THE QUEEN OF INSURANCE
Drialys Muñoz
GOING PRO
With Miami Dance Collective
EXCELLENCE IS EVERYWHERE
Black-Owned Businesses
NowPre-Leasing
Create Where
sat down with Drialys Muñoz, aka the Queen of Insurance, to learn a little about life, passion and finding purpose.
a look inside Pinecrest’s premier dance studio during its 10th anniversary.
Timeless Elegance, Effortless Living
Designed by the renowned Robert A.M. Stern Architects, The St. Regis Residences, Miami is redefining waterfront living in South Brickell. With construction underway, this extraordinary vision is becoming reality. Expansive bayfront views, a private marina, and the culinary artistry of MICHELIN-starred Chef Fabio Trabocchi set the stage for an unparalleled lifestyle. Legendary St. Regis service ensures seamless living, with personalized concierge offerings and bespoke in-residence services. Here, timeless elegance and modern indulgence come together in a truly unmatched experience.
TCRAFTING COMMUNITY
THE KIDS ARE OUT of school, and family time has become the priority as things slow down in South Florida. But the term “family” extends beyond the walls of each person’s household. We call our closest friends our family in my house, not just because of how long they’ve been around, but because of how we treat them. We want the best for them, even if they’re not blood-related, and we give them the best of ourselves.
It’s an important lesson I was reminded of by our cover star Drialys Muñoz, the Queen of Insurance. She didn’t get there by stepping on the people around her. Actually, she treats her clients like family. She looks out for people like her who immigrated to this country without knowing English, and helps them navigate the world of insurance and healthcare. Not only that, but she knows how to take the scariest things and make them doable for those she cares about. During our conversation, she showed me that in the darkest times, there will be unexpected people who hold your hand through the process—Muñoz is one of those people.
Speaking of family businesses, we’re featuring another hard-working family this issue that is excited to share their story. Despite working as a professional dancer on stage, Marie-Louise Gaschler is getting the spotlight for a new reason—Miami Dance Collective. She started the dance studio in Pinecrest and built her own extended family to go with it. Even better, her daughter participates in classes, and her husband
helps in every area he can. Beyond that, some of her students start at MDC as young as 5 and stay until they graduate from high school. They spend their whole day after school dancing and being mentored by the Gaschler family and the wonderful teaching staff. The whole place becomes its own extended family, dancers cheering each other on when they win and helping each other improve. That’s what creating community looks like.
We have an expert on community here who writes the Aqua Soul column—Suzan McDowell from Circle of One Marketing. Everywhere she goes she’s making a new friend or connection, and this month she wrote about Black-owned businesses that she sees as examples of Black excellence. She’s used many of the businesses personally and knows the owners, so you know her recommendations come from a genuine place. It’s all in the name of Black Business Month this August, and the businesses are worth taking a look at. The kind of dedication each contributor and subject has had to their community is something I strive for when covering Pinecrest. The village has a strong emphasis on family, and that will always be reflected here.
Morgan C. Mullings Editor
Advertising Director Daisy Abreu daisy.abreu@wainscotmedia.com
Creative Director
Kijoo Kim
Editor
Morgan C. Mullings
Columnists
Gerry Barker
Rochelle B. Weinstein Suzan McDowell
Photographers Toni Cooper
aquasouthflorida.com
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Chairman Carroll V. Dowden
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Maria Regan
Associate Editor Sophia Carlisle
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Rosemary O’Connell
Advertising Services Director Jacquelynn Fischer
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Production Designer Chris Ferrante
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Advertising Production Associate Griff Dowden
AQUA Pinecrest 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 2025 by Wainscot Media LLC. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent.
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HOW CAN WE HELP YOU
Our personal injury law firm has obtained in excess of a billion dollars in verdicts and recoveries for clients and is recognized as a leader in plaintiffs’ personal injury and wrongful death, class actions, mass torts, and other areas of litigation
Colson Hicks Eidson, one of Miami’s oldest and most accomplished law firms, is considered among the top trial firms in the United States, having won hundreds of multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for its clients.
–Chambers USA, 2022
WHAT WE PROVIDE WHO WE HAVE HELPED
Our personal injury lawyers have a long history of serving individuals, groups of individuals and businesses in a wide range of lawsuits. Our trial attorneys are highly regarded for their depth of legal experience, responsiveness to client concerns and ethical tactics, both inside and outside of the courtroom. Our law firm receives respect throughout the legal community, which recognizes Colson Hicks Eidson for its various distinguished achievements.
We are or have been actively engaged in the following and many other cases:
• Takata Airbags MDL
• Champlain Plaza
• Allergan Biocell MDL
• Monat Marketing MDL
• Parkland Shootings
• Elmiron Eye Injury MDL
• 3M Combat Earplugs MDL
• BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
• Ford Firestone MDL
• Toyota Sudden Acceleration MDL
• Zantac MDL
• Camp LeJeune Contamination Claims
GERRY BARKER
Gerry’s two passions are writing and travel. Atlanta-born and Texas-raised, he left an awardwinning media career to see the world. Today, he maintains a website, North Palm Beach Life, and works as a freelance travel writer. Follow his adventures every month in Wanderlust
SUZAN MCDOWELL
Suzan’s marketing agency, Circle of One Marketing, which she founded 23 years ago, has grown itself into a formidable and influential brand in South Florida. The agency’s work is mainly done in the multicultural space for a variety of clients and industries.
ROCHELLE B. WEINSTEIN
Rochelle B. Weinstein is the USA Today and Amazon bestselling author of eight contemporary fiction novels, her most recent, We Are Made of Stars A former entertainment industry executive, she splits her time between Miami and the mountains of North Carolina. When she’s not writing, she’s sharing book recommendations at literary salon Women Writers, Women’s Books, teaching workshops at Nova Southeastern University’s Alvin Sherman Library, hiking, reading and plotting out future stories.
A LEGACY OF Luxury
A deluxe experience at The St. Regis Longboat Key.
BY GERRY BARKER
FOR WELL OVER a hundred years, since its founding in 1904 by American business tycoon John Jacob Astor IV, the St. Regis Hotel brand has symbolized luxury and refined living. That longtime tradition can be experienced firsthand at one of its newest resorts: The St. Regis Longboat Key. Florida has the distinction as the only state hosting two St. Regis properties, as part of the Marriott Bonvoy group. The other is the St. Regis Bal Harbour, which opened in 2012. The St. Regis Longboat Key, which opened last August, is on Florida’s West Coast just south of the Sarasota/Bradenton area near Anna Maria Island and has 168 rooms on 18 beachfront acres.
THE ST. REGIS LIFESTYLE
On our recent visit, it didn’t take long after entering the expansive lobby, with its open view of the ocean, to be immersed in the St. Regis lifestyle. At the reception desk, we were greeted by one of their seven on-duty butlers, Frasier, who welcomed us with a glass of prosecco. While not personally assigned to each guest, butlers attend to your needs, including helping you unpack, bringing a bucket of ice to your room or making restaurant reservations.
We had a fifth-floor, Grand Deluxe Oceanview room, with king bed, a large balcony and a stunning view of the ocean as it washed against their private, 800-foot, white sand beach. The separate bath had a large shower, along with a soaking tub. Guests can control the lighting and set the mood they want, a hi-tech feature that harkens back to Astor’s New York property, which was among the first to have a telephone in every room.
Just down the hall on the corner is the hotel’s Presidential Suite, which, as you might expect, comes at a presidential price: $15,000 a night. Contrast that with our room, which goes from $1,500 to $2,000 a night, depending on the season.
On our table was a welcome gift: An artfully decorated chocolate turtle. Remove the shell and inside was an assortment of chocolate “eggs.” The room also came with
Vilebrequin swimsuits are offered in the first-floor shop, with prints unique to the St. Regis.
a complimentary St. Regis beach bag. Note there’s also a complimentary “bathing suit refresh” bag, promising a “cold water wash with color-safe, eco-friendly detergent.” They do think of everything, don’t they?
A HOST OF AMENITIES
Speaking of which, our next stop was the resort pool and one of their premium, poolside cabanas. With a couch, big-screen TV, mini-bar and two sets of loungers, this was outdoor living at its finest. For requests, you get a small, wooden box with two buttons—press one for service, the other for the concierge. Visions of The White Lotus came to mind as I sipped a cocktail while reading Carl Hiaasen.
You order food and drink from nearby Aura, their poolside eatery. My wife Pam opted for the parrilla grouper sandwich, while I had the sweet plantain tacos. Each arrived in a bento-style tray, and their tropical flavors fit the moment perfectly. Their main resort pool also had a winding river. Grab a tube (artfully decorated in their pink St. Regis print) and float at your leisure, surrounded
by palm trees, into a cavern under a waterfall. If you decide to stop there, press a button to have champagne delivered.
Close by is Serenity, the adults-only pool featuring a large waterfall, as well as one of the resort’s key attractions, the 500,000-gallon Lagoon, a marine environment featuring 40 different species of fish and southern stingrays, maintained by a team of aquarists. You can watch them in front of a glass observation wall as well as interact with the fish by booking a snorkeling adventure. Not to worry—the stingrays are people-friendly.
While you’re in the area, you’ll want to visit Jack and Rose, Aldabra giant tortoises that are permanent residents at the St. Regis. Weighing
as much 550 pounds with a lifespan up to 150 years, they are fed their favorite foods like leafy greens, vegetables and fruits.
LIFE IN LUXURY
There are a number of terrific options for dining. Besides Aura, there’s CW Prime, the steakhouse where they use a Josper grill—a charcoal oven grill from Spain—to create unique flavor combinations at temperatures that can reach 1,000 degrees. The open-air Oshen offers a selection of Japanese and Peruvian dishes and cocktails for primo viewing of the sunset on the ocean. For lovers of Northern Italian cuisine, there’s Riva with its selection of homemade pasta. Check out the custom-made, turquoise Vespa at the entrance—they drive it around the resort dispensing prosecco to guests.
Riva also serves breakfast, and whatever you do, don’t fail to order the Riva doughnuts. Made to order, they come with strawberry, lemon and chocolate dipping sauces, and are so light and fluffy you could eat a dozen and not know it.
At the St. Regis, your favorite cocktail is never far away, starting with the dramaticallystyled St. Regis Bar in the resort lobby. It’s the resort’s “social heart,” featuring a wrap-around mural by Florida artist William Savarese, as well as piano music. While it may resemble a tiki bar,
The Monkey Bar—which pays homage to when the property was Murf Klauber’s The Colony Beach and Tennis Resort—offers a whole different level of sophistication. Their signature dish is the Murf and Turf Wagyu Sausage and Lobster Sandwich.
It’s worth noting the Bloody Mary was born in 1934 at the New York St. Regis King Cole Bar. Originally named the Bloody Mary, the cocktail was reinstated as the Red Snapper to avoid offending the hotel’s clientele. After more than 80 years, the iconic Bloody Mary is still the signature cocktail of the St. Regis.
Besides a fully-equipped fitness center, the resort’s 20,000-square-foot spa takes full advantage of their oceanside location. Here, they take pampering to another level, with a thermal experience offering both hot and cold plunges, an outdoor, infinity-edge hydrotherapy pool facing the Gulf and 14 treatment rooms. There’s also a beauty salon.
On the first floor, shoppers will find famed French swimwear store, Vilebrequin. Started in St. Tropez some 50 years ago, they have teamed with St. Regis to offer a unique print that celebrates both the hotel and the Ringling Brothers circus (the Ringling Museum is in nearby Sarasota).
One of their most popular daily experiences, besides afternoon tea, is Sabrage:
The champagne saber ceremony. Staged at 6 p.m. in the resort lobby, it dates to the reign of Napoleon Bonaparte, when residents cheering Napoleon’s troops showered them with gifts, including bottles of champagne. Riders on horseback used their swords to open the bottles. On our visit, Frasier the butler reenacted the ritual, with glasses of champagne all around.
As nightfall approached, the resort was bathed everywhere in yellow light. That’s because the Gulf Coast’s sea turtle season is May 1 through Oct. 31, when turtles lay their eggs. Regular lights disturb the process, so guests are asked to keep their drapes closed after dark, avoid using flash photography and knock down sandcastles for turtle safety.
There’s a full slate of daily activities for both adults and children, ranging from kite flying and creative sea glass mosaics to beach bag decorating, limbo and seashell necklace making. Dogs weighing 30 pounds or less are welcome with a non-refundable pet deposit.
When it came time to get our car from valet, we had one last toast to the man whose vision created what we now enjoy. Astor, who died on the Titanic eight years after the New York St. Regis opened, would no doubt be pleased at how his legacy of providing the ultimate in luxury accommodations lives on.
Enjoy 800-feet of white sand beaches or chill out by the adults-only pool and cabana club.
IS EVERYWHERE Excellence BLACK
August is national Black Business Month, and we’re shopping local.
BY SUZAN MCDOWELL
DDESPITE THE DIVERSITY Miami espouses, it’s still hard for the Black community to get the spotlight it deserves. That’s why National Black Business Month exists—though we don’t need an excuse to celebrate Black excellence. As a small business owner in South Florida for nearly 24 years, I can tell you surviving and thriving in this complicated business environment must be done with great nuance. In Miami, you must be deft at simultaneously navigating business and politics, as well as the cultural complexities of our minority majority community. It’s not easy.
According to LendingTree, South Florida has one of the highest numbers of Black-owned businesses in the country, ranking fourth in the nation. With more than 9,100 ventures in Miami-Dade, making up about 5% of the region’s businesses, Black entrepreneurship is plentiful. As a born Jamerican (Jamaican father, American mother), I understand the immigrant mentality. It’s do or die. We must learn to survive in America by using the skills learned in our country of origin. I think this is why South Florida has so many successful small businesses, particularly because our immigrants hail from the Caribbean and Latin America, primarily. We grind harder because we come from places that have very successful Black businesses that serve as role models, albeit we still have something to prove in America.
Here are seven Black owned businesses I know personally that offer superior products and services. I expect greatness, so I would not steer you wrong. Go forth and offer your best endorsement—by buying something.
GLORY CANDLE
I met this lovely family one day at a farmers’ market in a nice booth, selling great candles at a fair price. On top of it, they donate a portion of their proceeds to support schools in Haiti. I have been so impressed that for the past two holiday seasons, I’ve sent their large
luxury candles to all our clients, who are always impressed by the thought, the product and the presentation. They are so easy to do business with, and their service is so awesome that I now have a Glory Candle monthly subscription and support them as much as I can.
Founder Johane Herard and husband Lens offer nontoxic candles with beautiful scents such as Citrus Prosecco, French Lavender, Island Paradise and my personal favorite, Red Currant.
Comprehensive Medical Aesthetics in North Miami offers aesthetic enhancements and procedures.
Bottom: Invizio provides IT services and solutions for technical problems.
COOL CREATIONS
Walking through Nordstrom a few Augusts ago, a stunning gold metallic leather motorcycle jacket made me stumble and reconsider my life choices. I whipped around to examine this unforgettable statement piece, only to see a cadre of Black owned businesses the store was highlighting for Black Business Month, including Cool Creations. You know the rest of the story if you’ve ever seen me out in that snazzy gold jacket. Since then, I’ve discovered an entire collection of beautifully made, thought provoking streetwear, including a genius line of sweatshirts and tees that celebrate icons of the culture like Martin Luther King Jr., Diana Ross, Maya Angelou and Muhammed Ali. From bomber jackets to cross body purses to great jeans, Cool Creations will definitely make you look like the cool kid in the room.
“Black Excellence in business isn’t just about breaking barriers—it’s about building ventures with integrity, leading with purpose and proving that our brilliance isn’t the exception; it’s the standard.” - Johanne Wilson, Cool Creations
LIMELIGHT COLLECTIONS
Ebony Sanon is one of the sweetest and simultaneously sharpest people you’ll ever meet. In addition to being a great human being, wife, mother, professional and friend, in her spare time she created The LimeLight Collection; A luxury brand for cultured and confident souls. Ebony and her team craft opulent, bespoke bejeweled clutch purses for the modern sophisticated woman. Each statement piece reflects elegance and individuality, resonating with the refined tastes of women who epitomize grace and conscientiousness through style. Bottom line: You need one of her sparkly and unique clutches in your closet.
“I initially launched LimeLight for two reasons: to ‘give birth’ to something while I silently struggled with infertility for many years and to force myself out of my introverted shell to step into my own LimeLight.” - Ebony Sanon, Limelight Collections
INVIZIO
I love nerds, and it doesn’t get any nerdier than Invizio. Talking to Kevin and Kyle makes my head hurt; they’re so smart and techy. If I have a problem, they fix it. I freak out about my email not working, they calmly get it back up. I need a new computer, they do all the research with my budget and specific needs in mind, then they set the whole thing up. Last year, I got spammed and they talked me off a ledge. Thank God for calm people and Invizio, an
integral resource to my business success.
Invizio is a leading IT services and solutions provider based in South Florida dedicated to helping small and midsized organizations harness the power of technology without the complexity. Since 2008, Invizio has served as a trusted partner and advisor across industries like education, non-profits, real estate and professional services. From cloud solutions and cybersecurity to enabling remote work and managing IT services, Invizio delivers smart, scalable and secure technology solutions tailored to your needs.
Left: Cool Creations makes high-quality streetwear.
Right: Marcus Blake is an artist with a signature “tapenology” style.
Bottom: Glory Candle is run by husband and wife team Lens and Johane.
MARCUS BLAKE—TAPENOLOGY
I first met Marcus in Overtown when I was moving my agency into Space Called Tribe, a co-working space operated by Blackowned Code Fever. He was very tall, very artsy and very mysterious in his omnipresent jumbo sunglasses. We were the first tenants, so the foyer decor was still in progress, including a Marcus Blake wall. Over a 48-hour period, I watched in wonder as he put masking tape all over the basic white walls in some crazy geometric patterns. I certainly did not understand any of it and kept moving in, peeping in every so often. The next day the whole wall was an intricate maze of gold metallic wonder. Unbelievable. My mind was seriously blown away that day. Over the course of the next few years, I have watched his career take off all over Miami— from Wynwood to Brickell, from Little Haiti to Miami Beach—to being named best street artist by the Miami New Times and putting his signature “tapenology” on every surface he could find, including my front door.
“What drives me is the need to translate what’s inside of me into something tangible, something people can feel, wear, collect or be inspired by. I do this because I have to—it’s not optional. My art, my brand, my poetry, my fashion, it all comes from a place of survival, expression and legacy. Being a Black-owned business isn’t just a label— it’s a responsibility.” - Marcus Blake, Tapenology
CASA MATILDA
There’s a thing that happens in my crew when we learn a business is Black-owned. We support like a business love bomb. It’s just how we roll because we know it’s important and because someone did it for our businesses. That’s what happened when, in the middle of my perfectly grilled steak and veggies, my yummy lemon drop martini and sultry Tulum-themed decor, I learned Casa Matilda was Black owned. Immediately, South Florida’s Black leaders found ways to support, highlight, showcase, post, promote, recommend, RSVP, book, photograph, feature and generally tell everyone about the Black excellence on parade at 5th & Washington on Miami Beach.
“Being a Black business owner in Miami Beach involves navigating a landscape rich in cultural diversity and opportunity, yet fraught with challenges.” - Kathia Joseph, Casa Matilda
COMPREHENSIVE MEDICAL AESTHETICS
Haitian born Rudy Moise is an unabashed over achiever. He is a board-certified aesthetic physician, an attorney, a retired colonel, a flight surgeon, an MBA and a philanthropist. Not to mention a successful businessman, husband, father and community leader. Rudy is all of these and still finds the time to
transform lives by transforming bodies and promoting self-care and wellness at Comprehensive Medical Aesthetics (CMA) in North Miami. Rudy is a techie and as such boasts every single piece of state-of-the-art aesthetic medical equipment there is to offer. He has not missed a beat.
The range of services CMA offers based just on the breadth of cuttingedge laser technology at his disposal is a step above. As a progressive med spa serving patients throughout the region, CMA offers a wide variety of aesthetic enhancement procedures, such as BeautiFill™ fat transfer, body sculpting, laser hair removal, skin tightening, laser vaginal rejuvenation, HRT, IV therapy and a whole lot more. Moise is supported by a team of specialists who share his genuine passion for aesthetics. No more being surprised that it’s Black owned and excellent. Look around you, Black Excellence is everywhere.
Catching up with Drialys Muñoz, The Queen of Insurance.
BY MORGAN C. MULLINGS
Zest for Life i
IN SOME CULTURES, talking about death is a bad omen. Discussing life insurance ushers that energy in. Drialys Muñoz isn’t limited by stereotypes—even ones she’s previously held herself. She spoke with AQUA Pinecrest about her journey to becoming one of the most important women in life insurance. “That’s a good headline,” Muñoz says, “When you start from nothing. When you start from zero.”
Hailing from Cuba, she left her mom at 17 years old and came with her sister to Miami. It wasn’t an easy life, but this journey would lead her to her calling.
If you already know Muñoz, you may have heard her voice on radio shows discussing the ins and outs of insurance. Though insurance is her main business, she started out in radio as a young girl at Miami Lakes Technical Broadcasting School. “I very much liked to
sing. I found out there was a school of radio broadcasting and production, and I started there with my minimal English,” Muñoz says.
“I remember I had to translate everything in a dictionary. I bought a little machine that looked like a calculator that they used to sell in Radio Shack. And I would put words to translate because I didn’t understand them.”
Her hard work would lead to night shifts at an internship from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m., dreaming of someone hearing her voice and offering her a record deal. She credits that internship to a professor whose opinion of her was slowly changing through her work ethic and determination.
“I guess he felt bad for me after he saw me. I was working so hard, when everyone was in the cafeteria, I was just practicing, practicing, practicing,” Muñoz says. He even encouraged
Drialys Muñoz has clients all over the country, but her roots are in Cuba and her profession began right here in Miami.
her to try another career path, not knowing her skills would later translate well to her services as an insurance agent. That teacher called the Spanish Broadcasting System, saying something along the lines of “I have an intern you have to meet. She’s not giving up. She’s going to go against everything.”
Through her successful career in Spanish broadcasting, working in the industry until she was 29 years old, she honed her strong work ethic.
PIVOTING TO PASSION
Muñoz says she tried many things before she found her true passion. After leaving radio, she worked at her father’s office helping with medical billing. He was a doctor, and she was a former
radio personality with a baby on the way. “I sold jewelry. I worked at a bridal shop. I was at the radio station. I worked at a doctor’s office. I did so many things just trying to find what my mission was,” she explains. Her experience in the medical field was her first time helping people make health decisions before she became an agent. “Even though I was not an agent, I would give them advice. I would help them to fill out the applications; People new to this country who don’t know how to apply for things like Medicaid.”
Helping people through the language barrier that she also had to fight gave her an opportunity to connect in a new way, and soon clients were convinced she must be an insurance agent. “‘I’m just doing the billing here at this office’,” she would say. “So after years of working with my father, I realized I needed to do something that is just me.”
Any successful job search starts with applying to as many places as possible to heighten your chances of getting a call back. Muñoz wasn’t afraid to put feelers out in industries she had no experience in. While this may be foreign to those who have known what they wanted to do since they were a child, this was her version of self-discovery. “I put applications everywhere and no one called me. Only a life insurance company called me,” she says.
Of course, Muñoz admits, nobody wants to sell life insurance. “Moreover, I had an insurance agent that I met, and I had it in my phone registered as ‘very annoying person’.” Muñoz truly wanted nothing to do with that agent and the insurance that “nobody wants.” Yet she would soon dedicate her work to turning around that stereotype and telling the truth about life insurance.
“Most people think life insurance only pays out when you pass away. Life insurance has evolved. Today’s policies include living benefits.” Muñoz says. With these, clients can access a portion of the death benefit if they or their spouse faces a serious illness, providing vital funds when they need them most. And beyond that, many policies build tax-advantaged cash value that they can tap
Muñoz always makes herself available to clients, giving them the truth about what plans are best for them.
to bolster retirement income—turning life insurance into a dynamic financial resource, not just a safety net.
“There’s so much that people don’t know. And I said, ‘This is my mission. I found it.’”
DEDICATION TO THE MISSION
Muñoz found her calling the first time she paid out a claim to a family that needed living benefits while the father went through chemotherapy. “That just gave me a feeling that I cannot express with words,” she recalls. She developed a style of work that deprioritizes the bottom line and focuses on what is best for the client. If she thinks that a plan won’t work for you, she will tell you. “I treat people the way that I would like my family to be treated.”
As her practice flourished, she expanded into auto insurance, homeowners’ insurance and specialty coverages. She also earned licenses in 48 U.S. states and Puerto Rico to expand her reach. Plus, she has a predominantly female team that share her passion for exceptional service. At her side is her husband, Tony Garcia, founder of Menda Group Advertising. Their desk nameplates read “El Jefe” and “The Queen,” highlighting their shared commitment and dedication to this mission.
Lately, Muñoz has been dubbed “The Queen of Insurance.” She has risen to become the number one Hispanic woman in life insurance in the U.S. through her relentless effort.
“I stopped worrying about ranking or rivals,” she says. “I was trying, knocking on doors, going to people’s businesses, I was calling my Facebook friends.” She believes that without thinking of results, and working nonstop, she got here—to the point where she was surprised by her success. “I looked around and saw dozens of agents on my team and thought, ‘Did I do this? Thank you, Lord.’”
Muñoz never forgets why she works so hard. “No policy can replace a lost loved one,” she reminds us, “but what you don’t want is to face that pain without knowing how to pay for tomorrow.”
MMARIE-LOUISE GASCHLER has been teaching dance since she was 15 years old, assisting at her local dance studio in Melbourne, Florida. It’s those local dance studios that are often the backbone of a child’s upbringing. This August, Gaschler will celebrate the 10-year anniversary of her studio, Miami Dance Collective. Serving the Pinecrest area just outside of Dadeland Mall, MDC is focused on training future professional dancers—a mission that sets them apart from studios that commonly focus on competitions and recitals. MDC offers professional training while sending most of its dancers off to pursue dance as adults.
GOING PRO WITH Miami Dance Collective
A dance teacher turned studio owner celebrates 10 years of success.
BY MORGAN C. MULLINGS
“I moved to Miami to go to New World [School of the Arts] for college; I had just turned 18, and I immediately started teaching while I was in school,” Gaschler tells AQUA Pinecrest. “I was subbing at all the local studios here, some of them in Pinecrest.” She remembers loving it immediately and feeling the rewards of teaching. Gaschler also took a break from Miami for a couple of years and went to dance professionally in San Francisco, until she unfortunately dislocated her spine. “I don’t recommend it,” she jokes. She’s performed professionally with Paula Manso De Sousa and Dancers, Brazarte Dance Company and Momentum Dance Company. But she continued her professional career here after she healed and continued to teach for about 15 years.
BEYOND THE STAGE
“I never thought I would own a dance studio,” Gaschler says, but she did have a vision that would create a unique avenue for aspiring professional dancers. She felt like the South Miami and Pinecrest area needed a dance studio more focused on preprofessional training. “There were a lot of studios where people could bring their young dancers and have their first ballet class experience or were heavily into competition dance, but there was no actual gateway for them to get into the professional world,” she explains. She wanted it to be a collective of different types of dancers who wanted to go beyond what they see on the local stage.
Gaschler is intimately involved in the process, even taking her junior
year students and creating a “dream list” with them of the colleges and training programs they’d like to attend after graduation. “Then I make a spreadsheet for them that has all the application deadlines. We talk about their essays,” which her husband, Darrill Gaschler, also reads and gives feedback on. Then they help set up auditions for schools, programs, and even agencies to start their commercial careers. At that point, “we would start filming videos for auditions for companies.”
She doesn’t take the job lightly, knowing how important this time is in a young person’s life. Some students spend most of their time at the studio when they’re not in school. “A lot of their awake time is with myself, and with my teachers who are also really supportive, incredible mentors to them.”
It’s an important role because some dancers have been with MDC since they were younger than eight years old. The teachers help students to “be able to reach their goals and also become good people at the same time,” by being role models and dance teachers all at once. Gaschler began MDC with partner Kristin Richards in 2016. Since, Richards eventually started a family and moved back to her home state of Texas, “I’ve been a lone wolf for the past four seasons now,” the dance teacher says. She doesn’t mean she’s alone, just taking care of most of the business side herself with help from an assistant—from marketing to administrative work, in addition to teaching up to four hours a day. This month, MDC is in the thick of the summer season with more work than ever on its plate.
Marie, Darrill and their daughter Olive-Anne all participate in MDC operations—Marie leading the team, Darrill running lights and sound, and OliveAnne gracing the stage.
CAMPS, CONCERTS AND CLASSES
This past June, locals have seen a performance of Swan Lake at MDC’s spring concert, or brought their young ones to participate in the children’s series. Beyond dance, many students took on the three-week musical theatre camp that covers acting, singing and dancing. The rest of the summer is bursting with programs and opportunities, like three themed children’s camps: In My 90s Era, Wickedly Defying Gravity and On the Runway all for ages 4 to 12 with a final performance at the end of each session. The pre-professional emphasis is still there in the summer, with a pre-professional intensive running from mid-July to Aug. 1. The highlight will be the master’s series in August featuring Koko and Kiki Nyemchek of Dancing With the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance fame. And there’s more “really stellar all-star faculty” to look forward to, Gaschler says.
“We bring in guests from all over the U.S., ballet-based and modern-based. We’ve had kids come from Mexico to attend our master’s series week.”
After all this, MDC starts its 10th company program season. Auditions took place June 1, and results were announced shortly after, as the program is competitive. “It feels like things must slow down now but it actually gets really, really heavy.” Even the kids who miss auditions can audition via private lesson, so MDC is on a time crunch to cycle kids into programs and get them ready to learn and perform.
A DECADE OF GROWTH
“It took a good five years for people to finally go, ‘Oh, I didn’t even know you were in Dadeland, I didn’t know you were tucked away in that corner,’” Gaschler remembers. “I feel like we’re still that little best-kept secret in Pinecrest.” Now, people flock to them
because MDC has a reputation of giving kids comprehensive training. The newbies aren’t left out—there’s a recreational program for dancers who are just getting their feet wet, too.
As MDC approaches its 10-year anniversary and 10th company season, Gaschler is proud of her students when she reflects. “I’d say 90% of our kids that graduate through Miami Dance Collective actually end up pursuing dance, which is a huge percentage.”
If not, they often go into adjacent fields like medicine and physical therapy, “so it’s still part of their lives.” Going into this anniversary, she wants to highlight all they’ve accomplished over the years. The major goal is to keep the momentum going no matter what happens in Pinecrest or the economy beyond it. “It’s not cheap to be here as a business, so to say that we were able to claw through that and survive for the past 10 years is amazing.” Thinking much further into the future, Gaschler says she eventually wants to pass the torch to one of her alumni, or even her daughter, OliveAnne Gaschler, who is 9 years old. “She is a dancer by blood and by heart,” she says, but “I waited for her to ask me.” Without forcing her aspirations on her daughter, she saw the desire and continued to nurture it. “Next thing you know, boom, she’s here six days a week with me.” Her husband, who has a background in nonprofit work, helps with things like taxes, accounting and light and sound during shows. “We’re just this little trifecta. I couldn’t have a better scenario.”
Dancing at MDC is just as important as school for some students, as most of them continue their dance career once they leave the studio.
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Finding Purpose After a Divorce
Life throws many challenges at us, and divorce is one them. At Vasquez de Lara Law Group, we can help you find hope that a better life is on the other side.
A DIVORCE ISN’T JUST the end of a relationship. For many people, it can shake the foundations of their beliefs, leaving them lost, disoriented and depressed.
But it doesn’t have to be that way.
I’m no therapist (and I highly recommend speaking to one), but as a family lawyer for over 20 years, I know what I’ve seen. People often find purpose in their marriage and families. And when such a radical change happens to that structure, there can be this longing sense of failure.
The people I’ve seen come through divorce the best were those who didn’t find purpose in marriage—their marriage was a natural expression of a larger purpose they carried within themselves. Their “why” was bigger than them. wBigger than their relationship.
The beautiful thing is, with a little introspection, and maybe just trial and error, it’s possible to find that “why,” in a sense of faith, a deep desire or even a tragedy.
IN MY OWN LIFE
I knew early on that my purpose was to help make the lives of those around me better. It’s why I became a lawyer in the first place. Later, I started my own firm, not because I dreamed of being an entrepreneur, but because I wanted to make the lives of my own family better. I knew I needed flexibility to be a mom to two young boys.
These all stemmed from that fundamental purpose I’ve always felt. So, it should not be surprising that my firm, the Vasquez de Lara Law Group, has the mission of making lives better, in and out of
family court.
That mission has continued as our firm has grown, and it’s shown not only in how we serve our clients but also in the environment we create for our team. For example, we have a nursery and nanny in the office, so the new moms on our team don’t have to make the choice that I did. They can continue pursuing their career and helping to make our clients’ lives better while only being a few steps away from their new babies.
FINDING NEW CHANNELS
I can barely believe it, but I am almost an empty nester. My youngest son is about to begin his senior year. It’s a big change in this season of life. But it’s also opened up new ways for me to live out that purpose.
Early in my career, I volunteered as an attorney ad litem, advocating for the wishes of children going through incredibly difficult situations, especially those in the foster system. Some of the stories I heard were heart-wrenching.
After some key moments of volunteering with our local church, my husband and I were called to start fostering children and providing respite care and assistance with emergency placements. It took us over six months to be certified, but it has been so wonderfully worth it to know that, even if only for a brief period, we could make a child’s life better.
INSPIRATION FROM TRAGEDY
Divorce is a traumatic event. Even when it is the best option, and the opportunity for a better life is on the other side, it still
doesn’t change the fact that the loss of one of the closest relationships you’ve ever had is something to mourn.
And while I’ve helped hundreds of people through their divorce, it’s not something I have had to go through. But I do know what the traumatic loss of a loved one feels like. It’s been five years since someone took the life of my younger brother.
It changed my family’s life forever. But through the grief, there was still purpose. We set up the Supreme Scholars Foundation to make the lives of aspiring students better through the memory of my brother Ricky “Supreme” de Lara.
And in pursuit of that purpose, we found allies. Now we partner with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Miami and have tripled the number of scholarships we award each year to students who benefit the most.
FINDING NEW PURPOSE FOR YOURSELF
I’ve talked to dozens of people who were staying in toxic relationships because they still found meaning and purpose in staying together. And as an attorney, it’s never my place to tell people what they should do.
But I can advise them on what the potential outcomes will look like.
And for those that fear making a big change in their relationship status because they “don’t know what they’d do with themselves,” there’s hope.
Chances are, it’s always been in you. It won’t always be easy, but you can find that bigger purpose, even after a divorce.
It may just be the inspiration you need.
A Quick Look at Miami Real Estate
Q&A with Daylin Guerra, Realtor
I’m constantly negotiating, marketing, researching, checking in with lenders, solving last-minute issues…it’s a 24/7 lifestyle”
- Daylin Guerra,
Realtor
1. So, Daylin—tell us what pulled you into the real estate world. Was it always part of the plan? Honestly? No. I didn’t grow up dreaming of being a Realtor—I grew up wanting to help people or be a teacher for children. I’ve always loved solving problems and making people feel at ease, and real estate became the perfect space for that. Thanks to Rafael Rivas and Erick Vargas (my mentors). I realized quickly that helping someone buy their first home, invest smartly or sell at the right time isn’t just a transaction— it’s a major life moment. And I get to be part of that? That’s powerful. That’s purpose.
2. Describe your style as an agent. What kind of energy do you bring to the table?
I’m the one who’s going to show up fully—strategic, transparent and committed. I’m big on communication, I stay 10 steps ahead, and I make sure my clients feel supported from start to finish. You’ll catch me in a power suit one day and sneakers the next, but the energy stays the same: locked in and ready to win.
3. What’s something people don’t realize about what you do every day?
People see the glam side—the listings, the closings, the photoshoots—but behind the scenes, it’s a grind. I’m constantly negotiating, marketing, researching, checking in with lenders, solving last-minute issues…it’s a 24/7 lifestyle. You’ve gotta be built for it. There are no shortcuts in this game if you want to build real trust and results.
4. You work in one of the most competitive markets in the country. What’s your edge?
My edge is me. I’m not here to just close deals—I’m here to build trust and deliver impact. I know this market inside and out, I’m bilingual and I treat every deal like it’s my own. I don’t fake it, I don’t sugarcoat things, and I’ll always fight for what’s right for my clients—even if it’s not the easy route.
5. What’s the legacy you want to leave in real estate and beyond?
I want people to say, ‘She really cared.’ Not just about the sale—about them. About the community. About the culture. I want young women, especially Latinas, to see that you can lead with heart and still be a powerhouse. I’m here to break ceilings, drink cafecito and leave a mark you can’t erase.
Daylin M. Guerra | 786-661-8330 | Dguerrahomes@gmail.com
Lifestyle International Realty
Hot Reads for Lazy Days
If you have plans to sit by the pool with a drink in one hand, have one of these books in the other.
BY ROCHELLE B. WEINSTEIN
IF YOU’VE ALREADY burned through our June reading picks, don’t sweat; we’ve got July covered with a fresh batch of books to cool you off. July’s recommendations bring forth all the fireworks (pun intended) with stories featuring friendship, romance, music and our favorite Florida journalist.
FALLING FOR YOU AGAIN
By Kerry Lonsdale
When it comes to love, what’s better than falling once? Falling twice. After a dramatic 24-hour Vegas fling (one of the sexiest meet-cutes I’ve ever read), Meli and Aaron part ways. Fate intervenes, as it often does, and when plans to sell Meli’s family’s wood-crafting shop derail her ambitions, who better to hitch herself to than the competitor’s son…Aaron? Lonsdale fans will devour this compelling secondchance romance that crackles with tension, wit and heart.
FEVER BEACH
By Carl Hiaasen
Sink your toes in the sand with this laugh-out-loud political satire where Florida’s a meme and everything that can go wrong while running an errand inevitably does. So ensues a whacky mystery involving a cast of outrageous characters: White supremacists, naughty billionaires and shady congressmen. This wild trip—the most fun you’ll ever have reading a book—is Hiaasen at his best. And while he masterfully weaves together multiple storylines and characters, we have one request: Hey, Carl, we need more Twilly and Viva.
SUCH GOOD PEOPLE
By Amy Blumenfeld
Both poignant and provocative, this moving novel tackles a split-second decision with far-reaching implications. When lifelong friends Rudy and April are torn apart by a fateful night that sends Rudy to jail, April moves forward, marrying a man with political aspirations. But when Rudy is released, the headlines jeopardize all she knows and trusts. Do the mistakes of our past define us? How good do we have to be? Pitched as An American Marriage meets The Wonder Years, this thoughtful take on friendship and loyalty will captivate readers and book clubs.
MAYLUNA
By Kelley McNeil
You had me at Daisy Jones and The Six meets Almost Famous Music and romance are two of my favorite themes and so are layered stories with emotional depth. McNeil tackles all three in this exquisitely written tale following a legendary rock star, a young columnist forging her career and their cosmic connection. Simply beautiful and unforgettable.
Find these gems at bookshop.org or stop by our favorite indie store, Books & Books
Rochelle B. Weinstein is the USA Today and Amazon bestselling author of eight contemporary fiction novels, her most recent, We Are Made of Stars A former entertainment industry executive, she splits her time between Miami and the mountains of North Carolina. When she’s not writing, she’s sharing book recommendations at literary salon Women Writers, Women’s Books, teaching workshops at Nova Southeastern University’s Alvin Sherman Library, hiking, reading, and plotting out future stories.
Building a Boutique Practice FOR CLIENTS
WHO WANTED MORE
BY AL MAULINI, CFP®, CPM®, CEPA® Managing Director, Private Wealth Management of Coral Gables; Senior Portfolio Strategist Raymond James Financial Services
WHEN I LAUNCHED my boutique wealth management practice, I didn’t set out to be everything to everyone— I set out to be everything to the right someone.
After decades in the financial services industry, I realized there was a growing class of clients—affluent, discerning, often entrepreneurial—who wanted more than a one-size-fits-all relationship with their advisor. They were looking for a deeper connection, more personalized strategies and a partner who didn’t just understand their finances, but understood them. That insight shaped the foundation of the practice I’ve built in the heart of Coral Gables.
THE VISION:
Personal, Not Just Professional
Clients today want more than good returns. They want alignment, responsiveness and trust. I knew early on that the traditional wire house model couldn’t deliver the level of service I envisioned. The industry had become too focused on volume, quotas and scale while sacrificing intimacy, independence and customization. So, I made a choice to build a boutique practice with a single mission: serve fewer people better. We operate out of a building I own, right here in Coral Gables. This isn’t just office space—it’s a hub of trust and strategy where privacy meets professionalism. It gives my team and our clients a sense of permanence and stability that mirrors our long-term planning approach.
THE TEAM: 10 Professionals, One Shared Purpose
I lead a 10-person team, handselected not just for their credentials but for their character. Every member—from our client service professionals to Wealth Advisors— understands that our work begins with listening. Our structure allows us to be nimble, to tailor solutions and to deliver consistent, high-touch service. We’re large enough to offer depth, but small enough to stay close.
THE DIFFERENCE: Boutique by Design
Being boutique doesn’t mean being limited; it means being intentional. We focus on families, entrepreneurs and high-net-worth individuals who value proactive planning and sophisticated portfolio construction. Our solutions are rooted in a personal understanding of each client’s life, not just their balance sheet. I wear three hats: portfolio strategist, financial planner and overall financial advisor so that our clients don’t have to juggle between multiple advisors. Everything we do is centered around integration: taxes, estate, investments, to support what matters most to the client.
WHY “MORE” MATTERS
When clients walk into our office, they feel the difference. It’s not just in the sleek design or the lighting. It’s in the tone of our conversations, the clarity of our strategies and the consistency of our care. They get more access, more foresight and more accountability. They get us, not a call center, not a rotating cast of advisors, not an algorithm. In the end, that’s what they were looking for all along, and that’s why I built my practice.
141 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables, FL, 33134 305-548-2247
Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services are offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. Private Wealth Management of Coral Gables is not a registered broker/dealer and is independent of Raymond James Financial Services. Raymond James and its advisors do not offer tax or legal advice. You should discuss any tax or legal matters with the appropriate professional.
THE MOST EXQUISITE Expression of Home
Set amidst the pristinely landscaped streets and refined energy of Coral Gables, directly across from The Plaza, this exclusive 58-boutique building offers luxurious 2-5 bedroom residences. Each home is thoughtfully designed and curated by the renowned Meyer Davis, blending contemporary luxury with old world charm.