her Masters in Education Administration from California State University- Dominguez Hills. She is married to LCDR Eric Taylor (retired) and a mother of four sons. A positive attitude and the belief that sharing pearls of wisdom along with the Golden Rule allows for everyone to improve and reach their personal goals. This is demonstrated in the podcast show that she hosts, Time Matters Podcast! Cherice believes that if we all do better, then we all do better, and that is why Cherice is involved in the community.

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Karie Owens: Contributing Writer

Karie, a native of Pennsylvania, cherishes her roots in faith and family above all else. Together with her husband and their nine children, they have fearlessly embraced life's adventures, including living in Africa and establishing a successful business.

Beyond her roles as a dedicated wife and mother, Karie is a passionate educator, talented musician, and enthusiastic traveler. Her love for exploring new cultures and experiencing the world is matched only by her appreciation for a good cup of coffee.

Driven by her desire to positively impact others, Karie approaches each day with a deep sense of purpose. Whether through her teaching, her music, or her interactions with people around the globe, she strives to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those she meets.

Karie's journey is a testament to the power of faith, family, and a relentless spirit of adventure. Her story serves as an inspiration for others to live boldly, love deeply, and make a lasting impact on the world around them.

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Mora Soan: Contributing Writer

Mora Soan is a paraprofessional at Kate Waller Barrett Elementary School in Stafford, Virginia. Outside of work, she enjoys crafting, reading, and writing children’s books with her daughter, Lana.

Mora’s greatest passion is travel, and she dreams of embarking on a road trip to explore all 52 states. She finds joy in experiencing new places, meeting new people, and immersing herself in different cultures.

Working with children has always been a rewarding experience for Mora, and she is grateful for the opportunity to support and inspire young minds every day. Her dream is to continue exploring the world and sharing her love for learning and creativity with others.

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Valynda Phifer: Publisher's Assistant

Valynda is a dedicated educator with over eight years of experience in classical education and private tutoring. A proud Air Force wife, she combines her passion for learning with a love for travel, embracing each new duty station as an opportunity for cultural exploration, personal growth and community building.

She holds a Bachelor's degree in Art, where her creative foundation helps shape a dynamic and engaging approach to teaching. Currently pursuing her graduate degree in Classical Education, Valynda is committed to lifelong learning and empowering students through a thoughtful, individualized approach to education.

Supporting the mission and goals of the FXBG Neighbors team in producing a place where the community can find support for their home, family, or business and glean wisdom from their neighbors has been a joy for her. 

Whether she's helping a student master a challenging subject or exploring a new corner of the world or in her neighborhood, Valynda brings heart, discipline, and curiosity to everything she does.

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Abigail Nyinaku: Contributing Writer

Abigail Nyinaku is a rising senior at Colonial Forge High School. Outside of writing, she enjoys making art, playing the violin, and has a strong passion for a legal studies. Abigail is also the current Vice President of her school's National Honor Society and runs a handmade personalized greeting-card business, called Heartfelt, in her free time.

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Kira Pohwala: Contributing Writer

Kira Pohwala is a junior at Mountain View High School. She arrives as an assistant manager on the school’s literary magazine, Scene, and is a member of the National Honors Society, National English Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, and the Spanish Honors Society. She manages a digital youth literary and arts magazine (Ephemeral Gazette) and volunteers frequently at the library.

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Laura Anderson: Graphic Designer

Laura is a dedicated and detail-oriented Graphic Designer with over a decade of experience in digital and print design. Skilled in bringing concepts to life through design, Laura has a passion for conveying the right message. Her experience includes print material, email marketing, branding, advertising, typography, and photo editing. In her free time, you may find Laura crafting, learning watercolor, walking her dog, and spending time with her family.

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Liya Zewdu: Contributing Writer

Liya Zewdu is a sophomore at Riverbend High School. She actively contributes to the school newspaper, with a focus on highlighting student perspectives and advocating for change. Liya also plays a key role in supporting students in special education through a basketball program, showing her commitment to inclusivity and teamwork. A proud member of the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and the Junior Council for Cancer Kids First, Liya is deeply involved in her school community. Outside of her academic and extracurricular pursuits, she enjoys watching anime, reading books, exploring the outdoors, and spending quality time with family and friends. Liya aspires to pursue a career in Journalism, driven by her love for storytelling and creating meaningful connections through writing.