Celebrating Extraordinary Women in 2026
hhmcpas.com to start.
The Women Behind the Title
“Living in the moment is a gift. That’s why they call it the present.” — Ted Lasso, Apple TV+
While working on this Women’s Issue, I felt deeply grateful to be fully present, sitting across from each of these women and truly listening. In that space, something meaningful revealed itself. These women run businesses, lead organizations, and making decisions that impact teams, families, and communities. Beneath those roles is where the real story lives. Each of them has walked through something: the loss of a parent, the loss of a sibling, illness within their families, moments of betrayal, and seasons that required them to start over without a clear path forward.
May 2026
PUBLISHER
Suzanne Pope | Suzanne.Pope@CityLifestyle.com
PUBLICATION DIRECTOR
Will Estell | Will.Estell@CityLifestyle.com
PUBLICATION MANAGER
Sydney Steffen | Sydney.Steffen@CityLifestyle.com
SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR
Katie Harris | Katie.Harris@CityLifestyle.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Suzanne Pope, Will Estell, Amy Tinnin, Kali Kasorzyk
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Addie J Photography, Amy Tinnin
None of them chose to live as victims. Not because life was easy or those moments did not shape them, but because of how they chose to respond. They did not stay stuck in the pain or allow it to define their identity. They kept showing up, kept building, and kept leading.
That is the golden thread.
Not perfection. Not ease. But resilience in motion, a strength that shows up in real time while businesses are being built, teams are being led, and families are being cared for. They lead without judgment, not as something they say, but as something they live, grounded in kindness, compassion, and integrity that is consistent.
These are deeply passionate women who fully love their partners, families, children, friendships, and community. That love fuels what they build.
They have been through difficult seasons, and what sets them apart is not just that they rose, but how they chose to live after. They learned to find balance, to hold what matters close, and to move with a clear understanding that tomorrow is never promised.
Arriving alongside Mother’s Day, this issue reflects the spirit of the women who lead, build, nurture, and carry more than most people will ever see.
You are seen.
And after sitting with each of these women, one truth became clear: they did not wait for life to get easier; they met it where it was and built something anyway.
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SUZANNE POPE, PUBLISHER @PENSACOLACITYLIFESTYLE
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inside the issue
ESCAPE THE ORDINARY AND REDEFINE YOUR EXPECTATIONS ABOARD OUR
P R E M I E R L U X U R Y S P O R T YA C H T
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS | BLUE ANGEL AIR SHOWS | BACHELOR/BACHELORETTE PARTIES | WEDDING PROPOSALS | TEAM BUILDING/BUSINESS EVENTS | SANDBAR HOPPING | SUNSET CRUISES
CONCIERGE SERVICES PROVIDED
Photos: Melissa Wilson Photography
BERRY BRUSCHETTA
A RECIPE FROM A CUP FULL OF SASS
ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMY TINNIN
This Berry Bruschetta is a delightful twist on the classic bruschetta that we all love. This version uses fruit, bringing a sweet element to the traditionally savory dish. With the use of fresh berries, cream cheese, delicious fruit spread, crumbled cheese, and fresh rosemary, it is the perfect addition to your next spring event. This simple, yet beautiful appetizer could be enjoyed at your next brunch, shower or Mother’s Day celebration. But let’s be honest—you don’t need an excuse to enjoy this delectable dish!
INGREDIENTS:
• 12 baguette slices
• Extra virgin olive oil (for brushing)
• 4 oz cream cheese
• 1/4 cup Fruit and Honey Triple Berry Spread (or any fruit spread of your choice)
• 1/3 cup fresh strawberries, sliced
• 1/3 cup fresh blueberries
• 2 oz fruit cheese (such as Wensleydale with Autumn Fruit), crumbled
• Fresh rosemary for garnish
DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Lightly brush the front and back of the baguette slices with Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
3. Toast baguette slices in the oven for 3-5 minutes or until lightly toasted.
4. Once the baguette slices are cool, spread a generous layer of cream cheese over each slice.
5. Add the fruit spread on top of the cream cheese.
6. Add sliced strawberries and a few blueberries, allowing the vibrant colors to pop. (A great place to find fresh fruit is our local staple, Crystal & Rich’s Produce.)
7. Crumble the fruit cheese over the top for an added layer of richness and depth.
8. Garnish with fresh Rosemary if desired.
9. Serve and enjoy!
At Connell & Company Realty, we believe great agents don’t need noise; they need support that actually moves the needle.
Our culture is grounded in what happens behind the scenes: problem-solving, strategic thinking, and a shared commitment to doing business the right way. This is a brokerage where questions are welcomes, challenges are worked through together, and no one is left navigating complex transactions alone.
Here’s what that looks like in practice:
Real Collaboration: Not just a buzzword. Agents here actively help each other refine pricing strategies, strengthen offers, and troubleshoot contracts.
Broker Accessibility: When something comes up, you have direct access to experienced leadership, not layers of red tape.
Strong Operational Backbone: Clear processes, updated forms, and compliancefirst systems that protect you and your clients.
Agent Development at Every Level: Whether you’re new or seasoned, we help you sharpen your approach, mot change who you are.
A Culture of Respect – Not Competition: We don’t operate in silos. We operate as a team that understands shared success strengthen the entire brokerage.
If you ’ re looking for a brokerage that prioritizes production over people, we ’ re probably not the right fit. If you ’ re looking for a place where your business is supported, your reputation is protected, and your growth is intentional – we should talk.
Celebrating Pensacola’s Extraordinary Women in 2026
ARTICLE BY SUZANNE POPE & WILL ESTELL PHOTOGRAPHY BY ADDIE J PHOTOGRAPHY
Women have long been the quiet force, and often the unmistakable driving force, behind meaningful progress in philanthropy, business, innovation, and community engagement. Sometimes they lead from center stage, and just as often they shape needed and lasting change behind the scenes: bringing vision, strength, and purpose to the people and causes around them.
Our team at Pensacola City Lifestyle knows that these traits and truths resonate deeply across Northwest Florida. That is why we are dedicating our May issue to honoring a remarkable group of women whose influence is felt across our region every day. Each makes their own dedicated and determined effort to create change and betterment – not only for the people and communities they individually serve, but for all of us.
From advocacy and entrepreneurship to health, leadership, and communications, these fourteen women are doing far more than excelling in their respective fields. They are inspiring progress, strengthening the fabric of our community, and fostering a spirit of resilience, compassion, and forward momentum in all they do.
In the following pages, we are proud to celebrate women whose work, character, and commitment continue to leave a meaningful mark on Pensacola and beyond.
PAULA MASHBURN
BUILDING STRONG TEAMS AND HAPPY
CLIENTS ONE CONNECTION AT A TIME
For Paula Mashburn, leadership isn’t about titles or hierarchy. As the lead of one of Pensacola’s most respected accounting firms, Henderson, Hutcherson & McCullough (HHM), Mashburn brings decades of in-depth and vital experience as a business strategist, mentor, and team builder. While she specializes in the automotive industry, she’s quick to point out that her true passion lies in people.
“Wherever I’ve been, it’s been about building teams,” Mashburn tells me. “When you take talented people and create synergy, that’s when you get tremendous results. I am in the people business as much as I am in the accounting business.”
That philosophy has defined her career. After more than 20 years in the automotive dealership world -serving as controller and later general manager- Mashburn transitioned into public accounting, bringing with her a rare combination of industry insight and leadership experience.
Today, she serves as a bridge between two complex worlds: automobile dealerships around the country, and accounting. “I can speak the automotive language and the CPA language,” she explains. “A lot of times, I’m the interpreter.”
That ability has proven invaluable for HHM, a firm with a strong niche serving thousands of clients nationwide. But for Mashburn success isn’t measured in numbers alone. It’s also about culture. “Our culture is something we protect fiercely,” Mashburn says. “Integrity matters. Taking care of clients matters.”
Equally important, she told me, is creating space for those who may not naturally seek the spotlight. “In any organization, the loudest voices tend to rise first. Yet some of the smartest, most talented people aren’t self-promoting. I want to make sure they’re seen and valued.”
Mashburn’s is a leadership style rooted in observation, inclusivity, and a deep appreciation for diverse perspectives. Outside the office life is just as full, as she is a mother of seven and grandmother to many. When she tells me this part, I can just see in her smile that she understands her family to be her greatest team achievement.
“If I can leave any legacy,” she says, “it’s building a place where people can thrive and leaving things better than I found them.”
Written by: Will Estell
CONTINUED >
RACHEL SMITH
DOING THE WORK THAT BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER
Rachael Smith doesn’t just give back to her community; she was raised inside it. Born and raised in Pensacola, her earliest memories are rooted in service. Her mother, who worked at Sacred Heart Hospital, regularly brought Rachael and her sister along to volunteer packing Easter baskets, supporting families, and quietly showing them what it meant to care for others. It wasn’t something that was taught in words. It was lived. “Giving back just became part of who I am,” she says.
That understanding would take on new meaning years later. At 24, Rachael lost her mother unexpectedly, a moment that would shift everything. She stepped in to help hold her family together, but in doing so, lost connection with herself. “I realized I wasn’t fulfilled,” she says. “I wasn’t doing anything that felt meaningful.”
So she built something that was. What started as a simple idea, bringing people together over brunch, became Brunch League, a monthly gathering that connected local businesses, friendships, and nonprofit impact. Each event spotlighted a different organization, creating a space where connection led to giving.
That path led her to Gulf Coast Kids House. What began as volunteering grew into purpose. Today, she serves in a leadership role in fundraising and community engagement, helping ensure children who have experienced abuse receive the protection, advocacy, and care they need. “If the funds don’t come in, we don’t exist,” she says. “The events may look fun, but the mission is serious.”
Behind every event is something far greater than a gathering: access to services, healing, and hope. Her journey has not been without challenges. Living with arthritis forced her to step away from a physically demanding career and redefine how she worked. At the same time, her connection to the mission she serves requires emotional balance, caring deeply, without carrying it all. Through it all, she has remained grounded in one belief. “I just want to leave the world better than I found it,” she says. “Even if it’s just a ripple.” And for countless children and families, it already is.
Written by: Suzanne Pope
ALICIA TAPPAN
EMPOWERING TRAFFICKING SURVIVORS ACROSS NORTHWEST FLORIDA AND BEYOND
Alicia Tappan isn’t just advocating for survivors of human trafficking; she is quite literally redefining what life as a survivor can be. As the founder of Survivor Led Solutions, Tappan focuses on a critical gap often overlooked in recovery: what happens after the immediate crisis has passed.
When I sat down with Tappan, I asked what she believes is missing in the path to a more normalized future for survivors. She told me, “We do crisis intervention well…we do short-term programs well. But there’s the rest of their life.”
Her organization is built on a two-part approach: supporting individuals still in crisis while equipping survivors with professional and leadership skills to rebuild their lives. From understanding contracts and marketing to launching businesses and speaking publicly, Tappan provides tools clients need.
“Without those skills, survivors can be re-victimized,” she explains.
Tappan’s mission is deeply personal. Her own experiences revealed how easily survivors can be taken advantage of, long after leaving harmful situations. Since 2014 she has worked across Florida and around the country, helping build support organizations, leading awareness initiatives, and training law enforcement and community leaders.
Today, Tappan continues that work while pursuing her PhD, focusing on how human trafficking is understood within law enforcement.
“Most people can’t even define it,” she says. “So how would they recognize it?”
Her answer is simple: human trafficking is “the exploitation of vulnerabilities.” That clarity, she believes, helps better identify and prevent it. She also says that in Northwest Florida - where worldwide tourism, military presence, and seasonal influxes combine - awareness is crucial.
“To say it doesn’t happen here is ignorance,” she says. “But to learn how to recognize it, that’s how we create safer communities.”
In 2025, Tappan expanded her reach with Brave Girl Diaries, a three-part book series now used as a curriculum in jails, shelters, and recovery programs nationwide. Still, her work is about more than systems. It is about people. As a mother of three, she balances advocacy with family life.
“I’ve committed my life to changing the system of care,” she says. “I can’t not do this work.”
Learn more at SurvivorLedSolutions.org.
Written by: Will Estell
ALICIA WATERS
THE POWER OF BEING A LIFTER
Alicia Waters carries something you feel before she ever says a word: a grounded strength, a clarity of purpose, and what she calls a light she prays daily is evident. That light was shaped early in Pensacola, in a childhood defined by both love and loss. When Alicia was nine, her father died suddenly of a heart attack, leaving her mother to navigate grief while raising her children alone. But what Alicia remembers most is not just the loss, it’s what she witnessed next.
She watched her mother rise, continuing her work at Sacred Heart in pediatric care, where she became what Alicia calls a “queen lifter.” In exam rooms and intake spaces, her mother poured into single mothers, sick children, and overwhelmed families, offering not just care but encouragement that stayed with them for years. Even long after her retirement and passing, strangers still stop Alicia to share how her mother’s words changed their lives. That legacy became Alicia’s blueprint.
Years later, during a difficult pregnancy with her daughter, Alicia experienced a shift she couldn’t ignore, a sense that she was
being called to something more. After her daughter was born, she began to write, using her voice and vulnerability to uplift others. What started in 2001 has grown into a life’s mission.
Today, she serves as Director of Business Operations at the Watson Firm while also leading Waters Worth, where she creates spaces centered on encouragement, growth, and soul care. In both roles, her purpose remains the same: to lift people.
Her journey has not been without struggle. Alicia openly speaks about seasons of self-doubt and a diagnosis of depression during her mother’s battle with dementia, but she chose not to stay there. She believes deeply in moving forward, you can feel what you feel, but you cannot remain there.
As a mother of two, she sees her greatest impact reflected in her children’s lives. Anchored in faith and identity, Alicia lives with intention, refusing to dim her light. She hopes to be remembered as someone who made people feel seen, valued, and lifted just like her mother did.
Written by: Suzanne Pope
LUBA LAZI
A LIFE SHAPED BY STRENGTH, JOY, AND MEANINGFUL IMPACT
Luba Lazi’s story begins a world away from where she stands today. Born in Almaty, Kazakhstan, when it was still part of the Soviet Union, her childhood was shaped by uncertainty, resilience, and constant change. At 16, her family moved to the United States, settling in New Orleans before eventually making their way to Pensacola. She arrived shy, barely speaking English, navigating a completely unfamiliar world. “You figure it out,” she says. That became her foundation: adaptability, determination, and the belief that there is always a way forward.
She learned English by watching television, immersed herself in school, and quietly began building a new life. After graduating from Pine Forest High School, she went on to Florida State University to study fashion merchandising, earning an internship at Bergdorf Goodman in New York City. It was there, far from home, that her life shifted again. She met her husband, George, and together they built a life in New York for ten years.
Over time, circumstances began to pull them back to Pensacola. After losing her brother to cancer and soon after learning her mother had also been diagnosed, Luba and her husband made the decision to leave their careers behind and return to be closer to family. It was not a business decision; it was a family one.
What followed was the beginning of a new chapter. Together, Luba and George built a restaurant business from the ground up, creating beloved local destinations including George Bistro + Bar and Pearl & Horn. Their work reflects not only a commitment to quality and experience, but a shared vision rooted in hospitality and connection. While the work is demanding, her perspective remains grounded in what matters most: family, resilience, and purpose.
Luba’s journey has taught her that success is not just about growth, but about showing up, adapting, and continuing forward no matter the circumstances. She believes deeply in hard work, integrity, and making the most of each day.
At her core, she hopes to be known as someone who found joy in the journey, who stayed strong through change, and who made a meaningful difference in the lives of the people around her.
Written by: Suzanne Pope
STEPHANIE HARRINGTON-JOHNSON
FROM FARM LIFE TO MAKING COASTAL DREAMS COME TRUE
From a 7,000-acre family farm in tiny Unionville, Iowa, to the beautiful emerald shores of Pensacola Beach, Stephanie Harrington-Johnson has built a life shaped by discipline, determination, resilience, and intention. Today, she is the Licensed Partner and Managing Broker of Engel & Völkers Pensacola, where she leads a luxury real estate brokerage, alongside her husband.
Her story didn’t begin in real estate, though. HarringtonJohnson’s career first took shape in the corporate world before evolving through entrepreneurship, the log home industry, and eventually into real estate, during the mortgage crisis. That season proved pivotal. “I wasn’t just helping people buy or build homes,” she tells me. “I was guiding them through some of the most important financial and personal decisions of their lives.”
Raised by a teacher and coach on a working farm, she learned early that life required responsibility, accountability, and hard work. Athletics reinforced those lessons. A standout in track, basketball, softball, and cross country, she carried that competitive discipline into every chapter that followed. Looking back, she
says her upbringing taught her “how to set a standard” for herself and keep rising to meet it.
That mindset sustained her through uncertain seasons, both personal and professional. Rebuilding her life more than once taught her perseverance, clarity, and self-trust. “Confidence isn’t something you’re given,” she says. “It’s something you build through experience, discipline, and the willingness to keep going when things feel unclear.”
Today, family, faith, and service anchor both her leadership and her life. She speaks with gratitude about her husband, four sons, and seven grandchildren, and about the values that shape how she leads at home and at work. For Harrington-Johnson, luxury is not simply a price point. “Luxury is not a price point it’s a level of service.”
Through her work, she hopes to elevate the standard of real estate across Northwest Florida while reflecting what is possible through resilience and purpose. Her message is as strong as the life she has built: “Don’t be afraid to start over. Don’t be afraid to choose differently. And above all, never give up on yourself.”
Written by: Will Estell
LAURA HUSSEY
A POWERFUL VOICE GUIDED BY PRESENCE AND PURPOSE
There is a steadiness about Laura Hussey that you don’t immediately analyze; you feel it. It’s not performance. It’s not perfection. It’s presence.
For more than 25 years in broadcasting, and as a trusted anchor at WEAR-TV since 2007, Laura has built a career on something far more powerful: credibility.
Long before the lights and the anchor desk, she was a quiet child learning to understand the world by observing it. Raised between Tulsa and Kansas City, her childhood was loving, yet shaped by a generation where children were “seen and not heard.” It wasn’t harsh. It was formative. It created an instinct to listen first, to observe, and to understand.
By the age of five, her parents’ marriage began to unravel. While many children experience confusion, Laura experienced awareness. “I could feel it before it was said,” she recalls. Her mother would later share that Laura left notes reading, “Love me, please.” Though she doesn’t remember writing them, they reflect an early life rooted in connection and emotional understanding.
At ten, her world expanded when her family moved to Dubai, long before it became the global city we know today. “We lived in a dirt village,” she says. “Goats ran through the streets.” Immersed in a diverse community, she experienced something lasting: “We were just kids. Everyone was kind. Everyone was human.”
Her career wasn’t meticulously planned; it unfolded through instinct and courage. At 19, she was the only student to act on a television job opportunity presented in class, and she got the job. Years later, she would walk into her manager’s office and say, “You need me on that show.” It wasn’t rehearsed. It was known.
At her core, Laura’s work is guided by a simple principle: tell the truth. “You make a deal when you take this job: your opinion stays at home. Your responsibility is to the truth.”
Today, her life reflects something deeper than achievement: meaning. “We’re here to learn how to love each other.”
In a world that often feels loud and divided, Laura Hussey remains something rare: steady, grounded, and deeply trusted.
A career built not on volume, but credibility. Written by: Suzanne
Pope
CONTINUED >
HALEY “HALE” MORRISSETTE
BUILDING BRIDGES THROUGH ADVOCACY, SERVICE, AND MUSIC
Born and raised in Pensacola, Haley “Hale” Morrissette has built a life and career defined by service, strategy, and a deep commitment to community. A masters-level social worker, founder of Soul Step Solutions, social services case manager at Community Health Northwest Florida, and DJ performing under Life is Hale as DJ Hale, Morrissette moves fluidly between public health, advocacy, nonprofit systems, and culture.
Morrissette says she knew early on that she wanted to help others, but her path sharpened into focus while working at the front desk at Lakeview Center. As her work evolved from community organization, into crisis counseling, Haley says DJing became both a creative outlet and an extension of her mission: creating connection, joy, and a release.
That spirit was shaped in part by her youth. Though money was often tight, Morrissette recalls parents who never let hardship diminish their love or their community-mindedness. That example stayed with her. Today, it continues to inform the way she shows up in the world. She is known along Pensacola, and the
surrounding area, as being observant, empathetic, and ready to step into the gaps others may miss.
At times her work can carry life-or-death stakes. Whether through direct services, political advocacy, or public health, Morrissette understands the weight of being a bridge to resources that can change someone’s life. She approaches that responsibility with honesty, follow-through, and what she describes as a love that is active, not passive: the kind that speaks up, builds systems, and refuses to look away.
She told me that she has also quietly overcome challenges of her own, including social anxiety so severe in her younger years that public speaking once felt impossible. Today, the woman many see as a natural connector and speaker is someone who has intentionally worked through that fear day by day. Just as she is helping others to do in various ways.
Years from now, Morrissette hopes people understand one thing clearly: she was never just a social worker. She was a bridge connecting people to healing, opportunity, community, and hope.
Written by: Will Estell
CHELSEA O’SHIELDS
COMBINING ACCOUNTING AND A LOVE FOR HUMANITY
For Chelsea O’Shields, accounting is about far more than numbers: it’s about people. As a tax partner with Henderson, Hutcherson & McCullough (HHM), O’Shields specializes in tax strategy, consulting, and preparation. But, when I ask her what she really does, her answer goes much deeper. “I’m a therapist and an advisor,” she says with a laugh. “I just happen to do the tax return when I’m done.”
That perspective defines O’Shields’ approach. Whether she’s structuring a business buyout between longtime partners, or helping a family plan for future generations, her role is guiding clients through some of life’s most important, and often emotional, decisions.
“When you’re involved in someone’s finances, it becomes personal,” she explains. “People start asking about everything: saving for their children, protecting their family, planning their legacy. My goal is to help them sleep easier at night.”
Based in HHM’s Pensacola office, Chelsea has more than a decade at HHM, with her career at the well-known firm beginning in their Chattanooga office, straight out of college. However, her path to accounting wasn’t exactly traditional. “I actually went to school for poetry,” she says. “Then I took an accounting class, and it just clicked. It’s like solving a puzzle.”
That creative mindset still shapes her work today. She tells me she sees herself as both an analytical thinker and a creator. Imagine someone who builds solutions, relationships, and long-term strategies. “Accounting is more business than numbers,” she says. “And if you can’t connect with people, they can’t trust you.”
That connection is central to her philosophy. Chelsea says every client becomes more than a file. They become a relationship. “I truly don’t know how you can manage someone’s finances without knowing them,” she says. “Every client is a friend.”
Outside the office, O’Shields channels her creativity through reading, writing, and time with her husband, and their daughter, MJ. She also serves on the board of Pensacola non-profit: Art, Culture & Entertainment (ACE), supporting initiatives that enrich Pensacola’s growing arts community.
For Chelsea O’Shields, success, like accounting, comes down to fundamental principles.
“If you care,” she says, “good work will follow.”
Written by: Will Estell
RACHAEL GILLETTE
A LIFE BUILT ON COURAGE, CONNECTION, AND THE POWER OF SAYING YES
Rachael Gillette’s life is a testament to what happens when you say yes before you feel ready. Born in Denmark and raised in Liverpool as the middle of three daughters, she grew up navigating the quiet question of where she fit, a question that shaped her into a natural leader early on. Her childhood was active and idyllic, filled with sport, competition, and independence, largely influenced by her mother, who raised three strong daughters while her father traveled for work. “We can do anything,” her mother taught them a belief that would carry Rachael across continents and into unexpected chapters of her life.
After studying law and American Studies, she became a barrister in England, practicing for a decade within one of the most historic legal systems in the world. On paper, her life was an established career, home, and success clearly defined. But everything shifted with a single decision: saying yes to a sailing regatta in the Caribbean. That decision led her to meet her husband and, ultimately, to leave behind her life in England for a new one in Pensacola, a move many questioned, but one she never second-guessed.
Arriving with little more than determination, Rachael built her life from the ground up through service. She began volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House and became deeply involved in Pensacola Young Professionals, where she helped launch leadership development initiatives that opened doors for an entire generation. That work evolved into executive leadership roles and, ultimately, into founding VMG Solutions USA, a Pensacola-based consulting firm specializing in executive leadership coaching, team development, and professional workshops designed to help individuals and organizations grow with intention.
Through it all, her guiding principle has remained simple: positively making a difference. She challenges traditional ideas of success, believing it is not defined by title or status, but by impact, kindness, and contribution. Her journey, shaped by risk, resilience, and purpose, reflects a deeper truth that the most meaningful lives are not always the most predictable ones. They are the ones built by courage, connection, and the willingness to step into the unknown.
Written by: Suzanne Pope
ARDIE PEARCE
CREATING MORE THAN SPACES, BUILDING A LIFE WITH INTENTION
Ardie Pearce’s story begins with something many people spend a lifetime searching for: a childhood rooted in love, stability, and presence. Raised in Southern California, she grew up in a home filled with consistency, joy, and parents who showed up for everything. Her father, gentle and unwavering, modeled a quiet strength that would shape her for life, while her mother, a talented designer, unknowingly planted the seeds for what would become Ardie’s future.
Though surrounded by creativity, Ardie never initially saw interior design as her own path. “I always thought that was my mom’s thing,” she says. But life has a way of revealing purpose in unexpected moments. After meeting her husband and eventually relocating to Orange Beach to build a life centered on family, her natural eye for design began to surface. What started as helping a friend design a medical office quickly turned into something more. “The answer is yes,” she says. “Then I’ll figure it out.”
That mindset became the foundation for Mint Interiors, the company she built from the ground up. Recognizing a need for
full-service design, especially for out-of-town homeowners and investors, Ardie created a business rooted not just in creativity but in trust. Today, Mint manages dozens of projects at once, from residential homes to commercial spaces, built on a reputation of reliability and integrity.
Her journey, however, has not been without challenges. An early business partnership ended in betrayal, forcing her to confront difficult truths about trust and self-worth. “I realized I was watering weeds,” she reflects. That experience reshaped her, teaching her to trust her instincts and protect what she was building.
Today, Ardie leads with intention, prioritizing integrity, balance, and the people around her. She believes success is not just measured in growth, but in how you treat others along the way. For her, it has always been about more than design. It’s about creating spaces and lives built on honesty, care, and purpose.
Written by: Suzanne Pope
DR. VERONICA CARDEN, MD
COMBINING COMPASSION AND CARE FOR REAL IMPACT
Originally from Brooklyn and raised in Boynton Beach, Florida, she brings both precision and compassion to her work, making sure every patient feels seen, heard, and cared for beyond the diagnosis.
Veronica Carden’s story doesn’t begin in a hospital. It begins at a dinner table. Raised in a close-knit family, she grew up with consistency, hard work, and love. No matter how busy life got, her family sat down together every night for dinner. That rhythm, showing up, listening, and being present, became the foundation for how she moves through the world today. “I was very lucky to have parents who supported me through everything,” she says.
Her path into oncology was personal. While in college, her grandmother was diagnosed with cancer. What stayed with her wasn’t just the diagnosis, but the experience. The conversations felt distant and clinical. “They would come in and talk to each other, but not really to you,” she recalls. Sitting there as a family member, she realized she didn’t just want to treat cancer. She wanted to change how care felt.
She initially thought she would go into medical oncology, but everything shifted when she was introduced to radiation oncology by a young female physician who became a mentor. She carries that influence with her. Her approach is simple: listen first, explain clearly, and meet patients where they are, medically and emotionally.
That perspective deepened during her first year of residency when her father was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. His passing came quickly. It was devastating, but how you show up for people matters just as much as what you say or do.
“I didn’t just want to treat disease… I wanted to change the patient experience.”
At Ascension Sacred Heart, that belief shows up in her daily practice. Radiation oncology is precise and highly technical, but she never loses sight of the person in front of her. She ensures patients understand what’s happening.
Outside of work, as a mother of two young boys, she’s learned balance isn’t about perfection. It’s about presence.
“At the end of the day, it’s about how people feel in the moments that matter most.”
Written by: Suzanne Pope
SANDRA L. DONALDSON
DEFINING LEADERSHIP THROUGH PURPOSE
Sandra L. Donaldson, MPA, MBA, has built a career around one central belief: meaningful change begins when people are given the tools, dignity, and support they need to thrive. As Founder and CEO of Donaldson Edge Consulting and CEO of Donaldson Edge Advocacy, her work focuses on Social Determinants of Health, Community Health Worker workforce development, and Peer Recovery Specialist training.
Donaldson has become a respected force in helping organizations, healthcare systems, and agencies better serve vulnerable populations. Her professional path was shaped by lived experience, community work, and a desire to close gaps in access and equity. She says she knew her passion had become more than a job, when she witnessed how much education and advocacy could change the course of someone’s life.
That sense of purpose was shaped early. Donaldson describes her youth as one grounded in love, community, resilience, and observation. Those experiences taught her how the right systems can impact people and helped instill the empathy, independence, and responsibility that defines her leadership.
A defining shift came when she realized she could move beyond serving individuals and begin influencing systems. Building
her own firm allowed her to scale her impact through training, workforce development, and policy influence at a broader level. With that reach comes responsibility, and Donaldson takes the need to ensure her work is ethical, culturally responsive, and beneficial, very seriously.
Behind the success are sacrifices, uncertainty, and the challenges of entrepreneurship. She has fought two battles with breast cancer, refusing to let distraction win, and has served as the American Cancer Society Florida District 1 Congressional ACT lead. Through it all, she says that faith, family, and determination have persevered. Donaldson credits her family as the foundation of her values and says being Nana to her grandson Kaiden keeps her grounded.
She hopes her work will help strengthen the workforce, expand access to care, and position Northwest Florida as a leader in community health innovation. Her words of wisdom are simple and powerful: Stay committed to your purpose, even when the path is unclear. Take time for yourself and remember to add “you” to the equation.
Written by: Will Estell
SUZANNE POLLARD SPANN
AN ENTREPRENEUR BUILDING SECURITY, STRENGTH, AND LEGACY
Some people lead with titles while others choose testimony, resilience, and an unwavering sense of purpose. Suzanne Pollard Spann is that kind of woman: a business owner whose professional success is matched by the depth of her conviction and the heart she brings to serving her business clients and others.
Based in Pensacola and originally from Herndon, Kentucky, Spann is the owner of Legacy Insurance Brokers, where she has spent years helping clients protect what matters most. Her path into insurance was not part of some carefully mapped plan. Instead, it began by chance when she overheard an AFLAC presentation in her grandmother’s office and realized the powerful role insurance could play in helping families whether illness, accidents, and financial hardship. That realization was deeply personal, shaped by her own family’s struggles during and after her mother’s battle with cancer.
That personal connection gives real meaning to the work she does today. For Spann, insurance is never just paperwork or policies. It is advocacy. It is stewardship. It is standing in the gap for people when life becomes uncertain and costly. As she
puts it, “We don’t sell Girl Scout cookies; we insure everything that matters to someone.” That perspective says a great deal about the seriousness, empathy, and accountability she brings to her profession.
Her journey has not been without hardship. She has experienced personal loss, illness, divorce, and the challenges of launching a from scratch agency during one of the toughest insurance markets in recent times. Yet even through adversity, she kept building. Legacy began with one brokerage contract and has since grown to more than 30 carriers and markets, a milestone that reflects both resilience and vision.
Raised with values centered on God, family, and community, Spann says those principles continue to guide her leadership both at home and at work. When I ask her for any words of wisdom for our readers, she shared, “You’re never too old, too young, undereducated, or overeducated. We all have the power in us and through Christ to do something new, build and grow something strong, and leave this world better than we found it.”
Written by: Will Estell
ARTICLE BY KALI KASORZYK
PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED
BECKY HILLYARD
From Side Hustle to Style Empire
The power of taste, trust, and the courage to “just start.”
She didn’t have a business plan, a media budget, or even a name anyone could pronounce. What Becky Hillyard had was taste, a young family, and the instinct to just start. Today, her lifestyle brand Cella Jane commands an audience the size of Vogue’s, she’s nine collections strong with Splendid, and she’s built it all while raising three kids — refusing to sacrifice one for the other. In an exclusive conversation for the Share the Lifestyle podcast, Becky shares what it really takes to build a brand, a career, and a life you love. Read the highlights below, then scan the QR code for the full conversation.
Q: WHEN DID YOU KNOW CELLA JANE WAS MORE THAN A HOBBY?
A: Two moments. Women started emailing me saying they bought something I recommended and felt amazing — asking me to help them find a dress for a wedding. That felt incredible. Then I looked at my affiliate numbers for one month and realized I could cover our mortgage. I thought, I can actually do this. I never set out to build a business. I started it because I genuinely loved it.
Becky in Splendid x @CellaJaneBlog Spring 2026 Collection
Q: WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST RISK YOU EVER TOOK WITH THE BRAND?
A: Designing my own collection. It’s easy to point at items on a website and say I love these. But to create something from scratch, put your name on it, and wait to see if people connect with it — that’s terrifying. I had an incredible partner in Splendid, and women loved the pieces. It was the biggest risk and the biggest accomplishment.
Q: HOW HAS INFLUENCER MARKETING CHANGED SINCE YOU STARTED?
A: When I started, brands didn’t know whether to take it seriously. Now it’s a legitimate line item in their marketing budgets — sometimes bigger than TV. Because what we’ve built is trust. People trust a real recommendation from someone they follow far more than a commercial. There’s no question about it now.
Q: YOU’RE A MOM OF THREE RUNNING A FULL BRAND. WHAT DOES YOUR DAY ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE?
A: I try to get up at five and not hit snooze — that first hour before the house wakes up is the most productive, most peaceful hour of my day. Then it’s all hands on deck with the kids and school drop-off. After that I work — planning content, connecting with my team, editing. After pickup, the day shifts completely and it’s all about them. I’ve learned to protect both halves fiercely, because both matter.
Q: WHAT WOULD YOU TELL SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO BUILD SOMETHING OF THEIR OWN BUT KEEPS WAITING?
A: Don’t wait. Don’t wait for the perfect camera, the right strategy, or enough followers. We find every excuse to stay comfortable. Just start, be consistent, and be authentically yourself. The right people will find you — and they’ll stay.
This conversation is just the beginning. Becky goes deeper on the risks that almost stopped her, the design process behind her latest Splendid collection, and what she’d tell her 2012 self today. Scan the QR code for the full, exclusive City Lifestyle interview on the Share the Lifestyle Podcast.
“Trust is the only metric that actually compounds.”
— Becky Hillyard
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MAY 2026
A SELECTION OF UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS
MAY 2ND
Fiesta
Pensacola 5K
& 10K
Downtown Pensacola | 7:00 AM
Kick off Fiesta season with this scenic downtown run. The 5K begins at 12th Avenue and Fisher Street, while the 10K starts at Pensacola State College. Both certified courses wind through the heart of the city and finish at Seville Quarter, where runners can celebrate with an after-party and awards.
MAY 8TH-10TH
Disney on Ice!
Pensacola Bay Center | 7:00 PM
Experience the magic as Disney on Ice brings its newest production to Pensacola. Featuring beloved characters— including new favorites from Moana 2 and Inside Out 2—this dazzling show combines world-class figure skating, aerial acrobatics, stunning visuals, and interactive moments the whole family will enjoy.
MAY 9TH
Pensacola Beach Art & Wine Festival
Pensacola Beach Boardwalk | 11:00 AM
Sip, stroll, and savor at this expanded beachside festival—now twice as big.
Explore 60+ artists, enjoy wine and spirit tastings, and live music on two stages. Tickets include a commemorative glass, tote, light bites, and photo booth access. Grand Tasting: $75 in advance, $90 after May 8.
CONTINUED
MAY 12TH
Brit Floyd - The World’s Premier Pink Floyd Experience
Saenger Theater | 7:30 PM
Step into the legendary sound of Pink Floyd with Brit Floyd’s stunning live tribute. Featuring iconic hits from The Dark Side of the Moon, The Wall, and more, this immersive show blends powerful musicianship with dazzling lights, lasers, and visuals for an unforgettable concert experience.
MAY 16TH
Pensacola Pickles & Wings
Family Festival 2026
Seville Square | 10:00 AM
Get ready for a flavorful day in downtown Pensacola at this lively, family-friendly festival in Seville Square. Enjoy wings, pickles, food trucks, and local vendors, along with live music, contests, games, and a kids zone. With free admission and activities for all ages, it’s a fun-filled celebration of food and community.
JUNE 5TH-7TH
13th Annual Flora-Bama Fishing Rodeo
Perdido Key
Join one of the Gulf Coast’s most popular fishing tournaments at the Flora-Bama. Open to anglers of all skill levels, this laid-back rodeo features a wide range of categories—from catfish to billfish, including spearfishing— plus great prizes. Festivities take place at the Ole River Grill beach area, just across from the iconic FloraBama Lounge.
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