15 Things You Need to Know This Morning

What You Don't Know About Leona Agouridis

Title: Executive director, Golden Triangle Business Improvement District.
Photo: Pilates in Farragut Square – bottom left wearing black shorts and pink top.
Job: Create business environment in Golden Triangle (from White House to Dupont Circle) for 85,000 workers, residents, and tourists, through streetscape improvements, homeless outreach, social events, and other programs. 
Organization: Created in 1998 and supported by property owners and tenants. BID covers 32M SF of office space in 249 buildings and 43 square blocks. 
On the job: Since June 2006.
Memorable project: Connecticut Avenue streetscape that DDOT is soon completing. BID designed landscaping for median strip, and changes it seasonally. 
Current project: Picnic in the Park at Farragut Square. Every Friday at lunch, BID puts out 140 chairs, 40 tables, and lawn games, and sets up pop-up events like live music and puppy adoptions. This summer, event will extend to entire day, creating an outdoor co-working space.
Grew up: Lancaster, Penn. 
Current home: Bethesda.
Schools: Lehigh and UVA.
First job: Worked in father’s fast food restaurant in high school.
Job in another life: CNN anchor. 
Daily habit: Teach group exercise – has taught everything (except yoga) since 1986. 
Favorite app: Metro – train and bus arrivals.
Favorite movie: My Big Fat Greek Wedding.
Favorite music: Pitbull – second dream job would be to sing with him. 
Favorite vacation spot: Bethesda stay-cation.  
Guilty pleasure: Breyer’s Vanilla Bean ice cream.
Bucket list: To sing with Pitbull. 
Family: Married since 1986; son (20) daughter (17); and three cats.
Hobbies: Teaching exercise and fitness – the more packed the room, the better.
Startling fact: Worked in a factory in grad school building electrical connectors. Quota was 72 a day.