Tallahassee Woman Magazine Holiday 2025

HOLIDAY ISSUE 2025

Small OEV Women’s Business Month Discover the Shops of Havana UWBB Women’s Leadership Breakfast

EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT Honoring women who lead with intention, impact, and innovation.

Skilled.

Personal.

Here.

World-class breast cancer care is available closer than you think.

Shelby Blank, MD and Shlermine Everidge, MD, bring advanced surgical training and years of specialized breast cancer experience to patients in Tallahassee. Together with Tallahassee Memorial’s Walker Breast Program team, they deliver clinical excellence, personalized treatment and guide patients with compassion through every step of their breast cancer diagnosis—right here at home.

Learn more about how TMH is bringing world-class breast cancer care to our region by visiting TMH.ORG/BreastCancer.

Whether you are looking to grow, relocate or start your company in Florida’s Capital Community, the Office of Economic Vitality (OEV) is your link to site location, talent solutions, financial guidance, technical assistance, and other concierge services. www.OEVforBusiness.org

CONTENTS

8. LETTER FROM PUBLISHER 10. LETTER FROM GUEST EDITOR

46. IMPACT FACTOR: PAULA DEBOLES- JOHNSON

CULTURE & CUISINE

48. THE POWER OF LEGACY | JANE MARKS 49. THE SAGGING SKIN DILEMMA AFTER WEIGHT LOSS

12. PUMPKIN PIE WITH CARDAMOM & GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST 14. HOLIDAY CHIC 16. MIDTOWN READS

LIVING LOCAL

18. W.E. ELEVATE: KIMBERLY HANKERSON 19. 9TH ANNUAL WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP BREAKFAST 20. STYLING DREAMS WITH BRENDA MOSS 22. THE PILLARS AMONG US 26. DISCOVER THE SHOPS OF HAVANA, FLORIDA

MIND, BODY & SPIRIT

12

LOVE & RELATIONSHIPS 50. REKINDLE OR RECONNECTING RELATIONSHIPS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

20 14

ON THE COVER

28. EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT

TRAVEL

40. ITALIAN ADVENTURE WHY ROME IS THE PERFECT BASE OF ITALY

BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP

42. WOMEN'S BUSINESS MONTH 39. REDEFINING LEADERSHIP 44. THE DYNAMIC DUO: A WOMAN'S INTUITION AND ANALYTICS

28

46

28. ABOUT THE COVER: | PHOTOGRAPHY: KIRA DERRYBERRY | MAKEUP: IMAGE BY LISA DAVIS | HAIR: EIGHT FIVE ZERO SALON | NAILS: IMAGE NAIL SPA & SALON | WARDROBE: PRIVATE COLLECTION

tallahassee woman | 4 | holiday issue 2025

Welcoming the world

Leon County duo takes the lead on international cross country championships.

Taylor Wheaton, a former NCAA Division I track & field athlete at George Mason University, now serves as Senior Sports Director for the Leon County Division of Tourism/Visit Tallahassee.

“I understand firsthand the dedication, structure, and community that sports can foster and how transformative they can be,” said Wheaton.

“I’m grateful to be able to draw from moments like those and to create the same experience for others.”

When it comes to hosting this global event, Wheaton draws upon skills she learned in her professional and athletic career, like long-term planning, consistency, and an ability to visualize the end result even when it feels far away, to empower her leadership.

On January 10, 2026, Leon County will welcome the world to Apalachee Regional Park for the World Athletics Cross Country Championship Tallahassee 26 (WXC Tallahassee 26). As athletes stand on their mark, set their pace, and ultimately conquer a once in a lifetime race that showcases the unique elements of Leon County and Florida, the event is expected to bring: ⊲ 500 elite athletes ⊲ Representing over 60 countries ⊲ 10,000 spectators ⊲ $4.3 million in economic impact ⊲ Internationally broadcast by NBC in 70+ countries As the County and the community look forward to this historic hosting opportunity, it is important

Amanda Heidecker, a former NCAA Division I track and cross country athlete at Florida State University, now serves as Director of Parks and Recreation for Leon County. Heidecker, who still incorporates running into her daily life, notes that her passion for the sports fuels her mission for the World Athletics Cross Country Championships - to elevate running, broaden its impact, and deliver unforgettable experiences for athletes and fans alike.

“Cross country taught me the importance of consistency, perseverance, and pushing through challenges,’ said Heidecker. “These skills have been vital in navigating the demands of leading departments, building partnerships, and delivering results for the community.”

to recognize the endurance of those behind the scenes whose hard work secured this international event for Leon County.

Co-Chairs Amanda Heidecker and Taylor Wheaton have set a side-by-side pace to harness the best of our community, showcase the pride of our county and state, and prepare the historic WXC Tallahassee 26 event for success. With professional backgrounds in athletics themselves, they have led this massive-scale project through an extensive bid process, a vote from World Athletics, and will ultimately facilitate welcoming the world to Leon County.

Both women harnessed the power of their professional and athletic experiences, embracing the mindset that every moment counts and tallahassee woman | 5 | holiday issue 2025

every detail matters. As the monumental event approaches, this mantra is sure to shine as those involved work tirelessly to create an unforgettable experience for the competitors, spectators, volunteers, and the entire community. ⊲ Rally your crew and create a team for the Community Fun Run! ⊲ Secure your spot in the stands to watch the world’s best runners compete. ⊲ Join the excitement - follow the event on social media for behind-the-scenes action and updates.

Visit VisitTallahassee.com/WXC26 to get started! Join in this historic celebration of community, resilience, and the universal power of sport to bring people together. Be a part of the journey.

WOM A N

MAGAZINE

“LOCALLY OWNED MAGAZINE”

BRIANA SMITH Creative Consultant

Publisher | Editor-in-Chief

OLIVIA HEYWARD

KIRA DERRYBERRY PHOTOGRAPHER

KARA IRBY WRITER

Kira Derryberry is a Tallahassee-based portrait photographer specializing in families, headshots and boudoir and commercial photography. She books locally in Tallahasee and is available for travel worldwide. View Kira's portfolio online at kiraderryberry.com.

Kara Irby is a freelance writer who has called Tallahassee home for nearly twenty years. She’s a corporate communicator, community servant leader, pastor’s wife and mom to two young children. She’s also CEO and Founder of the EnLIGHTened First Lady, LLC.

KELLY OTTE WRITER

SHAWNTA FRIDAYSTROUD WRITER

Creative Director

TALLAHASSEE WOMAN MAGAZINE is a publication of Mitcham Media Group LLC Post Office Box 16616 Tallahassee, FL 32317-3401 Phone (850) 296-2232 publisher@TalWoman.com Tallahassee Woman is published five times per year and is distributed on a complimentary basis throughout Tallahassee and the surrounding communities.

ADVERTISING For advertising, visit talwoman.com, call (850) 296-2232, or e-mail ads@TalWoman.com.

The information in this publication is presented in good faith.

The publisher does not guarantee accuracy or assume responsibility for errors or omissions.

Copyright © 2025 Mitcham Media Group LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction, in part or in whole, without expressed written consent of the Publisher is prohibited.

T A LWO M A N .C O M

Assistant Editor

Director of Leadership Initiatives

CONTRIBUTORS

Dr. Michelle Mitcham

LACI SWANN

PAULA DEBOLES-JOHNSON

Kelly has spent 35 years advocating for women and children, including 25 in Leon County. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Oasis and previously led Pace Center for Girls/Leon and Refuge House.

Her work spans domestic violence centers and women’s programs in Nevada, Virginia, and Florida.

DR. TAVIA REYES WRITER

Dr. Tavia is an applied kinesiologist, certified acupuncturist and yoga teacher. She is deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve as a holistic physician, empowering others through root cause medicine and health education.

tallahassee woman | 6 | holiday issue 2025

Shawnta Friday-Stroud, Ph.D., is the School of Business and Industry’s (SBI) Sybil Collins Mobley Endowed Chair and the Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships and Business Development at Florida A&M University (FAMU). Friday-Stroud is FAMU SBI’s former Dean and Vice President of University Advancement and Executive Director of the FAMU Foundation, Inc. and raised $104M in six (6) years. She received her Ph.D. in Business Administration from Florida International University and her B.S. and MBA from FAMU. She serves on boards of the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce, the Tallahassee Knight Creative Communities Institute, and the Florida Board of Respiratory Care.

For more information or to BECOME A SPONSOR, email Angela Gibbs at angela@uwbb.org • uwbb.org