Gulf Coast Woman Fall 2015 issue by Gulf Coast Woman

SUCCESS ISSUE

featuring

Women of Achievement finalists

OMAN GULF COAST

COMPLIMENTARY

S E PT E M B E R - O C TO B E R 2 01 5

STEPPING OUT

Dorothy Roberts takes the stage with jewelry line, entrepreneurship

+ Successful women showcased

Coast’s biggest baby event • Fall recipes • Be breast-cancer aware

Michael J. Christie, M.D., F.A.C.O.G.

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Dr. Christie specializes in minimally invasive Laparoscopic surgery in the treatment of gynecologic pelvic pain. Michael J. Christie, M.D.

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A healthier smile makes a healthier you! We are committed to educating all patients on the importance of preventive dentistry.

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Kinyatta Bennett, D.M.D. General Dentist

Michael J. Christie, M.D. Dr. Christie will take the time to Board Certified OB/GYN address your health care needs

Ocean Springs

(228) 818-0025

2113 Government St. Bldg I-4

Biloxi Office

(228) 374-3749

147 Reynoir St., Suite 102

Serving the Gulf Coast for over 10 years 2 September-October 2015

13179 Three Rivers Road Gulfport, MS 39503

FALL COLLECTION

now available!

As we celebrate our third anniversary, we at Elle would personally like to thank all of our gracious & loyal customers over the past three years. We would like to dedicate our success to our devoted customers, who inspire us to be the best. We hope to continue offering the latest fashion trends for each of your unique styles. Angelle Cuevas Hahn Owner

Simon Outlet Mall 10525 Factory Shop Blvd. Gulfport, MS 39503 www.gcwmultimedia.com

228.214.7186 www.facebook.com/shopelleboutique845 www.elleboutiquegulfport.com 3

OUR TEAM

EDITOR & PUBLISHER Dorothy P. Wilson DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & SPECIAL PROJECTS Gina Taliancich ASSOCIATE EDITORS Brenda Blount John D. Folding Scott Naugle Danie Rodriquez Dana Sleger Karen Sock Elaine Stevens CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Karen Bryant COVER PHOTOGRAPHY William Colgin CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Ellis Anderson Albert Henrion Shannon Lutkins Brian Pearse

y o

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Cheryl Fishman Lisa Gum Dara Parker Amanda Thomas

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Kimberly Aguillard Ellis Anderson Chantell Barkum Tricia Collins Mallory Fitzgerald Ryan Giles Ruby Ladner Griffin Dane Hewes Denise Keyser Don Keyser John McFarland Rebecca Ritchey T. Randy Robbins Kathy Rogers Bryan Rodgers Suzie Sawyer Dhianna Skrmetti Tammy Turnage Brenda Waltz Dr. Angela Wingfield Dr. Eric J. Wyble Andrea Yeager Angelyn T. Zeringue

HOW TO REACH US 15431 O’Neal Road Suite B, Gulfport, MS 39503 (228) 539-2422 dorothywilson@gulfcoastwomanmagazine.com angelabruni@gulfcoastwomanmagazine.com www.gcwmultimedia.com

)

FOUNDER & PUBLISHER Angela Bruni

ADVERTISING Angela Bruni ~ (228) 760-8887 Gina Taliancich ~ (228) 219-0154 Dorothy Wilson ~ (228) 539-2422 EDITORIAL SERVICES Dorothy Wilson ~ (228) 539-2422

228-539-5858 15190 Community Road, Suite 350 • Gulfport www.gulfportsurgeryclinic.com 4 September-October 2015

©2015 Gulf Coast Woman is published six times per year and is available free of charge. We encourage your comments, suggestions and submissions, however, we reserve the right to refuse or edit them. Gulf Coast Woman is not responsible for unsolicited documents or manuscripts. All material is copyrighted and may not be reproduced in any manner without the written permission of the publisher.

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Contents

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2015 SUCCESS issue

Showcasing success This issue celebrates women and their achievements. Meet the Women of Achievement finalists and many other successful women.

109

Country in the city

109

Miteer home centers on comfort and gatherings.

122

Makeover winner! Meet the Cristina Ucles and see why she deserved to win the GCW total makeover!

144

Fun fall things to do

144

122

Fall is a great time to get out and go with the family. See whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s coming up.

also inside

Money Suzie Sawyer: Do you have your retirement financing in place?

Breast cancer awareness Two women share their breast cancer journey. Know the risks. 6

September-October 2015

116 Home

Ruby Ladner Griffin: Update on Wiggins home makeover.

141

Relationships June and Ted Hearn are still dancing after 62 years.

149 Food

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s apples, spices and pumpkin pie time of year. Try these recipes.

154

Coast Cares John McFarland: Red Cross is not just around for the Katrinas.

From All of Us at Broadwater Dental, We Humbly

Thank You

for Voting Dr. Cook as Your Favorite Dentist!

www.gcwmultimedia.com

FROM THE PUBLISHERS

Angela Bruni

Dorothy P. Wilson

If the success fits, celebrate it! Dr. Kimber is a Gulf Coast spine surgeon with a mission. He is seriously enthusiastic about returning patients to a happy productive life through functional and anatomical restoration of their necks and backs. “It’s satisfying and sometimes miraculous to see the progress of a patient who has suffered so long and perhaps told they had no other real option.” he said “The facts are that modern spine surgery can be transformative when medications and other conservative measures have simply failed.” Dr. Kimber is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Vanderbilt University, Emory Medical School and Duke University. He followed these degrees with three advanced fellowships in North Carolina, Australia and Germany. His international training and experience has given him an unparalleled perspective and experience with the most complex spinal problems and the entire range of minimally invasive treatment solutions.

12337 Ashley Dr. Suite F Gulfport, MS 39503

228.284.2370

www.performancespine.net September-October 2015

The number of women-owned businesses jumped 81 percent in Mississippi in 2014. Across the U.S., the number of businesses increased by 34 percent and the number of women-owned firms jumped 50 percent in the past 15 years. So how does Mississippi stack up to the national numbers? Mississippi is one of the top 5 leading states in women-owned businesses. So women are starting businesses at an all-time high, and these businesses are tending to be more successful than ones owned by men, according to the American Express OPEN study. That’s reason enough for Gulf Coast Woman to celebrate the success of women in business with a conference and special issue called what else but “SUCCESS.” Makes sense, doesn’t it? Let’s celebrate successful women businesses all across the Coast by reading their stories in this issue, which spotlights 40 Women of Achievement selected by Lighthouse Business & Professional Women. We also highlight 10 others in “Faces of Success.” These are women cutting their own path and standing in the spotlight. Our cover girl, Dorothy Roberts, certainly deserves recognition as she retires from decades of public service and launches into an adventuresome next leg as an entrepreneur. And look at the number of women also recogized in advertising, not only this issue, but every issue of GCW. We are grinning with pride to see so many succeeding. Enjoy this issue and come celebrate with other Coast women on October 30 at the SUCCESS Women’s Conference 2015. We have an over-the-top experience planned for you. The planning team includes John D. Folding, Karen Sock, Kearn Cherry, Gina Taliancich, Brenda Blount, Tiffany Bell, Lashaundra McCarty, Marcia McDowell, Lea Ivey Stone and Anita Brooks. Many sponsors and supporters also will be contributing to make this a great success. You’ll hear inspirational and challenging speakers, participate in enriching seminars, salute the Women of Achievement, enjoy a career fashions show, listen to panelists, network, enjoy food tastings, shop, and a lot more! Get registered now at www.gcwmultimedia.com. Don’t miss this! Take a day off for YOU. See you at SUCCESS!

Pathways2Possibilities 2015 November 18 and 19, 2015 MS Coast Convention Center Biloxi • 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Support THIS IMPORTANT CAREER EXPLORATION EXPO WITH YOUR

DONATION

P2P is an interactive career expo designed for all eighth-graders in private and public schools in the six lower counties of Mississippi. Each student will experience 19 Pathways, which are aligned with the career Pathways set forth by the Mississippi Department of Educa Education. The students will be prepped during class before attending the event in order to familiarize them with the Pathways ahead of time. Each Pathway is led by a Pathfinder who has coordinated the Pathway members to design and implement hands-on activities intended to inspire the students to further explore that Pathway. Software is used before and after the event to help the students corral their thoughts about the event and encourage a direction for their high school Pathway choice.

“Pathways to Possibilities is a magical combination of professionals who are passionate about their work meeting students who represent our future.”

- Dr. John D. McKee, Digestive Health Centers Education.

BE A BUSINESS SPONSOR

You can be a part of a movement to ignite the next generation of Mississippi's workforce by becoming a P2P sponsor.

VOLUNTEER

Sign up today to learn more about how you can volunteer on November 18 and 19, 2015. Tell us which pathways you'd like to volunteer with and when you'll be available.

JOIN A PATHWAY

There are 19 Pathways representing over 100 employers along the Gulf Coast.

DONATE ONLINE AT WWW.PATHWAYS2POSSIBILITIES.ORG Mail your check to Jackson County Civic Action Committee (P2P - 2015) at P.O. Box 8723, Moss Point, MS 39562 9 www.gcwmultimedia.com

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September-October 2015

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www.gcwmultimedia.com

MONEY

m ting.co a d d e e sgcsp m . w w w 73 63.85 2 . 8 2 2

By Suzie Sawyer

Retirement financing: Prepare for an uncertain future Here’s one certainty in an uncertain world: Americans are growing older and living longer at rates much higher than ever before. Meanwhile, a shaken faith in Social Security retirement benefits has led many Americans to take retirement financing into their own hands. Consider these statistics from the Social Security Administration:

What Lies On Your Horizon? • Your Dream Home • College Planning • Child’s Wedding

• Early Retirement • Travel Plans

Whatever your horizon holds for you, chances are Trinity Investment Services can help you. We are dedicated to increasing the knowledge, products, and services available to the individual client. Our primary focus is understanding our clients’ goals and using all of our resources to strive to fulfill their long-term objectives. Your road to tomorrow begins today! Robert J. Sawyer

Managing Director Investment Advisor Representative

Suzie Pierce Sawyer

Managing Director Investment Advisor Representative

(228) 864-4460 | (877) 896-4664 | www.sawyerteam.com

ca rin

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2304 14th Street | Gulfport, Mississippi 395011

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Securities offered through Century Securities Associates, Inc. Member SIPC & FINRA | A subsidiary of Stifel Financial Corp. 14 Office: September-October 2015 Home 501 North Broadway, St. Louis, Missouri 63102 | (314) 342-4050

• Twelve percent of the population is 65 or older. • By 2024, all baby boomers will be between 60 and 78 years of age. • The 2013 Trustee Report projects that the Social Security Administration (SSA) will provide full payment of benefits only through 2032 (the program will continue, but benefit amounts will decrease). • Approximately 10,000 boomers reach the age of 65 every day. • By 2060, there is expected to be 73.8 million citizens age 65 to 85 years old (at which time the youngest of the boomers will be 96 years old). • By 2080, senior citizens will make up nearly one-quarter of the U.S. population. • It takes 2.9 workers to pay the SSA benefits of one person. By 2031, that ratio will be 2.1 workers to pay the benefits of one; that is the year the youngest boomers turn 67. • Beginning in 2010, Social Security taxes and noninterest income was not enough to fully fund the trust fund paying Social Security benefits. The 2013 Trustee Report predicts this will be a repetitive pattern for the next 75 years. Amid this uncertainty, a qualified financial professional can help you take charge of your retirement planning and recommend a course of action designed toward your specific needs and goals. Article provided by Suzie P. Sawyer, Managing Director/ Investment Advisor Representative of Trinity Investment Services, LLC, who can be reached at (228) 864-4460. Securities offered through Century Securities Associates, Inc. Member SIPC and FINRA. A subsidiary of Stifel Financial Corp. Home Office: 501 North Broadway, St. Louis, Missouri 63102, (314) 342-4051.

“Convenience, confidence, and a personal touch. That’s what I give my clients and that’s what I get from Keesler Federal Credit Union.” Rachel Bridges, Bridges Skin+Body

Be∂er Solutions for your business. } } } } Federally insured by NCUA. Membership eligibility required. Checking accounts subject to credit approval.

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Deposit accounts that are easy, convenient & accessible Business loans to cover the costs along the way Merchant services that help build your business Benefits that reach beyond the business world For more information about Business Services, visit gcw.kfcu.org or call 1-888-KEESLER! 15

SHANNON LUTKINS P H O T O G R A P H Y

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September-October 2015

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September-October 2015

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F OOTBA L L SE ASON H AS A R R IVE D ! Wear your favorite colors and bring your team spirit to EDGEWATER MALL for a tailgating experience for the entire family. Every Saturday morning in September. We will have facepainting, balloon twisting, football themed

photos with Chick-fil-A cow mascot and FREE Chick-fil-A 8 count nuggets. Embrace your team at Edgewater Mall.

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Shopping for a mortgage? By Bryan Rodgers

Teri Eaton CLU, Agent State Farm Agent 15016 Dedeaux Road Gulfport, MS 39503 228-832-7060 www.terieaton.com NMLS MB #110089, NMLS MLO #1075840 Licensed by the Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance

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We have a great selection. As life changes, so do your needs. Let State Farm Bank® help with a mortgage that fits your life and your budget. Let us help you make the right move. Bank with a Good Neighbor®. CALL ME TODAY FOR MORE INFORMATION.

Some products and services not available in all areas. State Farm Bank, F.S.B., Bloomington, IL

DON’T MISS THE

DEADLINE! ARE YOU READY TO ACCEPT THE NEW EMV “CHIP CARDS”? As of October 2015,

many businesses will no longer be able to swipe credit cards.

y toda e l l a C a fre for ltation u cons

It is not too late! At CoCard we have affordable and simple solutions to make sure that your business is protected.

Bryan Rodgers (228) 234-6880 www.cocardgulfcoast.com 20 September-October 2015

Understand what you’re really getting with credit-card processing As entrepreneurs and decision makers, we start out so full of excitement and have the opportunity to create solutions that help provide things for others. Then, the challenges begin to set in and the test comes. There are so many things to think about just to get the doors open, such as build-out, inventory, equipment, staffing, etc. Quickly we can become overwhelmed. In a hurry to open, we can start making hasty decisions that become costly; for example, credit-card processing and pointof-sale (POS) systems. Remember: In this industry, it’s what you do not know that can hurt your business the most. After years of working with clients and monitoring current trends, here are my top seven recommendations: • Know about hidden fees in the “fine print.” • Obtain proof that there is no “early termination penalty.” • Avoid renting or lease-purchasing equipment. • Make sure you have local support; avoid foreign call centers. • Insist on EMV (chip reading) equipment. • Know how to best utilize a pin pad. • Beware of trending tablet-based point-of-sale systems. Many have limited functionality and lock you into the processing company that sold you the system. This information is rarely communicated to clients during the sales process. Research and get a second opinion! Even if you have had a negative experience, it is never too late to improve your systems. Credit-card processing can be affordable and simple. Do your homework. Bryan Rodgers provides credit-card processing, loyalty systems and digital marketing solutions. Contact Bryan at (228) 234-6880, brodgers@cocard.net. More info at www.cocardgulfcoast.com.

SUCCESS ISSUE

featuring the

2015

Women of Achievement finalists

Also inside

SUCCESS CONFERENCE INFO

COVER STORY: DOROTHY ROBERTS

10 FACES OF SUCCESSS

RESOURCES TO HELP YOU SUCCEED

WOMEN AT THE PORT OF GULFPORT

MAKING THE CHAMBERS WORK FOR YOU

DRESS FOR SUCCESS

www.gcwmultimedia.com

TAKE A DAY OFF FOR YOU! Learn new strategies, network and be empowered

Inspire | Enrich | Mentor Workshops featuring Navigator Credit Union “Improve Your Credit Score”

Community Bank “SBA Financing for Start-ups and Business Expansion”

Brenda Blount,

A Better You “Dress for Success”

Featuring Lighthouse Business & Professional Women of Achievement Awards 40 women to be honored Woman of Year to be named 22

September - October 2015

South Mississippi Contract Procurement Center Getting a W S Certification

Lori Harper, VP at Ingalls Shipbuilding “Are you really ready for the next level?” PANTONE

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Expo • Workshops • Panel Discussions Fashion Show • Mentoring Sessions 9:00 AM 4:00 PM

Fr iday

OCT 30

Biloxi Civic

Center

doors open at 8am

EAKE

Reinvented her personal brand after layoff from one of NYC’s largest media companies Featured in Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur.com, Business Insider, Chase Bank commercials

Simone Bruni

FOUNDER/OWNER, SWEET REVENGE, NEW YORK CITY

Marlo Scott

THE DEMO DIVA NEW ORLEANS Blazing a trail in a male dominated industry Reinvented the recipe for construction marketing, PR, social media and customer service that creates strong brand identity and raving “fans.”

Sponsorship & Booths still available! Sponsorship info: (228) 539-2422

TIX

Kearn Cherry Gina Taliancich 228-239-1867 228-219-0154

gina@gulfcoastwomanmagazine.com www.gulfcoastwomanmagazine.com www.lighthousebpw.com

All-Access ticket: All speakers, panelists, awards luncheon, expo, workshops, fashion show - $45 www.gcwmultimedia.com Expo ticket: Does not include awards luncheon - $25

Thanks to these sponsors for helping to empower women through

Sponsorships/expo space still available Kearn Cherry Gina Taliancich 228-239-1867 228-219-0154

Expo vendors include Goldman Sachs, Loyalty Systems, Coast Health & Nutrition, Broadwater Dental, Back Bay Bliss, Cakes by Tina, Islands/Medi Weightloss, Howell CPA â&#x20AC;˘ PA and 30 others. PANTONE

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ITC AVANT GARDE GOTHIC

Back Bay Bliss, established in 2012 by local business woman Donna Butirich, began as a mother’s dream to work from home and keep her professional success. Donna owned and operated the successful boutique, Ami Onna’s, in downtown Ocean Springs for years, along with her sister Tammy Hebert. Donna found herself enjoying the business world but feeling as though she was missing out on matters closest to her heart, her husband and 3 sons. Most of us have heard the saying, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way”, so Donna set out with her will to find HER way! After she and her sister sold the boutique, in 2012 Donna began her home-based business Back Bay Bliss, offering unique personalized gifts. At launch, Back Bay Bliss consisted of an 8x10 room, which was then enough for her “one-gal” business. As Donna shared her new business with her friends and family, Back Bay Bliss sales took off. Not only did Donna’s friends want truly unique gifts with pizazz, but so did the United States!

Since inception, Back Bay Bliss has expanded to a full-blown home office servicing local and national gift orders. Answering the market’s demands, the gift shop pairs special occasions, events, and celebrations with personalized one-of-a-kind gifts. Back Bay Bliss customizes items such as monogrammed shirts that scream individuality, monogrammed jerseys to support your favorite football team, player, or cheerleader, home accessories that will make homes more reflective of their owners, photos printed on metal or wood, personalized phone cases, personalized school items, and many more. With this special Women’s Success Issue, Donna announces her new Back Bay Bliss partner, long-time friend and well-known local, Donna Trigg. Donna T. is bringing a rich success background to Back Bay Bliss. She has owned two businesses, sold and marketed handmade craft items at local arts and crafts festivals, and has 28 years of experience with the Jackson County School District (14 yrs. teaching and 14 yrs. as school counselor). Recently retired, Donna T. has kicked off this next chapter in her life with her own will to

succeed. Since partnering, the 2 Donna’s as they are often referred to, have already launched 2 new lines: Amiche (meaning friends) Jewelry adorned with Swarovski crystals and affordably priced and Back Bay Candle Co., a unique soy candle line - both made @ Bliss office. The partners and friends, are looking forward to a bright future and thankful for a successful past and understand their continued success is only possible with customers. They express, “We appreciate all of our customers and understand we would not be doing what we love, without them. Thank you for choosing Back Bay Bliss for gifts that are loved! ” You will receive individualized attention on your purchase needs and you will be very pleased with your purchase. If you want your gifts to be a memory and a lasting impression, Back Bay Bliss is the place for you! Give us a call at 228-860-8083 or 228-218-9702. Their customers may give a gift that marks their recipient’s special day, event, or personality. Gifts that represent life-long memories to its recipients.

backbaybliss.com www.gcwmultimedia.com

Article By Scott Naugle Photography by William Colgin

Stepping into the spotlight

warm, soothing light washes gently through the abundant windows and envelops the senses. The glow is charged with a relaxed and encouraging energy, nudging one towards creativity and calm. The cerulean ceiling suggests the infinite possibilities of the sky; the red door invokes the passion of a caring heart; and the freshly painted white wooden countertops look like fresh, unmarked canvases of possibilities. The newly refurbished commercial building on avis Avenue in downtown ass hristian is shining again, ready to greet friends, family, and customers. etach this building from its physical, tangible moorings and reimagine it as a dream, the crisp clean vision of orothy Roberts. “I wanted a space to celebrate the creative process,” Roberts explains. “This is a business to channel the artistic experiences we all have.” elcome to Robin s est in the ass, an art gallery offering Roberts 26

September - October 2015

ewelry and the pottery and paintings of an exclusive array of artists. The gallery is a new venture for Roberts, who retired this past une from South Mississippi Regional enter, where she served as executive director. She had worked at the facility for 2 years, six of those as executive director. “ ou never know where your life is headed,” she says. After an already full life, she is ready for the new challenge. “Robin s est may be the next level of fulfillment in my life. It is a time of transition, directorship, moving back to my family home in ass hristian, and opening my business.” o stranger to life s transitions, Roberts is divorced and is the mother of two daughters, essica Mc wen, who lives in Texas; and auren Mc wen inton, who lives with her husband, Brian, and their son, Ryan, in ong Beach. She is, however, unfamiliar with being in the spotlight, a place

Lighthouse Business Professional Women’s

2015 Woman of Achievement Nominee

LESLIE BARFIELD DIRECTOR OF HOTEL SALES

A recognition well deserved!

Don’t Let The Game Get Out Of Hand. Gambling Problem? Call 1-888-777-9696.

| IPBiloxi.com

Years of Boyd Style

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27 8/14/15 4:53 PM

Dorothy Roberts: Pass Christian is the right place to be at this time in my life.

At top, three Roberts sisters: Dorothy, SallyAnn and Robin. Though her sisters have held center stage, Dorothy is comfortable with her role as the quiet sister. Dorothy’s jewelry at show.

A poem written by Dorothy’s brother, Lawrence E. Roberts II, that is framed and hangs in Robin’s Nest.

AMBITION Nothing great is accomplished without ambitions From building the pyramids to flying to the moon To great rulers, businessmen, even politicians, Ambition is the helium for their armed balloons It carries them aloft regardless of weather, It shields them from disappointments whenever they arise, It turn thin skins into leather As long as the eyes on the prize

usually occupied by her family. er parents, ucimarian and awrence Roberts, both now deceased, were well-known and beloved pillars of the community. Both sisters are public figures Sally-Ann Roberts, news anchor at -T in ew rleans, and sister Robin Roberts, anchor of AB s ood Morning America. The women and their brother, awrence II, lived all over the world, following their father and his career in the .S. Air orce, where he attained the rank of colonel before retiring in 19 and settling in Pass Christian. After orothy Roberts own retirement this year, there was no question she would return to the ass. “It is my homage to our family s love for the community.” It is a love that had to grow on Roberts. hen her parents announced they would be retiring in Mississippi, right in the midst of civil rights unrest, Roberts recalls her response “MISSISSI I ” But her parents carefully chose the town they d settle in, and it was a good fit for the family. “ e were drawn to the diversity of people. It had a small-town atmosphere with all folks walking and talking together. It continues to be the right place to be in this season of my life.” The evolution of orothy Roberts from high-level businesswoman to gallery owner has been fueled by Roberts gaining intellectual freedom and embracing the courage it takes to create and find her place with art. A friend recalls being in a boardroom in ulfport nine years ago with others trying to get funding for what would become the Marsha Barbour Resource Recovery enter in e isle. Roberts was on the board that would grant the funding, and the friend recalls Roberts seeming rather stern and unemotional. A few years passed, and the friend saw her displaying her ewelry at The alleria, a gallery in ulfport, and later at shows at at Island offeehouse. Roberts oyously took the time to explain each piece of ewelry she created. She smiled easily, recalls the friend, and seemed more true to her giving and generous nature. “My ewelry is inspired by things I see. I cannot explain; I carefully and intuitively

place pieces together. If it doesn t feel right, I take it apart.” As she speaks, there is a brightness in her eyes, her voice quickens, and her passion is forefront. A few months before opening her gallery, Roberts discussed the business with friends, who recall her exuberance as she described the d cor and the oor plan and explained the name “ est is a nurturing word.” A nest is also an incubator, a vessel from within fosters birth. Metaphorically, Robin s est may be viewed as Roberts artistic rebirth at this stage of her life. Though her sisters have held center stage most of Roberts life, she is comfortable with her role as the quiet sister. “It comes with the territory. irst, I was the colonel s daughter, then immy s wife, and my two sisters have been in the public spotlight almost my entire adult life.” Roberts says her parents instilled a strong sense of self and helped her to recognize and accept her own identity. “It is a tremendously rewarding part of my life to have two sisters who are so loved and admired,” she says. And though Roberts gallery has her well-known sister s name, it was Roberts herself who, after a lifetime of saving, owns the business. Anyone who understands art and business has no trouble believing Robin s est in the ass will be a success. As an artist, Roberts exudes a subdued inner happiness, overlaid with a tinge of stress in opening her own business. When she describes the building, her jewelry, and the other artists who will show their work in Robin s est, she talks about the effect those things will have on people who visit Robin s est. She understands that art is an experience and that her role is to match each visitor with the perfect item. Roberts knows she could have gone anywhere and done anything after retiring, but she feels she is where she wants and needs to be. “The irony of all this is that I m staying in ass hristian,” she says. “It is the right place to be in this season of my life. This town meant so much to my parents.”

Nothing is ever too far to reach He who climb highest on the tree in search of the peach 28

September - October 2015

The three eggs in the shop’s logo represent the three sisters.

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LETTER FROM THE BPW PRESIDENT

Congratulations to 40 women deserving the spotlight More than 90 nominees poured in from across the Mississippi ulf oast. e are proud to be able to recogni e 40 finalists this year. The judges will select one winner in each of the seven categories Medical, onprofit, orporate, overnment Military, ducation, ntrepreneur, and oung areerist (ages 213 ). rom these winners, a oman of the ear will be named. In addition this year, ighthouse Business rofessional omen will recogni ed a Member of the ear and olunteer of the ear. To be considered for an award, nominees must have had 10 years of work experience in her most recent career field; live and or work in ackson, arrison or ancock ounty; and demonstrate excellence and leadership in her career field. ighthouse B s annual awards will be the highlight of a fantastic new conference called S SS. The day s events will inspire, empower and mentor women. We are very excited to partner with ulf oast oman magazine and other sponsors to present a day that will not only showcase deserving women, but also offer an incredible experience to all businesswomen on the Coast.

BECOME A PART OF LIGHTHOUSE BPW Lighthouse BPW meets at noon the third Wednesday of each month at Merit Health, Biloxi.

Award renamed in honor of Sock The ighthouse B oman of the ear award is the final one presented annually. uests wait with much anticipation to hear who will be the next oman of the ear. The highly touted award recogni es a single woman each year for career experience, personal achievements, education, and contributions to the community. This year, the award is being renamed the Karen Sock oman of the ear Award, recogni ing Sock s extensive career experiences, contributions to the community, and the mentoring role she has taken with hundreds of businesswomen across the oast. Kearn herry, president of ighthouse B , says Sock is deserving of such recognition because she is the first woman many name when naming a businesswoman who has made a deep and lasting impact on women on the Mississippi ulf oast. “Karen is a consummate mentor who continually connects women to opportunities and to others who could mentor them,” herry says. “She has set a remarkable example of how a woman can make a significant difference in the corporate arena, nonprofit sector, as a wife and mother, and as an entrepreneur.” Sock is president and of Sock nterprises Inc., which is a multifaceted consulting firm designed to provide companies and organi ations with a variety of strategic professional services. ver the years, she has excelled in a number of executive operating positions in the casino hotel entertainment arena, and has been recogni ed internationally for her business acumen. ith a primary focus now on her consulting business, Sock uses her expansive skills and talents to help her community and to expand the capacity of various organi ations, both for-profit and nonprofit. 30

September - October 2015

2015

Celebrating

years

always enjoyed Skinner Bishop has of Bakery Owner Tina , Tina has dreamed loved. For 25 years day e’s on ery ev g baking for those she kin r own words, “ba he in d an r ke of ba a becoming s with the opening achieved her dream n a little sweeter.” Tina n be found in her ow ca a ly 2012. Today Tin Ju a in a on Tin ts ee By s sw ke Ca g decadent baking and designin commercial kitchen opening of our large scale. am but now with the dre my ng livi I am ly “Not on to the fun of cake le to introduce children ab I’m , om Ro e ak Cupc Tina. decorating too” said e by her customers ccess is made possibl su r he s Tina realize you for your k her. Says Tina, “Than and staff who support a to be a part of Tin By allowing Cakes d an , ort pp su s, es busin your special days”.

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Heather Brierton 228-669-7446 heatherbrierton.arbonne.com thbrierton@cableone.net 31

WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT / CORPORATE Leslie Barfield

Director of sales, IP Casino Resort Spa eslie Barfield is the director of sales for the I asino Resort Spa in Biloxi. Since 1999, Barfield has managed the group sales department and she and her team have worked with more than 3,000 conferences, groups and conventions. Barfield graduated from the niversity of Alabama where she received a bachelor s degree in business administration with a minor in marketing. er 30-plus years of hotel sales experience also include yatt, ilton and Marriott hotels. Barfield s mentor and role model is Bonnie Boyce, who was one of the sales managers she worked for at the yatt long ago. Barfield says all the leadership skills she admires most honesty, impartiality, positive attitude, kindness, accountability, good listener and speaker are found in Boyce.

“Bonnie has a contagious oy for life and never came to work in a bad mood,” Barfield says. “She took the time to teach me many things that I use to this day.” The list of community and civic organi ations Barfield has been involved with (past and present) is extensive. She was the past president of ospitality Sales Marketing Association International and has garnered various industry awards and recognitions.

Loretta Magee Bridges

Branch manager & community CRA director, BancorpSouth oretta Bridges has lived on the Mississippi ulf oast for 23 years and has served in the banking industry for 13 years. In 200 , she began her career with BancorpSouth as a customer service representative, and in 2013, she was promoted to branch manager and ommunity Reinvestment Act oordinator. In the RA position, Bridges is responsible for handling the needs of the community through various nonprofit organi ations in the Biloxi ulfport area. “I love my ob and the opportunity that it brings me to serve the community, as well as help others to achieve their financial goals,” Bridges says. utside of the corporate setting, additional contributions

to the community include serving as a board member for Biloxi Main Street, omen s Resource enter and oodwill Industries. She also was a Mother of the ear candidate for the AA Biloxi hapter in 2004. Bridges received her real estate license in 2000, which is currently inactive until retirement, and in 2009, received her MS ealth and ife license to sell life, annuity, and long-term care insurance with BancorpSouth ealth Management.

Tina Seymour Demoran, JD, RRT

Director of corporate compliance and lead broker, Corporate Management, Incorporated and Cornerstone Realty, LLC Tina emoran has been featured as a guest lecturer and columnist in Texas and Mississippi since 2004 on such topics as medical documentation, assault and battery in the medical field, and I AA and S A regulations at various hospitals, allied health programs, and intensive care conferences. emoran has degrees in respiratory therapy, psychology, biblical studies and law, and also is a licensed respiratory therapist, attorney and real estate broker in the State of Mississippi. emoran spends much of her free time helping others and holds the role of mentor to young and old adults newly diagnosed with colon cancer. She s been a volunteer and guest speaker with the American ancer Association since 2009, raising awareness for all cancers while sharing her story of diagnosis, treatment and remission. er volunteer work includes serving as a member of the 32

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Board for the cean Springs acht lub, as Regatta hair for the cean Springs Sailing, and as a Board Member for ild at eart ildlife Rescue in ancleave, where she also serves as a wildlife rescuer transporter. emoran s next business venture includes the midovember grand opening of her new law firm, Seymour aw irm, in Iberville, where she will speciali e in real estate closings, title insurance, employment contractual, privacy medical regulatory risk management and estate planning.

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Sandi Favre is owner of Viagio Travel, a full-service travel agency on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Viagio Travel is a member of Virtuoso, the world's premier leisure travel association, which is a designation only 1% of travel agencies receive. In the last 15 years, the role of a travel advisor has shifted from transactional (booking tickets and rooms for you) to transformative (working with you to plan the best experience possible for you and your family). In short, Viagio Travel helps you cut through the clutter of the internet! Their clients are often upgraded and receive additional amenities and perks because of their Virtuoso designation and relationships with hotels and cruise lines. Along with her staff, Sandi has over 50 years experience in the travel industry. The Viagio Travel staff know the world well, and love working with those who have a quest for adventure and personalized itineraries. There is nothing Viagio Travel loves more than making your travel dreams become a reality and lifelong memory! www.gcwmultimedia.com

WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT / CORPORATE LaWanda Jones

Legal executive assistant, Hancock Bank a anda ones is a mother, wife, daughter and community advocate. ou can find her spending time volunteering in the community with her children in tow teaching them the value of giving back. ones works full-time as a legal executive assistant with ancock Bank and also is a full-time student. ones worked at the Beau Rivage for five years as executive assistant, and in 2013, she was recogni ed as the Beau Rivage olunteer of the ear. This year, she received the istinguished olunteer of the ear by the ity of Biloxi for her significant community service contributions. She has been involved in a number of organi ations,

including serving on the Biloxi Main Street board, the iversity ommittee hair for the Biloxi hamber of Commerce board, and the vice president for the I S erforming Arts Advisory board. “I believe you should never stop learning and growing your mind, and never give up on yourself,” ones says. “ amily and faith are key to one s success that is engrained in a strong moral fiber.”

Dorothy Dubose Shaw

Manager of Community Relations/Government Affairs, Ingalls Shipbuilding orothy ubose Shaw is manager of community relations government affairs for Ingalls Shipbuilding in ascagoula where she has been employed for 43 years. She earned a bachelor s degree in business administration from ackson State niversity, is a graduate of eadership ackson County, and has completed management development training at arvard niversity, The harton School of Business and olumbia niversity. Shaw s impressive tenure at Ingalls is considered to be her most significant accomplishment “I have served as the first and only female in the history of Ingalls Shipbuilding to manage the labor relations function,” Shaw says. “This was a male dominated profession and I managed to succeed and earn the respect and cooperation of labor leaders.” ommunity service is a way of life for Shaw. She is

involved in a number of organi ations, including treasurer of the board of the ackson ounty hamber of ommerce; board chairman of ulf oast Renaissance orporation and ackson ounty Salvation Army; immediate past chairman of the ulf oast ommunity oundation; and vice-president of the Board of Trustees of the alter Anderson Museum of Art. Shaw has been honored with many awards such as South Mississippi s utstanding ommunity eaders Award and recogni ed as one of Mississippi s Top 0 Business omen. She was recently awarded the ational ommunity Service Award by omen of olor Maga ine.

Gina Bardwell Tompkins

Attorney, member of Page, Mannino, Peresich & McDermott, PLLC As an attorney, ina Bardwell Tompkins practice primarily consists of municipal law, state and federal workers compensation, insurance defense, personal in ury defense, employment law and appellate practice. Tompkins also is an approved Mississippi orkers ompensation Mediator and has mediated a number of cases successfully for different local attorneys. Tompkins attended the niversity of Mississippi and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 19 and a uris octor egree in 19 9. hile in law school, she served as a staff member and Research ditor for the Mississippi aw ournal and received the American urisprudence Award in Real roperty and ederal urisdiction. hen it comes to leadership skills Tompkins admires, finishing a task from start to finish and doing it well is at the top of her list.

September - October 2015

“I admire the ability of others to completely submit to a task, take over, organize it and just go,” she says. “I have friends who ust know what to do to complete a task and then do it. They know how to accomplish a task and can ust take control and see things to the end.” Tompkins is involved in a number of associations, including serving as past president, past vice-president, and past treasurer for the arrison ounty Bar Association. She also was selected as Best awyer in the practice area of and se and oning aw and itigation in 2013 and 2014, and itigation in 2012.

It is such an honor to have been chosen as a Nominee Finalist for the 2015 Women of Achievement Award. I appreciate you all! Congratulations and best wishes to all fellow Nominee Finalists!

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WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT / CORPORATE Shannon Wall

Vice president of sales and marketing, Sun Herald/Velocity Shannon all is the vice president of sales and marketing at the Sun erald where she manages the entire sales team, as well as oversees the marketing and advertising for company. ast year, she assembled a team to help launch elocity, which is a digital agency within the organi ation. ue to the high success of elocity, all will be assisting with the implementation of the program at 2 other Mc latchy newspapers across the country. rior to oining the Sun erald seven years ago, all worked in the gaming industry for 1 years and served as the vice president of advertising and marketing for ard Rock Biloxi, which included being part of the original team that opened the property. all says the leadership skills she admires most are risk-takers

and mentors. “I admire folks who are not afraid to take chances and are not afraid to fail,” all says. “Success comes when you fail. ou learn from your mistakes and you get right back up and start over. I also admire people who are willing to give others a shot, take them under their wings, and show them the ropes.” Contributions to the community include serving on boards for nited ay of South Mississippi and Knight onprofit Center.

WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT / EDUCATION Heather Annulis, Ph.D., CPLP

Professor of Human Capital Development, University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast r. eather Annulis serves as a tenured, full professor of uman apital evelopment at the niversity of Southern Mississippi. Annulis directs the uman apital evelopment Master of Science degree program and the Training and evelopment ertificate program. She holds a doctorate from SM in International evelopment with a concentration in workforce training and development and a master s degree in ommunication from the niversity of ouisiana at afayette. ver the last 1 years, Annulis has been instrumental, in generating more than million in external funding for Southern Miss. Associated with this funding was research conducted through ASA to help develop a well-trained geospatial workforce. Annulis work also has been funded through the .S. epartment of abor and the Mississippi epartment of mployment Security. Annulis says her boss, r. yndi audet, who also is a

professor in the same field at SM, is her role model “She has an uncanny ability to connect the dots for the greater good of all stakeholders,” Annulis says. “She is creative in problem-solving and makes people feel good about their work and their accomplishments.” Annulis has received a number of honors and awards, and her research interests include creating change readiness in organizations, developing and implementing competency models, and determining return of investment of performance improvement programs. She has presented at more than 1 0 regional, national and international conferences on these subjects and her research has been published in international journals

Heather Hefley Blenden

Principal of Bel-Aire Elementary, Harrison County School District

eather e ey Blenden has 1 years of experience in education, 12 years of which were spent in administrative positions in elementary, middle and high school settings. She has worked for the arrison ounty School istrict since 200 and currently is the principal of Bel-Aire lementary School. ver the years, Blenden has served in a number of administrative roles including assistant principal at Iberville igh School, principal at orth oolmarket lementary Middle School, and principal at est ortham lementary Middle School. rior to working for the arrison ounty School istrict, Blenden taught at Moss oint igh School and served as assistant principal, and also taught at St. aul s piscopal School. Blenden earned three higher education degrees from the niversity of South Alabama, including a Bachelor of Science

September - October 2015

degree in Secondary ducation in 1999, a Master s egree in ducation Administration and eadership in 2003, and an ducational Specialist s egree in ducation Administration and eadership in 200 . She also was honored with the distinguished niversity of South Alabama ollege of ducation Student of the ear for the ducation and Administration program in 200 . Blenden completed the ational Institute of School eaders in 2013. She is a member of the Mississippi Association of School Administrators, the arrison ounty Republican lub, and arrison ounty Republican omen.

Where Fashion Meets Comfort!

J Laurie Shoe Boutique in downtown Ocean Springs is helping the Coast woman to put her best foot forward. Upon setting foot in the store, customers are guaranteed to find a quality, eye-catching pair of shoes that are also VERY comfortable! “I felt like there was a void on the Coast in terms of a shoe store,” said owner Jan Rideout of her reason for opening J Laurie.” “So many women have come in and said, “Thank goodness we have a shoe store in Ocean Springs now!”

Rideout believes shoes are a reflection of the people who wear them and can be a form of self-expression. “I have a lot of unique styles. Our inventory is not something you’ll see everywhere,” she said. “You can cho ose conservative, or you can go a little more ‘out there’ with something more creative and colorful. At J Laurie, style goes hand in hand with comfort. Rideout recognizes that most women today do not want to suffer on their feet. But www.gcwmultimedia.com

she also believes that you don’t have to sacrifice fashion to get the comfort you deserve. Fashion meets comfort with brands like Naot, Spring Step, Earthies, Fly London, Naya, Johnston & Murphy and more. Prices start at $69 and the majority of shoes at J Laurie are under $200. Rideout has worked hard to make her shop a posh, yet pleasant shopping environment. “People really comment about how pretty the store is,” she said. “It’s very

contemporary and has a lot of color. People think it’s a really cool place to shop.” Customers will adore J Laurie because it fulfills a basic need: a woman’s right to shoe!. “There’s something about a really great pair of shoes that gives you a fabulous feeling. It can give you confidence, said Rideout. “the right pair of shoes CAN change your life. Just ask Cinderella.”

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Ocean Springs

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Summer Newman, Realtor

Kristi Bass, Realtor I love my job! I enjoy meeting new people and take a personal interest in each transaction. I run my business with one thing in mind.......you. With over 10 years experience, I bring an energy, competitive spirit, and a belief in success.

I have been in Real Estate for 3 years, was a top producer in 2014. I have been with Nicole and Fidelis Realty the entire time and couldn’t imagine working with anyone else. I have a passion for Real Estate and love helping people reach their Real Estate goals.

Summer Newman, Realtor 228-861-9702 cell 228-388-7701 fax 228-896-4200 ffi e

2318 Pass Rd, Suite 7A Biloxi, MS 39531 SummerNewmanSells@gmail.com

Sallie Lawson, Realtor

Sallie Lawson, Realtor 228-918-0797 cell 228-388-7701 fax 228-896-4200 ffi e

2318 Pass Rd, Suite 7A Biloxi, MS 39531 sallielawson@cableone.net 38

After over 9 years experience in Property Management and Real Estate, now as a Buyer’s and Seller’s Agent, I am committed to personal and professional growth looking for new ways to excel and enhance the real estate experience for my clients. I have held true to the goals I set for myself when I first started, and continue to find success with Fidelis Realty to reach even higher! Follow your Dreams! That’s my formula for Success.

September - October 2015

Kristi Bass, Realtor 251-406-1898 cell 228-388-7701 fax 228-896-4200 ffi e

2318 Pass Rd, Suite 7A Biloxi, MS 39531 basskristi@hotmail.com

The Hudson Team, Realtors I met my Firefighter husband Caleb, after Hurricane Katrina. You could say we fell in love on a roof, rebuilding homes for families that had lost everything. We cut lawns to make a living for 8 years until it landed one of Caleb Hudson, Realtor us in the E.R. We needed a new 228-218-4727 cell occupation. I remembered that Chelsea Hudson, Realtor feeling of acomplishment giving families their homes back after the 228-218-9273 cell storm. We wanted to recapture 228-388-7701 fax that feeling... That’s why I became 228-896-4200 ffi e a REALTOR. My husband & I are 2318 Pass Rd, Suite 7A The Hudson Team with Fidelis Biloxi, MS 39531 Realty. We can help you find your American Sign Language thehudsonteam@yahoo.com dream home.

Nicole Nezat, Broker Nicole opened her first business at the age of 17. After years of success with Nezatyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cafe, she sold the business to begin her real estate career in 2000 to later open Fidelis Realty in 2009. Upon opening Fidelis Realty, Nicole wanted a name that was strong and represented her personal values. Fidelis by definition means faithful, loyal, and trustworthy, all attributes that she considers vital for long-term business success. Fidelis Realty is committed to providing the Gold Standard in Real Estate, to serving clients and her agents with integrity and commitment to success. Nicole prides herself on being hands on with not only her personal clients, but with her agents as well. Whether buying or selling, it brings Nicole great joy in facilitating her clientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s real estate goals. Nicole would be honored to assist you in evaluating your real estate needs and help you achieve your goals.

2318 Pass Road, Suite 7A Biloxi, MS 39531 228.365.0550 cell . . ffi e ni lene a fideli real y. .fideli real y.

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WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT / EDUCATION Christine Coker, Ph.D.

Associate Research and Extension Professor, Mississippi State University r. hristine oker has been with the Mississippi State niversity s oastal Research and xtension enter for more than 14 years. She is an Associate Research and xtension rofessor of rban orticulture and Research eader of the Beaumont orticultural nit in erry ounty. oker received her h. . in horticulture from Auburn University and her research interests include commercial vegetable production, high tunnel production, home gardening, green roofs, and community food systems. oker is actively involved in the creation of school and community gardens across South Mississippi, and last year, she was honored for this effort by the S A- atural Resources onservation Service. She is a ertified reen Roof rofessional, a Master iti en lanner, and has a Mississippi esticide Applicators icense. oker credits her mom, iane arris, for being such a strong

role model and teaching her about compassion and empathy. “I admire and appreciate leaders who listen, really listen to those around them,” oker says. “ hile they may not always agree with a point of view or change course of action, it is empowering when one feels that they have been heard and that their ideas matter.” Community contributions include serving as board president for oaves and ishes, and a board member and treasurer for the Mississippi ood olicy ouncil, as well as conducts horticulture therapy programs.

Cyndi Huff Gaudet

Chair and professor of the Department of Human Capital Development, University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast r. yndi uff audet serves as chair and professor of the epartment of uman apital evelopment at the niversity of Southern Mississippi ulf oast. yndi s passion is developing people through academic programs of excellence that prepare R professionals for the workplace. She championed the development and implementation of the MS and h. . in uman apital evelopment at Southern Miss in 199 and 200 programs designed to prepare senior learning leaders who can strategically lead and manage talent in organizations. audet is an active researcher with more than million in external funding, 0 publications, 100 presentations, and

national awards of recognition. Among the organi ations with whom audet has worked as a consultant are ASA, the niversity of Mississippi Medical enter, Smoothie King orporate, and Master ard International. audet holds R I ertification from the R I Institute, a B.S. and M. d. (19 , 19 ) from Southern Miss and a h. . (1991) in uman Resource ducation and orkforce evelopment from ouisiana State niversity.

Velma Johnson

Federal Programs and Community Relations Coordinator, Gulfport School District elma ohnson is the ederal rograms and ommunity Relations oordinator for the ulfport School istrict. She received her bachelor s degree in physical education from the niversity of South Alabama and continued her educational opportunities at the niversity of South Alabama, where she obtained a master s degree in education administration. After receiving her bachelor s degree, she began her career in education at Bayou iew Middle School sixteen years ago and had the opportunity to teach physical education and computer discovery. She also coached after school athletics for nine years and served as assistant principal for three and a half years. As an educator, youth director, and mother, ohnson strives to live by the words of the late Mrs. Rita ierson, “ very child

September - October 2015

deserves a champion — an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists that they become the best that they can possibly be.” ohnson is involved in a number of organi ations in the community and also was a recipient of the Mississippi School ublic Relations Association Award of xcellence in 2014 and 201 , as well as received the nited ay Trailbla er Award last year.

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WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT / ENTREPRENEUR Heather Brierton

Independent consultant and regional vice president, Arbonne International eather Brierton moved to the Mississippi ulf oast in 200 after relocating her family s residential construction company. She oined Arbonne in 200 as an independent consultant and wholesale consumer, and five years later, was promoted to regional vice president. er success with Arbonne has garnered incentive trips to ew ork, Atlantis, uerto Rico, ominican Republic, os abos and the astern aribbean, and last year, she was given the keys to a Mercedes Ben . In 2012, Brierton received the ircle of xcellence Award at the Arbonne lobal Training onference where she was recogni ed as one of the top 0 in the company for personal sales. Brierton admires an “outside the box thinking mentality” in leaders “ orld class thinkers create and build other leaders,” she says. “By having this mindset, leaders operate from love

and abundance and lead others to operate the same way.” She graduated from ittsburg State niversity with a degree in health, physical education and recreation, and is currently working on a certification in health coaching through the Institute for Integrative utrition. Brierton and her family also started a charitable foundation in 2013 called ope4a uture oundation, which has raised and awarded more than 90,000 to families in medical crisis since ecember of 2013.

Katherine DeCoito

Realtor, treasurer and co-owner, DeCoito Homes and Realty Katherine e oito and her husband own e oito omes and Realty. hile raising their four children, she participated in many ministry, professional development and educational activities, and is a strong advocate for servant leadership a belief that leaders must first be servants. “An individual who puts the needs of others above their own and places od as their number one priority is one that has my respect and admiration,” e oito. “It takes work and intentionality, but it is worth the effort as organi ations and communities thrive when the needs of others are put before the needs of the individual.” She received a bachelor s degree in business from illiam

arey ollege, a master s degree in theological studies from Southwestern Assembly of od niversity, and in 200 , received her real estate license. e oito participates in a large number of ministry pro ects throughout the coast such as eed the eed, eed My Sheep, oaves and ishes, and hristmas and Thanksgiving food drives, as well as various outreaches to children and local fire and police stations.

Audrey Duncan

Owner of Ms. Audrey’s Southern Kitchen and Catering Audrey uncan was born and raised in Mississippi and has a tremendous passion for cooking because she en oys how it brings people together. “ ooking and preparing exemplary cuisine has been a common source in the black tradition of symbolic love and community building,” uncan says. She started her career path in the food service industry nearly 2 years ago, and when she relocated to the ulf oast 1 years ago, uncan became the food production manager for arden ark Medical enter. She was then co-owner of “ our s ountry, a un, aribbean, uisine” for two years followed by serving as the food and beverage director of the ourtyard ulfport Beachfront Marriott hotel for eight years. uring her time at the Marriott, she opened the hotel s first southern cuisine buffet, which greatly increased revenue for the company, and eventually inspired uncan to once again fulfill 42

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the dream of opening her own restaurant. This year, “Ms. Audrey s Southern Kitchen and atering” opened in ulfport, and her restaurant won first place in the “Taste, Rattle, and Roll” competition hosted by the Mississippi ulf oast hamber of ommerce and Island iew Casino. uncan thanks her mom for being a role model that instilled a love for cooking “She worked hard all her life and it was because of her that I learned to value cooking as an art and means to success,” she says.

“I didn’t have to leave my family.” Triple negative breast cancer survivor Cynthia Hunt receives comprehensive, quality cancer treatment right here in South Mississippi. On April 29, 2013, at the age of 44, Cynthia Hunt discovered what she hoped to be a simple hematoma in her breast. On June 18, she was admitted to Singing River Health System’s Regional Cancer Center to undergo post-surgical treatment for triple negative breast cancer. There she met Dr. Brian Persing, and together with the Cancer Center team, her friends and family by her side, they set out to fight this less common form of breast cancer. “Once I accepted the fact I had cancer, I told Dr. Persing I would be the best cancer patient he ever had,” said Cynthia. “I shaved my own head and I told my boys, as I always do, it’s the four of us against the world.” After four surgeries, four rounds of chemotherapy and six weeks of radiation, Cynthia would win the fight and be declared cancer-free. “If I could take every cancer patient I could and send them to Dr. Persing and the Regional Cancer Center team I would. You don’t always have to leave, you can get quality treatment right here. I didn’t have to leave my family, and having them with me during my visits to the Cancer Center was the most important part of treatment. I’m still here today because of my faith in God, my family and my cancer team.”

Singing River Health System offers two Regional Cancer Center facilities, one at the Ocean Springs Medical Park and the other at Singing River Hospital in Pascagoula. Each has received accreditation by the American College of Surgeons (ACOS) for meeting core standards and is affiliated with one of the nation’s leading cancer research and treatment centers, the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center. Regional Cancer Center prescribed treatment plans may include medical oncology (chemotherapy, hormonal therapy and biologics), radiation oncology, hematology and surgical oncology treatment coordination. In addition, all lab testing, pharmacy needs and imaging services are part of the treatment support services available at the Regional Cancer Center. Patients may participate in voluntary clinical research studies, and a variety of patient and family support programs are available throughout the year. The Legacies Patient Advocate Program brings “cancer veterans” together with cancer patients, their families and friends. Those who have experienced cancer firsthand help new patients by sharing advice and offering encouragement.

To learn more about Singing River Health System’s Regional Cancer Center and its board certified physician team and highly trained clinical staff, please visit www.singingriverhealthsystem.com.

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WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT / ENTREPRENEUR Holly Lemoine-Raymond Real estate agent

olly emoine-Raymond has spent the ma ority of her life in ancock ounty where she has worked and developed long lasting relationships, as well as a successful career. or five years, she owned the ypress af in Bay St. ouis and fulfilled a lifelong dream of not only starting her own business, but also having the opportunity to express her creativity by designing it from start to finish. “I believe in creating an environment that makes people feel at home, creates sustainability within the community, and is environmentally conscientious,” emoine-Raymond says. “I used recycled materials such as recycled pallets, nautical ropes, distressed cypress tables and other recycled materials.” In 2013, she placed second in the IB national “ ow I Built My Business” contest, and in 2014, she was recogni ed nationally for ho s ho in Business. This year, she sold the

caf so she could concentrate solely on her real estate career, but continues to work out of the building she loves. “I m proud of starting my own caf and finding success in providing a consistent, quality product delivered with caring service,” emoine-Raymond says. She is actively involved in her community through various organizations, including raising financial contributions and donating ducks from her animal rescue farm to restore the duck pond, which helped revitali e the epot istrict in ld Town Bay Saint ouis.

Angel Kibler-Middleton Owner of Angel’s Auto Sales

Angel Kibler-Middleton and her husband own Angel s Auto Sales in ulfport, which was recently recogni ed as the Sun erald s eoples hoice Award for the o. 2 used car dealer on the Mississippi ulf oast. She was born and raised in arrison ounty and graduated from Mississippi ulf oast ommunity ollege in 199 with a nursing degree. er career began at a nursing home, followed by a position in the I at Stone ounty ospital. Kibler-Middleton left nursing in 2004, at which time she was the hospital supervisor at Select Medical orporation in Biloxi. She has owned Angel s Auto Sales for almost 1 years and her husband owns a large ower Sports business in ulfport, and they co-own several et ski rentals on the coast.

She is the former board of director for arrison ounty Beautification ommission, and also was a founding member and board of director for the ulf oast eritage Trails artnership. After urricane Katrina, she was on the Steering ommittee for development in est arrison ounty. Kibler-Middleton is a member of the arrison ounty Republican omen roup, ulfport Business lub, ulf oast Attractions roup, and the arrison ounty arm Bureau. She also is active in the T at St. ames atholic School.

Nikki Moon

Owner of Bay Town Inn Bed & Breakfast or 30-plus plus years, ikki Moon worked for the ew rleans onvention isitors Bureau, and for the last 20 years, she served as vice president of sales. uring her tenure, she led a team of 2 sales managers in four cities marketing ew rleans as a convention destination. In 2013, she was a member of the ityBusiness omen of the ear class an annual event and publication that recogni es 0 individuals for their career and community contributions. “To assist in bringing thousands of people to your city and see the shop owners happy, the taxis full, the restaurants bustling it was a great feeling,” she says. “The most rewarding though was mentoring our staff and watching them grow and succeed.” In 2003, Moon fulfilled a lifelong dream and bought the Bay Town Inn Bed Breakfast in Bay St. ouis. Although Katrina robbed her dream, she reopened the inn in 2013, which she considers her most significant accomplishment. That same year, Bay Town was awarded Business of the ear.

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After her successful career in the hospitality industry in ew rleans, she now loves living in the small community of “the Bay.” Moon brings her strong background in tourism to community efforts by serving in various positions president of ancock ounty Tourism Bureau, advisory board member of isit Mississippi ulf oast, and on the board of directors for ancock ounty hamber of ommerce. Moon also is heavily involved with Brenda s ouse, an emergency shelter for children as their parents work on putting their lives back together. ast year, she hosted their first annual fundraiser.

WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT / ENTREPRENEUR Amber Olsen

Owner of Olsen, LLC dba Nextaff Gulf Coast In 200 , Amber lsen saw a need in the human resource industry for business support services and workforce in the ulf oast region. She holds a bachelor s degree in business, and carrying a strong desire for helping businesses succeed with strategic talent management, she opened lsen, dba as TA ulf oast. lsen s prior experience as for Keystone apital Management established a foundation for fulfilling business needs and establishing relationships for future business growth. She is certified by the uman Resource ertification Institute as a Senior rofessional in uman Resources (S R) and by the Society for uman Resource Management as a Senior ertified rofessional in uman Resources (S RM-S ). A passion for improving business operations drives lsen s involvement in various community programs. She currently holds several leadership positions with area nonprofits and professional

organizations, including past president of the Singing River harter hapter American Business omen s rgani ation, president of the cean Springs Rotary lub, past president of the ulf oast uman Resource Association, ulf oast hamber Board Member, past small business chair for Biloxi hamber Board Member and founder of omen ntrepreneurs ulf Coast. lsen also is a dedicated supporter of local nonprofits, including advocacy for domestic violence, and currently serves on the advisory board for the ulf oast omen s enter for on- iolence - ackson ounty location.

Kathy Rogers

Vice president of Rogers Insurance, Inc. Kathy Rogers is vice president of Rogers Insurance Inc., a ulfport-based business that offers a full range of insurance products from many different companies to help meet customers needs. As an independent insurance agent since 199 , she holds a license for property and casualty insurance, as well as life and health insurance. Rogers past work experience is a versatile mix of knowledge and expertise in varying fields. She was involved in several unique business ventures including operating a riding stable with 0 head of horses (K Riding Stable), a water well drilling business ( yman ell ompany) as a licensed driller, a wastewater system as a licensed wastewater operator, a small water utility company ( yman tilities, Inc.), a scuba dive shop (South MS ive Shop), a three-wheeler repair shop, and a retreat facility in ancock ounty

(The ncounter enter). She is a 19 graduate of arrison entral igh School and her education consisted of caring for my family, running the office and financial side of my various businesses. Rogers is a ertified Insurance Service Representative ( ISR) and obtained her ife ealth Insurance license in 2013. She and her husband founded Adopt-A- randparent ay last year, which drew more than 300 volunteers who visited seniors in nursing homes. The mission of this special day is to connect the generations and create meaningful, one-on-one relationships with seniors in the community.

WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT / GOVERNMENT Sherry Bevis

South Mississippi Service Coordinator for Mississippi Secretary of State Sherry Bevis is the South Mississippi Service oordinator for Mississippi Secretary of State elbert osemann. Since 2013, she has managed a variety of special pro ects for Secretary osemann and also serves as a regional coordinator for voter I . After receiving a Bachelors of Arts degree in communications from Mississippi State niversity, she had the opportunity to move to ashington, . ., to work for Senator Trent ott for two years as his eputy ress Secretary. After working on apitol ill, she furthered her education and received a master s degree in higher education administration from eorge ashington niversity. hen she moved back to the ulf oast, she served as the executive director of the Bay- aveland Main Street rogram, followed by serving as the deputy campaign manager in 2011 for Billy ewes in his statewide campaign for lieutenant governor. www.gcwmultimedia.com

She then returned to the classroom and taught fourth grade at orth Bay lementary School. Bevis and her family have lived in iamondhead for 20 years and values being an active community leader serving as president of the ulfport unior Auxiliary, a board member for the ynn Meadows iscovery enter, and vice president of the Bay Area outh Soccer Association. She also is a graduate of eadership ancock ounty, the ulf oast Business ouncil s Master lass, and a 2011 graduate of eadership ulf oast. 45

WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT / GOVERNMENT Gloria Byrd

Assistant to city attorney/office manager, City of Gulfport loria Byrd began working for the ity of ulfport in 2002 as the assistant to the city attorney, and by 2011, she took on an additional role as the office manager. She carries a number of responsibilities, including preparing bi-weekly reports on current real estate projects and budget reports. Byrd says the leadership skills she admires most in others is honesty “A leader should be trustworthy and maintain a level of integrity, as well as being transparent,” she says. “A great leader will always do what they ask others to do, thereby creating a basis of moral support.” rior to moving to the Mississippi ulf oast, Byrd lived in alifornia and worked for several companies as a Senior itigation Secretary and xecutive egal Secretary. hen her husband passed away in 199 , she established xcalibur imousines Transportation in alifornia in order to maintain a comfortable living for her son.

While operating the limousine service office from home, she successfully maintained ma or clients such as arth ink and some departments in ewlett ackard in Silicon alley. Byrd s community contributions include serving as president of the omen s Mission Ministry and chaplain of the oices of rogressive Mass hoir for rogressive Missionary Baptist hurch. She also is an active participant in oastal omen for hange ( ) an organi ation dedicated to making a difference in the lives of families and helping to develop a vibrant community through youth mentoring, senior advancement and community gardening.

Cheryl Millender

Human resources manager for the City of Gulfport heryl Millender has served as the human resources manager for the ity of ulfport since 200 , where she manages and executes all aspects of the day to human resources functions for nearly 00 employees. In this position, she implemented the first employee appreciation program, facilitated design and negotiation of the employee clinic, and developed the employee wellness program. rior to oining the ity of ulfport, Millender worked for the rand asino in ulfport for 12 years, and in 2004, she was promoted to vice president of human resources. Responsibilities for this 2,200-employee property included recruitment and onboarding, employee relations, labor relations, training and development, compensation, benefits and worker s

compensation. ighlights from Millender s career include graduating from eadership ulf oast in 199 and being presented with the utstanding Service Award from nited ay of South Mississippi. ver the years, she also has been involved in a number of professional, civic, religious and community-based organizations, including serving as civil service commissioner and president for the ity of ass hristian and is one of the founding members of the ulf oast Rites of assage rogram.

Dixie Newman

Biloxi City Councilwoman ixie ewman was elected to the Biloxi ity ouncil in 2013 at the age of 2 , and is currently the youngest and only female sitting on the city s board. She ran for office because she was confident she could give a fresh and diverse perspective in providing constituents with an even more beautiful and financially stable Biloxi. After Katrina, ewman lived in ew ork ity for three years where she learned much of the business world in one of the fastest real estate markets in the country. She was a real estate agent in Manhattan and was employed with the largest rental agency in the city, iti- abitats. pon moving back to Biloxi, ewman started a career with the district attorney s office for five years in the orthless hecks ivision. ewman graduated from the niversity of

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Southern Mississippi ulf oast in 2014 with a degree in business and is now extending her education efforts to pursue a law degree. Currently, she also is a realtor with Keller Williams. Since being elected, she has formed several committees to help her with all of her promised efforts, including the iller ark committee, which thrives on revitali ing the park and now operates as a nonprofit under ulf oast oundation. ewman also serves as vice president of the arrison ounty Republican lub and is a member of several other community organi ations.

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WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT / GOVERNMENT Brenda Simkins

Councilwoman at large for the City of Pascagoula and agent/owner of a State Farm agency Brenda Simkins moved to the ulf oast from eorgia to open her own State arm insurance agency. Although she says deviating from her extremely successful law practice in eorgia was the “single most difficult decision” she has ever made, it led to her most significant accomplishment. “I embarked on building a new book of business with new clients, building new friendships, social and charitable circles, locating new schools and a church home,” Simkins says. “I was blessed to have chosen a community that unbeknownst to me, would welcome me and my family with open arms.” ithin a matter of two years, she ran for a citywide political office at the encouragement from many newfound friends and peers and was elected to the Pascagoula city council. Simkins graduated from the niversity of Mississippi with a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1992, followed by a uris octorate in 199 from the university s School of aw.

Key career accomplishments include personally representing more than 00 clients and handling more than 200 bench trials, mediations, or arbitrations of varying degrees of monetary value. She also was the recipient of the ackson ounty hamber of ommerce Anchor Award for 2013 Rookie Business of the year. Simkins is a Registered Securities ealer (Series 3), a licensed Insurance roducer in Mississippi for roperty asualty and ife ealth, and a licensed mortgage broker in the state. Community and charity involvement includes an extensive list of organi ations.

WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT / MEDICAL Lisa Burwell

Nurse practitioner, Merit Health Biloxi isa Burwell is a family practice board certified nurse practitioner working with the general surgeons of Merit ealth Biloxi. rior to that, she was employed as a nursing instructor at Mississippi ulf oast ommunity ollege. Burwell graduated from the niversity of South Alabama in 200 with a Master of Science in ursing and is a published author in the nursing field. In addition to receiving numerous specialty licenses and certifications in the nursing field, Burwell also is involved in the community. She is a charter member of Rue ieux, and a member of Biloxi Rotary lub where she currently serves as president.

The leadership skills Burwell most admires are the ability to work as a team and give credit where credit is due, honesty, humility and transparency. “ orking as a team, hearing all sides before making decisions, and letting the light shine on those who excel is very worthy,” Burwell says. “Transparency in business dealings builds confidence in the workforce, thus creating ownership.”

Vivian Champaigne

Director of business development, Praetorian Health Services After working in the investment world for many years, including passing the Series exam, hampaigne was given an opportunity to do marketing in the healthcare world, which she loves. She is currently director of business development with raetorian ealth Services. “ ith my recent ob change, I am now blessed to be able to help in arrison ounty and ancock ounty with events that educate and help our senior community,” Champaigne says. er community involvement includes serving as board president for the omen s Resource enter, working on

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fundraising committees for the enter for on- iolence, and facilitating the ackson ounty Senior Awareness vents. The leadership skills Champaigne most admires in others are integrity, hard work, and not letting hard knocks determine a future.

WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT / MEDICAL Terra Dickey

Business development manager, Digestive Health Care Terra ickey is the business development manager for igestive ealth are, which has numerous center locations across the ulf oast. Additionally, she serves as executive director for the Mississippi enter of Autism and Related evelopmental isabilities; administrative assistant for Mississippi oast hysicians, ; special pro ect chairperson and treasurer for the ulf oast atient ellness oundation; and administrative assistant for the hysicians ollaborative Trust of the Mississippi ulf oast. espite extensive managerial roles, ickey remains one of the ulf oast s top community leaders serving more than 00 hours a year as a volunteer for many organi ations, including the Mississippi ealth Advocacy rogram, the Mississippi Tobacco ree oalition, and the American ancer Society. Most recently, she was awarded the 2014 resident s olunteer Service Award, the AA s Medgar and Myrlie

vers Ambassador Award, and received recognition for outstanding service by Mississippi ulf oast s Susan . Komen and the 2014 oast-wide M K ommittee. The leadership skill ickey admires most in people is inspiring others through actions and words to go beyond their preconceived limits, and says her most significant accomplishment is taking advantage of the opportunities to give back to her community, which she credits as od s blessing. “Because of this opportunity, I am inspired to work harder and to share even more of my talents with others,” ickey says.

Vanessa Duncombe

Physician, Merit Health Biloxi r. anessa uncombe is an active member of the Merit ealth staff and currently practices in three locations primary care physician at are lus romenade Medical enter in Iberville; medical director at St. oseph ospice; and physician at ulfport ob orp. She is board certified by the American Board of amily Medicine and also has Advanced ardiac ife Support, Basic ife Support and American Society of Addiction certifications. r. uncombe has been practicing family medicine for 13 years. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the niversity of Arkansas in 199 and received her M. . from the niversity of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in 1999, followed by completing her internship and residency in Arkansas as well. A key leadership skill r. uncombe appreciates in others is organi ation “I admire a person who is able to anticipate the needs of the group and implement that need beforehand,” she says. “ or

example, sending out reminders. As much as everyone is expected to know what s going on and be prepared, there s nothing like getting a reminder to keep everyone aware of expectations and to eliminate potential excuses.” This year, r. uncombe was promoted to Assistant hief of Medicine at Biloxi Regional Medical enter (now Merit ealth) and is a member several national medical organizations, as well as eroines of ericho 44, Karun ourt 9 and ulf oast Alumnae hapter elta Sigma Theta. She also stays engaged in the community by participating in a number of local charitable events.

Brenda Waltz

CEO, Garden Park Medical Center Brenda alt has served as of arden ark Medical enter since August 2010, where she guides and directs facility operations for a 130-bed hospital and supervises 2 department managers and a staff of more than 00 employees. Brenda has had a long tenure in management with ospital orporation of America, the parent company of arden ark Medical enter, serving as of four other hospitals during her career. alt received her Bachelor of Science in ursing and Master of Science in ospital Administration from the niversity of klahoma. She is a ellow of the American ollege of ealthcare xecutives and the Mississippi ospital Association xecutive Board. She also is the nited ay of South Mississippi campaign co-chair, a ulfport Rotary lub member, a Mississippi ulf oast Area hamber

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of ommerce member, and ulf oast Business ouncil member. alt says her first role model was her mother for teaching “basic rules” such as how to be nice to others, how to work and play with others, and what is most important in life. Another role model that inspires her is Mother Teresa. “Mother Teresa lived a life committed to helping others,” alt says. “It continues to ama e me what one person can accomplish through sel ess giving.”

WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT / NON-PROFIT Felice Kelly Gillum

Director, USO Gulf Coast elice Kelly illum is the director of S ulf oast a nonprofit agency dedicated to lifting the spirits of America s troops and their families. nder her leadership, S ulf oast has been able to expand its outreach to more troops in the community through programs and services that affected more than ,000 service members and their families in 2014. She also has piloted many programs for S worldwide that have benefited the troops along the Mississippi ulf oast. illum was instrumental in opening a S lounge in the ulfport Biloxi International Airport and has significantly expanded outreach to the Mobile and ew rleans markets. In her first year as director with the S , elice increased the donor revenue by more than percent. Since illum has

been with the agency, she has been instrumental in increasing patron foot traffic by more than 200 percent and the volunteer workforce by 300 percent since she has been with the agency. illum received a degree in psychology from the niversity of Southern Mississippi and began her professional career with the American ancer Society. Through the A S, she was able to learn the essential elements of non-profit management and initiated many programs for cancer control along the ulf oast.

Laurie Johnson

Associate state director of outreach, AARP Mississippi aurie ohnson has more than 20 years of experience working with nonprofits on the Mississippi ulf oast. hile not a native Mississippian, ohnson moved to ulfport in 1992 and immediately began volunteering and immersing herself in communities along the coast. er current position as associate state director of outreach for AAR Mississippi allows her to support and educate the 0plus population in the lower third of the state around issues of caregiving, financial resiliency, personal fulfillment and health security to improve the quality of life for Mississippians as they age. Additionally, ohnson connects with state legislators to promote awareness of issues affecting Mississippians 0-plus, especially in the areas of caregiving support and long-term care. rior to working with AAR , ohnson served as state director for ourt Appointed Special Advocates ( ASA) Mississippi for 10

years. ohnson received a bachelor s degree in psychology from illiam Carey University and pursued six years of education with oach University in executive coaching. er two businesses, 4 lements oaching and onprofit Staff Success International, offer individual and group coaching, training sessions and consulting services for nonprofits and small businesses. Since moving to the ulf oast, ohnson has been involved in a number of organi ations, including serving as a volunteer for the Institute for Marine Mammal Science and the ancock ounty ublic ibrary System.

Paige Roberts

Owner, EPIC Enterprises, LLC aige Roberts is the owner of I nterprises, , a company focused on education, public relations and fundraising initiatives. She is currently co-coordinating athways2 ossibilities an interactive career expo for th graders for six counties in South Mississippi and seven counties in ortheast Mississippi. rom 2004-2010, Roberts was the executive director of the Southeast Mississippi hapter of the American Red ross, followed by a year as the interim state director of ublic Affairs and inancial evelopment for the American Red ross of Mississippi. Roberts also taught ournalism at ascagoula igh School for five years where she developed the state curriculum for high school broadcast ournalism for the Mississippi epartment of ducation. 50

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Roberts moved to South Mississippi when -T hired her out of the niversity of Missouri School of ournalism to be the ackson ounty Bureau Reporter. She recently completed her Master of ublic Administration from the niversity of Southern alifornia. She is an active member in the community through membership in many organizations and serves on the Superintendent s arent Advisory ommittee at ollege ark lementary School, the ackson ounty hamber of ommerce ducation ommittee, and the ulf oast Business ouncil igher ducation ommittee.

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WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT / YOUNG CAREERISTS Tamara Brown

Medical coder/instructor, Digestive Health Center and Virginia College of Biloxi Tamara Brown graduated from irginia ollege with a medical billing and coding diploma in 2010, and immediately began working at igestive ealth enter. Since then, she has been promoted to training supervisor and oversees medical billing and coding extern students. Some of her responsibilities include abstracting physicians notes from three hospitals and providing a thorough review to assign I 9 and T codes correctly, as well as making sure claims are filed in a timely manner. Brown also is certified in I -10 coding through the AA and is an adjunct medical billing and coding instructor at irginia ollege. n Saturdays, she gives ertified rofessional

Coder exam review classes to help students prepare for certification. “My most significant accomplishment was when I received my certification,” Brown says. “ ver since then I have been able to get closer to my dreams, and not only mine, but it has allowed me to be in positions to help others start their career. Receiving my certification has been the key to many doors opening for me.”

Ashley Duke

Director of marketing, Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport Ashley uke has been employed at the ulfport-Biloxi International Airport since 2010, and last year, she was promoted to director of marketing. She received her degree in marketing from the niversity of Southern Mississippi and her primary responsibilities as director include handling all media public relations, press releases, media advisories, social media and newsletters. uke also coordinates advertising strategies and assists with the implementation of new creative concepts for the airport. In addition, she manages the Airport Art rogram, which involves seeking new artists to be displayed in the terminal, and is responsible for overseeing the Airport Ambassador volunteerbased program. ukes says her most significant accomplishment was serving

on the Mississippi ulf oast onor light board from 2010 to 2013 and “being able to give back and support II veterans who made the ultimate sacrifices for our country and freedom.” She also is thankful for the opportunity of serving as a guardian for a II eteran on the sixth onor light during the government shutdown. She is a graduate of eadership ulf oast and eadership ancock ounty, and is involved in various community organizations throughout the Coast.

Sarah Gladish

Human Resources training specialist, Beau Rivage Resort & Casino Sarah ladish began her career with Beau Rivage in 2011. er responsibilities as human resources training specialist are facilitating and monitoring compliance training of all employees, including coordinating leadership development series, computer certification, new employee orientation, alcohol awareness, harassment and discrimination, customer service, and educational programs. She also is responsible for the weekly R newsletter. In addition to her role in human resources, ladish is the chair of the Beau Rivage orporate Social Responsibility ouncil, a member of the Beau Rivage mployee etwork roup, and a member of the local AT chapter. She is an avid

September - October 2015

volunteer in the community working with organi ations such as xcel by and oaves ishes. Regarding the work environment, ladish says she admires a leader that exemplifies integrity, courage and confidence. She also believes that involvement in committees, meetings, and planning for the company are extra opportunities that allow one to be seen, heard, and most importantly, be able to help others.

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Make your dream a reality with favorable lending rates and personalized guidance.53

WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT / YOUNG CAREERISTS Rev. Lashaundra McCarty

Marketing consultant and owner of 3C: Creative Communications & Consulting The Rev. ashaundra Mc arty established 3 reative ommunications onsulting in 2009. Mc arty provides clients with strategies to optimi e marketing efficiency, develops and executes print and web-based marketing campaigns, and conducts customi ed workshops. Mc arty holds a Masters of Art igital Media roduction from merson ollege and a Masters of ivinity from olumbia International Seminary. Mc arty serves as vice president of the board for Moore ommunity ouse based in Biloxi, and also is involved with isciples ustice Action etwork, Bread for the orld, ational onvocation omen s Ministry, and isciples omen s Ministries. hile she is proud of the amount of time she has spent promoting causes that will benefit the poor and disadvantaged, it is not any of those moments she considers her most significant accomplishment. Instead, what stands out in her mind is one

that touches the heart. In 2010, Mc arty had the opportunity to explore erusalem. Among the crowds of tourists, she saw an elderly woman sitting on a step and noticed no one acknowledged her, and that she was an invisible presence asking for alms amid the traffic. Mc arty gave her the remainder of her shekels and heard the woman say a blessing. In a picture she took of that holy site, all Mc arty can see is that woman “My greatest accomplishment is seeing those in our global society that many do not see and being willing to aid them,” she says.

Jaime McNair

Assistant practice administrator and compliance officer, Digestive Health Center, PA As assistant practice administrator and compliance officer for igestive ealth enter, Mc air s main goal is to make sure that the center is always in compliance with local and federal regulations. She also strives to keep up workplace morale, making a great place to work, learn and grow. Mc air has a uris octorate from Barry niversity School of aw and uses her legal expertise as a volunteer for the Mississippi enter for Autism and Related evelopmental isabilities. She previously worked as legal aid and researcher for the hildren s ome Society of lorida where she was responsible for helping children of reater rlando get adopted by well-rounded families.

In addition, Mc air has had roles as a volunteer for athways to ossibilities and a member for the Back Bay Mission Advisory ouncil. She also volunteers with irl Scouts of Mississippi and serves as a troop leader. Mc air s most significant accomplishment is learning to love herself “I have truly grown to see what I have to offer, and I spend every day trying to share my gifts with others,” she says.

Carmelita Scott

Program director, East Biloxi Community Collaborative armelita Scott serves as the program director for the ast Biloxi ommunity ollaborative, which is dedicated to creating a healthy, vibrant and sustainable ast Biloxi for all children and families. They achieve this mission through partnerships with civic, government, education and religious organizations to develop a better place to live, work and play rior to oining the B , Scott worked as a program officer with ope nterprise orporation and ope redit nion. In this capacity, she created partnerships that strengthened communities, built assets and improved lives in economically distressed areas of the mid-south by increasing access to high quality financial products and related services. Scott holds a Bachelors of Arts in mass communication and ournalism from illard niversity and a Masters of Science in public relations from the niversity of Southern Mississippi. She 54

September - October 2015

is an avid community volunteer and has been recogni ed for her efforts through various awards with the most recent being the 201 Biloxi AA harlie lay ommunity Service Award. Scott also is an active member of several organi ations, including the AA Biloxi Branch, oastal omen for hange and elta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. In addition, she serves on the following planning committees Saving ur Sisters, s School Supply iveaway, MS Tobacco ree oalition, Magnolia ealth Advisory Board and the MS ulf oast hamber of ommerce iversity ommittee.

D��, L��, � S�� Providing exemplary legal services to individuals and businesses of the Gulf Coast with strong leadership of Attorney Elise Hickman Lowery

Congratulations 2015 Lighthouse Women of Achievement Nominee Finalists!

Congratulations to all finalists!

Your success has found you out and you are very deserving of this recognition.

D��, L��, � S��, PLLC �� C�� R� | PO B�� G��, MS �� | ��.��.��

WWW.DL-PLLC.COM

From left: Vicki Hensley of PRN Home Care and S.A.F.E., Secretary; Tiffany Bell of Women’s Resources Center, VP of Programs; Debby Cleveland of Merit Health Biloxi, Treasurer; Barbara Butiro of Close to My Heart, VP of Membership; Kearn Cherry of PRN Home Care, President.

September 16 Meeting Doors open at 11:45 a.m. SPEAKER:

Karen Sock of Sock Enterprises Topic: “Out of the Box”

“She is clothed with strength and dignity. Her children arise and call her blessed.” Proverbs 31:25, 28

Congratulations,

Paige Roberts!

Love, Winston, Quincy and Oliver

www.gcwmultimedia.com

Join us for the Success Conference on October 30, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Biloxi Civic Center! Tickets, sponsorships and booths are available. Email Kearn at kearn@prnhomecareservices.com More info: www.lighthousebpw.com Lighthouse Business & Professional Women meets monthly at noon on the 3rd Wednesday at Merit Health Biloxi. Lunch is $10. First-time guests are free! For more information, go to www.lighthousebpw.com 55 or call Kearn at (228) 239-1867

WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT / YOUNG CAREERISTS Shundral Cole

Assistant U.S. attorney, Southern District of Mississippi Shundral ole is an assistant nited States attorney in the criminal division for the Southern istrict of Mississippi. She received a Bachelor of Arts in olitical Science and nglish from the niversity of Mississippi in 200 , and in 200 , she received her octor of urisprudence from Mississippi ollege School of aw. ole has clerked for inds ounty ircuit udge inston . Kidd and Mississippi ourt of Appeals udge avid M. Ishee. She was formerly an assistant district attorney for the Seventh ircuit ourt istrict in inds ounty, Miss. In 2012, Shundral moved to the ulf oast and began working an assistant district attorney for the Second ircuit ourt istrict in arrison County. ast year, ole was honored with the eadership in aw Award as one of the Mississippi Business ournal s Top Ten eading Attorneys in Mississippi.

Currently, she is the assistant secretary for the Magnolia Bar Association, vice president for arrison ounty oung awyers Association, as well as a member of the Mississippi Bar Association, Mississippi rosecutors Association, Mississippi omen awyers Association (M A), and the 2013 Mississippi Bar eadership orum class. ole also is a board member for oast oung rofessionals, a member unior Auxiliary of ulfport, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, the 2014-201 eadership ulf oast Class.

Join BPW today for networking, mentoring The tools you need to succeed ighthouse Business rofessional omen is here to help women advance their careers. ur mission is to unite professional women, support business and community relationships, and provide leadership skills and networking opportunities. Member benefits Impact: Be part of a national movement to create the changes needed for equitable work environments and supportive communities. Networking xchange ideas, explore business opportunities, and share common goals with professional women across the Mississippi ulf oast.

Career enhancement: articipate in B programs that are specifically designed to provide personal and professional development, growth and opportunities. Leadership: Maximi e the career-boosting value of your ighthouse Business rofessional omen membership by identifying volunteer opportunities that match your professional goal or strengthen your existing skills. Visibility: ain visibility and prominence in your community through involvement in ighthouse events. Member benefits/discounts: ain access to special programs and discounts offered by members. Friendships: Membership in ighthouse Business rofessional omen brings many rewards but the most lasting and meaningful are the lifelong friendships.

MORE INFO

www.lighthousebpw.com

September - October 2015

Congratulations GINA TOMPKINS

Thank You Lighthouse Business and Professional Women for awarding Councilwoman Dixie Newman a Nominee Finalist 2015 Women of Achievement.

Nominee Finalist 2015 Lighthouse Women of Achievement Award

It is truly an honor to be included among this outstanding group of women.Congratulations to all nominees!

PO Box 429 Biloxi, MS 39533

228-547-5851

Gina Tompkins Page, Mannino, Peresich & McDermott, PLLC

759 Vieux Marcheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Mall, Biloxi 228-374-2100 | www.PMP.org

CONGRATULATIONS

fellow Nominee Finalists 2015 Women of Achievement! It is truly a privilege to be recognized along side such an accomplished group of professionals. Thank you Lighthouse Business Professional Women for this recognition and all you do for the community!

Auto Insurance Home and Property Insurance Life Insurance Health Insurance Banking Products Annuities Mutual Funds

www.gcwmultimedia.com

Brenda H. Simkins State Farm Agency 1303 South Market Street Pascagoula, MS 39567 228.990.4629 cell 228.762.4822 office 228.762.1409 fax www.bSimkinsInsurance.com

Renewing a healthy, beautiful you is our team’s approach to success.

Dr. Angela Wingfield

Dr. Angela Wingfield established The Dermatology Clinic, PLLC, in 2003, and thanks to word-of-mouth referrals and loyal patients who appreciate the thoughtful, thorough, compassionate care they receive at

the clinic, the practice continues to grow and enjoy success. Dr. Wingfield attributes the clinic’s success to its consistent delivery of high quality, efficient, and dependable care. “We demand excellence from our employees, and they in turn help us deliver excellent care,” she said. Getting its start in a small rental space, the clinic now occupies a beautiful, state-of-the-art facility on the bustling Lorraine-Cowan Road in Gulfport. Always attuned to patients’ needs and on top of the latest advances in the industry, the clinic has carefully expanded its services to meet an ever-growing demand. Its slate of full services include cosmetic wrinkle treatments (fillers and toxins), all types of laser services (tattoo removal, removal of dilated blood vessels, treatment of sun spots and unwanted moles, resurfacing for acne scars and wrinkles), and removal of skin cancers. In addition, aesthetic skin services include chemical peels, Rejuvapen micro-needling, microdermabrasion, facials, brow and eyelash

11295 East Taylor Road | Gulfport, MS 39503 228.864.3300 www.thedermclinic.net

Come join us for our

Open House September 24, 2015 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. D oor P rizes • Refreshments • Specials

September - October 2015

tinting, and waxing. The Dermatology, Clinic, PLLC, also offers an array of professional-grade skin-care products and high quality make-up. Dr. Wingfield employs a team approach to deliver the highest level of customer service. She supervises a team of providers that includes two certified physician assistants -- Kassie Stafford, PA-C and Emily Burger, PA-C; a laser nurse – Teresa Puzz, LPN; and a licensed aesthetician – Tami Madeira. “Our team approach ensures shorter wait times for care and allows us to address both medical and cosmetic concerns so the patient can be treated most effectively,” says Dr. Wingfield, whose total commitment to the practice has made it a dynamic, cutting-edge facility that sets the highest standards for the community it serves.

L t o R : T a m i M a d e i r a , L E , K a si e L . S t a f f o r d , P A - C , Angela B. Wingfield, MD, Emily A. Burger, PA-C, Teresa Puzz, LPN

Experience a full range of cosmetic enhancements by Board Certified Dermatologist,

Dr. Angela Wingfield Botulinum Toxin • Wrinkle Fillers • Laser Resurfacing Laser treatments for sun damage, broken blood vessels, unwanted hair, tattoos, and wrinkles Licensed aestheticians on staff to provide the latest procedures in advanced skin care and rejuvenation Réjuvapen® –Micro Collagen Stimulation ® Silkpeel Dermalinfusion

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Congratulations to Kathy Rogers of Rogers Insurance

and all other Women of Achievement finalists!

LIFE • BUSINESS • AUTO • HOME 15429 O’Neal Road | Gulfport, MS 39503

(228) 832-9313

www.rogersinsurance.com

RETIREMENT | INCOME | PLANNING

Carpet • Tile/Stone • Laminate • Hardwood Vinyl • Plantation Shutters • Blinds 615 Pass Road Ste. D, Gulfport (228) 563-5509 Tues - Fri: 8-4 Sat 10-2 Paula Gamboa, owner

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Our priority is to assist you in retiring with the independence and security you desire.

15429 O’Neal Road Gulfport, MS 39503

(228) 832-9313

www.marstonrogers.com lrogers@aicinvest.com | kathy@marstonrogers.com | kate@marstonrogers.com

Securities and investment advisory services are offered solely through Ameritas Investment Corp. (AIC) Member FINRA/SIPC. AIC and Marston Rogers Group are not affiliated. Additional products and services may be available through Lee Rogers and Marston Rogers Group that are not offered through AIC. For securities, please contact lrogers@aicinvest.com. 59

Women share what 10 success really means WHAT DOES A “SUCCESSFUL LIFE” MEAN TO YOU?

To quote Steve Jobs, “We’re here to put a dent in the universe. Otherwise why else even be here.” I would only add to that by specifying that your “dent” should be a positive one that improves lives.

WHAT ARE YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT AND HOW DID YOU IDENTIFY IT? WHAT BUMPS DID YOU HIT ALONG THE WAY?

I’m passionate about making a lasting impact on the planet — and more specifically on Mississippi. I’m not excited about the typical “American Dream” of getting rich or famous or retiring to a life of leisure. It sounds boring. For me, its all about doing something so important and so helpful that people take it for granted. Clean drinking water (in the U.S. anyway) is so important that you take it for granted. I doubt my impact will be that huge, but I can dream!

WHAT THREE PIECES OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO YOUNG WOMEN WHO ARE JUST BEGINNING THEIR CAREERS? 1. Manage your life, or someone else will manage it for you. Management requires hard decisions and ownership of the outcome. 2. Read. Everything you can. You can learn from others or through experience. Experience can be brutally expensive. Books cost about $10 each. 3. Care and Volunteer. People will remember how you made them feel, much more so than anything you did. You will be blessed ten-fold for every blessing you bestow.

ARE YOU A PERFECTIONIST?

No — isn’t that what a perfectionist would say? I won’t let perfect get in the way of good enough. I’m an action person. For me, any decision is better than no decision. This gets me in trouble sometimes. Thankfully I work with a team of great people who are strong where I am weak. I sincerely value the methodical perfectionists in my life.

TO WHAT DEGREE DOES RISK-TAKING PLAY A ROLE IN YOUR SUCCESS? Quite a lot, but it is calculated risk. A huge amount of planning and preparation must go into taking a meaningful risk. I need to map out the solution space and fully understand the implications of all potential failure modes. To do otherwise is simply gambling, which can be fun, but it is not a great strategy for success.

MORE RESPONSES

Leslie Henderson

CO-FOUNDER, LAZY MAGNOLIA BREWING CO.

WHO IS THE BIGGEST CONTRIBUTOR TO/ SUPPORTER OF YOUR SUCCESS?

No. 1 is my husband, Mark. The Lazy Magnolia team is right there with him. They really believe in our mission and blow me away with their enthusiasm, creativity, and dedication. I am so lucky to work with this group of people.

DO YOU VALUE ALONE TIME AND WHAT MEASURES DO YOU TAKE TO SCHEDULE ALONE TIME?

Sure, I value it a lot! I don’t ever get any. Lazy Magnolia, plus two little kids, plus all of my other community activities leaves me with just enough time to shower. That’s fine. I’m enjoying this phase of life because I know how temporary it is. My baby and toddler will be teenagers before long, and some of those snuggles will be long gone.

HOW DO YOU MAINTAIN A WORK/LIFE BALANCE?

I think “work/life balance” is a buzz-phrase created by an ad agency to make lazy people feel better about their poor life choices. If you are doing meaningful work with people you enjoy being around, you will be happy.

See what else they have to say online at www.gcwmultimedia.com. 60

September - October 2015

Sonya Williams Barnes

MISSISSIPPI STATE REPRESENTATIVE, 119

WHAT DOES A SUCCESSFUL LIFE MEAN TO YOU? A life where others will say I made a difference in their lives is what a successful life means to me.

WHAT ARE YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT AND HOW DID YOU IDENTIFY IT? WHAT BUMPS DID YOU HIT ALONG THE WAY? I am passionate about people. As long as I can remember, I have been concerned about our society. I take special attention to those who are poor and many times overlooked.

Brooke O. Lewis

CO-OWNER, THE SHED BBQ

WHAT BUMPS DID YOU HIT ALONG THE WAY?

What bumps haven’t I hit along the way! Resilience is my middle name. My family and my business has faced the floods of hurricanes, the destruction of fire, the closing of restaurants, the black out effects of lightning strikes and the nonsense of cyber-bullying business owners and people in general are feeling within today’s “tech-savvy” world. I’m just waiting on the locusts to swarm in!

DO YOU HAVE A CAUSE OR CAUSES FOR WHICH YOU ALLOCATE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME UNRELATED TO YOUR PROFESSION?

My life is based around service, so many times my professional causes are entwined with my everyday life.

Many. I feel blessed to that I am able to support good causes through my business on a local, national, and international level. Since conception in 2001, The Shed has hosted and/or played an active roll in hundreds of fundraisers from local charities to national feed the need campaigns such as Operation BBQ Relief.

WHAT THREE PIECES OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO YOUNG WOMEN WHO ARE JUST BEGINNING THEIR CAREERS?

DO YOU PLAY THE ROLE OF MENTOR OR ADVISOR TO OTHER WOMEN WHO ARE LOOKING FOR THEIR PASSION?

DO YOU HAVE A CAUSE OR CAUSES FOR WHICH YOU ALLOCATE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME UNRELATED TO YOUR PROFESSION?

Listen to your heart. Don’t look at failure as failure. Most times it is the one thing you needed to move forward. Don’t be afraid to say YES, and don’t be afraid to say NO!

TO WHAT DEGREE DOES RISK-TAKING PLAY A ROLE IN YOUR SUCCESS? Every day is a risk. I embrace challenges, for they have made me who I am and will continue to make me who I still have to become.

www.gcwmultimedia.com

I live THE true meaning of “A woman in a Man’s World,” being a BBQ restaurant owner, a BBQ sauce retail line CEO and a national BBQ competitor. This is a humbling question because it makes me think about the power of positive change. I strive to inspire career oriented women for years to come. Running The Shed’s retail line has given me the opportunity to travel often and I find myself having many heartfelt conversations with women across the country about confidence, strength, and setting goals. I have taught classes in many different states through the National BBQ Association, all of which are centered on the retail industry. In my classes, I speak about successes and failures. I firmly believe that without failure, we wouldn’t understand the true meaning of success. 61

Dr. Kinyatta Bennett

DENTIST, HEALTHY SMILES FAMILY DENISTRY

HOW DO YOU MAINTAIN A WORK/LIFE BALANCE My time with my kids and family is actually what helps me maintain a healthy balance between my personal life and work. I try to make sure that we make the most of our time together, whether it’s cooking a meal, watching a movie or sitting home on a rainy day looking through photo albums, my family keeps me grounded and well balanced.

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE YOUR GREATEST STRENGTH? My greatest strength is my faith because I know that no matter what life takes you through the Lord will see you through. I believe that He is guiding me every step of the way.

WHAT DOES A SUCCESSFUL LIFE MEAN TO YOU? To me a successful life is doing what you love and having a balance between work and family that makes you happy.

WHAT BUMPS DID YOU HIT ALONG THE WAY? I have had to overcome many obstacles in my life. I lost my mother at the age of 11. I was a teenage mother. I am now a widow and single parent of 3. Either of these could have easily been the blow that could have easily knocked me down, but I stayed in the race because I know that God has a purpose for my life.

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT TO DATE? To date my greatest accomplishment besides being blessed with my family has been the opening of Healthy Smiles Family Dentistry. 62

September - October 2015

Cindy Webb

HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR, MS POWER CO.

WHAT THREE PIECES OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO YOUNG WOMEN WHO ARE JUST BEGINNING THEIR CAREERS? 1. Decide early on what you want to accomplish both personally and professionally. A personal mission statement will help you define what is important to you and your family. It will serve as your compass for making critical choices about your career as you progress. A personal mission statement is not easy to develop, but it is well worth the effort. It will bring clarity to your purpose. It will help you “Begin With the End in Mind.” 2. Be a star where you are! No matter the role or position you have today, focus on doing your best. Knock it out of the park! Decision makers regarding your career need to see you demonstrate leadership today before they will be willing to offer you additional levels of responsibility. Give 110 percent to your current role and it will open the door to new opportunities. 3. Continue to grow and develop. It’s important to stay current in your field and in your business. Be willing to address the need for change and continuous improvement. Once you stop changing and growing, your skills and abilities can become obsolete. You may not always agree with the change or trend, but you need to understand it so you can influence the outcome. And lastly, help others along the way. None of us succeed on our own. Look for ways to help others achieve their goals and let others help you! Avoid the “Super Woman” syndrome. It will be hard to go the distance of a 30-40 year career with that mindset. Your personal mission statement will help you decide what to let go of and what to keep.

622 Washington Ave, Ocean Springs, MS 39564

(228) 875-1218

www.gcwmultimedia.com

Linda Garbo Rosetti believes in pursuing dreams no matter how long it takes. After dedicating 30 years to her husband’s Biloxi business, Quality Poultry & Seafood, she established The Pink Rooster/ Gallery Garbo inside a century-old coastal cottage in Ocean Springs. A working artist who only creates art to raise funds for charities, this entrepreneur recently celebrated the gallery’s fourth anniversary with an appreciation reception for artists and patrons who embody the love of art she fosters so dearly. “I knew this is what I was meant to do,” Rosetti said. “The work is fulfilling. I love being here.” 63

Dr. Carla J. Evers

DIRECTOR, INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS, GULFPORT SCHOOLS

Gai Kaitlin Truong, Pharm. D. PHARMACIST IN CHARGE, DOCTOR’S SPECIALTY

WHAT DOES A “SUCCESSFUL LIFE” MEAN TO YOU?

My definition of a “successful life” has changed as I have matured. As a young person, I thought a successful life meant that I would make a lot of money and live a lavish lifestyle. Since becoming a mother, a wife, and an educator, I have adjusted the meaning significantly. I now define a successful life as one in which the work I do has a positive impact on the lives of others. As an educator, my life’s work has been focused on providing students with a quality education to increase their opportunities beyond the stage of graduation.

I value life in its simplicity. Therefore, a successful life to me can be defined in three terms: my well-being, my happiness, and my wealth. My well-being is most important because without good health, the continuous hard work cannot be achieved. My happiness is the force which drives productivity in the work I do to serve the people of my community and this society. My wealth in having the opportunity to receive an education in pharmacy and applying my knowledge to help others.

ARE YOU A PERFECTIONIST? I do not see myself as a perfectionist; I like the right things done the right way. Doing things in an excellent manner is important to me. I believe one’s work speaks for her — others not only remember what you accomplished, they remember how you accomplished it. People who know me are probably chuckling at this response; they would probably say I am a perfectionist.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BOOK? “21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader” by John C. Maxwell is simplistic in its approach to emphasizing the qualities great leaders must demonstrate. The book also gives ideas about how each quality manifests itself in the day-to-day lives of leaders.

WHAT MOTIVATES YOU TO WORK HARD? I have always been a driven person; I am very competitive. It is this drive and competitiveness that motivates me to work hard. 64

September - October 2015

WHAT ARE YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT AND HOW DID YOU IDENTIFY IT? WHAT BUMPS DID YOU HIT ALONG THE WAY? I am most passionate about helping the less fortunate and the people of my community during times of disasters. My family and I considered East Biloxi our second home after the perilous journey across the vast ocean from Vietnam. We lived in multiple refugee camps in Mylasia and the Phillipines before stepping foot on the United States’ soil. My parents risked their lives for their children to have a better life in America. My father, Dac Truong and mother, Lam Le instilled the importance of education and hard working ethics in each of their six children. Today, I am forever grateful for the freedom and opportunities given to me and my family. Hence, giving back to society utilizing my knowledge and skills is my passion. Adversity is inevitable in every process of life. My remediation to adversity is to take charge, make appropriate change, and overcome with progress. There will always be bright light at the end of each tunnel.

Ambitious. Bodacious.

JUST JANICE.

Congratulations Lisa Burwell, NP

janice spencer

Young entrepreneur Janice Danyell Spencer began Epitome Cheveux two years ago with a lot of ambition and hope. Today, it has grown into a very successful web-driven business catering to stylish queens.

& Vanessa Duncombe, MD on your Nominee Finalist position for the 2015 Lighthouse BPW Women of Achievement Award

Her site, ECQueens.com offers the highest quality virgin hair products. Clients expect the best in service and quality from Janice’s brands. Janice pushes past the crowd, the average, bringing edge and excellence to whatever she touches. She’s Just Janice. Everyday. In everything she does. Support Janice’s dream of attaining broad national success.

Merit Health Biloxi is a proud sponsor of this event in the Health category.

Be sure to follow her on Facebook and Instagram!

www.ECQueens.com | 469.888.3808

150 Reynoir Street – Biloxi MS - 39530 228.432.1571 www.merithealthbiloxi.com

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Lori Harper

VP, SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT, INGALLS SHIPBUILDING

WHAT DOES A “SUCCESSFUL LIFE” MEAN TO YOU? A successful life means being committed to and achieving your own goals. From an early age, I would make lists of things I wanted to accomplish. As I got older, these lists morphed into five-year plans that I would discuss with people I trusted (I now refer to them as mentors). My plans focused on five areas: financial health, physical health, spiritual health, personal relationships, and professional growth. I knew that these areas needed strengthening in order to fulfill my dreams. I still make lists, I still have 5-year plans, and I’m still committed to my own success. Just as importantly, a successful life is being committed to the success of others. So often we criticize people we perceive as excelling in life. We question if they deserve their positions or possessions, and ask how they really made that happen. What a waste of energy! Let’s celebrate their success, rather than hate. Let’s learn from them while also sharing our own knowledge. None of us made it on our own, so let’s work together to pay it forward and lift others up.

DO YOU PLAY THE ROLE OF MENTOR OR ADVISOR TO OTHER WOMEN WHO ARE LOOKING FOR THEIR PASSION?

I mentor women (and men) on a daily basis. As the only female vice president at Ingalls, I’m frequently asked for guidance and advice. It’s time-consuming and at times overwhelming, but it’s also a phenomenal opportunity to support and help others. As a leader, I coach and counsel on many subjects, but I’m most passionate about women learning how to support each other. I am also the executive sponsor for our employee resource group, Women in Shipbuilding Enterprise, whose mission is focused on developing top talent, coaching for success, and enhancing image. 66

September - October 2015

Candace Sparks

INVENTOR, PRESIDENT OF S.P.A.R.K.LLC

WHAT ARE YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT AND HOW DID YOU IDENTIFY IT? I’m passionate about family and faith. I identified my passion for family while active duty Air Force and being away from family. Faith is how I continue to pursue the path of entrepreneurship.

WHAT BUMPS DID YOU HIT ALONG THE WAY? What bumps didn’t I hit! I made a lot of rookie mistakes in the beginning , such as getting a lot of product made without a buyer. Then I had to sit down and strategically map out a game plan to move to the next level.

DO YOU HAVE A CAUSE OR CAUSES FOR WHICH YOU ALLOCATE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME UNRELATED TO YOUR PROFESSION? I am very passionate about making motherhood easier for all mothers. Currently, S.P.A.R.K provides BabyBedside 3-N-1 Changing Stations to various organizations such as Socks Place, an organization that helps homeless teens and young mothers, and Advocates for Freedom, a faith based organization that dedicated to ending the exploitation, sale and enslavement of men, women and children.

TO WHAT DEGREE DOES RISK TAKING PLAY A ROLE IN YOUR SUCCESS? In the entrepreneurship realm, everything is a risk; you have to have faith in yourself and faith in your business. You also need to be realistic, if you are pursuing a service business or bringing a product that is already on the market you have to ask yourself what is going to make your business or product stand out from the competition?

Gollott Lyons

RealqQEstate P

Congratulations to all Women of Achievement finalists! Creative Solutions Peak Performance

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Karen Sock

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IGNITING THE FIRE 2015 CONFERENCE CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE, INC.

RECLAIM

Valerie Butler Sidney, a licensed cosmetologist, has operated Val’s Hair Gallery in Biloxi for more than 11 years. She is very involved in her community through professional and other organizations. She offers expert service as a stylist and retailer. Her business specializes in all types of hairstyles and merchandises KeraCare, Influence and Dudley products.

THE FLAME MEN OF VISION

SEPTEMBER

24-26

2015

Knowledgeable Motivational Professional

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS RELATIONSHIP PANEL • LIVE ENTERTAINMENT • MASTERMIND SESSIONS HEALTH/WELLNESS SEMINAR • VISION BOARD PARTY • BOOK LAUNCH • NETWORKING & MORE

IGNITING

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WHAT THREE PIECES OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO YOUNG WOMEN WHO ARE JUST BEGINNING THEIR CAREERS?

DO YOU VALUE ALONE TIME AND WHAT MEASURES DO YOU TAKE TO SCHEDULE ALONE TIME?

Some advice I will give them is to stay positive, work hard and follow your dreams. These three things are what I use in my life daily to make sure I am living the life that I want.

I do value alone time because it gives me time to relax and reflect on life. Living in California, I get a good amount of alone time so I don’t have to schedule any, but it’s great when I do have that time to myself.

ARE YOU A PERFECTIONIST?

WHAT ARE YOUR FITNESS AND HEALTH ROUTINES?

I would say that I am a perfectionist when it comes to practice. At practice, I film myself and then take it home to review it. I like to compare and contrast from various practice to determine what needs to be worked on the most so next practice I can put that in my workout. It helps me to become a better athlete by being a student first and then a long jumper.

My fitness and health routines are pretty simple. I practice five days out of the week and rest on weekends depending on what part of the season I am in. My health routine is basically me just making sure I am getting the right amount of carbs in my body before and after practice. I am not on any kind of strict diet because I don’t gain weight easily.

TO WHAT DEGREE DOES RISK-TAKING PLAY A ROLE IN YOUR SUCCESS?

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT TO DATE?

By beating my body up everyday, I am in risk of having a major injury if I don’t take proper care of myself. Athletes are going to acquire some type of injury in their career, but we try to avoid things like surgery and things that could potentially end our careers. So by warming up and cooling down properly, we try to avoid those types of injuries.

WHO IS THE BIGGEST CONTRIBUTOR TO/SUPPORTER OF YOUR SUCCESS? My family is the biggest supporter of my success. From when I started sports in the 4th grade to me now being a professional athlete, they attend or watch every meet that they can. I am blessed to have a family that supports me the way they do and I thank God daily for them. 68

September - October 2015

My greatest accomplishment to date is me winning the Olympics. That was one of the best days of my life. I had worked so hard to get their that it was almost a sigh of relief after I won the medal. The best feeling was standing on the podium knowing that I won the gold medal for my country.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BOOK? My favorite book right now is “The Secret: Law of Attraction.” I like this book because it helps you try to achieve what you thought was impossible to overcoming obstacles in your life.

Where Service comes First!

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MEDIA PRESENCE DEVELOPMENT | MEDIA RELATIONS | PRODUCTION Seasoned journalist and documentary producer, Elaine Stevens started her award-winning media production company in San Diego in the mid 1990s and recently regenerated her company in South Mississippi after leaving the casino industry. As a highly acclaimed and award-winning public relations executive at IP Casino Resort & Spa, Elaine managed more than $3 million in annual charitable Engelstad Foundation funds for six years. Currently Elaine is living her creative dream, writing and producing original programming. She has coauthored two biographies “Chameleon: Hanging by my tale” by Edward Fassel and “The True Art of Living in Americ” by Art Sapanli. She is currently working on her autobiography, “Mermaid in the Window.” Elaine has garnered numerous awards including one of Mississippi’s Top 50 Business Women of 2011, Top Community Leader of South Mississippi 2011, The Jane Philo Humanitarian Award, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Humanitarian Excellence Award and 2008 LPBW Corporate Woman of Achievement, as well as being honored many times by the American Heart Association and American Cancer Society.

There is no place like my south Mississippi home. Like so many enthusiastic coast residents, I am determined to see us develop our own artistic identity and eventually become the Hollywood of the South!” Call her You’ll benefit from Elaine Stevens’ wealth of media experience and her personal involvement in your media projects. Stevens Media Productions will guide you through the intricacies of the media — ensuring a professional and polished image for your business.

9229 Cartwright Lane, Biloxi, Mississippi 39532 | 228.396.3897 | www.stevensmediaproduction.com 70

September - October 2015

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Siobhàn Bailey REALTOR (228) 731-0789 siobhanbailey@me.com With a background in Architecture, I bring a unique vision when shopping for a home

Nerium The Precious Pet Premier Designs Jacque McShane Jennifer Eaves-Latch Paula Ingram (228) 547-6032 (228) 263-5539 (228) 326-6784 jacquemcshane.nerium.com jennifer@thepreciouspet.com Ms.Paula.Ingram@gmail.com www.ThePreciousPet.com Website: Exclusive products with PaulaIngram. age-defying ingredients that While you’re away, your pets mypremierdesigns.com can play! you can’t find anywhere else Stunning high-fashion jewelry, affordable & FREE!

SouthernLASH.com Miranda Hebert 3D FiberLASH Mascara RDN, LD mission.nutritionrd@gmail.com Skincare & Mineral Makeup (228) 215-0884 Cindy Holland www.missionnutritionrd.com (228) 235-3674 Take control of your health Whatsupdoc80@att.net with nutrition counseling, weight management, and essential oils.

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Find a business mentor In the first months of opening your business, you’ll need to make many important decisions. But you don’t have to make every decision on your own. Ultimately, you’re responsible for your business, but you can always consult a mentor for advice. What is a mentor? A mentor is someone who has been down the same path you re taking. e or she is experienced, successful and willing to provide advice and guidance. ere are some steps for finding and working with a mentor. Government-sponsored mentor organizations The government offers a great deal of free resources and services to support small business owners, both online and in person • S R Mentors Sponsored by SBA, S R provides free and confidential counseling, mentoring, and advice to small business owners nationwide via a network of business executives, leaders and volunteers. ou can connect with a S R volunteer through in-person and or online counseling. (score.org has contact information for the local office as well as a link to request a mentor.) • Small Business evelopment enters SB s provide management assistance to current and prospective small business owners. SB services include financial counseling, marketing advice, and management guidance. Some SB s provide speciali ed assistance with information technology, exporting or manufacturing. SB s are partnerships primarily between the government and colleges, administered by SBA. (mssbdc.org has links to schedule an appointment with a representative.) • omen s Business enters B s provides business training and counseling with the unique needs of women entrepreneurs in mind. B s are a national network of nearly 100 educational centers designed to support women who want to start and grow small businesses. The oast B is operated by IMB ommunity evelopment enter, omen s Business enter indy ard, pro ect director, 131 30th Avenue, ulfport. (22 ) 4. eb www. climbcdc.org • eteran s Business utreach enters B s provide veterans with entrepreneurial development services such as business training, counseling and mentoring. or more information visit vboc.org. • Minority Business evelopment Agency MB A advisors help minority business owners gain access to capital, contracts, market research, and general business consulting. isit mbda.gov for more information. • Additional federal counseling programs can be found on Business. SA.gov. Trade associations Many trade associations operate mentor-prot g programs that provide guidance to help you build a business. These mentoring programs are often conducted through a combination of formal one-onone mentoring sessions and group networking with fellow prot g s. 72

September - October 2015

Most industries are represented by trade associations, as are genders, ethnic groups and business types. If you need help finding a trade association, consult your local SBA district office or visit sba.gov. Mentoring for government contractors If your business plans to sell products and services to the federal government, you might need speciali ed mentorship. The eneral Services Administration (gsa.gov) offers a Mentor- rot g rogram specifically designed to encourage prime contractors to help small businesses participate in government contracting. The SBA also has a Mentor- rot g rogram for small businesses. Look to your network hom do you know o you have a previous boss who inspired you or a friend who is a successful business owner Ask that person to be your mentor and learn from his or her advice and best practices. ust be prepared to share with them your goals, what you are looking for from them, and why you chose them. Working with a mentor To get the most out of working with a mentor, make sure there is a formal mentor-prot g structure in place. If you work with an individual, you ll need to establish a mutually beneficial, structured relationship. Remember these tips about mentoring • Be organi ed, prepared, and consistent. Be respectful of your mentor s time. • o not expect your mentor to run your business for you or make decisions for you. ou should have realistic expectations about what a mentor can provide you. • Plan your mentoring sessions in advance. These could be as simple as having a one-on-one meeting once a month to discuss business goals, obstacles, and regulatory requirements that you don t understand. • Take notes, create action items, and be prepared to review progress during your next session. •Thank your mentor for his or her time and assistance.

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32 women among port’s team

ike any good daydreamer, I catch myself being mesmeri ed by the activity happening at the ort of ulfport on a daily basis. hen driving down .S. 90, it can be hard to fully grasp the progress happening at the site, but from the 14th oor of the ancock Bank Building where the port s administration offices By Kimberly Aguillard are located, it s a different view all together. It s the “perfect” view one could only dream of having at work. ot only is the port home to a total of eight tenants, there also is a 0 million restoration pro ect happening in the middle of what is a very busy operation. n any given day, you can look out across the water and see a vessel docked Mc ermott, ole, rowley, or even SM s research vessel, the “R oint Sur.” n the other hand, construction crews are in the process of building new transit sheds and maintenance facilities; a new wharf to support the three ship-toshore-gantry cranes; and also increasing the road and rail network within the 300-acre site. It is an exciting time for the port and I am honored to have the ob of telling our story to the community we serve. hether it is through our port tours, participating in community events, or sponsoring work-force development seminars, the ort of ulfport is committed to providing well paying obs to the people of the ulf oast and further stimulating the region s economy. hile many residents identify the port with large ships and cranes in what tends to be a male-dominated industry, a closer inspection reveals that half of the ort Authority s 32 employees are in fact female. owever, that number doesn t include the women that work for the other marine-related companies operating in ulfport. Some work directly on the docks as longshoremen or security guards, while others provide support through marketing, finance, engineering and compliance. Kimberly Aguillard is the community relations & marketing specialist for the Port of Gulfport. For more information about port sponsored events and job opportunities, visit shipmspa. com or call (228) 865-4300. 74

September - October 2015

Now, let me introduce you to some of the women that contribute to our overall success.

Mel Arsenaul Director of Compliance & Corporate Responsibility Mel Arsenaul’s role with the company as director of Compliance & Corporate Responsibility ensures they are good stewards of the federal resources given to restore the port. Her advice to people looking for employment at the port is to have a good track record, have some training or experience in their chosen field, and can successfully pass required security standards.

Mary Bourdin, CPA Director of Finance Mary Bourdin is the director of finance and she and her staff of six members are responsible for the financial and accounting activity, which includes billing, purchasing, payroll, property inventory, computer systems and investments. In addition, she also is responsible for the activity in the port’s independent financial audit, and after having a clean audit for 19 years, Bourdin considers that her greatest professional accomplishment.

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What the chambers can do for you

ancock ounty hamber of ommerce s Tish illiams has this advice for any business oin the chamber. “It will be the best investment you make in your business.” ancock ounty hamber members have access to many resources, including results of analytic data to give them thorough demographic reports; and referrals to small business resource partners such as the Mississippi Small Business evelopment enter, Magnolia Business Alliance, Mississippi ontract rocurement enter, the Mississippi nterprise for Technology, the Small Business Administration, S R (a nonprofit mentoring organi ation), and others. Members get referrals to financial institutions and other lending partners such as the South Mississippi lanning and evelopment istrict and the Renaissance orporation. They can also turn to the chamber for technical assistance and referrals to online resources to help them with business planning. The chamber places its members in the public eye by including them in business listings such as its online business directory; an annual ancock Today Buyer s uide and Relocation maga ine; and in the Sunshine ages of the local telephone directory. “ e provide business referrals on four websites and on 21 social media sites we manage,” illiams says. Members have access to those sites where they can post announcements. The chamber conducts ribbon cuttings that bring publicity opportunities; it provides services to help with ground-breaking ceremonies, holds networking events, and offers businesses the opportunity to host Business After ours events to showcase their businesses. hamber members can take advantage of weekly checklists and instant news features to keep abreast of business opportunities, can participate in email marketing to a list of 2, 00 key contacts, and can attend networking functions such as offee alls with local officials, and annual business meeting, an annual awards gala, and an annual golf tournament. They can participate in special print advertising opportunities by being included on the chamber s map and in its buyer s guide. The chamber also offers a ob bank to list employment opportunities and to help find talent.

“ hen you are starting a business you are filling the role of , anitor, and everything in between,” says Kimberly astasi, of Mississippi ulf oast hamber of ommerce. “It is difficult to navigate the very complicated day-to-day operations of a new business. Turning to your local chamber of commerce can help in a variety of ways.” or one thing, chamber members get broad and continuous exposure. “It s essential to educate potential customers about your business s existence, products, and services. Chambers host ribbon cuttings, open houses, have new member exposure programs and a myriad of methods that immediately showcase new business,” astasi says. etworking is another advantage for chamber members. hamber members do business with other members, astasi explains. “They will support each other simply because of membership status and they listen, advise and engage in common struggles and successes.” The oast hamber offers professional development by conducting seminars with business resource partners, forums on leadership, and classes on general business skills necessary for success. Medium-si ed businesses can look to the chamber to help with growth. “ hen your company is thriving and has surpassed the trials of a new business, you will be confronted with an entirely different set of circumstances,” says astasi. “ hambers offer help with growth, too. Mentoring opportunities, industry clusters, or collaborations through certification are all tools to help propel you to the next level.” Ma or industries also benefit from chamber membership by finding new customers, partners, and advocates. The chamber s strong networks ensure strength in the number of people supporting its members. “Ma or industries also have the resources to help new and small businesses,” astasi says. “Many participate in the chamber as a way to give back to the community and ensure its economic success by fostering the growth of small business through supporting the chamber.”

“We provide business referrals on four websites and on 21 social media sites we manage.”

“Chambers offer help with growth, too. Mentoring opportunities, industry clusters, or collaborations through certification are all tools to help propel you to the next level.”

Tish Williams, Hancock Chamber executive director

Kimberly Nastasi, MS Coast Chamber CEO

September - October 2015

The ackson ounty hamber, under the leadership of arla Todd, provides small and medium businesses on Mississippi s east coast with a programs and services to help businesses thrive. Members can attend workshops and seminars on such topics as labor laws, tax laws, customer service, marketing, social media, accounting, and how to write a business plan. hamber members have vast resources at hand including S R , a non-profit mentoring organi ation; South Mississippi ontract rocurement enter; .S. Small Business Administration; ackson ounty Small Business Incubator; Small Business evelopment enter; and Anchor Square, an business incubator. The chamber hosts the annual ackson ounty Industrial Suppliers Association and the ackson ounty Industrial Trade Show. It provides exposure to its members through programs and events such as featuring members in the newspaper s Mississippi ress Business Spotlight, radio station s ackson ounty Show; and the chamber s Small Business Anchor Awards Breakfast. “ e host our annual business walk, where we visit small businesses to survey their needs and ob ectives,” says Todd. “ e publish a weekly - ewsletter and host the annual Taste of ackson ounty, which showcases area restaurants.” Businesses can turn to the chamber year round for small business grants and fa ade grants and can take advantage of advertising and marketing opportunities with the chamber s media partners. arge businesses who are members can take part in the chamber s workforce development programs, professional development through eadership ackson ounty (which has been going strong for 2 years), legislative involvement (which includes an annual legislative forum and breakfast roundtables), and assistance with procurement opportunities by connecting them with industrial suppliers. The chamber hosts a scholarship program, xplosion of xcellence, which enables industry partners and citi ens of ackson ounty to support the top 10 percent of high school seniors in the county and encourage them to return to ackson ounty after college.

“We host our annual business walk, where we visit small businesses to survey their needs and objectives.” Carla Todd, Jackson County Chamber CEO

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Procurement center helps to connect businesses to contracts The Mississippi ontract rocurement enter Inc. helps Mississippi businesses obtain and successfully perform on federal, state, local government, and commercial contracts. It is part of the Mississippi rocurement Technical Assistance rogram (M TA ) with Regional rocurement enters (R ) in Biloxi, reenville, olumbus, ackson, and Meridian. Its mission is to enhance national defense and economic development of the state of Mississippi through its work. Mississippi businesses can turn to the center for help with using electronic bid match notification services, participating in outreach events, finding targeted contractor assistance, locating specialized contractors, solving problems, developing a strong solicitation program, and getting referrals. The center also helps with myriad resource-rich government programs including System for Award Management (SAM), .S. epartment of eteran Affairs ( etBi ) rogram, SBAs istorically nderutili ed Business one ( B one), SBAs (a) Business evelopment, M As Minority and Small Business evelopment ivision ertification rogram, and Mississippi s Accountability System for overnment Information and ollaboration (MA I ). The center expects businesses to have an email address and regular access to a computer with internet service. Businesses must complete an online client application, complete and return the agency s quarterly contract award survey and annual customer feedback survey. Business owners must attend a new-client orientation and commit to open and strong communication with agency about their companies. or more information, go to mscpc.com.

ASSISTANCE PROVIDED

The MCPC works with Mississippi businesses only, and businesses who want help from center can expect to receive assistance in the following areas: • Individual business counseling • Support with bid proposals • Information on all government levels: local, state and federal • Identification of bid opportunities • Registrations & Certifications • Training events • Networking/matchmaking events • Federal Acquisition Regulation access • Procurement award history • Confidentiality concerning your company pertaining to any third party, with exception of our funding sources, without express consent by your company

“South MS Contract Procurement Center assisted us with the process of registering to be eligible for government work and setting up the system for our company to get paid. This service has brought a great deal of business to our firm and their staff is very resourceful and responsive to our needs.” Mike Letort, Machado | Patano

September - October 2015

Accomplished New Artists Lauren Damond,

Originally from the west coast, Lauren Damond has been on the Mississippi Coast for the last 10 years. Lauren is a stylist/colorist offering a full line of services (including cut color, styling, extensions, keratin systems, and more). Having trained extensively with several mentors, she continues to attend hair shows for the very latest cutting edge techniques in style and color. Her philosophy is that hair is your number 1 accessory. Your hair says so much about who you are without speaking a word ,and is the first and lasting impression you will leave with others; MAKE IT COUNT! If you are thinking of a change, maybe something contemporary chic, Lauren would love to work with you to give your hair fresh attitude. Lauren will be at two locations, Tanya Tancredi Salon in Downtown Gulfport, as well as Red Lily Spa in Ocean Springs on Wednesdays.

Keith Register,

With a portfolio spanning nearly 2 decades, Keith Register is considered among the elite in the hairdressing industry. Once an educator for Toni & Guy/ Tigi, from NYC to London, Keithâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s world class experience in precision cutting has made him a rare talent. Register always personalizes each hair cut and color with an artistic approach that will make you love your look! Keith is a freelance stylist that will be working at the Tanya Tancredi Salon in downtown Gulfport and the Red Lily Spa in downtown Ocean Springs.

We consist of Freelance artists specializing in mastered techniques in hair cutting, coloring, event hair, hair lengthening, Keratins, correction. We are also editorial and IMDB credited.

TanyaTancredi

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Quick tips to starting a business Renaissance Corporation provides technical, financial assistance ulf oast Renaissance orporation, a 01(c)3 nonprofit, provides financing to businesses for working capital needs, equipment financing, leasehold improvements and real estate acquisitions. It extends credit to business start-ups and established businesses through its commercial loan program and will work with businesses to tailor a loan to meet their specific needs to help businesses achieve success. The corporation can make loans for working capital lines of credit with terms of 12 months and interest payable monthly; equipment financing with amorti ed terms up to five years; leasehold improvement loans with amortized terms up to seven years; loans for real estate purchases with amorti ed terms up to 20 years. Interest rates vary depending on market rates, risk, and loan term. Rates on lines of credit are oating rates, and rates on term loans are fixed for the full term of the loan. ompanies borrowing money pay a 3 0 loan-processing fee; a 1 percent origination fee (which may be charged on larger transactions); any third-party fees (i.e., filing fees). The corporation also provides technical assistance services to business owners regarding loan structure, loan application preparation, and guidance for writing a business plan. “ e will also work with any existing provider of technical assistance,” says ickie Rivers, senior lender. There are restrictions on whom R can serve The corporation cannot finance casinos, race tracks, liquor stores, massage parlors, farms, or financial businesses. Beyond that, says Rivers, the possibilities are limitless. or more information on commercial lending ontact a senior lender at (22 ) 9 -33 or by email at businessloans msgcrc. com. All potential applicants will be required to complete an application.

“We will also work with any existing provider of technical assistance.” Vickie Rivers, senior lender

September - October 2015

By Chantell Barkum

Starting a business can be both exciting and intimidating. espite the recent drop in business startups, entrepreneurship is still alive and well. Whether you are ready to turn your hobby into an additional stream of revenue or turn your visions into reality, there are a multitude of startup resources available to assist in your endeavors. And although rewarding, the business startup process can be daunting. ere are a few quick tips to consider Brainstorm Ideas. ave a great idea that fills a void for consumers r maybe you are skilled and knowledgeable in a particular area. evelop your ideas and poll family, friends, or a focus group for feedback. Choose a name. The .S Small Business Administration insists that choosing a name is an important step in the business planning process; that name should re ect the business s brand identity. Some factors to consider when choosing a name are heck to see if the business name has an available R , verify that the name has not been trademarked with the .S atent office and your state s filing agency. inally, register the name as a BA or doing business as; this is done on the city and state level. Create a plan. eveloping a business plan is similar to creating a “road map” for your business. A good plan should outline measurable objectives, as well as, a plan to reach those objectives. The business plan should also identify the business s target market, marketing plan and financial pro ections. isit your local business center, SBA or S R office for free assistance on developing your business plan. Access your finances. The most common reasons for business failures are lack of planning for financial resources. In the initial startup phase, the biggest challenge is customer acquisition. Until the business acquires a sufficient number of customers to generate positive cash ow, there must be a plan in place to address all operating and administrative expenses. ook for government backed loans, private foundation grants, personal savings, and fundraising. File with local, state and federal. An important step in starting a business is ensuring that your business is compliant with governing agencies. Within your city, obtaining a business permit or license will permit operations within city county limits. Incorporating the business is done in your state s Secretary of State ffice; a business tax I can also be obtained at the state level. A tax I requires for-profit businesses to pay a sales tax on all revenues generated. ederally, the IRS can provide your business with an mployer Identification umber ( I ) and the S atent ffice can assist with patenting or trademarking. inally, you ve taken all of the necessary steps to start your business; it s time to open your doors to the public. lanning a ribbon cutting will offer a chance to showcase your new business to the community and its consumers. ontact your local hamber of ommerce to find out how they can assist and or promote your new business Chantell Barkum is director of Women’s Business Center at Climb Community Development Corporation, 1316 30th Ave, Gulfport, MS. Reach her at (228) 864-6677 or cbarkum@ climbcdc.org.

Kearn L. Crockett-Cherry

Cherry has spent the last 18 years promoting P RN H ome Care, an organization that helps keep seniors and loved ones in their home by providing services such as housekeeping, errands, medication reminders, and more. They work hand- in- hand with home- health agencies, hospice companies, and private facilities to provide the best care. This year Cherry co- published the R.I.P .E . ( Resources, Information and P lanning for the E lderly) G uide in conjunction with organizing the annual R.I.P .E . Conference, which is in its six th year. In her community leadership roles, Cherry has spent a lot of time assisting other organizations. She has focused on bringing the community new projects such as BL E SSSE D G Y RL S ROCK ! , which is the brainchild of Family of Faith, but involves people from the community and different churches. She has also assisted and served as a board member of other organizations such as Rebekah’s H ouse ( the only organization on the coast whose focus is on homeless families) , G ulf Coast Symphony Orchestra, Coastal W omen for Change, and many others. Cherry has taken the lead in the redevelopment of one of the oldest women’s organization on the gulf coast, L ighthouse BP W ( Business and P rofessional W omen) .

Proud Sponsor for the Success Conference for Women 2015 kearn@ prnhomecareservices.com 228 - 3 8 5- 8 503 ( o) • 228 - 23 9 - 18 6 7 ( c) www.prnhomecareservices.com • www.ripeconference.com www.gcwmultimedia.com

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hat does professional dress look like in a world where casual riday has become Monday through riday ow do you navigate professional dress when everywhere you turn you see pajamas being worn as casual wear in public oes it matter what you look like at work According to a recent Business Insider report titled “ ere s ow our lothing Affects our Success,” whether you like it or not, your clothing communicates and it can have a serious effect on your ability to achieve success. Research shows that your appearance strongly in uences other people s perception of “your financial success, authority, trustworthiness, intelligence, and suitability for hire or promotion.” I know what you are thinking. hat I wear does not define me or determine my value as a human being. And that is true, but, perception is reality and, like it or not, what you wear can speak volumes about you. ere are 10 ways to dress professionally without breaking the bank. hat are the essentials for business professionals The DO’s 1. The o. 1 is a black acket. ther colors that work are dark gray and navy blue. The acket should be lined and made from a good fabric such as gabardine. 2. Add a long-sleeved blouse, collared shirt, or pullover-top in white, ivory or stripes. 3. ardigan sweater in long sleeves and short sleeves in black and ivory. 4. An “A-line” dress in black, ivory or gray. . encil skirt. A pencil skirt looks great on all figures. ou will need two in black and one in navy blue. . Black pants in a good fabric, gabardine and lined, and also in navy blue. . Shoes. Black pumps and nude pumps. eels should be 1. to 2. inches high. . earls are a must with pearl earrings, a long gold or silver chain with small gold or silver hoops. 9. Bracelets. Tennis bracelet or a solid cuff. 10. A watch. Stainless steel with metal link band. I know that the oversi ed watches are popular, but they are not professional. Save this look for the weekend. And now for the DON’TS • A acket that is ill-fitting or too short. • Skirts that are too tight, too short and made poorly. • apri pants. Absolutely not • ewelry that is gaudy or a large statement piece. • Thumb rings, charm bracelets. Anything that announces you are coming down the hall with jingle, jingle, jingle. • versi e totes, fabric bags, plastic bags. • Stilettos, spike heels, platforms or wedges save these for the weekend. • arish prints. • angling, oversi e earrings. Brenda Blount owns A Better You, which specializes in helping clients refine their image, both personally and professionally.

The art of delegation By Dhiana McKaig Skrmetti omen face many daily hurdles in a male-dominated world. ith each passing year, markets rise and fall, milestones are met, children age and grow (we women stay the same age, of course), and trends for business women change. ersonally, I transition from being a mom and wife to orchestrating more than 1 0 events annually and collaborating with nine team members to serve the Mississippi ulf oast hamber s nearly 900 business members and the local communities at large. ne way the chamber implemented the mission of onnect, Inform, Advocate and evelop was by adopting the omen ntrepreneurs program in 200 . omen ntrepreneurs is a forum focused on sharing resources, mentoring, educating and supporting women of all ages. omprised of professional and entrepreneurial women, provides guidance to enrich business while networking and creating lasting connections. Topics from this year s meetings have included successful networking, professional image and most recently, delegation. ur “Managing our Time The Art of elegation” forum featured Adele yons, director of evelopment for abitat for umanity. yons is a delegating and time-management queen and does not hesitate to share her vast knowledge, a key aspect of the omen ntrepreneurs program. So, how does one delegate effectively Thanks to yons, I now know the answers to that question • ave a long-term plan and be patient. • hoose the right people and highlight their strengths and skills. • Involve staff in the process and be sure to receive their ideas. • Avoid over delegating. Know the responsibilities you cannot delegate. • Avoid micromanaging; it will kill the whole deal. • rovide both professional and on-the- ob training to your staff. • Inform others that the delegation has occurred so they know who is leading the charge. • Touch base and provide feedback. Although delegating is a battle I am currently overcoming, it is something needed in order to continue my personal and professional growth. ortunately, recogni es those challenges for all women and offers support and guidance to overcome those hurdles. Dhiana McKaig Skrmetti, is the Programming Coordinator & Military Liaison for the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce, Inc. For more information on the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce visit www.mscoastchamber. com or call (228) 604-0014.

UPCOMING WE MEETINGS

Upcoming WE Meetings include the September 18 topic: “Fighting Through the Road Blocks” featuring Leonie Johnston, and the October 16 topic: “The Fearless Female: An Open Forum Discussion.”

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Thanks for the productivity tip, Mr. President

By Ryan Giles

In a previous issue, we discussed how to reduce distractions and get down to business. In fact, if you re still following our productivity tip from harles Schwab, then you are completing 20-30 of your most important tasks each week. But now that you re focused and getting things done, how do you know that you re getting the right things done At the end of this article, you should be doing things right A doing the right things. In recent years, Stephen ovey has pulled out an old tool that can be attributed to resident wight . isenhower. This tool is called the isenhower Box, and using this tool, resident wight . isenhower became one of our most productive leaders of all time. In addition to serving two terms as president of the nited States, resident isenhower was a five-star general in the Army, Supreme ommander of Allied orces in urope during orld ar II, resident of olumbia niversity, the first Supreme ommander of AT , and was a pretty good golfer and painter. I m not saying that you ll become our next president if you begin using the isenhower Box, but it couldn t hurt. So how can you create your own isenhower Box and get started today ell, I m glad you asked. ou can create your own isenhower Box by taking a sheet of paper and making one hori ontal line across the center of the page. ow do the same with a vertical line down the center of the page. This will create a page with four blocks. Across the top, starting from left to right, label the first block “urgent” and the second block “not urgent.” own the left side of the page, beginning at the top, label the top first block “important” and the second block “not important.” hen you re done, it should look like this or the next week, carry your isenhower Box around with you. ach task that comes up should be placed into one of the four blocks (you can do this before or after you complete the task). At the end of the first week, take a few minutes and examine your results. If you re mostly in the first block (important and urgent), then you probably feel stressed and like you re constantly putting out fires. If you re stuck in the third block (not important but urgent), then you re spending too much time on work that you should delegate. If you re spending any time at all in the fourth block (not important and not urgent) then please stop now. ur goal is to spend the ma ority of our time in the second block (important but not urgent). This box is what Stephen ovey calls “Quadrant 2.” ou want to spend as much time as possible in Q2. If I can offer two quick words of advice ork hard on eliminating things and learn to delegate. This will free time for you to spend in Q2. By spending more time in Q2, you ll soon have fewer items in Q1. For more details, check out our Eisenhower crash course at www.agjsystems.com/eisenhower

SBA supports small businesses The Small Business Administration is a government agency dedicated to supporting the startup and support of small businesses. The agency offers a tremendously wide array of support programs, including those designed to help you determine if owning a business is right for you, programs to help you get started from the ground up, and those to help you refine your plan to open and operate your own business. SBA offers small-business financing through programs tailored to your specific needs for your specific business. isit www.sba.gov for articles, resources and information to get you started, including licensing, permitting, and opportunities for government contracting. SBA also serves as a clearinghouse for financing and grant programs to explore if you re considering being your own boss. 10 STEPS TO STARTING A BUSINESS

Starting a business involves planning, making key financial decisions, and completing a series of legal requirements. These 10 easy steps can help you plan, prepare and manage your business. Visit sba. gov to learn more. STEP 1: WRITE A BUSINESS PLAN The SBA has tools and resources to help you create a business plan. A written guide available online will help you map out how you will start and run your business successfully. STEP 2: GET BUSINESS ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING Take advantage of free training and counseling services, from preparing a business plan and securing financing, to expanding or relocating a business. STEP 3: CHOOSE A BUSINESS LOCATION Get advice on how to select a customer-friendly location and comply with zoning laws. STEP 4: FINANCE YOUR BUSINESS Find government-backed loans, venture capital, and research grants to help you get started. STEP 5: DETERMINE THE LEGAL STRUCTURE OF YOUR BUSINESS Decide which form of ownership is best for you: sole proprietorship, partnership, Limited Liability Company (LLC), corporation, S corporation, nonprofit or cooperative. The SBA can help you make this determination. STEP 6: REGISTER A BUSINESS NAME (“DOING BUSINESS AS”) Register your business name with your state government. STEP 7: GET A TAX IDENTIFICATION NUMBER Learn which tax identification number you’ll need to obtain from the IRS and your state revenue agency. STEP 8: REGISTER FOR STATE AND LOCAL TAXES Register with your state to obtain a tax identification number, workers’ compensation, unemployment and disability insurance. STEP 9: OBTAIN BUSINESS LICENSES AND PERMITS Get a list of federal, state, and local licenses and permits required for your business. STEP 10: UNDERSTAND EMPLOYER RESPONSIBILITIES Learn the legal steps you need to take to hire employees.

SBA

www.sba.gov Mississippi District Office 210 E. Capitol St. Suite 900 Jackson, MS 39201 (601) 965-4378 84

September - October 2015

SBA Answer Desk: (800) 827-5722 ASL Video Customer Support Line: (855) 440-4960 Disaster Loans: (800) 659-2955 (TTY: (800) 877-8339) SBA Answer Desk: answerdesk@sba.gov

FACES & PLACES ART SOIREE AT TANYA TANCREDI SALON Photography by Brian Pearse

BAY HARBOR FEST Photography by Ellis Anderson

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FACES & PLACES COAST CHAMBER’S WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS

CRAB FEST Photography by Ellis Anderson

September - October 2015

FACES & PLACES FRIDA FEST Photography by Ellis Anderson

LEADERSHIP GULF COAST ALUMNI AFFAIR

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FACES & PLACES NORTHWOOD CHURCH SERVE DAY

MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION “DON’T WORRY, BE HAPPY” Photography by Albert Henrion

September - October 2015

FACES & PLACES LIGHTHOUSE BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL WOMEN Photography by Brian Pearse

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Kelly Mask, FNP-C

Board Certified Nurse Practitioner Treatment of Women’s Health Concerns with an emphasis on preventative care and wellness. • Women’s Health Care • Weight Management • Most Acute Medical Concerns • Birth Control • Gynecology Kelly Mask, FNP-C Board Certified Nurse Practitioner

Quality Care, One Patient at a Time

Main Office

Ocean Springs (228) 818-0025

2113 Government St., Bldg. I-4

Biloxi Office

(228) 374-3749

147 Reynoir St., Suite 102

200 12100 Highway 49 • Suite

Full Service vacuum and sewing machine Repairs. We carry Janome, Juki and Brother sewing machines, embroidery machines, and sergers. Find us on Over 5000 Bolts of Fabric! See us for all your Vacuum and Sewing needs!

Where Your Dreams Come True. 770 Jackson Street, Biloxi, MS 39530 228.207.4276 90

September - October 2015

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What is Babypalooza?

ecoming a parent can be overwhelming, especially for first-time parents. The Babypalooza Baby & Maternity Expo helps parents connect with local pregnancy, birth, and parenting resources in a high-energy, family-friendly environment. Attendees can speak with health representatives about women’s health and pregnancy issues, learn how to make their own baby food, or find photographers to capture the unique experience of pregnancy. Parents also can learn essential skills like how to properly install a car seat, how to perform infant CPR,

September - October 2015

and how to properly place newborns in a crib. Now in its second year on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Babypalooza 2015 has added a number of new special attractions, which include a Baby Registry Product Showcase, Natural Parenting Expo, “Mommypreneur” Area, on-site 4D Ultra Sounds, and the Birthdays4Babies Kidsfest. Mark your calendars now for the coast wide baby shower — Babypalooza 2015 — at the MS Coast Convention Center from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Sept 19th.

www.bcbsms.com Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi, A Mutual Insurance Company is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. 速 Registered Marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an Association of Independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans.

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BUMPS TO BIRTHDAYS

Natural Parenting Expo: Learn how to make your own baby food with registered dietician Miranda Hebert from Mission Nutrition. Luna babies will feature cloth diapering and babywearing classes. Are you considering a home birth? Come to A wt T r S t rt prof o l wf . Learn about proper breastfeeding techniques from expert Stephanie Gable â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and more!

MommyPreneur

MomPreneur Area: Are you looking for a way to earn income while staying home to care for your children? Maybe you just want to purchase some of the great products vendors like Mary Kay and Thirty-One Bags have available. The Mommypreneur Area will feature work from home vendors only. Visit this area and you could walk away with a gift t ll wt or t 500 pro u t

Ooh-N-Aah Ultrasound: We are excited to announce mobile ultr ou w ll l l t yp loo ou out the gender of your baby onsite at the event or just have a sneak peak of your little one in utero.

Fitness Kickboxing with Alan Belcher MMA: Experience one of t ott t t tr o t r t t o Alan Belcher, MMA, will host demo classes for expectant mothers.

Birthdays 4 Babies Area: Need ideas for the next birthday bash? Stop by theBirthdays 4 Babies Area, and you will not be disappointed. Vendors like Storybook Birthdays will have characters on site, and Airmazing Balloons will have decorations t for your l ttl pr or pr .

September - October 2015

Stop by the WXXV 25 booth to register and win a

BabyMoon! . ba.by moon

1. a relaxing or romantic vacation taken by parents-to-be before their baby is born. Enjoy a two-night stay at the South Beach Biloxi Hotel and Suites, the only all-suite hotel on the beach. Your package includes dinner at three of the newest restaurants on Biloxi beach: The Reef, Beach Bums and Baja Beach Biloxi. This package is valued at $600!

Products you’ll see! THE 4MOMS® BOUNCEROO™ I

The only bouncer with 3 unique vibration modes (heartbeat, wave and bee) and 3 intensity settings to help calm and soothe your baby. Bouncy Baby The bounceRoo also entertains with a fun, natural bouncing motion created by your baby’s movement. Lightweight and Portable The lightweight and compact design is easy to move around the house or take on the go. Retail price: $99.99 (Classic Nylon) $119.99 (Plush)

BEECH-NUT NUTRITION INTRODUCES ORGANIC FOOD FOR BABIES

Beech-Nut Nutrition Company (Beech-Nut) has made its debut into USDA organic baby food with its new organic line. The new taste bud-enticing line is real food for babies™ with the same bright colors and bold flavors of homemade foods. Beech-Nut incorporated some of parents’ favorite foods from its 100 percent naturals line into the organic line such as carrots and sweet potatoes, which contain just carrots and just sweet potatoes, and nothing else. It also added more unique combinations to the organic line for mom and baby to enjoy, including apple, raspberry & avocado, peas & spinach, and butternut squash & sweet corn. Yes, butternut squash, kale, avocado and quinoa are part of real food for babies™. The organic line uses the same just gentle cooking™ process that doesn’t add any excess water or cook the nutrients away, resulting in food with textures, colors and flavors. The organic line comes in transparent honeypot glass jars, and features the USDA-certified organic seal, an indication of GMO-free food. Parents can check the verification status of their favorite flavors at www.nongmoproject.org.

NICU Expands to Better Serve the Coast A new $6 million, state-of-the-art larger neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) with 11 semi-private rooms and 23 beds was completed this summer. Offering the only NICU on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Memorial provides a specially equipped ground transport vehicle (pictured left) for acutely ill or potentially unstable infants from surrounding communities. www.gulfportmemorial.com

BOPPY® SLIPCOVERED PILLOW The award-winning Boppy® Feeding and Infant Support Pillow celebrates 25 years of supporting moms and babies! This versatile nursing pillow lifts baby to a more ergonomic position for comfortable feedings, then transitions to the perfect spot for propping, tummy time and learning to sit. Comes with a classic cottony cute slipcover that is removable for easy washing. Additional slipcovers sold separately. Boppy, $40, boppy.com

BOPPY BABY CHAIR Part highchair, part booster seat, part floor seat, the new Boppy Baby Chair was designed to go from floor seat to table seat. The Boppy Baby Chair passes all U.S. safety standards and includes a three-point harness for baby and chair attachment straps. Folds down for easy storage and portability. Soft, wipeable fabric makes cleaning a snap. One chair for all your needs! Boppy, $50, boppy.com • Removable Bolster • Removable, BPA free, dishwasher-safe tray • Use from 3 months to 1 year • Skidproof bottom • Passes all U.S. Safety Standards • Use on floor and as booster seat • Folds down and has handle for easy carrying • Chair measures 14” x 14” x 8”

GB QBIT LIGHTWEIGHT STROLLER Taking a family trip? Take the GB Qbit Lightweight Stroller! The GB Qbit is the ultimate travel stroller. Sleek, small, and sturdy, the bit packs up small and fits easily in the car or on the plane. Its uniquely designed transport bag provides protection from departure through arrival and makes the lightweight bit oh-so-easy to carry. Once you’ve reached your final destination, the Qbit is ready for everyday use with convenience features such as a comfortable, reclining seat area, large extendable canopy, and storage basket. The Qbit is also compatible with the GB Asana, Cybex Aton, and Maxi Cosi Mico — each sold separately. GB has created products for the world’s most recognized juvenile brands, manufacturing two out of every three strollers sold in North America and Europe. GB sets the global standard for safety, innovation, design, and manufacturing. Backed by 25 years of design, development, and testing, GB now enters the U.S. with a new line of innovative baby products, setting the stage for a world of possibilities. GB: that’s me. Be sure to check out our GB Brand Store at toysrus.com for even more superior baby products and registry must-haves!

BOBA AIR LIGHTWEIGHT BABY CARRIER Baby carriers always come in handy — especially when they’re this portable and weigh less than a pound. Comfortable and ergonomic, the lightweight Boba Air stows easily in a diaper bag or carry-on luggage and unfolds in seconds when you need it. Boba Air, $65, boba.com

UPPABABY G-LITE BABY STROLLER Tipping the scales at less than 11 pounds, this lightweight stroller is easy to take anywhere. It folds easily using fingers only (no feet needed), stands on its own for convenient storage, and can be carried with one hand thanks to the strap. Spill something? The removable fabric is machine washable. UPPAbaby G-LITE, $159.99 to $179.99, uppababy.com

September - October 2015

Exhibitors

RILEY’S CHILDREN’S WEAR EJ ROBERTS STATE FARM TWIN OAKS DAYCARE HEAVENLY SCENES PHOTOGRAPHY

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HEALTH

The face of breast cancer Waltz knew the value of a mammogram, but postponed test By Brenda Waltz “That mole doesn’t look good. You need to get that taken off before you leave Oklahoma.” In May 1990, those were the parting words of a friend and co-worker who observed a strange mole on my arm. We were saying goodbye because I was leaving my hometown, traveling from Oklahoma to Tennessee, to embark on a new career as a registered nurse. Little did I know, those words would take me on a different journey. I waited two months before heeding her advice, primarily because I was an RN and I thought that I was somehow immune to getting one of the diseases that I helped treat every day. I partnered with a surgeon that I trusted to remove the mole. When he did so, he took a sample size for more testing that was larger than what I expected. I knew he wasn’t telling me what he suspected. Two anxiety filled days went by as I waited for the results. e called and said, “Brenda, your mole is a superficial spreading melanoma.” To a layperson, those words are frightening once one understands the implications. As a nurse, I immediately understood the ramifications all too well and immediately remembered a patient that I recently served who suffered and subsequently died from melanoma. I couldn’t help but think the worse, but then began to remember the instances of healing and compassion that I, too, had witnessed with many other patients who survived while surrounded with words of encouragement, prayer and family support. One hears throughout his/her lifetime that sunscreen is important to shield one from dangerous UV rays. Growing up as a child that loved the beach and the outdoors, sunscreen was not a priority. It is now. I received treatment and I am now 15 years melanoma free. owever, my ourney doesn t end there. By 200 , I had already en oyed 21 years of marriage when I gave birth to my only son at 41 years of age. I was serving as the CEO of my third hospital in Rome, Ga., where I had the opportunity to approve the purchase of the most up-to-date, state of the art, digital mammography machine. I told my team at the time, “If it saves one life, the investment will be well worth it.” I didn t know that one of the first lives it would save would be mine. I typically participate in Breast Cancer Awareness Month every ctober by having my annual mammogram. But in late 200 , the new imaging machine was being installed, so I postponed it until I could utilize the new technology. Months went by before I had the mammogram because I simply forgot until early 2009. After the test, I didn’t think much about it when the technician who performed the mammogram asked if I could come back in to take more “pictures” because the radiologist requested them. I psyched myself up — “I am healthy, no history of breast cancer in my family. I’m good!” I embarked on the second longest anxiety filled weekend waiting for results. The surgeon finally called to tell me, “Brenda, you not only have one type of breast cancer, you have two.” 98

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There were numerous decisions to make. What course of treatment was the best? What was the best path? Mastectomy/ lumpectomy/radiation/ IV Chemo/mammocyte? I’m a smart nurse and I did not have a clue what the best decision was for me so I couldn’t imagine what other women in my position must go through to determine the best course of action. The one thing I knew for sure is that I had a Brenda Waltz 9-year-old child and I was going to fight so I could see him grow up. I had won against melanoma, and I was determined to win against breast cancer. Realizing that there was not one treatment course for everyone was a great first step. veryone wants to give you advice, but choosing what was best for me and for my family was the right thing to do. One of my doctors recommended an Oncotype DX scoring. It is a process that takes two slides of one’s breast cancer and the results provide a predictive index score. Based on that score, it can scientifically determine what type of treatment will work on the type of breast cancer one has. I was on the verge of participating in IV chemotherapy, which I desperately did not want to have because I witnessed numerous women struggle with the side effects, from neurological to losing one s hair. The ncotype confirmed that I chemo was not the most definitive route for me to take so I chose alternatives. Every woman should be offered this test, but they are not. If you find yourself in the same position, ask for it I am now six and half years breast cancer free! Through my journey, my faith in God and the love of my family carried me through. My son wrote this Bible verse in class and brought it home to me shortly after I was diagnosed with breast cancer and it hangs in my pantry still today. It reads, “The grace of the Lord Jesus hrist, the love of od and the fellowship of his oly Spirit be with you,” 2 orinthians 13 13. I am proud to say that I am a cancer survivor x 2

When that stomach ache is definitely more than that po-boy…

Extreme pain or harsh symptoms can happen when we least expect it. Don’t wait. Choose the emergency department at Garden Park Medical Center— treating severe symptoms including vomiting, cramping, diarrhea, and back pain that may mean more than a simple tummy ache. View average ER wait times at gardenparkmedical.com* *ER wait times represent a four-hour rolling average updated every 30 minutes, as defined as the time of patient arrival until the time the patient is greeted by a qualified medical professional.

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All people are not the same just like all pharmacies are not the same. A Compounding Pharmacy uses unique skills to address EACH individual’s healthcare needs. Pharmacy compounding is the art and science of preparing personalized medications, “made from scratch” with customized ingredients in the exact strength and dosage required by each individual. Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy is customized or one t erapy des ned spec cally or t e pat ent. Anyone who has been through puberty knows that hormones have a powerful effect on one’s body. Hormones affect many areas of your health, including your mood, metabolism, and sexual/reproductive function. If your hormones become unbalanced, whether due to menopause or other factors, you may end up feeling like a stranger in your own skin. Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) is a way to restore balance and help you feel like yourself again. As the number of men and women seeking hormone-related treatment has grown, so has the mass

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The face of breast cancer Underarm pain was not a clogged milk duct By Tricia Collins

n anuary , 2010, my 44th birthday, I was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma. Invasive ductal carcinoma is the most common form of breast cancer; 0 percent of all breast cancer being this form. As I tell my story, I will share how my faith was an integral part in getting to my current state of remission. I had a normal mammogram just months prior and was shocked to learn that in a six-month span, I had developed a stage 3 cancer. It was pain under my right arm that led me to see a doctor. owever, I had noticed a knot prior to this pain that I mistook for a clogged milk duct. After several doctor’s visits and more mammograms, I found myself slightly sedated and having a biopsy. Prior to the procedure, the radiologist had told me the lump looked very suspicious, but it was during the procedure that his statements really began to hit home. ess than 24 hours later, my husband and I received the awful news. After much discussion, we sought a second opinion. After more mammograms, a breast MRI and another biopsy, we received confirmation that my lymph nodes also were involved. Although both diagnoses were the same, treatment options were presented. The decisions were nerve-racking. We had three young children at the time, and I wanted to choose the option that would give me the most time with them. Ultimately, we chose to begin chemotherapy quickly, hoping to shrink the tumor before surgery. I had another procedure to place a port that would make it easier to receive chemo. Just a few days after having the port placed, I began my chemotherapy, which was a mixture of three different types of chemotherapy. It was not long after my first treatment that I reali ed vomiting and losing my hair were the least of my worries. While on chemo, I developed a fever of unknown origin, thrush, mouth sores, sties, peeling skin, neuropathy of my fingers and toes, and had blood transfusions, and several of my toenails fell off. My life became one appointment after another. It was during this time that I rediscovered the rosary. The rosary is a form of contemplative prayer that centers on the events of Christ’s life. I found that as I prayed and meditated on the life of Jesus, my breathing began to slow and I experienced a peace I have never experienced before. hilipians 4 - ( ASB) says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” As I meditated, I realized my pain and discomfort were nothing compared to the pain and suffering Jesus endured. n Monday, April , 2010 (the day after aster), I had my first mastectomy. The painful recovery of this surgery was the worst pain I had endured. hen I was first diagnosed with breast cancer, I was given a irst lass Relic of Blessed rancis avier Seelos from my daughter s teacher. e discovered that the ational Shrine of Blessed rancis avier Seelos was on osephine St. in ew rleans. ot far from my doctor s 102

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Collins family

office. My husband and I began making regular trips to ask for intercessory prayer. Our prayers were answered! Not long after my surgery, we received news that the chemotherapy had eradicated all visible cancer cells. One of the things I noticed during my ordeal was that there was an outpouring of support early on in my diagnosis and treatment, but this evaporated over time. It became clear that while outward signs of my illness were present, people were supportive. owever, as my hair grew back, people were unaware of my ongoing struggle in my recovery. My treatment did not end with that mastectomy as most people would assume. I endured radiation and several more surgeries until the reconstruction was complete. Because of the involvement of my lymph nodes and the invasiveness of the surgeries, I needed extensive occupational therapy in order to regain function of my right arm. It was only those intimately involved in my treatment who were aware of my continued suffering. It was my faith and the faith of others that helped me cope with the suffering. I know that God was with me through it all, and my illness brought me closer to God.

MISSISSIPPI GULF RESIDENTS LOSE OVER 50,000 WITH THE ONE THAT WORKS!® M ississippi – P hysician- supervised weight loss brand, M edi- W eightloss® is proud to announce that patients at the Ocean Springs and G ulfport locations have lost more than 50,000 pounds combined. K nown as The One That W orks! ® , the M edi- W eightloss® P rogram is administered in over 8 0 locations in the U nited States and at an international location in D ubai by an elite group of physicians and medical professionals. To date, M edi- W eightloss® has helped patients around the world lose close to 3 million pounds combined.Courtney Tillman, M edi- W eightloss® G ulfport, was a finalist in the 2015 Transformation V acation G iveaway from M edi- W eightloss® . C o u rtn e y s a y s , “a b o u t 1 ½ a g o , I s ta rte d th e M e d i- W e ig h tlo s s ® P r o g r a m . T o d a te , I have lost 189 pounds*. When I first s ta r te d , I w a s 3 5 5 p o u n d s a n d m y h e a lth w a s in d a n g e r. N o w th a t I h a v e lo s t a ll this weight, I have more confidence a n d c a n a c h ie v e m o r e th a n I c o u ld b e fo r e . I n o w p a r tic ip a te in k ic k b o x in g a n d M u a y T h a i. It is b e c a u s e I h a v e lo s t th is w e ig h t th a t I a m n o w o n a b e tte r p a th a n d im p r o v in g m y s e lf. I a m n o w in c o lle g e p u r s u in g a d e g r e e in n u tr itio n a l

m e d ic in e s o th a t I c a n h e lp o th e r s w ith th e ir s tr u g g le s . B e fo r e lo s in g w e ig h t, I w a s p r e - d ia b e tic , w h ic h h a s b e e n m y n ig h tm a r e s in c e I h a te n e e d le s . I u s e to s n o r e , a n d I h a d s le e p a p n e a b u t e v e r s in c e I lo s t a ll th e w e ig h t I n o lo n g e r s n o r e o r h a v e s le e p a p n e a . I n o w s le e p b e tte r. I th in k w h a t s c a r e d m e m o s t w a s s e e in g m y la b r e s u lts th a t w e r e p r o v id e d o n m y s e c o n d v is it. A fte r s e e in g th a t I h a d a fa tty liv e r, w h ic h c o u ld le a d to c ir r h o s is o f th e liv e r, I k n e w th e n th a t m y h e a lth w a s in d a n g e r a n d th a t th a n k fu lly I c o u ld s till d o s o m e th in g a b o u t it to c o r r e c t it. I a m n o w h a p p ie r th a n e v e r b e fo re .” “Through my ex perience as a gynecologist, I’ve noticed some of my patients struggle with weight issues. Over the years instead of just telling them to go and lose that weight, I sought a way to give them a mechanism to lose weight. I actually did the program myself to try it out and loved it. I felt like it was simple and it would work in my patients’ life.” – D r. Sheli M ilam, M D

C lin ic O w n e r /P h y s ic ia n o f M e d i- W e ig h tlo s s G u lfp o r t a n d O c e a n S p r in g s ®

* On average, patients compliant with the M edi- W eightloss® program lose 6.4 pounds the first week and 14 pounds the first month. Rapid weightloss may be associated with certain medical conditions and should only be considered by those who are medically appropriate. © 2014-2015 Medi IP, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

15255 Community Rd. Gulfport, MS 39503 (228) 831-4444 1001 N. Halstead Rd. Ocean Springs, MS 39564 (228) 875-8001

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Paget’s disease: What to look for r

Donna Alexander. M.D. American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology

1721 Medical Park Drive Suite 100 Biloxi, MS 39532 Phone (228) 207-0408 Fax (228) 207-0409 /DrDonnaEAlexander

Women's health issues are personal. Dr. Alexander gives the personal attention you deserve.

SPECIALTIES OBSTETRICS

• Prenatal care • High risk obstetrics • Incompetent cervix management • Chronic illnesses during pregnancy • 4D ultrasound • Postpartum depression • Pre conception counseling

GYNECOLOGY

• Annual wellness exams • Family planning • Pelvic pain • Pre cancerous changes • Infectious diseases • Menstrual anxiety and depression • Peri menopause and menopausal disorders • Sexual dysfunction (libido) • Pediatric & Adolescent gynecology • Minimally invasive surgery • Urinary incontinence • Osteoporosis

Fellow of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Serving the Mississippi Gulf Coast for over 10 years. 104

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n fie

Although it is rare, sometimes breast cancer is diagnosed by your dermatologist. It is very important for women to recognize these less common presentations of breast cancer, so they can be aware of them to seek diagnosis and treatment. Paget’s disease of the breast is a type of breast cancer than can look like a red scaly rash on the nipple. A persistent nipple rash should be evaluated by your dermatologist, and a skin biopsy may be performed. It is more worrisome if the rash is only on one breast. Frequently, eczema or an allergic contact rash will present on both breasts. There is not always an underlying palpable breast lump, especially when diagnosed early. Thus, it is important to seek treatment for a persistent rash on the breast. More advanced cases of breast cancer can also involve the skin of the breast, but in those cases the skin is frequently firm and indurated. It can feel very firm, and sometimes the surface of the skin will develop an ulcer or the skin will slough. This too can be biopsied by your dermatologist for a diagnosis. Your dermatologist can also be helpful if you are diagnosed with breast cancer and have side effects from the treatments. Sometimes surgical scars on the chest thicken or form keloids. These scars can be treated with lasers and in ections. Sometimes, skin irritation develops during radiation treatments, and your dermatologist can treat that as well. Lastly, when your radiation tattoos are no longer needed, laser tattoo removal can make them disappear. r. ngela ingfield owns he ermatology Clinic and ivify Spa at the ermatology Clinic, a full-service dermatology and cosmetic center in ulfport. She can be contacted at (228) 864-3300

GET THE FACTS About one in eight women in the U.S. (approximately 12 percent) will develop breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. Prevention and early detection helps save lives, so you should understand the lifestyle factors that may a ect your risk of breast cancer. RISK FACTORS YOU CAN CONTROL Weight. Being overweight is associated with increased risk. Diet. A low-fat diet rich in fruits and vegetables is generally recommended. Smoking. WARNING SIGNS Lumps that feel harder or di erent from surrounding tissue in the breast or underarm area. • Swelling, warmth or redness of the breast tissue. • Changes in the size or shape of the breast tissue. Dimpling or puckering of the skin or nipple. • Itchy or scaly sore or rash on the nipple. • New pain in one area of the breast that will not go away. • Nipple discharge that occurs without squeezing the nipple, occurs in only one breast, or is bloody or clear not milky . In addition to being aware of risk factors and looking for any of the warning signs of breast cancer, breast exams, mammograms and other screenings increase the chances of detecting breast cancer early, when it is most likely to be curable. Take care of yourself. nformation source: Susan . omen oundation, merican Cancer Society, and breastcancer.org

YOUR LOCAL Natural sweeteners WELLNESS CENTER Norwood Village Shopping Center are a good alternative 12100 US 49, Suite 628 By Don and Denise Keyser

With the increased awareness that certain sugars are addictive and a leading cause of obesity, depression, chronic in ammation, and many other ailments, it’s good to know there are sweeteners available that do not have these serious impacts on our bodies. Artificial sweeteners like aspartame, saccharin and sucralose are worse than sugar cane or beet sugar, which are likely M (genetically modified organism) products. e Americans eat too much sugar on average about 130 pounds per person per year. Sugar is in many of the products we consume candy, gum, mints, soda, salad dressing, baked goods it’s everywhere! In this article, we will discuss two natural sweeteners that are available on the market, Stevia and ylitol, and what products most health food stores have that contain these sweeteners. If you are a diabetic, Stevia and ylitol are good choices as a sweetener as they will not impact your blood glucose level. Stevia is a plant-based sweetener. That means it is a natural sweetener, not one derived from chemicals. Stevia has no calories and is many times sweeter than regular refined sugar. PRODUCTS WITH STEVIA ackets by u aturals, • Wholesome foods • Soda by Zevia, Virgil’s • “zero” sodas • Protein powders by • Bluebonnet •

W baking sweeteners by Pyure Bottles and bags by NuNaturals NOW Liquid drops, avored and un avored Chocolates by Lily’s Protein bars by Quest

ealth concerns There are some health concerns surrounding the stevia plant. Stevia may cause low blood pressure, which would be of concern to someone taking blood pressure medications. Stevia powder is typically mixed with anti-caking agents, such as dextrose or maltodextrin, which are usually corn-derived products. If the product package does not indicate it is organic, then the stevia is likely mixed with GMO corn. Read the labels to ensure you are not getting any sneaky ingredients along with your stevia. Xylitol is a naturally occurring sugar alcohol found in most plant material. Xylitol is commercially produced from the cellulose of wood (such as birch trees), sugar cane pulp, certain seed hulls, and or corn cobs. Xylitol is used to prevent bacteria-caused decay, so it is used in toothpaste, gum and sinus sprays. PRODUCTS WITH XYLITOL • ackets by W • Mints by Ice Chips, Spry • • • Toothpastes by NOW, • Spry, Redmond

Mouthwash by NOW Bags by NOW, Xyla Gum by Pur, Spry Sinus relief products by Xlear ealth concerns xcessive use of xylitol can produce undesirable temporary symptoms such as diarrhea and intestinal gas in susceptible individuals. Do not feed xylitol to pets as it can cause an extremely rapid blood sugar drop in canines that may be lifethreatening. he eysers can be reached at Coast Health Nutrition, 12100 Hwy. 4 , Ste. 628, ulfport, or at (228) 831-1 85.

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Gulfport, MS 39503

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Produce Program • Natural & Organic Groceries • Gluten-Free Products Knowledgeable • Local Honey riendly a and Eggs Country Girl Milk • Essential Oils www.coasthealthandnutrition.com and more Military Discount and EBT

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Essential Wellness Janice Ladnier, Wellness Advocate

Alternative Health Solutions & Aromatherapy Education

Upcoming Essential Oil Classes at Coast Health & Nutrition: October 17th, 2-4pm: Natural Solutions for Optimal Health November 19th, 6-8pm: Safe ective First id Using ssential ils Essential oils have been used for natural wellness for thousands of years: relaxation and sleep, emotional balance, energy, healthy joints, weight management, muscle pain, pet care, green cleaning, natural body care products, and much more. Make an appointment to come in for a FREE biosurvey scan to help suggest the best essential oils for you.

(228) 731-7731

Facebook.com/42bwell EssentialWellness4@gmail.com 105

Aging gracefully nonsurgically As we age, three major factors occur to the face and neck. First with gravity and time, loose skin and muscles of the face and neck start to sag. Secondly, the surface of our skin loses its texture and fine wrinkles develop from the loss of collagen and elastin. Age, sun exposure, smoking, and genetics are all contributing factors to the surface of our By Dr. Eric J. Wyble skin. Third, we lose volume or fat in certain areas of the face, especially around the eyes and mouth areas. Although there are surgical techniques to improve the above (i.e., facelift, neck eyelid surgery, fat in ections, etc.), there are also nonsurgical methods to address these factors. Thermage is very useful in tightening the face and upper neck. sing patented radio frequency (R ) technology to safely heat the deeper layers of your skin, Thermage stimulates existing collagen and promotes new collagen growth for newer tighter skin. ith a single treatment (no down time involved), immediate improvement is seen and additional improvement continues for six months. Improvement is especially seen around the cheeks and the folds of the mouth.

For resurfacing, skin peels are useful and medical grade skin care products are a must for maintenance. owever, laser resurfacing, especially with the Fraxel series of lasers, gives ultimate results. Laser resurfacing can be adjusted to your individual needs, whether for general improvement or specifically wrinkles, pigmentation, or to decrease pore size. In general, the stronger a laser is, the less frequently treatment is needed, but downtime can be longer. owever, with laser resurfacing we are replacing old skin with new collagen and elastin that can result in smoother, younger-aged skin. As we age, we lose volume in certain areas of the face, such as around the eyes and mouth lip area. In general, fillers are designed for specific purposes. ine lines require one type of filler, while to fill an area for volume requires a different type of filler. To find the best treatment for you and options available, contact your plastic surgeon s office. r. yble has been in practice on the Mississippi ulf Coast for 23 years and is Board Certified in plastic surgery. Reach him at (228) 865- 2 .

Dental C.A. “Buddy” Brice D.D.S., P.A. Jason S. Rector, D.M.D.

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1070 Judge Sekul Ave. 1268 Ocean Springs Rd. Biloxi, MS 39530 Ocean 106 September - October 2015Springs, MS 39564

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Dedicated to helping you and your family live a healthier life.

Because there’s Merit in well-being. Merit Health Medical Group is proud to welcome Candace Worsham, D.O., Adam Smith, NP-C, William R. Fellows, M.D., and Martha A. Dempsey-Doan, M.D., to the medical team. Whether you’re an existing patient or looking for a new doctor, you can feel confident turning here for trusted, compassionate, primary care for you and your whole family. To find a primary care provider, visit MeritHealthBiloxi.com. Members of the Medical Staff at Merit Health Biloxi

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Offering a wide range of FACIAL, BREAST, and BODY SURGERIES and NON-SURGICAL PROCEDURES to improve the outer beauty of patients. FRAXEL® three types of resurfacing lasers to repair damaged and aged skin, eliminate brown spots, reduce pore size and improve wrinkles with minimal down time. THERMAGE® Uses radiofrequency energy to tighten skin , although commonly used on the face and neck, can also be used to tighten the abdomen, and upper arms. Can be done regardless of season with NO down time. Results you see immediately. LIPOSONIX® which uses ultrasonic technology to permanently remove a layer of fat.

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The“country” home on Miteer

H ME

Kergosiens wonder why they’d ever want to live anywhere else Article and photography by Ellis Anderson

Geo and Moli Kergosien entertain easily and often in their country home, one that reaches out to embrace and include the natural beauty that surrounds it.

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Miteer Home Fabrics Insurance Ruby Ladner Griffin Home Life’s Lagniappes Plan for the holidays

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The Kergosien family

n the 1960s, they called it “going to the country.” The Kergosien family would drive a whopping three miles from their home in the heart of Bay St. Louis to the pristine wilderness that lay just the other side of U.S. 90. There, just a stone’s throw from Main Street, thick woods bordered a canal meandering down to Watts Bayou. The children would run through the tall pines, swim in the canals and generally run amok while the adults relaxed in chairs they’d brought out, glad to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday small-town life. That forested lot bordering marshlands was located on Miteer Drive, a shaded shell lane. It was owned by Horace Kergosien, then-patriarch of the family. Fifty years later, not much has changed. While the road is paved now and a few more pioneers have built houses in the neighborhood, Kergosien family members still enjoy the get-away feel of Miteer Drive. But thanks to Horace’s grandson, Geoff, and his wife, Moli McDonald Kergosien, excursions “to the country” now are anything but primitive. The couple built their Miteer Drive home to take full advantage of the surrounding natural beauty — and to share that splendid bounty with friends and family. The home sits on property a few lots down from the one Geoff ’s grandfather owned. Geoff, a physical therapist, purchased it 25 years ago, just a few months after he started dating Moli. They both worked at Hancock Medical, where Moli was an X-ray tech. The McDonald family has lived in the Bay since the mid-1800s, while the first Kergosien arrived in the 1 0s. The families knew each other. In fact, Moli’s aunt (Eve McDonald) introduced Geoff ’s parents. But although Bay St. Louis is a “small town,” because of a seven-year age difference, the two had never formally met before. “She graduated high school when I was playing little league,” Geoff quips, and they both laugh. Geoff, who’d been a woodworker from an early age, was a regular

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customer of McDonald’s Hardware, but didn’t realize Moli’s connection until he rang the bell of the family home on their first date. Mr. im answered the door and the young suitor momentarily was taken aback. But he remained undeterred in his courtship. The two married in 1990. Later, after a yearlong stint living and working in Tuscaloosa, the pair joyously returned to the Coast. They still remember the drive south and the intoxicating scent of marsh grasses that seemed to welcome them back. When their son Caleb was a toddler, Geoff and Moli begain building their house on Miteer. They moved in a year later on the first birthday of their daughter, Camille. Geoff, who is “biologically programmed to be an architect,” had been fascinated by building and design since his youth, completing a sailboat when he was only 15. e came up with a oor plan and his “adoptive grandfather,” illiam Boudreaux, finessed the plan and drew up blueprints even gifting the young couple with a 3-D model of the home — complete with a removable roof. Contractor Rodney Corr then constructed the framework of the house, leaving much of the finish work for Geoff. Raising young children and working 50-hour weeks left him little time to give the detailing the attention he would have liked. Yet the Kergosiens’ life on Miteer was idyllic. The young family missed no opportunity to appreciate the lively social scene offered in the town itself and the super-saturated natural beauty that surrounded their home. Eight years later after moving into their home, Geoff and Moli cruised the Bay in their classic convertible Bonneville. It was a memorable evening, because Old Town was “rocking.” The splendid landscape of the Coast wrapped them with peace. “That night at Dan B’s, we thought, ‘this is utopia,’ ” says Geoff. “We could entertain ourselves in this tiny town, while everything was so vibrant and lush and green. It was almost too good to be true.” Two weeks later, Hurricane Katrina turned that utopia on its head. The losses, both personal and communitywide, seemed insurmountable.

The unprecedented oodwaters tore through the living area of their home on Miteer. They were able to save only three pieces of furniture — one of them being the bed Geoff had built when they were still newlyweds. Moli admits that the first time she stepped into the house afterward, it seemed so far beyond redemption she suggested they burn it to the ground. But Geoff couldn’t suppress an odd sense of elation. Hurricane Katrina had given him another opportunity to rebuild the house, this time, according to his vision. “I lost every tool I owned, and there’s nothing that will make a man happier than to tell him he must go out and buy new ones. Within a month, I had a game plan.” The plan involved rebuilding the woodshop first and then beginning work on the house. The couple chose mahogany to finish off the interior the second time around. The rich red tones of the wood set the theme for the entire house. Over a period of two years, Geoff crafted the kitchen cabinets, all the window and door casings, and every piece of trim. Moli and the children pitched in on the rebuilding efforts as well. In their scant spare time, the Kergosiens also helped friends and family members reconstruct their own lives. There were surprises along the way. One night Moli came home from work to find a large hole in the bedroom wall. nly a bed sheet separated them from the yard. During the day, Geoff had taken a chainsaw to the exterior of the house and cut out a huge section. He’d been visualizing a sunroom off the master bedroom and decided it was time to begin. Now the space Geoff designed and built has become the couple’s favorite retreat. Another day, Moli arrived home and marveled at a new and enormous crater behind the house. “I d never put a pool in before,” says eoff. “But I figured it couldn t be that complicated. Besides, by this point, Moli knows my projects are probably not going to end badly.” Moli s faith was ustified. The pool is now the centerpiece of an extraordinary outdoor living space on the ground level. It encompasses the entire footprint of the house and ows effortlessly out toward the canal that wraps three sides of the property. Down by the docks, a classic wood Chris Craft and a sleek skiff beckon. Beneath the house, an enormous screen for watching televised games is visible from almost every vantage point within 100 yards. An outdoor fireplace, two bars (one in progress), multiple grills and three large dining areas tell the story of frequent family feasts. The couple love to cook. Moli is the “family caterer” and in recent years, Geoff has focused his creative drive on the kitchen. He compares slicing and dicing to woodworking. “You can take the ingredients and create anything you want. There’s nothing better.” The two often entertain and now that the children are both in college, the focus has expanded. Immediate family members who live in the area comprise a ready-made dinner party of 20. Add friends and acquaintances, and the numbers easily rise to a hundred. Yet the Kergosiens have developed a system that s “efficient and easy.” They can prepare for a major party in just two days and clean up in a few hours. The relaxed approach to entertaining extends to the couple’s taste in décor. Both downstairs and upstairs, eye-catching artwork, photographs and collectibles make up simple tableaus. Room-makers like Elizabeth Veglia’s mosaic table and glass panel provide unforgettable focal points. Yet nothing seems fussy or overworked. Moli jokes that Geoff can tell the story behind every item in the house. But it’s a joke based in truth. It’s clear that each belonging is infused with meaning, intertwining the family’s life with that of the community’s and the landscape they love so well. “We live this life to its fullest and it makes us spoiled rotten,” says Geoff. “I suppose we could have a home anywhere in the world. But why would we want to live anywhere besides Bay St. Louis?” www.gcwmultimedia.com

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5 tips to get started on a room makeover By Dane Hewes When trying to design a room or redecorate a room, many people become overwhelmed with the enormity of the project. They may know the look they wish to achieve, but have no idea how to actually accomplish it. Here are a few tips to help you get your home in tip-top shape: 1. WORK WITH AN ODD NUMBER OF PATTERNS. dd numbers tend to look best you may have up to five patterns in a room. 2. USE A VARYING SCALE OF PATTERNS. Incorporate varying scales to the space so the prints do not compete with each other. 3. LARGE PATTERNS TEND TO WORK BEST ON LARGER PIECES AND SMALL PRINTS ON SMALLER PIECES. large pattern looks great on a large item, such as window treatments or an area rug. medium to small pattern is better suited to smaller furniture and a small pattern on accent pieces. 4. LOOK FOR A LARGE PATTERN THAT INCORPORATES ALL OF YOUR COLORS. large pattern can be your anchor in a space with several colors. It should be the biggest and boldest and incorporate all of your colors in your scheme. From there, choose another medium size pattern about half size in scale which also utilizes some of the colors. The small pattern may have only two or three of your colors. 5. YOU MAY USE PATTERN EVEN IF YOU HAVE A MONOCHROMATIC ROOM. If you choose a single color, play with di erent shades of the color. s long as you vary the scale of the pattern, you can still create a very cohesive look with mi ed patterns. Hewes is a partner in Fabrics to Fringes, 516 Courthouse Road, Gulfport, MS 39507.

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Flood Insurance – To have and hold or not? ust when the wind insurance rates are coming down, the ood insurance rates are going up! But all is not lost. There is much you can do to protect your property and reduce your insurance costs. FIRST THE GOOD NEWS: Since the devastation of Hurricane Katrina is 10 years behind us, we now have a large number of By Angelyn insurance companies interested in doing Treutel Zeringue business in our area, and more companies lead to lower costs for consumers. This is driven by the better construction standards in our area including enforced building codes, stronger fire districts, and all of the mitigation efforts to improve the resiliency of our structures. Another factor is all the work of IBHS and its designations of fortified homes for bron e certification (for a strong and water tight roof ), silver certification (for the roof and impact protection on structure openings and attached structures), and gold certification (for roof and openings and structural integrity, including the chimney). There may be grants or loans available to fortify your home. These structural improvements to mitigate potential damage and fortify your structure will help ensure that you have a home and business to return to after a storm, which is beneficial to our whole economy and well-being.

NOW THE NOT SO GOOD NEWS: Flood insurance rates have increased as of April 2015, in the 10-18 percent range. There are higher fees in addition to the higher rates, particularly for non-primary homes and commercial structures. There are also higher deductible options to reduce your rates, so ask for your options, but don’t let your policy lapse. FEMA has implemented a one-year grace period for properties deemed to be “recently mapped,” and after the one-year period, if there is no ood insurance in place, the higher standard rates will apply. What does this mean to you? If you have a home in a recently mapped area where your prior ood one was B, , or , and has now been changed to Flood Zone A, and you purchase your coverage now, the rate will be in the $400-a-year range; however, if you wait till after April 2016, your rate will be in the $2,000-a-year range — a huge difference! Also, if you have a ood insurance policy that meets the recently mapped guidelines, your policy may be transferred to a potential buyer at the lower rate. So if you ever plan to sell your home, you will need to have a ood policy in place. WHAT SHOULD YOU DO? You must verify your primary residence with FEMA, or your property will be changed to nonprimary status. Non-primary residences and commercial structures are surcharged $250. Consider that higher deductibles to reduce the cost of insurance coverage will be available to you, but know that the deductible applies to each coverage, so if you choose the highest deductibles available, you will have to pay a $10,000 deductible for the structure and $10,000 deductible for the contents. Whatever you do, don’t let your policy lapse. Rewrites may be more costly to you. And if you do not have a ood policy, you should buy it now. If your one has been re-mapped, this is your last chance to purchase insurance at a reduced rate.

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Angelyn Treutel Zeringue, CPA, PWCAM, is president of South roup nsurance- ulf Coast, with offices in Bay St. Louis, Bilo i and iamondhead.

2369 Olde Park Oak PlacePointe - Reminiscent of 2401 - Executive Martha’s Vineyard - charming and Style Home in Graveline Point cozy! Bricked lined on 1.65 Acressidewalk of land. and The tree home front entrance toand the home. Perfect2 features 4 beds 3 full baths, backyard with outdoor great indoor fireplaces and kitchen, one exterior for entertaining. Custom built MaGuire fireplace, outdoor entertaining area homeenclosed with manypool extras see area. with and- must hot tub to appreciate! Hardwood floors andthe Gated community minutes from ceramic tileschool throughout. $309,900 new high and I-10. $620,000

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2369 Park Place- -Great Reminiscent 133 Hopkins locationof1 Martha’s block Vineyard charming and cozy! from the-beach, casinos, & newBricked ball sidewalk linedproperty front entrance stadium.and Thistree unique featuresto 3 beds onPerfect the main living room 2 the home. backyard with and outdoor baths. 2great income-producing properties kitchen, for entertaining. Custom below. 2 bedrooms bathroom. built MaGuire home and with1many extras Property features a saltHdwd water floors pool. and must see to appreciate! $575,000 ceramic tile throughout. $324,900

Are you in the market for a new home? Congratulations! Keep the following things in mind as you shop — they can make a big difference in the cost of your insurance.

By Kathy Rogers 1. When was the home built? If the home is new you may qualify for a new home discount. Also, building codes are being steadily updated so newer homes may be better built. 2 . If it is older, is it in good shape? Has it been remodeled or has it been updated in some manner? When was the roof replaced? How about the heating, air conditioning or plumbing? Ask lots of questions, find out what has been done to the home, when and by whom. Did the owners do the upgrades themselves, or were they done by a licensed contractor? 3. Is the home brick, vinyl, or a fortified home enerally, a fortified or concrete home has the most insurance cost savings, followed by a brick home. 4. How big is the home? It may seem like a simple question, but most people don’t know how many square feet their home is. If you will have a mortgage, the lender will require you to have a replacement cost policy. Each insurance company has its own formula for calculating replacement costs, which has nothing to do with the market value of the home or the price you will pay for it. Find out the dimension of the heated and cooled portion of the home as well as any porch, deck, garage, or carport. 5. Has the current owner participated in grant or upgrade programs If so, which ones Ask for a copy of the certificate the owner received after completion. 6. Was the home built to the IBHS bronze, silver, or gold construction standards as it been retrofit to meet those standards If so, the owner should have a certificate listing the certification. . Is the home inside or outside the city limits hat is the fire protection class? Generally, the protection class number is lower in the city limits. A lower number indicates a faster response time should you have a fire, and therefore, can be elibigle for a better fire insurance rate. 8. Does it have a hip, gable, or metal roof? A hip roof is a type where all sides of the roof slope downwards to the walls and has no gables or other vertical sides. A home with a hip roof will generally receive a discount on insurance. 9. hat ood one is the home in on t believe the “it s not in a ood one” line. R home is in a ood one It might be in a preferred one, or it might be in a special ood ha ard one. ith all the changes in ood insurance rating, the ood one is a huge deal. Ask your realtor to provide you with a ood one determination before you fall in love with the home. If the homeowner has a current ood policy the easiest thing may be to ask for a copy of the policy and review it with your agent. 10. ow is your credit ust as your credit score will have an effect on your mortgage interest rate, a lower credit score will have a negative effect on your insurance premium. 11. Knowing all this information might save you some money. Kathy Rogers is vice president of Rogers Insurance. Reach her at (228) 832-9313. www.gcwmultimedia.com

7204 Park Ridge - Large stately home Toscana Subdivision - conveniently on 2.62 to acres of SRHS tree-lined located I-10, and property Downtown Home features bedsstart and 5atfull baths, Ocean Springs.5Lots $50,000, a large open kitchen, formal dining, lot inclusive pricing starting at harwood and floors. Outside, large $399,000 withtile premier builder,aFritz covered patio and pool. There is a single Development. OR with approved garage, double carport and storage shed plans, you may choose your builder. all in the perfect location! $410,000

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This Old House: Perkinston, Part II G

From ugly

duckling to an elegant

et comfy and let us tell you what we have accomplished since our last article. It has been a privilege breathing life back into this house. I find myself marveling over the quality of craftsmanship. I ponder what will be left for my descendants a century or longer from now. We live in a world where even houses are mass produced; true artisans are rare; and everything is made to degrade and fade away instead of standing the test of time. The “Haint Blue” porch ceilings that are a staple in Southern culture is but one example of how traditions and cultures are shared through design and architecture. Blue porch ceilings are said to deter insects and birds from nesting, but the color is attributed to the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor. Michael Allen, a community specialist for the National Park Service, was quoted in Garden & Gun magazine, “We know through research that people of African descent brought

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ner

r n

swan

ree

that tradition surrounding the color with them to the United States. It is a color they believed defended the home from troubled spirits: a bright, Caribbean blue.” This is exactly what I love about old homes. It is the beliefs, culture, and hard work that people poured into a home that is easily seen and excitedly discovered in old architecture. Our little farmhouse has presented a few challenges, but everything we needed has ended up falling in our laps, and more importantly, at a price we could deal with. Swans are a recurring theme with this home. I had already planned a white, pale gray, black, and natural wood color palette for the home. I explained the swan oddity to my Aunt Hazel and her friend Kristy when they were visiting from Virginia. Kristy said, “Well, it’s what you’re doing to the house — transitioning it from an ugly duckling to a swan.” I knew this house was our fairytale; I just didn’t know which one, and now it’s clear. Ruby Ladner Griffin

{ Yay! Construction } First, we had to get the house level. We removed all of the exterior siding, plumbing, and electrical wiring. We strengthened the roof and made a few minor repairs. The porch had to be completely rebuilt in many places. e needed a new field drain and concrete top for our septic tank. We had to put in a new HVAC system. We spent months upon months painstakingly restoring the original wood oors. ot one person wanted to touch those oors, so we did it ourselves. My father, husband, and I have put our blood, sweat, and tears into those oors. Two additions were built. The first was a 140-square-foot addition to the south end of the house in which our laundry room and second full bath will be located. I chose to place the addition there for my husband — when he comes in from work he can place his work clothes in the laundry and go immediately to the shower. This will also help me keep the house clean. I also placed a handicap-width exterior door into the laundry room and another handicap-width door to the bathroom. This will allow us to bring in larger furniture and appliances with ease. The second addition is a far cry from the initial 60-square-foot bathroom with a ceiling you could bump your head on. It is now a 256-square-foot master bathroom with a 19-foot cathedral ceiling that will be wrapped in wood to the peak, where I fully intend to hang a gorgeous chandelier. I have placed LED recessed lighting in a 2-foot ledge/tray before the ceiling begins an ascent toward the sky. The shower will be marble surrounded in frameless glass with a handicap threshold for easy access. The shower faucet is an antique Rohl, and the carved swan sink and tub faucets are antique Sherle Wagner. The wood oors in the additions are from large pine trees we rough cut after Hurricane Katrina. The wood was cut to match the existing wood oors. The wood oors in the bathrooms will be soaked in a penetrating wood oil, most likely linseed oil, and then sealed with WaterLox marine sealer. The kitchen by far has been the worst room. We had to completely remove the old oors. e tried to save them, but the wood was either water damaged or the faces of the boards were worn to the point of no return. We removed the tongue-and-groove boards off one side of two different interior walls and spent days ripping them on a table saw and re-routing the grooves. There were a few days my husband and I argued and fussed non-stop. We were hot, tired, and just down right grumpy. I like to tell everyone we finished ust in time to avoid marriage counseling. What used to be an old laundry room addition off

www.gcwmultimedia.com

the side of the kitchen was torn down and rebuilt to be a walk-in pantry. I am pretty excited about the walk-in pantry because I get to hide ugly appliances and save thousands of dollars on cabinetry. Staying true to the farmhouse style in the kitchen, we opted to have base cabinets and open shelves on the wall. Shivers go up my spine when I see dusty light fixtures hanging over food so I had about a do en recessed LED lights placed in the kitchen and living room area to make my life easier. I’m not spending all of my time cleaning hanging lights in my kitchen, and paying someone to do it is not in the budget, so I just recessed all the lights — problem solved. The living room area is open to the kitchen because TV and food are always involved when we host family or friends. These are also the most commonly used rooms for company, and they have access to a guest bathroom; it makes perfect sense to have the rooms together and our bedrooms completely separate. The main hall of the house will be dressed up a bit more than the rest of the house. The wainscoting will be 4 feet high with layered mouldings along the wall and a fabric wall covering over the remaining 7 feet above the wainscoting. I also designed a hidden outlet for the center of the main hall that is under the wood oors. The fireplace that is in the main hall will be getting a facelift. One corner has sunk and needs to be lifted back up. We will accomplish this by placing a sacrificial hydraulic ack under the fireplace to lift it and then pump in closed-cell foam to prevent any further movement. The master bedroom will be the only room in which we will build a closet, and I will design it to look like oversized furniture. We will remove the plaster and expose the brick on the fireplace when the other side has been lifted. Both sides of the fireplace will have implex ptimist electric inserts. Insulation is also a serious consideration. The walls in older homes are hollow from the bottom of the house to the attic. This was a way to allow cool air to come up through the house from the crawlspace and hot air to escape to the attic. It also allowed the house to “breathe” and not allow moisture to build up. We decided to go with spray foam insulation. Foam insulation gave us another layer of fire protection, It could get in all the nooks, crannies, and cracks that would let the bought air out. We opted to spray open-cell foam in the exterior walls and along the roof line and closed-cell foam underneath the house. Since the house does not have a sub oor, the closed-cell foam will provide

Top: Brandon Griffin removing porch decking and nails. Middle: East side of porch joists (after) Bottom: Louis Ladner

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“

I have gotten so good at saying ‘It’s not in the budget!’ My husband said he is going to start a social media hashtag, #notinthebudget, just for me. He is comical and keeps me going by making me laugh at myself.

“

structural support and a moisture barrier for the wood oors we worked so hard to restore. We will also be doing our own window restoration. Most people recommend ripping them out, and others are afraid to try to fix them. The few people who will fix the windows are not in Mississippi, and they charge at least 2,000 per window. Not in the budget! So I have been studying how to do the restoration work. There are websites, online classes, and workshops available. You can also call the state’s Historical Preservation Society to get more information. I have learned a lot, and I was surprised to find that I en oyed restoring old doors and windows. It is long tedious work that requires patience and finesse, but the finished product is gorgeous. The ceilings throughout the house are having the paint stripped off, and we will leave the tongue-and-groove wood exposed to mirror the oors. Speaking from experience, when you have paint to remove from a ceiling, just skip right past the sandpaper and paint strippers, even the gel strippers, and order an IR heat paint stripper. I recommend the one called the ‘speedheater’. It’s safe to use on lead paint and works faster than other methods. They run about $500 and are worth every penny. We have accomplished a lot and still have more to do, but we aren’t far from the finish line. e have learned so much, and our marriage has been tested with the stress of such an intensive renovation. I am certain we can do anything and weather any storm that comes. We have also started renovation work on a historical building on East Pine Avenue in Wiggins to house our interior design office, but that s a story for another time. Keep in touch and up-to-date by following us on Facebook ( VGInteriors) or Instagram (vainglory_interiors). We plan to post a walkthrough video of the house after our last article. Thank you, and I look forward to telling you more after we cross the finish line.

Top: Ruby treating an exterior door with linseed oil Bottom: Main hall during construction 118

September - October 2015

CREDITS Construction: rent ecaise Construction Electrical: Joe King and .J. Tuggle, King lectric Insulation: uality Insulation Septic system: Jason Garner Plumbing: Walter Smith plumbing HVAC: ector Rojas, ectco eating ir Gas: eill Gas iding and fini r Terry Cobb Supplies: hillip’s uilding Supplies Bank: The First Attorney: Mark rgler Porch decking: Cracker Sawmill, Williston, Fla. e in eri r d ring Dedeau Clan Furniture Photography: my Dupree hotography and Jill Ladner Make-up artist: eather Koenenn

Life lagniappes for

Ricky’s Mobile Pet Salon

easier living By John Folding

Lagniappe: a small gift given with a purchase to a customer, by way of compliment or for good measure; bonus. (Dictionary.com) We are always looking for ways to make our lives a little easier. That’s why “how to” books and “life hack” videos are so popular — they lure you in with provocative captions and titles. One of my favorites is the CrazyRussianHacker. He has produced a ton of funny ways to do ordinary tasks — like cutting a watermelon in half using rubber bands — and his popularity along with more classic helpful hinters like Heloise, is the inspiration for this column. Each issue, I’ll give a few hints on how to make life a little easier — call it a “lagniappe.”

LAGNIAPPE #1 — EXTENDING THE SHELF LIFE OF BANANAS. You may not know this, but bananas have gas. Yes, that’s right. But, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The gas helps them ripen. Keeping bananas fresh without browning has long been the bane of home chefs and moms who want their kids to have healthy snacks. There are several ways to keep a banana from browning too quickly: • Start by purchasing fruit as blemish free as possible. • Never put them in the refrigerator. • Never store them in the same fruit bowl as apples — apples release the same gas (ethylene is its name). So do pears, apricots, and tomatoes — to name a few. • Wrap the cut stems tightly in plastic either in the bunch or separately. The plastic wrap keeps the ethylene from escaping, thus slowing the ripening process. Evidence supports that bananas treated this way keeps them fresh and spot free for up to four days longer than unwrapped bananas.

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LAGNIAPPE #2 — PUKE PREVENTION

I recently went to the dentist to have my very first crown ever It was a horrifying experience to say the least and sealed the deal for me to oss like a madman for the rest of life. But, I digress. If you ve ever had to have this procedure, you know the dentist has to take multiple impressions of your teeth (I had four of them in one session) to make sure you get a good fit with your crown. or many people this causes a lot of distress because the impression medium, which takes five minutes to harden, tickles the back of their throats (to put it politely). Well, I happen to be one of those sensitive people. The assistants, for obvious reasons, want to make sure there is no distress. So as I was being tickled (and not in a good way) and was ready to spit that nasty stuff out, the assistant rushed in and told me to raise my leg and focus on my leg. ust like magic, my urge to be violently ill went away. Well, I thought that was a pretty good trick and did some research. Simply put, focusing on something intently for a few seconds seems to distract you enough to prevent the inevitable. Here are a couple more I discovered: Pediatricians tell their patients to hold a pencil in front of their nose and move it back and forth two or three times, never letting their eyes move from the pencil. Another good one is to make a fist with your thumb clenched inside your fingers, hold and concentrate for a few seconds. e know you ve got uestions mail them to me at johnfolding245@cableone.net. www.gcwmultimedia.com

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PLANNING AHEAD FOR THE HOLIDAYS By John D. Folding

Admit it, every year you swear you’re going to get a head start on planning for the holidays. “As soon as school starts, I’ll start shopping for Christmas,” you claim. “I’ll order those invitations for the cookie exchange early this year!” you exclaim. Alrighty then! How’s that usually work out for you? Before you know it, the homework starts, and the ballet classes, and football practice, and being room mom, and then all of the sudden it’s the week before Thanksgiving and you haven’t purchased the first gift or begun planning the annual party, and your friends and family expect you to host. This is why the holidays turn into a stressful mess for so many. In addition to the sometimes bittersweet emotions that swirl around this time of the year, we seem to sabotage ourselves with added pressure to make sure everything is absolutely perfect for everyone, sometimes forgetting to take care of ourselves. Here’s some advice to make things easier this year (even if you don’t get started until the last minute!) Rule No. 1 — You can’t take care of everybody else unless you take care of yourself first. By that I mean making sure you get enough rest, stay hydrated, and above all, ask for help! Rule No. 2 — Get a great month-at-a-glance calendar — and use it! Seeing everything that happens in the month will help you visualize where you are in your planning process. Don’t use this tool to get too detailed, just log the milestones so you can stay focused. Things you might want to write in include parties you’ve been invited to, deadlines for purchasing and mailing holiday cards, days to spend shopping for gifts and groceries. Use your regular daily calendar (written or digital) for to-do lists and other details. Rule No. 3 — Lists, lists, lists. If you are tech savvy, you can use your digital devices to keep track of gift lists, recipes, grocery

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lists, or planning shopping trips. If you aren’t all that great with a computer, keep a small (4x6 or 5x7) spiral-bound notebook in your purse or carry-all. These notebooks are the perfect size to jot ideas down in one place — as opposed to the back of an envelope or old receipt you find crumpled in your wallet. lus, they are the perfect size to hold a pen in the binding. Rule No. 4 — Lists, lists, lists. Worth repeating. The biggest time waster is aimlessly wandering from store to store hoping that the perfect thing will jump out at you. It just doesn’t work that way. Besides wasting time, you waste money because you last-minute desperation shop, often overspending or purchasing something that the receiver can’t use or doesn’t like. Finally, the best advice to be had during any stressful event is to remember that your expectations are going to be far and away higher than your guests’, so relax. Most of life’s events are meant to be enjoyed, not obsessed over. So, get your notebooks and your calendars, and… ready… set… PARTY!

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FASHION & BEAUTY

More than a

makeover!

By Dana Sleger

n 2013, Cristina Ucles’ world took an about-face when her husband, Henpvel, was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Homeschooling her two young children stopped; her husband’s successful carpentry and remodeling business stopped; steady income stopped; and life as they knew it stopped. However, one thing that didn’t come to a halt was the determination to move forward with resilient faith and embrace the challenges ahead. cles, 29, says that first year was particularly rough because on top of dealing with the initial blow of the news, a series of complications followed. Not only did the biopsy confirm the tumor was cancerous, the surgery caused enpvel to lose significant mobility on his left side, and a blood clot also developed in one of his lungs. Radiation treatments and intensive physical therapy was a tough combo to handle, but thankfully, Henpvel is now able to walk by himself and can use his left side more. The tumor has shrunk, and chemotherapy has been reduced to once a month. “We’re going through a big storm, but I see my husband smiling with so much joy, and it encourages me,” Ucle says. “I have to be strong for him. He means everything to me.” Being a stay-at-home mom while also serving as Henpvel’s primary caregiver is tough at times, but Ucles’ positive attitude caught the attention of someone who thought she deserved a few hours of pampering. She was anonymously nominated for Gulf Coast Woman’s makeover experience that included a new look from head to toe. She heard about the nomination when she was going through a particularly difficult time with Hentzel’s health issues, so some TLC was just what she needed. “When I found out about the makeover, I was thankful for the good news,” Ucles says. “All the troubles, worry and cares of this world disappeared for a few hours while I enjoyed the experience.” The makeover team met Ucles at Red Lily Spa in Ocean Springs, and they were immediately captivated by her story and her sweetness. “She was absolutely precious, and it really was an honor for us to be able to help out,” says Emma Bain, owner of the spa.

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BEFORE Cristina Ucles: “When I found out about the makeover, I was thankful for the good news.”

Accomplished New Artists Lauren Damond,

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With a portfolio spanning nearly 2 decades, Keith Register is considered among the elite in the hairdressing industry. Once an educator for Toni & Guy/ Tigi, from NYC to London, Keith’s world class experience in precision cutting has made him a rare talent. Register always personalizes each hair cut and color with an artistic approach that will make you love your look! Keith is a freelance stylist that will be working at the Tanya Tancredi Salon in downtown Gulfport and the Red Lily Spa in downtown Ocean Springs.

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Dressed In Blue boutique Owner Brooke Broadus has always loved fairy tales and Disney. Brooke is not unlike most girls growing up with a princess fascination, but Brooke took her love of fairy tells to a whole new level.

Stylish Clothing & Gifts Affordable Prices Great Service

women for decades but not because the girl gets her prince or the ball gowns, but because the feelings they invoked when the princess is eelin on den and bea i l Nothing feels better than feeling good about one’s self,” says Brooke.

reassured and with a smile on their face. While Brooke understood her work at the hospital was important and she had a positive impact on her patients each day, she desired to interact with each person more regularly and build a true relationship with them.

spe ial and on den li e o r o n version of a princess. Whether you have a date with the girls, a date with your “Prince”, a day at the o e a mee in o a end or a party gift to bring; Dressed In Blue has stylish clothing and gifts a affordable pri es nd roo e In February 2015 Brooke opened With a bachelor’s degree in and er s aff are passiona e abo Dressed In Blue boutique, naming radiology and years of employment As a mother of two small children helping you feel and look your best, it after Cinderella’s famous blue at Garden Park Hospital, Brooke Brooke understands moms often leaving you wanting to return soon! dress. “Most ladies grew up loving realized how much she also enjoyed put themselves last. Dressed the fairy tale stories just like I did. interacting with patients and n l e is abo offerin s lis I think these tales have fascinated striving to always leave them feeling fashion and gifts to make us all feel 123 www.gcwmultimedia.com

The stylists get to work at Red Lily Spa in Ocean Springs.

To complement her features and facial structure, hair stylist Keith Register gave Ucle a layered bob with lots of texture. Colorist Lauren Damond chose a rich dark chocolate base with warm golden highlights to brighten her complexion. Makeup artist Louis Peterman also wanted to “create a gorgeous litfrom-within” look by using neutral bronze tones. Giving her eyes a hint of bronze shimmer allowed her eye color to pop, and blackest black liner coupled with adding individual lashes gave the illusion of a fuller lash line. After evening out her complexion, finishing touches included a natural-toned browny pink blush, a soft sweep of golden bronzer, and

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illuminating powder on the high points of the face. Lip gloss and liner were applied in a neutral pinky tone to give her a natural, yet enhanced lip color. Peterman says this look could be jazzed up for a night out by adding a darker, bolder lip and layering on more blush. Brooke Broadus, owner of Dressed in Blue boutique in Gulfport, provided clothes and jewelry. To complement Ucle’s skin color, hair length and “bubbly personality,” Broadus chose a bright neon yellow tank top dress with a crochet and lace detail on the front and a cutout keyhole detail on the back. To add some pi a , she finished the ensemble with gold wirewrapped Burban & Bowtie bangles and white druzy gold-plated earrings.

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AFTER

According to Broadus, druzy jewelry is all the rage now because the tiny sugar-like crystals on top of a colorful mineral adds beautiful sparkle to any outfit. On the drive home from her makeover, Ucles says she was thinking about how much the makeover team blessed her with overwhelming attention to detail and genuine care that made her look and feel so loved. Coincidentally, just a few days prior to learning she was nominated, Ucles mentioned to Hentzel that a haircut would be a nice present for her special day. “My birthday was coming close, and I was trying to drop hints to my husband that I wish I could have a haircut for myself,” Ucles says. “It was perfect timing! I had much more than a haircut — it made me realize that God sees me; he really for cares for me.”

THE MAKEOVER TEAM Keith Register, hairstylist at Tanya Tancredi Salon and Red Lily Spa Lauren Damond, stylist/colorist at Tanya Tancredi Salon Louis Peterman, makeup artist and Bobbi Brown representative Brooke Broadus, stylist (owner of Dressed in Blue) Emma Bains, brows (owner of Red Lily Spa) Sarah Schindler, manicurist at Red Lily Spa NOMINATE A DESERVING WOMAN FOR THE NEXT MAKEOVER! dorothywilson@gulfcoastwomanmagazine.com Brooke Broadus of Dressed in Blue arrives with fashion choices. 126

September - October 2015

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Unique Gifts • Gourmet Baskets Fine Art • Local Color

Mon-Fri 10-6, Sat 9-5 Sun 12-4 922 Washington Ave. Ocean Springs, MS 39564 228.872.8584

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Blending comfort & style owner Linda Keenan

story and photos by Ellis Anderson

boutique named after California becomes an iconic Louisiana business and has now branched out to Mississippi? It’s a trifecta of success, boasting three decades of comfort, style, and quality at California Drawstrings. First-time shoppers may scratch their heads and wonder about the name: California Drawstrings? What does a state 2,000 miles away have to do with a chic clothing boutique in a coastal Mississippi town? And what’s the secret that’s made the store a premier pick across the region for men and women seeking stylish, comfortable clothing? Linda Keenan, owner and founder of California Drawstrings, is delighted to share the answers. Keenan’s the type of entrepreneur who inspires younger business people. With little capital and lots of gumption over the past three decades, she’s created and grown the business in the brutally competitive fashion market. Although styles have changed dramatically since Keenan began her business, she’s remained true to her central criteria over the past thirty years. “If you want to blend into the woodwork, you can shop in the local department stores,” she says. “But if you want to feel comfortable and look a little different – yet be confident you still look fantastic we have it.” Keenan currently manages and buys for three locations – with a fourth opening soon. In addition to operating the Old Town Bay St. Louis shop, the Chicago native oversees the mothership location in the New Orleans French Quarter (812 Royal Street) and a third store on Magazine Street (3650 Magazine Street). And in mid-July, an outlet store, California Drawstrings Last Call, will be opening in the heart of Covington, Louisiana (827 Walker Alley, right off Lee Lane). Each location is staffed with salespeople who are extremely knowledgeable about the clothing they sell. They know which lines run large or small and which designs best complement different shapes. Most of them have been to market with Keenan and are genuinely enthusiastic about the clothing lines they represent. Keenan’s sales staff are knowledgeable and friendly. Keenan believes her sales staff is one of the main keys to her success. She’s been in sales herself most of her career, beginning as a broker in the real estate market, working in both Illinois and North Carolina. While visiting New Orleans one fall 30-odd years ago, she decided to try a southern winter instead of heading north toward snow. To obtain her Louisiana broker’s license, she signed up for school. To support herself in the meantime, she began selling clothing in the French Market. She quickly discovered that the fashion world appealed to her more than real estate, and she switched gears. Keenan began to rent a series of storefronts, soon winding up with the prestigious Royal Street 128

September - October 2015

location - where she’s been a mainstay for than 30 years. The first clothing she sold was a line of comfortable cottons for both men and women with legions of diehard fans - California Drawstrings. Made in the .S. out of domestic fibers, the brand was the only one Keenan carried for years, and it became a shop staple as the business grew. “It made sense for the shop to also have the name of the clothing line,” says Keenan. “Now we have regular customers from all over the country who know our name, so, of course, we’d never think of changing it.” The laid-back lifestyle in the Bay hasn’t shifted the entrepreneur’s business philosophy though. “I want people to say ‘wow’ when they walk in the store. And I want them to feel great when they leave.” “For me, that’s great fun.” California Drawstrings features clothes for men, too! And she’s branded California Drawstrings as a name synonymous with apparel that magically combines two traits: comfort and standout design. As the store’s buyer, Keenan seeks out only comfortable, well-made clothing, with styles that can’t be found elsewhere. She carries lines that can fit all si es, from extra-small to plus. She prefers clothing that is made in the .S. and prefers natural fibers, like those made by lax and Matchpoint. The shop’s a mix of artsy designs balanced with clothing that’s more classically styled, created with deft touches that set them apart. Keenan believes accessories like ewelry and scarves can “ a up” an outfit easily to “look like a million dollars.” The staff are trained to help put statement-making ensembles together. Customers frequently report with success stories about the many compliments they receive at social events. The Bay St. Louis shop opened in 2011 when Maggie May’s owner, Nancy Moynan - who knew Keenan from New Orleans - had a space available. Moynan believed alifornia rawstrings would be a great fit for the Bay. Bay St. Louis Mayor Les Fillingame agreed. For years, he and his wife had been regular customers of the Royal Street location. While Keenan had been coming to the Bay for years, the invitations coincided with a suddenly stronger longing to spend more time on the coast. After opening in Maggie May’s, Keenan rented a townhouse on deMontluzin and began spending more time in Bay St. Louis. Then, last year, she purchased a historic building on the second block of Main Street. After renovating, California Drawstrings moved into its expanded and permanent ld Town quarters. And although she still officially resides in Mandeville, Keenan spends as much time as possible in the Bay.

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Making you beautiful in every way! By Dana Sleger

Ladies, we all know that a trip to the salon can be a transformative experience. There is some kind of magical power that takes place when sitting in the chair of a master stylist/colorist who sees the hidden beauty underneath a head full of hair that desperately needs some TLC. After the scissors, color and some good convo (even a little therapy if needed), the finished masterpiece re ected in the mirror prompts a phenomenal internal response that goes something like this: Goodbye, frumpy. Hello, gorgeous! Amber Lord, 28, owns Salon Rouge and she loves every aspect of this empowerment process. “I love making people happy and knowing that I own a business that makes people feel better about themselves is the most rewarding aspect,” Lord says. “It is a feeling like no other to watch women and men leave my salon feeling like a million bucks!” The full-service salon located on Washington Avenue in Ocean Springs specializes in a number of services, including wedding/special occasion hair styling, but when it comes to coloring, Salon Rouge is known for palette perfection. Whether ombre, bayalage, a classic highlight, a simple all over color, or trendy fashion hues like bright pink, purple and blue, they have your tresses covered — and your body and soul, too. “I wanted a salon where the client could come and get all of her beauty needs in one spot, and also have a modern, relaxing and inviting atmosphere,” Lord says. “You can come to Salon Rouge and get any color service you like, haircuts, eyelash and hair extensions, body 132

September - October 2015

Amber Lord, center, with the Salon Rouge Team. The salon is located on Washington Avenue in Ocean Springs.

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‘If it literally doesn’t have to do with hair, makeup or fashion, I want nothing to do with it’ waxing, facials, makeup, spray tanning, nails, special occasion styling, and more.” Since Lord was a little girl, she has always been interested in fashion, hair and makeup — all things sugar and spice that make life very nice. Growing up, signs pointed to the entrepreneurial direction of owning a business one day where Lord could share this passion that helps women feel good about themselves. As a cheerleader in high school, she was always the go-to hair and makeup expert for the team. Remember those career aptitude tests students take? Her result prophesied “artist.” Lord’s high school communications class journal says “hairstylist” would be her profession, and so does a diary from when she was much younger. It’s even in her generational line. When Lord was 8-years-old, her mom went back to school to become a hairstylist and she eventually opened her own shop in Long Beach until Katrina destroyed it. After the storm, she opted to not own a salon, but still continues to do hair. Initially, Lord fought her calling and went to college for fashion and marketing, but she’ll never forget her vocational epiphany experience. “My ah-ha moment was sitting in a class at junior college writing a paper and I said to myself, ‘If it literally doesn’t have to do with hair, makeup or fashion, I want nothing to do with it,’ ” Lord says. “So, I went to Chris’ Beauty College and started school for cosmetology.” On top of also discovering she had a severe dislike for her college job of waiting tables, the transition to fully embracing her true passion was an easy one. “It all made me realize that I needed to do something I enjoyed doing or I wasn’t going to be happy in life,” Lord says. “It’s so important to do what you love.” After receiving her cosmetology license and working for a couple salons to gain field experience, ord made the decision to open Salon Rouge in 2008. Six years later, her landlord offered an opportunity she couldn’t refuse. Due to business rapidly growing, Lord needed a larger location and her landlord decided to add on space to the building. Last November, Salon Rouge moved two doors down to a snazzy 1,500-square-foot space full of red, white and black décor. However, her favorite accessory shines brightly in the room and serves as a constant reminder to dream big. “In beauty school, we had to design a salon on poster board and present it to the class, and on my poster board, I had a chandelier hanging in the middle of the salon,” Lord says. “As soon as I knew I was getting a new salon, before I did anything else, I had my chandelier. I got to design every square inch of that place with my heart and soul. Sometimes I walk in my salon and I’m like, ‘Wow, is this really mine? Did I really do this?’ I’m very blessed and thankful. I have worked really hard for this dream.” Lord says she is very fortunate to work with such a talented staff,

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SALON ROUGE 6905 Washington Ave. Ocean Springs, MS 39564 (228) 875-4233

which includes her sister who also is a hairstylist. As far as Lord’s clients go, although her job is all about offering a personalized experience that sparks a feel-good-about-yourself effect, she values the reciprocal inspiration. “All of my clients leave an impression on me on a daily basis, especially my clients that have been with me since the beginning,” Lord says. “Having them believe in me really made me believe in myself and that will have a lasting impression on me for the rest of my life.”

Grand Opening

Here to make you look beautiful in every way!

Offering:

Celebrate the Grand

Opening of Robin’s Nest in the Pass and meet Dorothy

Roberts and her sisters, Sally-Ann and Robin

Ribbon cutting

Friday, September 18th at 3:30 p.m.

Store opens

Saturday, September 19th at 10 a.m.

before

after

before

Distinctive Jewelry • Arts • Gifts 255 Davis Avenue Pass Christian, MS 39571 228.222.4863

www.RobinsNestinthePass.com www.gcwmultimedia.com

before

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6905 Washington Ave. Ocean Springs, MS 39564 Find us on Facebook or check out our website at WWW.SALONROUGE-MS.COM

228-875-4233 SalonRouge3@yahoo.com

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September - October 2015

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RETAIL

y p a r e h T

Sorrelli On the Edge Earrings $52 Sorrelli Bold Bauble Ring $58 Gina's | Downtown Ocean Springs 228-818-3333

Tory Burch Pink Crossbody $219 Back on the Rack 1419 27th Ave Ste. E, Gulfport 228-822-1480

Game Day Clothing Various Prices Sports Shack 11516 Lamey Bridge Rd., Ste L, Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Iberville, MS 228-392-7007 Football Canvas $35 The Twisted Cocktail Tree 16201 Lemoyne Blvd. | Biloxi, MS Brynn 424-5950 | Janaan 224-6063 Fully Beaded Clutch $179 Bridal Formal Boutique and House of Tux 1524 Pass Road | Gulfport, MS 228-868-2037

Patent Leather Handbag $62.50 Vintage inspired bracelet $27.50 Prima Donna Boutique 134B Rue Magnolia | Biloxi, MS 39530 228-365-4939 | PrimaDonnaVintageBoutique.com Annieglass Large pedestal: $372 Small pedestal $296 Kerry Brooks Large Glass Tray $92 Hillyer House | 920 Washington Ave Ocean Springs, MS 39564 228-875-8065 September - October 2015

30x40 Velveteen Plush Personalized Baby Blanket $45 Metal Personalized Picture 12x18 $39 Back Bay Bliss • 6604 Bayou Pines Dr., Biloxi, MS 39532 228-860-8083 or 228-218-9702 • BackBayBliss.com

Fringe Booties $48.95 Pint glass $14 Dressed in Blue 8930 Lorraine Rd, Suite B Gulfport, MS 39503 228-206-0003

Andalossi Italian Leather Handbag $242.00 Johnny Was Scarf $88.00 Bayou Belle Washington Ave. Ocean Springs, MS 39564 228-875-7008

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Bordeaux Wrap $19.99 Musee Bath Balls $5.99 Freaker Bottle Covers $9.99 Triplett-Day Drugs 2429 14th Street Downtown Gulfport 228-863-2363 www.gcwmultimedia.com

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Trending now

Strobing, the anti-contour By Mallory Fitzgerhald

A new trend hit this summer and has worked its way into our fall beauty lives. The trend, so aptly named “strobing,” is actually not new at all. It has been around since the 1930s, giving the beauties on the silver screen dimension to their faces and healthier-looking skin. Strobing is using a highlighter to bring out your features while giving a dewy, natural look to the skin. Makeup artists consider this a necessary technique in their bag of tricks, and it’s much more i le an y u ay in . ere al y u r ug i d n rry you’ve got this! W h a t is it?

What’s so great about this trend is that it helps to streamline your makeup routine. Instead of taking time and using multiple products to contour, simply use one product to illuminate the high planes of the face, and it will naturally create a contour. A simple trick of light! You can use a cream, liquid, or a powder as your highlighter (or “strobe”), -- whatever you’re more comfortable working with. Here’s how to get that simple, J-Lo glow!

P r o d u tc r e co m m e n d a t i o n s

Let’s begin with what product you’ll be using. You’re looking for something with a pearlescent luminosity or glow, as opposed to sparkle or glitter. Here are my favorites: Champagne Pop by BECCA Cosmetics, a collaboration with youtube makeup guru Jaclyn ill (powder); Benefit att s p Highlighter (cream stick); BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfecto (liquid); The Balm- Mary Loumanizer (powder); L’Oreal True Match Lumi Liquid Glow Illuminator (liquid); Urban Decay Naked Skin Illuminating Beauty Balm (liquid) SPF20- Bonus points for SPF! Choose any of these products for your strobing enjoyment.

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T o o ls

If you are using one of the cream or liquid options, your best bet is to use your fingertips. lean fingertips will warm the product and press it into the skin seamlessly.If you will be using a powder product, use a uffy blending brush such as the Sigma E-40 Fluffy Blending Brush or the MAC Cosmetics #224 Blending Brush. This will buff that illuminating powder onto the skin exactly where you need it. And the great thing about a highlighting product like this is the more you blend and buff, the more it will glow!

P l a ce

m e n t

Here is the most important part: We have our product; we have our tool; now, where to put it? When placing this product on your face, you want to think about where the sunlight hits on the high panes of the face. Buff, tap, or blend this product onto the tops of the cheekbones (just above your blush), the temples and top of the forehead, down the center of the nose, the cupid’s bow of the mouth, the inner corner of the eye, and the brow bone, just under your eyebrow. For bonus points: Apply on your collarbone, shoulders, and shin bones for an all-over, head-turning glow!

September - October 2015

The best part about strobing is it creates an incredible, healthy glow to the skin, and it’s a surprisingly simple way to update your makeup routine without complication or extra time. Have fun with it, and enjoy your makeup! Happy strobing! Follow Mallory Fitgerald on Facebook. She is a freelance makeup artist on the Missisippi Gulf Coast. Contact her at malloryfit gerald@yahoo.com

RELATIONSHIPS

JUNE AND TED HEARN: STILL DANCING AFTER

62 Years By Elaine Stevens

taying married is hard work, probably more so now than ever before. Marrying the right person the first time around can be a gamble, a toss of the dice. It s been said that the key to staying married is simply deciding not to get divorced. Is that why our parents generation made it to their golden years together, and we boomers are on our third or fourth marriages o we in this era not have the stick-to-itive-ness that Mom and ad had to keep the romance going I was privileged to get the answers to these and more questions from a prominent South Mississippi couple who have created a template for marital commitment. It all began with a phone call in anuary 19 3. (Telephone rings) June: “Hello ...” Ted: “Hi, June. This is Ted.” June: “Oh, hello.” Ted: “Listen, I was wondering ... nothing is happening next weekend at Mississippi State. How would you like to get married?” And that was the marriage proposal that launched the 2-year-old union of une Ruffin and Ted earn of aurel, Mississippi. She was 1 ; he was 20. By the time of the proposal, they had been dating for five years. “ ur first date was when une was going into the ninth grade, and I was going to the 11th grade,” says Ted lovingly. “...and I wore a yellow Angora sweater that nearly ruined his navy blue bla er,” adds une. Then Ted explains, “...but all we did was dance.” “ ell, of course,” says une with a sly grin. ven in conversation they continue their familiar dance. “By the way, I was the second girl he asked,” une laughs. ith a slight stammer Ted attempts to complete the story, “ but it was the right thing to happen, because I would have never stayed with the other one.” une quickly retorts with a verbal pirouette, as if it were yesterday. “ because she wouldn t go out with you.” Ted spins his partner with a romantic response, “It would have been ust a date; this is forever.” And so, the first walt of conversation concludes. The earns married eloped anuary 10, 19 3. “ e have an elope gene in our family,” says Ted, explaining that three of the four siblings eloped and have stayed married. ust hearing the logistics of how une and Ted achieved their matrimonial feat is exhausting. Ted didn t have a car, so on the weekend of the scheduled “I do,” Ted hitchhiked from Mississippi State to aurel. But not before he “borrowed the ring from the eweler” where he had it on layaway, paying a little at a time on the half carat by working three part-time obs on campus. After riding with a truck driver who tried to talk Ted out of getting married, he and une after dodging parents and www.gcwmultimedia.com

The Hearns today. Photography by James Edward Bates friends managed to get a friend to take them to ollins. “I put the ring on her finger, then we spent the night at The Resort in Stafford Springs, and I told her the next morning, une, I have to take the ring back until I finish paying for it. ” Then Ted hitchhiked back to State. The couple planned to have a church wedding in ecember. owever, the best laid plans of mice and men as they say. “ e kept it a secret from anuary until September of 19 3,” says une. Meanwhile, une traveled to State for all the special events and dances. And Ted continued to borrow the ring and then take it back when une left campus. inally the day of reckoning arrived, along with someone else. “I was a little pregnant when we told our parents.” une giggles girlishly. Ted chimes in, “After six weeks of R T camp, I came home for one night, uly 4, 19 3, and we got pregnant. e had an April ool s baby in 19 4 ” That also happened to be Ted s mother s birthday. une finally got to keep the ring udy was the first of three children born to the earns; enny and Russell soon followed. The small college apartment, walking to the store, and a 12-a-week grocery bill gave way to larger homes, successful retail businesses, prestigious positions in South Mississippi, Ted s post as brigadier general (now retired), grandchildren and great-grandchildren and finally, Ted and une s most treasured vocations as humanitarians. Active in Trinity nited Methodist hurch, eed My Sheep, and the Salvation Army, the earns both say they couldn t have come this far without a solid commitment to od and to one another. Through illness and hurricanes, they have managed to keep romance alive. Known as une 141

Bug (“My 1-year-old teenager,” says Ted) and oo (“Sometimes oo-doo if he makes me mad,” says une), the vibrant couple still play tennis every week and still dance beautifully together, having won trophies for their terpsichorean achievements. “It works best when you are able to love each other no-holds barred, love each other all out,” Ted says with conviction. ould they do anything differently After 2 years, Ted admits to une, “I wouldn t call you on the telephone and ask you to marry me, but I was under pressure I had to get you off the market really fast ” WORDS FROM HALLMARK CARD TED GAVE TO JUNE THIS YEAR ON THEIR ANNIVERSARY.

old on to me, and I will hold on to you “through anything and everything life brings our way. Bring me your worries and I ll listen with my heart. Tell me what you need and I ll do my best to give it to you. ove me even when it isn t easy, and I promise to do the same for you. After all, isn t that what love, true love, is all about.

”

The Hearns at high school dance.

Prima Donna

erving families with dignity S and care for more than 65 years

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primadonnavintageboutique.com

Monday - Friday, 11am - 6pm Saturday, 12am-5pm

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PARENTING

Love in a lunchbox By Tammy Turnage

riting this article in the early hours of the morning, I am sitting on my daughter s bed. er room looks a little different now. She is grown, married, and a mother of a beautiful baby girl with a smile ust like her own. I often will come into her old bedroom and remember long talks sitting on the bed together, piles of school books and homework, helping her figure out which shoes look the best with which outfit, pompoms, photos... sweet memories. Then, I ll walk down the hall and see my college daughter s room as well. It is often filled with artwork and creative pro ects she has been working on, as well as costumes and scripts for the next school play, not to mention soccer balls, music and her wellworn guitar. I hold in my heart such sweet memories of raising our two precious daughters. et, I don t even know when it started. Silly notes and poems for the day, a few words of encouragement sent in a lunch box probably glanced at quickly in a crowded, noisy lunchroom and tucked away. I guess I never really knew the impact these little notes would have on my children, or if they had one at all. Then one day my oldest daughter handed me a large gift. As I opened the carefully wrapped present, I lifted out a white scrapbook. It had a little “window” on the front which included not a photo but a little handwritten poem, “Roses are Red, iolets are Blue, It s Mother s ay, and I ove ou” ove, Kristen. Inside were do ens of tiny scraps of paper, years of handwritten “lunch box notes.” She had kept and treasured them. All these years she had saved them to one day give back to me, a reminder of the oys and struggles of her school days. My mind was filled with memories and my eyes with tears as I read each one again. e never truly know as we are raising our children if we are making a difference in their lives. As much as I have tried, I know there have been days I have not measured up to being the parent I needed to be. But the one thing I pray my daughters will always know I love them with all of my heart. “Too much,” as my youngest daughter once said. hen raising children, many days we think, “ hen you have a child of your own, you ll understand how much I love you.” And they will. Being a parent is a marathon. rom the moment they are born you never stop loving them, worrying about them, thinking of them and praying for them. ven if you are about to have an empty nest, they still need you, and sometimes even more than ever before. hether it s a little “note of love” tucked in a lunchbox or a thought for the day, begin encouraging your children in new and creative ways. ou never know the impact it will make on their lives. www.gcwmultimedia.com

WAYS TO ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILD PRAY FOR THEM. Praying for your child is the single most important thing you can do as a parent. I keep a prayer notebook and have a section for each of my daughters and now my granddaughter where I write down things I need to pray for them. Remember, God will watch over them when you can’t be there. Over the years I have jotted “praise” by so many of my prayer requests and “answered” by others. Pray for their spiritual growth, health, protection, peer pressure, teachers, school sta , homework, projects, college and career goals, future mates, friends, talents, and any struggles they are facing. I try to ask my daughters, “Is there anything I can pray about for you”? One of my favorite scriptures to pray for my daughters is Ephesians 3:16-19. Remember, if you aren’t praying for your child, who is? BE OBSERVANT. Pay attention to your child. I know this sounds a little odd, but we all get so involved with our schedules that we sometimes don’t pay the attention to our children that we need to. Some of the most special times with my daughters have been when I’ve said, “I can tell something’s on your mind. Want to talk about it?” To read about more ways on how to encourage your child, visit gcwmultimedia.com.

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On the Coast, fall feels like fun By Rebecca Ritchey

In her book “ irst rost,” Sarah Addison described fall as looking like the world was covered in a cobbler crust of brown sugar and cinnamon. There is something special about the autumn season that makes you want to go outside, ump in the leaves, drink hot cider, and make memories. The smell of pumpkin, apples, and bonfires fill the air, enticing us to take on all autumn has to offer. n the ulf oast the season brings several fun things to do. ompleting a corn ma e should definitely be on a fall bucket ist. In addition to the 10-acre corn ma e, Southern romiseland also offers a roping area, cow milking simulation, and a hayride. There is also a concession stand, picnic area, and a 1. -acre pumpkin patch. There are Southern Promiseland Farm and Corn Maze Sept. 27th - Nov. 1st (closed on Halloween) Fridays, 6-9 p.m.; Saturdays, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 19 and 26, 1-4 p.m.; open by reservation only Monday through Friday 1212 Raygan Lane, Kiln Admission: 12 and up $8; ages 3-11 $7; 2 and under free with a paying adult (228) 255-4866 southernpromiseland.com Annual Cedar Rest Cemetery Tour Oct. 31 5:30-8 p.m. 2nd St., Bay St. Louis (228) 467-4090 Free admission (donations appreciated) 10th annual Historic Krebs Cemetery Tour Oct. 29 5-8 p.m. Located on Krebs Lake adjacent to Krebs-

plenty of wonderful photo opportunities at Southern romisedland arm and orn Ma e; be sure to bring your camera All of the little ghosts and goblins come out to play in autumn. There is nothing spookier than a candlelit cemetery tour in late ctober edar Rest emetery in Bay St. ouis guarantees a hair-raising night during its 22nd annual emetery Tour. ot dogs, homemade cookies, and punch are ust some of the refreshments served that is, if you can keep your stomach out of your throat long enough to eat These offer ust a brief glimpse of what the ulf oast has to offer for fall fun. Take time this fall to make fun memories with your children

Lapointe house in Pascagoula (228) 938-6604 Free admission (donations appreciated) 9th annual Old Biloxi Cemetery Tour Oct. 18 and 20 Sunday, 2-4 p.m. and Tuesday, 2-4 p.m. Old Biloxi Cemetery, 1166 Irish Hill Drive, Biloxi (228) 435-6339 Free admission rd annual istoric Griffin Cemetery Tour Oct. 17 Hourlong guided tours from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Moss Point (228) WE 218-5239 CARRY UNIQUE FLOWERS Free admission (donations appreciated)

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FAITH

12:13 Jewelry creates with faith By Dana Sleger

You have to start wherever you start, but where you start isn’t where you finish.” P G

amela alen is the owner of 12 13 ewelry, a unique faith-based business on the ulf oast that designs handcrafted specialty lines. Born in ew ersey to a ewish family, alen was given two names amela, her American name, and eshah, her ebrew and preferred name. “The name tends to carry a proclamation of very high goals and aspirations,” she says. “Because the ewish people have been such a persecuted group, that drive to aspire beyond circumstances is very much built into our upbringing, and a name is an expression of that.” Around the age of , alen remembers telling od that she wanted to create and help people. After receiving her bachelor s degree in counseling with a focus on art therapy and holding administrative positions in the corporate sector, she found herself wrestling with boredom and looking for an outlet to feed her spirit and exercise her creative A. In her mid-20s, alen discovered her calling when she met an elderly woman who owned a gem mining company in irginia. “I visited this woman who had a little rickety workshop in the country,” she says. “She gave me an hour lesson in how to design ewelry, and after that, I bought a set of tools and supplies and ust started creating. I have been designing ever since.” alen moved to the ulf oast in April of 200 . er generationally inherited mindset of tenacity and fortitude helped her to press through one of the most difficult seasons of her life after Katrina and led to the development of 12 13 ewelry. The name of the business was another divine moment for alen “My ah-ha

moments always include the ord od Almighty,” she says. “The number 12 13 kept coming up, and I love the book cclesiastes because it s very much about the fabric of life.” cclesiastes 12 13 says, “The purpose of a man s life is to revere od and keep his commandments.” or alen, this scripture ties the meaning of her ewish name, eshah, and business mission together. 12 13 ewelry is “dedicated to supporting the arts and molding a better world through creative endeavors.” ne core component of her business is partnering with nonprofit organi ations as a mode of fundraising and to raise awareness for different causes. alen designs a line of ewelry for a specific organi ation, and at the first of every month, a percentage of the sales go back to community-supported efforts. As 12 13 ewelry continues to grow, alen s expanding vision will include a line of handbags, scarves, and eventually, microcredit loans to help people open their own businesses, so they, in turn, can help others to do the same. alen says her business is a lot more than a ewelry company, and the ultimate goal is to help people achieve their dreams. “I want to do this because people have stellar ideas, but they may not have the mind-set or belief in themselves to think they can do it,” she says. “They can do it because they are fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of od and they ust need for someone to believe in them and invest in them. ou have to start wherever you start, but where you start isn t where you finish.”

WHERE TO FIND HER PIECES 12:13 Jewelry is available online at 1213jewelry.com and at these locations: Adele & Grace Consignment Boutique, Ocean Springs Bridget Blue, Pascagoula Dempsey’s Seafood & Gift Shop, Kiln Fashion Express, Bay St. Louis Freedom Hall, Gulfport Mardi Gras Museum, Biloxi Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum, Biloxi www.gcwmultimedia.com

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Two conferences specially designed to enrich the body, soul, and spirit are coming to the Gulf Coast in September. en are filling u a ar your calendar and register today! BEAUTIFUL: A WOMEN’S EVENT 2015

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n Saturday, Sept. 12, orthwood hurch in ulfport is hosting “Beautiful” an all-day event fashioned for women to have an encounter with od in a new and refreshing way. A special time of worship, teachings, treats, and surprises are lined up, including lots of great shopping at the “All Things Beautiful” store. Attendees will experience the comfort and peace music brings through an everyday walk with od and through relationships with family, community, and church. or more information and to register, visit northwood.tv beautiful. INFO Sept. 12 Northwood Church , 14281 O’Neal Road , Gulfport Doors and expo open at 8:30 a.m.; conference is 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Registration: $25 (lunch included) Conference open to ages 13 and up; no child care provided (228) 832-5100 northwood.tv/beautiful

IGNITING THE FIRE 2015 CONFERENCE

n Sept. 24-2 , men and women from around the country will oin together at arrah s in Biloxi for “Igniting the ire” a three-day conference designed to stir passion, purpose, and prosperity. The event is packed with live entertainment, networking opportunities, interactive mastermind sessions, and more. Attendees will benefit from a rich lineup of expert speakers who will share their experiences, successes, failures, and life lessons on topics about business and entrepreneurship, health wellness, relationships, finances, and ministry. or more information and to register, visit ignitingthefire.co. INFO Sept. 24-26 Biloxi Visitor’s Center on Thursday Harrah’s Gulf Coast on Friday and Saturday Conference begins Thursday at 4 p.m. and ends Saturday at 5 p.m. Registration cost includes swag bag and admission to all event activities: $150 per person; $500 group rate for eight people (530) 205-3482 ignitingthefire.com

Marriage: A dream come true or a pipe dream? By T. Randy Robbins Rose-colored glasses ... . They re still in the honeymoon period ... . appily ever after. These and other similar thoughts are very common as we think about young love, young lovers, and the early season of engagement and marriage. And then, as we have seen, and maybe even experienced ourselves, a different phase of “reality” sets in. The rose-colored glasses begin to fade, the honeymoon period ends, and happily ever after simply becomes a fairy tale dream after all. Some marriages will end in divorce, and many will seemingly settle in to a status quo of well, something like, “ e love each other, and we are committed to our marriage, but we have accepted the fact that rose-colored glasses, honeymoon bliss, and “happily ever after” hopes and dreams are ust not realistic in the real world.” And they settle for something less that what they had hoped for. thers will have such a ourney in which they find themselves legally married and living together, yet mentally and emotionally separated or divorced. Still, a few others seem to have discovered how to maintain and preserve that ma esty and mystery of the early promise of marriage. All along the spectrum, we see these kinds of examples, and even more. hat are your thoughts, your feelings about marriage and what it is meant to be If you are married or single, what are your hopes, your dreams about marriage About your marriage, or your marriage to be n what do you base these thoughts, these feelings, these hopes and dreams If I may draw a stark contrast, would you say that you base your thoughts and feelings on what people say about marriage (including yourself ), or that you try to base your thoughts and feelings on what od says about marriage (in the Bible) The Bible says that the marriage relationship between husband and wife is to be like the relationship between esus hrist and the church. ow Ama ing, when you really think about it. Mutual love, honor, and respect, with husbands and wives always looking out for what s best for

one another and their marriage relationship. o longer two, but one; no longer me, but we It means always seeing the value and giving our best effort to try to be on the same page. The husband aying down his life for his wife; washing her with the water of the words that he speaks; working as a unior partner with od to prepare his wife to present her before the throne of od pure and spotless, without wrinkle or blemish, blameless before od. e loves her as he loves himself, caring for her as he cares for his own body. e is fully satisfied with her and all of who she is, fully captivated by her love, fully devoted to living with her with understanding and honor. The wife is loving, honoring, and respecting her husband. She builds, supports, and is a faithful partner. She is “the rest of who he is,” covering him from underneath. It s not only that the husband covers the wife, the wife also covers the husband (he has weakness and vulnerability that need the wife s covering). Try this et your right hand hover over your left hand palms facing, fingers close together. The right hand equals the husband and the left hand equals the wife. The husband covers the wife from above (right hand hovers over the left hand). The wife covers the husband from underneath (bring the hands together). In the blessing of unity, the covering is complete. Rose-colored glasses, honeymoon bliss, “happily ever after,” hopes and dreams Is it really possible an it really be true T. Randy Robbins is the chaplain at SouthernCare Hospice.

FOOD By Danie Rodriquez

As season changes, it’s time to try some new recipes

Summer is ending, and fall is moving in, and I love the changing of the seasons. To me it means a new start I am known to say, “ hange is always good.” This time of year when the kids are going back to school, and our schedules start to fill up with after-school activities and holiday planning, I think it is important to keep things simple. I spend a lot of my time teaching cooking classes, and I have had the privilege this summer of working with some great kids in my ulinary Summer amps. hat I have learned from teaching kids for the past three years is that you should always keep things simple when it comes to food. ood is about family and spending time together, and my Shrimp and Sausage Spaghetti will do ust that. This is one of the recipes that I teach the kids, and it comes together really fast. It is great for a busy school night or a fun weekend meal. This meal is not only healthy but it also makes use of some great Mississippi products you should definitely try. e have the best shrimp in the world that comes right from our ulf, and the sausage I use in this recipe is made in lorence, Miss. Try out this easy recipe, and let the kids help as well. ou can learn a lot about their lives ust cooking with them in the kitchen. heck out my food blog for more great ideas http chefdaniecooks.blogspot.com. Chef Danie is the executive chef and owner of City Line Cafe in Gulfport, Lunch in Biloxi. She is the culinary artis director for Chef Danie Cooks and offers private culinary classes. She can be reached at 228.282.4416.

CHEF DANIE S SHRIMP AND SAUSAGE SPAGHETTI 1 lb fresh Gulf shrimp (21 – 25 peeled and deveined) 1 1b Country Pleasin sausage (green onion) ( this is a Mississippi-made product) 1 med onion, chopped 3 cloves garlic, chopped 1 c stewed tomatoes 1 c tomato sauce 1 can chicken broth (Swanson) 3 sprigs of fresh oregano (6-8 inches long) 6 leaves fresh basil 2 T granulated garlic 2 T onion powder 1 pk angel hair pasta 4 c sliced mushrooms 3 T butter 1 T soy sauce 3 T extra virgin olive oil Fill large pasta pot with water and put on to boil. When sauce comes to a boil, salt the water liberally. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain pasta and pour out onto a at baking sheet to stop the cooking. Drizzle olive oil over pasta to keep it from sticking together. In a large pan at least 4” thick put olive oil, garlic and sausage (sliced into round slices about ¼ “ thick). Sautee sausage with the onion and garlic until sausage is slightly browned. Add stewed tomatoes and tomato sauce. Allow to simmer for 1 min. Add oregano, basil, granulated garlic, onion powder and chicken broth and stir. Allow sauce to cook down and thicken slightly about 20 – 30 min. Add shrimp and cook for 5 min more. Toss cooked pasta with sauce and serve topped with sautéed mushrooms on top. MUSHROOMS Sautee mushrooms in a sauce pan with butter and soy sauce for 5 min on medium heat.

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September - October 2015

le and u in the taste of fall By Andrea Yeager

Apples, spices, and pumpkin pie — or pumpkins in any form are some of what make fall foods taste so good. Even before cool fall days arrive, stores pack shelves with red, yellow and green apples, all of which have their own particular taste. Gala apples are a favorite. Out of hand, they are so avorful, but these apples are great for baking and cooking, too. Granted, they are pricier than the Delicious and Granny Smith. If Galas are unavailable, Granny Smith is a good substitute. Don’t overlook the Pink Lady or Honeycrisp varieties, either. Both are good to eat and use in cooking. Pink Lady makes a mean apple pie. Apples must be crisp with a slight tartness. Some of the best-known apple varieties can be found in most supermarkets. Although there are more than 7,500 varieties of apples grown, the Top 9 include Delicious, Golden Delicious, Gala, Fuji, Granny Smith, Braeburn, Honeycrisp, Cripps Pink, and Cameo. While there is nothing more American than apple pie, apples work well in entrees, too. A favorite is pork chops sautéed with onions, garlic, apple slices and a touch of maple syrup. Served over rice, this is a quick-fix dinner Another fruit of fall is really a vegetable — pumpkins. Pumpkins are more than Jack-o-lanterns. This vegetable can go from appetizer to dessert. Pumpkin soup is another favorite with its hint of cinnamon and nutmeg and just a bit of sweetness. But who can resist a slice of creamy pumpkin pie with a dollop of whipped cream on top? Think outside of the box for a moment. How about a creamy pumpkin risotto served with a green salad with apple slices and raisins? That’s fall in one meal. Need another plus for pumpkins? They are rich in zinc and vitamins A, C, and E, and a pumpkin facial makes for a healthy complexion. Pumpkins can go from muffins and biscuits to oating candles and decorations — kind of a jack-of-all-vegetables. A carved-out pumpkin also does double-duty as a soup tureen or can be cooked with a stuffing inside. magine dinner guests faces when stuffing is served in the pumpkin. Pumpkin puree is the No. 1 use for the eshy inside of the pumpkin, according to earth911.com. It is easy to make and can be frozen for several months and thawed when needed. Cut the pumpkin down the middle and scoop out the seeds and insides. Save those to make roasted pumpkin seeds or put the seeds in the bird feeder. Feathered friends will thank you for the treat. Put the pumpkin halves cut side down in a baking dish with about a cup of water. Cook for 90 minutes at 325-350 degrees or until esh is soft. Scrape out esh and puree in food processor. f course, canned pumpkin, not the pie filling, works, too, in most recipes. or avorful taste of fall, give apples and pumpkins another look. They offer some sweet and savory surprises. The most common apple varieties and their distinctive taste and usages, according to the Washington State Apple Commission: www.gcwmultimedia.com

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FRESH APPLE CINNAMON MUFFINS 2 cups all purpose our 1/3 cup sugar 2 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, divided 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 egg 1/2 cup milk apple, peeled, cored and finely chopped 4 tablespoons butter, melted 1/3 cup chopped nuts (pecans or walnuts) 1/4 cup packed brown sugar Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Coat a 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray. In a large bowl, combine our, sugar, baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon and the salt. In a medium bowl, beat together the egg and milk. Stir in chopped apple and melted butter. dd all at once to our mi ture stir just until mi ed batter will be very sti . Spoon into prepared muffin tin, filling each cup about two-thirds full. Mix chopped nuts, brown sugar and remaining cinnamon to make topping; sprinkle evenly over muffins. Bake 15-20 minutes. Remove from pan immediately and serve warm. Source: From “Mr. Food”

ere are some recipes to put those fave foods of fall

Red Delicious: America’s best snacking apple. This apple, which is bright red or striped, is crunchy with a mild, sweet avor. t also is good in salads. Golden Delicious: The all-around apple. It is good to eat out of hand or to use in cooking or baking. ts esh stays white longer than that of other apples. Gala: Look for the apples with the pinkish orange stripes over a yellow background. This variety has become more popular. It is crispy and aromatically sweet. Good for snacking and salads. (I use Galas in my apple harvest cake.) Fuji: Excellent for baking. It is known for its hard texture and syrupy sweetness. It has a reddish-pink color. Granny Smith: Green, tart, juicy and crisp. It’s very versatile. Good for snacking and salads. Braeburn: t has a sweet, tart, spicy avor and a firm texture that is good for baking and snacking. Honeycrisp: Developed by the University of Minnesota, it is bright red and pale green on the outer skin with a cream-colored uicy inner esh. An all-around apple: baking, cooking, snacking and salad-fixing. Cripps Pink: It has, what else, a bright pink color. Snackers and bakers love this one. Cameo: Sweet with a crunch. Holds its texture. Has white spots on its red skin.

apples and pumpkins

to good use.

HONEY PUMPKIN E FOLIATING MASK ADAPTED FROM THE NATIONAL HONEY BOARD 1 teaspoon green tea, brewed 2 teaspoon pineapple, papaya or figs, diced 4 tablespoons pumpkin puree 1 tablespoon honey 2 teaspoons aloe vera gel 1/2 teaspoon jojoba oil 4 teaspoons cornmeal Steep green tea in boiling water. Set aside to cool. In blender or food processor, puree pineapple and place in medium-sized mixing bowl. Add pumpkin, honey and aloe. Mix well. 150

September - October 2015

Stir in jojoba oil, green tea and cornmeal. Reserve remaining green tea for another use. Apply small amount of pumpkin mask to cheeks, forehead, chin and neck. Massage in circular motions gently buffing skin. Repeat. pply more product as needed. Leave a thin layer of pumpkin mask on face and neck for 15-20 minutes. Rinse with tepid or cool water and pat dry with soft towel. Follow with appropriate moisturizer. Store remaining mask covered in refrigerator for up to two weeks. (source: care2.com)

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FALL FESTIVALS e know how to have a good time on the ulf oast, but when that cool weather rolls in after an exhausting high-temperature summer, a magical season of fabulous festivals and special events kick off multiple celebrations for all ages to en oy. So, grab a cup of hot cider, hot chocolate, or maybe something toastier with a little spirit, and let s peruse the highlights of a busy coastwide schedule. or a complete listing of fall fun, visit gulfcoast.org. 24th Annual Mississippi Gulf Coast Blues & Heritage Festival Sept. 12 Gates open at 11 a.m.; show starts at 12:30 p.m. Jackson County Fairgrounds, Pascagoula Advance tickets $20; day of show $25 (228) 497-5493, (228) 282-0951, (228) 497-1170 msgulfcoastbluesfest.com 34th Annual Biloxi Seafood Festival Sept. 12-13 Saturday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Point Cadet Plaza, Biloxi $15 all access wristbands (pre-purchase available); adults $5 before 4 p.m. on Saturday ($10 after 4 p.m.); children under 2 free o with military ID (228) 604-0014 biloxi.org Mississippi Songwriters Festival Sept. 17-20 Visit mssongwritersfestival.com for schedule Events located throughout Ocean Springs Free admission (228) 217-0155 31st Annual Diamondhead Arts & Crafts Fair Sept. 19-20 Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Diamondhead Country Club Free admission (228) 255-6922 or (228) 547-6922 dhartscrafts.net 33rd Annual Chefs of the Coast Sept. 20 5-9 p.m. Island View Casino, New South Tower, Gulfport Admission: $75 (228) 324-0032 chefsofthecoast.org

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Hancock County Fair Sept. 23-26 Wednesday, 3-9 p.m.; Thursday, 9 a.m.-10:30 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m.-11 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Hancock County Multi-Purpose Arena, Kiln (228) 363-7268 Admission: Free on Wednesday and Thursday; $5 Friday and Saturday; Children 10 and under free with paying adult facebook.com/hancockfair

2nd Annual Anchor Fest Sept. 26-27 Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Jones Park and Gulfport Harbor Free admission (228) 868-5700 anchorfestgulfport.com

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38th Annual Zonta Arts & Crafts Festival Oct. 3 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Downtown Plaza of Pascagoula Free admission (228) 229-9908 or (228) 762-7018 zontapascagoula.info 19th Annual Cruisinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; The Coast Oct. 4-11 Visit cruisinthecoast.com for complete schedule of events Event located throughout Mississippi Gulf Coast (888) 808-1188 or (228) 385-3847 Spectators free

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4th Annual Sun & Sand: MS Film & Music Festival Oct. 9-17 Visit sunandsandfestival.com for schedule and ticket info. Events located throughout Mississippi Gulf Coast (504) 610-7212 25th Annual Gautier Mullet & Music Fest Oct. 17-18 Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Downtown Gautier (228) 215-0828 Spectators Free gautiermulletfest.org

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94th Annual Jackson County Fair Oct. 18-25 Open on Sunday, 4 p.m.; Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.; Friday 10 a.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m. Jackson County Fairgrounds, Pascagoula (228) 769-6043 or (228) 217-1667 Free admission 2015 Scottish Highland Games & Celtic Music Festival Oct. 31-Nov. 1 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Beauvoir, Biloxi (228) 327-0443 Admission: $20 SAVE THE DATE 37th Annual Peter Anderson Arts & Crafts Festival Nov. 7-8 Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Downtown Ocean Springs Free admission; $2 donation suggested (228) 875-4424; peterandersonfestival.com www.gcwmultimedia.com

228-896-6060 www.latter-blum.com 777 Watkins Avenue Gulfport, MS 39507 Latter & Blum Shaw Properties, ERA Powered, is independently owned and operated.

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CARES & CONCERNS

Red Cross: Not just there for the Katrinas

By John McFarland

As we observe the tenth anniversary of urricane Katrina, it s appropriate to remember the contributions of the American Red ross in the Katrina relief efforts. hile the Red ross is recogni ed as a non-profit, taxexempt charitable organi ation under section 01c3 of the Internal Revenue code, it is unique in that it holds a congressional charter that designates it as the nation s lead humanitarian relief agency. The Red ross response to Katrina began as the storm (then a category 1 hurricane) approached the Atlantic coast of lorida more than a week before it roared ashore in South Mississippi. re-storm shelters were opened in lorida in preparation for landfall and, after the storm swept across lorida and moved into the ulf of Mexico, hundreds of affected families continued to receive food, water, shelter and long-term financial assistance. Because the ational urricane enter forecast the storm to continue to grow in the ulf and eventually strike somewhere along the northern ulf coast, Red rossers from across the Southeast and Midwest were activated; more than 400 volunteers and vehicles began assembling in northern Alabama waiting to see where the storm would go while another group began assembling in ouisiana. Meanwhile, Red ross chapters across Mississippi went into action, opening more than 40 shelters in South Mississippi on Saturday and Sunday, August 2 -2 , as emergency management officials ordered coastal evacuations. More than 12,000 South Mississippians rode out Katrina in Red ross shelters in the coastal counties. As the storm passed through on the morning of August 29 and began moving upstate, those 400 volunteers and vehicles full of supplies began arriving at a temporary Red ross operations center in ulfport (which quickly moved to the oppa Shrine enter north of Biloxi.) rom there, volunteers provided an average of 44,000 feedings a day to people in shelters or delivered by vans to neighborhoods, staffed more than two do en coastal shelters, and began processing thousands of short-and long-term financial assistance claims. In ust the first two months after Katrina, the Red ross response was unprecedented 3. million overnight stays in Red ross shelters (over a half-million overnight stays in the 229 shelters opened throughout Mississippi); over 49 million meals served (13 million in Mississippi); 1. million family assistance cases opened (2 4,000 in Mississippi); and a mobili ed workforce of more than 211,000 volunteers (over 20,000 Red ross staff and volunteers spent at least two weeks

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in Mississippi). Red ross staff and volunteers in every state but awaii were mobili ed. And that was in ust the first two months; Red ross long-term hurricane assistance continued for another six years before the Katrina relief effort wound down, with a final cost of over 2 billion. But the Red ross isn t ust around for ma or disasters like Katrina. In the past twelve months, the Southeast Mississippi chapter of the American Red ross responded to more than 00 individual incidents (often single-family fires, windstorms or other local incidents) and assisted families. As part of a national Red ross commitment to reduce home fire deaths, local chapter volunteers installed 00 smoke alarms in homes following neighborhood canvasses, a pro ect that continues this year. The organi ation assisted 23 military families through its armed forces emergency services, drew and distributed to local hospitals over 9,000 units of blood, and conducted over 12,000 training units of disaster, health, and safety classes. Most Red ross assistance is provided by trained volunteers, and the 2 certified volunteers in the local chapter contributed 2 , 00 volunteer hours during the year. That volunteer base is how the American Red ross without a dime of federal funding is able to respond to more than 0,000 big and small disasters every year with fewer than nine cents of every donated dollar going to administration and overhead costs. e hope we never see another Katrina. But we know it s only a matter of time before we ll see some type storm damage here along the oast. So make sure you re ready by visiting Redcross.org and prepare and download the free disaster planning guides for your family or business. Also download the free mobile apps (search American Red ross from your Apple or oogle app store) full of valuable information for hurricanes, tornados, oods, fires, first aid and other emergencies, which provide real-time alerts and even use your phone s S to show the nearest open shelter in times of emergency. ou can also make a donation or sign up to volunteer on the Redcross.org website. Be Red ross ready. John McFarland is the executive director of the Southeast Mississippi Chapter of the American Red Cross.

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Smile Gulf CoaSt Implant, Cosmetic & General Dentistry

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