SUCCESS STORY

Focus

heart ON THE

WHEN YOU THINK OF DREAM TEAMS,

do you default to celebrated athletes like the 1992 U.S. men's Olympic basketball team? Or to the Magni cent 7— a group of glorious gymnasts who won the rst ever gold medal for the United States in the team competition? ese trailblazers may seem otherworldly, but at the core, they are dedicated, committed team members (with maybe just a little bit of genetic superhuman-ness thrown in). e devoted women at Wodzinski Homes Team know all about what it takes to turn a dream into a reality—how hard work, communication, and passion intertwine to transform lives.

Kelly Wodzinski, owner and listing specialist, says her passion for real estate bloomed when her youngest child, Brooke, was in her nal year of preschool. “I’ve always loved houses and helping people and having been a teacher, I was eager to return to work, so it was a good t for me,” she explains. “At that time, I didn’t really have a grand vision of a big business. I just knew I had a passion for helping others—whether by getting them through the journey to homeownership or helping my team achieve their real estate goals. Changing lives is our purpose and our passion. Building relationships is our bottom line.” For Stephanie Belk, transaction coordinator and marketing director, being a part of a bustling real estate team is like kismet, something meant to be: “Kelly and I are neighbors. My husband, Nick, works in the home building industry, so the two of us tend to talk shop a lot. She mentioned she needed someone part-time and wanted to train them in the real estate business, and I said, ‘Helllooo … I'm your girl!’ Our work personalities and drive just clicked.”

Speaking of clicking, Stacie Johnson, director of operations and transaction coordinator, has a laser focus when it comes to teamwork, no matter what. “My heart and passion are to help others succeed,” she shares. “I am happiest in a support role where I can assist others to achieve their dreams and goals. I’m that behind-the-scenes gal taking care of the tedious details of all the documentation and paperwork so the agents can focus on building their relationships with their clients. ey do the people work, and I do the paperwork.” If you were to ask Brelin Menard, Team Wodzinski’s buying agent, where her passions lie, this former California-based cosmetologist will tell you she absolutely hearts helping people. “I’ve always loved seeing people’s houses, so I jumped into real estate and have loved every minute of it. My greatest accomplishments in this line of work are in assisting families achieve one of the greatest investments of their lives—their home!”

is is one dream team whose collective heart beats for their clients. When asked how she gets revved up for another day with her incredibly talented team, Kelly can't help but feel the rush that comes from listening to her favorite song by country star, Carrie Underwood. “When I listen to “ e Champion,” it sets my mind right to conquer the day, week, month, and year. It's a reminder that we all have a champion inside us.”

e Wodzinski team is focused on making a positive impact, one relationship at a time. And if you remember that quote about it taking a little more to make a champion, this team makes it look easy. Just focus on the heart. Always. w

THIS IS ONE DREAM TEAM WHOSE COLLECTIVE HEART BEATS FOR THEIR CLIENTS.

STACIE, BRELIN, KELLY & STEPHANIE

WHO K NEW?

THE SCOOP on DENTAL IMPLANTS

IN THE PAST 25 YEARS, IMPLANT

dentistry has grown by leaps and bounds. It has gone from a rare and unique procedure to one that has become part of everyday dentistry.

e father of modern implant dentistry was a Swedish physician studying blood ow in bone during the 1950s. During his experiments, he would place titanium cylinders into the bone to help with his measurements and, ultimately, he found that the titanium could not be removed. e cylinders had become fused to the bone. Using this new discovery, he spent years designing a practical application, and in 1965, he placed the rst titanium implant into a human mouth and the eld has been evolving ever since.

LKNEXPERT

Dr. Michael Foran is an oral/maxillofacial surgeon and partner at Carolina Oral & Facial Surgery (as well as Lake Norman Implant Dentistry), located at 19910 North Cove Road in Cornelius. You may reach them at 704.892.1198 or visit them at www.CarolinaOMS.com. THE ADVANTAGES OF IMPLANTS Implants have many advantages and allow for restorations that were not previously possible. Prior to implants, missing teeth were replaced with dentures or bridges. Dentures are generally disliked because of their lack of retention and stability, as well as the fact that they are removed at night. Bridges o er a nonremovable option with more stability; however, you have to grind down adjacent teeth to allow the bridge to t, and maintenance can be challenging. Additionally, bridges cannot be used to replace the most posterior teeth since there is no other tooth to “bridge” to. Implants are free standing, easily cleansable, permanent restorations. e implant(s) can be used to support one tooth, multiple teeth, or even an entire arch of teeth. Some implants require a couple of months of healing prior to having a tooth placed on it, while other implants can have teeth placed immediately, depending on the speci c situation.

WHAT TO EXPECT On the day of surgery, the surgeon will make a gentle incision in the gingival tissue and prepare the bone for the implant. After it is in place, a healing cap is put on the implant and the gum tissue is sutured around it, allowing the implant to heal. is is when the special properties of titanium take over and the implant starts to fuse to the bone. After 6-12 weeks, the implant will be integrated and unable to be removed. It is now ready for the new crown.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN

AN ORAL SURGEON When looking for an oral surgeon to place dental implants, they should be pro cient in a few key areas. Successful implants are based on atraumatic extractions of the non-restorable teeth, good site preparation (bone grafting), and sound implant techniques—including implant brands that use quality materials and have a long track record of use and success. Make sure the provider you choose ts these criteria, and you can look forward to having dental implants restore your smile and oral health with as much ease as possible. w

Raising the Barre

WHEN THE NEW YEAR ROLLS

around, many of us resolve to work on self-care: to improve not only our body, but our minds and our spiritual health as well. But would you believe that 80 percent of us will abandon that resolution by February 1?! What if, instead of setting impossible-to-achieve goals and watching them fail, we tried something new?

A barre workout could be the solution to your resolution. It’s a full-body workout that transforms you physically and mentally, all within a 50-minute class. It blends elements from different exercise styles including ballet, Pilates, and yoga—focusing on low-impact, small movements that strengthen and tone your entire body. The best part is that, though inspired by ballet, you don’t have to be a ballerina to enjoy the benefi ts of barre—and no tutus are required.

LKNEXPERT Katie Howard is the owner of Pure Barre Mooresville located at Morrison Plantation (129 Market Place Drive, Suite C). is mother of three mixes her passion for tness, business, and her love for the Mooresville community into one energetic and welcoming studio. Call 704.360.9901 to schedule your rst class for free.

Still not convinced that barre can cure those resolution blues? Check out the following fi ve benefi ts of a barre workout:

No dance background is required.

ere is a common misconception that you must have dance experience, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, many barre instructors and class participants do not have any dance experience at all—but the workout helps you achieve a lean dancer’s body nonetheless.

Barre works every muscle group in your body.

You can expect barre class to address multiple muscle groups, including arms, legs, core, and glutes. Our instructors here at Pure Barre in Mooresville will show you how to use small, isometric movements to target the deeper muscles of the body that are often ignored. ey will also incorporate items such as free weights, exercise bands, and exercise balls to work muscles even more.

You’ll see results after the fi rst class.

e advantages of a barre workout are many and varied and depend on the individual. However, our clients report that they see muscle rebuilding, improved circulation, increased metabolism, increased strength, increased con dence, and an elevation in their mood and energy after only one class.

Barre exercise is fun!

You won’t get tired of barre workouts. Here at Pure Barre, we’ll keep you on your toes with cheerful instructors, awesome playlists, and endorphin-pumping movements so you won’t get burned out. After a few months, you’ll notice an improvement in your balance and coordination, as well as your exibility, range of motion, and your lung capacity. You should also notice a decrease in feelings of anxiety and depression.

Barre is perfect for any age or fi tness level.

Barre is a fantastic whole-body workout that’s great for anyone, from beginners to pros. Because we teach small isometric movements, barre is low impact and easy on the joints. Clients who stick to barre for a year will notice improved cardiovascular health, stronger bones, and decreased risk of obesity. w