South Charlotte Exceptional WOMEN
LIVING
Here’s to The Women in South Charlotte!
Women everywhere are special! However, the women in South Charlotte are extra special! We are beautiful, talented, strong and accomplished. We contribute much to our families and to our communities. It’s been said that ‘girls rule the world’ and in many ways we do.
In this issue we are proud to recognize and feature successful women in South Charlotte who have excelled in their real estate careers. We also share with you an outstanding woman who has creative interior design skills and owns a beautiful modern home furnishings store with her husband in Pineville. In addition, we introduce you to a super woman who can do anything, as proven by her transition from a successful career in healthcare into the world of restaurant ownership with emphasis on hospitality.
southcharlottelivingmag.com
Melinda Burris
Publisher
Melinda Burris, Edie Marshall
Editors
Melissa Latin
Social Media Director
Aida Nassar, Sharon Conklin, Michelle Zawacki, Melissa Latin, Effie Russell, Edie Marshall and Melinda Burris
Writers
Fiore, Sharon Conklin, Effie Russell, Melissa Latin, Jackie Smith, Kate Taylor, Joseph Fronsee, Nouvelle Furnishings, Anise Monroe, Michelle Zawacki and Robin Nitsche
Photographers
Picante Creative Design & Production
Rachel Moore
Ad Designer
Barbara McKay
Advisor
With women, relationships are everything! We highlight three sisters who show you how to have fun during a girls’ trip and birthday celebration in Las Vegas.
Whether she is a wife, mother. friend or sister, cherish all women and show them some appreciation.
Give the women in your lives some love South Charlotte!
Melinda
Publisher
South Charlotte Living SouthCharlotteLivingMag.com
Melinda Burris
Botanica imports the finest preserved flowers and foliage from growers in many countries around the world: South Africa, Spain, Ecuador and Italy just to name a few. We then create classic, everlasting arrangements from these beautiful botanicals.
At Zinicola, the table is a celebration, a coming together of time and place bolstered by exceptional service and a warm, inviting atmosphere. We want you to feel at home. We want our food to inspire. We want you to know that a refined experience doesn’t have to feel cold. Instead, we aim to feed the soul and we invite you to our table. Above all else, we welcome you to sample our authentic Italian cuisine & wine selection today!
The 3rd Annual Purple Arts Benefit
Fiore Restaurant and Lounge in Ballantyne and its General Manager, Kim Helmsley, hosted the 3rd Annual Purple Arts Event to benefit the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. Guest artists displayed and sold their works of art at the event to support the organization which helps create awareness of pancreatic cancer and provides assistance to those suffering from this dreadful disease, along with helping their families. Visit pancan.org and join the fight against pancreatic cancer.
FYZICAL Pineville Hosts Women’s Health and Wellness Event with South Charlotte Living Magazine
The team at FYZICAL Pineville, including Dr. Debra Myhr, hosted their first Women’s Health and Wellness Event with South Charlotte Living Magazine at their clinic.
In addition to allowing guests to learn more about the physical therapy services offered at FYZICAL, the team welcomed Dr. Monique May, Physician In The Kitchen; Isabella Vasicko, owner of Live GRUND; the medical team from Arboretum Gynecology and TV Personality and Author Barbara McKay to the clinic to also share information with guests about women’s health, to network and enjoy some fun time together. South Charlotte Living Magazine provided brunch items including fruit, quiche, and avocado waffles, even some waffles with a special bacon twist from Sharon Conklin, owner of Fiore Restaurant. Everyone savored the day while learning, laughing and enjoying the food with coffee, mimosas, champagne and wines. Make an appointment with FYZICAL Pineville, 10761-B Park Rd, Charlotte, NC 28210, 980.237.5987, fyzical.com.
Remembering Charlotte SHOUT! 2024
Charlotte SHOUT! is a special annual celebration produced by Charlotte City Center Partners. It is a presentation of the city’s culture and community built on the pillars of art, music, food and ideas. This year’s Charlotte SHOUT! was an inclusive and inspirational sensory feast for all ages, with more than 200 events and attractions taking place over 17 days in Uptown Charlotte. More than 650,000 attended the Uptown events this year. SHOUT!, as it grows bigger each year, reminds us of how very fortunate we are to live in a city with so much energy and vitality.
The presenting sponsors for SHOUT! 2024 were Atrium Health and Bank of America. It was an aspirational festival designed to showcase our community by celebrating Charlotte’s creativity and innovation. Charlotte City Center Partners boldly envisions and activates strategies and actions that will assure Charlotte Center City is a welcoming, equitable, economically vibrant, culturally rich, and beloved place for all. We can’t wait for Charlotte SHOUT! 2025 to come! For more information, please visit charlotteshout.com.
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in Real Estate Exceptional Women
Written by: Effie Russell, Michelle Zawacki and Melinda Burris
The real estate market in South Charlotte has been both competitive and red hot. It’s important to work with the right professionals when making decisions for both listing and buying properties. This month we’re introducing you to four women in real estate who are very capable and have been highly recommended by our print readers, online viewers and social media followers. We’re impressed with their experience and performance, and we are proud to share them here with you.
Jackie Smith
Jackie Smith is a dynamic realtor who provides her clients with valuable insight and expertise on the South Charlotte luxury real estate market. As a licensed broker in North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida, her talents and skills successfully enable her to close deals with professionalism and grace as evidenced by her handling a client’s home sale which was the highest priced property sold in Mecklenburg County in the month of March 2024 at $5.3 million dollars.
Jackie has an extensive background in leadership, and with her 5-star, white glove customer service experiences she provides the very best to her clients. She also leads her team of five professionals to do the same every day.
Jackie’s experiences in health care management and government leadership have led her to become one of the best at providing clients with very positive experiences while listing and selling their homes as well as successfully representing them as buyers for their purchases.
Jackie’s broad base of experiences serving in government to organize and implement meetings and events both nationally and internationally have made her super talented in so many ways.
Additionally, Jackie’s corporate level management experiences with a national multi-location hospital system have provided her with the unique ability to manage a plan for pre-and post-closing integration. Her goal is to always provide Charlotte’s Finest Concierge Service in Real Estate for every experience whether it involves buying, building, renovating, investing or selling properties. Jackie’s graduation from Auburn University with degrees in Communications and Psychology prepared her to become the best at everything she’s accomplished.
> You can contact Jackie Smith at Charlotte’s Finest Properties, 704.773.7575, jackie@cltsfinest.com.
sales list in the Charlotte area. The buyer was so impressed with
Anise Monroe will be delighted to work with you and assist with your real estate needs when you contact her at Alliance Realty, 704.906.6447 or anise@realestatebyanise.com.
Michelle Zawacki
Michelle Zawacki’s clients’ needs, interests and objectives are her top priorities. She is committed to working with her clients and keeping them informed every step of the way, with a strong goal of making their real estate transactions stress-free. She knows how to manage relationships with all parties including interactions with vendors, other agents, builders, attorneys and lenders, but representing her clients’ interests is always her priority. Michelle can provide buyers and sellers with the industry knowledge and strong analytics needed to help them make informed decisions while negotiating the best possible outcome for them.
Prior to working in real estate, Michelle enjoyed over 15 years of a fabulous career at General Electric Company in various roles including customer service, quality assurance/six-sigma, account management, human resources, project management and vendor/ supplier management within fast-paced, high-volume work environments. No matter what her role, her core belief has always been to serve her customers’ interests first. She can investigate all possibilities for her clients and will fix challenges that may impact or prevent smooth transactions. Leveraging her background, she is happy to exercise her passion for real estate, and she is using her experiences to serve, simplify and provide smooth transitions for all of her clients’ home buying and selling needs. In addition to real estate, her family is her other passion including her supportive husband and her college-age triplets who have a shared love for sports and serving in their church as a family. In 2014, she moved from New York to the beautiful Carolinas which she loves because the area has it all, with great weather, all four seasons, nearby mountains, the ocean, city and country life with continued growth and endless activities. Since moving here, Michelle has established a great career with Berkshire Hathaway Homeservices Carolinas Realty. Four words you can use to describe Michelle are trustworthy, caring, committed and knowledgeable.
> You can reach Michelle at 803.415.4530 or michelle.zawacki@ bhhscarolinas.com.
Robin Nitsche
Robin Nitsche is a very dedicated real estate expert at Premier Sotheby’s International Realty’s Charlotte office, specializing in buyer representation, listing services, relocation assistance and staging expertise. With over 25 years of real estate experience in the Charlotte area, Robin offers personalized service tailored to meet her clients’ unique needs. She is a Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist, ensuring her clients receive top-notch service and expertise. She is especially very well acquainted with and loves helping clients in the South Charlotte area.
Having successfully relocated from Canada to Charlotte herself, Robin understands the intricacies involved in moving to a new area and is committed to making transitions seamless and stressfree. Her firsthand experience gives her invaluable insight into the challenges of relocation, allowing her to provide invaluable guidance and support to her clients.
With a keen eye for design and construction, Robin excels at identifying hidden potential in properties, ensuring her clients find the perfect diamond in the rough. Her meticulous attention to detail, unwavering commitment to integrity, and proven track record of delivering results make her the ideal choice to guide you through any real estate journey.
Whether you’re buying, selling, relocating, or staging your home for sale, Robin’s passion and expertise will help anyone achieve their real estate goals with confidence. Robin can be a trusted partner every step of the way as you navigate the Charlotte real estate market. Robin and her husband live in South Charlotte.
> Robin Nitsche can be reached at Robin.Nitsche@PremierSIR.com, 704.609.2822.
A SISTERS’ EXTRAVAGANZA INLas Vegas
A Memorable Three-Night Trip
Written by: Melissa Latin
Las Vegas, the city of lights, glamour, and endless entertainment, became a playground for my two sisters and I on an unforgettable three-night adventure. Coming together from different states, we converged in Sin City for a luxurious and meticulously planned getaway that included fine dining, exciting gaming, and delightful surprises. Here’s a detailed look at our spectacular trip.
Jet-Setting to Vegas
Our adventure began with a touch of class and comfort. I flew first-class direct from Charlotte, arriving in Las Vegas in style. Despite coming from different states, we all managed to arrive within hours of each other, setting the stage for a seamless and joyous reunion.
Photography by: Melissa Latin
Luxurious Accommodations at The Wynn
For our stay, we chose The Wynn, known for its opulence and impeccable service. We were fortunate to book a suite for three nights, paying only for one. Thanks to my player’s card membership, we earned free rooms, resort credits, and play credits, a perk I highly recommend for any frequent Las Vegas visitor. The suite became our luxurious home base, offering a perfect blend of comfort and convenience.
Culinary Delights at Sinatra’s
Our first evening was marked by an exquisite dining experience at Sinatra’s, located at Encore, which is directly connected to The Wynn via a convenient walkway. As a part of the Wynn property, Sinatra’s exudes elegance and serves delectable dishes that pay homage to the legendary Frank Sinatra. Every dollar spent here contributed to our future rewards, making it a deliciously strategic choice.
Exploring Caesars Palace and Café Lola
The next morning, we embarked on a culinary journey to Café Lola, nestled within Caesars Palace. Known for their Crème Brulee donuts, the café provided a sweet start to our day. The walk to Caesars Palace was filled with the vibrant energy of the Strip, setting a lively tone for the day ahead.
An Afternoon at Fremont Street
Fremont Street awaited us with its nostalgic charm and vibrant atmosphere. We spent the afternoon playing blackjack, relishing the thrill of the game and the lively ambiance of this historic part of Las Vegas. It was, undoubtedly, the most funfilled part of our trip.
Dinner at The Bedford
As evening approached, we dined at The Bedford in the Paris Hotel, Martha
Stewart’s culinary haven. My older sister surprised us with a delightful birthday cake, crafted by the restaurant’s pastry chef, to celebrate mine and my younger sister’s birthdays. It was a heartwarming and unforgettable moment, adding a personal touch to our culinary adventures.
A Day of Leisure and Exploration
The following day, we embraced our inner tourist selves, revisiting Fremont Street and strolling along the Strip. The day was
filled with laughter, sightseeing, and the sheer joy of sisterly bonding.
A Gastronomic Journey with Lip Smacking Foodie Tours
For our final night, we had booked a Foodie Tour with Lip Smacking Foodie Tours about a month in advance. This highly recommended experience offered a variety of dining options, allowing us to sample the best culinary delights Las Vegas has to offer. Each stop on the tour was a new gastronomic adventure, making it a highlight of our trip.
Luxury Shopping at The Crystal Shops
No trip to Las Vegas is complete without a bit of retail therapy. We indulged in some luxury shopping at The Crystal Shops adjacent to Aria, exploring highend boutiques and treating ourselves to stylish finds.
A Mesmerizing Show at The Wynn
To cap off our extraordinary trip, we attended “Awakening,” a spectacular show at The Wynn. The mesmerizing performance was the perfect finale, leaving us in awe and concluding our Vegas adventure on a high note.
Final Thoughts
Our three-night escapade in Las Vegas was a blend of luxury, adventure, and cherished moments. From first-class flights and sumptuous suites to gourmet dining and exciting gaming, every aspect of our trip was meticulously planned and executed. For anyone looking to experience Las Vegas in all its glory, I highly recommend taking advantage of player’s card memberships, booking unique tours, and, most importantly, sharing the experience with loved ones.
Las Vegas offered us an unforgettable sisterly adventure, and we left with hearts full of memories and plans for our next visit. Until then, the city of lights will remain a glittering gem in our travel diaries.
Melissa Latin is the Social Media Director for South Charlotte Living Magazine.
MONIQUE MAY, MD, MHA The Physician in The Kitchen
Board-certified family physician and Founder of Physician in the Kitchen®. Dr. Monique’s passion is to help people discover, cook and eat delicious plant-based foods. Her mission is to fix America’s health, one plate at a time.
• Take her 1:1 cooking and how to plant-base your pantry classes!
• Check out her books, Mealmasters and Doc, Fix My Plate!
• Book her for your next speaking engagement!
980-202-0456 www.drmoniquemay.com
@physicianinthekitchen
Customization in Closets, Bedrooms and More at
Nouvelle Furnishings
We Can’t Have Enough Space and Nouvelle Is Revolutionizing Space Through Design with Hanan Nassar, owner and designer, leading the way.
Written by: Aida Nassar and Effie Russell
Photography by: Nouvelle Home Furnishings
In an age where home design is rapidly becoming a way of expressing your own personality and style, Nouvelle Furnishings understands the importance of helping their customers tailor their homes to their individual needs, tastes, and preferences. With the knowledge that every detail in a person’s home matters, At Nouvelle, Hanan and her talented design team innovatively expanded their business to account for every aspect of the design process. While Nouvelle has offered designer furniture and expert design services since their opening in 2021, over the years various additions have been made to the business to enhance the design experience and better fulfill customer needs.
Some of Nouvelle’s latest offerings include products and services for stunning in-home custom-built
closets provided by the brand Lazzoni. With a history spanning over a century, Lazzoni is far more than just a design house. The name Lazzoni signifies a legacy of four generations dedicated to excellence in craftsmanship and design.
As featured in Nouvelle’s showroom, Lazzoni’s custom closets are fully tailorable to fit in each individual’s home with masterful configurations in layout, shelving, drawers, hardware, finishes, accessories, and more. The endless combinations of closets are crafted with exceptionally high quality, featuring soft-close mechanisms and with the utmost durability.
Furthermore, in-home installation of the closets with the design team’s involvement assures customer satisfaction.
Beyond this, Nouvelle also offers a range of custom bedrooms, living rooms, office, and dining furniture, television units, and more by Lazzoni. Regardless of the space, Nouvelle’s design team is equipped to assist customers with selecting the right products to maximize a home’s space, while simultaneously allowing individual expressions of designs.
Nouvelle has an array of other sophisticated, luxury European furniture brands meticulously chosen by Nouvelle’s team, including Bontempi, Nicoline, and Calligaris. Nouvelle also now offers the beautifully refined Italian lines Ditre Italia and Costantini Design. Through the versatility of this furniture, Nouvelle’s team is able to craft a wide range of design solutions, using the clean lines and sleek silhouettes of furniture to allow for elegant designs. At the same time, the small details and precise craftmanship in products allow for the creation of a timeless home, without sacrificing comfort and practicality.
Nouvelle’s extensive design services aim to account for all the possible needs in a person’s home. Because of this, Nouvelle’s team now offers products
to make sure every inch of a home is accounted for; from the rugs to adorn the floors, to the designer paper for the walls, and the lighting to hang from the ceilings.
The design team at Nouvelle Furnishings is always seeking ways to innovatively extend their reach, so they can best be of service to clients throughout the entire Charlotte area. Whether it is the products they offer, their time and effort spent on each person’s home, and their understanding of personal preferences, Nouvelle’s team is constantly improving their efforts and the team is committed to serving its customers every day.
> Visit Nouvelle Furnishings at 11410 Carolina Place Pkwy, Pineville, NC 28134, 980.207.4570 , nouvellefurnishings.com.
Pellyn Grove
$1,995,000
$2,290,000
Giverny
Cotswold
Cotswold
Eastover
Ballantyne Country Club
Piper Glen
Providence Downs South
Skyecroft
$1,930,000
$2,050,000
$2,000,000
$2,370,000
$1,895,000
$1,500,000
$1,379,000
$2,195,000
$2,095,000
Dovewood
TFROM HEALTHCARE TO HOSPITALITY, SHE IS
The Best
Written by: Effie Russell, Sharon Conklin
here are few women in South Charlotte who measure up to or are as talented and accomplished as Sharon Conklin. She is well-prepared as the owner to lead C & W Holdings. The firm is devoted to providing the best in restaurant, entertainment and hospitality services. Her organization opened the doors to Fiore Restaurant and Lounge at Ballantyne in 2021. Since then, C & W Holdings has opened other restaurants in Louisville, KY and Greenville, SC, too. »
Sharon’s dynamic personality and her experience as a proactive, goaloriented executive with over 40 years of healthcare expertise in leading business divisions, launching new services, and providing solution-based consulting nationally and internationally in the healthcare industry makes her one of the best business leaders around.
With the opening of Fiore, Sharon created an exceptional venue for fine dining in a unique atmosphere. There is nothing like it in Ballantyne for individual, date-night, small group or event dining. In addition to her strong healthcare management experience, Sharon’s architectural and interior design education, design experiences and background helped her develop plans to bring the masterpiece that is
now Fiore to fruition. She has an eye for the best, as reflected in the special, artistic bar delivered from Chicago and the elegant light fixtures adorning the ceiling. The decor creates the perfect
atmosphere for adult fine dining. Sharon brought the same energy and creativity to Fiore that she embodied in her professional experience in healthcare and interior design.
Sharon also knows it is not just about the appearance of the space and how it looks. Customers expect the best in food and drinks too. She and her team have found the best staff in the food industry for the kitchen, the best mixologists and the best management and servers who can deliver the highest-quality service to their customers, loyal followers and supporters.
Sharon recognizes that successful business leaders must be willing to evolve and adjust business concepts according to customer needs and changes in the market. Known for her keen awareness and brilliant ideas, Sharon has remained aware of how she can bring an even better venue to Ballantyne. Shortly after opening Fiore, she added High Tea so guests of various world cultures could gather with friends and family. The restaurant also offers Brunch on Sundays and has hosted many intimate, business, and corporate events.
After much analysis of customer preferences, brand identity and the Charlotte market, Sharon has concluded that it’s time for another refresh at Fiore. As a result, Sharon and her team expect to launch a new menu and revised concept soon. Her review of the South Charlotte market led her to realize the need for more premium steak dishes for the restaurant’s finest diners. We’re excited as we look forward to experiencing what she will bring to Fiore next.
> Visit Fiore Restaurant and Lounge at 14825 Ballantyne Village Way, Suite 135, Charlotte, NC 28277, 980.275.0173, fiorelounge.com.
Daron Gaon
Andrew Parker
