Leadership Fauquier announces Stephanie Hanson to serve as its next executive director

WARRENTON, Va. (June 20, 2025) – The Leadership Fauquier Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Stephanie Hanson as its next executive director. Hanson joins the organization following more than 10 years at the educational curricula and book publisher History Unboxed, where she has served as creative director, writer, educational consultant, and marketing manager since its founding.

With a passion for community outreach and history, Hanson succeeds Deanna Hammer, a Leadership Fauquier Class of 2016 alumna, who steps down from the role to pursue other personal and professional interests at the conclusion of her fifth year and fourth graduating class of Fauquier County leaders.

“We are delighted to welcome Stephanie Hanson to this important role as the face and operational leadership of Leadership Fauquier. Deanna’s dedicated work over the past five years has deeply rooted our signature 10-month program and realized an ambitious vision for Leadership Fauquier’s expanded engagement in the community. And now, Stephanie brings an exciting perspective and tremendous skillset that will enable her to build on the strong foundations laid by her predecessors and advance the organization into its second decade,” said Leadership Fauquier Board President Stephanie Paladeau.

After growing up in Reston and starting a family in Fairfax County, Hanson and her spouse came to Fauquier County in 2014 in search of a small-community pace of life with a perfect balance of beauty, rural character, and small-town amenities (more) to raise their four children. They live just over the river in Jeffersonton, but call Fauquier County home. Hanson is an active member of the Fauquier County Chamber of Commerce’s Council for Young Professionals and Friday Leadshare and a founding member of the Chamber’s professional development book club. Hanson also sits on the planning committee for Ignite Fauquier and is a member of the book club for writers at Open Book.

“Leadership Fauquier to me means community, service, growth and connection. During my time in Fauquier County, I’ve met many Leadership Fauquier alumni who are proud of their experience and excited to share about the incredible connections they’ve made with colleagues and the community. All the things I’ve grown to love about the business community here are exemplified in Leadership Fauquier. I look forward to supporting the next cohort and learning more about our community alongside them, and I look forward to working with the board to identify opportunities for growth and support their goals for the program and the organization,” Hanson said.

She said she also looks forward to connecting with Leadership Fauquier alumni to learn about long-standing strengths of the program and opportunities to enhance it for future participants. “My guiding philosophy is that a rising tide lifts all boats. People who have and will come through Leadership Fauquier will have varying motivations and goals and ultimately they add to the community of strong leaders for the benefit of Fauquier County.”

Hanson comes from a family of writers and began a professional career as a writer in the early 2000s as a writer for The English Tea Blog and the author of The Tea Scoop. Tea fueled her journey through a degree in history and a master’s degree in Elementary Education. She has authored six children’s books and Ancient Eats, a cookbook based on historical recipes and food traditions from all around the world. Prior to joining History Unboxed, she worked as a classroom teacher from 2007-2014. Currently, she’s pursuing a master’s degree in business administration.

Leadership Fauquier is a community leadership program that provides its cohorts knowledge, skills and connections to grow personally and professionally as leaders within the Fauquier County community and beyond. Its mission is to develop informed and connected leaders. Leadership Fauquier is accepting applications through July 15 for its 2025-2026 signature 10-month leadership program. For more information and application materials, visit: leadershipfauquier.org.