MAUST, Ann Parker, left this worldly existence in the presence of friends and family on February 19, 2015, her 43rd wedding anniversary. She had battled cancer for more than a year, but did not suffer the pain or most other consequences of the disease. Throughout her battle she exhibited the strength and grace that were the hallmarks of her life. Ann was born in Arcadia, Fla., where she lived in an orange grove owned by her parents who also ran a general store and a dress shop. She treasured her childhood with the family values, work ethic and diversity that it provided. Ann was graduated with a B.A. in economics from UNC in Chapel Hill, followed by two UNC master's degrees. She then relocated to Washington, D.C. to work for the Library of Congress, AARP and several private research organizations. Ann later earned a Ph.D. in research methods from Virginia Tech, which led to starting her own firm, Research Dimensions, Inc. [RDI], to provide research for federal and state government agencies, as well as private clients such as the College Board, the Ford Foundation, and many smaller groups. She and her husband, Bob Maust, relocated to Richmond in 1992, where she re-established RDI, became the President of the National Association of Women Business Owners, was elected to Chair the Virginia Delegation to the President's White House Conference on Small Business, served on several Governor initiated business initiatives, was the recipient of the 1998 Richmond YWCA Outstanding Woman Award for Business, was a member of both the Virginia State Chamber of Commerce Small Business Committee and the NFIB Virginia Leadership Council. Ann may have been most proud of being a member of the VCU Virginia Treatment Center for Children Advisory Board. In 1998, Ann began efforts to create a nonprofit organization, New Visions, New Ventures [NVNV], dedicated to developing entrepreneurial opportunities for disadvantaged individuals, particularly women. Over 15 years, NVNV raised millions of dollars of federal, state, local and private financial support that was applied to serving thousands of individuals. Ann loved trying to make a positive difference in peoples' lives. She loved her very strong family, the Richmond area, the diversity of her Monument Avenue neighborhood, and the extremely rich and interesting group of friends that her combination of business, community service and social activities afforded.