North Stafford Rotary Member, Deborah Newman

Deborah holds a BA in the Study of the Americas from George Mason University, where she developed a passion for art, culture, and advocacy. She originally envisioned working in indigenous art communities, but life led her to co-found Maine Bytes, a computer repair and web design business she ran with her late husband in Maine. After his unexpected passing in 2012, Deborah relocated to Virginia in 2013 and launched Petite Taway Inc., named in honor of her mother and symbolic of her personal resilience and professional rebirth.

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In addition to her professional work, she is a dedicated community leader, Rotarian, and passionate connector. Deborah is a proud member of the North Stafford Rotary Club and the founder of three dynamic networking communities:

• Networking with Tisha and Deb

• The Northern Neck Networking Group

• The OC Network

 

She also serves in multiple civic and cultural leadership roles, including:

• Vice President of the Colonial Beach Historical Society and Museum

• Board Member of the Westmoreland County Museum & Library

• Board Member of JART Inc. (supporting performing arts in rural Virginia)

• Board Member of RappArts (Rappahannock Association for Arts and Community)

• Board Member of the Fred-Este Association (Fredericksburg–Estes, France sister city cultural group)

 

Deborah is also the Director of Community Engagement & Marketing for the nonprofit FailSafe-ERA, where she facilitates entrepreneurship and digital literacy training for women and returning citizens through the Failsafe Entrepreneur Bootcamp, in partnership with Germanna Community College.

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With over 15 years as a business owner and community advocate, Deborah is known for her passion, persistence, and people-first approach. Whether she’s mentoring a startup, designing a nonprofit’s website, or hosting a local networking event, she leads with heart, authenticity, and a commitment to making a meaningful difference.