OUR STORY

From her days as a resident assistant at Barnard College, Amanda Hofman learned that strong female friendships are the key to a fulfilling and exciting life. Making new friends in New York City can be tough, so Amanda set out to change that. With her own friends as inspiration, Amanda created Urban Girl Squad in 2008 as a social networking group in NYC for women in their 20s and 30s. What began as just one event each month has grown to several each week. Over ten thousand women have become Urban Girl Squad members, gaining special access to the city to meet store owners and designers, taste gourmet food and drinks, and receive personal attention (and score amazing gift bags!). The welcoming atmosphere makes it easy for members to attend events with friends, with colleagues, or on their own. Amanda was recently named one of YFS' top twenty young entrepreneurs of 2011.

OUR STAFF

Kiva Eisenstock,
Director of Operations

HOMETOWN: Los Angeles, California
WEIRDEST JOB: Working at Urban Girl Squad. I mean, how normal is it to find a 5'1" bouncer at a party?
FAVE UGS EVENT: The ones that get me out of my comfort zone. I tend to stick with the things I know, so it's nice to have a push to explore the city and try new things. I used to not even take the subway if I had to transfer, but Amanda has taught me the ways of the underground.
DREAM SUPERPOWER: To be invisible whenever I wanted. This way, I can avoid embarrassing or uncomfortable situations. And I'd be able to eavesdrop so easily!
FAVE COCKTAIL: I'm not a big drinker, but I like "girlie" drinks that are sweet and don't really taste like alcohol. I usually just go up to a bartender and say, "make me a girlie drink," and it's pretty good. I'm a lightweight -- one drink is good for me for the entire night.

Karen Seliger, Director of Strategy and Marketing

HOMETOWN: Canada, eh! La Belle Province. Montreal
FAVE UGS EVENT: Networking cocktail parties. I love the women I meet -- all fabulously fun, incredibly intelligent and just all-around fascinating.
JOB: Yelling at Amanda.
FAVE NYC SPOT: My new favorite spot is Riverside Park around 67th. The waterfront there is beautiful, with great picnic spots. Although La Esquina will always hold a special place in my heart; fish tacos and margaritas, anyone?
DREAM SUPERPOWER: Fly. At super speeds. I love to travel and sometimes I have really exotic food cravings, and this would make both easier. Also, it would bring me closer to my dream of being Mrs. Superman.

Lindsay Carson, Social Media Director

HOMETOWN: I grew up in Northern Virginia, just outside of D.C. You know, the kind of suburban hell where all the houses look the same and your 4,000-student high school's parking lot looks like a car show. Think "Desperate Housewives" meets "every CW show ever made."
FAVE UGS EVENT: By nature, I'm a sucker for anything outdoorsy, especially if it involves yoga. But if there is a bar, an excuse to throw on a pair of heels, and the potential for a spontaneous dance party, you can find me ordering the next round of shots.
FAVE NYC SPOT: Living in NYC means that I have my own sanctuary. No matter how absurd my schedule gets, I can retreat back to my little two-room studio, away from the sounds of the crazies on the street.
OFF HOURS: "Hi, my name is Lindsay, and I'm a yoga-holic."

EVENT LEADERS

Rachel Bressler, Event Leader

HOMETOWN: Philly -- Go Eagles!
FAVE UGS EVENT: Love the tasting and cooking events! It's fun to explore new tastes while mingling and getting to know other UGS members.
DREAM SUPERPOWER: I would have the ability to teleport myself anywhere in the world, past, present or future. A teleport machine would take all the hassle and stress out of traveling. No more airport security lines!
FAVE NYC SPOT: I love exploring Central Park with my dog. We discover new areas all the time. Until recently, I never even knew there was a fully wooded nature section with dirt paths, rocks and streams (called the Rambles).
FAVE COCKTAIL: Vodka, lime, cucumber and a dash of seltzer. Light and refreshing all year 'round.

Kathryn Cooper,
Event Leader

HOMETOWN: Sydney, Australia
FAVE UGS EVENT: Any event where I get to learn something new, and any event involving wine.
FAVE NYC SPOT: Anywhere on the street. That's where everything happens and the true vibrancy and uniqueness of this wonderful city is on display every day. There are some pretty interesting people living here and sharing the streets, so I'm never short on entertainment!
OFF HOURS: Catching up with friends, exploring the city, yoga, discovering new wine bars, stretching my brain at pub trivia.
DREAM SUPERPOWER: The ability to live without sleep. Those extra 8 hours per day could really come in handy.

Lauren Cooper, Event Leader

HOMETOWN: Maryland
FAVE UGS EVENT: Cooking classes and cocktail parties, because there's nothing better than cooking yummy treats, and mingling with great people!
FAVE NYC SPOT: Central Park and Bryant Park. Because in the middle of a concrete jungle there is GREEN. Both parks also hold really great memories, and I love picnics.
IN FIVE YEARS: Hopefully running my own business or working in an event planning firm.
DREAM SUPERPOWER: I'd fly. I always had dreams of flying when I was little and it'd be pretty cool to fly around with Superman.

Sarah Jessee, Event Leader

HOMETOWN: Midlothian, VA
FAVE UGS EVENT: Cocktail parties.They're a great way to meet lots of new people, check out NYC hot spots, and sample some of the best drinks in the city!
WEIRDEST JOB: I was a Mary Kay lady in college. Never got that pink Cadillac but it was a wild experience!
IN FIVE YEARS: Medical social work and private practice therapy work. I hope I can maintain an exciting social life and be close to family and friends at the same time.
FAVE NYC SPOT: I'm a huge fan of Hell's Kitchen -- so many great restaurants and dive bars -- particularly love Vintage martini bar.

Tamika Jones, Event Leader for Volunteer Events

HOMETOWN: Philly!!
FAVE UGS EVENT: Volunteer events! Specifically our Baby Buggy and God's Love We Deliver events. Great networking and giving back, all at the same time.
FAVE NYC SPOT: Rice 2 Riches in Soho! Ever had rice pudding before? Well, this place is so not like your grandmother's rice pudding.
WEIRDEST JOB: I worked at a container company doing market research on innovative containers for products like toothpaste and soup.
FAVE COCKTAIL: Malibu & Pineapple. Like an island in a glass ... and I visit that island pretty often.

Hillary Nammack,
Event Leader

HOMETOWN: New York, Baby!!!!
FAVE UGS EVENT: I have to choose? I guess if I absolutely HAD to choose, my favorite events are the style events.
WEIRDEST JOB: In high school, I interned for a fashion designer. My job: to zip the models into their dresses for the private showings and be in charge of the silicone "cutlets" for each model.
DREAM SUPERPOWER: I've never wanted to be a superhero, but I would LOVE to be a wizard at Hogwarts. Forgot your keys? Alohomora! And the door opens. Paper cut? Episkey! You are cured. WAY better than superpowers, right?
FAVE COCKTAIL: Bloody Mary. Because I can trick myself into thinking it's healthy.

Clare Ondrey
Event Leader

HOMETOWN: Chardon, Ohio
FAVE UGS EVENT: I like any event where I come out knowing more about something (business, clothes, make-up, beer, anything!) than when I went in.
IN FIVE YEARS: I'll be thirty, flirty and fabulous. Hopefully I'll also still be working on marketing campaigns, using new technologies, challenging assumptions and finding out more about how effective, strategic messaging works for small businesses.
DREAM SUPERPOWER: The power to never get sick. Did Superman ever get a sinus infection? I doubt it.
FAVE COCKTAIL: KettleOne and soda with a splash of cran and a twist of lemon. It's been perfected through years of sampling.

Mita Roy, Event Leader

HOMETOWN: New Orleans, Louisiana
FAVE UGS EVENT: Cocktail parties! I love getting dressed up, love socializing with the girls, and I love cocktails!
IN FIVE YEARS: Running a business ... hopefully my cooking class and dinner party for singles.
DREAM SUPERPOWER: To be able to read people's minds, because I like to know when I'm around someone who is speaking their mind.
FAVE COCKTAIL: Dirty Martini. I like the glass and the olives.

Lexi Weinberg, Event Leader

HOMETOWN: Lancaster County, PA (That's right, Amish Country, and no, I'm not Amish and never have been.)
FAVE UGS EVENT: Beauty events! Spa, hair, make-up, you name it. Spray tanning was particularly memorable. (I'm sure if you are looking at my picture you can see why!)
  WEIRDEST JOB: As a child, I decided to garden for a neighbor to earn money, and quickly learned I am allergic to just about everything in nature.
DREAM SUPERPOWER: Fly! I'd love to learn to fly ... a plane. that is. Then maybe move on to acquiring the superpower.
FAVE COCKTAIL: Anything pink

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