Southern Tatler Issue 14 March/April 2016

The

ESSENCE of S O U T H E R N

SOCIETY

13

OPELIKA POWER SERVICES ALABAMA 1st GIG CIT Y

CHEF JOSEPH THOMPSON

A PASSION FOR ART A PASSION FOR FOOD

STACY JORDAN MATCHLESS IN THE MARKET

AUBURN / OPELIKA, AL MARCH/APRIL 2016

$175MM

Berkshire Hathaway Homeservices

$176,906,724

$150MM

$125MM

$100MM

$75MM

$50MM

$25MM

BHHs $176,906,724

ComPanY B $100,421,455

ComPanY C $96,571,630

ComPanY d $94,496,727

ComPanY e $51,490,275

*Sales Volume in 2015. Data from MLS Listing and Selling Transaction Report, 1/1/15-12/31/15.

ContaCt one of our award-winning agents to find out more.

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Glendean Shopping Center 766 E. Glenn Ave. Auburn, AL 36830

(334) 887-8502

sreaves@alfains.com www.alfainsurance.com/scottreaves

Auto Home Life www.AlfaInsurance.com

Call Alfa®. The best agents in the business.

AO16

CONTENT

VISAGE

VISAGE

town

EVENTS AROUND

CHELSEY & TYLER WEDDING Auburn AL

22 OYSTER SOCIAL

Red Barn-Auburn University, Auburn AL

28 WALK ABOUT WINE TASTING Maestro 2300, Auburn AL

30

8 SOUTHERN

TAT L E R

CONTENT

FEATURES

LOCAL FOCUS

FACES

Dr. Don Roberts

44 LOCAL FOCUS

Dancing Stars of East Alabama ...

52 LOCAL FOCUS Derby Day

56 LOCAL FOCUS On The Track

60 CULINARY CORNER Chef Joseph Thompson

FEATURE STORY

66

S TA C Y JORDAN

76

LOCAL FEATURE Opelika Power Company

88

FASHION

Spring Collection

98 HOME

Oliver Henr y & IE Designs

120

T R AV E L

DUBLIN Ireland

130

10 SOUTHERN

TAT L E R

SOUTHERN TAT L E R THE ESSENCE OF SOUTHERN SOCIETY

PUBLISHER Matthew Tse

C U S T O M E R R E L AT I O N S & O peration S P E C I A L I S T Savannah Simpson

A D V E R T I S e M E N T & M ar k eting Matthew Tse

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Anisa Patel Anthony Zigal Kenneth Ngo Stephen Walker

P hotographer Andrea Newman Glen McCarley Isaac Leverett Tracy Young

W riters

Amy Hudson Caroline Lentz Jelani Moore for questions or comments concerning advertising or general inquiries: 334.539.1780 customer.relations@southerntatler.com Southern Tatler is a bi-monthly magazine by Raw Conceptual, LLC. All material published remain the property of Raw Conceptual, LLC. No part of this publication may be reproduced, or copied without Raw Conceptual, LLC consent.

LETTER

the

from

PUBLISHER As we usher in spring, we are reminded of a time of renewal and a time of new beginnings- the overcoming of challenges and the facing of life’s giants.

In this issue we meet several individuals who fought for their own new beginnings- who have created for themselves a history of success, prosperity, and personal fulfillment.

Read about Ms. Stacy Jordan, mother of two and owner of Auburn’s highest producing Real Estate companies. Learn how she built Berkshire Hathaway of Auburn on a foundation of hard work and dedication.

Also read the story of Dr. Don Roberts, headmaster at Lee Scott Academy and longtime Auburn educator and administrator. The joys of his days are opportunities to make a difference in the lives of young people and to love his family through quality time and genuine relationships.

We also hear from Chef Joseph Thompson III, Executive Chef at Live Oaks in Auburn and lover of life’s simple pleasures: good food and good friends. With clear goals and a creative spirit, Thompson has established for himself an image of excellence in his industry.

Finally, take a behind the scenes look at Opelika Power Services.

Hear from its Marketing Director, June Owens, and Executive Director, David Horton, as they shed light on the hard work of the hundreds of people who coordinate their efforts to power your home.

You’ll also read about opportunities to attend several events occurring in the coming months that will benefit worthy organizations in our area.

East Alabama is a community of unique and driven individuals, many with valuable talents and reputations of distinction. Southern Tatler is honored to to have been given the chance to converse with these men and women and to share with our readers their secrets of success.

As always, we offer a big thank you to our friends and neighbors in East Alabama.

-Matthew Tse

16 S OUTHERN

TAT L E R

LIFE

Haute Hotels LA MAISON CHAMPS, ELYSEES, PARIS Located in Paris’s Goldern Triangle, this townhouse hotel was given a makeover by Maison Martin Margiela. The designer’s predilection for white is evident throughout with the the exception of the Cigar Bar and Curiosity Suite, which are painted black. The couture collection includes 17 whimsical suites each one unique. www.lamaisonchampselysees.com

THE ST REGIS, NEW YORK With Fifth Avenue just a Louboutin’s totter away, this beauty arts landmark was made for fashionable collaborations. First up were Bottega Veneta and Tiffany; then came Dior to create a 1,700sqft suite that pays homage to the designer’s Parisian atelier. Those who adore Dior will recognize the brand’s hallmark; the rose motif in the textiles; the signature feminine bows in the sconces; the Louis XVI-style furniture; and the watercolor by Bil Donovan, Christian Dior Beauty’s artist -in-residence.

www.stregisnewyork.com

HAYMAN ISLAND, AUSTRALIA Diane von Furstenberg recently added another entry to her hotel interiors CV with the DVF Penthouse at this acclaimed Great Barrier Reef retreat. Furniture is upholstered in DVF’s signature fabrics, with bold prints adding striking contrast to the sandy-hued walls. The balcony provides uninterrupted views over Human Beach and the Coral Sea, and a full butler service is on hand.

PORTARIT SUITES, ROME The Lungarno collection, the hotel arm of the Ferragamo empire, is well represented in Florence, but this 14-suite hotel is the collection’s only property in Rome. Situated just off the designer boutique-strewn Via Condotti, the suites are a calm oasis of delicate greys and lime woods featuring shoe-related art work and butler service. The hotel also has one of Rome’s finest rooftop terraces, offering beautiful views of the city.

www.hayman.com.au

www.portraitsuites.com

18 SOUTHERN

TAT L E R

334.246.3582 oliver-henry.com 2272 Moores Mill Road Suite 210 Auburn, AL 36830

Furniture

Accessories

Interior Design

Gifts

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

22 CHELSEY & TYLER WEDDING

SOUTHERN

TAT L E R

VISAGE

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

28 OYSTER SOCIAL

38 W A L K

A B O U T W I N E T A S T I NG

VISAGE

TYLER SETTLES & CHELSEY DORMAN WEDDING

WEDDING

AUBURN,AL

May 30th, 2015

The bride and groom were both students at Auburn University when they met. Tyler Settles, from Chattanooga, Tennessee and a graduate of Baylor School, was pursuing a dual major in accounting and aviation management. Chelsey Dorman, of Auburn, Alabama and a Lee-Scott Academy graduate, was working on her civil engineering degree.

While helping a female classmate in the fall of 2010 move into a new apartment, Tyler met her new roommate, Chelsey. He started “hanging out” at their apartment and some time later, the aviation school was holding a formal event and Tyler asked Chelsey to attend it with him. The rest was history…

VISAGE

TYLER SETTLES & CHELSEY DORMAN WEDDING

WEDDING

AUBURN,AL

May 30th, 2015

24 SOUTHERN

TAT L E R

Three and half years later, Tyler was looking at some land to purchase on which he was going to build his home. Anticipating that his purchase offer would be accepted, he chose to stage a proposal there. So, on Saturday, March 22nd, 2014, he took Chelsey to walk the property. As they walked, they came across a white covered table on which stood a bottle of champagne, two flutes, some wild jonquils and a letter. As Chelsey read the letter written to her from LT (Tyler’s dog) asking her to become her “mommy” by marrying her “daddy,” Tyler reached a hand into a nearby tree to retrieve the ring box. The box fell, and as Tyler kneeled down to pick it up, he realized he had better just stay down there and present the ring. She beamed as he placed it on her hand and rose.

Oops! He forgot to actually ask her to marry him, so he genuflected again and

25 M ARCH/ APRI L

2016

VISAGE

TYLER SETTLES & CHELSEY DORMAN WEDDING

WEDDING

AUBURN,AL

May 30th 2015

asked... She said yes and almost immediately asked if he had talked to her father. He responded by pointing toward the trees where both sets of parents, Barry and Celeste Dorman and Mark and Becky Settles, along with their respective dogs, were waiting, taking pictures. The deal was sealed with champagne all around! (And, no, they did not get that piece of property.)

The pair decided they wanted a traditional spiritual wedding ceremony with the focus on their commitment to God, each other and their families, followed by a time of merriment to celebrate with friends and family. They got exactly what they wanted as their wedding was held at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Auburn, Alabama, on Saturday, May 30th, 2015 with their longtime friends as attendants.

26 SOUTHERN

TAT L E R

OYSTER SOCIAL

VISAGE OYSTER

R E D B A R N - A U B U R N U N I V E R S I T Y, A U B U R N A L

SOCIAL

January 29th, 2016

Mary Edwards, Andy Andrews and Rosemary Gran

David Bancroft and Joe Tessitore

Addie and Hunter Smith

Scott Hill and Michelle Reed

Maribeth and Craig Wolfe

Angela English, David Strobel

Anna and Jay Hovey, Sherry and Jesse Chappel, Robyn and Mark Bridges

28 SOUTHERN

TAT L E R

The 2nd annual oyster social was held at Red Barn- Auburn University, with over 400+ guests in attandance. This event raised over $20,000 for the Alabama Oyster farmers.

Lorna and Don Roberts

Colby Lakas and Ely Jones Julie and Corey Barnhill

Jennifer and Scott Kornegay

Mary Ann Stiles and Craig Wahlberg Christin Bancroft, Lisa Light and Tara Harbison

Wade Bennett, Andy Anderson, and Will Sims Rob McDaniel, Lisa and Hans Van Dev Reijden

29 M ARCH/ APRI L

2016

VISAGE

OYSTER SOCIAL

OYSTER

R E D B A R N - A U B U R N U N I V E R S I T Y, A U B U R N A L

SOCIAL

January 29th, 2016

Kathy Hawkins, Joe Turner, and Johnette Lamborne Ryan Proctor and Kait Baker Proctor Suzanne H., Mia Devillier, and Emily McDaniel

Judy Broussurd and Annette Baker

Jerry and Patsy Cotney

Judge Mary and Steve Windom

Bob, Diane and John Harris

Jack and Cassandra Montgomery

30 SOUTHERN

TAT L E R

Julie Cook and Teri Briggs

WHEN:

July 11‐14, 2016

WHERE:

8:00 am—12:00 pm

Lee‐Scott Academy WHAT WILL YOU LEARN:

CAMPER FEE: $140 before 4/15 $160 after 4/15

WHO: Youth ages 6‐12

HOW TO SIGN UP: campicare@auburn.edu (334) 844‐3506 www.carycenter.auburn.edu/campicare

Camp iCare is a joint venture of the College of Human Sciences’ Cary Center for the Advancement of Philanthropy and Nonprot Studies and the Department of Human Development and Family Studies Early Learning Center.

facebook.com/ campicare

@CaryCenterCamps

@campicare

Auburn University is an equal opportunity educational institution/employer.

How to spend, save, and share  How to use your time, talent, treasure, & trust to make a positive impact  Leadership & team building skills 

VISAGE

OYSTER SOCIAL

OYSTER

R E D B A R N - A U B U R N U N I V E R S I T Y, A U B U R N A L

SOCIAL

January 29th, 2016

Mary Edwards, Andy Andrews and Rosemary Gran

Jeff Erwin, Lilli Land, Ginny Smith, and Cathleen Erwin

Lauren Haiden

Clark and Tammy Fine, Molly Walker, Tammy and Joe McCorkle

Dena & Steve Crockett, Will Clarke, Ellen and Doug Ankersen

Brittney Hill and Tom Hopf

32 SOUTHERN

TAT L E R

51 M ARCH/ APRI L

2016

VISAGE

OYSTER SOCIAL

OYSTER

R E D B A R N - A U B U R N U N I V E R S I T Y, A U B U R N A L

SOCIAL

January 29th, 2016

John Mark Davis, Paulie Hufstedler, Mindy Hufstedler Amanda and Nick Martin and Amanda and Justin Nims

Louisa and Paul Patterson Julian and Lynn Stewart, Frank and Karen Roberts, Bill Walton Tammy Fine, Molly Walker, and Tammy McCorkle

Ann Marie White, Tommy Alberdi, Cynthia Ingram and Ashley Lloyd

34 SOUTHERN

TAT L E R

VISAGE

OYSTER SOCIAL

OYSTER

R E D B A R N - A U B U R N U N I V E R S I T Y, A U B U R N A L

SOCIAL

January 29th, 2016

Teri Briggs, Yarbi Cound

Allyson and Chris Blaukeuship, Kim George and Will Abner

Lisa White

Clay Carson, Dennis Hanson, and John Benefield

Suzanne and Steve Monk and John Grider

Trey and Candace Sims, Jay Dowdle

Casey Garrett, Jane Hartley, Becke Vlanton, Allison Stewart, Anne Shiver

Dana Saucier, Eric and Lynn Stewart

36 SOUTHERN

TAT L E R

Huff Smith Law Protecting Your Future

We are Here to Protect Your Future.

The mission of Huff Smith Law, built by the two partners Haley L. Huff and Brett A. Smith, is to protect the future of our community.

Haley L. Huff

We aspire to provide exemplary legal services and counseling for a variety of legal matters:

• Criminal Brett A. Smith

• Non-Profit • Real Estate • Small Business

Brandon Poticny

Even if you don’t currently have a need for our services, we’d love to meet you and get to know you. Give us a call, or stop by our office just to say “Hi.” Our office is located in downtown Auburn, at the corner of College Street and Samford Avenue, in the historic Cullars-Conner Home.

Contact

(334) 329-5596 www.huffsmithlaw.com info@huffsmithlaw.com

• Family Law

Address

• Charitable Organization

369 S. College St. Auburn, AL 36830

“No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.”

VISAGE WA L K A B O U T WINE TASTING

WA L K A B O U T W I N E TA S T I N G MAESTRO 2300, AUBURN AL

January 27th, 2016

Hay and Cay Weaver

Ryan and Kait Proctor

Glenn and April Gantner

Ally Devenport, Marley Livingston, Patrick Thrower

38 SOUTHERN

TAT L E R

Guests from all over Lee County gathered at Maestro 2300 to attend the viewing and tasting party of its upcoming spring 2016 menu.

Jim and Peggy McDonald

J.E.Avrard, Judy Broussard, Ryan and Kait Proctor, Annette and Greg Baker

Kathrine Hamilton, Laurie Cantrell

Amy skidmore and Sonoma Rohrbaugh

Jon and Rachel Hyink

Chuck and sharon Gartner, April and Glenn Ganter

Jim and Kim Davis, Doug and Jenni Steed

39 M ARCH/ APRI L

2016

VISAGE WA L K ABOUT WINE TASTING

WA L K A B O U T W I N E TA S T I N G MAESTRO 2300, AUBURN AL

January 27th, 2016

Glen and April Ganter

Erin Carpenter, Kay Harris, Andrew Yohn

Chuck and Sharon Ganter

Clay Cawthorne

Jon and Rachel Hyink

Mary Mauldin, Mariela Murphy, Emily Crampsey, Kenan Roland

40 SOUTHERN

TAT L E R

SOUTHERN

TAT L E R

BREATH FACES: Dr. Don Roberts

LOCAL FOCUS: Dancing Stars of East Alabama Derby Day On The Track

CULINARY CORNER: Chef Joseph Thompson

FACES Dr. Don

Roberts

Roberts D Don r

 When I arrived at Lee Scott Academy just a few short weeks ago to meet with its headmaster, Dr. Don Roberts, I was rather impressed by this kind man that met me in the office and seated me at his desk with a smile. Don was strikingly mannerly, and as time went on, I found him to have all of the qualities that a school headmaster, a father, and a role model to children should have: helpfulness, warmth, candidness, and amiability.

I LOOKED TO THE TOP SHELF OF A BOOKCASE

IN HIS OFFICE AND READ A PAINTED SIGN THAT HE OBVIOUSLY USES TO

counsel

ENCOURAGE individual

AND HIS STUDENTS. IT CONFIRMED FOR ME THE KIND OF

DON TRULY STRIVES TO BE.

Thoughts become words.

Words become actions.

Actions become character.

Character is everything.

Looking around his office, on the walls, on his desk, and on his shelves and tables, I noticed a definite Native American motif. I jumped to the conclusion that maybe Don had some deep-rooted Native American heritage, but he chuckled and told me otherwise.

“I grew up when everyone was playing cowboys and Indians. I’ve just always been fascinated by them.

People caught on and gave me all of these gifts that I’ve decorated my office with over the years.” To me, these adornments in Don’s office are not only a testament to the youth that he so cherishes, but to the people that love him and have been bettered by his passion for education. What I also saw were photos of Don’s beautiful family- his wife Lorna, his children Michael and Allyson, and his four treasured grandchildren. He wasn’t shy to tell me that they are his biggest blessings.

Don was raised on a tobacco farm in Hazlehurst, a small town in southern Georgia, and concluded as a small child that the farm life was not for him. While working outside in the hot Georgia sun did not sound appealing, his parents, Austin and Vera Roberts, did instill in him an unbelievable work ethic. He grew up with one brother and one sister, and he loved going to school and playing sports. From an early age he proved to be very talented in football and track, so naturally he was a standout in both sports throughout high school.

Don was elected team captain (and most valuable player) both his junior and senior years of high school, an accomplishment he still reminisces reminisce upon today.

Don was set to graduate in Spring of 1968 with an admissions letter to Georgia Tech University in Atlanta.

Much to the surprise of his parents and peers, however, he had other plans. Dr. Roberts decided sometime during his senior year of high school that engineering was no longer what he felt led to do. He had taken numerous aptitude tests which came back with the result

that he should work with people in his adulthood, not with machines, designs, or abstract ideas. This presented a real problem, though, because he was already on the fast track to a busy freshman year at Georgia Tech, and had even committed to housing for the Fall. His only choice was to develop a clever scheme. Dr. Roberts saw his school counselor and began the application process so that he could be a part of Auburn University’s School of Engineering… but he decided to keep this tidbit of information from his mother and father.

Even better, he planned on transferring to Auburn’s College of Education upon his arrival. He was accepted to Auburn and brought news of his change of course to his family’s Christmas table. His parents were surprised and somewhat concerned, however it was not long before Dr. Roberts was happy and thriving on the plains with the promise of a bright future on the horizon. He visited his advisor almost immediately upon moving to Auburn and had his major officially changed from engineering to education. By his second semester in college he was in the running to become an excellent Alabama educator.

While Dr. Roberts was in school, his family was running a farm and did not have a lot of extra money for college expenditures, so he worked odd jobs and paid his own way. There was a time when he thought transferring to a cheaper Georgia school where in-state tuition was offered was the smarter option, but then he had the brilliant idea to ask Auburn City Schools if he could teach cooperatively on their premises. They were delighted at the idea and by the next year, 1970, he was teaching school at Drake Middle School in its first year of the co-op’s existence and the first year Auburn public schools were integrated. “To be a part of that history was really a gift,” he told me. After that, Dr. Roberts began living year round in Auburn. He graduated from the university in Spring of 1973.

While in college, Dr. Roberts realized his need for a loving church family, but he had no car to drive to a place of worship. He called Airview Church of God in Opelika and asked if someone might provide him transportation to services on Sunday mornings. “That next Sunday the pastor of that church picked me up,” Dr. Roberts smiled. “Little did he know I would marry his daughter.” He fell in love with Lorna Sutton those first few years at Airview Church of God and married her after his graduation in Summer of 1973.

They have been husband and wife for 43 years.

Don worked for Auburn City Schools until 1975, then the couple moved to Alexander City where he taught school and coached football for eight years. The Alexander City Jaycees presented Don the Outstanding Young Educator Award in 1981. Don also served with Opelika City Schools for thirteen years, nine of which he was principal of Opelika High School.

Before retiring in 1998, Don was a member of the Board of Directors of the Alabama Council for School Administrators and Supervisors, served as President of the Alabama Association of Secondary Principals, and was named Alabama’s Secondary Principal of the Year.

As it turned out, this was not the end of the line for Don’s career endeavors as an educator. Following his retirement from Alabama public education, he helped Harris County High School in Hamilton, Georgia open its new doors, serving as Principal for two years. Shortly after, in 2000, Don became headmaster at Lee Scott Academy in Auburn. This is his sixteenth year at Lee Scott. In recent years, Don was nominated for and inducted into the Alabama Independent School Association Hall of Fame.

So what is it that has kept Dr. Don Roberts a believer in the impact of education for more than forty-six years? For him, it is the empowerment he feels to make a real and present difference in the lives of his students. “From the beginning, even back in college, I knew a career in education would give me a great way to work with people,” Don smiled. “There is just no way to truly measure the power of a teacher. I felt a definite pull to education as a young person, probably because I had a lot of ‘giants’ along my path that made such an impression upon me.”

Don talked to me about the transitional period that took place as he became involved in independent education at Lee Scott after being a longtime public educator. He encountered a huge learning curve, but he “dove in” with confidence and came to a quick understanding that private education provided yet another arena for him to instill in his students a love for culture and learning. “Lee Scott is focused very much

on college prep. We create a niche for our students with this dynamic, pushing really talented students even higher,” he explained. Don said that Auburn is one of the greatest cities in Alabama to serve as an educator. He is also happy that Lee Scott affords him the opportunity to put a spiritual emphasis and perspective on school. Classes at Lee Scott are smaller and more intimate, giving him (and colleagues) the opportunity to spend much more one on one time with individual students, something he thinks is extremely valuable. “It’s kind of like a numbers game, and Lee Scott is winning at that,” he chuckled. “There are a lot of advantages to being small.”

Don has built on what others have done to make Lee Scott one of the best independent schools in Alabama. He has greatly increased technology integration, bringing it to its status of an “Apple Distinguished School.” Don has increased enrollment dramatically, from about five hundred students to seven-hundred thirty-five. Since his coming to Lee Scott, there have been several athletic and fine arts programs introduced, including Spanish instruction for all boys and girls ages Pre-K through sixth grade. Lee Scott’s status as an I-20 school means that it can grant student Visas for international students, greatly improving diversity. Lee Scott students have peers from Korea, China, Canada, Brazil, Honduras, and other locations. “My students are much more culturally aware because of this. The program really is a gift to our school,” Don told me. He has also led a number of helpful construction projects at Lee Scott, including its most recent expansion which is not yet completed.

From what I have heard, Don is a loved and cherished educator in Auburn and at Lee Scott, especially.

I asked him, “why do you think you have been so successful?” He told me he did not want to figuratively “pat himself of the back” so I had to prompt him a little to get his philosophy down. “I like to be hands on, even as headmaster. I hire really good people and I help them do their jobs. I subscribe to the concept of managing by walking around. I like to be seen in the classrooms and be involved in several areas throughout the day.” I have my own thoughts as to why Don is such a treasure for all who encounter him. I think it is his genuine kindness and his longtime belief in the abilities of every student. He is one of those people whose very presence lifts the spirit.

When Don is not at school, he enjoys time with his family. Since becoming “empty nesters” several years ago, Don and Lorna have enjoyed visiting what he calls the best beach in the world, the Alabama Gulf Coast, traveling to several beautiful countries, and

dining in countless fabulous restaurants all over the world. When he created a Facebook account several years ago, Don began posting captioned photos of great food he had eaten at some of these restaurants.

He began to accrue a following and it was suggested that he create a blog to showcase the food he so loved.

Today the blog, called “Dining with Don,� has many followers and is a pastime that he has come to delight in.

Don said that his faith is extremely important to him and that he lives his life for a much greater power. He believes that leading with a Christian example is part of what has enabled him to forge quality relationships with students, faculty, and his community.

He is still an active member (and treasurer) at Airview Church of God, where he met his sweet Lorna almost fifty years ago. In 2001, he was awarded the first ever Educator of the Year Award for Youth for Christ. He served as media director for the Will Graham Crusade that came to Auburn in 2010. Don called his involvement in the crusade one of his greatest achievements.

If you are ever given the chance to Meet Dr. Don Roberts, do not let the opportunity pass. He is a man of character with a demeanor of kindness and compassion, whose love for others, especially Alabama’s youth, is unyielding. Don will retire this May, and while he sometimes wonders what he will do without his kids at school, I feel confident he will go back to visit the schools he knew and loved. He will also celebrate retirement alongside his wife, his children, and his grandchildren. If you would like to keep up with Don, you might visit www.diningwithdon.com. You will not be disappointed.

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Call Alfa® and let us design a plan that fits your needs.

Scott Reaves

Glendean Shopping Center 766 E. Glenn Ave. Auburn, AL 36830

(334) 887-8502

sreaves@alfains.com www.alfainsurance.com/scottreaves

Auto Home Life www.AlfaInsurance.com

Call Alfa®. The best agents in the business.

AO16

LOCAL FOCUS N G SS TTAARRSS DDAANN CC II N

OO FF E A A SS TT ABA AA LL A AM M AA

Dancing Stars

OF EAST ALABAMA

WHO

will be

the

2016 ?

DANCING STAR

T

his Spring, Junior League of Lee of County will host a night of dinner, drink, friendship, and dancing with its Dancing Stars of East Alabama competition. This will be the organization’s first year hosting the popular event that has been received so positively by its attendees for five years in row. Local “celebrities” are given surprise invitations to be a part of a fundraiser benefitting the mission of Junior League: to impact children’s lives in Lee County through improvement to programs which enhance or provide access to health, wellness, education, and nutrition. If they accept, they are signing up for a judged contest in which they will entertain dinner guests at a cocktail reception. The charities selected for the 2016 event are Storybook Farm, I Am My Brother’s Keeper, The Exodus Ranch, and Auburn Parks and Rec (for an all inclusive playground project).

Preparing for Dancing Stars is a yearlong process, one that has kept this year’s coordinator, Tara Harbison, and a hardworking organizational committee busy every day with the elements of planning. It starts in July or August, when dancers are nominated by members of Junior League and past dancers.

While about twenty-five individuals are asked, generally only about fifteen accept, but the majority of people are flattered to be chosen to participate in something known to be so much fun. Each nominee is visited at his or her place of business and given a star. Once he accepts, a dancer selects a partner of his

choosing (called his “pro”) and a song that he will dance to (in the style of his choice).

Each year, many performing styles are showcased, from ballroom dancing to more fast paced approaches. Dancers are not required to have any prior experience, although many choose to hire a choreographer. It is a judged event, after all.

Once dancers have accepted their invitations and have begun working on a routine, theyare to begin asking community members or friends to sponsor them by purchasing tables at either the Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, or Director’s Table levels. Every participant is asked to raise $8,000 for the year’s chosen charities. About 400 Auburnites attend the event annually, many of them pledging to come back and support Dancing Stars year after year. “It is a lot of fun to see how every contestant’s personality comes out in his or her music. We are surprised every year to see how talented our Auburn celebrities are, but we also like to see them come out and just let go. You never know what you’re going to get,” Tara said.

When I asked her why Auburn is the perfect place to hold Dancing Stars, her first response was, “Residents of Lee County really love to give back to their community.

And this is just one more opportunity for them to do so!” She went on to explain that ticketholders truly jump on the opportunity for an amazing night out after hearing that their friends and neighbors are competing.

“Our sponsors not only get to see faces they know, they are also able to enjoy a fabulous meal, drinks, and just a great time together.

You’d be surprised at how many people get loud at our event. It’s that one night a year that our attendess can hire a babysitter

or clear their calendars and just enjoy the evening the way they want to enjoy it.”

Heavy hors d’oeuvres and a cocktail reception open the night, followed by the music.Dancers are allotted three and a half minutes each to wow their audience. Judges are given alengthy and detailed judging sheet to evaluate each dancer based on his or her timing, creativity,ability, and other factors. After each dancer performs, a collection is passed around in caseattendees would like to make an extra contribution to the charities for children. “While this eventis

nities for intellectual, physical, and emotional development in order to improve self-esteem and build better citizens.”

For the past six years, Dancing Stars has consistently rallied significant financial support for worthy organizations, while also bringing their efforts to the limelight in exposing their individual missions and efforts.

This year’s selection of cocktails and hors d’oeuvres will be catered by The Hotel at Auburn University. A fantastic menu is promised. Tara said

“strives to promote health and wellness among elementary and middle schoolchildren of Lee County by providing and assisting with access to food, nutritionaleducation and physical education”... and “will provide opportunities forintellectual, physical, and emotional development in order to improve self-esteem and build better citizens.” something our sponsors and participants look forward to all year long, it’s really about thechildren we get to help out.” On the Junior League of Lee County’s website, two areas of focus are listed. Junior League: “strives to promote health and wellness among elementary and middle schoolchildren of Lee County by providing and assisting with access to food, nutritional education and physical education”… and “will provide opportu-

she believes that this year’s competition will be one of the best yet. “Our committee has worked so hard to coordinate everything just perfectly this year. It seems like every day we are meeting with a decorator, an audiovisual team, or a venue manager, but it’s all worth it. We can’t wait to see it all come together.”

Dancing Stars of East Alabama will be held at the Auburn Arena on April 21st

LOCAL FOCUS DERBY D AY

Derby dinner and auction May 7, 2016

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When you’re changing lives every day, it takes a lot of hard work, a lot of coordination, and a lot of dedication. It is a whole lot easier to make a real difference when you live in a community that believes in your mission, appreciates you, and understands that your goal is to make your home a better place.

AT STORYBOOK FARM IN OPELIKA, ITS DIRECTOR, MS. DENA LITTLE, AND ALL OF HER STAFF, FEEL THE OVERWHELMING SUPPORT OF A LOVING AND INVESTED COMMUNITY EACH DAY THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO SERVE THE CHILDREN IN THEIR EQUINE-ASSISTED THERAPY PROGRAM. In celebration of the 142nd Kentucky Derby, Storybook Farm will host its eighth annual Derby Dinner and Auction on May 7th. Attendees will sport their finest derby attire and enjoy a wonderful evening supported by local businesses in partnership with Storybook Farm, including Auburn AV, The Tailgate Guys, Lynch Toyota, and its presenting sponsor, the (very fitting) Mint Julep Boutique. Local restaurants and caterers will provide hearty bites to make for a delicious meal composed of East Alabama’s most well-love cuisine. The highly attended event’s keynote speaker will be Auburn University Football’s offensive coordinator, Mr. Rhett Lashlee, who will also be part of a meet and greet during the festivities. The Derby Dinner and Auction will also include a hat contest, a raffle, and a prize for anyone who can correctly identify, in order, the top five equine placeholders at the Kentucky Derby. The live auction will take place Saturday afternoon, with many interesting items up for grabs.

There will be a trophy for the winner of the dinner and auction’s annual “Chef Down the Homestretch” competition, which awards a participating chef bragging rights to the best dish of the evening.

Last year more than 400 people attended the Derby Dinner and Auction.

Dena expects upwards of 450 guests this year. The farm undergoes a dazzling transformation, making the evening a truly memorable occasion.

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torybook Farm began in 2001 when Dena felt convicted to sell her Atlanta home and move to a small, nine-acre farm in Auburn, with plans to start a horseassisted and horticulture therapy program. Just three years later, after experiencing an excitingly positive reception by residents of Auburn and surrounding areas, Storybook had outgrown its acreage and Dena moved her family twenty minutes away to a larger farm in Opelika. It was here that she and her staff would continue to touch the lives of countless families and children. Today, more than 1,000 boys and girls visit the farm every year, whether it be with their families, their schools, or other organizations they are a part of. Weekly riders in the Hope on Horseback program come from a variety of backgrounds and face a number of diverse challenges, however all of their troubles seem to disappear when they are able to spend an hour experiencing the unique gift that is the comfort of a kindly horse.

The farm provides an environment that is encouraging, loving, and free of stress for children ages two and up, with some of the original riders still attending sessions after many years, a few even into their twenties.

“Our kiddos experience a wide range of circumstances,” Dena said.

“We are excited to welcome any child into our program, whether he or she is experiencing a unique challenge at home, a physical disability, an emotional battle, or even if that little one needs some extra love. We will

never charge them for coming out to the farm and having a fun afternoon with the animals, so we are so grateful when the community steps up and so generously supports us.” This year, Storybook Farm will install a garden accessible for all children visiting the property. Every child will have the opportunity to plant numerous fruits and vegetables, a healthy activity that not only gives them a sense of purpose and accomplishment, but that will greatly enrich the lives of local food insecure families. A long-awaited educational pavilion will also be built in 2016 so that Hope on Horseback riders can reap even greater benefit from their weekly visits.

“MY HOPE IS THAT WHEN PEOPLE COME BACK TO THE DERBY DINNER AND AUCTION EVERY YEAR, THEY WILL SEE WHAT A DIFFERENCE THEIR GENEROSITY HAS MADE. THIS IS THE ONLY FUNDRAISER THAT WE PUT ON AT THE FARM, AND WE GET TO HAVE SO MUCH FUN DOING IT. ALL OF THE PLANNING AND EFFORT POURED INTO THIS EVENT BY OUR PARTNERS AND FRIENDS IS

BEYOND APPRECIATED.” 58

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If you are interested in helping kids heal by purchasing a ticket to this year’s Derby Dinner and Auction at Storybook Farm, or if you would simply like to learn more about what Dena and her staff do for local families, visit www.hopeonhorseback.org for more information.

LOCAL FOCUS ON THE TRACK

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trolling through downtown Opelika is a flashback to its early twentieth century beauty, colorful and alive with bright storefronts and happy business owners, passive window gazers, and sprightly shoppers and diners. Thanks to an initiative called Opelika Main Street, downtown Opelika has been increasingly restored to its former glory since 1987.

The Main Street program has brought new light to the downtown district since its implementation, with projects ranging from building improvements, landscape beautification, and special events planning.

Main Street is a federal program that centers around training, educating, and providing networking opportunities for individuals invested in the betterment of their own downtown and historic districts. Opelika’s program was piloted by a

group of men and women who had seen Opelika in its hay day and wanted to make it both more pleasant and more marketable. Opelika Main Street’s programs go above and beyond the norm in downtown renovation and planning. Director of Opelika Main Street Pam Powers-Smith and a board of 12 directors propose and oversee economic developments, protect the historical integrity of buildings, help foster and assist new businesses, promote the area as a prime shopping, dining, and historic district, and operate a membership organization.

Not all Main Street organizations make it a point to hold events, but Opelika’s finds this to be the best way give local residents an opportunity to see and experience all that the town has to offer, while demonstrating for them the fun in shopping local. Even more importantly, these occasions bring out-of-towners to the area and contribute a great financial impact on the community. Pam explained, “our Main Street program is really here to maintain a sense of community. Downtown has been a “go to” for many years- it’s where the parades and the pep rallies happen. It’s where families meet for dinner.

One of our major goals is to really communicate the importance of what a town center is and that every city needs that meeting place, because you can’t get that atmosphere anywhere else.” The downtown district boasts some of Alabama’s most fantastic bars and restaurants, like Café 123, Irish Bred Pub, Ma Fia’s, and John Emerald Distilling Company, among others. There are also a number of clothing shops, like Studio 3:19 and Coveted Closet, Gift Shops like The Gallery and Taylor Made Designs, and many other independently owned businesses.

ON APRIL 15 OPELIKA MAIN STREET WILL HOST ITS 21ST BIANNUAL FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL CALLED “ON THE TRACKS,” IN ORDER TO INTRODUCE THE COMMUNITY TO WHAT SOME OF THESE FABULOUS BUSINESSES HAVE TO OFFER. The upcoming event is a favorite among East Alabamians. For just $25, ticket holders can peruse downtown shops and restaurants and sample delicious small bites and wines, while listening to the talents of local musicians and socializing with friends and neighbors.

Each participating store or business offers a snack and a beverage of their choosing to visitors, and takes part in an effort to interact personally with customers. The event serves as an occasion for shop owners to communicate the small-town charm and hospitality that can exist in a town like Opelika, Alabama. “We love this event because people can literally look at the owner of their favorite store downtown and talk to him (or her). Sometimes there is just no customer interaction at that level, so the event is really helpful in establishing those relation-

ships,” Pam smiled. “The owners have come to take a lot of pride in their roles in the event. A lot of times it’s like walking into their homes when you come through the front door.”

Each ticket gets you about 25 tastings, so come to the event hungry. Each owner selects for his or her visitors a light snack, heavy hors d’oeuvre, cheese, or something of the like, alongside a hand-picked beverage for tasting.

On the Tracks kicks off at 6:00 p.m. and goes until 11:00. It is a unique experience that brings together friends, introduces new ones, and underlines Opelika Main Street’s campaign for shopping local. Pam told us, “Our downtown has an ambiance that is hard to explain in words. You just have to come out and walk around and be with people to understand it.”

For general information about Opelika Main Street and its mission to beautify Opelika’s enchanting downtown, visit

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Opelika Sportsplex & Aquatics Center The Opelika Sportsplex is more than just a gym. So much more! Maybe we should call it a “Life Enhancement Center”. From work-outs to performances to sports, swimming, activities and so much more, our state-of-the-art complex truly does offer something for every body. Join now and be part of the Opelika Sportsplex family.

Unsurpassed Features & Services: • Splash Park (Wet Playground) •2 Racquetball Courts •Indoor Aquatics Center – Heated Pool, Jacuzzi, Steam Rooms •Youth Game Room •Concession Area •Outdoor Walking Trail •Gymnasium with Large Stage •Resilient, Rubber Indoor Walking Track •Three Large Meeting Rooms with AV Equipment •Warming Kitchen •EAMC Cardiovascular Area •Cal James Weight Room •Group Fitness Room •Outdoor Amphitheater •Tot Watch •W. James Samford Jr. Soccer Complex

Opelika Sportsplex and Aquatics Center 1001 Andrews Road Opelika, Alabama 36801 p . 3 3 4 .7 0 5 . 5 5 6 0 f . 3 3 4 .7 0 5 . 5 5 6 8 For more information and facility rental details, visit

w w w. o p e l i k a s p o r t s p l e x . c o m

Visit Us O N L I N E & Like Us On FA C E B O O K

S O U T H E R N TAT L E R . C O M Your C I T Y Your M A G A Z I N E

CULINARY CORNER

CHEF JOSEPH THOMPSON

’ve worked in a lot of establishments, but I’ve only been fired once,” Chef Joseph Thompson laughed. “It was when I worked for my mom at Wendy’s as a teenager.

She told me there was a standard and I was the standard, but I deviated from it.” That standard is what Thompson has been striving to live up to for the last eighteen years.

Working hard is a huge part of his personal philosophy, so it is not surprise that, most weeks, Thompson spends six out of seven days in his kitchen as executive chef, preparing for guests at Auburn’s popular restaurant on College Street: Live Oaks.

Joseph E. Thompson III was born and raised in Valdosta, Georgia by his mentor and hero, his mother. He always had a passion for food, but most of all, he loved to eat. When he began working in kitchens, he quickly realized that this was where he felt most at home, but even at an early age he realized that cooking for himself and his family was a lot of fun. “My mother and stepdad actually taught me to cook, and while they both were great cooks, I was never a fan of leftovers,” Thompson said. “So my mother made it clear to me that I could purchase my own groceries and prepare meals for myself. From then on out I really enjoyed trying new things and enjoying my food the way I cooked it. It was more than a way to feed myself. It became an art form for me.”

Interestingly enough, Thompson never imagined himself working in restaurants. “I didn’t want to make cooking a job,

because I was afraid that might take the joy out of it.” He graduated from Auburn University with a degree in psychology, but his true calling was for art. “One of the things I most love to do is to paint, and just like my abstracts and other paintings, I like to push the envelope. I paint a little bit of everything, and the same thing is true about my cooking,” he explained. It was no surprise to me to hear from Thompson that he treats every dish like a blank canvas.

When I asked him to talk about a popular offering at Live Oaks, he described a meal so fantastic and so brilliant, I had to write it down.

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“I think I’ll tell you about our Beef Wellington. It’s a six ounce, center-cut filet, wrapped in puff pastry with a Portobello mushroom, shallot, and hoisin paste, served alongside a white truffle mash, drizzled with a cabernet demi glaze.” Then he went on to tell me about this year’s Valentine’s Day special at Live Oaks: “We offered a fresh, pan-seared snapper over a smoked salmon and snapper fish cake and a black bean puree with mango kiwi drizzle… oh, and a blood orange reduction.”

If your mouth is not watering there is something wrong.

Thompson’s level of creativity is unbelievable, and for him, it is part of what makes his career so fulfilling. He gets to go to work everyday and produce something both delicious and original, but best of all, he is able to see firsthand just how much others are enjoying his work as he looks out over the kitchen bar at dinner time.

Thompson explained that he is a perfectionist of sorts, sometimes to a fault. “Managing my expectations for myself and for others can sometimes be challenging, especially within such a fast-paced environment. There is a lot of stress in basically realizing that there is just not enough time in the day to complete every task.” He told me he feels guilty if he is not up by 7:00 a.m., ready to attack the day. “In more than two years the longest amount of time I have been away from my work has been three days. In this field, where the atmosphere is always changing, someone has to be the constant.” Thompson bragged on his sous chef, Tyler, who he calls his “saving grace.” “Tyler is as dedicated as I am and he has drive like I do. That’s why we make such a great team in the kitchen.”

While he sometimes struggles with a self-induced pressure to “do it all,” so to speak, Thompson appreciates the fact that he can show up at work and share his day with other like-interested and passionate individuals. “The best part of my job is the people,” he said.

“Without my management staff- my team, what has become my family- it would be extremely difficult to do what I do.” As executive chef, and as a person who invested hundreds of hours in the opening of Live Oaks and the planning of its fabulous menu, Thompson recognizes that much of his life is tied up in the restaurant, but he is okay with that. “I am that guy who will drive an hour to pick up an employee who is in trouble.

I’m also the guy that might speak my mind to that same person, but it is because I care about my staff. They are the ones that make me smile when my real family can’t be with me.” Thompson has hired hundreds of people in the last eighteen years, but he hardly ever experiences employee turnover, probably because he only surrounds himself with people who savor life and believe in his industry.

“My staff is my own little dysfunctional family,

and no one understands that from the outside looking in. The relationships we have are probably unorthodox, but it is rare that I don’t become very close with a group of staff members.”

Because he has worked in thirty-one restaurants since 1998, Thompson has lived in many places and has encountered countless fascinating individuals. Thompson also shed light on the fact that while moving around has afforded him the opportunity to establish his reputation in a number of locales, uprooting himself and leaving his “families” has been tough in the past. He is a person who enjoys change, but realizes that at a certain point he must put more faith in God and not as much faith in people. In other words, in the restaurant industry, he has learned to “let go” and love his current situation.

“You can’t look at people and do this job and not care,” he smiled. “I tend to care about people and food in similar ways. Everyone and everything has to be taken care of on a whole other level.”

In recent years, Thompson has worked alongside several gifted restaurant owners and chefs to open restaurant throughout Alabama, and

Georgia. With ties in Auburn, Athens, Tuscaloosa, and other cities, he has made for himself a name among local entrepreneurs. This has given him a great appreciation (and thorough knowledge of ) a wide range of types of food, methods of service, and tricks of the trade. “I have been the guy who is there months before a new restaurant opens its doors, like at Live Oaks, being an actual partner and assisting with renovations, introducing a neverbefore-seen menu, or holding the jackhammer, but I’ve also been the one assisting the head chef in the back of the kitchen or washing dishes.”

Thompson told me does not necessarily have a “style,” but that his cuisine is the combination of a number of influences.

Like many chefs, he does not have a favorite food, either, but French style food with a little Creole spice and flairs of New Orleans make him very happy. He stressed that to experiment and try new things is what he loves the most. Experimentation is especially enjoyable from the chef ’s standpoint in Auburn, he told me, because in this town people are apt to allow one to be himself. “The people of Auburn appreciate it when you bring in something new. Live Oaks is a small restaurant in a small community. We have delivered and put our best foot forward, and Auburn has been very welcoming.”

Live Oaks serves up traditional American cuisine, paying homage to Thompson’s southern roots, with hints of Georgia here and there. “And sometimes a little Asian influence,” he laughed. There really are no rules at Live Oaks, and Thompson sees to it that customers experience a little bit of everything. Whether it be teriyaki flanksteak egg rolls, jalapeno macaroni and cheese bites, a blackberry balsamic drizzled pear salad, or a Conecuh bacon topped beef burger, you will walk away satisfied.

Thompson has already rewritten his menu three times, and he will soon release a fourth edition. He told me, “You can’t be relevant if you’re stagnant. My moods are constantly changing and you will definitely see that reflected in my menu.”

After I sat down with Chef Joseph Thompson III, I knew I had just met one of Auburn’s rising stars. In helping open up Live Oaks in the downtown district, he has brought a dining experience unlike any other in East Alabama. He has contributed to a unique and positive atmosphere, and has me hungry to try some of his signature dishes. If you were to meet him outside his kitchen (and probably inside as well), when he isn’t delegating tasks or preparing a low country seafood boil, you would find that he is a truly “down to earth” guy. Not only does he have a deeply rooted love for food, he has come to be a tremendously talented artist. Most importantly, he understands the importance of his relationships and the people around him. “In this industry there are lots of stressful days, but with a core group that helps me succeed we are the best that we can be.” When he is not at work, Thompson can be found seated behind a canvas painting in the abstract and realistic styles, enjoying family and friends, playing musical instruments, or spending times with his dog. for more information on Chef Thompson or Live Oaks visit www.liveoaksauburn.com or call 334.521.5101

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Live Oaks is small restaurant in a small community. We have delivered and put our best foot forward, and Auburn has been very welcoming.

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FEATURE 76

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STACY JORDAN

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OPELIKA POWER SERVICE

FEATURE STACY JORDAN

Jordan

If you have ever met the power house that is Stacy Jordan, president and owner of Berkshire Hathaway Real Estate in Auburn, you have come across one of Alabama’s most driven individuals. With a true passion for all things Auburn, a talent for making homebuyers’ dreams come true in one of the state’s most lucrative businesses, and an unconditional love for her two boys, Stacy makes a conscious choice to live each day to its fullest potential.

“Why waste a day?”

laughed.

she

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“I

‘M DETERMINED TO MAKE THE MOST OF EVERY DAY WITH MY FAMILY AND MY COMPANY.” AS WE SAT WITH STACY IN HER OFFICE ONE TUESDAY AFTERNOON, IT DID NOT TAKE LONG FOR US TO REALIZE THAT HER EVERY MORNING AND AFTERNOON IS FILLED WITH HARD WORK AND QUALITY TIME WITH THE JOYS OF HER LIFE, HER SONS SAYLOR AND HAMPTON.

Stacy’s friends and acquaintances would be shocked to know that as a child she was very shy.

Until her junior year of high school, she never would have described herself as outgoing. “Reserved would be the better word,” she said. She was well liked, kind, and friendly, but tended not to thrust herself into the spotlight as a young girl. After enrolling herself in an elective speech class in eleventh grade, she seemingly “came out of her shell,” so to speak, but Stacy laughs that she cannot put a real finger on the time that she developed into the self-assured go-getter she is today. “I never thought of myself as traditionally ‘popular,’ but during my senior year I

to both my earthly and eternal life. For that I am so thankful. Anytime our church’s doors were open, we were there. My mother’s guidance and example really impressed upon me that being honest and good and making the right moral decisions is the way to live.”

Stacy is grateful that her mom stayed at home when she was a child and modeled for her the gift of precious motherhood. “Dad was raised on a dairy farm where he and his six brothers milked cows every day, twice a day! He worked for Alabama Power for over 38 years. He was the man who took late night calls, regardless of storms or snow, to repair downed lines and bring power back to your neighborhood. He

Auburn WAS LAID I’ve been in love EVER SINCE THAT FOOTBALL GAME”

“I CAN’T REALLY TELL YOU WHY ON MY HEART, BUT

was named Homecoming Queen, Miss Clay County High School, and Senior class favorite. It really helped me to realize that I could accomplish anything I set my sights on.”

Raised in rural Ashland, Alabama by her mom and dad who instilled in her values of diligence, charity, and integrity, Stacy understands the value of family. As she told us about her parents, Stacy smiled at the thought of some of her most cherished childhood memories. “My mom is a devout woman of faith who showed me that my spirituality is important

always worked hard and took great care of our family.

He instilled in me that there is no substitute for hard work.” Until Stacy became a parent eleven years ago, she did not realize the positive impact or importance of her upbringing.

Stacy’s love affair with Auburn began almost thirty years ago when a close friend invited her to a football game at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Instantly she knew that living on the plains would one day be her future. With no ties to the city or the university, some wondered what led her to the area. “I can’t

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DAD WAS RAISED ON A DAIRY FARM WHERE HE AND HIS SIX BROTHERS MILKED COWS EVERY DAY, TWICE A DAY! HE WORKED FOR ALABAMA POWER FOR OVER 38 YEARS. HE WAS THE MAN WHO TOOK LATE NIGHT CALLS, REGARDLESS OF STORMS OR SNOW, TO REPAIR DOWNED LINES AND BRING POWER BACK TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. HE ALWAYS WORKED HARD AND TOOK GREAT CARE OF OUR FAMILY. HE INSTILLED IN ME THAT

THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR HARD WORK.

really tell you why Auburn was laid on my heart, but I’ve been in love ever since that football game.”

Stacy received two degrees at the university and worked in retail and hospital pharmacy throughout school. During those years, she quickly realized that the career environment she craved necessitated client interaction, portability, and flexibility. Inspired by her passion for cooking, she opened a restaurant called Eatigan’s near her hometown of Ashland.

It grew in popularity, and for more than six years Stacy made the commute from Auburn to Ashland to oversee the restaurant. Opening this first business on her own kicked into gear an entrepreneurial spirit and helped provide the capital for the purchase of her first home.

With a desire to grow and learn more about property allocation and real estate transactions after buying her own home and building her own business, she enrolled in a local real estate course, but the insight she gained was more than she could have imagined. Stacy became exceptionally adept in real estate law and the processes of home buying and listing, finally making the decision to pursue the occupation wholeheartedly. She quickly rose to the top of her game with matchless productivity, speedily earning a reputation for proficiency and distinction. What started as a venture for her own self-interest became a profitable and gratifying career. “As an up and coming realtor I looked back on the experience I had buying my first home and knew quickly that I wanted to provide a very different experience than my own for my clients.” She sold the restaurant after concluding that she should devote her time to her talent for selling homes to Auburn families.

In the years following, Stacy grew as a respected real estate agent but she experienced no shortage of challenges and opportunities to give up. The companies where she worked her first six years in real estate did not operate with the same values and morals that she had been raised to live by. She changed companies several times but could never feel comfortable with the environment or business practices of other Brokers and Owners. So in 2006, she decided to build her own future and a company with a reputation that she could be proud of. A company where other agents felt “at home” and knew that it would always operate on trust, integrity and stability. A company that would show

respect, appreciation and encouragement, not only in business but personally as well. Stacy founded her business in October 2006 through Prudential Real Estate, her own independently owned and locally operated real estate company with a respected name as the franchise, based on her values and business practices. It opened for business at the new location in January of 2007 and gained high esteem as a leader in real estate.

While Stacy’s almost immediate success was both dynamic and encouraging, her plans seemed to come crashing down again just one year later in 2008, during the pregnancy of her second child, when the market crashed. She was forced to mortgage her own home to keep her once thriving business alive. It was a kind of a gamble, but one she believed in. Again, no one would have blamed her for giving up, but Stacy stood firm in her belief that coming close to failure is one of the best teachers.

As the real estate market’s health gradually improved, Prudential of Auburn began the climb to its former glory. “I felt a responsibility to my agents, customers and clients and a huge passion for real estate,” Stacy explained. “My success was and is not mine alone. Today it’s about my staff members, my realtors, my associates, and everyone who has helped me through the years. Our success is due to the exceptional people I have surrounded myself with. I didn’t get better all by myself.” When Prudential rebranded to Berkshire Hathaway in 2015, Berkshire Hathaway called it “Auburn-Opelika’s largest real estate brokerage and sales volume leader, almost doubling the output of its closest competitor.”

“We found this to be a consequence of extraordinary leadership and vision, skilled and tenured agents, and a passionate service for Lee County real estate consumers. We invited Stacy and her team to join Berkshire Hathaway for many reasons, starting with their market leadership and superb reputation in the community,” said Gino Blefari, CEO of HSF Affiliates and leader of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices corporate team.

Stacy enlightened us as to why she is so excited to go to work every morning: “The culture in our office is so different from any other real estate company. We operate more as a family, so it’s nice to be able to apply some of the family values I learned growing up.” We toured Berkshire Hathaway’s

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MY SUCCESS WAS AND IS NOT MINE ALONE. TODAY IT’S ABOUT MY STAFF MEMBERS, MY REALTORS, MY ASSOCIATES, AND EVERYONE WHO HAS HELPED ME THROUGH THE YEARS. OUR SUCCESS IS DUE TO THE EXCEPTIONAL PEOPLE I HAVE SURROUNDED MYSELF WITH. I DIDN’T GET BETTER ALL BY MYSELF.

sonal livelihood and fulfillment, but a tool for her to make meaningful contributions to deserving Auburn organizations. “I am so blessed in my ability to give to others. This community has done so much for me, and I really enjoy returning its gifts.”

Even with her career accomplishments and respectability in the business world, Stacy’s children are her first priority and her most wonderful blessings.

“Becoming a mother completely changed my priorities,” Stacy explained. In her words, her perceived purpose seemingly shifted when she became ‘Mom.’ Motherhood gifted her with a transformative determination- a need and a want to provide for the true joys of her life. Seven-year-old Hampton is a sprightly comedian, affable and witty. Older brother, Saylor, takes slightly more after his mother, and carries himself with more reservation and seriousness, while still displaying confidence. If you took a snapshot of Stacy’s morning, you would see her rise at 5:30 for one of her favorite parts of an all ready frenzied day. The boys get up and she prepares them for school. They always have a hot meal at the breakfast table. “Most days we have biscuits, eggs, sausage and hash browns.

Sometimes it’s cheese grits, bacon, and toast, but I never send them off with a Poptart or a granola bar.

It is one of my greatest joys to cook breakfast for my boys before school. Ever since my grandmother pulled me up to the kitchen counter at five years old with my own bowl of biscuit dough I’ve loved to cook for my family.” While Saylor and Hampton get ready for school, Stacy packs them each a kind of “everything but the kitchen sink” lunch box that their classmates envy. “They may be little people but they know what they like,” she said. “Their friends always play the ‘what did Saylor and Hampton bring for lunch today’ game at the cafeteria table.” After the boys leave for school at 6:45, Stacy’s work day begins when she checks her email and starts receiving and responding to phone calls and messages from clients while getting dressed for her engagements that day. She generally pulls into Berkshire Hathaway around 8:30, and works through the day, rarely ever stopping for lunch unless it is brought to her at her desk.

“I reserve lunches and leaving work for my children and their activities. I don’t miss a school program, party, field trip or book fair. I’m at their

“

beautiful and well-loved facility and sensed a fast paced but genuinely positive environment. Upstairs, individual cubicles and offices are a mini community for several of the company’s 41 agents. A living area is decorated with framed photos of Bible verses and quotations written by many of the agents and their family members. “Before we opened, I invited all of my agents in to write something meaningful to them and to our mission in the concrete of our foundation,” Stacy smiled. “My favorite one reads, ‘some people dream of success while others wake up and work hard for it.’ It’s all covered by tile and carpet now, but we have the photos as reminders and we all know what’s underneath!”

Berkshire Hathaway of Auburn is a top tier sponsor for Auburn’s Hudson Family Foundation and the largest supporter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes in East Alabama. Stacy’s company also supports more than 25 additional charities and organizations, from local youth athletics to FACES, Kiwanis, and The Salvation Army. Stacy enjoys being able to give generously to worthwhile causes. Her highly regarded business is not only part of her per-

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golf tournaments, football, baseball and basketball games. I won’t miss out on these memories or activities, because the reason I own my business is to take care of my boys. My career and any successful business requires more than a 40-hour week, but because my boys are the highlight of my days, I don’t put them in second place. It often requires a ‘split shift’ where I’ll work from 8:30 until 5:00, leave for ballgames, dinner, and other activities, and then return to the office until 10:00. I have commitments at work, but my priority is time with my children. Whenever I am home I am relishing that quality time,” Stacy told us.

“One of my favorite quotations is ‘being a mother is learning about strengths that you didn’t know you had, and dealing with fear that you didn’t know existed.’ I know that I am a better mom because I work. My children see my example and we don’t take for granted the hours we spend in one another’s company.” After school, if the boys have no activities planned, they head to Berkshire Hathaway with Mom. Right next door to Stacy’s office they have their own office, complete with a computer and a company phone. Both Saylor and Hampton have afternoons filled with basketball, baseball, and football, and Saturdays full of golf lessons or tournaments.

They never miss a beat, and neither does Stacy. “They know that hard work pays off. They understand that working hard provides us the opportunities to enjoy vacations, holidays, and special occasions. They’ve never made me feel guilty for working, instead, they compliment my efforts and celebrate our accomplishments.”

Stacy’s independent spirit has always been a personality trait. Even as a little girl, she assured her parents that she would make her own way. She was a self-starter with high expectations for herself. Today that outlook has not changed. When we asked her to name three components of success most important to her, she named determination, hard work, and a love for what she does. She stressed to us, however, that her journey has been greatly enriched and aided by the climate of Auburn, Alabama as one of the state’s most desirable places to raise a family and own a business. Stacy does not love to talk about personal success, her honesty, her loyalty, or her work ethic, but when we asked her what makes her the proudest, she had a simple answer: “If I have loved and appreciated others, shown kindness and generosity without expectations, and if I have raised my children to love God and to be happy, compassionate, caring, and responsible individuals, I have lived a good life.”

“Success without honor is an unseasoned dish,” she told us. “It will satisfy hunger but it won’t taste good.”

“

“

I’m at their golf tournaments, football, baseball and basketball games. I won’t miss out on or these activities, because the reason I

memories

own my business is to

take

care of my boys

LOCAL FEATURE OPELIKA POWER SERVICES

No one would disagree that we live in a fast paced society. In a world where individuals and their families, small "mom and pops", and sizeable companies require the best available in electric resources, it is refreshing to find a little city called Opelika in the great state of Alabama whose power services outshine the rest.

Opelika

Power

Services

B

ecause we all seemingly crave the instant gratification a n d convenience of a room’s illumination at the flip of a switch, the connection of a long-distance phone call, and the instantaneous delivery of sensitive information via the internet, it is important that we have at our disposal power and utility establishments prepared to undertake our need for speed. We seem to forget that in the cities that we live, there are thousands of men and women working for us at plants like Opelika Power Services, to ensure that our electric and information transfer reliability is quality. We visited the Director of Opelika Power Services, David Horton, and Marketing Director June Owens to talk about its recent expansion in offerings.

Before 1911, Opelika was living in the dark of a time when the only electricity available to its community came from a small, privately owned plant operating only at night, providing power exclusively for street lights in the downtown district.

Two steam engines underneath the Tenth Street Bridge generated the power for these nighttime lights. Opelika’s citizen’s floated a bond issue of about $30,000 dollars in 1910 and built the city’s first light and power facilities. It was not until 1917 that the Alabama Power Company secured contract with Opelika Light and Power to furnish the necessary power that would satisfy its needs. With its $30,000 pricetag, Opelika Light and Power was met with contention by community naysayers at its implementation, but by 1920, Opelika was reaping the advantages of keeping pace with the rest of a technologically improving public. While this first plant was very small, operating on only 250 kilowatts of power, it was revolutionary for the city.

Opelika Light and Power placed membership with the Alabama Municipal Electric Authority in 1981, giving it the power to responsibly purchase reliable and money-saving electricity. In the 70 years

since its opening, the company had grown tremendously. It was not until 2008, when Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller began exploring competitive options in cable television, phone, and internet for residents that a rebranding was suggested. A new trend in fiber optic networking prompted an investigation into the feasibility of this kind of infrastructure’s existence in Opelika. This idea came to fruition in August of 2010, when citizens voted on and passed a city wide referendum to begin work on a fiber optic network. The 43-million-dollar project would truly put Opelika on the map as one of the Southeast’s most respected electric, cable, phone, and internet providers.

One year later, the City Council elected to change Opelika Light and Power’s name to Opelika Power Services to better reflect the services it provided. Over 450 miles of fiber optic cables were installed in preparation for a practical Smart Grid system, which will, in the future, enable communication between the utility and its nine substations across town. The Smart Grid will give technicians the ability to identify problems with electricity delivery through special automations, while also giving them the capability to reroute power between

substations. “The fiber project and the Smart Grid will help us respond quicker when there is an outage somewhere in town,” June Owens said. “We will be able to pinpoint where in our network a problem has occurred and quickly fix it without even sending a crew out thanks to the Smart Grid.” “We will be able to look at the computers and see a red blinking light when a limb falls somewhere on a line,” David Horton smiled. “Although we already do our best to do so, it will be nice to be able to do what’s necessary to get our customers’ power back on, probably before they realize there is even an outage.” The grid will communicate real time data. Customers can log into their accounts online and view monthly, weekly, daily, or even hourly usage.

This allows residents to see when their personal consumption of power is spiking so that they may better economize their usage.

The Smart Grid combines many different applications which communicate together, that will make the system operational, such as its ability to read meters and remotely signal the opening and closing of electric switches on the power lines themselves.

“Contrary to the belief that we do not have to strategize and pre-purchase the power we will make available to our citizens, we have to plan ahead and try to determine just how much power every family and business in town will be using in a given period. The Smart Grid will allow Opelika Power Services to become more efficient and reliable,” June boasted. The Smart Grid is not the only great thing that has come out of the city-wide installation of fiber optic cables, however. The fiber infrastructure makes it possible for Opelika Power Services to not only upgrade the electrical grid, but in addition, provide Television, Internet, and Phone, all along the same network.

If you have driven through Opelika in recent months, opened an email from a city official, or viewed a letterhead from any number of local agencies, you may have seen the new “Gig City” emblem in all of its shining glory. You have probably even seen city limit signs boasting Opelika’s title as “Alabama’s first Gig City. You may have asked yourself, “What is a gig city, and what does it mean for me?” A few years ago, nearby Chattanooga debuted its “gig city” status in Tennessee. The employment of a huge network of fiber optic cables meant that the city could offer full service solutions and some of the world’s fastest internet, video, and telephone services by extending a “one gigabit per second” internet speed to more than 60,000 customers. America’s largest fiber optic network is the envy of municipalities without the means to put into operation such an advantageous system. Chattanooga’s claim

to fame as a “gig city” gives its constituency a number of advantages, not the least of which is an increase in entrepreneurial spirit.

It is not surprising that some have branded Opelika as a mini Chattanooga, especially since the city has seen such a positive response after following in Chattanooga’s footsteps by officially launching the gig in 2013. In the United States, less than fifty cities offer it, so it is quite remarkable that a small Alabama town is able to give its customers such an opportunity for accessibility and expediency. Through its interest and investment in improving local technology, Opelika’s 100 percent fiber network and one gig internet speeds are available to every home and business in the municipality.

The plant that once supplied only 250 kilowatts of power now peaks at over 80,000 kilowatts.

Famous for its rich, railroad town heritage and prime location near Alabama I-85, Highway 280, and Highway 431, Opelika has a “proven past” and is “future focused.”

Through its interest and invenstment in imporoving local technology, Opelika’s 100 percent fiber network and one gig internet speeds are available to every home and business in the municipality. The plant that once supplied only 250 kilowatts of power now peaks at over 80,000 kilowatts. Famous for its rich, railroad town heritage and prime location near Alabama I-85, Highway 280, and Highway 431, Opelika has a “proven past” and is “future focused.”

As June showed us a sample of a fiber optic bundle, made up of the same fibers that run throughout all of Opelika, we were struck by how simplistic they appeared. Most people would find it pretty amazing that millions of pieces of data are transmitted across light through these tiny glass tubes every second. June explained that the fibers can be spliced so that consumers may receive packaged services (television, phone, or internet) without interruption. Each fiber is wrapped in a color coded insulation, making the bundles look like long twisted rainbows.

What is more, the fibers boast extremely fast upload and download speeds, making the time customers must wait considerably less than that of individuals whose service is provided by most competitors. “We know a CPA in town who uses our service, who backs up every client’s information at the end of every business day,” said June. “Before he began using our network, he was not leaving work until 7:00 or 7:30 every evening. Now backing up those files only takes about fifteen minutes, and he can head home almost two hours early every day.”

These faster internet speeds not only decrease waiting time for business owners, but have the potential to increase profit margins and make production faster.

June told us the city has a pipe big enough for all 3000 of Opelika’s current enrollees in the program to use a gig at one time. In 2000, a bill was passed that prohibited municipalities from serving outside their own electric footprints. Senator Tom Whatley is representing Opelika at the capital in an attempt to amend that law. “We would really love to be able to extend our fiber optic infrastructure outside the city limits. We already have several interested parties,” Horton said.

Opelika Power Services gives back hundreds of thousands of dollars per year to the city’s general fund.

“Ultimately, our mission is not singularly to turn a profit,” June expounded, “We have a vested interest in the future of our city, and we want the children of future generations to live in the same wonderful Opelika we know and love.

That means we have to give back to their schools, we have to help beautify the city, and we have to provide the necessary services so that our citizens can be happy and productive.”

Opelika Power Services offers competitive pricing at about 25 percent lower than most other providers, unparalleled service, and extraordinary response times. Boasting its world-changing fiber optic data transmission network, revolutionary Smart Grid, and the “fastest internet in the state of Alabama,” the company is an enrichment to Opelika and its residents. More than just a power company, it has brought the face of progress to one of the state’s most charming railroad towns. A pioneer in the industry, we will surely hear more from Opelika Power Services in the coming years.

SOUTHERN

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FASHION Pamala’s Boutique Studio 3:19

FASHION PA M A L A’ S BOUTIQUE

FASHION PA M A L A’ S BOUTIQUE

7742 Vaughn Road, Montogomery, AL 36116 334.239.8650

PamalasBoutique.com

FASHION STUDIO 3:19

FASHION STUDIO 3:19

Visit Us O N L I N E & Like Us On FA C E B O O K

S O U T H E R N TAT L E R . C O M Your C I T Y Your M A G A Z I N E

ELEMENT LED SHOESLACES

LED SHOELACES LED shoelaces appeal to the masses---from the child learning to tie his shoes to the dedicated, early morning runner. Light-up shoelaces use the power of LED lights and fiber optics to transform your ordinary tennis shoes into something extraordinary! These light-up shoes look futuristic, but they are practical in price. A pair of light-up laces can be bought online and some are sold for less than $10 a pair. Each pair comes with fiber optic laces and an LED lighting unit. The lighting unit has different settings, such as always on and variations of flashing light. These laces would be great accessories for a Halloween costume or dance party. Also, runners can wear these laces at night to illuminate themselves to oncoming traffic. for more information on LED Shoes & Shoelaces, contact: mkmjtrading@gmail.com

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VR BOX VIRTUAL REALITY GLASSES

ELEMENT VR GLASSES

Technology experts estimate 2016 will be the year virtual reality will become mainstream. Virtual reality is defined as an experience where your head movements are traced in a three-dimensional world.

Technology developers have created headsets that could transform the video game and movie industry.

Well-known companies such as Sony, HTC, and Samsung have developed their own virtual headsets.

Depending upon the manufacturer, virtual headsets can cost anywhere from $50 to $800 dollars. Virtual reality headsets can be used to play video games, watch virtual reality (VR) movies, and has the ability to sync with your smartphone. for more information onVR Glasses, contact: mkmjtrading@gmail.com

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ELEMENT MUSEE’S BATH

BALMS

Musee’s bath balms are the perfect gift for a friend, relative, or a treat for yourself. Musee is a small business in Madison County, Mississippi. These bath balms are made with natural ingredients. Each balm has its own recipe and some include small treasures inside! Each bath balm is has its own cute name inspired from a song. The bright pink bath balm is made with rose absolute and it is named after Train’s “Marry Me”. As you would expect, it has a tiny engagement ring inside! “Man of Constant Sorrow” is a balm containing spearmint, eucalyptus oils, and Epson salt. This balm will soothe your achy joints and sore muscles! When relaxing with these bath balms, you also support jobs in your local community. for more information on Musee’s bath balms, visit: 2272 Moores Mill Road #210, Auburn, AL or contact 334.246.3582

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801 COLUMBUS PARKWAY OPELIKA, AL 3347498113 WWW.OPELIKAFORDCHRYSLER.COM

ELEMENT GUERISSON 9

COMPLEX CREAM

The winter season can wreck havoc on our skin, leaving our skin painfully dry and cracked.

Guerisson 9 Complex Cream can rejuvenate your skin for the summer! The cream is rich in Vitamin E and antioxidants. This product does not contain any steroids or preservatives.

This rich, luscious cream can be applied to even the most delicate skin. Guerisson 9 Complex Cream moisturizes skin, minimizes hyperpigmentation, and reduces wrinkles. At $20, this cream is worth adding into your beauty regimen.

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ELEMENT CERAMIC FRENCH

PRESS

CERAMIC FRENCH PRESS Coffee connoisseurs give the French press high praise. It is one of the simplest methods for brewing an amazing cup of coffee.

The French press is a coffeemaker with a cylindrical carafe inside of it. The coffeemaker’s plunger is used to push the ground beans to the bottom after the coffee has been brewed, creating one very fresh cup of coffee. Yield Design Co. has a ceramic French press with a matte exterior, glossy interior, and copper accents. The ceramic insulates the walls of the carafe, maintaining a constant temperature throughout brewing. With its rare craftsmanship, this coffee pot will not only function as a coffeemaker but as a beautiful dÊcor piece in your kitchen. Its retail cost is $150. This French press was designed in San Francisco and made in partnership with a Fair Trade ceramics house in Vietnam. for more information on Ceramic French Press, visit: www.yielddesign.co

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Beautiful LIVING

SOUTHERN

TATLER

OLIVER HENRY IE DESIGNS

HOME OLIVER

HENRY

& IE

DESIGNS

R E V I L & O NRY S N E HDESIG

IE

th i w e m o H r s u s o a l y C g d n i Fill tyle an S

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When Jordan first meets a client, she establishes an understanding of what the design job will structurally entail before planning the soft details.

After understanding the structural requirements, such as wall removal or window placement, Jordan discusses style preferences and ideas with a client. She reviews the client’s current furnishings and probes their preferences of colors and moods, such as warm and cozy, or crisp and light. If a client has difficulty expressing their style, they can use pictures and Pinterest boards to show Jordan what they would like to see in their home. The final step in the interior design process with a client is selecting the soft details and furnishings.

“

hen we reflect on the best days of our lives, we imagine the happiness we felt and the people we love. We think of the sunny afternoons and the endless nights.

As we reminisce, the little details that made those days special begin to surface: the jokes we heard, the sights we saw, the warm breezes we felt against our skin. Arranging the small details to create a big, beautiful picture is the goal of interior design. Each detail, from the light spilling from the windows to the colorful pillows popping against a neutral sofa, adds an important element to an attractive, functional space.

The local upscale interiors boutique Oliver Henry, along with its full-service interior design firm, IE Designs, helps people create beautiful spaces using details that complement their unique styles.

Located in the Ogletree Village shopping center of Auburn, Alabama, both Oliver Henry and IE Designs are owned by designer Stacey A. Jordan (not to be confused with Stacey W. Jordan, another Auburn local featured in the Southern Tatler). Jordan founded IE Designs in 2001, and strives to get to know her clients. She avoids integrating her own style into a client’s plans, and instead allows the client’s ideas to shine. For every client, her goal is to create excellent designs based on their preferences.

“

W

“I try to make the person the best of who they are, not the best of who I am,” Jordan said.

As the Oliver Henry website states,

IE DESIGNS BRINGS TOGETHER THE CLIENT’S EXPECTATIONS AND NEW DESIGN ELEMENTS TO CREATE A TIMELESS, FUNCTIONAL LIVING ENVIRONMENT. AS A FULL SERVICE INTERIOR DESIGN FIRM, IE DESIGNS SPECIALIZES IN HIGHEND RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS.

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The high-end status of IE Designs reflects the posh, upscale Oliver Henry boutique, which was founded after the design company took flight.

The boutique’s website says of the owner, “Stacey Jordan, the creative force behind Oliver Henry, skillfully layers color, pattern and texture in ways that feel fresh and unexpected. Building on the success of her interior design business, Stacey opened the retail showroom to feature pieces that reflect her passion for interior design, antiques, fine art and fashion.”

The Oliver Henry boutique carries items from several vendors, including Gabby, Taylor King, Legacy Home, Eastern Accents, Jaipur Rugs, Kravet, Duralee and Stanley Furniture—all from which the boutique will custom-order items if a customer cannot find them in stock. Jordan says that the store carries plenty of neutrals, textures,

and classic lines, along with natural materials, such as seagrass, coral, and woods. A trip to the boutique or a peek at Oliver Henry’s social media shows the many styles and colors found in the shop’s items. One can find neutral pieces, splashes of color, classic décor, and quirky selections at Oliver Henry. The store carries many necessities, including pillows, chairs, lamps, and mirrors, with a classy flair.

When asked to describe Oliver Henry in one word, Jordan said, “Fresh, because I think we have a fresh approach to what’s going on. I think it’s up-to-date without being too trendy, but we’re not too traditionally stuffy. I think that when you come in, you’re always going to find something new. You’re going to find something appealing no matter what your design style is.”

Oliver Henry’s loyal customers enjoy the fresh environment at the boutique, and appreciate the versatility of the store’s overall style. With so many beautiful options available, every customer can leave the boutique with a positive attitude.

“We have people tell us that being in the store makes them happy. Clients like how easy we make the process of selecting items and finishes,” Jordan said. “People walk in and say that they love shopping with us just because it makes us happy to be there.”

On the price range of the upscale Oliver Henry, Jordan said, “We carry everything from a $6 dollar bath balm to a $3,500 sofa.”

(The bath balms in question are Museé bath balms, a handmade bath brand whose

products have eye-catching names for their scents, including “Whiskey Lullaby” and “Man of Constant Sorrow.”)

While some of the boutique’s items are expensive, the pieces bring a unique touch to customers’ homes. “It’s very upscale, but it’s very beautiful and real... That’s one thing I’ve always loved about [Jordan]. When she goes to market and when she buys, she has got great ability to pick and choose wonderful little details, and those details make the bigger pieces even more perfect,” Carolyn Pyron said in a video interview posted on the Oliver Henry Facebook Page. “From her lamps, to pieces of furniture, to everything, it’s just a style that fits in with almost anybody else’s style.”

Jordan’s two businesses not only provide clients and customers with excellent services and products, but also create a helpful learning environment for Jordan’s two design assistants, who are students at Auburn University. The two assistants, whom Jordan fondly refers to as “the girls,” work the floor at Oliver Henry and help Jordan with floor plans, digital boards, customer service, and taking orders from clients, all while learning real-world applications for the knowledge they gain in their interior design courses at Auburn University.

“I just really enjoy being around them and teaching them, so they can have real-world experience, not just what they learn in a classroom,” Jordan said.

Another employee who thrives in the Oliver Henry environment is business manager Pyron.

“I can come in one day, and be in my office all day. I can come in one day, and not set foot in my office,” Pyron said in the video interview. “It can be a whole room full of brand new things for the floor that we get to unpack all day, and I’ll have fun with that, or it can be going over orders they’ve taken

from market, or it could be organizing client files all day, or it could be us having customers in the store all day. It’s just never the same, and that works really well with my personality.”

For the seasoned interior design aficionado or the novice furniture enthusiast, Oliver Henry offers décor options in styles that suit a variety of tastes and preferences. As Pyron and Jordan said, there is something for everyone at Oliver Henry.

A customer can find interesting pieces in neutral tones or trendy styles, and the boutique staff work hard to communicate with each client to find the perfect items. For new homeowners and folks looking for an upscale change, IE Designs can create the perfect interior design plans and add the stylish touches each client dreams of. With stellar reviews online, IE Designs is a choice worthy of consideration for any client, and Oliver Henry is worth a visit, even by the casual window-shopper.

Jordan’s businesses are the interior design gems of Auburn, and, in the years to come, they will continue leaving their mark and building their legacy in this beautiful town.

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SOUTHERN TATLER SOUTHERNTATLER.COM

THE ONLINE GUIDE TO SOUTHERN SOCIETY

SOUTHERNTATLER

DINING

SOUTHERNTATLERDINING.COM

IN THE WORK

LATEST ISSUE

A new start at Southern Tatler means newer and better online content and to prove our point, we provide all of our past issues, and behind the scenes of each of our past cover feature.

Coming soon, Southern Tatler Dining will be the new dining guide for local citizens, as well as those visiting, the East Alabama area.

STAY UPDATED

Southern Tatler will constant update our online visage section. Bringing you the latest parties pictures around town

>>MORE ONLINE SOUTHERNTATLER.COM -Online Version of Southern Tatler -Weekly Pictures of Local Events -Newest Business Additions to Local Area & MORE

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TRAVEL DUBLIN IRELAND

Dublin, Ireland WITH ONLY A POPULATION OF ABOUT

530,000, DUBLIN IS THE

largest city

major cities of the World.

IN IRELAND AND HAS ESTABLISHED ITSELF AS ONE OF THE

A

s the winter frost begins to fade giving way to the first blossoms of the new year, the spirit of spring plants it’s seed of adventure in the hearts of the boarder breaking traveler. We know that everyone loves to catch rays at the beach, or find euphoria beneath the bright lights, but this time around we recommend a more subtle approach.

This year, don’t miss out on the chance to embark on a journey of a lifetime to one of the world’s most vibrant and friendly cities on the map: Dublin, Ireland.

In our opinion, this location is severely underrated. We all know the inebriated Irish clichés, and while that may be just one aspect of your experience, we can’t forget about the dynamic culture that this country has to offer.

Founded as a Viking settlement in the 10 century, Dublin Ireland has served as the county’s capital ever since the Norman invasion in the late 12 century that resulted in a 700 hundred year Norman rule. As it goes for many ancient cities, Dublin has endured numerous invasions by several European countries over the course of its existence. Through the 14 and into the 18 centuries, Ireland was a part of England—courtesy of King Henry II—and was, for some time, England’s secondary city.

In the 1600’s over half of the city’s population was wiped out by the black plague, however, as a result of the wool and linen industry, it prospered soon after. th

th

th

th

Dublin Castle

Today, Dublin is a flourishing city and Ireland’s cultural hub. Though, with only a population of about 530,000, Dublin is the largest city in Ireland and has established itself as one of the major cities of the world.

Cultural milestones from various time periods are one of the greatest perks of visiting a city with such a lengthy history. A must-see attraction on your trip would most certainly be the Dublin Castle. Located just off of Dame St. the Dublin Castle has been a national icon since the days of King John. The castle is made up of a complex network of rooms and corridors that date back before the 18 century. Among these chambers are the famous St. Patrick’s Hall and the famous Throne Room that holds the throne built for the visit of King George the IV. Today the Castle serves as a government complex but tours of the Castle’s historic interior are available from Monday through Friday from 10:00am to 4:45pm.

Tickets are only €4.50 (about $5.00). th

If historic sights are a high priority, you might also want to check out the Kilmainham Gaol (Gaol pronounced “jail”). Once a functioning prison, the Gaol is now a museum that houses artifacts and information about the

Dame Street- Dublin, Ireland

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Kilmainham Gaol:

Victoria Wing - Dublin, Ireland

history of the prison as well as its famous inmates of the 1916 Easter Rising, many of whom were executed on the grounds. During its hay day, the prison housed men, women and children; up to five in a single cell about 30 square meters. Prisoners were given only a candle for both light and heat every two weeks. After it’s decommissioning in 1924, the prison, being no more than a symbol

for pain and suffering, was left to rot and was even under threat of being demolished.

However, in the 1930’s the National Graves Association proposed to preserve the prison as a monument and museum for the 1916 Easter Rising. Today, visitors may walk among the stone corridors of the ancient building and relive the experience endured by countless souls.

Pub Lunch

Beef, Gravy, Traditional Yorkshire Pudding

Christ Church Cathedral

Cathedral of the United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough

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ON LIGHTER NOTE, NO ONE GOES TO IRELAND WITHOUT THE INTENTION TO DRINK AND DUBLIN JUST HAPPENS TO BE THE

pub capital of the World.

For the more touristy type, you might find the Temple Bar district to be a suitable destination. The Temple Bar district is one of Dublin’s keystone tourist areas that boasts a plethora of pubs, theaters, comedy clubs and numerous street performers that are sure to liven up the evening with various Irish folk tunes. The Temple Bar district is also just a short walk from Grafton St. which is Dublin’s most popular shopping center. The great part about Dublin is that it’s a very compact city, and relatively small. All main attractions in the city are within a comfortable walking distance from one another, but if walking isn’t your strong suit we recommend making use of DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transit) to get you to and from anywhere within the city limits.

If you’re the type of person who not only enjoys a good pint, but is also interested in the history and process behind its inception, you can’t miss the Guinness

Temple Bar

The Oliver Sr. Johns Gogarity Bar

Storehouse.

Boasting seven floors of nothing but “the black stuff”, the Storehouse is a true emporium for the world’s most famous dry stout. Guests will have the opportunity to explore the creation of this legendary concoction from start to finish and enjoy a complimentary pint in the Storehouse’s state-of-the-art Gravity Bar that overlooks the city from the top floor. Adult tickets are €20.00 (about $22.50), but some discounts apply.

And while we’re on the topic of booze, we can’t omit this country’s greatest contribution to the calendar.

The month of March hosts one of the wettest holidays known to man, St. Patrick’s Day. This year, start the season off right with a St. Patrick’s Day celebration you won’t forget. The countryside’s rolling hills of green doesn’t hold a candle to the emerald spectacle of the crowded city streets during the St. Patrick’s Day festival.

From Thursday (March 17 ) to Sunday (March 20 ) travellers can indulge themselves in the pinnacle of Irish culture. Street theatre, live music, amusement rides, and plenty of booze are available in every direction for as far the city spans. If you’re looking for the time of your life, Dublin throws a St. Patrick’s Day party like no other. th

th

Though the city life is most definitely a highlight to one’s trip to Ireland, we’d be doing an injustice to the beauty of this country if we didn’t mention the marvels of its natural landscapes. Located on the eastern coast of Ireland, Dublin boasts numerous beaches and ancient castle ruins

that punctuate the endless steppes of greenery.

Travelers can take jeep tours through the more remote areas of the country or travel on foot to explore the expanses of emerald fields and steep cliffs overlooking the Irish sea. The inner city also hosts more quiet areas such as Phoenix Park where travelers can enjoy a visit to the Dublin Zoo, or just watch the commoners at play.

We’ve taken our readers to a lot of different places all over the globe, but we must count Dublin as one of our favorites simply because of its inviting hospitality, rich culture, and courtly citizens.

Dublin has become a cultural cornerstone for not only Ireland, but all of Western Europe. For travelers hungry for adventure, a short flight, and a great time, we recommend Dublin, Ireland.

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city life

THOUGH THE IS MOST DEFINITELY A HIGHLIGHT TO ONE’S TRIP

TO IRELAND

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C O N C I E R G E

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