Each year, VIP Alexandria Magazine accepts nominations and selects the newest class of Most Interesting Men. This year, VIP partnered with The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. Each "gentleman" was photographed with an adoptable dog seeking its forever home. We are proud to announce that all dogs featured in VIP have been adopted. Special thank you to our 2023 class of Most Interesting Men for helping us support this amazing charity!
Story by Liesel Schmidt | Photography by JONATHAN THORPE | Benefitting the ANIMAL WELFARE LEAUGE OF ALEXANDRIA | Sponsored by TING
By day, David President works as the regional director of sales and marketing for Remington Hospitality, which means he spends his time overseeing all things sales and marketing for the Hilton Alexandria and several other hotels in the DMV area. While the position has its creative aspects, President’s real creativity comes out after hours.
Spoiler alert: he’s an incredibly talented designer. “I’m known as the Traveling Tailor,” he says. “For the past 13 years, I’ve created and designed full collections and showcased them at fashion shows across the East Coast. In 2016, I won the Orlando International Emerging Designer competition. I’m passionate about fashion and I believe that every man should own a tailored suit or garment.”
Like his designs, there’s more to President than meets the eye. His outgoing personality gives him an ease in connecting with people from different backgrounds and walks of life and he prides himself on helping those in need. The next generation of young men are a particular focus for President, who mentors juniors and seniors in college through a program called “Call Me Mister,” which educates young men on life skills, etiquette and financial literacy. Each mentee is even provided with a custom-tailored suit.
The Charleston native is also a published author, having written The Power of a Suit in 2020. “It’s a short, but powerful read, designed to motivate, encourage and enhance the reader’s personal brand,” says President, who moved to the DMV seven years ago with his wife.
Not surprisingly, if he were to change careers, President would focus fully on fashion. “I would operate my clothing business full-time,” he says. “I would love to open a flagship store where customers could come and experience my services in a luxury setting."
TREND HE HOPES RETURNS...
"For the next generation’s sake, I hope that playing outside with friends makes a return. The new generation is so consumed with technology that they are missing out on basic social skills. Everyone is communicating behind a screen, and it’s consuming their lives. I remember, as a child, no one had to force us to go outside. We couldn’t wait to see our friends and have fun." - David