Flip this over to enjoy the Winter issue of Interior Appeal!
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january | february 2026
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GO RED for Women
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2026 Women of the Year: College Presidents
The American Heart Association’s signature women’s initiative, Go Red for Women, has been saving and improving women’s lives by advancing equitable research and care, advocating for inclusive health policies and raising awareness. Each year Orange Appeal highlights the important message about women’s greatest health threat, cardiovascular disease, the Circle of Red members, including Bold Hearts members, and the Orlando Go Red for Women Luncheon.
CHRISTI ASHBY
features
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Nationally, white males still outnumber females in college presidencies. But in Central Florida, we are fortunate now to have three stand-out women college presidents — Brooke Barnett, Rollins College, Georgia Lorenz, Seminole State College, and Kathleen Plinske, Valencia College — who impact thousands of students each year as well as our community through their traditions, mission and initiatives. Orange Appeal is thrilled to honor them with a special celebration on February 2 at Judson’s in the Dr. Phillips Center
KRISTEN WEAVER PHOTOGRAPHY
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on the cover: Dr. Kathleen Plinske, Dr. Georgia
Lorenz and Dr. Brooke Barnett photographed by Jim Hobart at the Rice Family Pavilion, Rollins College. Details on page 64. CONSTANTINO POURNARAS
From the beginning to the big day, these wedding tales are filled with special memories. Couples Jensen Kirila and Matt Batchelor, Lindsey Giedd & Charlie Rolenc, and Julia Andersen & Dr. Shelby Harris share intimate details about their love stories and celebrations. Events by Dubsdread and The Alfond Inn will host bridal events. Maureen Hall Stationery & Invitations celebrates 40 years in its same location off of Park Avenue in Winter Park.
JIM HOBART
Love Stories: Weddings
MYA LYN MEDIA
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82 january | february 2026
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january | february 2026
columns 38
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10 THE LIST
People, places and things: Valentine’s Day or any day, here are some wish list worthy gems from local jewelers; Fashionable fundraisers including Morning Star Catholic School’s 63rdd Annual Fashion Show, A Runway for Giving, Winter Park Fashion Week 2026, Camp Boggy Creek’s Heart of Fashion, and more; Women to Watch: Truist has named Elisha González as its new senior vice president of community affairs for Florida; Katherine Page, Carolina Massote, Diane O’Dell and Kate Wilson assume new positions.
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22 BEAUTY, BODY & SPIRIT
Fine fragrances from local business Fragrance Collectors that are quality driven with artistry behind each bottle; Take 5 for the New Year: tips and advice from local health and wellness experts Jayne Williams, Karen Moreno, Cherlette McCullough, LMFT, and Carly Paige; the latest GLP-1 updates from George W. Carroll, MD, BeSlimMD in Maitland; Women Are Incredible: Karina Bharne, a classically trained trombonist, is making music of a different kind as the executive director of the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra.
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36 TASTES & EXPERIENCES
A busy Thornton Park corner has been home to well-regarded restaurants (HUE and SOCO) and now it’s the hot spot for Good Salt Group’s latest venture Osteria Ester featuring a menu of Italian favorites. Sweeping ocean views, immersive wellness experiences, deliciously healthful cuisine and luxuriously equipped guest rooms is what you’ll get at Amrit Ocean Resort on Singer Island in the Palm Beaches.
42 HEALTH & WELLNESS PROFESSIONALS
A special section designed to be a resource for getting on track and prioritizing health goals in 2026.
48 AGENDA
Fall was full of glamorous galas and community fundraisers… National Philanthropy Day Awards breakfast for community champions; Kids Beating Cancer Hats & Heroes Ball; Junior Achievement Hall of Fame; Holiday Bridge Tournament; Opera Orlando Operazzi Bash; REED Charitable Foundation’s 6th Annual Dyslexia Gala; ette Chalet; and more to appear in the March/April issue. Orange Appeal makes a great gift any time! Subscribe at orangeappeal.com. Get all the event info by signing up for the e-newsletter or visiting our interactive website. For changes of address, or to cancel or renew your subscription, visit orangeappeal.com/subscribe-to-orange-appeal/. 2
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welcome
Happy NewYear — and We’re Still Celebrating!
A
s we get back into the swing of things after a season of celebrating, the celebrations continue. Kate and I are honored to speak each year at the ATHENA NextGen program culmination and speak on the final ATHENA guiding principle — Celebrate. We remind the ladies that celebrations are not just reserved for the biggest things in life. But even doing your best on a very rough day or motivating yourself to push for a workout goal or maybe just being you can, be cause for celebration. And as women, we are much more likely to celebrate others instead of ourselves. The 2026 Women of the Year are extremely worthy of a big celebration. Our Central Florida college presidents, Brooke Barnett, Georgia Lorenz and Kathleen Plinske, impact thousands of students each year, leading with powerful passion and purpose. They will be honored on February 2 at Judson’s in the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. And we have something big to celebrate — the opening of an Orange Appeal branded store airside at Orlando International Airport. It started when I received a call from Bertica Morris who was working on a big project proposal for the airport involving new concessions — and she thought Orange Appeal would be a perfect fit. It’s scheduled to open in May and in another celebration of good things — we have been able to recommend local companies and makers to be filling our space. We will be bringing you the backstory of this initiative and the final plans. Stay tuned and keep celebrating!
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EDITOR & PUBLISHER
Christi Ashby christi@orangeappeal.com ASSOCIATE EDITOR & PUBLISHER
Kate Slentz kate@orangeappeal.com OPERATIONS & ADMINISTRATION
Wendy Tramell wendy@orangeappeal.com CIRCULATION CONSULTANT
Mollie O’Shea BUSINESS MANAGER
Robert Ashby PHOTOGRAPHY
Jim Hobart Mya Lyn Media Constantino Pournaras Kristen Weaver Photography PRODUCTION DIRECTOR
Rita Tyrrell FOR ADVERTISING:
advertising@orangeappeal.com FOR SUBSCRIPTIONS:
orangeappeal.com/subscribe-toorange-appeal/
orangeappeal.com Copyright 2026. No materials may be reproduced without permission. Please do not send unsolicited articles or photographs. Publisher not responsible for individual opinions contained herein. Orange Appeal (Permit #201) is published bi-monthly by Appeal Media & Events Group, 1903 Michael Tiago Circle, Maitland, FL 32751. Printed in USA. Standard postage paid at Harrisburg, PA and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Orange Appeal, 1903 Michael Tiago Circle, Maitland, FL 32751 Follow us on
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connect! MAIL
Make sure you receive your issues of Orange Appeal right in your mailbox. If you haven’t signed up in the past six months, please visit orangeappeal.com/subscribe to renew your subscription or change your address. Interior Appeal will be included as a double issue three times a year!
EMAIL Sign up at orangeappeal.com for the Orange Appeal e-newsletter, delivered to your inbox at least twice monthly. Keep up with community and charity events! For advertising info, email: advertising@orangeappeal.com
EVENTS The 16th annual ORLANDO WOMEN’S CONFERENCE will be held September 10, 2026. For updates and details, visit orlandowomensconference.com. For sponsorship information email kate@orangeappeal.com. SPECIAL ORANGE APPEAL EVENTS For more information about all the Orange Appeal events, visit the Orange Appeal Facebook page.
SOCIAL MEDIA ORANGE APPEAL Tag, share and follow… check out all the event photos and latest info. @APPEAL_MEDIA Get behind-the-scenes peeks!
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thelist heart’s desire Valentine’s Day or any day, here are some wish list worthy gems. From top, left: Dora Mae Jewelry Flora ring is a 14k yellow gold ring accented with two pink cushion sapphires, one orange cushion sapphire, and four near-colorless diamonds. Almut Belote Goldsmiths ATHENA diamond cuff is handcrafted in 18k yellow gold and adorned with brilliant white diamonds. Micheletto (Rome, Italy) black wood and gold removable link necklace and bracelet combo from Lauren Sigman Collection’s Mixed Collection. Dora Mae Jewelry Portia ring features three A+ grade, clean, square, step-cut pink tourmalines set in 14k yellow gold. Almut Belote Goldsmiths DULCI slide pendants feature translucent fine gems — lilac amethyst and red/orange garnet shown — set into gold and platinum. Fred Leighton white topaz Collet drop earrings from Be On Park. Almut Belote Goldsmiths FLUTED rings, suited to be worn alone or in sets, shown here with natural zircons in champagne, morcha and imperial peach. Lauren Sigman Collection fluted and diamond hanging heart adjustable necklace. Kwiat stackable bangles in various colors of sapphires and tsavorite from Be On Park.
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thelist
fashionable fundraisers Morning Star Catholic School’s 63rd Annual Fashion Show, A Runway for Giving This beloved event is one of the longest running fundraisers in Central Florida. In 1962, a group of 10 very committed women recognized a need for a fundraising group to help Morning Star Catholic School in its efforts to educate children with special needs. Thus, the Morning Star Catholic School Auxiliary Fashion Show and Luncheon was born. DAWN AIELLO PHOTO
Since then, hundreds of women have attended the fashion show and luncheon at various locations. For many years, fashions were provided by Jacobson’s and Jordan Marsh. Recent years have featured fashions from Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Winter Park boutiques including: Tuni, John Craig, Arabella, The Collection Bridal, The House on Lang and more.
services that its special needs students require to succeed. Morn-
Many generous sponsors have supported this event, including
ing Star Catholic School relies heavily upon the generosity of its
longtime supporters the Holm Family of Restaurants and the
community — those who recognize the need to provide quality
Martha Greene Lewis Charitable Fund.
education to improve the lives of people with intellectual disabil-
This year’s event will be held in partnership with Loews Sap-
ities. To purchase tickets or inquire about sponsorships for Run-
phire Falls Resort on Friday, February 13. Funds are raised to meet
way for Giving, please call 407-295-3077 or email advancement@
the growing needs of the school and support the educational
moriningstarorlando.org.
Now in its fifth year, Winter Park Fashion Week celebrates fashion and community by uniting local style leaders, boutiques, and national brands. This year’s runway will feature looks from 15 stores including Tuni, Hemline, Bobbles & Lace, Siegel’s, among others, and a sponsor showcase from The Mall at Millenia. Proceeds from this year’s show will go to the 2026 charity partner Runway to Hope. The evening is proudly presented by Grafton Wealth Advisors and AdventHealth for Women, whose support helps elevate the show and strengthen its community mission. “Winter Park Fashion Week has been a passion project from the very beginning, and seeing it reach its fifth year fills me with gratitude. The support of our sponsors and the excitement of this
Winter Park Fashion Week 2026
community have created something magical — I’m so thankful to see this event continue to grow and make an impact for busi-
Winter Park Fashion Week 2026 will return in style on Satur-
nesses and charities. We plan to make year 5 the most fun yet!”
day, February 21 at Full Sail Live, bringing the region’s most
says WPFW Founder and Co-Chair Sarah Grafton.
anticipated runway experience to the heart of Central Florida.
From inspired fashion to an unforgettable night of glamour
Tickets are on sale now, and a limited number of sponsorship
and giving back, Winter Park Fashion Week continues to shine
opportunities are available for brands who want to align with
as a signature Central Florida event. For more information or to
this high-profile event.
purchase tickets, visit winterparkfashionweek.com.
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thelist Camp Boggy Creek’s Heart of Fashion The Heart of Fashion Luncheon and Fashion Show benefiting Camp Boggy Creek returns to The Alfond Inn on Wednesday, February 25. Event Chair Diane Holm transforms The Alfond Inn, so guests get a taste of what Camp is like for the children with serious medical illnesses who get to enjoy a safe, medically-sound camp experience, free of charge. “It has been my honor to host Camp Boggy Creek Heart of Fashion for 10 years at the beautiful Alfond Inn in Winter Park. Many sponsors have joined us for each of the 10 years. It has been a sold-out event every year and this year is no exception with just a few tables remaining,” Diane says. In addition to immersive, themed décor and camp-inspired lunch, Neiman Marcus will present an inspired fashion show. Presented by Nemours Children’s Health, the event will also include a robust silent auction and touching camp stories. “Our sponsors like Nemours Children’s Health and Neiman Marcus and many others have continued to be very supportive and generous to Camp. Their generosity provides a magical week of camp for our seriously ill children in the state of Florida. I believe our founders, Paul Newman and General Norman Schwarzkopf, would be proud of Camp and the generosity of so many wonderful people,” Diane adds. Since opening in 1996, Camp Boggy Creek has provided more than 90,000 campers and their families with life-changing camp experiences. To sponsor or reserve your Heart of Fashion luncheon table, please contact Jacqueline Boykin at 352-483-4119 or jboykin@campboggycreek.org.
Orlando Museum of Art’s David LaChapelle: As The World Turns Opening Reception Friday, January 30 | Orlando Museum of Art David LaChapelle is a world-renowned photographer who has captured some of the most recognizable figures in film, music, art, politics and sports, including Amy Winehouse, Britney Spears, David Hockney, Dolly Parton, Eminem, Sabrina Carpenter and Snoop Dogg. His largest retrospective to date in the U.S. will be on display at the Orlando Museum of Art. The opening reception on January 30 will be an unforgettable, high-fashion event with a red-carpet entrance, VIP experience, music, and light bites. Guests will enjoy an exclusive advanced viewing of the exhibition. omart.org
David LaChapelle, Death by Hamburger, 2001
Jazz Winter Park: A Valentine’s Celebration Friday, February 6 | Winter Park Events Center Spearheaded by local businesswoman Traci Sihle, Sihle Insurance Group, Jazz Winter Park 2026 celebrates love, community and sounds of smooth jazz in a Valentine's-inspired setting. Grab your sweetie and enjoy live jazz performances, gourmet hors d’oeuvres by Arthur’s Catering, signature cocktails and open bar, Valentine’s auction and shopping gifts, and an ’80s-themed after party with a DJ and dancing. This fashionable evening benefits AdventHealth for Children. give.adventhealth.com/event/jazz-winter-park/e728746
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thelist Winter Park Library’s Love Your Library: Books & Boots Saturday, February 7 | Winter Park Library and Events Center Dust off your boots and get ready to celebrate Winter Park’s most
Easterseals Florida 22nd Annual A Pair to Remember
Library event, Books & Boots.
Friday, March 6 | The Mall at Millenia
Guests will enjoy lively music
Mark your calendar for
from Sean Holcomb, dancing,
this exclusive ladies’
delicious fare by Arthur’s
luncheon and toast to
Catering, and plenty of sur-
the latest spring fash-
prises around every corner,
ions. Raise your bid
including a spirited auction.
paddles for the hot-
Proceeds benefit the Library’s
test designer shoes
Imagine More Fund, ensur-
and unique travel experiences to raise valuable support for chil-
ing this 140-year-old com-
dren and adults with disabilities. A Pair to Remember returns
munity treasure continues to
to The Mall at Millenia on Friday, March 6, in benefit of Eas-
blaze new trails in learning
terseals Florida. Attendees will enjoy a champagne reception
and connection. winterpark-
and silent auction, gourmet luncheon, and signature live auction
library.org/loveyourlibrary
featuring designer shoes, mission models, and luxury experi-
beloved institution at this year’s western-themed Love Your
ences. pairorlando.com
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thelist
WOMEN to WATCH
Elisha González At Truist, she leads strategic philanthropy, corporate responsibility and community affairs, shaping initiatives that strengthen Truist’s purpose to inspire and build better lives and communities. Her collaborative approach brings together executives and market leaders to address Florida’s unique needs, fostering lasting connections and visibility for Truist. Prior to joining Truist, Elisha served on the leadership team at FAIRWINDS Credit Union as senior vice president of public engagement, where she oversaw community relations and government affairs. She also served as executive director of the credit union’s foundation, leading a unified philanthropic vision to support organizations advancing financial literacy and economic prosperity.
TRUIST HAS NAMED ELISHA GONZÁLEZ AS ITS NEW SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS FOR FLORIDA. WITH A CAREER SPANNING EDUCATION, PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND PHILANTHROPY, ELISHA IS A DRIVING FORCE FOR POSITIVE CHANGE ACROSS THE STATE.
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Her career also includes roles as government and community relations manager at Duke Energy and Central Florida regional director for the U.S. Senate. Prior to that, Elisha spent more than two decades in education and nonprofit leadership. She served 12 years with Orange County Public Schools as a teacher, dean, assistant principal and principal, and 10 years at Valencia College, where she led a nonprofit initiative helping students pursue post-secondary opportunities and achieve economic mobility. A recognized connector and advocate, she serves on the boards of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando; Florida Citrus Sports; United Arts of Central Florida; Junior Achievement of Central Florida; The Catholic Foundation of Central Florida; and Prospera USA. Her unwavering commitment inspires women and communities statewide.
thelist
WOMEN to WATCH
KATHERINE PAGE The Orlando Museum of Art (OMA) announcd the appointment of Katherine Page as its new Associate Curator. A leading voice
DIANE O’DELL has been
in modern and contemporary art, Katherine brings more than a
named the new Vice President
decade of curatorial expertise, interdisciplinary research and
of Global Community Relations
exhibition innovation to the museum’s growing curatorial
at Universal. She held previous
department. She joins OMA from the Mennello Museum of
roles including Executive
American Art, where she served as Curator of Art & Education.
Director of the Universal
During her tenure, she organized more than 30 original and
Foundation, as well as Vice
collections-based exhibitions, authored essays for seven exhibition
President of Community
catalogues, and helped develop three touring exhibitions.
Relations for Universal Orlando.
CAROLINA MASSOTE Jaguar Land Rover South Orlando proudly welcomes Carolina Massote as General Manager, celebrating her proven leadership, two decades of automotive experience across service, sales, finance, and management, her people-first approach and impactful leadership as a woman in the automotive industry. She previously held roles as General Manager of Audi Lakeland and General Sales Manager at Jaguar Land Rover Lakeland.
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KATE WILSON has been named the Vice President of Community Relations at Universal Orlando. She was previously Senior Vice President, Community Relations at Wells Fargo.
From top left: UNUM Scusami by Filippo Sorcinelli drapes the skin in a tender haze of soft florals, warm resins, and a lingering touch of intimate sweetness. Nolo EDP by Alfred Ritchy blends warm leather with a cozy sweet-and-spicy glow. It opens with a lively touch of raspberry, bergamot, and coriander, melts into smooth caramel and labdanum, and settles into an elegant base of amber, vanilla, musk, and patchouli. Ruby by Kajal Perfumes Paris is a sweet-fruity gourmand that opens with juicy bursts of cherry, red berries, pineapple, almond and coconut, then softens into creamy whipped-cream, ice cream and brown sugar, before settling on a warm, sensual base of vanilla, musk, tonka bean, amber and benzoin. Valhalla by Paradis des Sens opens with a bright burst of mango, mandarin, pear, and bergamot, softening into smooth cedarwood, cashmere wood, and jasmine. It settles into a warm, inviting base of amber, vanilla, tonka bean, and amberwood. Senna by Eau de Moe (named after Hala’s daughter) opens with a gentle veil of powdered coconut and heliotrope, flows into a heart of creamy Madagascar vanilla, and dries down to a warm, soft embrace of vanilla absolute, white musk, palo santo, subtle lactones, and a hint of coconut. Syn.Cherry by Scentologia opens with a juicy mix of cherry, raspberry, cassis, and pear, softening into a touch of jasmine, rose, violet, and mango. It settles into a warm, sweet base of vanilla, caramel, musk, cedarwood, and amber. Kolada by Kajal Perfumes Paris opens with sunny pineapple, fruity notes, and a splash of bergamot, giving a bright tropical vibe. Its heart brings soft florals — violet and lily of the valley — adding a delicate, fresh sweetness. It dries down to a creamy, warm base of coconut, amber, and benzoin.
beautybody&spirit fine fragrances
These unisex, luxury, niche fragrances are all part of the local business Fragrance Collectors, started by entrepreneur Hala Khalaf. Sought after due to their rare nature of not being mass produced, these fragrances are more quality driven with artistry behind each bottle. All can be purchased at fragrancecollectors.com (10% off their first order with APPEAL10). With help finding a fragrance or booking a fragrance immersive bar party with friends, email hello@fragrancecollectors.com.
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beautybody&spirit
Take Five: Jump Start Your New Year Wellness The season for reflecting on health goals is here. But sticking with a plan is hard — especially by month three — so, we asked experts for their advice on easing into a new routine or pattern realistically.
JAYNE WILLIAMS As someone who has spent years building my own health blueprint, supporting thousands of others and developing the JWW Metabolic Method, I’ve learned that real change happens when we simplify the process and focus on habits that reset, recharge, and elevate us from the inside out. Here are five science-backed tips to help you feel stronger and more grounded as we head into the new year. 1. Hydrate with benefits before you break your fast. One of the most supportive habits I’ve built into my own blueprint is rehydrating before anything else in the morning. After hours without fluid, your body wakes up slightly dehydrated, and your cortisol is naturally elevated. Drinking water with electrolytes, minerals, or even a squeeze of citrus helps replenish hydration, support adrenal balance, and set a calmer tone for the day. It is a simple step with a big physiological payoff. 2. Prioritize protein early and consistently. One of the core practices in my Metabolic Method is frontloading your day with high-quality protein. It supports metabolic steadiness, reduces cravings, and improves energy availability. Aim for 30+ grams of protein when breaking your fast (aka breakfast) and build your meals around wholefood sources like Greek yogurt, eggs, tofu, cottage cheese, clean animal protein, or build one of my FUNdamental5 Green Smoothies (available at jaynewilliams.com). When protein leads, your metabolism follows. 3. Move your body in “micro-doses.” Most people think they need an hour-long workout to make progress, but science tells a different story. Short bursts of
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movement throughout the day increase circulation, lower cortisol, and improve insulin sensitivity. A five-minute quick walk after meals, light mobility between tasks, or a quick set of squats does more than you think. Motion creates momentum. 4. Create an evening wind-down ritual. The body thrives on rhythm. Your brain needs predictable signals to prepare for rest, reduce stress hormones, and repair efficiently overnight. Choose a cue that works for you: dimming lights at a certain time, making herbal tea, powering down electronics and blue light, and/or reading instead of scrolling. When your nighttime routine becomes a ritual, your sleep becomes more restorative, and your next day becomes easier to navigate. 5. Choose one habit to elevate, not five. At the core of my metabolic philosophy is the belief that small, consistent shifts compound into transformation. Instead of overhauling your life in January, choose one habit that feels both exciting and doable. Maybe it is daily hydration, morning protein, or an extra hour of sleep. Master that one habit, then layer the next. This builds confidence, clarity and sustainability. The new year does not require a new you, just a more supported version of you who already exists. These simple practices offer a foundation to strengthen your routine and reconnect with your own blueprint for wellness. Jayne Williams is a nutritionist and holistic health expert, business mentor, television health and lifestyle expert, and her own first health project. For more of Jayne’s favorite tips, healthy recipes, newsletter and programs, check out her website at jaynewilliams.com.
beautybody&spirit KAREN MORENO
to work out. Just think of how great you’ll feel knowing
Taking time out of a busy schedule is hard for women who are used
that you accomplished something good for your body,
to putting everything and everyone before themselves. Exercise is
mind and soul. No one ever regrets finishing a
often the first thing to go, and it’s easy to make excuses for why: time,
workout!
energy, motivation. I believe that the busiest people are those who benefit most from self-care, and that includes finding time for exercise. Once you get into the groove of prioritizing your health and wellness, managing your daily commitments becomes more enjoyable. Here are 5 tips for keeping your fitness routine a top priority: 1. Commit to something you love to do. Long-term dedication to a program you enjoy will give you the best results. 2. Prioritize your workouts like you prioritize your meetings. Put them on your calendar to keep yourself accountable.
4. A regular fitness routine is vital for living a long, healthy, and enjoyable life. Do your research and find a workout that is effective, efficient, sustainable and fun. 5. Group fitness classes are a great option for staying motivated. Becoming part of an inspiring, supportive and encouraging community can make all the difference! Karen Moreno discovered The Bar Method while on a trip in 2010 after she unsuccessfully tried to locate a barre studio in town and began to research the workout online. The former schoolteacher paired that experience with her lifelong passion for fitness,
3. Remember that it’s normal to occasionally feel unmotivated
becoming a Bar Method studio owner.
CHERLETTE MCCULLOUGH, LMFT
in silence. These small anchors help regulate your nervous
Change has a way of showing up uninvited — a job ends, retirement
system and reestablish a sense of safety when everything
begins, or life simply pauses in a way you didn’t expect. Transitions,
else feels uncertain.
even positive ones, can stir uncertainty and emotional unrest. As a therapist, I remind my clients that transitions are not setbacks; they are invitations to reset. Five ways to protect your peace during seasons of transition: 1. Allow yourself to grieve what’s changing. Even good transitions carry loss. Whether you’re leaving a career, a relationship, or a familiar routine, give yourself permission to grieve. Grief doesn’t always mean sadness; it’s the emotional process of adjusting to something new. Naming your feelings helps you honor what was, so you can fully embrace what’s next. 2. Redefine your identity beyond a role. When a job or title changes, many people feel lost because they’ve tied their worth to what they do rather than who they are. Spend time reconnecting with your values, strengths and joys outside of performance. Ask yourself, who am I becoming when no one is watching? That answer becomes your foundation. 3. Create new rhythms, not rigid routines.
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4. Seek support, not solitude. You don’t have to navigate change alone. Talk with a therapist, mentor or supportive friend who can listen without judgment. Connection reduces anxiety and helps you process your thoughts out loud. Healing often begins with safe conversations/connections. 5. Focus on what you can control. During transitions, it’s easy to fixate on what you’ve lost or what’s unknown. Instead, redirect your attention to small, controllable steps, maintaining healthy habits, updating your résumé, volunteering, or simply resting. Each step reinforces the truth that you are still moving forward, even if the pace feels slow. Transitions are part of life’s rhythm. They remind us that growth often requires release, letting go of what was to make room for what can be. The goal isn’t to rush through the change but to breathe through it, trusting that peace is possible even in the in-between. Dr. Cherlette McCullough, LMFT, Hon.D., is a licensed therapist,
Transitions disrupt structure, but they also create space for
speaker, and CEO of Center Peace Therapy. She helps women
renewal. Build gentle rhythms that ground you, such as
navigate life transitions, heal from emotional wounds, and create
morning walks, journaling, therapy, prayer, or simply sitting
lives rooted in peace and purpose.
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beautybody&spirit CARLY PAIGE 1. Plan ahead. Scheduling your workouts into your calendar and planning weeknight dinners ahead of time can help ensure that they get done. There are many distractions and diversions in a day that can cause these habits to keep getting pushed aside otherwise. 2. Make it simple. In my house, dinner needs to be on the table in less than 30 minutes. With two kids and demanding work schedules, I’d rather be spending time with my family than in the kitchen leading up to bedtime. Look for healthy ingredient swaps to incorporate into your meals that boost the overall nutrition on your plate without requiring extra time or effort. For example, opt for a lentil or lupini bean (my favorite) pasta noodle instead of a traditional noodle for a boost of protein and fiber. 3. Shop local. We have some great farmers’ markets available to us, so take advantage of them! The winter and spring seasons are an optimal time to shop for local produce. Make it a fun family outing and get your kids involved by having them pick out one vegetable they’d like to see on their plate. 4. Practice saying “no” more often. I believe that many of us are looking to simplify amid a fast-paced, busy culture. One of the best ways we can do this is by realigning our priorities,
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saying no to the things that aren’t a compelling yes, and accepting the fact that we can’t do it all in order to maintain our own sanity. 5. Take the pressure off. I’ve learned through many seasons of my life that each one looks different. Some priorities take a front seat, and some take a back seat for a period of time, and that’s okay. Depending on what is taking your physical, emotional, relational and mental energy in this season, you might need to scale back in order to keep moving forward. For me, as a business owner and mom to a 2-year-old and 10-year-old, this looks like calling or texting friends to check in instead of holding a lot of physical space for these relationships, feeling accomplished if I can fit in a few workouts, outsourcing healthy meals, all in efforts to create more time for family. Find a push and pull that supports you, your health, and your season — physically, emotionally, relationally, energetically and spiritually. Carly Paige, an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach and Chef who specializes in plant-forward cuisine, started FitLiving Eats in 2016 and has had the opportunity to lead more than 100 cooking classes and prepare countless meals for clients. For more information, visit fitlivingeats.com or follow her on Instagram at @carlypaige.
beautybody&spirit
E
GLP-1 UPDATE:
New Discoveries Being Made As far as other beneficial uses, Dr.
And that’s where buyer beware comes
beginning with “if it sounds too
Carroll reports that the FDA has approved
in. With the proliferation of online sources
good to be true…” And a few
the use of semaglutide for the prevention
for non-name brand GLP-1 drugs and con-
years ago, that was common
of cardiovascular disease — and it’s not
stant advertising messages, how do you
thinking about drugs that could
just from weight loss. “It reduces all the
know what you are really getting? On
assist with significant weight loss. How-
risk factors of heart disease. If you’re on
another interesting note, obesity is now
ever, now that they have been in use, it
semaglutide and you have a heart attack
classified by the World Health Organiza-
appears there are even more benefits than
you’ve improved your chances of survival
tion (WHO) as a chronic, relapsing disease
originally touted. When I first began
by 19% and your risk of heart attack by
arising from complex interactions between
researching the “miracle” drugs, I sat down
20%. It has been approved for treatment of
genetics, neurobiology, eating behaviors,
with Dr. George Carroll, who has decades
chronic kidney disease and sleep apnea.
access to healthy diet, market forces, and
of experience with medical weight loss. At
They’re working on it for the treatment of
the broader environment — and not just a
that time, he was treating patients based
Parkinson’s and looking into it decreasing
lack of self-control as previously believed
on their medical history and weight loss
cases of dementia — this is all based on
by many. This means GLP-1s will have
goals and regularly checking in to see if
the anti-inflammatory property that these
wider acceptance — and hopefully more
there were any issues and recording
drugs seem to have,” he shares.
affordable access — for people who need it.
veryone knows the old adage
results. Semaglutide was the compounded
There has also been a study on the
As for short-term and long-term use,
effects of GLP-1s on Alzheimer’s, but unfor-
some people are able to lose the weight
Fast forward to more than two years
tunately those results were not positive
and do fairly well keeping it off, while oth-
later and a lot of new scientific evidence
news. Other studies have shown the anti-
ers struggle with weight gain after dis-
has emerged. And there seems to be a lot
inflammatory effects can lessen arthritis,
continuing treatment. Dr. Carroll keeps
more benefits to the GLP-1 (glucagon-like
mental fog, or cognitive declines. So, the
records to track patient results. For those
peptide-1) drugs. Dr. Carroll shared what
use of GLP-1s for other than diabetes and
not continuing the drug, there is a monthly
can be called a second generation of the
weight loss are likely to increase.
self-reporting to his office. “I know plenty
formulation he was prescribing.
A popular trend is called micro-dosing,
of individuals who lost their weight and
or injecting smaller amounts of the drug,
are now three years out and have not
“Hopefully in the future we’ll have tri-
but according to Dr. Carroll there is no
needed any more injections. And other
ple agents as more and more discoveries
real definition or dosage standard that is
people periodically have to get back on
are being made. With more than one active
being used. “Sometimes you will read that
medication. A lot of my patients are tak-
agent, the more efficiency you get in the
microdosing is keeping you at a lower dose
ing maintenance dosing, which is an
weight loss. In the very beginning, we
than recommended. Microdosing carries
injection every other week,” he adds.
were basically just talking about semaglu-
risks, including inaccurate doses, reduced
tide, but there are probably 10 to 20 big
effectiveness and other safety issues, so
George W. Carroll, MD, is the former national
pharma that will be working on agents in
you should check with a medical practitio-
medical director of Physicians Weight Loss
the coming years. We’re going to have lots
ner. From my own personal experience,
Centers and has been a pioneer in metabolic
and lots of choices, but I don’t know if
many of my patients need more than that
health since 1980. He currently practices in
they’ll all be significantly different from
to achieve a total lack of hunger,” he
Maitland at BeSlimMD, a small, private
one another,” Dr. Carroll says.
explains.
practice he founded. beslimmd.com
drugs, combining more than one of the peptides.
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women are incredible! AN ADVENTHEALTH FOR WOMEN SERIES
Karina Bharne:
Hitting the Right Note With a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Trombone Performance and a Master of Arts in Arts Management from Carnegie Mellon University as well as an MBA from Eastern Washington University, Karina Bharne is making music of a different sort as she begins her second year as Executive Director of the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra. As a newcomer to Orlando, she’s already been raising the bar when it comes to the organization’s impact, reach and growth, while raising a family in a community she loves.
I
“
started playing the trombone when I
degrees. She mostly worked in operations
In 2023, she was looking for a change
was in fifth grade. Everyone asks why I
but was also introduced to development.
when she discovered the open position at
chose the trombone. We were in fifth
Shortly after graduating, she went to work
OPO. “I did a lot of research about the
grade, and the band director came in
at the San Antonio Symphony where she
orchestra and how much they were able to
and gave a little demo on each instru-
held several roles including general man-
do during the pandemic, which was amaz-
ager and interim executive director.
ing because our orchestra was basically
ment, and you would raise your hand if you wanted to play that instrument. He got to the trombone and no one raised their hand. So, I figured I would do it so I could be the best one,” Karina explains. While honing her performance skills, she began to think about what a music
shut down,” she says. “I came down and
“
I did a lot of research about the orchestra and how much they were able to do during the pandemic,
interviewed, loved everything about it, and just said to myself, ‘I really hope I get this job.’” She began in January 2024, halfway through the season, which she admits is a
career would look like. “I didn’t really
which was amazing because our
bit of challenge. “The beginning of my
think about music as a career until I was
orchestra was basically shut
first full season was when we got the ter-
who I was inspired by, but I thought my
down,” she says. “I came down
state of Florida was cut,” she adds.
only options were doing music education
and interviewed, loved everything
in early high school. I had a band director
and being a teacher or doing music performance and trying to get a job playing the
about it, and just said to myself,
trombone when I went to college,” she
‘I really hope I get this job.’
continues. A friend introduced her to arts man-
”
rible news that all of our funding from the But OPO continues to create new programs and initiatives to grow its audience and donor base. “We started our first movie series and instead of doing just one, we’ve done a few. We did one at Walt Disney Theater (Dr. Phillips Center), we’ll be
agement, and she completed her bache-
That’s where she met her husband,
doing one at Steinmetz Hall, and then
lor’s and master’s in just five years at
Ilan Morgenstern, who was a bass trom-
another one at The Plaza Live coming up
Carnegie Mellon University. “I took a ton
bonist in the orchestra. A career move to
in May,” she shares.
of classes, but it’s a great program and it
the Vancouver Symphony for him took
“One of the goals that I’ve had for this
really jump started my career,” she adds.
them to the Pacific Northwest where Kar-
year is to be able to expand our Young Peo-
Karina interned at the Pittsburgh Sym-
ina served as Executive Director of Sym-
ple’s Concerts, so this year we expanded to
phony and the Wolf Trap Foundation for
phony Tacoma, and had their first son,
Lake County, and we soon will hopefully
the Performing Arts while completing her
Rahm.
be expanding to a yet another county,
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beautybody&spirit making this probably the largest program of its kind in the United States. I don’t know of any other orchestra that’s performing to around 70,000 kids, so that’s really special,” Karina adds. In April 2025, Karina and her husband welcomed their second son, Ravi. The family enjoys baking together, going to the parks (Disney), and swimming at the pool. “My sons are 8 months and 3.5 years and I love them to death and think they’re the cutest things I have ever seen,” she gushes. Impressed by the support and collaboration of the Orlando community, Karina looks forward to continuing to elevate OPO and being great partners with other arts organizations, such as Opera Orlando and Orlando Ballet — OPO provides live music for performances. “Any time that someone needs an orchestra, we hope that the OPO is their first call,” she says.
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ADVENTHEALTH FOR WOMEN:
“You Good?” Start the Conversation about Mental Health Two simple words can make all the difference when it comes to opening up about mental health. That’s the idea behind “You Good?”, a public service campaign launched by AdventHealth for Children to help parents, coaches and teachers get youth to share how they’re feeling. Half of all mental health conditions begin by age 14, and 1 in 5 children is impacted by a mental health disorder at any given time. “You Good?” harnesses the influence of sports, with the goal of giving families access to practical mental health tools and resources available online at BeAMindleader.com. For more information, go to BeAMindleader.com and follow @BeAMindleader on Facebook and Instagram.
tastes&experiences hometown homerun A busy Thornton Park corner has been home to well-regarded restaurants HUE (who could forget the disco brunches?) and then delicious Southern fare at SOCO. Now it’s the hot spot for Good Salt Restaurant Group’s latest venture Osteria Ester, featuring a menu of Italian favorites. Together, Jason and Sue Chin have created beloved concepts such as Seito Sushi, The Osprey, Reyes Mezcaleria, The Monroe and Sparrow Wine Bar, begging the question — what’s next? osteriaester.com
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tastes&experiences
Ahhhh… Relax & Restore at AMRIT OCEAN by Christi Ashby
Sweeping ocean views, immersive wellness experiences, deliciously healthful cuisine and luxurious, well-equipped guest rooms. Sounds heavenly, right? Well, it’s not too good to be true at the Amrit Ocean Resort on Singer Island in the Palm Beaches. Dreamed up by sisters Shama and Neera Barot, they created an enveloping atmosphere that combines their South Florida roots and Indian heritage (Amrit means elixir of life in Sanskrit).
T
he project began pre-pandemic
When I visited in the fall, I was greeted
which complicated construc-
by a very attentive valet while a bellman
tion and delayed the opening
waited for us to check-in. At the front desk
until 2024. However, their
I was handed a glass of champagne. A
vision never wavered. It was to
property tour revealed the lobby areas,
create a total wellness retreat combining
including LALA bar and a casual coffee,
the best practices of their shared cultures.
smoothie and pastry bar, as well as the
What resulted is a tranquil space that is
outdoor amenities and pool deck with pri-
welcoming without being loud, is expan-
vate cabanas leading to a path to the
sive while exuding a warm comfort, and
beach. But the more than 100,000-square-
thoughtfully designed to be interesting but
foot, four-floor spa was a wow-worthy
not overpowering, incorporating the five
experience. Over my brief stay, one of the
symbolic pillars of wellness (nutrition, fit-
resort’s most refreshing attributes was the
ness, mindfulness, sleep and relaxation).
staff who through their thoughtful interac-
The subtle details — art, furnishings, tex-
tions made all guests comfortable.
tures and finishes — emerge like softly soothing ripples.
With a commitment to clean cuisine, the restaurants feature items free from
rary techniques, providing a bold, elevated
industrial seed oils and rooted in wild-
experience for the adventurous palate.
caught seafood, sustainable proteins, and
With vibrant spices and artfully plated
organic, locally sourced produce. TULA,
creations, AYRE takes diners on a journey
named after the Sanskrit word for bal-
that celebrates the richness of India while
ance, overlooks the ocean and appropri-
embracing the elegance of coastal fine
ately features coastal cuisine that blends
dining.
wellness and flavor.
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At each food spot throughout the prop-
Bringing the acclaimed flavors of the
erty, you can enjoy wellness and remedy-
Michelin-recognized Karma restaurant in
inspired mocktails, biodynamic wines,
Washington D.C., the recently opened
and vitality-boosting tonics crafted with
AYRE by Karma combines authentic
functional ingredients that support balance,
Indian culinary traditions with contempo-
clarity and taste.
tastes&experiences
I was fortunate to have several treat-
wellness and views of the Atlantic Ocean
ments booked for me in the massive spa
in mind, are outfitted with the Cloud 9
including the Aayush Hydrothermal Expe-
enhancement designed for restorative
rience with a floating sound bath (before
sleep. In-room tech includes circadian
bed one evening); a totally customized full
lighting designed to align with natural
body massage; the Hammam Ritual, an
sleep-wake cycles, enhanced air filtration
ancient bathing treatment; and a sampling
for the purest atmosphere, elite water fil-
of the hyperbaric chamber, red light ther-
tration at every touch point, along with a
apy and dry flotation. The entire four
thoughtfully stocked wellness bar.
floors are a relaxing retreat from the world, offering the latest in immersive wellness
If you are looking for a serene getaway with
therapies including a variety of IV drips.
luxurious amenities, Amrit Ocean Resort
The 155 guest rooms, designed with
is the answer. I will be back! amritocean.com
EPICUREAN EXPERIENCE To highlight the special services the Amrit offers, I was invited to a private dinner in the penthouse to sample a selection of dishes that illustrate the culinary skills of the team. Each course was a delightful work of art starting with a black sesame seed cone with truffle lemon mascarpone and osetra caviar. That was followed by a scallop with tapioca and apple, then a colorful salad of torchon, plum and elderflower compote with frisee and a mango champagne vinaigrette. Two protein plates were served next: Atlantic halibut with baby bok choy and gremolata, and dry-aged New York sirloin with sunchoke foam. The grand finale was a Valrhona chocolate ganache with mango mousse and Nutella powder.
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Circle of Red and
GO REDforWOMEN GO RED FOR ALL THE WOMEN IN YOUR LIFE CIRCLE OF RED MEMBERS PHOTOGRAPHED by CHRISTI ASHBY at CASA FELIZ
From left: Anjali Vyas MD, Kristen Toth, Jayne Willis
Looking ahead, Go Red for Women is focused on advancing women’s heart health through cutting-edge research, equitable health solutions, and bold advocacy. The goal is to empower women at every stage of life with the tools and knowledge they need to thrive.
THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION URGES WOMEN TO TAKE ACTION WITH THESE KEY STEPS:
s Awareness is essential. Heart disease remains the leading As the American Heart Association continues its mission to improve health for all, Go Red for Women enters its 22nd year stronger than ever. This movement has transformed awareness and action around women’s cardiovascular health — and the work is far from done. “Go Red for Women is more than a movement — it’s a call to action,” says Heather Maloney, Executive Director for the American Heart Association Greater Orlando market. “Together, we’re breaking barriers, driving innovation, and empowering women to take charge of their heart health like never before.”
cause of death for women.
s Know Your Numbers: total cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar, and body mass index.
s Understand your family history and talk to your healthcare provider about heart disease and stroke.
s Take proactive steps using Go Red for Women resources
on physical activity, healthy eating, blood pressure control, and managing sleep and stress.
For more information on signs and symptoms of heart disease and stroke in women, visit goredforwomen.org.
2025-2026 CIRCLE OF RED MEMBERS: Top row from left: Chris Gearity, Kristen Toth, Lacey Nelson, Karla Muniz, Liliana Parra, Elizabeth Purinton, Mindy Ballard, Tami Swanson, Jessica Greeves, Cindy Price, Lysa Barbano, Jayne Willis. Bottom row from left: Wendy Terry, Lisette Vizacarrondo, Megan Paquin, Vanessa Garner, Beena Parikh, Dawn Ofodile, Giorgina Pinedo-Rolón, Nisha Shah, Stephanie Abril, Amarjit Kaur, Christina Pinto Rogers, Anjali Vyas MD, Sita Swamy, Carrie Biggar, Deisamar De Soto-Torres, Nicole Chaffee, Katie Seymour, Tracy Swanson
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“
As Chair for the 2026 Circle
of Red, I’m honored to lead a
group of passionate advocates committed to changing the future of women’s heart health,” says Christina Pinto Rogers. “Heart disease is still the No. 1 killer of women, and together we’re Christina Pinto Rogers, Circle of Red Chair, and Dr. Anjali Vyas, Go Red for Women Chair
determined to raise awareness
CIRCLE of RED MEMBERS
woman has the chance to live
BOLD HEARTS Carrie Biggar Jennifer Crowley Nicole Chaffee Jillyan McKinney Megan Paquin Beena Parikh
Liliana Parra Giorgina Pinedo-Rolón Shanna Ramsey Julie Kleffel Yamile Luna Yvonne Fulbright
and inspire action so every
”
her healthiest life.
CIRCLE OF RED Stephanie Abril Christi Ashby Mindy Ballard Lysa Barbano Belinda Berman Kimberly Brown Deisamar De Soto-Torres Kristine Fan Vanessa Garner Chris Gearity Jessica Greves Andrea Massey Karla Muniz Lacey Nelson Dawn Ofodile Cindy Price Elizabeth Purinton Gloria San Miguel Katie Seymour Nisha Shaw Kim Strong Sita Swamy Tami Swanson Tracy Swanson Wendy Terry Kristin Toth Kari Vargas Zoraida Velasco Lisette Vizacarrondo Jayne Willis Jennifer Wodi
From left: Giorgina Pinedo-Rolón, Wendy Terry, Chris Gearity, Nicole Chaffee, Cindy Price
From left: Elizabeth Purinton, Tracy Swanson, Nisha Shah, Stephanie Abril, Amarjit Kaur january | february 2026
61
From left: Liliana Parra, Beena Parikh, Christina Pinto Rogers, Giorgina Pinedo-Rolón, Nicole Chaffee, Carrie Biggar, Megan Paquin
HEART MONTH — NATION OF LIFESAVERS™ Every minute matters when it comes to cardiac arrest. Each year, more than 350,000 people experience cardiac arrest out-
From left: Dawn Ofodile, Elizabeth Purinton, Sita Swamy
side of a hospital in the U.S. — including thousands of children.
CIRCLE OF RED
Most happen at home, and survival rates remain far too low.
Circle of Red is a society of passionate individuals committed to
This February, and every February during American Heart
fighting heart disease and stroke in women. In Central Florida,
Month, we challenge our community to step up and join the
members use their influence, generosity, and passion to raise
Nation of Lifesavers™. Our goal? Empower millions to learn
awareness and inspire women to take charge of their health.
CPR and help save lives. Imagine the impact if every household had someone trained in CPR. Together, we can make that vision a reality and double survival rates by 2030. Take the first step today — watch the quick Hands-Only CPR video at heart.org/handsonlycpr. It only takes 60 seconds to learn
This year, we celebrate the Bold Hearts level of Circle of Red, introduced to amplify impact through elevated support. Circle of Red members are leaders in their communities and families. For many, the fight against heart disease is deeply personal. As champions of the Go Red for Women movement, they are truly the heart of our mission.
a skill that could save someone you love. CIRCLE OF RED BOLD HEARTS MEMBERS: Top row from left: Jayne Willis, Tami Swanson, Kristen Toth, Wendy Terry. Bottom row from left: Carrie Biggar, Chris Gearity, Beena Parikh, Anjali Vyas, MD, Christina Pinto Rogers, Giorgina Pinedo-Rolón, Nicole Chaffee, Mindy Ballard, Lisette Vizacarrondo
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From left: Carrie Biggar, Katie Seymour, Karla Muniz, Megan Paquin, Deisamar De Soto-Torres
From left: Vanessa Garner, Mindy Ballard, Lisette Vizcarrondo, Jayne Willis, Lysa Barbano
From left: Dawn Ofodile, Liliana Parra, Christina Pinto Rogers, Lacey Nelson, Beena Parikh
From left: Sita Swamy, Kristen Toth, Jessica Greeves, Tami Swanson
2026 Orlando Go Red for Women Luncheon Friday, February 6, 2026, 10:30am – 2:00pm Loews Sapphire Falls Resort 6601 Adventure Way, Orlando, FL 32819 heart.org/orlandogored
General Inquiries: Vikki Butler at Victoria.Butler@heart.org january | february 2026
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2026 WOMEN of the YEAR COLLEGE PRESIDENTS:
BROOKE BARNETT | GEORGIA LORENZ | KATHLEEN PLINSKE Nationally, white males outnumber females in college presidencies and there is still a pay gap. But in Central Florida, we have a legacy — Rita Bornstein, Rollins College president, 1990-2004, and Ann McGee, Seminole State College president, 1996-2018 — and now we are fortunate to have three stand-out women college presidents who impact thousands of students each year as well as our community through their traditions, mission and initiatives. Orange Appeal is thrilled to honor them with a special celebration on February 2 at Judson’s in the Dr. Phillips Center. PHOTOGRAPHED BY JIM HOBART AT THE RICE FAMILY PAVILION, ROLLINS COLLEGE
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DR. BROOKE BARNETT Editor’s Note: We talked with President Barnett last fall during her first semester on campus.
What makes Rollins College different and special?
Brooke Barnett was named the 16th president of Rollins College in July 2025, after serving as provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at Butler University. In that role, she provided strategic leadership for all academic programs and student success initiatives across undergraduate, graduate, and online platforms, with a particular focus on student belonging and success, faculty development and innovative learning experiences. She also served as a key member of the university’s executive cabinet and as second-in-command to the president. Previously Brooke was dean of Butler’s College of Communication where she championed a number of transformational efforts. including the launch of a two-year college to increase access to higher education, efforts to create a more robust institutional innovation infrastructure and the introduction of a comprehensive first-year experience. She also spent nearly two decades at Elon University. Brooke began her career as a journalist and media producer and holds a BA in English and communication studies, an MA in journalism and a PhD in mass communication.
Rollins offers students the best of both worlds in Winter Park and the Greater Orlando area. Our beautiful campus sits in charming Winter Park, a wonderful place to live and learn, while just outside lies Orlando, a thriving urban center that provides exceptional opportunities for internships, jobs, and entrepreneurship. We’re more comprehensive than a typical liberal arts college. Beyond our undergraduate programs in the College of Liberal Arts, we’ve been delivering adult education for more than 60 years through the Hamilton Holt School, and our Crummer Graduate School of Business offers a highly regarded MBA program. This blend of residential and commuter students for our undergraduate programs and working professionals, many of whom are alumni, creates a dynamic, multifaceted learning community. Rollins has unique financial strengths that directly benefit students. The Alfond Inn, our award-winning boutique hotel, generates scholarships for our students. Combined with other diversified revenue streams from commercial real estate and executive education, these assets provide financial stability and student support that few colleges our size can match. Well before I interviewed for the Rollins presidency, I owned Fred Rogers notecards. I adored him and his ethos. As Rollins College’s most famous alumnus, his spirit of kindness, dignity, and attention to all learners permeates our campus culture. As he said, Rollins is where he learned to serve, and every day I see that commitment to service manifested in our students. These are some of the things that make Rollins a particularly appealing, special place.
How are you engaging with the students? Living on campus means I truly live among the students. I can’t attend everything, but I’m working toward attending a competition for each sport we host and I have attended plays, concerts, musical performances, and religious celebrations. Whenever I have free moments on campus, I just pop in to see a little bit of something. In December, when our men’s soccer team made a remarkable run to the 2025 NCAA Division II National Championship game, I was able to travel to Colorado Springs to see the game. I was so proud to be a part of this historic experience for them. They lost that final game,
She’s also an award-winning educator and widely published scholar and has served on numerous boards and advisory councils, including the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), Higher Education Resource Services (HERS) and the College Presidents for Civic Preparedness Leadership Council. Brooke’s husband Tom is a professor of Anthropology and Folklore at Rollins. Brooke and Tom have a daughter who is in graduate school and a son who is a senior in college. january | february 2026
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but it was an amazing season. I am so proud of the team and the stellar coaches who mentor our student-athletes. I choose to be in higher education because I genuinely want to be around students. I also learn tremendously from my colleagues. They’re experts in their chosen fields, and there’s so much to absorb from them, even in small, informal conversations. Sometimes it’s just fascinating. I get to spend every day in this intellectually stimulating environment and help to create the best learning experiences for our students.
How are you handling the increasing emphasis on AI and how it impacts education? I find myself between two perspectives: technophilia and technophobia. I see great benefits, progress, and possibilities in technological advancement, but I think we should proceed with caution around ethics, brain development, and broader societal implications. Here’s a great example: AI can help with cognitive offload for tasks you already know how to do well. We just need to make sure students fundamentally know how to do those tasks well before they offload them. I think our focus is going to be on helping students work alongside AI by asking provocative questions of it, thinking about the ethical implications of
AI, but also making sure they know how to do the underlying skills. We can think about AI as “let’s make sure they don’t cheat with it,” or we can think about it as “let’s make sure we’re clear about the ways we could use it and critique it.” If I were teaching a literature class right now, I would definitely consider using AI as a study of genre. It’s already a fascinating teaching tool. We have to think carefully about how we’re teaching and how we’re preparing students for the future world. There’s also the serious environmental impact of AI to consider, the way it draws on so many resources, that we haven’t paid much attention to yet. I read a paper from MIT professors on this topic and have been musing on it.
What is your personal mission for the college moving forward? Institutions of higher education are always collaborative spaces — nothing happens from the top down. This year I’m focused on doing a listening tour, and I’m already starting to see some patterns and themes emerge. I’m eager to discover what we will do together. I’m going to intersperse what I’m learning from the community with my own perspectives from having worked at other institutions, and takeaways from conversations with friends in higher education. I’m excited to triangulate all of that and start moving toward some big things together. I don’t know what all those will be yet, but it’s great to be in a place that wants to keep getting better and to think about what we will do that will be meaningful and matter to our students in the future.
What do you enjoy during your limited personal time? There are so many things to do in Central Florida — I’m trying to work my way to experience more in Winter Park and Orlando. We’ve gone to Steinmetz Hall twice for music performances, which were incredible. We’ve been getting involved in some of the cultural events, though not yet at the level we’d like. We are excited to attend sporting events too. And we have sampled some amazing local restaurants. We couldn’t be happier living in this community. Everyone said we would love it here, and it has exceeded our expectations. It’s been an incredibly warm welcome.
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DR. GEORGIA LORENZ What makes Seminole State College different and special? I think the strongest characteristic that really distinguishes Seminole State is what everybody describes as a family type of community. Even during my interview process when I was a semifinalist and sitting in front of the panel of about 25 interviewers, the president of the faculty union said to me, ‘you know this place is a family and even when we’re maybe on opposite sides of an issue or opposite sides of the table we know that we’re all a family.’ It’s been clear to me that it’s a huge value of our employees and it translates into the way that we treat students. We really value that personal guidance and support.
How important is the college’s relationship with the community? There is a clear understanding that we achieve so much more together and we’re really interdependent in terms of success. I was welcomed with open arms into this community and felt so much support from day one, and the college feels very integrated in the community. A great manifestation of that is the program that we launched toward the end of COVID called Seminole State Commit, made possible through a $1 million commitment from Seminole County. Essentially, we go out into the community, into those areas that have lower educational attainment, lower median wages who might be unemployed or underemployed, and take the education and training to them. Since we launched it we’ve acquired more and more partners — the City of Sanford, Orlando Health, CareerSource Central Florida, the Sharing Center — and have created a web of support for individuals getting free education and training in the community that can help them get to that next level of employment.
Georgia Lorenz brings more than 20 years of experience in higher education to Seminole State College and under her leadership, the college has been named among the top 10 community and state colleges in the nation by the Aspen Institute, the nation’s signature recognition of high achievement among America’s community colleges. Prior to joining Seminole State, she served as Vice President of Academic Affairs at Santa Monica College (SMC) in California. Of many achievements at SMC, Dr. Lorenz led a team who received the Award for Innovation from the California Department of Finance ($2M) in partnership with Arizona State University to implement a guided pathways framework redesign of the college. The team was also invited to participate in the American Association of Community Colleges Pathways 2.0 national project.
What about real world engagement and impact on the workforce? We say Seminole State is your learning partner for career success and that is key to our strategy and how we approach our work. We’re very integrated with local employers and one of the things that we really emphasize is connecting what students are learning in the classroom to their career goals. So, even if they’re sitting in a history class, the professor is making very explicit the career skills you’re gaining in being able to communicate effectively or making an argument supported with evidence. Even in general education we try to do that, but in our career center we started a new series, A Day in the Life, and every month they take groups of students to a job site so they can learn about that career and meet people who are doing the job. This semester they went to Northwestern Mutual, Charles Schwab, Liberty Mutual and the Central Florida Zoo.
Dr. Lorenz earned a PhD in Educational Policy, Planning and Administration at USC, where she received the Delta Epsilon Dissertation Award of Merit. She holds a Master of Science in Education and Social Policy from Northwestern University and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Stanford University.
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we can reduce the amount of transactional time we spend with students and really increase the transformational time we spend with students.
What is your personal mission for the college moving forward?
We have more than 350 internships and 110 agreements with local employers that support our students and their workbased learning. We partnered with both Advent-Health and Orlando Health to create dedicated education units that place our nursing students who are almost ready to graduate in their last semester in a PCU unit [progressive care unit] as if they’re an employee at the hospital.
I really appreciate the tradition of longevity [Dr. Lorenz is only the third president since the college’s founding in 1966] and I also hope to be at Seminole State for a long time. Seminole State is a really strong college that is performing exceptionally well and I’m so excited about and committed to all the things we still can accomplish. When it comes to our students, I really
How are you handling the increasing emphasis on AI and how it impacts education? We have formed a centralized task force that has representation from all around the campus — people who have different roles and jobs at the college. They’ve been focusing on several areas: policy to ensure that we are operating safely and putting up guardrails to protect data and intellectual property; educating employees so they’re focusing on training; for our faculty we’re focused on how we are educating students, so they’re prepared for the workforce. Our Faculty Center of Teaching and Learning has really taken a lead on that. We had a two-day session last year with AI specialists, followed by additional workshops so faculty can get a deep dive in AI and how to educate our students. We also had a speaker series that looked at AI from different perspectives and culminated in a panel, The Future of AI in the Workforce, and we had people from different fields to represent programs that we offer talking about how AI is evolving in their field. And of course, we’re looking at ways AI can help us be more efficient in our work — we’re always looking for ways that we can amplify our employees’ impact on our student success mission. Maybe AI can help us streamline some processes so
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that we want to accomplish — building the second instructional building at our Altamonte Springs campus with all of our allied health programs. We’re looking to double our nursing program and expand our other healthcare programs to meet the workforce needs of our hospital partners. We also want to remodel the old building at our Altamonte Springs campus to enhance student services there. And we had a sinkhole at our performing arts center so we’re going to demolish that building, which was built back in 1975, and build a new performing arts center on the Sanford Lake Mary campus. And we always need to continue advocating for more operational funds from the state to ensure that we can continue to serve everyone who wants to benefit from the opportunity that we have to offer and to do so at an affordable price.
What do you enjoy during your limited personal time?
want to commit to continuous improvement, really interrogating our own practices and figuring out what can we do to reduce barriers for students to enhance their learning experience and student life experience. I don’t see huge sweeping changes but I’m just continually trying to improve, and as a result, improve outcomes for students. One of the more ambitious things involves fundraising campaigns for things
I am part of a self-organized master swim group, so I swim several times a week with them, which helps to keep me sane. On evenings I have off, like anybody else, I like to just chill out and watch a good Netflix series or football game with my husband and my dog. I am a shopper and my mom is too, so the two of us like to hit The Mall at Millenia and the outlets. I also like to read quite a bit, particularly business-oriented books and Harvard Business Review particularly. Reading about organizational development really helps get my brain going in ways we can continue to improve as an organization.
DR. KATHLEEN PLINSKE What makes Valencia College different and special?
As a first-generation college graduate, Kathleen Plinske is passionate about the role education can play in transforming the lives of students and their families, and in turn, our communities. Prior to being selected as Valencia College’s fifth president, she had served at Valencia since 2010 as campus president of the Osceola, Lake Nona and Poinciana campuses and as executive vice president and provost. In these roles she spearheaded efforts to significantly increase access to higher education in traditionally underserved communities, led the planning of several new buildings and a new campus, organized efforts to design successful transfer and career pathways, and led the collaborative development of a collegewide strategic impact plan. Kathleen began her career at McHenry County College, a community college in her hometown of Crystal Lake, Illinois. Over the course of nine years, she held several roles, including vice president of institutional effectiveness and interim president. She attended Indiana University Bloomington as a Herman B Wells Scholar, earning a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and physics. She also holds a master’s degree in Spanish, a doctorate in educational technology, a master’s degree in business administration, and a master’s degree in industrial and systems engineering.
I would say it’s our people that make it so special. When I started here in 2010, I would have the opportunity to talk with students and connect with them. I used to think I was so lucky to meet the students with the most amazing stories, and it took me a while to realize any student is going to have the same type of amazing story. That’s something I really cherish. Our faculty and staff just care so deeply about our students, want to support them, and want to see them succeed. Many of our faculty and staff now are Valencia alumni. And finally, we have this big idea at Valencia that anyone can learn anything under the right conditions. We just reject the notion that some people will never be good at math, or some people will never be good writers. What we say is that everyone needs slightly different conditions to be able to succeed. Our faculty and staff are really committed to both identifying and creating the conditions that our students need. Our scale is pretty special — we serve more than 70,000 students every year. We’re the second largest of the state colleges in Florida and we’re the sixth largest community college in the country. What I love about this institution is that despite our scale, our desire is that every student feels like they are treated and respected as the wonderful, unique human being that they are.
How important is the college’s relationship with the community? Valencia has always been integrated into the community. There are a lot of partnerships within the community. If you look back to our history and to our founding, there was a private junior college in town, Orlando Junior College, but it wasn’t open admissions. At that time Martin Marietta, which is now Lockheed Martin, demanded that there be a public community college to help prepare the workforce of the future. We also have this incredible relationship with UCF through DirectConnect to UCF, so that every single student who completes an associate in arts degree is guaranteed admission to UCF. If there are high school seniors from Orange and Osceola counties that apply to UCF as freshmen and are denied admission, we actually follow up with a letter that says we heard you wanted to be a Knight, but did you know that there’s another way? Then we invite them to start at Valencia and earn their associate’s degree and make sure that they know that they’ll be guaranteed admission. We have terrific partnerships with community organizations to help support students. For example, we’re really working to try to help address food insecurity within our student population and have a partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank.
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What about real world engagement and impact on the workforce? Part of our story has always been workforce development and partnership with employers. We have workforce schools that are designed to support the key industries in our community — School of Nursing; School of Allied Health; School of Hospitality and Culinary Arts; School of Business; School of Engineering, Technology, and Advanced Manufacturing; School of Public Safety, Legal Studies, and Education; and School of Arts, Entertainment, and Design. Each of these schools have degree programs and certificate programs that are informed by and are co-designed by our local employers to ensure that our graduates are prepared for the careers that are in highest demand in our community.
How are you handling the increasing emphasis on AI and how it impacts education? I’m really interested in making sure that we are updating our curriculum to ensure we are preparing students for the jobs of the future and not the jobs of 2015. The incorporation of AI in the workplace is going to require us to pivot much more quickly than ever before. We’ve partnered with the Universal Orlando Foundation to support a project we’re doing in partnership with the Institute for the Future. We’re working with futurists to help us imagine what the workforce of 2035 will look like and how we can best ensure that our graduates are prepared for that future through our curriculum and student experiences.
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We’re trying to take that long view and understand what it is that our employers will need 10 years from now. Of course, we’re looking at all sorts of operational efficiencies, since we are serving 70,000 students, to provide on-demand services for students that are personalized without personal interaction. We’re really excited about some new technology that we believe will be rolling out this spring. If a student needs to find out what classes they should register for next semester or if they want to change their major how that would impact the courses they needed to take. Instead of trying to schedule a meeting with an advisor, it might provide a way to get some quick answers.
What is your personal mission for the college moving forward? I would like to carry on the legacy here and continue to expand access to college. There are a lot of misconceptions about access to college, particularly that it’s too expensive. Many people believe attending college requires taking out big loans, but that’s not always the case. Programs like Osceola Prosper have helped us show students and families that they can even attend with little to no out-of-pocket cost. Through the work with Osceola Pros-
per we have really been able to turn that around and significantly expand access to higher education [high school graduates in Osceola County can attend Valencia for no out-of-pocket cost]. I’m excited to expand those types of efforts for Orange County. We’ve learned that more students are interested in college than many assume, and our region has many jobs that require education beyond high school but not necessarily a bachelor’s degree. Valencia College provides those opportunities, both for students and for employers. Expanding access means more than keeping our doors open. It requires proactive outreach to help students overcome barriers. We want families to know there’s a clear, affordable pathway to higher education right here in our community.
What do you enjoy during your limited personal time? One of the things I’m working on is a doctorate in philanthropy at Indiana University. I enjoy golf — we have so many great golf courses here. I like going to the Lake Nona Performance Center. And I like spending time with my husband and our dogs. One of them, Cooper, is an emotional support dog who visits the kids at Nemours Children’s Hospital.
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Jensen Kirila Matt Batchelor The Wedding of and
Date: September 23, 2025 Venue: Villa Erba Event Planner & Designer: Marcella Molinari Design Event Planner: Gaia Concierge Photography: Constantino Pournaras Videography: Panagiotakis George Content Creator: Tatiana @wed.love.it Florals: Riccardo Ciceri Flower Designer Catering: Class Eventi Sound and Lighting: Blunotte Eventi Immersive Entertainment and Music: everso Music Makeup: Noemi Bridal Beauty; Merita Bridal Beauty Dress: Calvet Couture Bridal, Winter Park Welcome Party Designer: Alessandro Enriquez Welcome Party DJ: May Parra
Their story: Matt and Jensen met on a mutual friend’s boat on Lake Conway
in Orlando. The next day, they went on their first date in Winter Park. “A week later, we were jet-setting to the U.S. Open in New York City, and soon after, to Lake Como, Italy, for a weekend with friends. From the beginning, our lives and personalities aligned seamlessly, and we’ve been blessed to travel the world together — but we fell in love in our favorite place, Lake Como, where our story truly began,” Jensen explains.
The proposal: Matt originally planned to propose on the beach in Palm
Beach, but a tropical storm canceled his plans three days in a row. “He then surprised me with a last-minute trip to Lake Como before the holidays to visit friends. To my complete shock, he proposed the day we arrived outside by the lake. It was intimate, romantic, and perfectly us. Como continues to draw us back for the most meaningful moments of our lives,” she says.
Ceremony and reception: Being such a special place for the couple, they
held their wedding at Lake Como. “With guests traveling all the way to Italy, we planned a three-day celebration. We began with a welcome party aboard the historic Concordia Steamboat, cruising Lake Como at sunset — an unforgettable way to greet our guests. Our ceremony and reception took place at Villa Erba, an iconic lakeside estate. The design blended modern elements with classic Italian style, featuring intentional details throughout. A full live band and experiential dancers created an immersive, memorable evening for every guest,” Jensen shares. 74
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Personal thoughts, Jensen: Record-
breaking storms brought landslides and flooding to Como on our wedding day, and emotions ran high. We were incredibly grateful when the weather cleared enough for guests to arrive safely. Though the ceremony moved indoors, the night exceeded every dream—layered with heartfelt moments and unforgettable details: a holy ceremony, live marionette dolls serving champagne, lakeside speeches, multi-course dinner with entertainment between each course, and a late-night celebration with a full band and dancers. Surrounded by loved ones, it was more perfect than we could have imagined.
Special touches: About a year before the
wedding, the bride’s father passed away, leaving a noticeable void throughout the wedding journey. Since his passing, he had a way of sending signs through rainbows. On the wedding day, after the skies cleared as the family took photos, a rainbow appeared, stretching from the mountain across the lake with the Italian flag in front. “It felt like a moment from a fairytale — a profound sign of peace, love and blessings,” Jensen says.
Where they are now: The newlyweds
recently moved from West Palm Beach to Franklin, TN, just outside Nashville, where they have begun an exciting new chapter and are looking forward to starting a family in the future.
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Lindsey Giedd Charlie Rolenc The Wedding of and
Date: June 7, 2025 Venue: The Barn at Hidden Oaks Farm Planning: I Do Details Photography: Mya Lyn Media Florals: Farm Nine Catering: Puff ‘n Stuff Dessert: Kelly’s Homemade Ice Cream Ceremony and Cocktail Hour Music: Classern Quartet Reception Music: Jay Edwards with Liquid Entertainment Hair and Makeup: LeJeune Artistry Bride Dress Shop: Nicole Marie Bridal Rentals: EventWorks Linens: BBJ La Tavola
Their story: Chris and Lindsey’s love story began when they were 15 years old. They sat next
to each other in class at Bishop Moore Catholic High School in 2018. “We continued our journey through the three years of high school and throughout our four years at different colleges. Charlie attended The United States Military Academy at West Point, and I attended the University of Florida. After lots of letters, phone calls, and flights, Charlie asked me to marry him in the summer of 2024,” Lindsey says.
The proposal: During one of the few, short breaks Charlie was given during his time at West Point, he proposed. “New Smyrna Beach is my home away from home and that was where Charlie asked me to marry him. We were on a quiet stretch of beach when he got down on one knee. It was perfect in every way, including the fact that the diamond in my ring is from my mom’s engagement ring,” she explains. 78
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Ceremony and reception: The cou-
ple’s wedding ceremony and reception were held at The Barn at Hidden Oaks Farm of Lake Mary. “The day was colorful, intentional, and so full of love. Every second of every hour was thought through and every detail in every corner was picked perfectly. I wore the most beautiful wedding dress and Charlie was in his military uniform. The flowers, the food, the checkered dance floor, the best music from ceremony through reception... it was all... a dream come true! Most of all, we were surrounded by our favorite people in the whole world!” Lindsey shares.
Personal thoughts, Lindsey: I felt
calm on our big day. I felt confident in the commitment we were choosing. I felt overjoyed to have so many of our best friends in one room. I felt present in the best moments of our life.
Where they are now: Charlie is in
the army, and the newlyweds are currently living right off post at West Point in New York. He is headed to his next training in early 2026, where they will take on Fort Sill, Oklahoma, together. “I’ve been incredibly blessed with the opportunity to apply my teaching degree to homeschool for families in New York and Charlie is completing tasks as a 2nd Lieutenant,” Lindsey says.
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Julia Andersen Dr. Shelby Harris The Wedding of and
Date: May 24, 2025 Venue: Four Seasons Resort Orlando Planner: Norma Ventriere, Blush by Brandee Gaar Photography: Kristen Weaver Photography Videography: Adam Lora Videography Florals: Lana Pelham-Faulkner, Fairbanks Florist Dress: ENAURA Bridal (New York) Groom’s Suit: Leonardo 5th Avenue Hair and Makeup: Kristy’s Artistry Design Team DJ: Curate Entertainment Musicians: Classern Quartet Lighting: FyerFly Productions Linens: Over the Top Rental Linens Rentals: EventWorks Signage: Do Tell Designs Invitations: Maureen H. Hall Stationery and Invitations Mustang: Cole’s Classic Cars Furniture Rentals: Gala Rentals Honeymoon: Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort
Their story: Shelby and Julia met on the dating app, Hinge. “During our first conversation,
we bonded over my horses. I had a photo of my horse on my profile, and Shelby immediately mentioned that his mother rode horses as well. We chatted and decided to meet for sushi at Ootoya, followed by a walk around Lake Eola. We both went into it without many expectations, but there was an immediate sense of comfort between us. Our relationship grew through simple, everyday moments,” Julia explains.
The proposal: Shelby proposed at the Trevi Fountain in Rome. “We were supposed to be meeting a tour guide early that morning, and after standing there waiting, I knew something was off. Shelby kept pretending everything was fine, which made it even more obvious that something was happening,” Julia says. “He eventually suggested we go down to the fountain, and that is when it clicked. The proposal itself was simple and very us — no big speech, no crowd watching, nothing dramatic.”
Ceremony and reception: The ceremony and reception took place at Four Seasons Resort Orlando. “The entire day was incredible, and every one of our vendors exceeded our expectations. It even rained that afternoon, so the ceremony had to be moved indoors, but our planner, Norma, made it feel intentional and beautiful,” Julia shares. “Our paper details were one of my favorite parts of the design. Our invitations had a soft blue palette with clean, classic lettering and a custom monogram that carried throughout the rest of the decor. We paired them with white orchids, blue ribbons, and small details that tied everything together. Our favorite part of the entire day was reading our own vows. It felt deeply personal, and it felt like we were telling our closest friends and family exactly why we chose each other,” she adds. 82
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“The reception was completely different in the best possible way. The easiest way to describe it is if a rave took place in a tropical jungle. It was colorful, energetic, and so much fun. Our first dance began with soft, romantic lighting, and then the room shifted into fluorescent colors that pulled everyone onto the dance floor with us. To end the evening, confetti rained down over us, which made it feel unforgettable,” Julia sums up.
Where they are now: Shelby is a gen-
eral surgery resident at AdventHealth Orlando and is preparing to apply for Burn Fellowships. Julia is an associate attorney at Burger, Meyer, and D’Angelo, LLP. “We live in downtown Orlando with our two fur babies, an English bulldog named Barney and a Bernese mountain dog mix named Smokey. Our life is busy, but it feels full and happy, and we are really enjoying this chapter together,” she says.
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Wedding Events The 2026 Bridal Drop
Events by Dubsdread will host a three-event Bridal Drop series to showcase its offerings and three venues — Highland Manor, Historic Dubsdread Ballroom and Azalea Lodge at Mead Gardens. During the open house, attendees will explore styled ceremony and reception spaces, sample chef-selected bites, and see how each venue brings 2026 weddings to life. Whether your vibe is historic charm, southern elegance or a nature-filled garden escape, this is your chance to see it
The Highland Manor
all, feel it all, and start planning with confidence.
2026 BRIDAL DROP EVENTS Drop 1: The Highland Manor, January 18, 11am – 1pm Drop 2: Historic Dubsdread Ballroom, January 18, 1pm – 3pm Drop 3: Azalea Lodge at Mead Gardens, January 25, 11am 1pm Azalea Lodge at Mead Gardens
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To reserve your spot, visit eventsbydubsdread.com/upcoming-events.
Maureen H. Hall Stationery and Invitations: A STAPLE FOR 40 YEARS After moving to Winter Park and starting Maureen H. Hall Stationery and Invitations from her home in 1977, Maureen Hall Dearden opened her boutique in Greeneda Court on historic Park Avenue in 1986. Still in the same location, tucked behind Barnie’s Coffee, Maureen meets one-onone with clients in a comfortable, collaborative experience to create exquisite invitations and suites for social gatherings and weddings. She offers an online store showcasing thousands of unique paper products from established partners, including Designers Fine Press, Arzberger Engravers, Anna Griffin, William Arthur, Crane, and Printswell, among several others. Her shop has a collection of fine writing papers for all occasions, thank you notes, note cards, business correspondence, gifts and accessories. A staple of the community, Maureen loves to support local businesses and charities. She is active in several local organizations including Junior League, Foundation for Foster Children and Park Avenue District. She still resides in Winter Park with her family, and you can often find her riding her bike, playing golf or walking to work. 86
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