DECEMBER 2023/JANUARY 2024
CAITLIN YANCEY MOORE
A JOURNEY OF PASSION, PERSEVERANCE, AND BALANCE
MIDTOWN READS WINTER BOOK LIST
WOMEN ON FIRE AWARDS 3/20
COST OF SHAME
WHOLESALE REAL ESTATE
MONEY TALKS!
Caribbean
HUMAN TRAFFICKING
SHOSHANA BEAN AT YAT!
CHRISTMAS DRINK
TWM AWARDED MINORITY BUSINESS OF THE YEAR!
GREEK GODDESS
WWMB
WOMEN ON FIRE NOMINATIONS OPEN!
PROVIDING THE BEST CANCER CARE IN THE PANHANDLE Shlermine Everidge, MD, has joined Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare following a specialized breast cancer training fellowship at the prestigious MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. Dr. Everidge brings a high level of expertise to the Tallahassee Memorial Cancer Center, where patients receive advanced care, right here at home. Learn more about how Dr. Everidge is enhancing breast cancer care at TMH.ORG/MeetDrEveridge.
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CONTENTS 10. LETTER FROM PUBLISHER 12. LETTER FROM EXECUTIVE EDITOR
CULTURE & CUISINE
14. WINTER FASHION- THE ART OF LAYERING 17. GREEN GIFTS 18. A TASTE OF TRADITION CUBAN CONGRI RECIPE 19. TRINIDADIAN SORREL RECIPE 20. MIDTOWN READS
LIVING LOCAL
22. BROADWAY STAR BENEFIT CONCERT 23. 100+ WOMEN WHO CARE TLH 24. W.E. ELEVATE: NIDIA ALVAREZ-NGUYEN 25. MOMMY MAKEOVER-APRIL CURRY 26. AROUND TOWN: TALLAHASSEE WOMAN MAGAZINE'S RED WOMEN MASQUERADE GALA
WITH DANA BROOKS 40. STACKED: WOMEN IN REAL ESTATE WITH CARRIE BOYD 42. MONEY TALKS WITH ROBIN VERNON 44. WOMEN ON FIRE AWARDS AND BUSINESS EXPO
19
MIND, BODY & SPIRIT
22
46. INSTANT CONNECT 48. DEALING WITH LOSS DURING THE HOLIDAYS 49. TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE
LOVE & RELATIONSHIPS 50. GREEK GODDESS 51. WE INSPIRE
14
23
ON THE COVER
32. UNVEILING THE MULTIFACETED CAITLIN YANCEY MOORE A JOURNEY OF PASSION, PERSEVERANCE, AND BALANCE
BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP
32
38. LEGAL WRITES
32. ABOUT THE COVER: | PHOTOGRAPHY: KIRA DERRYBERRY | MUA: IMAGE BY LISA | HAIR: TANYA EVANS: EIGHT FIVE ZERO SALON | DRESS & JEWELRY: NARCISSUS
tallahassee woman | 4 | december 2023 • january 2024
WOM A N
MAGAZINE
December 2023 - January 2024 • Volume 19 • Issue 1
Publisher | Editor-in-Chief Dr. Michelle Mitcham
CRISTINA CARTER Relationship Manager
BRIANA SMITH Creative Consultant
PAULA DEBOLES-JOHNSON Director of Leadership Initiatives
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
T A LWO M A N .C O M
LACI SWANN
KIRA DERRYBERRY JANE MARKS PHOTOGRAPHER 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
Jane Marks is a licensed psychotherapist "life coach" with more than 50 years of experience specializing in child and adolescent behavior. She is a motivational speaker/lecturer focusing on mental health and adolescents.
INTERNS
ELIZABETH MASSEY Leon High School
CYAN MOORE Florida State University
CHLOE POMERANC Florida State University
ASHLEY LYNN FISCHER Florida State University
HEATHER TOUBY Florida State University
KAITLYN WALSH Florida State University
CERTIFIED MINORITY BUSINESS ENTERPRISE
tallahassee woman | 6 | december 2023 • january 2024
Expert bankers. Expert listeners.
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Tallahassee Mortgage Office 3375 Capital Circle NE, Bldg B 1 Tallahassee, FL 32308 850.778.4850 NMLS ID 556357 | Member FDIC | Equal Housing Lender
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TLHPLASTICSURGERY.COM
tallahassee woman | 7 | december 2023 • january 2024
850.777.7777
Empowering Women
Destin | Tallahassee | Jacksonville tallahassee woman | 8 | december 2023 • january 2024
Talent Shaping Tallahassee Rhonda Reaves-Smith brings more than 20 years of experience in public service with the City of Tallahassee to her role as Assistant Director of Customer Operations. Developing her career in Customer Operations over the past two decades, Reaves-Smith’s spirit for service shines through in her work. The City continually enhances services provided through the evaluation and adoption of new technology, and development of customer-centered solutions. Reaves-Smith makes an impact as she leads a team dedicated to serving more than 126,000 utility customers, ensuring key objectives are met, including improving operational efficiency and the user experience. The City’s commitment to providing exceptional customer service is also a personal value for Reaves-Smith. To work in this field, she says passion for helping others is a must, along with the ability to find gratitude in knowing you’ve made something easier for another person. Starting her career with the City in a temporary position and serving in numerous customer operations roles before recently becoming Assistant Director, Reaves-Smith prides herself on her unique ability to connect with people in a positive way, whether on a personal or professional level. She is a strong proponent of mentoring and values the opportunities for professional development that the City provides. Today, Reaves-Smith is excited to lead a team focused on the customer journey as the City continues to lead in the adoption of new technology and industry best practices.
RHONDA REAVESSMITH
A passion for public service, with a goal to work in local government, brought Diana Gallego from Toronto, Canada, to the Sunshine State. After gaining her master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Central Florida and experience as an International City/County Management Association Senior Management Fellow, Gallego joined the City of Tallahassee’s Strategic Innovation team and supported the development of the City’s first-ever Five-Year Strategic Plan. Now, as Manager for Human Resources and Workforce Development, Diana embraces the values set forth in the Strategic Plan, particularly to help ensure the City continues to lead in promoting equity and celebrating diversity and investing in employee excellence. With the mindset of a consultant and in-house knowledge gained through work with City leadership and across departments in strategic planning, Gallego drives efforts to build the organization’s future workforce and retain talent. Enhancing recruitment processes and ensuring diversity among demographics, skillsets and experience builds upon the City’s ability to provide best-in-class service with a workforce of more than 4,000 dedicated employees. For Each day brings a new opportunity for Gallego to make a positive impact on the organization as her work covers employee recruitment, benefits, safety, wellness and engagement. To learn more about how you can do great things as a City of Tallahassee employee, visit Talgov.com/Jobs.
DIANA GALLEGO
PUBLISHER LETTER
Dear Empowered Women,
A
s we embark on this season of snow and sparkle, I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you for making Tallahassee Woman Magazine an extraordinary resource and beacon of inspiration for our community. For the past 17 years, our mission has been to uplift, empower, and inspire women while shining a light on the remarkable women in Tallahassee. This year has been particularly special, as we have witnessed countless achievements and milestones for women, all of which we have proudly captured within the pages of our magazine. I am honored and humbled to share that Tallahassee Woman Magazine was elected MED Week Minority Business of the Year. This recognition, coupled with the proclamations we received from Mayor John Dailey and City of Tallahassee Commissioners, Leon County Commissioners, and the Leon County School Board, is a testament to our impact on the community. Furthermore, we successfully launched our first-ever RED Women's Fall Forum and Fashion Show at Young Actors Theater. We also hosted the second annual RED Gala and our annual Women Who Mean Business “Women On Fire” Awards, which were resounding successes. These events allowed us to honor and celebrate deserving women with distinguished awards. Additionally, Tallahassee Woman Magazine has been privileged to host several intimate RED Women Recharge events, focusing on wellness and personal empowerment. I share these accomplishments not to boast but to emphasize that this year has been one of limitless possibilities. Our theme for this year has been "limitless," and it is my sincerest hope that every woman knows she is not alone. Let us continue to celebrate, uplift, and inspire one another, for this journey cannot be undertaken in isolation.
I am immensely grateful for our incredible team at Tallahassee Woman Magazine as well as our dedicated contributors, interns from Florida State University and Leon County Public School, advertisers, and the countless volunteers who have helped us remain the number one magazine for women in our community. On our December cover, we proudly feature the remarkable Caitlin Yancey Moore, an extraordinary mother, community leader, and banker. Her story of resilience is truly uplifting, and I encourage you not to miss the inspiring stories within this issue.
Photo by Kira Derryberry Photography
As we approach the end of the year, let us carry the spirit of compassion, empathy, and motivation with us. Let us support one another, lift each other up, and create a community where every woman feels seen, heard, and valued. Together, we can achieve greatness. Empowered women empower other women. Thank you for your unwavering support, and we eagerly look forward to seeing you soon.
Dr. Michelle Mitcham tallahassee woman | 10 | december 2023 • january 2024
Thank you to OEV and the entire MED Week Committee for the honor of being awarded Minority Business Enterprise of the year! Congratulations to the other honorees, Tracey Cohen, and Mr. Beasley! On behalf of the entire team of Tallahassee Woman Magazine, thank you so much! This is a team effort that involves amazing women, including our wonderful internship students and externship students. We are so thankful to be in this wonderful community of Tallahassee with the opportunity to empower and uplift women with TWM! Thanks to all of the team members, contributors, advertisers, volunteers and readers. Thanks for supporting TWM, an OEV certified minority and woman owned business.
Photography By Mandie Barber Studios
tallahassee woman | 11 | december 2023 • january 2024
2024
TWM will be recognizing the most inspiring and influential businesswomen in our community for the following award categories:
• Entrepreneur Award • Innovator Award • Legacy Award • Rockstar Award • Service Award • Torchbearer Award • Mompreneur Award tallahassee woman | 44 | december 2023 • january 2024
COME CELEBRATE WITH US MARCH 20, 2024 8:30 AM – 2:00 PM
Parkview at Cascades
414 E. Bloxham, Tallahassee, FL 32301 As we recognize and honor dynamic businesswomen who are “on fire” with their passion, leadership and dedication to the business community. EARLY BIRD TICKETS ARE $45 GENERAL ADMISSION $59 To purchase tickets or become a sponsor or vendor visit TALWOMAN.COM For further information or questions call (850) 893.9624
NOMINATIONS OPEN FROM DEC 8, 2023 - JAN 5, 2024 NOMINATE A WOMAN ON FIRE AT TALWOMAN.COM
tallahassee woman | 45 | october • november 2023