Women on the Scene 2012

WOMEN

ON THE

SCENE

Catch the Vision! Do Something That Matters.

The women of the State College of Florida Foundation have caught the vision for the future of SCF — and for the future of the community.

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Founded in 1978 as a 501 (c) (3) charitable foundation, the State College of Florida Foundation is devoted exclusively to making certain that the first and largest public college in the region is prepared to meet the daunting challenges of higher education emerging in the 21st century. Thanks to this community’s generosity, the Foundation’s assets today have grown to over $45 million.

SCF, it’s possible to work, live here and go to school.”

Lisa Bristow, an SCF alumna, notes “The Foundation has allowed me to meet and learn about many hardworking employees of the College. They have all inspired me to help raise funds for the Foundation because of their strong belief in the mission of the College as illustrated by their willingness to donate so generously to the cause themselves.”

“SCF is our local, home grown college nimble enough to meet the ever-evolving needs of our business community,” says Foundation Board member Chris Pfahler. “Together with our donors, the Foundation is poised to provide the necessary financial support to ensure SCF’s continued success.

Annette Dignam has served on the Foundation board for more than 14 years. “I’m a promoter of causes. I try to get the message out there. When I get involved in something, I’m passionate about it!” And because of that, the Foundation has distinguished itself in the community through the Sundays at Neel Concerts, Evening Under the Stars and other special events.

“The Foundation’s choices of funding takes SCF from ‘good to great’ in all areas and engages the Bradenton, Sarasota and Venice communities,” observes Jennifer Saslaw a Trustee with the State College of Florida and liaison to the Foundation Board.

“The people who graduate from SCF tend to stay here in the community,” comments Foundation Board member Tana Sandefur. “Going away to school has become out of the question for more families. With

“The SCF Foundation has inspired me by allowing me the opportunity to see first-hand the dollars we raise being used,” says Jodi Allen. “Many of these students would not have the opportunity for an education if it weren’t for the scholarships we provide to them and it is very heartwarming to hear directly from the students about the impact it has made on their life.

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For

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Do Something That Matters and For Community.

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EMBRACE THE EXPERIENCE

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Founder and President

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SCENE Magazine proudly presents Women on the

Women’s lives today are truly an art form. Gathering

SCENE 2012, a special edition

together the 2012 group of

celebrating the achievements

Women on the Scene is like

of fabulous professionals,

curating the best of all art

entrepreneurs and community

styles for a major exhibit.

leaders. Common among

Mixing together all genres,

them is their great ability,

you have the American

motivation and winning

woman – our woman.

attitude to be the best they can be. As you discover the stories behind these notable women through their informative and inspiring profiles, we hope you will utilize their services, support the causes in which they so deeply believe and be motivated by their success. We thank them for sharing what makes each of them so unique.

My heartfelt thanks to everyone who worked so proficiently to make this issue extra special – Debbi Benedict (Issue Coordinator); Michelle Cross (Art Director); Rob & Kelly Villetto of Villetto Photography (Lead Photographer); Sue Cullen (Profile Writer), and everyone else who played a part in the completion of this magnificent publication.

In our area, the mix is even greater. Women from all around the globe settle in our little piece of paradise and all of our lives are richer. Look at any company, profession, or nonprofit organization and you can feel the influence of a global interaction.

All of our women have mastered the art of contemporary living – working, playing, giving back, raising a family, or raising an animal; their lives are as colorful as a painter’s palette. Sit back and enjoy exploring the 2012 Women on the Scene’s expressions of artful living on the Gulf coast.

Julie Milton

Executive Editor

Lead Photographer:

Ronald W. Milton

Rob Villetto of Villetto Photography

Executive Editor

Secondary Photographers:

Julie A. Milton

Keith Millard

Debbi Benedict Profile Writer Sue Cullen

WOMEN

V.P. Sales & Business Development

SCENE

Art Director

A SCENE MAGAZINE SPECIAL ISSUE SCENE

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Women on the Scene 2012

Debbi Benedict

Women on the Scene Coordinator

CEO/Publisher

Issue Coordinator

ON THE

Warm Regards,

Dan Downey

Michelle Cross Distribution Dick Jackson

Cliff Roles

Principal Office & Mailing Address: 7269 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota FL 34241 941.365.1119 Fax: 941.954.5067 scenesarasota.com SCENE Magazine is a locally owned, operated and printed publication.

SCENE Magazine is published monthly by RJM Ventures, LLC. Subscription price: $12.95 per year, $24.95 for two years.

All contents copyrighted. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. ISSN 1535-8895.

Family

is Life.

Enjoy it to the Fullest.

Member-owned since 1999, at Laurel Oak you will find very warm, welcoming, and friendly members. With abundant natural beauty teeming with wildlife, the Club’s many amenities include 36 holes of championship golf, 12 Har Tru tennis courts, a junior Olympic-size pool and a 45,000 sq ft clubhouse.

Whether you play golf or tennis, or like to socialize, dine and party with friends in a warm and inviting environment, we have a membership plan for your lifestyle. In addition to our retired members, there are many young families at Laurel Oak, giving the Club a very energetic, highly participatory membership with many family-oriented events throughout the year.

We invite you for a Club tour anytime or take advantage of our try-us-out membership, designed to allow you to experience Laurel Oak Country Club, with virtually all the privileges of a full member, before making the commitment to full membership.

Call today for your personal tour. Enjoy family and life to the fullest at Laurel Oak.

Secure your spot in one of Sarasota’s finest family country clubs.

Call Today for a Try-Us-Out Membership.

941-378-3399 2700 Gary Player Blvd.

Sarasota, FL 34240 www.laureloak.com A Private Club

THE PREMIER FAMILY COUNTRY CLUB

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Dinner for Two Special Menu Featuring Prime Rib $69.95 Per Couple. Including a choice of starter, entrĂŠe and a select bottle of wine per couple Available nightly starting at 5:00 Join us between 5:00-6:00 and receive a complimentary dessert to share Visit our menu online at cafeleurope.net Complimentary Valet Parking All Day Long

941.388.4415 | 431 St. Armands Circle | cafeleurope.net

Photo: Rob

Villetto, Villetto Photography Location: Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota Model: Galit Aviv Hair: Sam Smith, Cutting Loose Salon Makeup: Michelle Paty, Cutting Loose Salon Dress: Dream Weaver Collection, St. Armands Circle • Multi-layered red silk organza gown by Kevin Hall of California.

Available in several colors.

Jewelry: Coffrin

Jewelers, Sarasota

• 18 karat yellow gold cuff bracelet with 2.27tw round diamonds set in sterling silver.

• 14 karat yellow gold earrings with 2.73tw round chocolate diamonds and two round white diamonds.

• 14 karat yellow gold fashion ring, with 1.98tw round diamonds.

• 18 karat white gold pave button fashion ring, with 2.20tw round Vs2-Si1, F diamonds.

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Women on the Scene 2012

Taylor, Tammy, Sarah & Susan Karp A desire to help those in need unites three generations of women in the Karp family whose philanthropy and willingness to give their own time and talents have supported organizations that make Sarasota a wonderful place to live while also helping many of its most vulnerable residents. For nearly 20 years, through the Karp Family Foundation established by Susan Karp (inset photo) and her late husband Arthur, the family has aided organizations like Mote Marine Aquarium, Sarasota Memorial Hospital Foundation, Forty Carrots Family Center, Child Protection Center, Animal Rescue Coalition, Ringling College of Art + Design, Community Mobile Meals of Sarasota County, United Cerebral Palsy, Sarasota Food Bank, Humane Society of Sarasota County and many others.

Philanthropy is a family affair, starting with an annual meeting of family members that includes three generations of Karp women, Susan, her daughter, Tammy, and her two granddaughters, Taylor, 17, and Sarah, 15. Together they determine their annual gift giving through the Foundation, although individual interests and favored projects hold a special place in the heart. While Susan says she now is “finally retired,” ever since the family relocated here from Atlanta in 1993, she has helped anyone who approached her with a sincere need. Organizations like SPARCC, Sarasota Ballet and Sarasota Opera among many others benefitted from her mostly behind-the-scenes support.

The Karp family still offers the same devotion to community service through Tammy, who also has always been a steadfast benefactress, as well as through her daughters who are following in her and Susan’s footsteps. Tammy has served on several boards, including Forty Carrots, Goldie Feldman Academy and Temple Beth Shalom. Currently she serves as a PA Board Member at Out of Door Academy and sits on the Advisory Council of the Child Protection Center. Most recently she has become involved with Southeastern Guide Dogs. Along with her daughter, Sarah, Tammy toured the organization’s facilities and attended group lessons ultimately deciding to foster a puppy for 18 months.

This puppy is a perfect example, among others, of how the Karps encourage and support each other as well as the community. When Susan found out about Tammy’s involvement, she stepped in to sponsor the puppy, which earned her naming rights. So Cookie now is part of the family while they teach her basic obedience and house manners, socialize her, and attend regular training sessions to prepare her for the day when she will help a blind person gain independence. Cookie was named in commemoration of Arthur and the company he and Susan founded in Atlanta in 1977, the highly successful Great American Cookie Company.

With two such role models, it is no wonder Taylor and Sarah consider giving back a natural part of life; “just something you do.” Taylor’s initial project with her eighth grade class, the Warren BackPack Program, opened their eyes to the dire circumstances facing thousands of children in the community. Taylor and her classmates used their free period at Goldie Feldman Academy to pack food so children in the free and reduced cost lunch program at a nearby elementary school would have something to eat over the weekend, and the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives became very clear. Then, when Taylor and Sarah’s dear friend lost her sister Brandi to a prescription drug overdose, she and Sarah committed themselves to raising funds and awareness for Brandi’s Wish, the foundation Brandi’s mother started to fulfill the “wish that every teen live a drug free life.” Taylor and Sarah are always first to help with beach runs, tennis tournaments and other fundraisers.

Nothing touches these women more than the ability to make a positive difference in an individual’s life as illustrated when a plea for help came through Jewish Family and Children’s Services. A family coping with the tragedy of a son stricken with brain cancer was swamped with bills and overwhelmed by the 24hour care he required. With no hesitation, they stepped in to get family members the help they needed. As much as these generous women feel rewarded by their heartfelt acts, the community truly has benefitted from their generosity as well as from the example they set for what giving back truly means.

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Anne Folsom Smith Anne Folsom Smith has been creating beautiful interiors in Sarasota and internationally for nearly 30 years. Whether her clients’ inspiration starts with a plan, a painting, a photo or a feeling, Anne possesses the understanding and experience to translate their desires into designs that reflect their individual taste. Believing that what she ultimately delivers is lifestyle, Anne’s more than 45 years as a Sarasota resident have given her an understanding of what lifestyle means to homeowners in this market filled with cultured, knowledgeable and well traveled people who value her discernment and capabilities.

Refusing to be pigeonholed into a particular style, Anne insists that her work is all about serving her clients in ways that exceed their expectations.

Her projects have ranged from traditional to contemporary and span from Sarasota to California and internationally, including projects in England and China. Perceiving what her clients envision as their desired environment means spending several hours with them and asking a lot of questions before ever picking up a pencil and considering a design. Anne believes her work is based on emotion, and she pays particular attention to how clients live in their homes. She spends time listening and “getting into their heads” to understand what they may not be articulating that is important. That’s where her minor in psychology can come in handy. Merging the emotional with the technical aspects of bringing an interior design together is what she considers to be the joy of her work.

Anne’s work has been recognized in many ways, including Aurora and Fame Awards. She was named Designer of the Year by the Design Center of the Americas and was also named to Who’s Who Interior Design. She has been published in Southern Living, Southern Accents, Architectural Digest, Florida Architecture, Florida Design, Traditional Homes and Southern Homes. Her own home, nestled under oak and pecan trees that she

loves, won a Founders Garden Tour Award two years in a row. Traveling in Italy and seeing her project on the cover of Florida Design in airport newsstands and kiosks throughout the world was a peak moment for her.

The projects Anne has completed range from small spaces to 20,000 square foot homes. Recent projects include a coastal home remodeling on a fabulous Florida beach. Anne converted a very modest home into an enticing, cozy retreat for an extended family. The home was transformed to give the owner the sensation of an indoor/outdoor environment. An elevator was incorporated for convenience in bringing supplies, and people, from the garage to the living spaces on the second and third floors. She recalls one of her most entertaining assignments as recreating a penthouse for a client who is an avid collector of fine art. The challenge was to morph thematically from a French Country to an art deco motif, which Anne did while using many of the existing furnishings with new finishes and hardware that harmonized with the new look. Commercially, she has completed projects that include Michael’s on East, Michael’s Wine Cellar, Atrium on Biscayne Bay, Cancer Care Center, Plymouth Harbor, Bleu Claire, Marquee En Ville, and Marquee on the Bay. Continuing to learn and grow is important to Anne, who is the youngest of five children and was raised in a very traditional home nestled in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains. Her mother was a piano teacher and taught Anne a love of music. She continues to play piano and also sings in her church choir. Anne places great importance on family and community. Over the years, she has helped many organizations, and currently serves on the Sarasota Orchestra and New College boards. She also is active with the Covenant Life Presbyterian Church. Anne is married to the wellknown architect and planner Frank Folsom Smith.

She concentrates on being a great wife, step-mom, step-grandmother, aunt and cat whisperer.

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The Women of Taylor Morrison

Left to Right: Shawn Cate, Angela Wisdom, Valerie McChesney, Michelle Campbell, Katy Walker & Cammie Longenecker

With an array of new developments and award-winning floor plans designed to please today’s homebuyer, Taylor Morrison’s West Florida Division has led the real estate recovery with an impressive 20 percent year-over-year sales increase. Here are some of the women behind the builder’s remarkable resurgence. Whether they are working face to face with buyers or ensuring everything is running smoothly behind the scenes, these women share a dedication to high professional standards and are the faces behind the company’s industry-recognized customer service excellence.

Michelle Campbell, Vice President of Finance, is responsible for overseeing the division’s fi nancial assets and monitoring its fi nancial performance. She has worked in West Florida’s new construction markets for 11 years and is a Certified Public Accountant with an MBA. Michelle enjoys the challenges of her job and doing what it takes to make Taylor Morrison a leader in the new home industry. She is very involved with family activities and loves to go camping, particularly in Myakka State Park. Michelle also volunteers at her talented daughter’s school, Pinellas County Center for the Arts.

Cammie Longénecker, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, loves the variety and creativity of leading Taylor Morrison’s sales, marketing and design efforts. She enjoys the stimulation of the daily challenge to communicate the company’s message creatively and the satisfaction of enjoying the visible results of her efforts. Cammie is a fourth generation realtor with 10 years of experience in the new construction industry as well as a happily married mother of two teenage girls. She is active with various area real estate associations and is on the board of the Sales and Marketing Council of the Tampa Bay Builders Association.

Valerie McChesney, Controller, not only shoulders the responsibility for ensuring accurate fi nancial reporting, she also serves in a support role for operations.

She is known for her tenacity, perseverance and willingness to work hard to do what is necessary to get the job done. Valerie fi nds satisfaction in being part of a caring team of dedicated people and helping to make the American dream of home ownership come true for others. She supports the many ways Taylor Morrison gives back to the community, including Make A Wish Foundation and the Wounded Warrior Project. Family, cooking, music and baseball round out her passions.

Katy Walker, Marketing Manager, is often at community and company events, networking gatherings, and engaging with the news media. Her upbeat enthusiasm helps her with the division’s marketing strategy, creative direction and its communications. She even steps in to serve up snow cones if needed. Katy’s an unapologetic Georgia Bulldog who has held marketing leadership positions in industries ranging from technology to real estate as well as previously owned her own marketing fi rm before joining Taylor Morrison where she thoroughly enjoys the teamwork and camaraderie. Non-work time is taken up with her family’s activities, friends, and giving back to others.

Shawn Cate, Area Sales Manager, sees her role as providing extraordinary customer service to everyone involved in the purchasing process. She also serves as a mentor to the sales staff and her spirit inspires others. Shawn has worked in the building industry for much of her career, starting in the trenches and working her way to management, earning numerous sales and other awards, including twice being named Sales Manager of the Year. Shawn especially enjoys watching her son play kicker for Lakewood Ranch High School. Her family also participates in fundraisers like the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer and Susan G. Komen 3-Day. Angela Wisdom, Area Sales Manager, sees her goal as happy, satisfied homeowners.

She helps achieve that by managing and supporting the sales staff, internal customers and realtors throughout the construction process. Her business acumen was honed at an early age, having been raised by parents who owned private schools, and she directed a campus herself. She also discovered a knack for fi nance by managing a call center with $50 million in monthly sales. Named The Best of The Best by Naples Business Journal, Angela also values time with family, including volunteerism and fundraising projects and attending her sons’ football games.

With this group of talented women as part of the leadership team, Taylor Morrison is poised for growth as the market continues to improve.

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Lori Allen With a flash of her sparkling sense of humor, Lori Allen concedes that not everyone fi nds commercial insurance as exciting as she does. After all, Lori has had a lifetime to learn about it thanks to her father’s Plant Service business in New Jersey where she worked throughout high school. Showing an early knack for helping businesses reduce costs by improving their safety, light duty and drug free workplace efforts, she entered the Risk Management and Insurance program at Florida State University. While in school, Lori worked for Corporate Risk Management Services, a Tallahassee fi rm that was acquired by the publicly traded Brown & Brown Insurance, the largest intermediary insurance fi rm in the southeastern United States. Lori then transferred to Brown & Brown’s Sarasota office.

As a complete people person who thrives on meeting new prospects, Lori was drawn to sales where she can share her excitement for helping midsize to large businesses and condominium associations control insurance costs while ensuring they are well protected.

A savvy negotiator, Lori enjoys helping clients save money while bringing them the broad range of coverage options a large agency offers as well as value added agency services like risk management tools, cost-benefit analysis, and in-house claims support.

Professionalism is important to Lori, and she is completing designations as a Construction Risk Insurance Specialist and Certified Insurance Counselor. She also is a member of the Community Associations Institute, Tri City Apartment Association, and the Gulf Coast Builders Exchange. A Sarasota resident since 2003, Lori lives in Palmer Ranch and loves the easy access it gives her to the area’s many attractions.

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Women on the Scene 2012

Dr. Heidi K. Anderson Whether it involves her family, her dermatology practice or her community, Dr. Heidi Anderson only knows how to do things one way — with a clear sense of purpose and the resolve to make a positive difference. That is evident

both in the standards she sets for her practice, where this year’s motto is service excellence, and in the commitment she and her husband and business partner, Dr. Paul Brannan, have shown in the community. She sets an example for her staff by being current, competent, and organized. They’ve certainly gotten it right because the practice earned the 2012 Best of Sarasota Awards in the Dermatology Physicians Category.

Providing medical and cosmetic dermatology, Heidi firmly believes in education to help patients understand their conditions, treatment and other possible impacts for their health, like potential eye problems for rosacea patients, and joint and cardiac issues that can accompany psoriasis. She has written many papers for medical journals and the general public and has been a regular on SNN’s Local Doctors on Call to address a variety of subjects.

Heidi received her undergraduate degree from Princeton in molecular biology and her medical degree from Wake Forest University. She is board certified in dermatology and trained in pediatrics.

She and Paul tirelessly work to promote Sun Smart Education. They sponsor and donate sunscreen and lip balm at events ranging from the Ringling Run and Spring Fest to various jog-a-thons and summer beach runs. Children’s charities are particularly important, and they have been strong supporters of the Boys and Girls Club and Children’s First. Heidi’s own two children are paramount, and she is very active in their education and cultural exposures.

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Dr. Holly Barbour Combining the flair of a New York fashion designer and an artist’s eye for beauty with the rigors of science and a surgeon’s precise touch, Dr. Holly Barbour uses her considerable skills to enhance patients’ youthful allure. Believing that the best thing you can do is help people feel better about themselves, Holly delights when patients tell her they are showered with compliments on their looks, but no one knows they had surgery or cosmetic treatments. Shunning the alien, puffed-lip look of overdone procedures, Holly believes in working with, not on, her patients. She educates them about the best options to achieve their desires, making them look much better without looking “done.”

Holly has been practicing plastic surgery in Sarasota since 1994, and for the past 13 years has run a boutique practice focusing on the face and neck. She was trained as an oculofacial plastic surgeon, the eye area being the most complex part of the face. She is one of only about 500 fellowship-trained oculoplastic surgeons in the nation and is on the medical education faculty of Merz Aesthetics.

Following an unusual path to medicine, Holly is a couture-level seamstress who spent a dozen years as a fashion designer before her medical training at Case Western Reserve and Duke universities.

She believes the artistic vision honed in her early career enhances her work. Holly also indulges her artistic side with off loom beading, often donating her work for fundraisers.

When she’s not poring over the massive volume of medical literature in her field, she is an avid supporter of the Junior League of Sarasota and serves on the board of the Sarasota Ballet.

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Women on the Scene 2012

Dr. Marguerite Barnett Perhaps she was born to it, but whether through nature or nurture, Dr. Marguerite Barnett embraces diversity in its broadest sense, bringing together the best of Eastern and Western approaches to boost the quality of life for her patients. Born to a Japanese mother and American father, Marguerite was raised by adoptive parents always knowing she wanted to be a doctor and later discovered her natural father was a physician. She’s a Harvard-MIT trained specialist, board-certified in plastic and general surgery, and also served with the U.S. Army for 11 years before entering private practice as a plastic surgeon.

Her practice is as unique as she is, incorporating the leading edge of technology and techniques in face and body rejuvenation to provide a natural look with an individualized approach.

Knowing that cosmetic procedures are only part of the equation, Marguerite likes operating as a “stealth doctor” addressing patients’ overall wellness. She opened Mandala Med-Spa to provide supportive modalities like acupuncture, hypnosis for smoking cessation, and yoga for its many physical and stress-reduction benefits. Active in local, state and national medical politics, she was elected to the American Medical Association, served as a delegate to the Florida Medical Society, and was a two-term president of the Sarasota County Medical Society.

Marguerite manages the stresses of a busy practice as a professional dancer who often accompanies her musician partner or performs pro bono for fundraisers, blending many styles from Sufi whirling and belly dancing to flamenco and fire dancing. She is a founding member of the crowd-pleasing Siesta Key Drum Circle. Supportive of many local causes, she is on the board of the Women’s Resource Center.

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Dr. Monica Bedi Dr. Monica Bedi is proud to celebrate her 10th anniversary serving Sarasota with state-of-the-art, comprehensive medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology at Dermatology Associates and Reflections Med Spa. She is proud of her accomplishments through positive word of mouth and satisfied patients. Monica attributes her success to her “you-centric” approach to patient care: she and her staff put you first. She believes this allows her patients to feel comfortable, and ensures that all questions and concerns are addressed for maximum results. Monica knows going to the doctor can be intimidating and confusing, so her goal is to offer patients the latest technological advances in a warm and friendly environment.

As a board certified dermatologist, she enjoys the entire scope of dermatology. Whether tackling a case that has been difficult or frustrating to patients, offering Mohs surgery for optimal cancer clearance, or discussing the latest trends in skin care, Monica’s practice is all-inclusive.

When she felt there was something missing, she incorporated it.

This prompted her to open Reflections Med Spa, Sarasota’s only dermatologist-operated medical spa. She wanted to give patients the time needed to address all medical concerns, and then go a step further to help reverse sun damage and maximize her patients’ self-image. She takes pride in being directly involved in all recommendations and procedures offered, to maintain personalized and customized care.

In addition to her medical practice, Monica stays active in the community. She is an affiliate professor at Florida State College of Medicine, is involved with skin cancer screenings, and donates services to local charitable events. She feels truly blessed to have been part of our community for the last 10 years.

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Rebecca Bolletti Rebecca Bolletti is one of those rare people who accomplishes much in the 24 hours we are allotted daily, but does it with such aplomb, it looks easy. As one of Morgan Stanley’s experienced wealth management professionals dealing with the rapid-fire nature of today’s markets, Rebecca is no stranger to stress. But she also incorporates stress busters like fun and exercise into her day.

Rebecca is proud of the record she has established during a long career that began in 1979 working with institutional bonds. In 1986, she became one of Sarasota’s first female financial advisors and built a client base, extending across generations by always putting clients’ needs first. As a Financial Advisor and Financial Planning Specialist, she works with clients of all ages in financial, estate, and retirement planning, and investment management.

Her dedication means lengthy vacations are difficult, but Rebecca makes time to visit her daughter and two grandsons in Baltimore. She believes it is important to remain physically fit and is an avid cyclist, sailor and rower participating in regattas and 35-mile cycling events. Her family has lived here for 46 years and she has donated her time for many nonprofits, including as a long-time volunteer for the successful UnGala. Rebecca indulges her love of photography by volunteering her talent for fundraising events. With four nephews in active military service, she also hopes to make a difference for those who protect our nation.

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Christine Bolton Christine Bolton truly appreciates how fortunate she is to enjoy coming to work each day. As director of membership and marketing for Laurel Oak Country Club, her surroundings are beautiful, but her greatest pleasure comes from the relaxed, home-away-from-home feeling that is one of the club’s trademarks. Of course, Christine’s naturally sunny personality helps create the very atmosphere she enjoys. Her door is always open for those who want to stop by to share a hug, a few laughs and maybe some good-natured teasing.

Her natural caring nature was honed by a career in the hospitality industry. A London native, Christine was in sales and marketing for Pan Am in England and the United States. She then worked as convention services manager and event manager in the hotel industry before relocating here 12 years ago to work in country club hospitality.

Professionalism is very important to her. She is a Certified Marketing Professional and just finished serving two years as national president of the Professional Club Marketing Association.

While Christine appreciates the high-end amenities Laurel Oak offers, she knows creating a great club goes beyond that. As much as members enjoy the two Rees Jones and Gary Players designed golf courses, 12 Hydra-Grid Har-Tru tennis courts, beautiful old-Florida style clubhouse and myriad events for members of all ages, Christine credits the club’s success to management, staff and members for creating a warm environment that makes everyone feel welcome. As a result, Laurel Oak has been one of the most successful, financially secure private clubs in the area. Although she enjoys her time at work, Christine likes to plan a handful of trips each year to visit her son and two grandchildren in Maryland.

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Women on the Scene 2012

Gail Bowden Having made her mark as a leading executive in the oil and gas industry, Gail Bowden said goodbye to snowy climates and applied her considerable skills and talents to commercial real estate. That was 10 years ago, and with a stellar year last year and lifetime sales of over $50 million, Gail was named 2011 Top Commercial Real Estate Advisor of the Year by Sperry Van Ness Commercial Advisory Group. Her notable track record serves her commercial clients well, and includes being the ďŹ rst woman in the country hired as facilities manager for one of the nation’s largest oil and gas companies.

Gail has the business acumen to close properties ranging from $200,000 to multi-millions, and she easily navigates the complexities of venture capital, project ďŹ nance, construction and development whether the project is industrial, retail or multifamily housing at home or abroad. The many contacts she has developed over 30 years in business means she can bring a wide range of investors to the table. As an avid traveler, Gail has the ability to go beyond local and national borders, cultivating relationships with real estate and development professionals worldwide.

Although it is a little surprising for someone as goal-oriented and client focused as Gail, she insists that balance is an important element of her success. She makes time to visit her daughter and grandchildren in Utah regularly and schedules pleasure trips, like three weeks in China last year. She is involved in and supports humanitarian efforts in Bolivia and Nicaragua to help build churches and care for orphans and closer to home, she supports numerous local charities, including the YMCA Foundation and Habitat for Humanity.

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Susan Brennan Arriving in Sarasota just 5 years ago, Susan Brennan has made a mark in this town both personally and professionally. As Relationship Manager for PNC Wealth Management, Susan has devoted the same dedication to excellence and personal charm that made her one of the top 25 seniors and the homecoming queen at Michigan State University to create one of the area’s true success stories.

A Certified Wealth Strategist and 5 Star Wealth Manager, Susan was instrumental in creating a new Wealth Management office here to serve highly affluent families across the country. She is central to a credentialed team devoted to each client family, including a private banker, trust advisor, portfolio manager, and wealth planner. This personalized strategy ranked Susan among PNC’s top 10 women nationally for new business acquisition.

With 20 years of experience in private banking and financial services, Susan is proud to say that PNC Bank is the fifth largest bank in the country with 271 billion dollars in assets and was named Bank of the Year by Banker Magazine in 2010. PNC is growing exponentially, and Susan believes this growth comes from the bank’s fiduciary and objective approach, which puts the client and their family first.

As a natural powerhouse who constantly challenges herself, Susan is excited about her admission to Northwestern University’s Executive Development Program. Although she did not know a soul when she relocated here, Susan quickly became involved in the community and was named as one of the “most involved emerging corporate executives” by Scene in 2009. She helped found Giving Matters, served as board president for Girls Incorporated, and chairs numerous fundraisers. Susan has also embraced the downtown Sarasota lifestyle and can be seen crossing the bridge onto Longboat Key on her brand new bike.

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Women on the Scene 2012

Heather Byrd Born with a certain competitive moxie along with a compassionate nature, Heather Byrd brings both those qualities to her family law practice as she helps guide people through some of life’s most difficult situations. While her competitive spirit urges her to negotiate the best possible outcome, she also tries to relieve the inherent anxiety and stress associated with divorce and child custody issues, guiding clients in making decisions that will lead to agreements with which they can live. As a mother of two young boys, she empathizes with the painful realities of custody issues.

The Byrd Law Firm is a family firm founded by Heather’s father-in-law Larry Byrd who is still of counsel. Heather exclusively handles family law cases, her husband exclusively practices criminal law, while her brother does both. In addition to divorce cases involving custody, Heather also helps those with complex asset distribution and spousal support issues, handles prenuptial agreements, injunctions in incidences of domestic violence, and establishing paternity or parental rights. She likes the interpersonal aspects of family law and enjoys building relationships with clients.

Heather and her husband, Derek, met in law school. He is a native Sarasotan who rushed them to complete law school in Connecticut to return to the area’s warm climate, and she has been practicing law here since 1996. Their two boys, Dalton, 12, and Colby, 9, have inherited their Mom’s athletic ability and competitive spirit. Heather played softball in high school and college, and the boys compete in travel baseball meaning the family spends most weekends on the road for games. Heather loves family travel and oneon-one time on the golf course with her boys.

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Grace A. Carlson No one would describe Grace Carlson as a bystander when it comes time to step up and help make this community an even better place. An early interest in environmental issues has matured into a calling, and Grace has successfully integrated her personal and professional interests. A skilled marketer and board certified public relations professional, she earned accreditation from the U.S. Green Building Council as a LEED Green Associate in 2009. She founded Carlson Studio Marketing eight years ago with a mission to help companies effectively communicate and build sustainable brands. She’s thrilled when “clients realize being green is also good for business.”

An early involvement with the Girl Scouts led Grace to adopt the practice of leaving her campsite better than she found it. Her environmental interests were further fueled through a high school research project in phosphate mining and participation with the Florida Public Interest Research Group in college. Today, she has expanded her defi nition of environmental issues to include social justice, education and equal rights, considering these to be vital in making a community the best it can be.

Grace believes that when it comes to community involvement, she gets more than she gives. She must get a lot because she’s an officer with the Sarasota County Democratic Party, chairs the Sarasota unit of the American Cancer Society, and recently joined SCOPE’s board, where she is chair-elect for 2014. She and her green architect husband, Michael, have four children in college and, with some room to spare, have opened their home to a rescue dog named Einstein.

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Liz Carlson In Liz Carlson’s capable hands, accounting is more than just number crunching. Through her teaching position at the University of South Florida, Liz sees her work as a way to help students find rewarding careers and to assist her community by boosting the skills of the local workforce. As someone with extensive experience in the relatively rare field of forensic accounting, she delves into the fiscal intricacies of civil and criminal cases and helps people unravel their financial affairs when undergoing a business or domestic divorce. Liz is also often called as an expert witness.

With the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus offering four-year degrees, Liz is creating an upper-level course on forensic accounting for the spring. She loves her work because both arenas satisfy her passion for helping and teaching people. Liz brings real world experience to the classroom and is adamant about not only imparting a thorough understanding of theory, but also giving students practical skills necessary for the field by providing them hands on classroom experience with accounting software and good presentation skills.

In the same way, Liz’s capabilities as a teacher serve forensic accounting clients whether helping them make good decisions for their financial future in a divorce or translating complex tax and accounting issues into language understandable to a lay jury. Liz is strongly committed to her profession. She is active in the Florida Institute of CPAs and devotes a lot of time to her own continuing education. A native Sarasotan, she earned her bachelor and master’s degrees from the University of Florida. She is married to a “serious musician” and loves exploring the local music scene with him.

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Dr. Christine Cauffield When individuals have been rocked by momentous, sometimes tragic events, psychologist Dr. Christine Cauffield has been on the short list of those called upon for her professional expertise by the United Nations, federal and state governments, and the national news media. Christine was commissioned by the federal government during the reunification of Germany, has helped with trauma recovery post-9/11, and following hurricanes and workplace tragedies. She is an accomplished speaker, author, and trainer on a variety of topics, including geropsychology, which is her passion and for which she received post-doctoral training in one of two fellowships at Harvard Medical School.

Through Cauffield & Associates, Christine consults with health care organizations like Manatee Rural Health System to integrate behavioral services and has spearheaded a number of turnarounds. A Targeted Case Management division provides case managers for Medicaid patients, connecting clients with needed resources and keeping them out of costly crisis stabilization units and emergency rooms. The firm’s Integrated Behavioral Health team of psychiatrists, ARNPs, psychologists, and licensed clinical social workers provides behavioral health care services, counseling, and medication management on site in nursing homes, assisted living facilities and group homes, as well as outpatient clinic locations. Her savvy business partners are Dr. Jean O’Connor and Maureen Terwilliger, LCSW. Having her home destroyed in a hurricane and serving as full time caregiver for her critically ill father and grandmother has given Christine firsthand experience with hardship and even more compassion for clients and their caregivers. She is a Leadership Florida alumna, satisfies her drive to help seniors by serving on the Florida Council on Aging board, and has worked with legislators on health care policy and advocacy.

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Women on the Scene 2012

Suzy Circle A natural born people person, Suzy Circle, as a shareholder of Alltrust, leads employers and employees across the region with her expertise and knowledge.

Whether discussing benefit plans with prospective clients, staying in touch with current clients or working with other professionals in her office, she radiates her enthusiasm for helping others. Throughout her 25-year career, she has considered herself an educator rather than a salesperson; a perspective that permeates Alltrust’s culture with equal emphasis on continuing education for staff and clients, ensuring the knowledge and education needed to navigate health care reform and the ever changing environment of the health insurance industry.

A point of pride for Suzy is the value-added services offered by Alltrust, which help clients improve operations and save money. These include analyses and dissemination of important legislative updates, assistance in coordinating property and casualty insurance, payroll and information systems, free monthly legal employment consultation, and financial analysis to assist clients with the new challenges facing them in the near future. These services extend statewide, and with Suzy’s leadership assistance, has helped Alltrust grow to five regional offices.

Suzy has an in-depth grasp of local employers’ needs having spent her career working from Tampa to Naples on both the sales and service sides of the business. Her philanthropic demeanor can be seen through the multiple numbers of boards Suzy assists. She also understands the need to help support the nonprofit sector with sensitivity to the issues affecting each and continues to assist Manasota Goodwill, Boys and Girls Club, Shelter Box, WUSF, and serves on the Pinellas Partners Board for the Moffitt Cancer Center. She loves to spend any spare time on the water with family and friends.

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Amy Clore & Mary Ruiz While taking very different paths in life, Amy Clore and Mary Ruiz showcase the benefits of a liberal arts education. Both demonstrate how encouraging students to apply their native talents and giving them critical thinking skills prepares them for ongoing success in an ever-changing world.

Amy’s education allowed her to discover a fascination with science that has led her to delve into research that may eventually help alleviate hunger while preparing upcoming generations of scientists. Amy was not born knowing she’d be a scientist. Her parents are music teachers, and she showed early promise as a ballerina, continuing to teach ballet until recently. Attending a liberal arts college exposed her to other disciplines, and she was hooked on research. As an associate professor of biology, Amy strives to give her students the theory as well as hands-on skills applicable across

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Women on the Scene 2012

disciplines by including them in her nationally supported research on plant cell biology.

A New College alumna, Mary’s early interest in community building set her on the path to serving as President & CEO of Manatee Glens, one of the area’s largest employers. A nonprofit that employs 450 staff, Manatee Glens provides hospital and outpatient treatment for patients with mental health and addiction disorders. Although a brilliant student, Mary was unsure of her career path. She credits New College with encouraging her interests, which led to urban studies and acquiring an MBA. She has applied her skills to helping shepherd the sale of Manatee Memorial Hospital, launch the Rural Health Service, and found the One Stop Center for the homeless. Mary also is on New College’s Board of Trustees and is the founding president of its Alumni Association.

Brandy Coffey As a recent college graduate, Brandy Coffey never dreamed she would build a flourishing career as a broker, but following her interest in real estate led to her dream job. After graduating from USF in Tampa, she moved back home to her native Sarasota to be near family and close to this area’s many attractions. Brandy was intrigued by a thenburgeoning market and earned her real estate sales and broker’s licenses. As a gifted “people person,” she understands how to deliver on her clients’ needs, resulting in unsolicited referrals and building relationships that sometimes become friendships. She has a knack for individualized service, whether it is for a lot of hands-on care or just a weekly update.

Brandy’s approach merited a 5 Star Award three years in a row based on feedback from clients and colleagues as well as her ranking in the top 7 percent for overall satisfaction. Having established a thriving brokerage in her own name, Brandy has expanded her focus on waterfront properties by aligning with Keller Williams Luxury Homes and opening a new office on St. Armand’s Key. Keller Williams’ international reach, technology, and extensive training capabilities attracted her.

With many of her own professional credentials, including a Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist designation, Brandy appreciates that the company requires agents to be credentialed and experienced in luxury properties in order to become affiliated.

She also likes that a portion of every commission funds Keller Williams Cares, which helps support agents whose livelihood is impacted by sudden emergencies from illnesses to natural disasters. Locally, she and members of her team have helped Mote Marine, Habitat for Humanity, and the Child Protection Center.

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Aimee Cogan For Aimee Cogan, a lifelong love of numbers set her on the path to being named one of the nation’s top 100 female financial advisors by Barron’s magazine.

Aimee was named to the prestigious list every year since 2009 and is the only Sarasota advisor to earn the recognition.* Aimee has been part of the area’s financial scene since 1994, when she came here to be close to family after graduating from the University of Florida and fell in love with the area.

After becoming SunTrust Bank’s top national producer in 2006, she created a multi-disciplinary team, The Bellwether Group at Morgan Stanley, which brought together the best talent and expertise to serve a small group of high net worth clients. The team delivers a full spectrum of very personalized service, including investment, wealth and risk management. Aimee’s love of the markets and developing client relationships that span generations has helped make her the office’s top Financial

*Source: Barron’s “Top 100 Women Financial Advisors,” June 4, 2012 and 2011, Barron’s is a registered trademark of Dow Jones & Company, L.P. All rights reserved. Barron’s “America’s Top 100 Women Financial Advisors” bases its ratings on qualitative criteria: professionals with a minimum of 7 years financial services experience, acceptable compliance records, client retention reports, customer satisfaction, and more. Financial Advisors are quantitatively rated based on varying types of revenues and assets advised by the financial professional, with weightings associated for each. Because individual client portfolio performance varies and is typically unaudited, this rating focuses on customer satisfaction and quality of advice. For more information on rating methodology, go to http://online.barrons.com/report/top-financialadvisors. The rating may not be representative of any one client’s experience because it reflects a sample of all of the experiences of the Financial Advisor’s clients. The rating is not indicative of the Financial Advisor’s future performance. Neither Morgan Stanley Smith Barney nor any of its Financial Advisors pays a fee to Barron’s in exchange for the rating.

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Advisor and earned her a position in Morgan Stanley’s elite Chairman’s Club in both 2010 and 2011.

While she also commits her time to continuing education, credentialing, and absorbing the volumes of information required to remain current, Aimee and her husband Chris are devoted to community service in education and the arts. She serves on the Child Protection Center Board, and both are members of the Ringling School’s Founders Circle. Aimee also supports the Asolo Theatre, Girls Inc., and New College.

The Cogans love to travel, spend time on the water, and see the world through the eyes of their four-year-old daughter.

Barbara Collins & Peggy Wilhelm Barbara Collins and Peggy Wilhelm have been neighbors and friends “forever.” They raised their children in tandem, and often work together in service to their community and to First Baptist Church. Now Barbara and Peggy share a new goal: raising funds for Samaritan Counseling Services of the Gulf Coast, which provides faith-based counseling at low cost to individuals and families in Sarasota and Manatee counties. The two women have joined forces to co-chair its largest fundraiser, the annual Women Helping Women Luncheon at Michael’s on East, which will be held on April 18 next year.

Peggy likes the idea of helping someone who otherwise may not be able to afford counseling. She finds inspiration in giving individuals a chance to work through a difficult time, keeping families together by saving a marriage, and assisting children in changing their futures for the better through services offered at churches and on-site at schools. A Sarasota native, Peggy is known for her work with local nonprofits and has served with the Junior League in many capacities as well as on the boards of the Pines of Sarasota and the Ringling College Library Association, where she is a past president.

Barbara has also been active in the community for many years, but credits Samaritan Counseling’s mission for bringing her out of “retirement.” As someone who is happiest when helping others, she appreciates the organization’s ability to make a profound difference in people’s lives by giving them hope when they feel helpless. Originally from Atlanta, Barbara married a Sarasotan and relocated here in the 1950s. She has been very involved with the Junior League and has served on the boards of Girls Inc. and other nonprofits.

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Taylor Collins Brimming with enthusiasm and a focused dedication to her family and profession, Taylor Collins exemplifies the difference between having a job and heeding a calling.

With expertise in life insurance, disability insurance, and deferred compensation, Taylor views her work as providing peace of mind during life’s most difficult moments. A selfdescribed insurance geek, she has received one of the insurance industry’s highest designations as a Chartered Life Underwriter ©.

As one of few agents with a high degree of expertise in disability insurance, Taylor completed an internship with Lloyds of London, renowned for underwriting highrisk clients. Combined with Professional Benefits’ other offerings, including estate and retirement planning, she takes satisfaction in knowing that her clients’ needs will be met.

She also helps businesses and nonprofits recruit, reward and retain key executives through individually designed deferred compensation programs that assist the organizations in meeting their goals.

Honing her professional expertise remains important, and she is completing requirements for a designation as a Certified Employee Benefits Specialist by the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and serves as PAC Chair for the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors. Family matters also are close to Taylor’s heart as she works with her business partner, mentor, and father Jim Tollerton.

A native Sarasotan, Taylor graduated from Riverview’s International Baccalaureate program and earned a bachelor’s degree in risk management insurance from Florida State University, which she still supports as President of the Sarasota Seminole Club.

She also enjoys being active in her church along with her husband, and spending time with their adorable basset hound Matty.

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Florence Conlan Laura Sherman Their expertise in the very specialized needs of ultra high net worth clients has made Florence Conlan and Laura Sherman the go-to choice when it comes to private risk management. Whether it’s the complex titling of assets, “toys” like collector cars, yachts and airplanes, high risk coastal properties, or the issues associated with hiring staff from housekeepers to boat captains, these women help clients mitigate their potential exposures and protect their net worth from a holistic perspective.

Laura founded Baldwin Krystyn Sherman Partners six years ago with fellow insurance veterans Lowry Baldwin and Elizabeth Krystyn. The firm ranked in the top 10 of Florida Trend’s best companies to work for in 2012 and in Inc’s Fast 50 in insurance for the Tampa Bay region. Employing 55 “insurance geeks,” it is one of few firms on Florida’s west coast to represent all A.M. Best rated insurers writing homeowners insurance along with many specialty insurers. Laura, Florence and their colleagues are well versed in directors and officers insurance for clients who serve on corporate and nonprofit boards as well as employee practices liability protection for claims like wrongful termination or discrimination.

Florence grew up in Englewood and raised her children in Venice. Her understanding of the Sarasota lifestyle helps fuel her passion to excel in personalized service to others in her hometown. She has appeared many times on ABC 7 and Fox 13 regarding the volatile insurance market. Laura was raised in central Ohio and worked for Chubb for many years before moving to Florida’s sun coast. She serves on many nonprofit boards, including the Children’s Dream Fund, which helps make dreams come true for local children with life threatening illnesses.

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Estelle Crawford With her contagious zest for life and enthusiasm for helping others, it is no wonder Estelle Crawford now leads the Pines of Sarasota Foundation. Through the community’s generosity, the Foundation supports exceptional quality assisted living, skilled nursing, and Alzheimer’s/dementia care, even if residents outlive their ability to pay. Estelle is gifted with empathy, listening skills, and an eye for nonverbal cues honed by growing up with somewhat older parents who were Holocaust survivors. Those traits have laid the groundwork for the appreciation she and the staff

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have for Pines’ residents, who are always viewed as someone’s mom or dad and as an individual with life experience to share.

Shunning New York winters and captivated by Sarasota’s charms, Estelle relocated here with her husband and her late mother, who came to the Pines for care in her later years. Although Estelle started her career as a teacher, she always had a head for business and a talent for bringing people together to resolve problems. She served as director of training and development for a New York bank and was president of the Rockland Business Association in New York for 10 years.

Estelle brought her considerable experience to the Pines six years ago, and has advocated tirelessly for the organization and for issues affecting the elderly. She also serves on the board of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Feeling that tomorrow is promised to no one, Estelle embraces life with a love for travel, dancing, her husband, son and two dogs.

Believing personal growth is about stretching oneself and doing something a little “risky,” she recently delved into improv classes at the Florida Studio Theatre.

BJ Creighton Kathy Coffey Two of Sarasota’s most benevolent community supporters, with a passion for one of the areas “silent treasures”, are planning a gala that promises to be the highlight of the social season. BJ Creighton and Kathy Coffey, along with Renee Hamad and Pat Johnson, will be co-chairing the New College Inauguration Ball, which will crown two days’ of celebration (Feb. 15 & 16, 2013) and is slated to draw national and international dignitaries to Sarasota. Dr. Donal O’Shea, a Harvard trained mathematician, will be inaugurated as president.

The sumptuous event, held on the glorious bayfront at the Charles Ringling Mansion, will benefit New College, Florida’s honors college for the liberal arts and sciences. It consistently ranks among the top colleges in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, along with other national publications. As enthusiastic ambassadors, the two women point out that New College has produced more Fulbright Scholars per capita than Harvard or Stanford.

BJ and Kathy have given generously of their time to many nonprofits as well as serving on the New College Foundation Board. For years, BJ has been involved in many charitable and social organizational boards, including serving as the New College Library Association’s past president.

She is generously working on several committees for the upcoming season and has a passion for community involvement; especially mentoring others in becoming involved and giving back to this extraordinary community. She is also a certified yoga teacher and especially loves time with her family and friends. Kathy is extensively involved in numerous philanthropic organizations from eduction to environmental conservation to senior wellness, currently serving on the YMCA Metro Board of Directors and as a Vice President of Historic Spanish Point. She is also active in many other charitable and social organizations, all whilst helping with her husband Ric’s insurance agency and creating special moments with her family.

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Judy Cuppy Not everyone can say they helped pioneer an entire industry, but Judy Cuppy can. The idea of providing in-home care and companions for seniors was sparked when her grandmother needed, but had difficulty finding, extra help. When Judy founded her company to fill seniors’ need for help to remain independent, it was one of the first businesses of the kind in Florida. In a field now filled with relatively new franchise companies, Senior Home Companions is celebrating its 20th anniversary of providing compassionate care, and Judy continues to provide highly personalized services by Certified Nursing Assistants, Home Health Aides and homemaker companions who can relate to her clients’ needs.

Judy is passionate about creating the perfect match between client and caregiver. She gets to know clients by performing free in-home assessments and care plans herself. She also interviews all caregivers in their own homes and matches them with clients’ needs and interests right from the start for the best continuity of care. Caregivers undergo a Level 2 FBI background check and a 7-year driving record check. They also must have a doctor’s health statement and receive additional training. Because caregivers are selected from a registry and are not employees, clients have the flexibility of making special requests, such as for someone who speaks a particular language.

Equally invested in her community’s welfare, Judy can often be seen at meetings and events around town.

She serves on the West Coast Black Theatre Troupe’s Leadership Council and helps with First Steps’ Caring Hearts fundraiser. Sarasota County Commissioners appointed her to its Senior Advisory Council, and her volunteerism was recognized by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs.

Judy is also a member of Sarasota Women’s Alliance, International Women’s Forum and PEO.

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Susan Winchester Dabney Susan Winchester Dabney has successfully combined two of her passions – her love of the water and beautiful design – into a thriving business creating luxury yacht and home interiors. Having traveled thousands of nautical miles, including a good portion of The Great Loop, Susan understands the need for functionality on even the largest yacht, believing that our living spaces have a very real impact on our personal relationships.

Those same principles apply on land, where Susan has extensive experience with luxury home interiors. She has designed more than 30 units for the Ritz Carlton Sarasota. She understands how to create spaces that not only work well for dayto-day living, but also express the vision of a client base that knows how to dream big. Her ability to understand her clients’ needs stems from her childhood growing up in Charlevoix, Michigan, where she gained a love of adventure. Her love of the water is only matched by her love of snow skiing. Susan’s attraction to Sarasota came naturally. Her hometown is culturally similar — a resort area that draws its inspiration from the water.

Susan spends considerable time working and keeping up with the latest in material technology and design innovation for her marine clients by attending conferences like The Superyacht Design Symposium, and the Fort Lauderdale and Miami boat shows. She still loves the outdoors, heading to the water or slopes every chance she gets with her three grown children. Susan also helps to improve the lives of children who are less fortunate. A member of Rotary International and Gift of Life, she recently hosted a Jamaican toddler and her mother while the girl had life-saving heart surgery.

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Souad Dreyfus As the mother of two young children, Souad Dreyfus understands the desire for a family. She is well versed in the medical and ďŹ nancial aspects of in vitro fertilization, egg donation and surrogacy as well as vital legal considerations to ensure couples understand their options and that their interests are protected. With extensive experience working for a fertility specialist, she learned the importance of clinical objectivity in a medical practice. Understanding the pain of infertility, she found it unnatural not to reach out to couples undergoing the emotional seesaw of infertility treatment.

Having a warm personality and caring nature, Souad’s desire to offer compassion and professionalism to these couples led her to found Open Arms Consultants in 2003 helping them navigate the complex services they require. She is no stranger to overcoming adversity and being willing to take a risk to achieve her goals. Moroccan by birth, she came to this country as a college student with $500 and a French-English dictionary in her pocket along with a willingness to work hard.

Open Arms Consultants is now one of Florida’s largest egg donation and surrogacy agencies drawing clients from around the world, including an Argentinian celebrity whose work with Souad will be featured in an upcoming National Geographic Spanish Channel documentary on surrogacy. Souad is active professionally as a member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the American Fertility Association and Resolve. As much as she loves her work, Souad cherishes time with her family and enjoys anything outdoors, including swimming, biking and picnicking. She also strives to teach her 5- and 7-year old the importance of helping others through volunteering.

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Darcie Duncan Darcie Duncan is a perfect example of the friendly, laid back Anna Maria Island lifestyle. A lifelong island resident with a passion for the water and a love of fishing and scuba diving, Darcie is just as enthusiastic about introducing others to the area’s many pleasures through her highly successful real estate sales, property management and vacation rental company, Duncan Real Estate. With Anna Maria’s growing status as a highly desired destination year-round, Darcie’s business has grown through quality

vacation and annual rentals. She believes in hands-on service in all areas of her business with phones answered in person, an understanding of what clients want, and knowing everyone by name when they call.

Darcie’s personal credos of integrity, delivering on promises, and dedication to her profession were learned from her mother, also a real estate broker. Not one to back down from adversity, Darcie used the challenge of the real estate downturn to step up her game, gaining expertise and clientele in new areas while closing sales throughout Manatee County. It’s a compliment that colleagues often use her knowledge of the surrounding market as a resource which speaks to her working relationships with other real estate professionals.

Earlier this year, Darcie finished an episode of HGTV’s “House Hunters,” successfully helping a couple living in a hotel apartment find a home. She has been recognized for her great work as 2011 Business Person of the Year for the Anna Maria Island Chamber and Rotary.

Darcie also has been named to the Manatee Chamber’s board for 2013 and is a member of Leadership Manatee’s alumni board.

Additionally, she supports the PACE Center for Girls, Anna Maria Island Community Center and Women’s Resource Center.

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Sheryl A. Edwards Sherry Edwards is a board-certified real estate attorney who has shepherded multimillion-dollar deals and, earlier this year, successfully championed a client’s case in federal court against the FDIC. As satisfying as those successes were for her institutional clients, Sherry’s current work with individuals whose lives have been hampered by the real estate downturn is even more. Whether defending clients in foreclosure or helping negotiate a short sale, Sherry is delighted to see her clients’ tears of worry and sadness turn into smiles of relief once they move on with their lives after selling deeply underwater property they can no longer afford.

Sherry is a sought-after speaker and author on foreclosure law and short sale transactions locally and statewide.

She began practicing law 17 years ago and has had her own practice since 1997. Sherry has a solid business background, with an accounting degree and past securities licenses. She also serves as attorney for the Sarasota County Value Adjustment Board.

As devoted as she is to her clients, family and community are also very important to Sherry. A Sarasota resident for 24 years, Sherry has been married to her real estate broker husband, Mike, for 20 years.

Their son Nick, 16, and daughter Sydney, 13, row on the state champion Sarasota Crew team, and Sherry and Mike recently joined the Masters’ division at Crew. Family activities are extremely important, and she also finds time to golf, scuba dive, and rollerblade.

Sherry serves on the boards of the Sarasota County Bar Association and Habitat for Humanity and is active with Girls Inc. and the YMCA Foster Angels.

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Kathy Francoletti Describing her life as multi-faceted, Kathy Francoletti finds joy in balancing her professional role as a Financial Advisor and Senior Vice President with Morgan Stanley, and being a wife, mother, friend and volunteer. Gifted with a drive to excel at helping others, Kathy devotes herself to her client relationships, being a role model for her daughter, and a resolute supporter of women and children. Having been born with an innate curiosity and a love for people’s stories, Kathy helps her clients implement financial strategies that align with their goals, dreams and legacy.

This genuine caring means that with 34-years in the banking and financial industry, she also works with clients’ children and grandchildren who view her as an experienced family advisor. Kathy takes that role

seriously, and her clients often turn to her for direction and guidance when life events occur: a new grandchild, relocating to an assisted living facility or the loss of a loved one.

A lifelong learner who is passionate about education, Kathy is a Certified Trust and Financial Advisor and is licensed in securities and insurance in the State of Florida. Helping educate others also is important to her.

She enjoys public speaking with a particular passion for helping educate women and young people about finance.

Kathy has been creating her own legacy with her devoted service to Girls Inc. and Women’s Resource Center and has served as board chair for both. Giving back to the community is an important part of her life, and she is proud that her daughter is following in her footsteps.

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Dana Laganella Gerling, Esq. Tapping into an early interest in elder law steered Dana Laganella Gerling toward a distinctive niche, with a law practice devoted to providing affordable estate planning that meets the needs of middle class clients. Dana founded the practice with her husband nine years ago, charging low flat rates for simple wills, health care surrogate documents, durable powers of attorney, and revocable living trusts.

The success of her practice stems in part from Dana’s sense of connection with her clients, her personal interest in learning about their lives, and her ability to ensure they thoroughly understand the essential documents she prepares for them.

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Women on the Scene 2012

Helping clients shape their life experiences and wealth accumulation into a legacy for those they will leave behind is highly satisfying for Dana, and she likes her clients to feel they have an attorney working for them who they can call at any time with questions – at no charge. Dana values family in her practice, sharing photos of her two young daughters with her clients, and also values the flexibility the practice gives her in her role as Mom. Dana is very involved in her profession. She has earned numerous recognitions, including two Rising Star designations from Florida Super Lawyers Magazine. She was named a Leader in the Law by the Florida Association for Women Lawyers and one of the Legal Elite by Florida Trend. She also has been lauded for launching the Wills for Heroes program in Manatee County, in conjunction with the Manatee County Bar AssociationYoung Lawyers Division, providing free Wills to 160 local first responders. An ardent animal lover, Dana lends a helping hand to local animal nonprofits and helps clients with pet planning and pet trusts to ensure care for their faithful companions.

Kelly Gettel As a fourth generation real estate entrepreneur, Kelly Gettel was raised with an understanding of great customer service that, combined with her flair for out of the ordinary marketing approaches, has earned her a stellar reputation. Kelly’s marketing creativity ranges from showcasing a property in a fashion shoot that merited an eight page spread in a Tampa magazine to a Margaritavilleinspired event at a West of the Trail home with an exquisitely executed beach theme.

Her original thinking gained Kelly a reputation for moving luxury and waterfront properties, but her expertise includes all price ranges as well as foreclosures and short sales. While her brokerage’s clients have the benefits of working with a team, she likes to remain hands-on and enjoys being personally involved with every client: from first-time homebuyers to relocating CEOs. Kelly credits her nationwide experience with Auction World USA, the family business, with giving her the ability to relate to a wide range of clients. Plus, working in real estate markets across the country exposed her to many varied marketing techniques.

Kelly’s goal is to remain a relationship-driven brokerage offering concierge-style service, whether that means helping clients with flights, hotels and restaurant reservations, or hopping a plane to New York City to meet with them. Even with a demanding schedule, Kelly remains highly involved in the community. She also loves to run and work out, and challenges herself to try something new every year like bungee jumping or skydiving. Travel is a passion for Kelly and her young daughter, which means Disney trips for now or a quick mother-daughter NYC visit to catch a show.

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Stephanie Grosskreutz & Merry Williams Sharing a willingness to tackle challenging projects with high expectations for excellence, Stephanie Grosskreutz and Merry Williams have joined forces to support an institution they treasure, Ringling College of Art + Design. As president of the Ringling College Library Association, Merry has her sights set on raising $2 million in funds pledged to construct a new library. The goal is to make it one of the nation’s finest art libraries in keeping with Ringling’s international reputation. As chair of the 2013 Town Hall Series, RCLA’s primary fundraiser, Stephanie has had the yeoman’s task of helping secure A-list speakers that in the past have included a former U.S. president.

Merry’s involvement stems from her long-held belief in the importance of education. She is excited about construction of the new library, which nearly quadruples the size of the current one and expands seating from 100 to 425. The new space also allows for individual study rooms, quiet zones, and a lounge and café that create the core of a student center. Merry also remains focused on RCLA’s mission to continue expanding the library’s collections. It remains the largest contributor to the college with $8 million in donations and pledges since 1975.

As managing director of Visit Sarasota County, Stephanie recognizes the value of the Town Hall Series’ reputation as one of the country’s foremost speaker series. This year’s line-up is no exception and highlights amazing achievements in successful pursuit of the American Dream from Walter Isaacson, Steve Job’s noted biographer, and Captain Mark Kelly, who served on the Space Shuttle Endeavor’s last mission and is wed to the courageous former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, to past Secretary of Defense Dr. Robert Gates and famed news anchor Tom Brokaw.

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Renée Hamad Janice Zarro Renée Hamad and Janice Zarro are women who have experienced very different paths in life, but stand united in their mission to support women in transition through the Women’s Resource Center of Sarasota County. Through their enthusiastic efforts and those of the staff and 350 volunteers, the Center touches the lives of more than 12,800 women a year.

Currently serving as board president, Renée became involved 10 years ago as part of a college internship and saw how women were helped to cope successfully with divorce, job loss, widowhood, abuse and other life issues. She began volunteering and has faithfully worked at the front desk every Monday, delighting in seeing tears turned into smiles as women are connected with the right resources and gain the confidence and direction needed to help themselves.

Having emigrated from Egypt to start from scratch in a new country, Renée can empathize with them and is a symbol of hope. After her husband passed away, Renee credits the Center with helping her put her own life together.

Janice’s path to executive directorship at the Center followed a successful career in business as a lawyer and corporate executive. Throughout her career, she has been a tenacious champion of women, supporting them in their efforts to improve their lives, their children’s lives, and their communities, and encouraging them to be positive role models for upcoming generations. Under her nearly 10-year tenure, the Women’s Resource Center has grown in the number of women it helps annually, the scope of its programs and in community support. With the tireless efforts of these two dynamic leaders, local women will continue to get the hand up they need.

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Stephanie Hefner Having launched the nonprofit Academy for Leadership & Social Development two years ago to help at-risk, underprivileged and disadvantaged teens gain critical life skills, Stephanie Hefner has expanded her own skillset. Stephanie, now trained as a family mediator, has founded the Center for Mediation Services to help divorcing spouses rise above the emotion of a difficult time, to stop fighting and start negotiating, ultimately working together for the benefit of the children.

The mediation is a natural outgrowth of the parent education she has added to the Academy’s classes for teens, which include trust building, etiquette, goal setting, and other leadership skills. For parents, Stephanie helps identify areas of struggle, like homework, and gives them the tools they need to communicate effectively, negotiate and resolve conflict without arguing, nagging or yelling.

The goal is to teach stressed, overwhelmed parents how to create loving and peaceful family environments through harmonious relationships that allow them to raise children with self-esteem, confidence and motivation.

Stephanie will finish her master’s degree in counseling from Webster University this year and is completing an internship with Manatee Glens Corporation. She also is certified as a Parent Educator and Manners and Etiquette Trainer. Her best credentials may be having successfully navigated her own divorce and working to be a great mom to her sixyear-old daughter. That experience, and the help she received in her own childhood, taught her the importance of an external support system in addition to friends and family. When she’s not studying or helping others, Stephanie, a fourth generation Floridian and Manatee County native, loves spending time with family and coming up with fun, educational activities she and her daughter can enjoy.

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Women on the Scene 2012

Cindy Hill Cindy Hill has established a successful “boutique” law practice to help board members and homeowners navigate the somewhat daunting mountains of legal documents and statutes that govern condominium and homeowner association management. As a specialist in this area of the law, Cindy understands the challenges many boards face in today’s market. Because she offers the personal service of a sole practitioner, Cindy herself handles all research, document preparation, collection issues, consultation regarding compliance with federal and state requirements, and litigation, including foreclosures.

In her work, Cindy likes partnering with owners and boards who care about their communities and want to do the right thing. She often is complimented by clients who appreciate her ability to “pull the legal out of the legalese” and clearly explain complicated matters. They also appreciate that she stays accessible so if help is needed, answers are just a phone call away. Cindy has a strong foundation in real estate law, starting with hundreds of closings during the boom years.

As the market declined and collections became an issue, she gained considerable experience as a litigator.

Finding she loves this work, and wanting to be close to home and her children’s schools, she opened her own practice. Cindy is active professionally, serving on the Sarasota County Bar Association Board, and has deep roots in the community having moved to Sarasota at age 15. As a graduate of Pine View, New College and Florida State University, she wanted her children to have the same opportunities she had here. Her daughter now attends Pine View, and New College remains close to her heart. Cindy serves her college alma mater as past chair of the Alumni Association Board.

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Leslie Jeffrey Leslie Jeffrey understands the power of leading by example, whether it is for the team at her State Farm agency, her two daughters, or in demonstrating what it means to serve the community. Leslie’s formula for business success is based on hiring experienced team members who share her mindset: that sales are a direct result of fulfilling clients’ needs, not taking shortcuts, and doing things for the right reasons. Following these principles has helped her agency flourish.

Leslie emphasizes the importance of personalized service, be it providing auto, homeowners, and life insurances or educating clients about State Farm’s new banking and loan services. As a result, State Farm has recognized her service, credentials and experience with designations as Select Agent and Ambassador Travel Qualifier. Clients also have shown their appreciation. Many have been with her office since she opened the agency 12 years ago.

Helping children is important to Leslie, and she has been very involved with Riverview High School’s Foundation, supporting its efforts to provide extra help for students in need of basics like food, clothing, and academic assistance. State Farm recently gave a $69,000 grant to develop the school’s aquaculture center where her oldest daughter will intern. Her agency has been a business partner to local schools for many years, including Southside, Brookside and Riverview. She and her husband serve on the Cotillion Board and are active in the Church of the Palms. Along with their two daughters, ages 16 and 9, they love the water and are avid divers – not surprising since her husband owns Scuba Quest, a chain of six Florida dive shops.

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Jane Summerville Kiebitz Wherever she goes, Jane Summerville Kiebitz has lent her time and considerable talents to helping others. Although Jane rose to the top of her field as the chief public relations executive for a large hospital system in Toledo, Ohio, and served as president of her profession’s leading trade organizations, she credits her volunteerism for providing balance and shaping her life in meaningful ways. Her efforts also have helped shape the communities in which she lives.

Jane acknowledges the Junior League of Toledo for putting her on the path to volunteerism and ultimately leading to a post-retirement career path. Working in collaboration with The Toledo Hospital, McDonald’s owner-operators, and McDonald’s corporate, Jane was a founding board member of the Ronald McDonald House of Northwest Ohio. She established the House as an official project of the Junior League, which provided $150,000 for renovations and established a volunteer program.

When she retired early and subsequently moved to Sarasota, Jane connected with the Junior League, served as Sustainer vice president, earned the Sustainer of the Year award, and became active with the New College Library Association, launching a second career as its executive director. During her tenure, Jane led a campaign that raised $1 million for an endowment and $150,000 for a “Core Collection.”

During her summers in Lake Pleasant, N.Y., Jane serves on the lake association board and has taken an interest in environmental issues impacting the area. She also raises funds for local ambulance and other health services, which are very important since there is no hospital nearby. As much as she finds helping others to be rewarding, including mentoring many women over the years, Jane values the relationships that have developed with the wonderful people she has met through a lifetime of volunteerism.

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Dr. Mary Koshy Dr. Mary Koshy is a board certified radiation oncologist highly experienced with the latest technology and who demonstrates the brilliance of a Cornell University summa cum laude graduate. As outstanding as she is medically, what makes her even more special is her conviction that by supporting cancer patients emotionally, she can help them through their treatment and ultimately to better outcomes.

Dr. Koshy has championed patients’ ideas for how to support others battling cancer including a new podcast on iTunes spearheaded by one of her patients that addresses questions she had while undergoing treatment. It is available at www.ManateeCancerPodcast. com. She also supported a make-up artist patient in creating monthly Monday Makeovers, open to any cancer patient, where volunteers boost their spirits cosmetically. Dr. Koshy also has been a driving force behind a popular fundraiser, the Pink Martini Spatini, which offers makeovers, mini manicures, hairstyling and spray tans with proceeds benefitting the Cancer Support Community.

A native Sarasotan, Dr. Koshy followed her father, a local cardiologist, into medicine.

After graduating from Cornell, she completed her internship and residency at Emory University and was an assistant professor in radiation oncology at Baylor College of Medicine for two years before joining Manatee Cancer Center in 2010. Dr. Koshy remains committed to keeping her skills leading edge regarding the latest technology, including with Image Guided Radiation Technology and Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy. She also utilizes the latest in cancer treatment by using stereotactic radiosurgery, which treats tumors safely without incisions and where pinpoint accuracy spares healthy tissue.

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Vivian Kouvant Whether she was charming celebrities at her husband’s famous Manhattan restaurant or wholeheartedly supporting local nonprofits, Vivian Kouvant has done it with verve, warmth and style. Growing up in Copenhagen, Vivian gained a love for performing arts through her brother who worked for the Danish Royal Opera House and the Royal Ballet; an appreciation that extends to her beloved Sarasota Ballet. She honed her talents at art school and painted porcelain for Royal Danish Copenhagen.

At the urging of a friend, Vivian emigrated to the U.S. where she worked at the 1965 New York World’s Fair, and shortly thereafter met her future husband, Murray, a charismatic restaurateur who owned Christo’s Steak House. The restaurant was a local haunt for celebrities, and many of them became friends, including Maria Callas, Louis Armstrong, and Burt Bacharach. The famed Italian tenor Franco Corelli lived beneath them, and they enjoyed hearing his powerful voice fill their apartment. Vivian even received child-rearing advice from Grace Kelly via Ava Gardner who had recently visited Grace.

In 1980, Murray sold Christo’s after 45 years to move the family to Sarasota. Composer Stephen Sondheim, who wrote “A Little Night Music” at the restaurant, lamented their leaving to Time magazine. The couple raised their son and daughter here, and after Murray passed away in 1993, Vivian was called upon to help many organizations, which she has done with her trademark enthusiasm. She served 14 years on the Sarasota Orchestra Board, worked with the Hermitage and Jewish Family and Children’s Services, and now devotes herself to the Sarasota Ballet. She is intensely proud of the dancers’ accomplishments with Ian Webb’s direction and the beauty, kindness and creativity displayed throughout the organization.

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Dr. Christine Koval Radiating a naturally sunny personality heightened by her love for family and joy in her work, Dr. Christine Koval has built a dental practice dedicated to professional excellence. Her nurturing nature creates a comfortable, supportive environment for her patients. In fact, many patients and team members have been with her for years, becoming more like good friends.

Throughout Dr. Koval’s 25 years in practice, her smile artistry has earned recognition from her peers with a multitude of gold medals for smile enhancements from the Florida Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.

Dr. Koval designs her smiles to be extremely natural by complementing shape and color with the patient’s features, complexion and eye color. She is equally committed to ensuring a correct bite and good oral health, following the principles of form and function. Dr. Koval’s engaging appeal and nurturing approach complements the skills she has honed through continuing education, keeping her at the leading edge of her profession. Investing in proven technology, she has certification in four types of lasers, allowing her to complete procedures efficiently and painlessly, from fillings to surgical treatments. Digital X-rays provide instant images with minimal radiation exposure, and patients can even watch their procedures on a big screen if they wish.

This commitment to excellence in dentistry began in Dr. Koval’s childhood with admiration for her recently retired father’s work as an oral surgeon. Just as he mentored and encouraged her, she focuses on giving that same loving support to her husband and sons. She relishes planning family trips, spending time together boating and skiing, and building memories during relaxing summer vacations.

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Women on the Scene 2012

Lynne Koy Lynne Koy is approaching a signiďŹ cant milestone in a real estate sales career that has earned her many accolades. While accepting the laurels she has earned, Lynne never has lost sight of her role as family matriarch and her personal and professional legacies.

Inspired by helping people get to know and love the community as she does and motivated by the thrill of ďŹ nding the perfect property, Lynne has become one of the top 5 agents in the Sarasota MLS, is in the top 1 percent of Coldwell Banker agents internationally, and has earned a prestigious Five Star designation.

A born problem solver, Lynne is highly credentialed and organized, develops trusting relationships with clients, and knows how to create a plan to achieve desired results. Now she has achieved her goal of moving into a different price point for her business,

earning her the number one salesperson rank for both Bird and Longboat Keys. She began her real estate career nearly 40 years ago in Chicago and remains grateful for the motivation she received from her ďŹ rst manager who predicted that, as a single mother of two toddlers, she would never succeed.

Lynne also is grateful for a career that offers her the flexibility to be the person she wants to be for her family, and to support her community. Lynne delivers Meals on Wheels, supports the Sarasota Film Festival and Sarasota Museum of Art, and volunteers for the West Coast Black Theatre Troupe, SPARCC, and Make A Wish Foundation. She also makes time to travel the world extensively and may be found riding camels in India or pursuing mountain gorillas in Africa.

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Laura Leeming Having a clear focus on creating a rewarding life as well as an exceptional career led Laura Leeming from a highly successful corporate position to become an entrepreneur with a track record of helping others develop strategies to build their businesses. Known for her marketing and business development savvy, which she gained early in her career with GTE and more recently as Vice President of The Better Image Company, Laura now is applying her expertise to grow a legacy business for her family with Rodan + Fields® Dermatologists.

Encouraged and mentored by Jay Walker, with whom she worked prior to his founding Priceline.com, Laura launched her entrepreneurial career when her family began to grow. With her three sons now scattered on their way to college and careers, she sought an opportunity that would provide flexibility for visiting them and a business she could build for their future. When she saw the impressive results a friend was getting from Rodan + Fields’ new, award-winning line of skin care products, she vetted the company and its founders, finding a new career challenge and an aptitude for direct sales.

Laura now has a strong business, soon to expand internationally, managed through the Internet and a growing sales team.

Having grown up on the Connecticut shore, Laura’s and her husband’s affinity for the water drew them here. Her commitment to the area and to children has shaped her community involvement, which included serving on the board of Sarasota Crew and Riverview’s International Baccalaureate program.

She also has worked with Make-A-Wish Foundation and most currently with Brandi’s Wish Foundation, aiding families impacted by prescription drug abuse.

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Elizabeth Lindsay Having grown up on college campuses, Elizabeth Lindsay not only has an appreciation for the value of higher education but also has helped shape the educational landscape in the area and statewide. She has served as president of the USF SarasotaManatee Board of Directors, is on the University of South Florida Foundation Board of Directors, and the Board of Advisors for USF’s College of Business Administration. Elizabeth previously was a member of the Florida Board of Regents, the governing body for the state university system, now known as the Board of Governors. She received her own MBA and an honorary Doctor of Business Administration from USF. Since moving to Sarasota in 1948 with her newspaperman husband, whose family founded the Sarasota Herald, Elizabeth has generously donated her time and expertise to support many local nonprofits with a particular affinity for education

and the arts. She emphasizes the urgent need USF SarasotaManatee fills in the community, offering a wide variety of students the opportunity to complete bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and she is excited about USF Sarasota-Manatee’s growth and the increasing role the university will play in the region in the coming years. Local students have the option of attending full time, commuting from home, or earning degrees while working full or part time.

Elizabeth also is involved in Florida’s agricultural industry and is a partner in a citrus and vegetable business with her two oldest sons. She has been a long-time supporter of the Florida House, serving on its Board and Renovation & Construction Committee.

Elizabeth is past president of Asolo Repertory Theatre and chaired its Capital Campaign Committee. She was a founding member and is on the board of the Woman’s Exchange.

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Cheryl Loeffler Consistently one of the bright stars in the local real estate firmament, Cheryl Loeffler has always excelled throughout a diverse career that encompasses higher education and corporate computer systems development. While Cheryl is used to being at the top of her game professionally and thoroughly enjoys her work, crafting a well-rounded life has also been a steady pursuit. That includes making significant contributions to the community where she loves to live and finds joy introducing others to its many virtues.

Regularly named among the area’s top agents, Cheryl also has earned national and international rankings. She is highly regarded as a waterfront specialist, but is well versed in many different areas as is her team, which works with buyers in all ranges. Her clients benefit from the analytical skills and logical approach Cheryl honed with an MBA concentrating on Management Information Systems from the University of Tulsa where she also was an instructor and advanced through the administrative ranks. She later designed computer systems for fiber optic networks and worked in systems analysis and strategic planning.

When her two daughters were recruited by the renowned Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy, Cheryl left all that behind and came to Sarasota where she also has left her mark in community service. She has quietly served on several Longboat Key civic committees and is very involved with the Ringling College of Art + Design, where she is a trustee.

Cheryl formed a charitable foundation administered by the Gulf Coast Community Foundation and is the founding director of a community bank. She is very excited to combine her passions for the arts and women’s issues as a co-producer for “The Heidi Chronicles”, which will open at the Asolo in January.

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Leslie Wulfsohn Loftus In her 26-year legal career, attorney Leslie Wulfsohn Loftus worked initially on complex commercial litigation, including appeals, and then established a family law practice when she relocated to Sarasota. The variety of the matters she handles ensures that her days are never dull. Leslie has particularly enjoyed working on family law matters. She views this aspect of her practice as an opportunity to help people resolve legal issues that, literally, hit home.

Leslie works closely with her clients, ensuring that their goals are articulated and realistic, and that such goals are pursued as effectively and efficiently as possible. In her family law work alone, the types of matters Leslie handles run the gamut, from divorce and custody proceedings to preparation of prenuptial agreements and asserting grandparent’s rights.

Leslie’s exemplary legal skill has been recognized

by Martindale-Hubbell, the standard in the industry. Based upon candid opinions from lawyers and judges, Martindale-Hubbell conferred its highest “AV” rating upon Leslie 15 years ago, and she has maintained that rating ever since. She has also been recognized by the local Bar for her professionalism, when it awarded her its “C.L. McCaig award.”

When not practicing law, Leslie enjoys community service. Since moving to Sarasota over 10 years ago, she has served a 3-year term as a member of the Board for the local Bar Association, she was President of her neighborhood association, she served on the Van Wezel Executive Council, and chaired the 12th Judicial Circuit’s Grievance Committee. Presently, she serves on the Florida Bar’s Unlicensed Practice of Law Committee, is a member of the City of Sarasota’s Board of Adjustment, and is a member of the Board of the Sarasota Tiger Bay Club.

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Marge Maisto She’s a self-professed success junkie, and after achieving a large measure of it throughout her own career, Marge Maisto is now focused on helping others reach their potential, both personally and professionally. The former president and CEO of Tidewell Hospice has recently founded Maisto Consulting to help healthcare executives create success in their organizations by articulating — and living — powerful shared values, building strong teams, and planning for the future. Marge also assists nonprofits with the same visioning, strategic planning, and operational improvements she provides healthcare clients.

While her goals are lofty, Marge’s approach is down to earth.

She believes success is defined not by how high you rise, but by how many people you take with you. It’s been a trademark of her rich career that started as a nurse and has included three decades of healthcare leadership. Marge served on the executive team of a hospital in New Jersey, ultimately as senior vice president of operations, but she is best known here as the dynamic chief executive at Tidewell.

Marge retired in 2010 after generating a decade of unprecedented growth for the hospice program. Her formula for Tidewell’s success was simple: plan for the future, execute your plan well, and celebrate your accomplishments. Although she loves to travel and spend time with family, Marge realized she missed the excitement of finding solutions to challenges and discovering how to make things work better. In addition to consulting, she has expanded her healthcare experience by working with national programs that accredit hospice, home health agencies, and hospitals. The common denominator in Marge’s work is the satisfaction she receives by fulfilling her own personal passion to help others.

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Wanda Martinetto Wanda Martinetto embarked on her career as a real estate professional with a strong work ethic, a drive to succeed by helping others get what they need, and just plain smarts. Those traits helped her climb the corporate ladder at an unusually young age with global giant Verizon, whose international telecommunications business and standing as the nation’s No. 1 wireless company earn it Fortune 50 status.

Wanda started as a secretary while attending college, working her way up the ranks. When she retired at age 38 with 20 years of service, she headed logistics for New Jersey with an organization of 300 employees.

Now working with real estate buyers and sellers throughout the area, her skills at management and ability to deal with complex situations to get the job done right serve her clients well as she helps them find their perfect property. Delivering quality service with honesty and integrity drive her business as she aims to be clients’ “real estate agent for life” and earn their referrals. She is a member of the National, Florida and Sarasota Association of Realtors.

Retiring here from New Jersey and building a home in Lakewood Ranch gives her insight into her clients’ desires, and spending some time decompressing by enjoying the beautiful beaches and honing her golf game means she understands the lifestyle. As much as work is important, Wanda is an adventuresome spirit who enjoys traveling to new places and challenging activities like white water rafting and zip-lining. Ensuring she has time to spend with her husband, family, friends and adorable Shorkie also are paramount. Wanda has volunteered with Children First, The Lakewood Ranch Community Fund and Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance and can be counted on to give generously of herself to nonprofits needing help with events and fundraising.

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Angela Massaro-Fain Angela Massaro-Fain has built two highly acclaimed advertising agencies – and her career – by helping others succeed in business. With her husband John, Angela established Grapevine Communications in 2002 as the area’s only full service marketing communications agency: offering everything from graphic design and advertising to media buying and public relations. This full service formula delivered by a dedicated, full time in-house staff means continuity and responsiveness. It has proven beneficial to clients, and therefore has been immensely successful.

Grapevine Communications has earned more than 85 ADDY and AMY Awards and is the only local agency consistently named to Southwest Florida’s list of top agencies. It also has been named in the top 500 Gulf Coast businesses five years in a row and won the 2010 Small Business of the

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Women on the Scene 2012

Year by the Sarasota Chamber. Angela herself was a finalist for the Tampa Bay Business Journal’s Business Woman of the Year Award. She began her professional journey after graduating from the School of Visual Arts in NYC and gained experience in all aspects of her field, ultimately founding Grapevine Communications in Montreal in 1988 and selling it in 1998.

Since relocating to Sarasota, Angela and John have been deeply involved in the community. She is chair of the Sarasota Chamber’s Small Business Council, serves on the EDC’s North Port Advisory Board, and is on the boards of Junior Achievement and the Lakewood Ranch Community Fund. Since 2002, Grapevine has donated $1.2 million in services to nonprofits. Angela revels in her Italian heritage and its value of close family ties. Angela’s motto is the same in both her personal and professional lives: “Be small enough to care, and large enough to lead.”

Pat Mathews Pat Mathews helps companies unleash a competitive advantage so uniquely theirs that no competitor can ever replicate it: a motivated workforce from whom they can mine precious ideas for business improvements. This happens when organizations truly value their employees, actively communicate with them, and help them reach their potential. Using a holistic approach to human resources management, Pat analyzes company culture and organizational alignment, conducts employee surveys, and performs HR audits to review hiring practices, benefits, and training needs for businesses and non-profit organizations of all sizes.

A background in the theater makes her an engaging speaker and trainer who brings humor and employee engagement to the most staid subject matter. She recently presented at the HR Florida State Conference. Having risen through the ranks in large corporations in the beer, petroleum, and gaming industries, Pat also gained a passion for helping women advance in business.

Her interest was initially inspired by her working mom, who did factory work until she was 65 and then started her own successful wedding cake business, working until age 82.

She is very active in local and national HR organizations, earning a gold award for the local chapter while she was president and, on the national level, helping develop an American Standards Institute cost-per-hire standard and serving on the Society for Human Resource Management’s employee relations panel. Pat currently serves on the board of Manatee County Habitat for Humanity. She and her husband, whose “retirement career” is metal sculpting, are building a unique, eco-friendly house they hope to use occasionally for fundraising events and to encourage visits from the couple’s four sons and six grandchildren.

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Denise Mei What gets Denise Mei bounding out of bed in morning? The hunt for the perfect house for her clients fuels her day. After 22 years as a flight attendant for American Airlines, flying domestically and internationally, Denise found her true passion as a Realtor where she uses her extensive training to provide the ultimate customer service for her clients.

Most people know Denise and her husband Roberto, as the owners of Café Baci, an Italian restaurant that has become a destination for those looking for an authentic dining experience with the warmth and heart of its gregarious proprietors.

As their son, Michael, became more involved with the running of the restaurant, it freed up Denise to find her calling as an agent with local powerhouse real estate firm, Michael Saunders & Company.

As a champion of children, she devotes her volunteer time to a multitude of children’s charities. Top of her list is the YMCA Foundation, because of their extensive services and their wide reach into the community touches on the needs of many children and families in the area. Denise also supports and chair’s fundraising events for Make-A-Wish, Girls Inc., Children First, and most recently with UCP, where her daughter, Lea, is the Director of Development and Communications.

Denise says the core of her being is her family.

Nothing makes her happier than spending time with them creating memories. You can find her cooking alongside Roberto with the rock and roll music cranked up, dancing and stirring the pot.

Scrapbooking and reading about the Civil War and presidential biographies are respites from her busy days of finding exactly what her clients need and attending to all the special details that make for the happiest and most successful client transaction.

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Gila Goldner Meriwether Gila Goldner Meriwether is known as a generous contributor of her time and talent to many of the community’s leading nonprofit organizations. What is not so well known is that Gila consults with international organizations in the areas of leadership and management regarding branding, diversity, and workplace harassment. Currently she is helping raise funds for the American Friends of Magen David Adom, which is Israel’s emergency services provider. She launched 100 Angels Among Us locally to raise $100,000 to purchase an ambulance, and is helping the organization recruit volunteers.

Gila consults with for-profit and nonprofit organizations along with schools and government in areas ranging from training courses on how to be safe in an unsafe world to conflict resolution and improving relations of groups at work. She particularly enjoys working with international organizations on their branding, diversity at work, and women’s empowerment.

Born and raised in Israel, Gila’s father was a survivor of four Holocaust camps and her mother was an Iranian refugee. Both were pioneers in Israel and instilled in Gila a love for family, community, and country. Today, she serves on the

steering committee for Embracing Our Differences and recently was chair of the “Burning Books” traveling exhibit from the Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C. Gila also has served on the board or on committees at Circus Sarasota, Jewish Family and Children Services, Habitat for Humanity, Salvation Army, Sarasota Ballet and numerous other organizations. Gila believes her talent lies in her ability to facilitate connections between organizations and people. She enjoys spending time with her neurosurgeon husband, two grown children, and friends, and has a passion for exploring and traveling to new places.

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Alex Miller Whether learned or innate, Alex Miller certainly has the knack of making what would seem daunting to others look effortless. Mother of two young children and holder of an MBA from Johns Hopkins University, she also is CEO of Mercedes Medical, a $25 million family business whose sales she is planning to double. The company, which has been growing at a 10 percent annual clip under her leadership, provides medical supplies to physicians’ offices and

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Women on the Scene 2012

hospitals across the nation. As part of her plans for growth, she is overseeing the launch of a new division providing dermatology supplies, including instrumentation for high-precision MOHS surgery, and adding new globallysourced products.

Not surprisingly, maintaining balance is a key consideration; one that extends to the 50 employees in her workplace, which has a massage room and on-site gymnasium.

The company subsidizes a weekly massage for employees, provides a generous incentive program, and is dog friendly. A laid back, non-corporate culture reflects Alex’s personal style: warm and approachable, but still goal-oriented and businesslike. She brings that combination of personable professionalism to what she calls “social” networking with the Sarasota 100 group that she founded.

The no dues, casual gathering eschews swapping business cards for informative speakers and getting to know each other with some informal socializing.

Her keen sense of deportment and considerable talents help to make Alex a natural at assisting local nonprofits. She co-chaired the Humane Society of Sarasota County’s Paws on the Catwalk fundraiser and has joined the board of Forty Carrots Family Center. Seeking to extend her medical know-how into service for the community, Alex is currently running for the Hospital Board of Sarasota County.

Veronica Brandon Miller Devotion to worthy causes and raising money for organizations that support those in need is not just what Veronica Brandon Miller does – it defines her as a person.

Her professional career has been dedicated to nonprofits; she has raised funds for the Smithsonian Institution, the National Safety Council, and the Navy League as well as for local charities that assist atrisk youth and protect both children and the elderly. Veronica recently

joined Goodwill Manasota and has focused her vehement passion on building philanthropic support for those with barriers to success and self-sufficiency.

Veronica believes Goodwill is the bestkept secret in town; it has assisted hundreds of thousands of people in the community through programs like the Donated Goods Employment Services, JobsPlus, Supported JobsPlus and Job Connection. Also, Goodwill employs more than 700 people in the community and contributes more than $20 million in wages to the local economy. In her role, Veronica strives to help people understand the full scope of what Goodwill does. Donated goods fund programs that eliminate barriers to employment – barriers like disabilities, functional illiteracy, transportation issues and the posttraumatic stress disorder that impacts many military veterans. Goodwill is a both a local nonprofit and an international organization.

In addition to Veronica’s devotion to Goodwill, she is an active Rotarian and serves on the boards of the Child Protection Center and Project 180. She and her husband, Jeremy, share their home with three adorable Bichon Frise dogs.

Veronica also enjoys browsing the St. John and Chico’s sections at the new Goodwill Boutique.

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Lisa Morris While she spent the early part of her career helping people as a social worker, real estate is in Lisa Morris’ blood and changing career paths has brought outstanding success in her legacy profession. Her father, Howard Rooks, was a renowned real estate broker in Washington, D.C. prior to establishing a brokerage here.

Lisa grew up vacationing on Lido Key where her parents owned a home and has felt deeply connected to the area ever since. Although she has closed some record-setting sales, she represents properties at all price levels with distinct expertise in luxury properties in town and on the islands (particularly Lido, Longboat, and Bird Keys).

Lisa has been consistently honored with the FIVE STAR Best in Client Satisfaction Award earned through customer satisfaction. She is very service and marketing focused, using the resources Premier Sotheby’s International Realty provides with its high standards, top quality marketing and international exposure for properties. Lisa loves the art of the deal, is very people-oriented and tenacious; skills honed as a social worker which she still uses daily.

Lisa received her undergraduate degree at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her master’s degree from Loyola University in Chicago. She and her husband, Bob Morris, a commercial agent and developer, relocated here from Indianapolis in 2000. While real estate is seven days a week with long hours, Lisa makes time for reading, exercise, and the occasional bird rescue as a volunteer through Save Our Seabirds. Lisa and Bob live on Lido Key with their teenage son and daughter, as well as a yellow Labrador and French bulldog.

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Women on the Scene 2012

Michelle Moulin Fueled by her passion for leadership, entrepreneurship and marketing, Michelle Moulin (Nelson) has founded two companies built on her love of technology and her ability to develop outstanding teams and grow sensational brands. With the vision to see the integral role technology would assume, Michelle founded Anexio in 1996 to provide managed IT services to companies at a time when many were just learning about Microsoft Windows and the Internet. She has been named among the top 250 executives in managed IT worldwide.

Guided by her “3 Ps” people, passion, and the profits that make the first two possible, Michelle moved Anexio this year into the same Rosemary District building that houses another of her entrepreneurial successes, Blue Strategy + Creative Intl. There, a high tech, modern, collaborative environment supports the teamwork, creativity and employee satisfaction vital to her insistence on the highest possible service in both the IT and marketing businesses. Michelle credits her meticulous attention to client satisfaction to growing up with a woodworker father who epitomized pride in craftsmanship and standing behind your work.

As a triathlete, she has encouraged 10 of her team members to compete, providing a company triathlon bike and gym memberships. Their personal transformations are inspiring to her, as are the lessons learned about the value of perseverance and pushing through hardship in both personal and business endeavors. Michelle’s ability to thrive in the face of difficulties has made her a wonderful role model for two teenage daughters and earned her an invitation to speak before the U.S. House of Representatives about the power of small businesses and how her businesses continued to succeed in a down economy.

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Anna Maria Nekoranec Taking time out to care for her ailing mother set Anna Maria Nekoranec on an unexpected path. Having a stellar track record internationally with large venture capital funds and private equity investing meant people sought her expertise in helping companies with financing and business improvement. As her mother’s health improved, she began working more and found herself with a consulting business she hadn’t really planned. At the same time, she fell in love with Sarasota, and her family relocated here.

Anna Maria’s business focuses in three areas: consulting to high net worth individuals with private equity investments, helping small to medium sized business owners with growth strategies and financing, and investing in and buying companies. While she does not specialize in particular business sectors, Anna Maria typically only invests if she can bring something value-added to help grow and maximize value in the business.

She got her start in this somewhat rarified business world when the thesis she wrote for her MBA from the Wharton School was published and became a Book of the Month Club book and a text for Wharton’s small business acquisition class. She was recruited to the Czech Republic to advise on acquisitions, and eventually returned to the U.S., rising through the ranks of several large venture capital firms.

When she’s not immersed in her business, Anna Maria enjoys time with her husband, 20-year-old stepdaughter, and six-yearold twin daughters. She also lends her expertise to the Jefferson Scholars Foundation at her undergraduate alma mater the University of Virginia, helping bring the scholarships to the Tampa Bay area. She has been working with Forty Carrots Family Center as well to help future scholars get their best start in life.

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Women on the Scene 2012

Joyce Niederpruem Joyce Niederpruem brings peace of mind to individuals and families grappling with care issues for seniors and those with disabilities. Joyce’s company, Concierge Care Management, was founded in 2001 as Southwest Solutions. But the new name better reflects the individualized attention and personalized service on which she insists. Joyce and her team of professional care managers work with individuals and their families to assess current needs, coordinate medical and other care, and develop a plan of action.

She also finds and evaluates service providers and ensures her clients’ best interests receive priority by having no financial interest in the companies to which she refers.

Joyce not only helps people stay healthy, safe, and independent while maintaining their dignity – she satisfies her innate compassion by relieving family members of some of the responsibility for caregiving and giving them back their roles as daughters, sons and spouses. With more than 30 years as a Registered Nurse, Joyce often finds medically complex cases coming her way, and she gladly accepts the challenge. Her cool head and the knowledge gained through her extensive background working in hospitals, workers compensation, hospice, and home health care makes her a steadying force for clients who often reach out to her in crisis situations.

Joyce has a strong connection to the community, having lived here most of her life and completing her education at Sarasota High School, Manatee Community College, and Eckerd College. She has earned a degree in creative writing through Eckerd’s Program for Experienced Learner’s, using her skills to help clients tell their stories. Joyce relishes time spent serving on Eckerd’s Alumni Board, volunteering at the Women’s Resource Center, being a mother to her grown son Daniel Duncan, and sharing her joy of life with her fiancé Kurt Hoverter.

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Marsha Panuce Marsha Panuce has entertained audiences worldwide as a concert pianist, excelled as an entrepreneur, placed more than 300 adoptable dogs, and is now creating a unique venture grounded in the love she and her late husband, Don, shared for their dogs. Donte’s Den and Dogevity grew from their concern about how their dogs would fare if anything happened to them. They envisioned building a campus where dogs could be nurtured and happy, doing what dogs love to do.

With the purchase of 50 acres near Myakka City, Marsha is providing seed money and has begun fundraising to build a multi-level campus to shelter dogs in need, provide the ultimate boarding experience, and develop a totally unique pet assisted living facility called Dogevity. Initially, ten condominiums will be offered for sale where dogs can live out their lives in as home-like an environment as possible. They will be fed and cared for as their owner has specified, with volunteers to walk, feed, play and cuddle with them.

If they must move to a care facility, owners can be confident their dog is in good hands and can check on them via webcam or arrange for a visit.

Donte’s Den, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, will shelter 75 dogs for adoption, and Dogevity includes a boarding kennel with individual runs to ease owners’ minds when they travel. Also planned is a kitchen to prepare healthy food, onsite medical care, and a grooming parlor.

Playtime is taken seriously, with plans for two pools, large areas with agility equipment, and lots of space to run. Marsha is confident Don and their beloved Schnauzer, Donte, would be happy with the legacy she hopes to create.

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Michelle Bianchi Pingel While her artistry takes place behind the scenes, Michelle Bianchi Pingel can take more than a few bows for The Players Theatre’s remarkable success.

Her business savvy in collaboration with Jeffery Kin’s artistic acumen have helped The Players recover financially from the depredations of the Great Recession.

During her tenure as Managing Director/ CEO, the theatre has garnered accolades from the community and has achieved milestones at the box office that it has not seen in its 82-year history. Most recently, the Sarasota Chamber named The Players its 2011 Cultural Organization of the Year, and last season’s production of A Chorus Line was the theatre’s highest grossing show ever.

In the 10 years since Michelle began working there as a volunteer while on disability leave from her government job, she has grown through a series of managerial positions. Today, she has responsibility for financial management, staffing, grants, box office management and the physical facilities. She says her focus on the logistics of the business, along with the support of her board, allows Jeffery to dream big while staying within budget. As a result, in five short years,

The Players has moved from weathering the economic downturn to creating a vision and an ambitious plans for the future that includes an eventual grand restoration of its existing spaces.

On the home front, Michelle focuses on spending time with her family and getting her two sons, who both are graduates of her alma mater Cardinal Mooney High School, through college. Calling them her “greatest achievement,” she has worked to give them the best possible foundation for a great future, just as she has helped do for The Players.

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Coral Pleas Coral Pleas’ vision of an exceptional salon experience based on impeccable customer service has allowed her to open four locations in as many years, and has earned Cutting Loose Salon recognition as one of the nation’s finest. When she opened her first salon on University Parkway, the country was in a deep recession. But Coral knew creating a serene oasis where guests could experience white-glove pampering and service from highly trained professionals would prove successful, and it has. This year, she expanded her winning concept to Lakewood Ranch and downtown Sarasota.

From complimentary head and neck massages in the Lather Lounge to sipping wine or Cosmopolitans in the Color Café, Coral has used her 30 years of experience as a hairstylist and salon owner to create a truly unique experience. Cutting Loose’s success has been recognized twice with Salon Today’s Top 200 Award. She is a board member of Intercoiffure, a prestigious and exclusive organization that sets the standards for the hairstyling industry. Coral believes in advanced education and trains stylists to her own exacting standards in French hair-cutting and Balayage highlighting techniques. She opened Afterhours by Cutting Loose where rising stars gain experience and guests receive haircuts, color, and highlights Sundays, Mondays, and evening hours during the week at a lower price point.

Coral emphasizes that her salon is a family business with her children Travis and Taelor Scheuer, gifted stylists themselves, now managing her newest locations.

The family is very involved in the community from donating gift certificates for fashion show fundraisers to supporting SPARCC, Designing Women Boutique, and the Center for Building Hope in Lakewood Ranch.

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Women on the Scene 2012

Julie Riddell Julie Riddell is a familiar face around town through the numerous seminars she delivers on personal finances and retirement planning and her tireless fundraising efforts. She helps guide people through her world of conservative investment options that provide safe alternatives to the volatility of the real estate and stock markets. Julie enjoys helping people achieve the retirement of their dreams while protecting their hard-earned nest eggs. Her gift for putting others at ease lets clients express those dreams, whether that is traveling the world or playing golf close to home. Her tenacity and expertise helps her find the right tools to achieve an aim even in difficult or unusual situations.

By offering retirement strategies, estate conservation, and tax management through life insurance, long term care insurance, incomefor-life and other options, Julie enjoys providing a fresh perspective for managing clients’ risk exposure.

Keeping their best interests at heart also is important to her. Julie’s interest in the financial industry was sparked when her husband, Jeff, got his securities license. The entrepreneurial couple has partnered in Riddell Title & Escrow and US 1031 Exchange Services.

Michigan natives Julie and Jeff relocated to Sarasota in 1983 and raised their family here. Julie has freely volunteered her time with many local charities, including serving as past president of the New College Library Association. She has also chaired many galas, such as the Library Association’s Mistletoe Ball and benefits for the Cancer Society and Heart Association.

Julie’s two children are now grown. Her daughter Cynthia is an attorney, and her son Mark, who now works for IMG Academies, is a former tennis pro (a sport Julie enjoys as well).

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Marilee Roberts Led by a love of beauty, a passion for fashion and an adventurous spirit, Marilee Roberts has forged a path as a highly successful entrepreneur. Even as a child she showed a flair for the original, spurning off-the-shelf doll clothes for those she made herself and then, as she grew, applying that creativity to her own wardrobe. At one point in her career, Marilee custom-designed women’s evening wear and suits. Her newest venture, Trébor Style, is an online boutique that offers handmade sterling silver and 18-karat gold jewelry from European artisans. The exquisite pieces she selects for TreborStyle.com reflect her keen sense of what it means to create a personalized look that is fashionable and unique.

Trébor Style grew from another passion, a love of travel and trips to Italy in particular, and her friends’ admiration of the beautiful jewelry she discovered there. Gifted with a lifelong entrepreneurial spirit, which included opening one of the first video stores in the area, she began cultivating relationships with talented Italian jewelry designers, winning permission to offer their pieces for sale in the U.S. Marilee’s goal is to source rare, handmade jewelry at an attractive price.

Trébor Style’s offerings range from limited production pieces starting at $75 to one-of-a-kind designs that incorporate antique jewelry or hand-carved gemstones, which run up to $10,000.

Marilee also generously helps nonprofits with fundraising trunk shows and has served on the boards of the American Cancer Society, Girl’s Inc., and the Child Protection Center. She and her husband are car enthusiasts and hold racing licenses with the Sports Car Club of America. Combining that hobby with their devotion to helping children, the couple co-chairs and sponsors the annual Sarasota Exotic Car Fest.

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Women on the Scene 2012

Donna-Lee Roden Sarasota native Donna-Lee Roden decided she wanted to be an attorney as a child when she recognized the difference a caring lawyer can make. Today, as one of only a small percentage of attorneys who are Florida Bar Board Certified in Wills, Trusts and Estates, Donna-Lee specializes in estate planning, estate and trust administration, probate, estate tax and charitable planning. After practicing in a larger firm setting for fourteen years, Donna-Lee opened her own firm in 2003.

Located in downtown Venice in a 1950’s era, Florida home, the office is a comfortable place to do business, reflecting Donna-Lee’s warm and friendly personality.

Donna-Lee is thankful to her fantastic parents and wonderful teachers, professors and mentors for preparing her for her career. A good student, Donna-Lee graduated from Riverview High School ranked #1 in her class and went on to receive her Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Georgetown University College of Arts and Sciences and her law degree from Stetson University College of Law. She was honored to serve as a White House Intern while at Georgetown and as a member of the “Stetson Law Review.”

Donna-Lee actively served on the Executive Council of The Florida Bar’s Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section as well as the Executive Committee of the Judge John M. Scheb American Inn of Court (as reporter), and is a former chair of the Probate Section of the Sarasota County Bar. She has also served on the boards of Historic Spanish Point (a past president), the Sarasota Chapter of the American Red Cross, and Partnerships and Alliances Linking Schools (a past treasurer). She has also authored a chapter on guardianships for minors for The Florida Bar’s “Florida Guardianship Practice” manual (4th edition).

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Brigid Saah Finding a profession that suits her creative spirit and love of beauty in a medium known for its architectural longevity has been a true joy for Brigid Saah. Her pleasure is apparent in the enthusiasm with which she approaches her work and the gallery-like appearance of her showroom, where the specialty tiles she sources internationally are displayed like works of art – which many of them resemble. Brigid acquired Tile Market of Sarasota last year after having worked there for eight years.

Collaborating with architects, interior designers, and homeowners, Brigid creates custom pieces from stone, ceramic, glass, tile, and porcelain. Her work graces everything from kitchen backsplashes and bathrooms to expansive exterior walls and fountain areas. Brigid even helped one homeowner, enamored with a 1920sera floor in a Ringling residence on New College’s campus, by finding artisans to recreate those tiles for her home.

She scours the world for tile, including the recently added Ann Sacks designer collection, bringing in many exclusive lines to satisfy her sophisticated, and often international, clients.

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Brigid studied interior design at Florida State University, including in London and Milan, and is an allied member of the American Society of Interior Designers.

She has participated in the Boys & Girls Club Designer Showhouses for 11 years and has been an active member of the Junior League. A “Southern girl” who was raised in and loves Sarasota, Brigid also has a passion for international travel that she shares with her husband. She delights in combining business with pleasure as she explores the world from the Middle East to Europe, finding unique tile that will create lasting beauty for her customers.

Susan Samson After guiding her own children through the demanding and complex college application process, Susan Samson decided to dedicate herself to helping other parents survive this tedious but ultimately gratifying journey. Applying her fifteen years of experience chairing education and health fundraisers, and masters degrees in Education and Developmental Counseling and Guidance from Columbia University, Susan founded College Intuition – a college advising service to assist students to identify, and gain admission to, the college that best suits them.

For Samson, the application process is more than just about getting into a school of choice – it is the opportunity for her students’ self-discovery and personal growth. She works with students to identify their academic interests and talents

and helps them find opportunities to explore, enhance and thrive off those areas of passion. This ongoing, customized process results in student essays and resumes that reflect experiences and compelling stories for their college essays.

Holding herself to similar standards of growth, Susan models professional excellence by pursuing continuing education and certifications; she maintains membership in four nationally recognized college associations, and has visited more than 200 colleges.

A Sarasota resident for 25 years, Samson also appreciates a well-balanced life that includes time with friends and family (including her husband Dr. Russell Samson, her father Frank Fishman, and her son and daughter Andrew and Paige), and giving back to the Sarasota community.

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Dr. Mary Sanders Dr. Mary Sanders has created such a positive, upbeat experience for her dental patients that many actually look forward to their next appointments. From a rigorously trained staff and her no-pressure collaboration with patients regarding their treatment to the beverages and snacks she offers them, Mary’s goal is 100 percent satisfaction for everything from cleanings to cosmetic procedures. Knowing that some patients struggle with fear, she offers sedation dentistry, and if they don’t have anyone who can drive them safely home, Mary hires a limo for their round trip.

As a result, her practice is thriving. Mary has tripled her new patient numbers and is adding four treatment rooms and a surgical room for dental implants.

Once patients experience her office, they don’t leave. Some travel from as far away as Miami and Gainesville for the personal attention she gives them, her insistence that financial matters won’t stop someone from having needed work done including signing up with additional insurance providers, and the follow up phone calls she makes. This caring extends to those who cannot afford needed treatments with regularly scheduled free dentistry days.

Mary’s success is not too surprising, having grown up in Dunnellon helping out after school in a dental practice where her Mom worked.

She began as a dental assistant at 16 and later began managing dental practices before graduating from the University of Florida’s dental college where she earned a Presidential award for achievement and was selected by her peers for the C.W. Fain Award for outstanding ethics and professionalism. Mary also breeds, shows and does agility with standard Poodles, including the No. 1 silver dog, and is active with Florida Poodle Rescue.

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Marilyn Schroeter Marilyn Schroeter, owner of Platinum Coast Construction, Inc., is a licensed general contractor, which even for today’s women, is fairly uncommon. What’s more, Marilyn possesses an uncommon ability to visualize her clients’ projects and bring those creations to life, enhancing them with her finely tuned eye for beauty. Her background in economics from Duke University and the fiduciary responsibility owed to her clients as an investment advisor with Merrill Lynch, gives her a sharp eye for the budgets while ensuring they get the most for their investment whether it is for an office build out or their dream home.

With a knack for problem solving, Marilyn is committed to standing behind her work and has earned her reputation for excellence in commercial and residential new construction as well as for remodeling.

A talent for teamwork allows Marilyn to develop solid relationships with architects, clients and subcontractors.

She hires only highly skilled trade- and craftspeople who truly love what they do and deliver quality work at a reasonable price. Recent projects include a 6,000 square foot spec home on the water that she designed and decorated, and she has a prime lot on Oyster Bay on which she is eager to build a beautiful custom-designed home for someone.

Marilyn was raised in Lancaster, Pa., and after attending Duke University, remained in North Carolina as an investment advisor for Merrill Lynch. She relocated to Sarasota in 1993 and has generously supported many nonprofits here, including the Sarasota Orchestra’s Youth Orchestra, Habitat for Humanity, American Heart Association, Leukemia Society, and Hope Family Services. Family and friends are an important part of her life, especially her two college age daughters, for whom she strives to be a good role model, both as an individual and a businesswoman.

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Yara Shoemaker Beautiful inside and out, the energetic Yara Shoemaker deftly melds the life of a modern woman with a traditional value system instilled by her family in Syria. Yara is a risk-taker who generally succeeds at whatever she sets out to do. With seemingly boundless enthusiasm, Yara has helped the Red Cross, Sarasota Memorial Hospital Foundation, Ringling Museum and Forty Carrots. Now, she has focused her powerful determination on raising funds for the Center for Sight Foundation, established by her new husband, Dr. David Shoemaker, a nationally recognized expert in cataract and lens replacement surgery.

The foundation expands on the charitable work the Center for Sight has already done in donating more than 600 surgeries valued at $2.4 million to restore the sight of those who cannot afford cataract surgery. Yara was touched by testimonials at a fundraiser where one gentleman said his sight was so impaired that his priest had to lead him into surgery, and now he returns that favor for the elderly priest. She is planning a fabulous fundraiser with New York models wearing Carmen Marc Valvo designs right after their debut during Fashion Week, complete with celebrity guests and live musical entertainment.

An avid cook, Yara is launching a new cookbook in January, “Health on Your Plate,” in which she hopes to teach others her healthy and tasty ways in the kitchen.

She’s also launching YarasWay.com, an online lifestyle magazine with daily health, beauty, and fashion tips, as well as YarasWayEvents.com to indulge her joy in creating beautiful wedding invitations. She still loves to watch the Siesta Key sunsets that first sold her on Sarasota and appreciates the generous nature of the people here, which makes it feel like home.

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Donna M. Simmons Donna Simmons is a board-certified audiologist who demonstrates the difference between competence and excellence. It’s all in her attitude toward patients and the expertise she has cultivated through many years in practice. Donna specializes in diagnosing and evaluating the type and severity of hearing loss, and then prescribing and fitting hearing aids. She wants to change people’s lives for the better through improved hearing, so her greatest joy is knowing her patients actually like and wear their hearing aids. She achieves that through advanced technologies, her skill in programming hearing instruments, and her desire to take the time necessary to work with patients and ensure they are satisfied.

As much as she loves patient care, Donna also enjoys business, which led her to build two successful practices and write a manual on private practice in audiology.

She sold the first practice, which she operated for more than 15 years here, to a national audiology group. After consulting and managing with them, her strong entrepreneurial spirit led her to found Physicians Hearing Specialists.

A native Sarasotan, Donna also has thrown her heart into helping children by serving on the YMCA Foundation board and raising funds for its many programs, including serving twice as chair for its annual gala. She enjoys spending time with her friends and family, and also reading and relaxing in her beautiful home, which she designed herself. Donna also has a fondness for the Big Easy, where she was educated at Tulane University and Louisiana State University Medical Center. She owns an audiology practice there and visiting every couple of months allows her to satisfy an acquired yen for beignets, charbroiled oysters, and muffulettas.

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Vivienne Smith As a business consultant who has aided leading companies across many sectors including financial services, energy, and consumer products, Vivienne Smith has turned her considerable energy, enthusiasm, and experience to the burgeoning healthcare sector. With an unwavering focus aimed at return-on-investment that was honed under the leadership of business icon Jack Welch during her career with GE Plastics and Medical Systems, Vivienne has aided other industry-leading companies in going to the next level, launching a new product, and even turning around troubled businesses.

Using her formidable business acumen, an enviable network of contacts, and a knack for being a quick study, she helped Pepsi’s FritoLay division boost cash flow and guided the U.S. Stock Exchange through a multi-million dollar stock option offering. Now, as the healthcare industry is being reshaped along with the aging of the baby boomer generation, Vivienne sees the chance to indulge her passion for aiding seniors. Having witnessed her mother and aunt struggle with Alzheimer’s disease, she was drawn to Youthful Aging, which provides concierge health care for seniors who need help at home and also assists in skilled nursing facilities.

Its sister company SCIENZA: Memory for Life is unique to this area in offering a lifestyle program to strengthen mental functioning beginning with a thorough neurological analysis through an individualized program of healthy living. Further pursuing her desire to help seniors, Vivienne is involved with the Senior Friendship Center. She also keeps an eye toward the younger generation and is active with the Boys & Girls Club. Vivienne devotes a large portion of her passion to family, including her husband, a “renaissance man” whose support she cherishes.

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Women on the Scene 2012

Hillary Steele Guided by a passion for using her considerable talents and skills to serve her family and her community, Hillary Steele has a strong calling to provide support where she feels she can make a difference. Surrounded by family, including her 92-year old father, Hillary stays very involved in their lives. She is active with the Goldie Feldman Academy where two of her grandchildren go to school, and started a Backpacks for Kids program there for children who may go hungry on non-school days. Hillary also sponsors buses to transport students to the FSU Center for Performing Arts to see the ballet; many of them have never seen a performance.

She helps many organizations, including the West Coast Black Theatre Troupe, YMCA, Ringling Art Museum, FSU, Jewish Housing Council, Jewish Federation, and the Diabetes Foundation of Miami, whose research helps those who live with the disease like her daughter. But of all her philanthropic work, it is the Sarasota Ballet that has a special place in her heart. She has worked with the Ballet for 10 years as a board member (and is

now entering her third year as board chair), was on the search committee when Iain Webb was brought on board, and is extremely proud of the Ballet’s triumphs and resurgence under his direction.

She accomplishes all of this while leading a successful family business in Bradenton. Hillary is a graduate of Sarasota High School and the University of Florida. Travel is yet another passion. She is drawn to “walkable” cities like Prague, St. Petersburg (Russia), and Paris where she loves being among the people and part of their community, becoming engaged there just as she is in her own home town.

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Margarete van Antwerpen Since arriving in Sarasota nearly 25 years ago, Margarete van Antwerpen has been involved in a host of community and environmental charitable activities. The most noteworthy are the Salvation Army, Sarasota Memorial Hospital Foundation and Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Associates, where she chaired the Orchid Ball for three years. Since the passing of her beloved husband Paul in 2009, she has limited her local community activities and involvement to Selby Gardens and Historic Spanish Point, with the majority of her efforts being devoted to those charities that have a direct impact on her family, namely Multiple Sclerosis and Breast Cancer Awareness.

Recently she founded the Paul van Antwerpen Total Access Room at The Family Y in Augusta, Ga., not only to honor her late husband but to support those in need. This “special� room will allow those people with special needs such as those with MS, wounded warriors, and the survivors of strokes and Traumatic Brain Injuries to participate in a wide variety of physical exercises.

In the future, her pet projects will be assisting and developing community volunteerism, particularly at the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Historic Spanish Point and the Founders Garden Club. This will allow her to fulfill her passion to help the community while supporting environmental efforts.

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Women on the Scene 2012

Varinia Van Ness When it comes to representing her clients, criminal defense attorney Varinia Van Ness wields her spunky style, unrelenting tenacity, and formidable understanding of the law to help achieve the best possible outcomes. Brimming with energy and a touch of the showmanship that comes from being a polished public speaker, Varinia loves trial work but also is proud that she wins many cases on motions, sparing clients added anxiety and expense. She diligently investigates cases herself: scrutinizing evidence, following up with witnesses, and applying her knowledge of the law. Her firm also handles family law and foreclosure cases.

Varinia is Colombian by birth, fluent in four languages, and a U.S. citizen who came to the United States at age 14. She graduated cum laude in Economics from the University of Florida and went on to graduate from Stetson University Law School. Following graduation, she worked as a prosecutor for six years.

While her sons, now 12, 13 and 15, were young, she worked with Guardian Ad Litem, assisting abused and neglected children, then established her own practice in 2002.

Professionally, she is active in the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, having responsibility for membership development statewide. She has also been very active in the Junior League, serving on many committees over the years. While working hard and doing her best for clients are important to her, Varinia also believes in balance. Weekends are devoted to her sons, whose prowess in football and track means cheering them at games and meets. Most important to her, though, is giving credit to God and living by the words “I will serve the Lord,” which are posted in her waiting room.

Women on the Scene 2012

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Chris Voelker Well known as a committed animal welfare advocate and staunch supporter of the Humane Society of Sarasota County, Chris Voelker has gained a reputation this year as a savvy restaurateur with the opening of the chic State Street Eating House + Cocktails.

Having a cozy and casual urban ambiance that would be right at home in New York or L.A., the restaurant has captivated patrons who sometimes happily wait an hour for a weekend dinner, fortified with inspired libations crafted from house-made mixers.

Chris credits the creative menu and meticulous attention to detail that her chef/ partner Christian Hershman also brought to his private catering and former restaurants, the still-missed Alley Cat Café and Noah. Their new venture satisfies Chris’ entrepreneurial spirit and gregarious nature. She takes great pleasure in patrons’ delight with the imaginative food and fascination with the brickwork, exposed beams and reclaimed material unexpectedly juxtaposed with rich wall coverings.

With a very soft spot for our animal companions, Chris has devoted herself to raising funds for HSSC since 2005 and is serving her second term as board president.

During her tenure she has overseen many positive changes, including a revitalized organization under new leadership, operational changes, and updates to HSSC’s branding and its building, including new free roaming cat rooms.

She and her husband also have welcomed adoptees into their home.

When she’s not at the restaurant or on HSSC business, Chris loves to enjoy Sarasota’s pleasures with her husband, calling him a true partner, best friend and positive influence for her. She also feels fortunate to have a group of female friends who play an important role in her life.

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Women on the Scene 2012

Beth G. Waskom Beth Waskom has mastered the art of creating a full and happy life while immersing herself in her work as an attorney specializing in estate planning and administration with the law ďŹ rm of Muirhead, Gaylor, Steves & Waskom, P.A. Beth delights in getting to know her clients. She can be ďŹ ercely protective of them, as many are elderly and rely on her to act in their best interests should the time come when they are no longer able to do so.

She truly enjoys the peace of mind she delivers through the instruments of her work: wills, trusts, durable powers of attorney and health care surrogate designations. Sometimes, Beth is the trusted person designated to oversee the welfare of clients who may be single or widowed. She takes her role as their protector very seriously and also advocates for the elderly in general. Her caring goes beyond her professional role, as she sees herself as a resource for clients. With a degree in (and a love for) history, Beth is fascinated by their stories.

Originally from Gainesville where her parents, both writers and authors, still live, she earned her undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Florida and also has a history degree, which she completed while living in London. Beth is currently president-elect of the South County Bar Association. She is also a long time supporter of Mote Marine and serves on the board of Designing Women Boutique. She loves mornings, arriving early to the ofďŹ ce so she can spend quality time every afternoon with her teenage son and daughter who attend Sarasota Military Academy. She is an avid runner, participating in many half marathons and training for the Houston marathon.

Women on the Scene 2012

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Sue Wolverton Although she wouldn’t call it by the movie vernacular “bucket list,” Sue Wolverton’s personal lifetime goal list has taken her from the heavens as a licensed pilot to the ocean’s depths as an accomplished scuba diver. In her profession, Sue has satisfied her expansive vision by working for 35 years with a nationally owned real estate company with 725 offices in 35 major metropolitan areas. The parent company of her local Coldwell Banker office is Realogy Corporation, which sells one in five transactions in the U.S., handles transferees for many of the Fortune 500 companies, and has an extensive global reach.

Sue appreciates having the resources of such a large corporation at her fingertips in her role as regional manager, with responsibility for working with the management team and helping with recruiting, training, and developing agents from Manatee County to Marco Island. Coldwell Banker is known for its educational resources, technological advancements, customer focus, and luxury homes division. Sue also works with the company’s international marketing team to attract a growing stream of overseas buyers to the area.

In addition to participating in the corporation’s philanthropic efforts, Sue and her husband have “fallen in love” with Circus Sarasota, particularly the Laughter Unlimited program that brings cheer to hospitalized children and the elderly. They have also helped build two homes for Habitat for Humanity and have been involved with the Sarasota Military Academy since its inception. Sue is an active member of the Economic Development Commission of Sarasota County, and was recently named Citizen of the Year for the city of Longboat Key.

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Women on the Scene 2012

{ALLEN — DUNCAN} DIRECTORY ALLEN, LORI Vice President – Sarasota Division Brown & Brown of Florida, Inc 1819 Main St., Ste 510 Sarasota, FL 34236 941.893.2201 lallen@bbsarasota.com bbsarasota.com

ANDERSON, HEIDI K., DR. Dermatology & Oculoplastic Consultants 5880 Rand Blvd., Ste 201 Sarasota, FL 34238 941.925.DOCS (3627) info@sckineyedocs.com skineyedocs.com

BARBOUR, HOLLY L., MD Oculofacial Plastic Surgeon 1250 S. Tamiami Trail, Ste 302 Sarasota, FL 34239 941.951.2220 HollyBarbourMD.com

BARNETT, MARGUERITE MD, FACS, PA Sarasota Institute of Plastic Surgery Mandala Med-Spa 1715 Stickney Point Rd. Sarasota, FL 34231 941.927.2447 drmbarnett.com

BEDI, MONICA, MD Dermatology Associates Reflections MedSpa 3830 Bee Ridge Rd. Sarasota, FL 34233 941.927.5178 dermsarasota.com

BOLLETTI, REBECCA S. Vice President – Wealth Management Financial Planning Specialist Financial Advisor Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, LLC, Member SIPC Two North Tamiami Trail, Ste 1100 Sarasota, FL 34236 941.364.7406 | 800.237.9441 x406 rebecca.s.bolletti@morganstanley.com MorganStanleyFA.com/rebecca.s.bolletti

BOLTON, CHRISTINE Membership Director, Laurel Oak Country Club 2700 Gary Player Blvd.

Sarasota, FL 34240 941.378.3399 membership@laureloak.com laureloak.com

BOWDEN, GAIL Sr. Investment Advisor Sperry Van Ness Commercial Advisory Group 1626 Ringling Blvd., Ste 500 Sarasota, FL 34236 (o) 941.343.4515 | (c) 941.223.1525 Gail.Bowden@SVN.com SunCoastSVN.com | svn.com

BRENNAN, SUSAN Vice President, Relationship Manager PNC Wealth Management PNC Financial Services Group 240 S. Pineapple Ave., Ste 400

Sarasota, FL 34236 (o) 941.363.5071 | (c) 941.961.8471 susan.brennan@pnc.com PNC.com

COLLINS, BARBARA

BYRD, HEATHER

COLLINS, TAYLOR TOLLERTON

The Byrd Law Firm, P.A. 2151 Main St., Ste 201 Sarasota, FL 34237 941.954.3400 heather@thebyrdlawfirm.com thebyrdlawfirm.com

Vice President Professional Benefits Inc. 1 North Tuttle Ave, Ste 5 Sarasota, FL 34237 941.957.1310 Taylor@professionalbenefits.org

CARLSON, GRACE

CONLAN, FLORENCE

APR, LEED Green Associate Carlson Studio Marketing 1613 Fruitville Rd., Ste 1 Sarasota, FL 34236 (o) 941.362.3011 | (c) 941.228.9083 grace@CarlsonEcoMarketing.com CarlsonEcoMarketing.com

Private Risk Advisor Baldwin Krystyn Sherman Partners 1990 Main St., Ste 750 Sarasota, FL 34236 941.751.0903 | 813.574.6171 fconlan@bks-partners.com

CARLSON, LIZ (ELIZABETH) 214 Cavallini Dr. Nokomis, FL 34275 941.350.2792 CarlsonElizabeth76@yahoo.com

CAUFFIELD, CHRISTINE DR. President, Cauffield and Associates, LLC 1693 Main St., Ste A Sarasota, FL 34236 941.225.2374 drcauffield@cauffieldandassociates.com cauffieldandassociates.com

CIRCLE, SUZY Senior VP of Sales/Shareholder Alltrust Insurance 1990 Main St., Ste 750 Sarasota, FL 34236 2965 Alt 19 Palm Harbor, FL 34683 (c) 727.244.7118 | (o) 941.747.7975 | 888.563.7278 scircle@alltrustinsurance.com alltrustinsurance.com

CLORE, AMY (See Marty Katz)

COFFEY, BRANDY ABR, CIPS, CLHMS, RSPS, TRC Coffey & Company Licensed Real Estate Broker Keller Williams Luxury Homes International 9 Fillmore Dr. Saint Armands Circle Sarasota, Florida 34236 877.308.6311 | 941.284.4474 InSarasotaRealEstate.com | ForSarasotaRealEstate.com forbradentonrealestate.com

COGAN, AIMEE, CFP®, CIMA® Executive Director – Wealth Management Senior Investment Management Consultant Wealth Advisor The Bellwether Group at Morgan Stanley Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, Member SIPC 2 North Tamiami Trail, Ste 1100 Sarasota, FL 34236 941.363.8513 Aimee.Cogan@mssb.com fa.morganstanleyindividual.com/bellwethergroup

Samaritan Counseling Services of the Gulf Coast 941.926.2959 samaritangulfcoast.com

CRAWFORD, ESTELLE President, Pines of Sarasota Foundation 1501 North Orange Ave. Sarasota, FL 34236 941.955.6293 ecrawford@pinesfoundation.org pinesfoundation.org

CREIGHTON, BJ New College Inauguration Ball 941.685.4151 bjcreighton@verizon.net

COFFEY, KATHY New College Inauguration Ball 941.924.2808 rkmh@aol.com

CUPPY, JUDITH V. President/Owner Senior Home Companions, Inc. 2447 Bee Ridge Rd. Sarasota, FL 34239 941.924.0494 jcuppy@comcast.net seniorhomecompanions.com

DABNEY, SUSAN WINCHESTER Yacht and Home Interiors by Susan Winchester Dabney Sarasota, FL 941.350.2981 susan@susanwinchesterdabney.com susanwinchesterdabney.com

DREYFUS, SOUAD Founder Open Arms Consultants 5620 Tara Blvd., Ste 201 Bradenton, FL 34203 941.741.4994 info@openarmsconsultants.com OpenArmsConsultants.com

DUNCAN, DARCIE, CRS, GRI, CDPE Broker-Owner Duncan Real Estate, Inc 310 Pine Ave. | PO Box 1299 Anna Maria, FL 34216 941.779.0304 darcie@teamduncan.com teamduncan.com Women on the Scene 2012

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DIRECTORY {EDWARDS — MORRIS} EDWARDS, SHERYL A., ESQUIRE

KARP, SUSAN, TAMMY, TAYLOR & SARAH

MAISTO, MARGE

The Edwards Law Firm, PL Board Certified Real Estate Attorney 1901 Morrill St. Sarasota, FL 34236 941.363.0110 sedwards@edwards-lawfirm.com foreclosurelawyersarasotafl.com

Arthur S. Karp Family Foundation, Inc. TammyKarp@aol.com

President Maisto Consulting Sarasota, FL 34238 941.302.3729 maistoconsulting@gmail.com

FRANCOLETTI, KATHY L., CTFA Financial Advisor & Senior Vice President Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, LLC, Member SIPC 2 North Tamiami Trail, Ste 1100 Sarasota, FL 34236 941.364.7475 Kathy.Francoletti@morganstanley.com morganstanley.com/fa/kathy.francoletti

GERLING, DANA LAGANELLA Affordable Attorney Gerling Law Group Chartered 6148 SR 70 East Bradenton, FL 34203 941.756.6600 dlaganella@gerlinglawgroup.com

GETTEL, KELLY Kelly Gettel & Co. PLLC Licensed Real Estate Broker 2170 Main St., Ste 203 Sarasota, FL 34247 941.388.8232 info@kellygettelandco.com kellygettelandco.com

GROSSKREUTZ, STEPHANIE Town Hall 2013 Chair Managing Director – VISIT SARASOTA COUNTY 1777 Main St., Ste 302 Sarasota, FL 34236 941.955.0991 x102 stephanieg@visitsarasota.org

HAMAD, RENEE

KATZ, MARTY (AMY CLORE & MARY RUIZ) Director of Marketing, New College Foundation, Inc. 5800 Bay Shore Rd. Sarasota, FL 34243 mkatz@ncf.edu 941.487.4743

jsk1232@comcast.net

REALTOR®, Keller Williams Realty Lakewood Ranch 6710 Professional Pkwy W, Ste 301 Sarasota, FL 34240 (o) 941.556.0500 | (c) 941.773.7807 wandamartinetto@gmail.com

KOSHY, MARY, MD

MASSARO-FAIN, ANGELA

KIEBITZ, JANE SUMMERVILLE

Manatee Cancer Center 401 Manatee Ave. E., Ste A Bradenton, FL 34208 941.748.4324 manateecancer.com

KOUVANT, VIVIAN USDane1@aol.com

KOVAL, CHRISTINE, DMD

KOY, LYNNE

MEI, DENISE

CRB, CRS, GRI Broker / Associate Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate 201 Gulf of Mexico Dr. Longboat Key, FL 34228 941.387.1803 lkoy@coldwellbanker.com LynneKoy.com

LANDO, RUTH (ELIZABETH LINDSAY)

HEFNER, STEPHANIE

LEEMING, LAURA

Founder/President Academy for Leadership and Social Development, Inc. 7357 Merchant Ct. Sarasota, FL 34240 941.487.4076 Stephanie@AcademyForLeadership.net AcademyForLeadership.net

Executive Consultant Rodan+Fields Dermatologists LALeeming@me.com LauraLeeming.com LauraLeeming.biz

JEFFREY, LESLIE State Farm Agent 2345 Bee Ridge Rd., Ste 7A Sarasota, FL 34239 941.926.1980 leslie@lesliejeffrey.com lesliejeffrey.com SCENE

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Women on the Scene 2012

MATHEWS, PATRICIA Principal, Workplace Experts, LLC 1002 Tara Vista Dr. Sarasota, FL 34232 941.727.1692 pat@workplacexperts.com workplacexperts.com

University Advancement University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee 8350 N. Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 34243 941.359.4726 rlando@sar.usf.edu usfsm.edu

President, The Law Office of Cindy Hill Ford, P.A. 458 S. Tamiami Trail Osprey, FL 34229 941.244.0098 chillford@westfloridacondolaw.com

Founder and President, Grapevine Communications Advertising | Marketing | Public Relations 5201 Paylor Lane Sarasota, FL 34240 941.351.0024 AMF@grapeinc.com grapeinc.com

Koval & Koval Dental Associates 2477 Stickney Point Rd., Ste 216A Sarasota FL 34231 941.923.5406 askdrkoval.com

President, Board of Directors Women’s Resource Center of Sarasota County, Inc. 340 S. Tuttle Ave. Sarasota, FL 34237 941.366.1700 thewomensresourcecenter.org

HILL, CINDY

MARTINETTO, WANDA,

LINDSAY, ELIZABETH (see Ruth Lando)

LOEFFLER, CHERYL, MBA Premier Sotheby’s International Realty 50 Central Ave., Ste 110 Sarasota, FL 34236 (o) 941.308.6554 | (c) 941.302.9674 Cheryl.Loeffler@sothebysrealty.com cherylloeffler.com

LOFTUS, LESLIE WULFSOHN Of Counsel Kirk-Pinkerton, P.A. 941.364.2404 lloftus@kirkpinkerton.com

Realtor®, Michael Saunders & Company 1801 Main St. Sarasota, FL 34236 941.685.3198 denisemei@michaelsaunders.com denisemei.michaelsaunders.com

MERIWETHER, GILA GOLDNER Business Development Consultant USA - MIDDLE EAST - ASIA - EUROPE 941.320.9297 gilameriwether@gmail.com

MILLER, ALEX CEO, Mercedes Medical 7590 Commerce Ct. Sarasota, FL 34243 941.355.3333 x228 AMiller@MercedesMedical.com MercedesMedical.com

MILLER, VERONICA BRANDON Vice President, Foundation Goodwill Manasota 7501 15th St., East Sarasota, FL 34243 941.355-2721 veronica.miller@gimi.org experiencegoodwill.org

MORRIS, LISA Premier Sotheby’s International Realty 50 Central Ave., Ste 110 Sarasota, FL 34236 (o) 941.364.4000 | (c) 941.544.3332 premiersothebysrealty.com LisaMorrisRealEstate.com

{MOULIN — ZARRO} DIRECTORY MOULIN, MICHELLE

RUIZ, MARY

TAYLOR MORRISON

Chief Executive Officer Anexio, Inc. 1413 Blvd. of the Arts Sarasota, FL 34236 866.5.ANEXIO x102 mmoulin@anexio.com anexio.com

(See Marty Katz)

West Florida Division Cammie Longenecker, VP Sales & Marketing Michelle Campbell, VP Finance Shawn Cate, Area Sales Manager Angela Wisdom, Area Sales Manager Katy Walker, Marketing Manager Valerie McChesney, Controller 501 North Cattlemen Rd. Sarasota, FL 34232 941.554.2881 taylormorrison.com

NEKORANEC, ANNA MARIA

SAAH, BRIGID Tile Market of Sarasota 1962 Main St., Ste 120 Sarasota, FL 34236 941.365.2356 tilemarketsarasota.com

Managing Director LBK Capital LLC Sarasota, FL 917.365.9073 annan@lbkcapital.com

SAMSON, SUSAN, MA M.ED

NIEDERPRUM, JOYCE RN, BA, CCM

SANDERS, MARY A., DMD, PA

Owner/Administrator Concierge Care Management, Inc. 2803 Fruitville Rd., Ste 140 Sarasota, FL 34237 941.953.9757 info@ConciergeCareManagement.com conciergecaremanagement.com

2677 S. Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 34239 941.366.0616 info@marysandersdentistry.com marysandersdentistry.com

PANUCE, MARSHA President, Donte’s Den Foundation 4505 18th St. East Bradenton, Florida 34203 941.545.8387 marsha@dontesden.org

PINGEL, MICHELLE BIANCHI Managing Director The Players Theatre 838 N. Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 34236 941.365.2494 info@theplayers.org theplayers.org

PLEAS, CORAL Owner/Stylist Cutting Loose Salon 8429 Honore Ave. Sarasota, FL 34201 941.358.6000 1950 Main St. Sarasota, FL 34236 941.365.5586 www.cuttingloose.net

President, College Intuition LLC 941.349.4061 Susan@CollegeIntuitionLLC.com collegeintuitionllc.com

SCHROETER, MARILYN Platinum Coast Construction, Inc. 941.545.7777 platinumcoastinc@gmail.com platinumcoastinc.com

SHERMAN, LAURA Founding Partner Baldwin Krystyn Sherman Partners 4010 W Boy Scout Blvd., Ste 200 Tampa, FL 33607 813.984.3215 | 866.279.0698 lsherman@bks-partners.com

SHOEMAKER, YARA Center for Sight Foundation 1360 East Venice Ave. Venice, Florida 34285 941.488.2020 cfsfoundation.org

SIMMONS, DONNA M. Board Certified Audiologist President, Physicians Hearing Specialists 1700 S. Osprey Ave. Sarasota, FL 34239 941.364.2222 www.physicians-hearing.com

RIDDELL, JULIE

SMITH, ANNE FOLSOM, A.S.I.D.

Riddell Financial 3400 S. Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 34239 941.366.1300 julie@rlglawfirm.com

Anne Folsom Smith Interior Design 330 S. Pineapple Ave., Ste 206 Sarasota, FL 34236 941.957.0434 annefolsomsmith.com

ROBERTS, MARILEE

SMITH, VIVIENNE

Trebor Style 7093 S. Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 34231 941.724.9996 TreborStyle.com

Vice President, Business Development Youthful Aging Home Health, Inc. 5602 Marquesas Circle, Ste 105 Sarasota, FL 34233 (o) 941.925.9532 | (c) 941.228.5969 vivienne@youthfulaging.net youthfulaging.net

RODEN, DONNA-LEE M. Florida Bar Board Certified Wills, Trusts & Estates Attorney Law office of Donna-Lee M. Roden 213 Harbor Drive North Venice, Florida 34285 941.486.8555 Donna1522@aol.com

STEELE, HILLARY Board Chair, Sarasota Ballet 941.812.2459 HGS8@comcast.net

VAN ANTWERPEN, MARGARETE Community Volunteer & Philanthropist (o) 941.923.8819 | (c) 941.302.1198 mvapva@aol.com

VAN NESS, VARINIA Managing Partner and Owner Van Ness Law Group, P.A. 46 N. Washington Blvd., Ste 9 Sarasota, FL 34236 941.362.3560 varinia@vannesslawgroup.com vannesslawgroup.com

VOELKER, CHRIS State Street Eating House + Cocktails 1533 State St. Sarasota, FL 34236 941.951.1533 statestreetsrq.com

WASKOM, BETH G., ATTORNEY Muirhead, Gaylor, Steves & Waskom, P.A. Offices in Sarasota and Venice 1800 2nd St., Ste 780 Sarasota, FL 34236 901 Ridgewood Ave. Venice, FL 34285 941.484.3000 Beth.Waskom@mgswlaw.com mgswlaw.com

WILHELM, PEGGY Y. Samaritan Counseling Services of the Gulf Coast 941.926.2959 samaritangulfcoast.com

WILLIAMS, MERRY RCLA President PO Box 4071 Sarasota, FL 34230 941.925.1343 RCLAssociation@comcast.net

WOLVERTON, SUE Senior Vice President, Southwest Region Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate 5951 Cattleridge Ave. Sarasota, FL 34232 941.487.1476 sue.wolverton@floridamoves.com floridamoves.com

ZARRO, JANICE Executive Director Women’s Resource Center of Sarasota County, Inc. 340 S. Tuttle Ave. Sarasota, FL 34237 941.366.1700 thewomensresourcecenter.org Women on the Scene 2012

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Successful aging requires a balance of social, intellectual, physical, and spiritual experiences.

Masterpiece Living at Sarasota Bay Club provides the tools and support you need to live better, longer, and enjoy life more.

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A Full Service Retirement Community Maintenance-Free Ownership • Health & Rehabilitation Services • Flexible Dining Options

Call Today For Your Personal Tour ~ Linda or Dana (941) 552-3284 1301 N. Tamiami Trail • Sarasota, Florida 34236 • www.SarasotaBayClub.com

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID MANASOTA, FL PERMIT #88

CELEBRATING OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS & COMMUNITY PHILANTHROPY These highly accomplished USF alumnae share a commitment to their communities through engagement, leadership, advocacy and mentoring. They are strong collaborators actively seeking long-term solutions to contemporary challenges. They are compassionate, they fight for their beliefs, and know the best way to get things done. Philanthropists, business leaders, professionals, wives, mothers, and daughters. They are USF Sarasota-Manatee.

(L to R) Amy Drake (’83), Angie Brewer (’82), Mona Jain (’84), Amy Hunt (’03), Alina Cemitier (’00)

2012 WOTS $3.95 U.S.

The University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee salutes our USF alumnae and their contributions to the communities we serve.

8350 North Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 34243 941.359.4200 usfsm.edu