The Houlette Family: Building Community Through Service and Enterprise

When Craig and Anna Houlette decided to make Stafford their home in 2016, they brought with them not just their growing family, but a vision for building something meaningful in a community Craig had fallen in love with years earlier.

Today, Craig and Anna are co-owners of a thriving family business, with their daughter Valeria serving as shop manager and son Lucas helping with reception. It's a true family affair that reflects the couple's commitment to both entrepreneurship and community engagement.

A Partnership Built on Trust

The journey to business ownership began with a leap of faith. "My partner in crime is my husband; we had just moved to Virginia three years ago, and I wanted to open a business," Anna recalls. "I prepared the PowerPoint with all the demographics, data, and the idea. I showed it to my husband and asked him to trust me! He decided he was on board and to invest in our new endeavor."

That trust was built on a foundation of diverse professional experience. Craig brings 24 years of U.S. Navy service and a background in transportation, logistics, and workforce training. After retiring in 2010, he worked for the U.S. Coast Guard headquarters for a decade and has now spent three years with the U.S. Department of State. Anna, a licensed Master Stylist with over 20 years of customer service experience, spent more than 15 years with Hilton Hotels, eventually managing all aspects of event planning at a large Oklahoma property.

A Family of Achievers

The Houlette household is home to many talented individuals, though not all under one roof anymore. Emily, 27, resides in Oklahoma with her husband, Braden, where she works as a cake decorator at a Whole Foods location, drawing on her technical certificates in graphic design and cosmetology.

Closer to home, Valeria, 24, recently graduated from George Mason University with a Bachelor's degree in Business with a concentration in marketing. She now lives in Fredericksburg with her boyfriend, Gabriel, while managing the family shop, where she handles hiring, promotion, and organizing the numerous community events the business participates in throughout the year.

The youngest, Lucas, 17, is a senior at Colonial Forge High School with a passion for photography, editing, designing, and photojournalism—skills that undoubtedly benefit the family business.

Rooted in Community

Craig's connection to Stafford runs deep. He previously lived in the area from 2008 to 2011 while stationed in the DC area on active duty. "Craig fell in love with Stafford and Fredericksburg because of the history, community, and so many things to do," Anna shares. When a job opportunity brought him back to the DC area in 2015, the choice of where to settle was clear.

What keeps the Houlettes engaged in Stafford is the sense of community they've found. "We enjoy the community and the smaller town feel and less big city," Craig explains. "Stafford is in a great location with access to so many things to do. The schools are great, and lots of public parks. We also enjoy the community and, in particular, the large concentration of Active Military and Veterans, as we consider this our extended family."

That military connection runs through everything they do. As business owners, they sponsor several veterans organizations and youth sports teams, and typically host a fundraising event for Veterans Day each year. They also participate in neighborhood events, such as Trunk or Treat at Rocky Run Elementary and National Night Out.

"A lot of our clients are our neighbors. We live very near the barbershop," Anna notes, adding that they help promote other neighborhood businesses by providing space for advertisements, business cards, flyers, and menus.

Life Beyond Business

When they're not working, the Houlettes are a family that loves to explore. Anna and Craig are avid travelers with a lengthy bucket list and a commitment to taking at least one international trip annually. "We love Europe, South America, and the Caribbean, but our favorite place is Portugal!" Craig shares.

At home, they enjoy the area's diverse dining scene, particularly locally owned restaurants, and the historic charm of downtown Fredericksburg. The household also includes three rescue dogs: Boomer, a Shiba-Inu/Chihuahua mix; Paco, believed to be a Dachshund/Min-Pin mix; and Penny, a rehomed Toy Yorkie.

For the Houlette family, Stafford represents the perfect blend of opportunity and community—a place where military service, entrepreneurial spirit, and family values come together to create not just a business, but a legacy of service and connection.