The Alumni Advisory Committee is pleased to announce that Deanna Everson ’97 has been selected as the 2024-25 Distinguished Alumni and that Annabell Larson ’14 has been selected as the 2024-25 Emerging Leader Award recipient.
Since graduating from Valley Catholic School, Deanna Everson has blazed her own trail, provided opportunities for many people, built a successful and sustainable business and raised a lovely family.
As the founder of Ginger & Maude Hair Salons, Deanna oversees four salons in the Portland area with a fifth franchise on the way. Frequently recognized as a “top salon” in Portland, Ginger & Maude has been in business since 2008 and Deanna employs a team of approximately 40 people.
Deanna was driven to start her own salon and business so she could give people the respect, dignity and beauty they deserve. She has broken the typical salon model of renting space to independent contractors by personally hiring employees and paying a living wage with five weeks of paid vacation, full benefits, and profit sharing. Deanna has made Ginger & Maude an inclusive and inviting environment for both employees and clients.
Recently, Ginger & Maude was recognized as North America’s first B-Corp hair salon. The B-Corp community focuses on reducing inequality, lowering levels of poverty and creating high-quality jobs with dignity and purpose. To be the first salon to be recognized is a testament to Deanna’s dedication and passion.
Deanna and her employees live out their dedication and passion to reduce inequality and provide people with respect and dignity by giving haircuts to underserved and houseless youth as well as providing mentorship and apprenticeship programs to people seeking a career. Deanna also started a learning exchange program to address the limited training stylists receive for Black hair. Through the program, hairstylists develop and improve their skills working with Black hair and they in-turn provide complimentary services for curly and coarse hair.
Deanna has made it her mission to ensure that everyone is welcome at her salon and everyone is treated with dignity and respect.
“We don’t just love hair, we love people,” says Deanna Everson. “That has been my priority every day and I work to ensure that it is also true for my staff and my clients.”
Deanna is an inspiration to the entire salon industry. She has created a safe and inclusive space for everyone to enjoy. Deanna Everson is a true industry leader and a deserving recipient of the 2024-25 Distinguished Alumni Award.
Visit Gingerandmaude.com to learn more about Deanna’s cutting edge business.
Annabelle Larson ’14, is the recipient of the 2024-25 Emerging Leader Award. This award recognizes one Valley Catholic School alumna/us who has graduated in the last 15 years and shows promise as a leader in their field.
Annabelle joined the Portland chapter of Young Catholic Professionals (YCP) in 2020, and rose quickly from Director of Marketing to Vice President. When a career opportunity took her to Washington state in 2022, she was invited to be the founding president of a new Seattle chapter of YCP. Under her leadership, membership has grown to more than 80 people in just two years.
In 2018, Annabelle earned her bachelor’s degree from the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota with a double major in Global Business Leadership and Communication. Since graduating, she has been consistently promoted in her field. Currently, she is the Business Systems Specialist at Emerald Aire in Auburn, Wash.
Annabelle credits her parents and her Catholic education for instilling her with a strong work ethic. Her mom, Linda Janes Larson, is a 1979 graduate of St. Mary of the Valley.
Congratulations to our Distinguished Alumni and Emerging Leader Award recipients, Deanna Everson ’97 and Annabelle Larson ’14.
Visit our distinguished alumni page to see videos about our award recipients and to look back on past winners.
