Deborah Stewart-Akles is also the founder and Director of The Visions Christian School of Etiquette and Dance (VCSED) located in Parkville, MD. Additionally, she is founder, owner, and operator of Lavin Designer Fashions and Cosmetics, (Lavin), a women's clothing boutique, also located in Parkville, MD. Deborah was born and raised in Baltimore, MD and educated in the Baltimore City Public School System. God began to prepare Deborah for ministry to youth, in the field of dance, at the ages of seven through sixteen at the Marie Ellen Watts School of Dance. As a teenager, Deborah worked for Baltimore City's Summer Works program where she met and continued her youth dance instruction under John (The KinderMan) Taylor. After graduating from Lake Clifton High School, Deborah earned an Associate's degree in merchandising at Brandywine College in Wilmington, Delaware, and a Bachelor's degree in Theology from Arlington Bible College; after which she was subsequently led to found VCSED and Lavin Cosmetics. Deborah initially founded Lavin Cosmetics in 1983, and later expanded to Lavin Designer Fashions and Cosmetics (Lavin) in 1989. Deborah has successfully and consistently managed and maintained the business operations of VCSED and Lavin for the last 34 years and counting.