AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2023
TWM
FALL FORUM & FASHION SHOW
WORK LIFE BALANCE Domestic Violence SALLY BRADSHAW’S FALL READING LIST
Fall Fashion TWM RED GALA
EMBRACING EXCELLENCE AND EMPOWERMENT
75 years of Saturday morning games and living on the field. Go by any ballpark on a Saturday, and the air is filled with excitement. Parents and coaches cheer for their teams, proud of their players alert in the field or ready at bat. After serving our community for 75 years, we like to think we’re part of the fun – by keeping you stronger, happier and healthier. That’s our job. From all of us at TMH and our partners, thank you for your continued trust.
TMH.ORG/75Years
If you can dream it, we’re the bank to help you get there. At Synovus, we provide the solutions, advice, and experience for you to bank from whenever, wherever. From rewarding credit cards to loan options tailored to your needs, we’ll help get your money working the way you want. Let’s see what we can do together.
Start your journey at synovus.com. | 5 | Member august FDIC. • september 2023 All loans and lines of credit are subjecttallahassee to approval. woman Synovus Bank,
CONTENTS 12. LETTER FROM PUBLISHER 14. LETTER FROM GUEST EDITOR
CULTURE & CUISINE
17. MASTERING FALL FASHION 18. TASTY PEANUT BUTTER BALLS 19. THE HUNGAR GAMES SAGA CONTINUES 20. MIDTOWN READS 22. EMPOWERING WOMEN IN SPORTS
LIVING LOCAL
39
MIND, BODY & SPIRIT
42. COOLING DOWN WITH A KALE SMOOTHIES 45. YARN CRAFTS FOR MENTAL WELL-BEING & CREATIVITY
LOVE & RELATIONSHIPS
46. CULTIVATING AN ENVIROMENT OF KINDNESS 49. NAVIGATING ROOMMATE HARMONY 50. BREAKING FREE FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE 51. WE INSPIRE
24. AROUND TOWN: TALLAHASSEE WOMAN MAGAZINE CELEBRATES 17TH ANNIVERSARY
24 17
ON THE COVER
28. EMBRACING EXCELLENCE AND EMPOWERMENT WITH DR. MONIQUE BUTLER
TRAVEL
34. MADAME XHALES IN BLACK MOUNTAIN, NORTH CAROLINA
45
BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP
39. LEGAL WRITES WITH DANA BROOKS 40. STACKED: WOMEN IN REAL ESTATE WITH CARRIE BOYD
28
28. ABOUT THE COVER: | PHOTOGRAPHY: KIRA DERRYBERRY | MUA: IMAGE BY LISA | HAIR: TANYA EVANS: EIGHT FIVE ZERO SALON | DRESS: PRIVATE COLLECTION | JEWELRY: NARCISSUS
tallahassee woman | 4 | august • september 2023
They depend on
YOU.
If you’re a woman over 40, now is the time to start getting annual mammograms. You’re in charge of a lot of things, including your health. Taking time out to get regular screenings is the best way to catch breast cancer in its early stages, when it’s the most treatable. Schedule your mammogram today. Scan the QR code or visit HCAFloridaMammogramScheduler.com
WOM A N
MAGAZINE
August - September 2023 • Volume 18 • Issue 5
Publisher | Editor-in-Chief Dr. Michelle Mitcham
CRISTINA CARTER Relationship Manager
BRIANA SMITH Creative Consultant
PAULA DEBOLES-JOHNSON
THAIS GONZALEZ Food Contributor
Director of Leadership Initiatives
REGINA LYNCH HUDSON Director of Luxury Travel
CONTRIBUTORS
Executive Editor
OLIVIA HEYWARD Creative Director
TALLAHASSEE WOMAN MAGAZINE is a publication of Mitcham Media Group LLC Post Office Box 16616 Tallahassee, FL 32317-3401 Phone (850) 739-1720 publisher@TalWoman.com Tallahassee Woman is published six times per year and is distributed on a complimentary basis throughout Tallahassee and the surrounding communities. ADVERTISING For advertising, visit talwoman.com, call (850) 893-9624, 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 © 2023 Mitcham Media Group LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction, in part or in whole, without expressed written consent of the Publisher is prohibited.
TALLAHASSEE WOMAN MAGAZINE IS A CERTIFIED MINORITY BUSINESS ENTERPRISE
T A LWO M A N .C O M
LACI SWANN
KIRA DERRYBERRY PHOTOGRAPHER Kira Derryberry is a Tallahasseebased 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
DR. IRIS PENDLETON WRITER Iris Pendleton is a wife and a mother. She is a graduate of Florida State University and Tallahassee Community College. Iris is an Assistant Professor at Tallahassee Community College and a blog writer for Now I Can Wear Pink and BTSADV.
INTERNS
SUMMER BATTEN Florida State University
KATIE KELSEY Florida State University
CYAN MOORE Florida State University
ASHLEY LYNN FISCHER Florida State University
CHLOE POMERANC Florida State University
ELIZABETH MASSEY Florida State University
tallahassee woman | 6 | august • september 2023
850.777.7777
Empowering Women
Destin | Tallahassee | Jacksonville
tallahassee woman | 8 | august • september 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
As she was guiding her class through an exercise, there was a slight pressure in her chest and a sudden pop. Immediately Beth thought, “That’s not good. What was that?” Beth didn’t feel right going home after her class, so she drove to Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare’s (TMH) Emergency Center – Northeast nearby. As soon as Beth walked into the Emergency Center, she told staff she was having a heart attack, and they immediately got her to a room. The staff then rushed her in an ambulance to TMH’s main hospital, where the heart and vascular team is equipped to handle advanced cardiac care. Beth was suffering from an aortic dissection, a serious condition caused by a tear in the inner layer of the body’s main artery (aorta). “When I saw her scan, there was no question that we had hours, not days. We had to go right now. This was her life,” Frank Gredler, MD, Beth’s cardiologist said. Charles Murrah, MD, a cardiothoracic surgeon, was on call that day, which Beth calls God’s blessing. “He was amazing. I thank him for saving my life,” she said.
The Unstoppable Beth Culley A potentially deadly cardiac event led Beth to Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare and some of the best cardiovascular physicians and surgeons in the Southeast.
F
itness instructor at Premier Health & Fitness Center isn’t just a title for Beth Culley; it means she gets to do what she loves.
Beth teaches a variety of classes for students from all walks of life. She is known as a powerhouse motivator who inspires her students. “I like people to have fun,” she said. “They’ll come back if you have fun with them.” It’s difficult to imagine someone like Beth slowing down, but on a Tuesday in 2022, an often-deadly cardiac event stopped the unstoppable Beth.
Dr. Murrah repaired her aortic dissection by replacing the wall of the aorta. This is not a common procedure, but something the Tallahassee Memorial heart team performs about once a month due to referrals from surrounding areas. “The fact that she got very prompt and very correct care is the largest part of what saved her from what is regrettably either a very, very difficult hospital course, or a terminal event,” Dr. Gredler said. Beth is grateful for the team at TMH for saving her and getting her back in the gym. “I love working out with her,” Bob Culley, Beth’s brother said. “She motivates me and is just great to have around with her positive attitude.” At Tallahassee Memorial, you have access to one of the most advanced heart and vascular programs in the Southeast. Our cardiovascular physicians perform more complex procedures and clinical research than any other program in our region. From cardio-oncology to heart surgery and everything in between, the most advanced cardiovascular care is at home in Tallahassee. Visit TMH.ORG/Heart to learn more.
SEPTEMBER 15TH, 2023 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
SCAN OR VISIT TALWOMAN.COM FOR TICKETS & SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION tallahassee woman | 10 | august • september 2023
Talent Shaping Tallahassee With nearly a decade of experience serving the City of Tallahassee, Vanessa Spaulding is now leading the way to establishing a Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) at Tallahassee International Airport (TLH). With a proven track record managing large-scale, detailed projects including more than 75 aeronautical and non-aeronautical leases at TLH, Spaulding was recently promoted to manage the FTZ, air service development, cargo development and Airport legislative affairs. Focused investments at TLH support the City's Five-Year Strategic Plan objective to increase the Airport's annual economic impact on the region to $1 billion in 2024, serve 1 million annual total passengers and process 22 million pounds of cargo annually. Data released this year from the Florida Department of Transportation reports TLH’s annual economic impact grew to $859 million, up 43 percent from $599 million in 2019. The FTZ at TLH will continue to distinguish the Airport as the global connection to the Northwest Florida region, enhance international commerce, stimulate the economy and bolster the region’s global market competitiveness. Maintaining close relationships with federal, state and local partners is a critical part of Spaulding’s new role, as is her work managing strategic air service and cargo development programs. In its steadfast pursuit of new air service options for the community, TLH landed JetBlue as its newest air service provider earlier this year, with flights to Fort Lauderdale set to begin in January 2024. As activity abounds at TLH, Spaulding’s embracing her new role and the global opportunities emerging at the Airport. To get the latest updates from TLH, visit TLHAirport.com.
VANESSA SPAULDING
Sheila Salyer has dedicated more than 27 years of service to residents of the City of Tallahassee, currently serving as director of Tallahassee Senior Services. Knowing the value of national senior center standards and accreditation, Tallahassee Senior Center (TSC) has been accredited three times under her leadership. Now, Salyer’s community impact has been recognized with the National Council on Aging’s Trailblazers in Aging Awards 2023 National Institute of Senior Centers 2023 Founders Award. Salyer is credited with growing the TSC Foundation from $60,000 to $700,000 and enabling it to provide innovative programming, like UPSLIDE, which addresses loneliness and isolation by connecting people ages 50 and older for meaningful social interaction. TSC serves more than 5,000 participants annually and, monthly, offers almost 180 programs, activities and opportunities designed to encourage active living, optimal aging and social fitness. To learn more about offerings from Tallahassee Senior Services for independent adults age 50+, visit Talgov.com/Seniors.
SHEILA SALYER
tallahassee woman | 21 | february 2023 • march 2023
Happy August!
A PUBLISHER
s we bid farewell to the scorching summer heat and welcome the cool breeze of fall, I am filled with excitement and anticipation for the upcoming months. It is with great pleasure that I present to you our August/September issue of Tallahassee Woman Magazine, brimming with stories of resilience, inspiration, and the power of unity. On our cover, we proudly feature Dr. Monique Butler, the Chief Medical Officer for HCA Health Care North Florida. Dr. Butler's journey is nothing short of remarkable, as she navigates the challenges of oftentimes being the only woman in the room, making major collaborative decisions with grace and determination. Her story serves as a reminder that resilience knows no bounds and that we, as women, have the power to overcome any obstacle that comes our way. Special thanks to our Guest Editor, TaMaryn Waters, for introducing our amazing Cover Woman. Both of these women happen to be fellow Leadership Tallahassee Fierce 40 graduates! I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you, our readers and supporters. I’m so thankful for all of the women that contribute to the magazine and have shared their stories. Thank you so much for being vulnerable. Your unwavering dedication to Tallahassee Woman Magazine has allowed us to be a resource for the community, inspiring fierce women and highlighting the incredible diversity of talent in Tallahassee and nearby communities for over 17 years. In the spirit of unity, let us remember that we are stronger together. Let us use our voices unapologetically and embrace our authentic selves. As we embark on this new season, let us have the courage to make new beginnings, fresh relationships, and venture into uncharted territories. Together, we
can achieve greatness. I am so grateful for our amazing core team at Tallahassee Woman Magazine. In addition, we have the most amazing interns from Florida State University on our team, that add so much creativity to our process! This is a collaborative group effort. Again, together we are stronger. I would like to invite you all to save the date for our first-ever Tallahassee Woman Magazine Red Women Fall Forum and Fashion Show on September 15. This event promises to be a celebration of the strength and beauty of women in our community. Additionally, mark your calendars for October 26, Thursday, for the Red Gala, which will be a masquerade edition like no other. In closing, I leave you with a quote from a powerful woman who has inspired countless others:
tallahassee woman | 12 | august • september 2023
Photo by Kira Derryberry Photography
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." - Eleanor Roosevelt. Let us believe in our dreams, support one another, and continue to uplift the women in our community. Thank you for being a part of this strong community of women who uplift one another. Together, we can achieve greatness. With warm regards,
Dr. Michelle Mitcham
"Each day brings a new opportunity to be grateful for all the gifts we bring just by showing up in our respective spaces"
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
-TaMaryn Waters
demands and the short-lived satisfaction tied to tackling your daily to-do list that you forget to pause and recognize the miracles you’ve played a role in each day. Women are the heart of our families and communities, and, on any given day, we are breathing life into the lives those we love and those we’ll never know. It’s so important to recognize that. Recognize it on ourselves. Recognize it in others, especially other women who you admire and those you can inspire. We all can rattle off a laundry list of women who we admire for living a purposeful life. Most likely, your name is on someone’s list, too. When I think of women who inspire me most, many are not well known and shrink from the spotlight. Some are in my family or my village of women who range in age and race. Yet, they have blessed me and others. They pour into us, this sisterhood of womanhood, because we are powerful.
W
omen are spectacular. Each day brings a new opportunity to be grateful for all the gifts we bring just by showing up in our respective spaces: at work, at home, at school, at our religious tabernacles and throughout the world. Our reach can be what’s right in front of us or stretch across the globe. We all have the power to move people, and Tallahassee is filled with women who embody and empower others to show up in the world. Each of us, no matter our station in life, contributes our time and talent in grand and modest ways that all make a difference in the lives of many. Yet, too often, we don’t recognize our power.
TaMaryn Waters is the business and economic development reporter for the Tallahassee Democrat and USA Today Network-Florida. The New Jersey native has lived in Tallahassee for more than 25 years and reported on a range of topics, including local government and nonprofits. With 20 years at the Democrat, she is the newspaper's longest tenured Black female reporter. She can be reached on Twitter: twitter.com/TaMarynWaters LinkedIn: bit.ly/tamarynwaters_linkedin
I’m guilty of this, too. It’s so easy to be saddled by endless tallahassee woman | 14 | august • september 2023
Mortgage Questions?
Ask the Experts.
Kristen Phillips (850) 907-2304
Have questions about home mortgages in
Mortgage Lending Officer NMLS #451762
today’s market? The Prime Meridian Bank Mortgage Team is experienced and ready to help you navigate the purchase of a new home. Call (850) 907-2344 today for information and rates on Home Mortgages (new and existing), Home Refinance, or Construction and Construction/Perm loans.
MAIN OFFICE 1471 Timberlane Rd.
CAPITAL CIRCLE 1897 Capital Circle NE
CRAWFORDVILLE 2201 Crawfordville Hwy.
LAKELAND 3340 South Florida Ave.
ONLINE TryMyBank.com NMLS #393620