Catheryn Orihuela moved to Birmingham in 2015 with her husband and they both work as researchers at UAB. She has two children, ages 22 and 26, who both graduated from Auburn and who still manage to keep her very busy! Catheryn enjoy spending time with her fur babies and has a dog, three cats, a horse and a bunch of fish! She enjoys traveling with my husband but especially loves working and interacting with her Forge family, who were invaluable in supporting her during her cancer journey. "I became involved with Forge
when I was diagnosed with ER+/PR+ Stage 1 breast cancer in January 2022 after a routine mammogram (no family history)," said Catheryn. "I had a double mastectomy soon after but due to the early-stage status of my tumor, I was fortunate to not need chemotherapy." Despite some complications after her mastectomy, Catheryn's reconstruction was complete in August 2022. "It is because of the tremendous support provided by Forge that has made me resilient enough to now help and support other women who are battling breast cancer," said Catheryn.

James O. White is the founder, CEO and artistic director of the House of JOW, a couture, luxury brand in his namesake. James aims to deliver garments and lifestyle items that tell his cultural story and life journey. He specializes in creating clothing, shoes, handbags and accessories. Drawing inspiration from Christian Kerby Jean-Raymond, Virgil Abloh, Christian Dior and childhood influences such as his mother and grandmother, their embodiment of energy and strong presence can be seen throughout The House of JOW designs. James White/House of JOW has showcased in Magic City Fashion Week, Rise New York Fashion Week, Columbus Fashion Weekend, an upcoming Time Magazine Fashion documentary, and a showcasing in African Fashion Week in Toronto, Canada.