Faces of Loudoun: Ioanna Gisone and Anastasia Vlassopoulos

New Business Brings Accessible CPR/AED/First Aid Training to Loudoun County

CPR Lifeline Academy exemplifies how the supportive ecosystem of Loudoun County makes going from the ideation to the execution of a business plan simple. Owners, Ioanna Gisone, Ph.D. and Anastasia Vlassopoulos, explained how networking opportunities, new business resources and being met with respect and encouragement from other local businesses has spurred the company’s success.

CPR Lifeline Academy, a Licensed Training Provider for the American Red Cross, started operations in 2024 after Dr. Gisone and Ms. Vlassopoulos discovered a mutual desire to fill the need for accessible CPR, first aid and AED training in the community.

“We identified a significant gap in training opportunities across various sectors for CPR, AED and first aid certification within Loudoun County. We aim to reach individuals and professionals within the Loudoun County Public School system, local businesses, early childhood programs and youth organizations (including Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts), to name a few,” said Dr. Gisone. Vlassopoulos added, “We also recently obtained our SAM certification authorizing us to certify employees within all departments of the U.S. government. Our class certifications are OSHA compliant and often meet other workplace and regulatory requirements.”

CPR Lifeline Academy started their business journey with a bootcamp from the Small Business Development Center in Loudoun. From there, they discovered the Launch Loudoun program and have been ecstatic about their experience there. Dr. Gisone added that Launch Loudoun has connected CPR Lifeline Academy to many different individuals and businesses within the program that have helped them plan ahead and consider the scale of their business over time.

Launch Loudoun is a small business program offered by Loudoun Economic Development. The program provides resources, services, and events for Loudoun entrepreneurs through the entire lifecycle of their business. The informative events, targeted programs, partner counseling and personalized 1-on-1 services with industry specialists make finding success as an entrepreneur in Loudoun County possible. The program covers all topics in the business spectrum including finance, legal, human resources/workforce, sales/marketing and ownership/leadership.

Dr. Gisone and Ms. Vlassopoulos knew training needed to be more accessible, and the community needed more awareness with regard to CPR and first aid. They noted many in-person classes required lengthy commutes out of the county. Opening a location in Loudoun County just made sense.

“We were fortunate to find a central location at AWL Creative in Leesburg. Their location helps us provide training sessions to many people within different parts of Loudoun County as well as those traveling from neighboring states,” said Ms. Vlassopoulos. “We value and appreciate their ongoing support and collaboration, including their efforts to promote our classes through their professional network.” AWL Creative is a women-centered, small business incubator offering coworking space, creative studios, business education and professional resources. The space was created specifically for female entrepreneurs and women in business.

In addition to support received from AWL Creative, Dr. Gisone and Ms. Vlassopoulos expressed gratitude to Loudoun Economic Development. CPR Lifeline Academy connected with its first client, another emerging business in the area, at a Loudoun Economic Development event. CPR Lifeline Academy has also received mentorship from Alberto Fernandez, Business Development Manager– Minority Owned Businesses at Loudoun Economic Development.

“Alberto’s guidance and support has been very helpful from the start. He has connected us to valuable training available through Launch Loudoun. He encouraged us to go to 1 Million Cups, a Launch Loudoun event, where we met the owners of HOTWORX, Helena and Lance Welch,” said Ms. Vlassopoulos. “They’re another new business to the area, and we immediately connected with them and created a solid partnership.” Helena subsequently earned her certification through one of CPR Lifeline Academy’s blended courses to prepare her for the possibility of needing to administer life-saving skills. The team will also work with Ms. Welch to bring training classes to her Girl Scout Troop.

Dr. Gisone and Ms. Vlassopoulos draw on decades of experience in mental health and education to connect with and teach others effectively. The team has taken advantage of Launch Loudoun’s educational resources to learn more about running a successful business and they are looking forward to further expanding the accessibility of their programs to include fluent speakers of Spanish, Greek and French.

CPR Lifeline Academy plans to use this momentum to grow and expand even further. Dr. Gisone and Ms. Vlassopoulos will soon offer classes in Anaphylaxis and Epinephrine Auto-Injector Administration, Asthma and Quick-Relief Medication Administration, Life-Threatening Bleeding and Tourniquet Application, Wilderness and Remote First Aid, Basic Life Support and Advanced Life Support training.

Another critical issue CPR Lifeline Academy will address is the rising threat of fentanyl overdoses in our schools. They will provide both training materials and hands-on instruction through their Opioid Overdose and Naloxone Administration class.

From idea to execution, CPR Lifeline Academy has researched, networked and succeeded in the development of their company.  A willingness to provide a needed service to the community pushed Dr. Gisone and Ms. Vlassopoulos to success. As proud residents of Loudoun County, the team appreciates how growth is #LoudounPossible within this supportive community.