Mary Rafferty Photography

Executive Vice President of Programs for the  ,  , for  Leadership Stories. Not only was Tina generous with her time but she also brought the positive vibes. Grace and I had fun as always and got some BTS with Obama, of course! We wrapped with a Near North Montessori alumni pic of Tina,  and me - Tina and I were both parents at Near North Montessori School and Grace is a proud graduate. Great minds think alike 😉

I really enjoyed this latest cover story assignment for the fall edition of Indie Stylist Magazine. The assignment was a story and photo spread for the 2025  Hairstylist of the Year, Twylla Jane, owner of  in Naperville, IL.  ‘s story is one of resilience, hard work, and all with high highs and low lows. She was generous with her time, organized and came prepared. What a dream! ✨

Amy Klein, Creative Director for Indie Stylist, created a mood board of what she was looking for but also gave me the freedom to introduce my ideas and expertise. So fun to be creative together.

We also had great extras with Twylla’s 2 Sphynx cats keeping us company and posing for us for 2-3 seconds at a time. 😻

Charlie Branda, founder and director of , was the winner of the silent auction branding session with me 🌟 We chose the block that inspires Art on Sedgwick’s mission, connecting the homeowners along Sedgwick with the residents of the Marshall Field Garden Apartments through creativity and community. 📸

Toy maker and game designer Mike Lichodziejewski, a University of Illinois alum, is the mind behind beloved games and toys for Hasbro and Tomy International, including Disney/Pixar’s Inside Out and Zootopia characters, Operation, and the gross-out family favorite, Gooey Louie.

We set up an assortment of Mike’s toys in his Chicago studio to accompany an article by writer Jamie Malanowski. This assignment for The Illini News spotlighted how Mike’s inventive spirit fuels his business and enriches playtime for families everywhere. Thanks to Claire Plump for the assist 👯‍♀️