CELEBRATING THE WOMAN NEXT DOOR

This month, in partnership with AdventHealth for Women, we’re recognizing some of the women in our community who are selflessly giving to others while raising families, supporting their loved ones and/or building their careers. Whether they know it or not, their stories inspire other women near and far.

Dr. Phillips

In Player, Talent, Tour Relations of NBC Sports Group, Alexandria Russell manages relationships with players, agents and the governing bodies of golf, book guests across the NBC Golf platforms and assists wherever needed in the production. In joining NBC Sports, Alexandria also has had the opportunity to work on other big sporting events including the Tokyo Olympics and Super Bowl. She travels to all of the NBC Golf events, major championships and other professional golf events.

What is your WHY?

I love helping people and making people happy. At Golf Channel and NBC Sports, we’ve been able to tell so many inspirational stories and touch people’s lives in different ways, and I’m honored to be a part of that.

Have you drawn inspiration from other women? Tell us about someone who has inspired you.

My mom and my grandmother have always been my biggest inspirations (and my dad!). My boss, Courtney Holt has had the biggest influence on my professional life. I saw the amount of respect everyone had for her at my first event and realized she was from whom I wanted to learn. I’ve worked with her since 2010 and we have an amazing relationship. I’m thankful for her mentorship and I couldn’t find a better person to learn from.

PHOTO BY ANDREEA WATERS

Suzie Yang

Lake Nona

Suzie Yang brings nearly three decades of hospitality management and leadership to her role as General Manager at Lake Nona Wave Hotel. She rejoins the CoralTree team after overseeing the asset management for six hotels in Arizona, California and Washington, D.C.

She’s received the Hotel Hero Lifetime Achievement Hotel Executive Award from the Hotel Council of San Francisco, the Most Innovative Hotel – West Region award, and Area Operations Manager of the Year award when working for Homestead Studio Suites Hotels.

Have you drawn inspiration from other women? Tell us about someone who has inspired you.

There are so many women I’ve drawn inspiration from – personally and professionally. The first that comes to mind is Carla Murray, president at Marriott International. I was her mentee years ago and she consistently offered me so much feedback on how to be a great leader while also introducing me to the world of lifestyle brands and hotels. I pay it forward now to ensure I always have a platform to give others the same opportunity – especially those who may not necessarily raise their hands.

PHOTO BY ANDREEA WATERS

Sarah E Grafton

Winter Park

As the Senior Financial Advisor of Grafton Wealth Management at Merrill/ Bank of America, Sarah Grafton provides financial advice and guidance to high-net-worth clients and their families. She can work closely with each client’s other trusted advisors to give us the perspective to help clients set and pursue a variety of short- and long-term goals. She is very involved in her local community, serving on various non-profit boards and committees. Sarah has been named to the 40 under 40 list, a Women in Business Award nominees, the Business Leader of the Year in 2020 and received the United States Service Award from both President Obama and President Trump.

Have you drawn inspiration from other women? Tell us about someone who has inspired you.

One of the very first women who inspired me was my Grandmother, Madelaine. As a child I was surrounded by strong women. I emulated everything she was. I thought as a child all women are strong, outspoken, smart and brave. That’s why it is so important to be surrounded by positive role models like I was. I know if it was not for her and my mother, I would not know without a doubt that women stand up for what they believe in, women are to be respected, women should be confident in who they are and women can change this world.

What are you most proud of?

I am most proud of my family. Successes of today may fade, but the love and kindness you pour into your family and your children will resonate for generations. Raising three boys and watching them make good choices and be a positive impact to those around them makes me incredibly proud. Also working with my brothers and my father for the past 15 years and growing Grafton Wealth Management to what it is today makes me incredibly proud.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced and what did you learn from it?

Time! As women, many of us try to do it all. I would love to say yes to every charity. I would love to say yes to every prospective client. I would love to say yes to every field trip, birthday party, etc. We simply cannot. It took me a long time to learn how to say no and embrace yes all at the same time. You have to balance your calendar to reflect your personal priorities. If your health is number one then it should take up the most time on your calendar. If relationships or faith are number one then those should be reflected that way in your schedule!

Kari Vargas

Winter Garden

As AdventHealth Market CEO for West Orange and South Lake Counties, Kari Vargas oversees the day-to-day operations of AdventHealth Winter Garden and will lead the overall expansion of the West Orange and South Lake markets, developing and executing strategies that support the total network of care and building influential relationships with key constituents, communities and consumers. Kari is a forward-thinking leader that understands how to lead provider and care teams toward operational excellence. Kari’s passion for the AdventHealth mission fuels her ability to collaborate and bring teams together to continue expanding the promise of wholeness across communities.

What are you most proud of?

I have had mentors guiding and coaching me throughout my career, and it has always been important to me to pay it forward. I believe that one of my roles as a leader is to also encourage, coach, guide and listen to young people, especially young women. I have felt it was important to dedicate time to mentoring. I find that often young people just need a little encouragement and someone that believes in their abilities. I feel that if I can touch just one person and make a difference in their life – it brings me joy.

What is your WHY?

Ever since I was in kindergarten and answered the question “What do you want to be when you grow up? “I always wanted to have a career in healthcare – it started as a pediatrician. In high school, I participated in a program through Orange County Public Schools that intends for students to get an early start on career paths, where I was able to spend time shadowing a local pediatrician and that solidified for me that I was headed in the right direction. Throughout college I worked in a primary care physician’s office and after college, while I was working on my MBA my passion continued as I interned at AdventHealth (formerly known as Florida Hospital). I have a passion to help people, especially those struggling with health issues, and I have spent the last 22 years serving the Central Florida Community.

Would you change anything about how you have handled challenges or successes thus far in your life?

Absolutely! I believe there are lessons to be learned in everything we do, in the areas that did not go as planned, and also in places that were executed well. I can be my worst critic, but I believe it makes me a more compassionate and resilient leader.

You’ve Got This: The quick guide to women’s health topics

Regular screenings and open communication with your provider are essential for maintaining your overall health. Working with your doctor on a customized care plan can help you stay well and create personalized treatment options.

Annual Well-Woman Exam

It’s important for women to come in every year for their well-woman check-up because it creates the opportunity for you to have an open dialogue with your doctor about overall health. During the well-woman exam, your provider may perform a clinical breast exam, a pelvic examination and a Pap smear. Additional testing may be suggested. If you’ve had a hysterectomy, it's still recommended that you have a pelvic exam every 3 to 5 years, even if you’ve never had an abnormal result.

Colorectal Screening

Colorectal screening is used to determine the presence of any cancerous or precancerous cells in your lower digestive tract. It generally involves a colonoscopy of one type or another and the use of sedatives to make you comfortable during the process. Colorectal screening should begin at age 45.

From childbirth to aging, incontinence can a ect women at any age. If you leak when you laugh, sneeze or cough, or fi nd yourself running to the restroom to make it in time, please discuss these symptoms with your doctor. The AdventHealth Pelvic Health Program o ers a variety of treatment options, including pelvic fl oor therapy that may be able to help.

Infertility

If you’re trying to conceive, when should you be worried about infertility? Healthy women with no underlying conditions have a 20% chance of conceiving every month with an 85 to 90% chance of conceiving within a year. If, after 12 months, a woman is still having di culty conceiving, talk with your provider.

Mammogram

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends beginning mammograms between 40 and 49. Women with an average risk for developing breast cancer should follow up with screening mammograms every one to two years after that. Risk factors that could infl uence your mammogram recommendations include family history, a BRCA gene mutation, early or late menopause, dense breasts, and more.

Menstrual Cycles

Periods that last longer than seven days or cycles that are more frequent than every 21 days should be discussed with your provider. In addition to heavy bleeding, some women have painful periods. If you have painful periods that are not relieved by ibuprofen or similar medications, your gynecologist is trained to evaluate this and o er treatment options.

Pap Testing and HPV

Pap testing starts at age 21 and occurs every 3 years until age 30, then it changes to every 5 years. Pap testing involves looking under a microscope and checking for HPV (human papillomavirus). Certain HPV strains have been linked to an increased risk of cervical cancer.

A Quick Guide for Every Age

Below are recommended health screenings for women throughout the years. Always consult your provider if you’re experiencing symptoms prior to the screening age. Our health navigators are happy to assist with scheduling these screenings.

Screening Tests

Ages 18 - 39

Well-Woman Exam

Blood Pressure Every 2 years

Cholesterol

Every 4-6 years

Diabetes Discuss with your provider.

Thyroid (TSH)

Start at age 35, then every 5 years

Ages 40-49

Ages 50 and over

Every year

Every year Discuss frequency with your provider.

Start at age 45, then every 3 years

Every 5 years

Mammogram

Start at age 40, then every year

Colonoscopy

*Start at age 45; every 10 years

Osteoporosis Screening

Pap Smear

Every 1-3 years if you have been sexually active or are older than 21 Every 1-3 years

Mental Health Discuss openly with your provider if you’ve felt down, sad or hopeless for an extended period.

Discuss with your provider.

Lung Cancer Screening

Age 55 to 75 AND have smoked a pack of cigarettes a day for at least 30 years

Find a Provider

Our women’s health navigation team provides complimentary services that help you coordinate your overall care. These services include: • Finding a care provider (OB/GYN, specialist) • Answering insurance questions • Assistance with scheduling annual o ce visits and screenings • Coordination of care among multiple providers and facilities

To fi nd a provider, call 407-720-5191 or visit FindMyNewOBGYN.com.

Juliana Geisler and Sam Geisler

Maitland

What is the biggest challenge you have faced and what did you learn from it?

Our biggest challenge was 2020 and the pandemic. Being an in-person event company, we were so scared. Scared about the future of our brand, scared about how we could continue and not have to let go of any of our employees. Both of us cried like babies but we picked ourselves up and knew we had to do anything and everything in our power to thrive. We learned so much, we learned that you could still host an amazing event, even if it was on a virtual level. We were the first of our kind to successfully host virtual events for moms and families to tune in from all over the world.

On your toughest of days, what motivates you to put one foot in front of the other?

Some days are long, some are long and tough. Our motivation has always been to show our kids that you can do anything. Even when you think you have nothing to offer the world, you produce an idea over spaghetti dinner that in the end turns into a powerful brand that brings people together. Our kids have always motivated us both to be our best and continue to be our driving force. They were there from the inception of Prego Expo and continue to be our biggest cheerleaders.

What is the one word that perfectly explains who you are?

Since there are two of us, we would say we are Perfectly Imperfect. These two words also describe the journey most parents feel and they need to know that it’s OK! No journey is ever going to be perfect as soon as we realize this, we can really start enjoying our lives.

Susan Johnson

Winter Park

Susan Johnson of Winter Park, is the Founder & President of Support Our Scholars (SOS). Established in 2006, SOS is an organization committed to educating the most brilliant young women with the greatest financial need. Remaining a strong advocate for blind multi-handicap individuals, she founded Jake Allen Center and Jake Allen Pre-school for deaf blind, which provided an alternative education for deaf blind children who were failing in the traditional public school system. Susan is also very active in the community. She has served on the Board of Governors at The Helen Keller National Center; Chairman of the Board at Lighthouse Central Florida and Board Member of The Florida Hospital CHIC Board and more. For her efforts, Susan received the Walt Disney Community Service Award (two years) and Sertoman of the Year Award which recognizes exceptional contributions in the spirit of service to mankind.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced and what did you learn from it?

My first child was born both deaf and blind. Jake taught me everything. How to appreciate music, speech, the ability to see a sunset. I could go on for hours on this.

Would you change anything about how you have handled challenges or successes thus far in your life?

Ohh gosh yes,I would have slowed down as a parent. I would have spent more time in the present and not looking ahead to the next big thing.

On your toughest of days, what motivates you to put one foot in front of the other?

I know that my life is the hand of the God who created the universe, so I can look to Him and keep going. Often I have to stop and write down all the things that have been given to me. The list is always so long that then..how can I be discouraged?

My work motivation is to see the Scholars we support succeed at the highest level. Seeing them develop into amazing, thankful young women. What could be more fulfilling in life?

PHOTO BY ANDREEA WATERS

Melanie Miller

Lake Nona

Melanie Miller, Speaker, Marketing & Social Media Expert CEO-Playbook Marketing Solutions

Playbook Marketing Solutions delivers proven social media solutions & marketing results. She has had multiple years of experience working with high-profile clients and helping small businesses to grow their brand awareness, which gives us a unique insight into what is needed to make your marketing successful. With 20 years of experience as a promotional manager, Melanie Miller coaches businesses and individual entrepreneurs, offering proven tools and strategies to gain increased exposure and ultimately increase revenue. By offering strategic branding, social media, and marketing coaching, Melanie also found herself as a sought-after public speaker, sharing her experience and savvy with the marketing community around the country. Her list of clients reads like a Who’s Who of corporate America: AOL, HP, ESPN, Comcast, Freddie Mac, Fannie May, Unisys, Six Flags, Geico, Advent Healthcare, Ford, Chevy, Toyota—and 100+ NFL athletes.

What is your WHY?

The old saying is that if your WHY doesn’t make you cry then you need to really dig in and discover what it is that will. My two precious daughters, Alexia and Alyssa, to see them grow into women of faith, accomplishing things that make a difference and having the heart to love people. As a momma you pour your very being into your babies. To see them soar in life, help them with their battles and live their life to the fullest. The effort that a mother must place into her children is SELFLESS. I love them more than life itself. However, as all women know they grow up and we become their advocate. As I get older, it is even more important to me to be that example of love–caring and living with a compassionate spirit toward others that they will think about as they grow older. I pray more than anything they too will live with a spirit that impacts those around them, becoming difference makers in this world just like my own mother taught me.

On your toughest of days, what motivates you to put one foot in front of the other?

These days are tough. This world is a hard place but what I have found is that serving & blessing others brings me so much joy. The recipe for curing any bad day for me is to go be a blessing to someone else. What can I do to help them win in life? How can I put a smile on their face? The recipe for dealing with your toughest day is to find the reward that comes in not what you receive but what impact comes from seeing someone smile. In my office, I have a sign that is a daily reminder of this very thing. It says ‘Always pray to have the eyes to see the best in people, a heart that forgives the worst, a mind that forgets the bad and a soul that NEVER loses faith in God’.

Demetria Sloan

Lake Nona

Demetria Hill Sloan is a certified executive leadership coach, life coach, trainer, and motivational speaker. She is the Founder and President of Vantage Point Coaching, LLC which she launched in 2015 to help others achieve higher levels of performance, greater business results, and more personal fulfillment. Demetria is also the author of Pearls for the Journey: A Guide to a More Fulfilling Life which offers ten pearls of wisdom to fuel your growth and development. She resides in Lake Nona with her family.

On your toughest of days, what motivates you to put one foot in front of the other?

On my toughest days, I am motivated to put one foot in front of the other by remembering to put things in perspective. No matter how difficult the challenge, obstacle, or pain, if I wake up and put my feet on the ground, I have an opportunity to make a difference and be better than I was the day before. That perspective keeps me motivated every day.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced and what did you learn from it?

The biggest challenge that I face has not fully manifested. I have ADPKD (Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease) which is the most common genetic kidney disorder. With ADPKD, your kidneys form cysts that ultimately take over the organ and cause it to fail. It is something I’ve known would become an issue for me at some point for thirty-plus years. I have now reached an age where problems will start. What I have learned from this experience and watching others in my family become transplant recipients is to FOCUS ON WHAT YOU CAN CONTROL. There is absolutely nothing I can do at this point to alter my DNA sequence. What I can control is how healthy I am in every other aspect of my life. I can control my mindset. I can control how I love those most important to me. When I focus on those things, I can face any challenges that may come in my future from this disease process.

Would you change anything about how you have handled challenges or successes thus far in your life?

Hindsight is always 20/20. I don’t know if I would change anything because I may not learn the lessons I needed to learn. BUT, if I would change anything about how I approach all challenges or successes is to approach them with more empathy and grace. Empathy, so I am not too harsh or hard on myself or others. Grace, as a reminder that we all can be redeemed regardless of how big the blunder is.