[Person's Name] Victoria Baird
[Professional Job Title will be their Business Name] Baird Design Co.
Victoria Baird founded Baird Design Co. in 2024, fulfilling a lifelong passion for architecture. “It’s funny how long it took me to realize I wanted to be an architect. Looking back, it seems so obvious—I’ve always loved design. As a kid, I would tear pages out of magazines to redesign rooms in our house, sketch over floor plans, and whenever I was on a construction site, I remember being captivated by the excitement of it all,” she shares.
While studying art history in college, Baird deliberately avoided architecture courses, assuming they wouldn’t interest her. That all changed when she finally enrolled in American Architecture. “I was hooked,” Baird says with a smile.
Baird’s career has spanned a wide range of disciplines, including interior design, construction management, and both commercial and residential architecture. While she’s found joy in each area, Baird shares that her true passion lies in designing homes. “From the way they sit on a site and connect with nature to selecting the wallpaper and lighting inside, every detail is part of a larger puzzle to solve,” she explains.
Since moving to Ridgefield in 2020, Baird has become an active member of the Chamber of Commerce and the Ridgefield Business Management Council.
Baird gathers inspiration all over town, saying, “One thing I’m struck by almost daily is how beautiful our town is. I love Ridgefield’s focus on preserving nature and history. It’s a great example of how we can be a vibrant, modern community while still respecting the past and honoring the elements that have made our town special for so long.”
Baird brings her passion for design to every client’s home, creating spaces that feel effortless, comfortable, and deeply personal.
Learn more at bairddesign.co. and @baird.design.co.
[Person's Name] Dr. Brittny Howell
[Professional Job Title will be their Business Name] Morph Med Spa
Dr. Brittny Howell is a board-certified vascular surgeon and the visionary founder of Morph Med Spa, which opened in August 2021. Her transition from corporate medicine to entrepreneurship reflects her passion for patient-first care and her desire to create a more meaningful practice.
“It felt like I never had enough time with patients, enough time at home, or was productive enough for the practice,” Dr. Howell recalls. Frustrated by such constraints, she decided to build something different. “I wanted to create a place where I was excited to come every day—and where my patients and team members were too.”
Morph Med Spa began as a practice focused on varicose vein treatments. “Like I’ve metamorphosed in my adulthood, my practice has too,” Dr. Howell says. Today, at Morph Med Spa, Dr. Howell offers personalized medical programs, like hormone optimization, plus a suite of aesthetic and wellness services, including injectables and pelvic floor therapy.
“What I’ve learned is that my favorite part of doctoring is the patient-physician relationship,” Dr. Howell tells us. At Morph Med Spa, these relationships are central.
Dr. Howell, her husband, and their three children have called Ridgefield home for a decade. “I think Main Street is what most people think of when they think about Ridgefield. But what I most love is the true feeling of community,” she tells us.
Beyond running her business, Dr. Howell serves as a Commissioner on the Economic and Community Development Council and as a Board Member at Ann’s Place. This year, she’s helping organize Ann’s Place’s annual fashion show supporting cancer survivors. The event will be on April 30th at the Ridgefield Playhouse.
“Local businesses give Ridgefield its character. Supporting them—on Main Street and beyond—ensures our town continues to thrive,” Dr. Howell adds.
Learn more at morphmedspa.com and @morphmedspa.
[Person's Name] Ashley Hutchings
[Professional Job Title will be their Business Name] InTown Social
#SocialMedia, anyone?
Ashley Hutchings began her journey in Ridgefield before living in Litchfield County, London, and New York City. With a passion for creativity, she embraced her artistic side after becoming a mother, founding MomUptown.com and @mom_uptown on Instagram. After years of being asked for social media advice, she launched InTown Social in 2023, a boutique marketing consultancy specializing in helping small businesses stand out in the digital world.
Initially working with clients in NYC and Connecticut, Hutchings shifted her focus closer to home. “I’ve concentrated on partnering with nearby restaurants, schools, realtors, event companies, and more,” she says. “My passion lies in uplifting local businesses.”
InTown Social creates stunning, engaging content while fostering connections within the community. “In a small town like Ridgefield, our paths cross in so many ways. I love finding opportunities to support one another,” she explains.
Hutchings also extends this community-first ethos into her personal life, volunteering for two school boards, SCOR, the Ridgefield Democratic Town Committee, and her daughter’s Girl Scout troop.
Recently awarded the contract for the Ridgefield Commemorates America at 250 Committee, she’s excited to highlight upcoming events celebrating this historic milestone.
“It’s so special to raise my three children here,” Hutchings shares. “I love how passionate people are about preserving Ridgefield’s charm and supporting local businesses. I’m excited to see what pops up on Main Street next!”
Follow along @InTownSocial and @Mom_Uptown.
[Person's Name] Jenifer Johnson
[Professional Job Title will be their Business Name] Sweet Bean Events
From an early age, Jennifer Johnson was captivated by the magic of “putting on a show”—how every element comes together to create an unforgettable experience. “That feeling of bringing something to life… that is what ignited my love for event production,” Johnson recalls.
In 2017, Johnson and her husband discovered Ridgefield while house hunting. “It was love at first sight. We came for the house, but stayed for the magic,” she says. “Ridgefield feels like an artsy dreamland.”
After becoming a mother, Johnson found various ways to stay connected to event planning. “I wasn’t just a mom—I was a party-planning machine, determined to keep my imagination alive. Who knew balloon arches were so tricky?” she says with a laugh.
Then, in 2018, she founded the Ridgefield, CT Playdate Meetup Group, which became her creative playground and the launchpad for one of Ridgefield’s most beloved events—Princesses in the Park.
Johnson tells us that planning events feels like directing a live performance, where guests become part of the story. This passion inspired her to launch Sweet Bean Events in 2021. A full service event-planning agency, they specialize in weddings, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, corporate events, and milestone celebrations.
Beyond her professional commitments, Johnson volunteers at Farmingville Elementary and ERMS, where she serves as Vice President of Student Activities.
But the event closest to her heart? Princesses in the Park. “Since 2022, I’ve had the joy of producing this free, magical festival every spring at Ballard Park,” she shares. “Families meet their favorite royalty, sing along to live performances, and enjoy royal-themed activities created by local businesses and nonprofits.”
Months of planning and heart go into this project. “Ridgefield, you’ve captured my heart, and I’m so grateful to be part of the magic you create every day.”
Learn more at sweetbeanevents.com and @sweetbeanevents.
[Person's Name] Denise Santangelo
[Professional Job Title will be their Business Name] SpireTHERAPY
Before becoming a therapist, Denise Santangelo practiced law as a litigator in New York. Despite her success, she felt unfulfilled. With her husband’s support, Santangelo returned to school while working full-time and raising two young children.
Now a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Connecticut and a PhD candidate in Psychology, Santangelo recalls falling in love with Ridgefield’s Main Street during her first visit in 2015. “The moment I saw it, I knew I had to live and work here,” she says.
In 2020, she realized that dream by opening SpireTHERAPY on Main Street. “During lockdowns, I provided essential mental health support as one of the only in-person therapists in the area,” she shares. She has since expanded SpireTHERAPY to a team of seven therapists.
Today, SpireTHERAPY offers therapy, groups, workshops for all ages, and dynamic neurofeedback. Its trademark-pending SpireMETHOD integrates individual, parent, and family therapy with a curriculum combining Cognitive and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness, and more.
“While Ridgefield does so much for younger children, I see opportunities to engage older adolescents and teens with initiatives fostering community involvement,” Santangelo says. “I hope to explore these ideas while building on SpireTHERAPY’s mission to support families navigating mental health challenges, including ADHD, anxiety, OCD, and depression.”
Santangelo also serves as Chair of the CT Counseling Association’s Western Chapter and works with the Ridgefield Prevention Council. “Through these local committees, I hope to create impactful opportunities for adolescents and families, fostering greater mental health support across Ridgefield and the surrounding community,” she says.
Looking ahead, SpireTHERAPY plans to open a second location this year and launch both a podcast and a YouTube channel. “We’re here to uplift children, parents, and entire families through tailored programs, workshops, and therapy rooted in understanding and compassion,” Santangelo shares with a smile.
Learn more at spiretherapy.com and @spireTHERAPYct