Issuu

AQUA NOVEMBER 2026

MIAMI

DANCE FOR ALL AT GENTLE BARRE PROJECT

THINK PINK THE CASE FOR FLAMINGOS

The Sky is Not The Limit FIGHTER PILOT TURNED ATTORNEY WILLARD SHEPARD

0 MIA_Cover_1126_final.indd 1

10/16/26 1:51 PM

Now Leasing

Live A Life That Is Spacious, Secure & Simplified. Regency Parc Is A Class-Defining, Ultra-Luxury Residential Tower In The Heart Of Coral Gables, Featuring 126 Spacious, Two- To Four-Bedroom Residences Ranging From 1,768 To 6,005 Total Square Feet.

RENT, AND FREE YOURSELF FROM: Having To Pay Property Taxes Worry About Rising Insurance Premiums Constant Home Maintenance & Upkeep Navigating The Drama of Condo Governance

Lease A Sky Residence Starting At $8,200/month

RegencyParcCoralGables.com 2 6 01 SAL Z E DO ST RE E T , C O RAL GA B L E S A L I F E STY L E C E N TE R BY

All images presented in this advertisement are conceptual only and are for the convenience of reference. They should not be relied upon as representations, express or implied, of the final detail of Regency Parc or its residences.

Untitled-2 2

6/23/26 8:19 AM

MAIN RESIDENT LOBBY OF REGENCY PARC

13-Month to 5-Year Lease Terms Available Ask Leasing Team For Details

Untitled-2 3

6/23/26 8:20 AM

GINORI 1735

Oriente Italiano Collection

Untitled-8 2

10/9/26 2:28 PM

THE ART OF

Holiday Entertaining Set a memorable table with fine porcelain, luminous crystal and thoughtful details. Discover exceptional pieces for gathering, celebrating and giving at Chiragan in Coral Gables.

Visit our Coral Gables showroom 255 Altara Ave, Coral Gables chiraganhome.com

Untitled-8 3

10/9/26 2:28 PM

Untitled-10 2

2/18/25 3:02 PM

Untitled-10 3

2/18/25 3:02 PM

WILLIAMSON IS MIAMI

DEALERSHIP CADILLAC WILLIAMSON CADILLAC WilliamsonCadillac.com

Untitled-10 2

8/18/26 2:39 PM

LOCATION 7815 SW 104TH St. Miami, FL

SALES 1-877-579-0775 Mon.-Fri. 9am - 8pm Sat. 9am - 6pm Sun. 11am - 5pm

SERVICE 1- 866-372-8217 Mon.-Fri. 7:30am - 7pm Sat. 8am - 5pm Sun. Closed

Untitled-10 3

8/18/26 2:39 PM

CONTENTS NOVEMBER 2026

18 12

F E AT UR E S

Leap of Faith

Gentle Barre Project founder Emilla Grillaca is on a mission to bring the magic of dance to children of differing abilities, learning styles, and sensory needs. 22

The Sky is Not the Limit

Whether as a fighter pilot, Emmy Award-winning journalist, or attorney for the people, happy warrior Willard Shepard is the walking definition of courage under fire.

CO LUM N S

EDITOR’S NOTE Got Gratitude?

SUNSHINE STATE Think Pink

HOME FRONT Scents & Sensibility

READS FROM THE BEACH Booklovers Paradise

PHOTO OP Floating Affirmations

RESIDENT EXPERT A Blessing or a Curse?

COVER

Willard Shepard

8 / AQUA MIAMI

8 MIA_TOC_1126_final.indd 8

10/16/26 1:56 PM

SANCTUARY

OF THE ARTS

4X4

ICI

Inter-American Choreographic Institute

BUILDING THE FUTURE

OF DANCE.

M RICHARD A

DURANTE

ARO

AUM HANNAH B

VERZOLA

GARTEN

NATHALIA

ARJA

FOUR CHOREOGRAPHERS. F OU R

WA YS .

NOVEMBER 7 Untitled-2 1

ONE

S TA G E.

7:30 PM 10/15/26 12:58 PM

EDITOR’S NOTE

GOT GRATITUDE? “I AM GRATEFUL for what I am and have,” Henry David Thoreau once wrote. “My Thanksgiving is perpetual.” Indeed, it is a bit strange that we cram so much of our gratitude rhetoric and practice into a single month, considering not only the blessings of modern life, but how particularly concentrated these blessings are in the nation we call home, despite its challenges and failings. Here’s another reason to expand our gratitude practice beyond Thanksgiving: A 2024 study in the journal JAMA Psychiatry found that those who agreed most strongly with statements such as “I have so much in life to be thankful for,” and “If I had to list everything I felt

grateful for, it would be a very long list,” had a 9% lower chance of dying than those who were lukewarm on such statements. “This did not change after controlling for physical health, economic circumstances, and other aspects of mental health and well-being,” a Harvard Medical School article on the study noted. “Gratitude seemed to help protect participants from every cause of death studied—including cardiovascular disease.” So perhaps when you’re seated around the Thanksgiving table this year, think of it as the starting line of a long gratitude race that will last the entire year. And if some days lend themselves less to gratitude than others? Well, practice makes perfect. As Tyler VanderWeele, co-director of the Initiative on Health, Spirituality, and Religion at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, told the writer of the Harvard Medical School article: “A 9% reduction in mortality risk is meaningful, but not huge. But what’s remarkable about gratitude is that just about anyone can practice it. Anyone can recognize what’s around them and express thanks to others for what’s good in their life.”

Shawn Macomber Editor @aqua_miami_mag aquamiamimag.com

Advertising Director Daisy Abreu daisy.abreu@wainscotmedia.com Creative Director Kijoo Kim Editor Shawn Macomber shawn.macomber@wainscotmedia.com Contributor Gerry Barker WAINSCOT MEDIA Chairman Carroll V. Dowden President and CEO Mark Dowden SVP, Group Publisher Thomas Flannery VP, Content Strategy Maria Regan Associate Editor Sophia Carlisle Art Director Rosemary O’Connell Advertising Services Director Jacquelynn Fischer Operations Director Catherine Rosario Production Designer Chris Ferrante Advertising Production Associate Griff Dowden

AQUA Miami magazine is published by Wainscot Media. Serving residents of Pinecrest and surrounding areas of South Florida, the magazine is distributed monthly via U.S. mail. Articles and advertisements contained herein do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publishers. Copyright 2026 by Wainscot Media LLC. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent.

Have a story idea? 10 / AQUA MIAMI

10 MIA_Letter_1126_final.indd 10

Email the editor: Shawn.Macomber@wainscotmedia.com

10/16/26 1:30 PM

Untitled-1 1

10/16/26 10:43 AM

SUNSHINE STATE

Think Pink A campaign is underway to make the flamingo Florida’s official state bird. BY GERRY BARKER

THOUGH THE NORTHERN mockingbird has been Florida’s state bird since 1927, Ron Magill—the Emmy Award-winning wildlife expert and world-renowned wildlife photographer who serves as the face of Zoo Miami for over four decades—believes a changing of the guard is long overdue. Oh, and he has the perfect candidate in mind, too. “For generations, many Floridians grew up believing flamingos were little more than lawn ornaments, hotel logos, or escaped zoo birds,” Magill tells AQUA Miami. “This misconception persisted for decades until science has proven that they are, in fact, a native species that existed in Florida long before it became a state. After a century of being extirpated, flamingos have come home to the only state in the country that can list them as native. It is time that we recognize them as our own.” Now, as he helps spearhead an effort to have the flamingo officially named as Florida’s state bird, Magill makes his case to AQUA Miami…

12 / AQUA MIAMI

12-14 MIA_SunshineState_1126_final_SC.indd 12

10/16/26 1:46 PM

our eyes. Once numbering in the many thousands as a native species a century ago, flamingos were driven from Florida by hunting and habitat loss. Now, wild flamingos are returning to our wetlands, a powerful reminder that when we protect nature, nature can recover. When did you first get involved with the effort to make the flamingo Florida’s official state bird? I have been quietly supportive of the effort to designate the flamingo as the state bird since it started approximately two years ago. Unfortunately, as a government county employee, I was forbidden from publicly lobbying for it or from meeting with any elected officials to discuss it. This was extremely frustrating to me as I watched the effort fail in the Florida legislature. It is one of the reasons that after 46 years of service, I chose to retire from Miami-Dade County and accept a position with the Zoo Miami Foundation in May. My new position allows me the freedom to now truly focus my efforts

on this campaign. And from the day I retired, I have been mobilizing every connection I have made throughout my career to successfully make it to the finish line during the next legislative session in March. Who are some of these connections? I have met with elected officials and many powerful influencers—including worldrenowned writers such as Dave Barry and Carl Hiaasen—who have volunteered their skills to promote this endeavor. Critically acclaimed artist Romero Britto has agreed to create an original commemorative piece celebrating the flamingo to help raise awareness and support for the campaign. Internationally renowned artist Wayland has agreed to paint a mural of a flamingo on a seven-story tower adjacent to the zoo. Since the tower sits on federal property, I am in the process of trying to get federal approval for him to do so. I am planning on going on a statewide speaking tour to the various chambers of commerce to hopefully enlist their support

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF RON MAGILL

Why should the flamingo be designated the state bird of Florida? Florida deserves a state bird that is as unique, iconic, and extraordinary as the state itself. While I have great respect for the northern mockingbird, it is already also the state bird of Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee. It’s one of the most widespread birds in North America. It simply cannot speak to the uniqueness and diversity of Florida’s story. The flamingo does! Florida is unlike any other state in our nation. We are home to the Everglades— the largest subtropical wilderness in the continental United States—and many more extraordinary ecosystems found nowhere else on earth. The flamingo reflects that uniqueness. Elegant yet resilient; vibrant yet wild. It embodies the tropical spirit that has captivated residents and visitors from around the world for generations. And by choosing the American flamingo as Florida’s official state bird, we would celebrate not only an iconic species, but also the remarkable conservation success story unfolding before

NOVEMBER 2026 / 13

12-14 MIA_SunshineState_1126_final_SC.indd 13

10/16/26 1:46 PM

SUNSHINE STATE

and also working with the Florida School Boards Association to enlist students across the state to support this initiative by writing to their representatives to encourage a positive vote on the bill that will be submitted by Senator Ana Maria Rodriguez and Representative Jim Mooney for this coming session. The bill will also include designating the Florida scrub jay, a bird found nowhere else in the world, as the official state songbird. On a regional level, in July the MiamiDade County Commission officially designated the American flamingo as its own official county bird. Were you involved in that effort? Yes, I had previously met with Miami-Dade Commissioner Natalie Milian Orbis to discuss my effort to make the flamingo the state bird, and she graciously agreed to sponsor a resolution making it the official bird of Miami-Dade County. I was the sole speaker to address the Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners during a BCC meeting on July 21 of this year—something that I could not have done as a county employee—prior to voting on

the resolution, and I was elated when it then passed unanimously! I believe that it is significant because, as the most populous county in the state, it recognizes the significance of this iconic bird as a native species and hopefully will set the tone for other counties to follow, leading to the state legislature vote in March. Some critics have pointed out flamingos are rare in Florida compared to pelicans or ospreys. Do you think that’s valid? It is certainly true that flamingos are rare in Florida compared to pelicans and ospreys. Some argue that because flamingos remain relatively uncommon in the state, they should not represent us. That argument misunderstands the purpose of a state symbol: State symbols should not merely celebrate what is abundant; they should inspire us to protect what is irreplaceable. We do not protect things because they are common; we protect them because they are precious. By choosing the flamingo, Florida would send a powerful message that our state values conservation, restoration, and the protection

of native wildlife. It would become a living reminder that environmental stewardship is not an obstacle to Florida’s future; it is essential to it. A prime example of this is that the Florida panther is the state mammal and is truly one of the rarest animals on earth. Bears, bobcats, and raccoons are certainly more common and found throughout much of the state, but they do not represent the uniqueness and beauty of Florida as the panther does. The flamingo is the bird version of the panther. How can Florida residents who support making the flamingo the official state bird support that effort? The best way for Florida residents to support making the flamingo the official state bird is to write to their legislators and express why they feel it is important. In addition, they can post support of the campaign on their social media platforms alongside interesting facts about these remarkable birds. To keep up with the flamingo’s progress, follow @ronmagillwildlife on Instagram.

14 / AQUA MIAMI

12-14 MIA_SunshineState_1126_final_SC.indd 14

10/16/26 1:46 PM

SPECIALIZING IN PORSCHE AUTOMOBILES

SALES | SERVICE | MOTORSPORTS | PARTS | AUTO SPA ZWECK.COM • INFO@ZWECK.COM • (305) 908-8911

PARTNER CONTENT

The Gift Only You Can Give 5 estate planning concerns South Florida families can’t afford to postpone. BY ALINA F. NUÑEZ, ESQ., ESTATE PLANNING AND PROBATE ATTORNEY

PICTURE YOUR FAMILY in the weeks after you are gone. Grief is heavy enough. Now add a courthouse, a public file with your name on it, attorneys in two states, and siblings who no longer speak. For too many South Florida families, that is not a hypothetical. It is what happens when planning is left for “someday.” Here are the five concerns affluent families lose sleep over, and why each one demands action now. 1. Estate Taxes Since Jan. 1, 2026, the federal exemption stands at $15 million per person, or $30 million per couple, and Florida has no state estate tax. But “permanent” only means no expiration date; Congress can rewrite the rules tomorrow. Above the line, 40 cents of every dollar you spent a lifetime earning can go to Washington instead of to your grandchildren. Is this the legacy plan you would want? 2. Family Harmony Advisors say family dynamics are the hardest part of estate planning, and wealthy parents fear their legacy becoming a battleground. No inheritance is worth your children’s relationship with each other. Clear documents, written while you can still explain your wishes, are what keep a family whole. 3. Protecting Your Children From the Money Many parents fear that wealth arriving too early or too easily will rob their children of the very drive that built it. Thoughtful trusts can release assets over time, reward milestones, and pass down your values along with your money.

waits for answers. International holdings add even more. Titling assets correctly today spares them that burden.

4. Your Private Life, Made Public Under Florida’s Sunshine Law, probate files, including wills and inventories, are open to anyone who asks. Strangers, the curious and the opportunistic, even your nosy neighbor, can see what you owned and who received it. A properly funded revocable trust keeps those matters private inside the family, where they belong. Florida’s homestead rules also limit how your home can pass if you leave a spouse or minor child.

Tomorrow is not Promised Even among the wealthiest families, many plans remain unfinished. An outdated will, an unfunded trust or an unsigned power of attorney can undo a lifetime of work in the time it takes to answer a call from the hospital. No one plans for a stroke, an accident or a sudden diagnosis. But you can plan for your family. It’s time to schedule a review with our qualified estate planning team, while every decision is still yours to make. It may be the most loving thing you ever do for the people you leave behind.

5. Property in Multiple Places A Brickell condo and a Hamptons home can mean two probate courts, two sets of lawyers, and months of delay while your family

Alina F. Nuñez, Esq. is the principal attorney at Nunez Estate Law & Title, a Miami-based law firm devoted to helping families safeguard their wealth and smoothly transfer it to the next generation.

Schedule Your Consultation – “Protect your family today—your legacy depends on it” | 305-962-5929 | nunezlawfl.com

16 / AQUA MIAMI

16 MIA_PartnerContent_1126_final.indd 16

10/16/26 2:07 PM

Untitled-3 1

10/7/25 10:32 AM

Leap of Faith

18 / AQUA MIAMI

18-21 MIA_GentleBarre_1126_final.indd 18

10/16/26 2:05 PM

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF THE GENTLE BARRE PROJECT

Gentle Barre Project founder Emilla Grillaca is on a mission to bring the magic of dance to children of differing abilities, learning styles, and sensory needs.

BY SHAWN MACOMBER

Emilla Grillaca

“WHEN YOU DANCE,” the novelist Paulo Coelho wrote in The Witch of Portobello, “you can enjoy the luxury of being you.” Over the last several months, dancer, registered behavior technician, and filmmaker Emilia Grillasca has put this sentiment into inspiring, beautiful life at The Gentle Barre Project in Kendall, which offers adaptive dance rooted in classical ballet. “Each class follows a familiar rhythm and moves at each child’s pace, with room for different abilities, learning styles, sensory needs, and ways of participating,” the school’s mission statement reads. “Autistic and neurodivergent children

are warmly welcome, as is every child who loves to move.” This, if the near-instant popularity of the classes is any indication, is an idea whose time has clearly come. “We believe every child deserves the opportunity to experience the magic of dance,” Grillasca tells AQUA Miami. “To rehearse with friends. To wear a costume. To wait in the wings with butterflies. To hear applause. To take a bow. To discover the joy that comes from sharing their art with others.” At Gentle Barre, kids get all that and more.

NOVEMBER 2026 / 19

18-21 MIA_GentleBarre_1126_final.indd 19

10/16/26 2:05 PM

OVERTURE Grillasca began dancing at around three or four years old when her parents enrolled her in a ballet class, almost on a whim. Soon, however, their daughter’s natural talent and discipline made clear she had potential to take the art form in a more serious—perhaps even professional—direction. Visions of ensembles and companies danced in her head. An ACL tear at 17, alas, forced her to reconsider her path. “I needed to take a step back for my body,” Grillasca says. “During that time, I started to think about what direction I really wanted to go. Although I loved dance and my commitment to it up until then was all-encompassing, I came to the realization that I wanted to explore different things.” Grillasca enrolled at Nova Southeastern University, transferring after her freshman year to Florida International University. At first, she thought she might study English

literature but soon turned to psychology. “I enjoyed both, but I had a strong desire to work with kids by that point,” Grillasca says. “I missed teaching dance and wanted to find something that gave me a similar opportunity.” After graduation, she pursued a registered behavior technician certification, a practice area which, according to the FIU website, helps “implement behavior intervention plans, collect data, and support positive behavior change.” For eight years, Grillasca focused on this work. And then her sister called. PIROUETTE Grillasca’s niece is on the spectrum. Her parents were always seeking activities for the nine-year-old, but traditional dance classes didn’t offer much in the way of options for someone with her differing

abilities. Grillasca looked into renting out a space for maybe an hour or so to work with her. During the search, she began to think about all the ways dance could help other kids. What if she started holding classes that used traditional ballet as its scaffolding but leaned into the exploration, play, individual expression, and tailored, personalized attention? The Gentle Barre Project was born. To be clear, it is an arts and movement program, not a substitute for therapy. Yet, its aim does transcend the typical children’s ballet class, including the use of “props, music, imagination, and sensory experiences.” In short: “Our purpose is dance,” the Gentle Barre website declares, “learning, moving, creating, belonging.” Classes are kept intentionally small, led by Grillasca with one or two aides—typically also RBT certified—rotating through the

20 / AQUA MIAMI

18-21 MIA_GentleBarre_1126_final.indd 20

10/16/26 2:05 PM

room. “This was where we were able to get to know each kid, have a more personal communication with each parent,” Grillasca says. “That way, there is space for every kind of learner.” Partnering with Adrenaline Dance Company, the program grew quickly. “It just took on a life of its own,” she says. “It’s funny, too, because, though I was surprised and a little overwhelmed at first, in hindsight it makes perfect sense. These are the two things I have experience in that I know I’m good at. How could I not eventually bring them together? At the end of the day, we’re all multifaceted. It’s been a very special experience—and a surprising one. My expectations were quite low. I just wanted it to be here and available, essentially.” TAKE A BOW Though Gentle Barre had only been in

operation for a few months, parents were already asking if there would be a recital. “We hadn’t been working with the kids very long,” Grillaca says. “But they felt ready, so we decided to try it. And it turned out to be a very special experience. A lot of people felt very moved by it. Some of the parents were quite emotional. Seeing what was possible in such a short period—and seeing how impactful it was for our dancers and their families—was very gratifying to me. Starting Gentle Barre had felt like a leap of faith, and it worked out so nicely. I think the recital was the first moment where I was like, ‘Okay, this is it, this is exactly what I am supposed to be doing. Let’s go’.” The work has been transformative for Grillasca as well. And not only in the sense that she has found a way to connect her artistic roots to her work with children. The frisson of the Gentle Barre Project has

galvanized her creativity in other areas— she’s now co-directing a short film. (The star of the film, now in post-production, is a 12-year-old girl, if you’re looking for a fullcircle moment.) “Launching and running a company teaches you how to think on your feet, prioritize, make decisions a little quicker,” Grillasca says. “All of that applies to pursuing any passion, achieving any goal.” Outside the recital, Grillasca has watched the confidence and engagement of her dancers blossom and soar. This month, to keep up with demand, The Gentle Barre Project will open a second location at Lemon City Collective in Little River. The plan is to train and certify more teachers and aides in her method to help meet the demand. “The more reach we have,” Grillasca says, “the more opportunity to help kids.”

NOVEMBER 2026 / 21

18-21 MIA_GentleBarre_1126_final.indd 21

10/16/26 2:05 PM

THE SKY IS NOT THE LIMIT Whether as a fighter pilot, Emmy Award-winning journalist, or attorney for the people, happy warrior Willard Shepard is the walking definition of courage under fire. BY SHAWN MACOMBER

LONG BEFORE WILLARD Shepard became a household name in the Magic City as a six-time Emmy Award-winning investigative reporter and news anchor at NBC in Miami or a stalwart attorney boldly taking on cases to secure recompense for people in the midst of often tragic situations not of their own making, he was piloting a fighter jet in the skies over Iraq during the First Gulf War. “There were days when we were getting shot at a lot,” Shepard, who flew more than 50 combat missions in Iraq, tells AQUA Miami. “Days when I really just had to take a deep breath, stay focused, and continue forward to do my duty. But my experience was ultimately a very positive one because I know there are people out there—people who I will never meet—that were able to

make it home to their families due to what my fellow pilots and I did. And that is just a really humbling, awesome thing.” This is the Tao of Shepard in a nutshell: A focus on employing his highly honed, improbably diverse skillsets not in service of ego or self-glorification but, rather, to lift humanity up, to help those in need, to remember the unheralded or forgotten, to keep the faith of his fathers. On a nightstand next to his bed, Shepard keeps a picture of his mother and father standing next to a fighter jet with his name on it the day he graduated pilot training. “I kiss that picture every day and sometimes think of what it must’ve meant to my father—even if he didn’t say it to me—to grow up during the time he did and to see me achieve that.” Of course, that was only the beginning.

22 / AQUA MIAMI

22-25 MIA_Shepard_1126_final.indd 22

10/16/26 2:10 PM

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF WILLARD SHEPARD

PREPARE FOR TAKEOFF Maybe looking back, there was a bit of prophecy in the air at the Shepard home. Back when he was a toddler, young Willard would delight his mom by standing next to the television and giving the weather report. And then he would sometimes travel with his father, a nationally renowned educator, and look out the window and think, Man, this flying thing is pretty cool. Lucky for Shepard, he had a family history which demonstrated beyond a shadow of a doubt that anything was possible with determination, grit, and a willingness to learn. After all, his maternal grandfather, as the sole Black player on the University of Iowa football team in 1903, was a trailblazer on the field and, later, as a doctor, off the field as well. “Unfortunately, I never met my grandfather,” Shepard says. “He died of a heart attack at his office when he was 40 and my mother was 12. But his example and story still

inspired me.” Shepard’s mother, Lois, graduated from Wiley College in Texas—during an era when, according to the 1940 U.S. Census, only a hair over 1% of African Americans and less than 4% of women had completed college. His father, Samuel, earned a degree in physical education—during World War II, he was stationed in Boca Raton, where he ran recruits through their boot camp paces and scaled the teaching ladder from football coach and teacher to school superintendent in St. Louis before earning master’s and doctorate degrees and moving to Chicago to serve as a superintendent and education policy pioneer in Chicago. “That my grandparents and parents were able to navigate and overcome the daily obstacles people with our genetics in our country faced back then is just an incredible testament to them,” Shepard says. “What I learned from that is if you get an education, you’ve got opportunities nobody can ever

take away from you. So, in my mind, there is no such thing as too much hard work or too much education.” He eventually attended Temple University in Philadelphia, where he played football as a walk-on. He didn’t play a single game his freshman year due to a broken finger, but when they invited him back to be a wide receiver the next year, he demurred. “I looked at the amount of time I would need to put into Division 1 football and thought to myself, ‘I am not going to the NFL,’” Shepard says. Instead, he fell in with the college radio crew and focused on a broadcasting degree. This allowed him to get an internship, then a low-level job at the NBC station in Philadelphia, where he ended up on the team covering Pope John Paul II’s landmark visit. During college summer breaks, Shepard worked as a gate agent for TWA, but his mind was set on getting much, much further off the ground.

NOVEMBER 2026 / 23

22-25 MIA_Shepard_1126_final.indd 23

10/16/26 2:10 PM

SKYWARD ASCENT In Shepard’s home office hang the photos of two Tuskegee Airmen he met and came to know. These were the Black pilots who served with such valor during World War II that it factored into President Harry S. Truman decision to desegregate the military in 1948. “The things they accomplished paved the way for people of my genetics to even have an opportunity to fly in the Air Force at all,” Shepard says. That isn’t to say it was easy for Shepard. His own path to fighter training was, in fact, labyrinthine, encompassing—despite stellar college grades and letters of recommendation—more than two years of testing, internal politics and nepotism, frustrating setbacks, and applications for spots in multiple National Guard units. (Even today, approximately only 2% of U.S. Air Force fighter pilots are Black.) So, yes, he passed his physical, and all sections of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard test save the one centered on planes—a series of questions all the other applicants, sons of Pennsylvania Guard Pilots, were prewarned to study for, but not him. And, while working at the NBC affiliate in New Orleans, the Louisiana National Guard

rejected Shepard despite checking every box because his parents were diabetic— disregarding his mother’s doctor submitting a letter explicitly stating she was not diabetic. “I hung up the phone, got on the floor on my knees in my New Orleans apartment, and cried my eyes out,” Shepard says. “It looked like my dream was over. But then I stood back up and reminded myself that I was willing to do everything humanly possible to find a way to fly. This incredible journey was not over.” Indeed, it was not. Two and a half years into his efforts, Shepard was accepted to the New Orleans Air Force Reserve officer and pilot training school. (A few years down the line, during training exercises with F-15s, Shepard was paired with the lieutenant colonel who had denied his Louisiana National Guard application on that medical technicality. “I jostled his ass a bit,” Shepard says with a laugh. “Just because of the unfairness I felt that I had experienced, I gave him a ride he wouldn’t forget.” In 1990, his unit deployed to Saudi Arabia for Operation Desert Storm. “As a fighter pilot in the Air Force, you set a mission, you train for every possibility, you come up with a plan, practice the hell out of it, and, when

the moment arises, execute it to its fullest,” Shepard, who also later flew missions for NATO over Bosnia, says. “That’s what we did.” Shepard served with distinction and was awarded six Air Medals. Sometimes you don’t have to say, “I told you so.” Sometimes the medals say it for you. ROCKING THE MIC Still, Shepard never abandoned his journalistic aspirations: When his stint on active duty ended, he got back on air. “There were days when I flew a jet in the morning and did the news in the afternoon and evening,” Shepard says. “And I did that for years.” Then came a fateful moment in the most unlikely of places: Shepard had attended the National Association of Black Journalists convention in New Orleans to see thenVice President of NBC news—and future Telemundo president—Don Browne, who, though caucasian himself, was known as a champion of minority journalists. The line, however, was nearly 200 people deep, so Shepard improvised. “I saw he was drinking a lot of water,” Shepard says, “so I stationed myself at the bathroom.” After a short summit

24 / AQUA MIAMI

22-25 MIA_Shepard_1126_final.indd 24

10/16/26 2:11 PM

between the urinals and sinks, Browne decided to take a chance on Shepard. “Don told me later I really wasn’t very good on TV at that juncture,” Shepard says. “But he figured if I was resourceful enough to jump past all those people in that line to him, there was no story I would be scooped on.” Browne was right. And when the executive was given the opportunity to helm NBC 6 in Miami, he took it—and Shepard with him. The rest, as they say, is history. Shepard had a storied career in Miami, building a reputation with exclusive investigative content and incisive coverage of big stories shaping the community—everything from

hurricanes and the North Miami Beach Police Department using real Black arrestee mug shots for target practice to Guantanamo Bay, and President Donald Trump’s campaigns, elections and travels, and Jan. 6. “It’s all about doing the work with integrity,” Shepard says. “I focused on doing investigations that improved people’s lives or made positive change in the community. But, in doing so, there are times where I’ve done investigations that cost other people money or even their careers. But it was very important to me that in the end they knew they were fairly treated, that they knew that my team was going to be extremely thorough as well as journalistically, ethically, and legally sound.”

THIRD ACT A little over a decade into his time at NBC, he took advantage of the company’s tuition reimbursement program to go to Florida International University College of Law, receiving his law degree in 2010. Law had always been in the back of his mind, actually, even during his undergraduate years, and the degree, along with his military service, helped Shepard build trust and rapport with law enforcement, firefighters, defense lawyers, prosecutors, and the public service community. “It opened a tremendous number of doors,” he says. (Shepard was sworn into the U.S. Supreme Court Bar by Chief Justice John Roberts, which allows him to present arguments before the court—an honor only granted to 6% of lawyers in America.) When he eventually retired from NBC after nearly 30 years in 2023, Shepard easily could’ve gone to a big law firm. Instead, he partnered with his friend, former source, maritime law expert, and seasoned attorney Brett Rivkind, determined to help people in tough positions, regardless of financial means. “I knew Willard was studying law,” Rivkind recalls. “In fact, I used to see him outside our boxing gym before class in his car hitting the law books and just admire his discipline… When he told me he was leaving NBC to practice law, I knew he, as both an individual and investigative reporter, had all the traits to be a great trial lawyer. Everybody knows and likes him. He’s inquisitive, knows how to question people and tell a story, and can translate complex ideas into terms the public can understand. Teaming up with Willard was one of the easiest decisions I ever made. We both knew we’d be a great match.” The combined practices now cover personal injury, wrongful death, medical malpractice, defamation, cruise and boating accidents, media, and aviation law. “I’ve been blessed my whole life,” Shepard says. “My main thing now is I want to try to help as many people as I can—it’s just now I’m helping people in a different format.” For more information, visit willardshepardlawandmedia.com and rivkindlaw.com.

NOVEMBER 2026 / 25

22-25 MIA_Shepard_1126_final.indd 25

10/16/26 2:11 PM

HOME FRONT

Scents & Sensibility Miami’s premier luxury home and lifestyle shop Chiragan wants to help you raise your personal fragrance game. BY SHAWN MACOMBER

THE RIGHT FRAGRANCE can be a major differentiator—a superpower even. “Perfume is the invisible, unforgettable, fashionable accessory,” Coco Chanel once said, “that heralds your arrival and prolongs your departure.” Of course, if you want to have a unique scent people immutably link to you as an individual, a fragrance that is singular, immutable, and uncommon is a must. Enter Miami’s premier luxury home and lifestyle shop Chiragan, in which, nestled among the exquisite fine linens, tableware, and home décor, exists perhaps the city’s most expansive selection of fragrances. Among these are selections from Amouage, the international luxury fragrance house founded in the Sultanate of Oman in 1983; Turin, Italy-based niche fragrance creator Xerjoff; and Roja Parfums, the British haute perfumery house.

A POWERFUL COLLECTION

“We have a regular Amouage customer who was, unfortunately, in a car accident,” Ekrem Ozer, who owns the shop with his wife, Anna, tells AQUA Miami. “Later, when they were exchanging documents through email, the other person wrote, ‘By the way, may I ask what your fragrance is?’ Even in the middle of a stressful situation like that, the fragrance made an impression. Which, to me, is quite an endorsement.” Although clearly what makes a scent right for a given individual is myriad—Chiragan carries 24 different fragrances—there are a couple of essential elements of why the collection at Chiragan is so special. First, the aforementioned exclusivity. No one has the same selection of scents, making it easier to personalize. (And, as global icon Shakira put it, “A good fragrance should have a certain

personality that makes people identify the scent with you.”) The second is longevity. A woman who sampled a few perfumes at Chiragan but ultimately purchased a scent at nearby Neiman Marcus recently returned for Amouage. “She said, ‘The other ones just evaporate in a couple hours. I want something that is long-lasting.’” “Our collection has higher fragrance oil concentrations, so it is not only unmistakable but also stays with you throughout your day or evening,” Ekrem says. Indeed, Amouage describes its process as one which creates “potent sillage”—i.e., the aromatic trail a perfume leaves behind—“projection, and nuclear longevity.” Of course, another benefit of perfume shopping at Chiragan—the name is borrowed from the Turkish palace where Ekrem and Anna wed—is the opportunity to browse

26 / AQUA MIAMI

26-27 MIA_HomeFront_1126_final.indd 26

10/16/26 2:13 PM

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF CHIRAGAN

the other breathtaking, meticulously curated luxury wares throughout the elegant showroom the couple opened at 255 Altara Avenue in the Merrick Park area of Coral Gables a year and a half ago, featuring brands ranging from Ginori, Bernardaud, and Christofle to Riedel, Jura, St. Louis, the store’s own eponymous brand, and many others. Which is likely why it feels like a one-stop shop for the discerning, sophisticated homeowner: In one place you can find imported bedding, barware, glasses, candles, vases, chandeliers, handbags, bath accessories, earbuds, soundbars, and more. “Many of our customers prefer a unified sense of style, so somebody who buys linens often might buy plates,” Ekrem says. “When we look at the

clientele that we serve, there are a lot of yacht owners, plane owners, people with multiple residences. What they like is continuity between the different spaces. So, somebody who buys, let’s say, wine glasses for their home will usually want something very similar on their boat or plane. Somebody who buys a particular sheet for their primary home tends to buy it for their second home as well. They kind of like that kind of continuity. It’s comforting.” Chiragan is a bit of a left turn for Ekrem, who previously worked with consumer brands, mostly in the restaurant space. He and Anna met in London, eventually moved from Istanbul to Shanghai to Singapore. A little over five years ago, the American brand in the Asia-Pacific region Ekrem was working

for brought him to their headquarters in Miami. The Ozers fell in live with the Gables and decided this is where they would settle down, start a family, and maybe even open a business. The eventual mission and style of Chiragan was informed not only by Ekrem’s consumer retail background and Anna’s sharp eye for design, but also by the experience of their own move. “When we were setting up our own home, we found ourselves having to travel to so many different places and design districts to get the brands and goods we wanted,” Ekrem says. “Basically, when we couldn’t find a place like Chiragan in Miami, we were inspired to build it.” For more information, visit chiraganhome.com.

NOVEMBER 2026 / 27

26-27 MIA_HomeFront_1126_final.indd 27

10/16/26 2:14 PM

READS FROM THE BEACH

Booklovers Paradise The 43rd annual Miami Book Fair is set to once again prove, beyond the shadow of a dust jacket, that reading culture isn’t going anywhere. THOUGH THERE IS plenty of angst and anxiety surrounding the future of reading and writing in the age of generative AI, Miami Book Fair Executive Director Lissette Mendez is sticking to a different, more optimistic approach: Stay the course. “I am not a woe-is-us person,” Mendez tells AQUA Miami. “Regardless of what is happening with AI or any other technology, our job is simply to continue showing up with book-related programming that is fun, engaging, thought-provoking—to put on a true community event where everyone is welcome.” A DEDICATED AUDIENCE It is a message that clearly resonates. The 2024 iteration of the fair drew more than

70,000 attendees, including more than 19,000 students from 65 schools, to more than 300 programs and events hosting nearly 600 authors and interviewers. (The estimated economic benefit of the eight-day event to the city? More than five million dollars.) Now comes the 43rd edition of the Miami Book Fair (Nov. 15 to 22), which is an extraordinarily diverse affair. Yes, there will be literary heavy hitters on hand such as Salman Rushdie, Colson Whitehead, Edwidge Danticat, and Margaret Atwood—appearing onstage with her daughter Jess Gibson, whose excellent short story collection “The Good Eye” proves the apple doesn’t fall from the typewriter. But there are also celebrity authors dipping their toes in the publishing world like Tony Shaloub, Jeff Garlin, and Alex Mayyasi

and Alexi Horowitz-Ghazi, hosts of the NPR podcast “Planet Money.” And popular fiction writers such as Meg Cabot, Brad Thor, and Brad Meltzer will be in attendance. And catch locals ranging from former Miami mayor Manny Diaz and University of Miami architectural historian Victor Deupi to Miamibased global hospitality guru David Grutman and Oscar “The Biscayne Poet” Fuentes. Then there is the legendary Street Fair (Nov. 20 to 22) at the downtown Wolfson Campus of Miami Dade College with local vendors and food trucks; a Children’s Alley boasting arts, crafts, and character meetand-greets; author readings; live music on the Off the Shelf stage; and about a billion books. (That last number might be a slight exaggeration…but not by much.)

28 / AQUA MIAMI

28-29 MIA_Reads_1126_final.indd 28

10/16/26 2:16 PM

COME AS YOU ARE “A lot of people like to say about us, ‘Oh, it’s the biggest book fair in the country,’” Mendez says. “I always think of it not so much in terms of size but scope. To me, what really makes Miami Book Fair special, both in Miami and outside of Miami, is that we really try to consider everyone who lives here, everyone who could possibly want to visit here, every different kind of taste and point of view, and present a series of authors and books that allow as many people as possible to feel seen and represented. There are no parameters to our welcome.” At Miami Book Fair, representation is no mere tagline: Not only does the fair invite a diverse array of authors spanning many different genres, countries, languages, and backgrounds, but they keep the barrier to entry low with ticket prices ranging from $12 for adults and $7 for seniors over 62 to $5 for teens age 13 to 18. (Children 12 and under as well as Miami Dade College students, faculty, and staff attend for free.) “We want to keep the fair accessible for those of all income levels,” Mendez says. “There are a lot of people right now in South Florida who are struggling to pay high rents, working two or three jobs to make ends meet. I don’t want them priced out. This is for them, too.” And access, Mendez notes, is about more than books. “Come as you are,” she says. “Love food? Come for the arepas. Love live music? Come for our fantastic lineup of musicians and performers. If it’s a nice day and you just want to browse the stalls and buy a pair of earrings from a local jeweler, rather than a book— great! There was a trend a few years ago where people were trying to sneak vegetables into desserts for kids—broccoli pancakes! And we do that, too, in a way. We’re not here lecturing people about how important reading is or how fun or rewarding it can be. There’s a lot of fun, amazing things going on at the fair, but, you know, the books are there and a part of it, and chances are whatever you come for, some book along the way will speak to you. That’s the magic of books.” For more information, visit miamibookfair.com.

Scenes from the Miami Book Fair. Second from bottom: Lissette Mendez

NOVEMBER 2026 / 29

28-29 MIA_Reads_1126_final.indd 29

10/16/26 2:16 PM

FLOATING AFFIRMATIONS PREPPING AT Bayside Marketplace in downtown Miami for the Messages in the Sky positivity walk organized by artist and musician Luiz “Trikstah” Cruz, who we profiled in our June 2026 issue.

30 / AQUA MIAMI

30 MIA_PhotoOP_1126_final.indd 30

Have a great image for Photo Op? Submit your high-resolution shot to shawn.macomber@ wainscotmedia.com

PHOTOGRAPH BY SHAWN MACOMBER

PHOTO OP

10/16/26 2:18 PM

RESIDENT EXPERT | FINANCE

A Blessing or a Curse? Pulling back the curtain on the realities of AI. AL MAULINI, CFP®, CPM®, CEPA®PRIVATE WEALTH MANAGEMENT OF CORAL GABLES

IT SEEMS LATELY undergoing a global rI have been posting daily on this subject. In my lectures and conversations with clients, it is the most asked question. Few technologies have arrived with as much promise and anxiety as artificial intelligence. In a single week, headlines can celebrate an AI system that speeds up drug discovery and report another that slipped out of its testing environment and reached government websites. Whether AI becomes humanity’s greatest tool or its most dangerous invention may depend less on the technology itself but on the choices we make about how to build, use, and govern it. On balance, the case for optimism is strong, but it comes with real risks that deserve attention.

A CHANGING WORLD AI is ushering in a new era in medicine, where its benefits are most tangible. Developing a new drug has traditionally taken more than a decade and cost billions of dollars due to trial-and-error testing. AI is compressing that process. Systems like DeepMind’s AlphaFold have predicted the structures of hundreds of millions of proteins, a problem that once took scientists years to solve for a single molecule. Biotech firms now use AI to search plants, microbes, and chemical libraries for promising compounds, turning years of lab work into months. AI is also changing everyday care. In hospitals, ambient AI “scribes” listen to patient visits and draft clinical notes for

NOVEMBER 2026 / 31

31-32 MIA_RE_Finance_1126_final.indd 31

10/16/26 2:21 PM

RESIDENT EXPERT | FINANCE

doctors, freeing physicians from hours of paperwork so they can focus on patients. In radiology and pathology, AI tools help flag subtle signs of cancer, stroke, and eye disease, catching details a tired human eye might miss. In regions with few specialists, these tools extend expert-level screening to underserved populations. The long-term potential is even larger. Personalized medicine, tailoring treatments to a patient’s genetics, history, and lifestyle, requires analyzing massive amounts of data. AI makes that analysis possible, pointing toward a future where care is more precise, preventive, and widely available. Education is another field AI could transform. One-on-one tutoring has long been the most effective form of teaching, but it remains a luxury most families cannot afford. AI tutors are changing that by providing patient, round-the-clock help that adapts to a student’s level, explains concepts in multiple ways, and removes the fear of embarrassment. Free, open-source AI tutors can hold real conversations with language learners, remember past sessions, and adapt articles into tailored lessons. The same approach works for math, science, and writing. Teachers benefit too: AI can draft lesson plans, generate practice problems, and help identify struggling students, giving educators more time for the human side of teaching. For adults, AI lowers the barrier to learning new skills and changing careers, allowing people to acquire new capabilities in weeks rather than years. Beyond medicine and learning, AI is quietly reshaping daily work. Businesses use it to answer customer questions faster, with retailers reporting that AI resolves far more support calls without human intervention. Farmers in Africa receive localized planting advice through simple messaging apps as

weather becomes less predictable. Scientists use AI to model climate systems, design new materials, and search for cleaner energy solutions. Together, these gains represent a significant increase in human productivity and problem-solving capability. EXPLORING DRAWBACKS However, the same power that makes AI useful also makes it risky. Recent reports that AI labs are investigating tens of thousands of incidents in which models bypassed safeguards, escaped test environments, or accessed outside systems show that even developers do not fully control them. Criminals are also exploiting AI: stolen access to advanced models is reportedly being sold on the dark web, putting powerful tools in the hands of scammers and hackers. There are quieter dangers as well. Research suggests people increasingly accept AI answers without checking them simply because they sound right. One study found that access to AI advice made people less willing to admit uncertainty without making them more accurate. Additionally, while AI creates new jobs, it threatens to displace

workers in fields from customer service to software development, raising questions about how economic benefits will be distributed. Bill Gates recently warned that in the wrong hands, AI could cause catastrophic loss of life, highlighting the severity of worstcase risks. These tensions have sparked a global debate over regulation. Supporters argue companies should not police themselves when public safety, privacy, and national security are at stake. They favor requirements like safety testing, incident reporting, and human oversight, noting that industries like aviation and pharmaceuticals became safer under sensible rules. Opponents warn that heavy regulation could slow innovation, entrench large companies that can afford compliance costs, and cede leadership to rival nations. The debate spans the globe. The European Union adopted the AI Act, sorting systems by risk level and imposing stricter rules on high-risk uses. China regulates generative AI with a focus on content and state control. Australia launched a federal task force after an AI agent breached a government portal, and over 20 nations recently backed a declaration insisting AI remain under human control. Even rivals find common ground: the U.S. and China agreed to create a channel for handling AI incidents, while individual U.S. states and cities draft their own local rules. AI is neither purely a blessing nor a curse. It is a powerful tool whose impact will reflect the wisdom of those who wield it. Its potential to cure diseases, educate billions, and expand human capability is extraordinary, and the risks, while real, are manageable. Pursuing AI’s promise with open eyes while building necessary safeguards will decide which one it becomes.

The information contained in this email does not purport to be a complete description of the securities, markets, or developments referred to in this material. The information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee that the foregoing material is accurate or complete. Any opinions are those of Al Maulini and not necessarily those of Raymond James. Expressions of opinion are as of this date and are subject to change without notice. There is no guarantee that these statements, opinions or forecasts provided herein will prove to be correct. Investing involves risk and you may incur a profit or loss regardless of strategy selected, including diversification and asset allocation. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Future investment performance cannot be guaranteed; investment yields will fluctuate with market conditions. Indices are not available for direct investment. Index performance does not include transaction costs or other fees, which will affect actual investment performance. This information is not intended as a solicitation or an offer to buy or sell any security referred to herein. Private Wealth Management of Coral Gables | 141 Miracle Mile | Coral Gables, FL 33134 | 305.548.2247 Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Private Wealth Management of Coral Gables is not a registered broker/dealer and is independent of Raymond James Financial Services. Investment Advisory services offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc.

32 / AQUA MIAMI

31-32 MIA_RE_Finance_1126_final.indd 32

10/16/26 2:21 PM

Untitled-9 1

9/10/25 11:12 AM

Colson Hicks Eidson Fighting for you

For over 50 years, Colson Hicks Eidson has been at the forefront of landmark cases, setting precedents and fighting for justice. Our move to historic Douglas Entrance deepens our 25-year commitment to Coral Gables. A national and international firm of preeminent litigation attorneys, we remain dedicated to providing the highest quality of legal service to individuals and businesses throughout the world.

E x c e l l e n c e • P r o f e s s i o n a l i s m • P e r s e v e r a n c e • Te a m w o r k

806 S. Douglas Rd., Penthouse, Coral Gables, FL 33134 305 476 7400

Untitled-5 1

info@colson.com

colson.com

8/18/26 4:32 PM