Karen R. Hammond heads various organizations in the Merrifield area, including The Hammond Agency, which she founded, and The Greater Merrifield Business Association. She is this week's People Profile.
Family: I am married to David Daniels, and we live and work in Merrifield. I have four children — Jonathan Daniels, 31; Heidi Jackson, 25; David Daniels, 18; and Thomas Daniels, 14. I also have three grandsons, Cole Jackson 6; Miles Jackson, 4; and Dexter Jackson, 2.
Education: I graduated from Wintersville High School in Wintersville Ohio in 1970. I attended NOVA and George Mason University, and received my Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) designation from The American College.
Current job/primary occupation: I founded The Hammond Agency, Inc., and we provide employee benefits including health insurance, life insurance, 401k Plans, disability, dental, etc., to 100 businesses and non-profits in the Washington D.C. Metro area as well as in Florida, California, Massachusetts, Arizona and Colorado. We have been serving employers since June 1, 1980. We are about to celebrate our 25th anniversary!
Achievements: Currently serve as president of United Insurance Professionals and The Greater Merrifield Business Association. Currently serve on the board of the Northern Virginia Society of Financial Advisors. A life director of the Northern Virginia Building Industry Association. Charter member of the Association of Health Insurance Agents. Past president of the Northern Virginia Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors. Life and qualifying member of the Million Dollar Round Table.
Activities/interests/hobbies: I read two or three books a week, (love to read), teach Sunday School to junior and senior high school students and follow my boys and grandsons in their sporting events.
Favorite local restaurant or place: I love nearly all the restaurants in Merrifield! Picking one would be very difficult.
What are your community concerns? What are some ideas you have on ways to improve your community? I have served as president of the Greater Merrifield Business Association for the past two and a half years. Because I work and live in Merrifield, I hope to be able to make a difference here. GMBA is currently working on putting on a festival in Merrifield on Oct. 22. The theme of the Festival is "Making A Difference in Merrifield", and will be held on the nationwide "Make A Difference Day" that was started by USA Weekend several years ago. Merrifield is on the edge of a growth explosion, with many residences planned for the community in the next few years. Yet, there is very little sense of community in Merrifield. I am hoping through my work with the Greater Merrifield Business Association to change that. My vision is to launch a much larger civic association that would be responsible for taking charge of building that sense of community in Merrifield, drawing on all segments of the residents here, and holding many future community events that would draw in the Merrifield residents.
What community "hidden treasure" do you think more people should know about? I believe that Merrifield itself is the "best kept secret" in Northern Virginia. With many shops, restaurants, proximity to the Beltway and I-66, it is only just now being discovered by many businesses. With the new growth happening across from the Dunn Loring Metro and the Merrifield Town Center breaking ground in late spring, Merrifield is "on the move." I would like for the community at large to know that Merrifield should be a destination, not a place to pass through.
Personal goals:
* To be able to live up to the motto I have chosen for my practice, which is "Do it, Do it right, Do it Right NOW!"
* To be able to swim two miles. (Currently I am at 1.25 miles at one
stretch.)
* To be able to spend one-on-one time with my grandsons every month.
* To read 100 books this year. (On track)
Know someone who should be acknowledged for his/her contributions to the community? Send People Profile nominations to Nina M. Dry at vienna@connectionnewspapers.com or call 703-917-6422.