Magic Monday Alumnae Spotlight

It’s Magic Monday: September 6, 2021!

This month we honor a Woman of Mercy who is proud of herself, proud of her friends, and proud of her school. Meet Gabby Forte ’07, owner of Dailey Forte Designs, who says, “I am very proud that I am a Mercy Girl. I am always eager to meet another alumna and discuss all our wonderful memories. Mercy is a special place, of which I am eternally grateful to be an alumna.”

Name: Gabby Forte ’07

Post Mercy Education:

B.S., Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Management major, Business Management minor, University of Delaware, 2011

Personal and Professional Achievements:

As the owner of Dailey Forte Designs, a boutique event planning and design company, my business partner and I help to plan, design, and execute celebrations of our clients’ most important days including weddings, birthdays, corporate events, etc. I live in Baltimore’s Hampden neighborhood with my “COVID” kitten, Leon.

Were there any Mercy faculty members who especially impacted your life? Why?

Ms. Kristy Cummings P’16, ’23, my adviser, was always there as a shoulder to lean on when I was having a difficult time. I love seeing her when I visit campus for various events; she is always so welcoming and eager to catch up on my life. I also made a close connection with Ms. Kitty Yanson ’66 who helped me to learn that I could love to read. She challenged us to read and discuss books that were outside of our comfort zone in the most fun, unique way. I can’t forget to mention Ms. Lynne Bowman—she was not only an inspiring history teacher, but really taught us how to be strong, intelligent women moving forward into adulthood.

Were there any classes you took at Mercy that stand-out to you? Why?

I vividly remember taking Future Studies with Mr. Ray Stoddard (RIP), where we read some of the most thought-provoking books and had very real discussions about the state of the world and how we can impact its future in a positive, meaningful way.

What is your favorite Mercy memory?

I have two favorite Mercy memories. The first was during my time running cross country with a few of my friends whom I am still close with to this day. We won the Championship meet, beating Maryvale by one point (or at least that is how my memory serves me!). It was an exhilarating feeling. I also remember the thrill of Field Day as Sophomores—we were the underdogs, as we hadn’t performed well as Freshmen. However, our class really came together with the theme Viva Soph Vegas, and we ended up causing quite the upset. We didn’t win overall but gave the Juniors & Seniors a run for their money!