SHEROARS
DESIGNING SPACES WITH UNIQUE PERSPECTIVES
ELYSE DELUCCI
BEING UNABASHEDLY YOURSELF IS THE ULTIMATE SUPERPOWER
MEET THE SRONG WOMEN OF OUR REGION
Trailblazer Award Recipient
GUTSY ROAR
From magazine editor to suspense author, Kate White has forged a path of go big or go home. interviewed and written by ashley grant
KATE WHITE STOOD IN A NYC SHOWROOM FACING
RACKS OF CLOTHING. She had just won a spot as one of Glamour Magazine’s honorees in the prestigious Top Ten College Women Competition of 1972 celebrating undergrad leaders who were embarking upon ambitious careers. Her unconventional winning essay about why she had no goals was a rule breaker. She had goals of course, but opined in her submission, ‘Why lock yourself in? Be open to the future!’ Now there would be a fashion shoot and one out of the ten women would be chosen for the cover. As the other honorees all selected muted outfits in pale shades of heather and gray, Kate instead grabbed a shockingly bright yellow, green and orange number from the end of the racks. “I need to stand out,” she thought. A small choice in one of many go big or go home moments to follow—she got the cover and embarked on a brilliant career filled with gutsy moves and envelope-pushing creativity.
The recipient of the SRQ Trailblazer Award, which recognizes a women who is fearless in pursuing her dreams and helping others to do the same, White has made a name for herself as a fearless firestarter blazing trails as the former Editor in Chief of Cosmopolitan Magazine and currently as a New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author and speaker. Winner of the Matrix Award for Outstanding Achievement in Communication as well as the
Woodhall Institute Award for Ethical Leadership, she has been nominated for an International Thriller Writers Award in the fiction category, and her books have been published in over 30 countries worldwide. And it all started with a love of the written word and the fearlessness to stand out from the crowd.
As a child growing up in Glens Falls, New York, White dreamed of being a mystery writer, inspired by Nancy Drew’s The Secret of Redgate Farm. Though encouraged by her mother who bought her a typewriter, the road to her dream was not clear but there were breadcrumbs of serendipity along the path lighting the way. While babysitting, she learned that the childrens’ cousin worked for a magazine and the fire was lit. “I just remember thinking, ‘How does she work there?’ I couldn’t imagine how you would get there,” she says. Pre-internet, the publishing world was one of proximity and connections. “I knew about The Bell Jar and Sylvia Plath and how she was a Mademoiselle winner and lived at the Barbizon Hotel. I would hear these vague stories, but I didn’t know anyone in New York City,” she said.
In high school she wrote for the local paper and explored her options. In a bit of foreshadowing, Kate’s mother seemed to predict her daughter’s future, “I could see you being Helen Gurly Brown one day,” she said, giving her daughter a copy of Sex and the Single Girl, a groundbreaking book by Brown who, like White,
“One thing that Cosmo really reinforced for me is the go big or go home stuff. Cosmo was so over the top. And I hadn’t worked in a magazine like that before and I used to keep a note in my drawer that said ‘What have you done to break the law today?’ I would get in trouble sometimes from my boss, but then the issue would sell two and a half million copies and all was forgiven. Cosmo just reinforced that you’ve got to go big. You have to ask yourself every time: Could it be bigger? Could it be bolder or could it be more badass?”
— Kate White
Above: Ric Ocasek and Paulina Porizkova attend the 20th Anniversary Celebration Of The Children’s Defense at Guastavino’s on December 6, 2010 in New York.
“Once I got to New York, there were a few years where any chutzpah I had was sucked out of me because the city was so big and i was suddenly in a whole different fish bowl.”
— Kate White
also went on to become the Editor in Chief of Cosmopolitan Magazine—infusing the publication with bold directives for single career women of her day. White went on to study English at Union College and when the institution submitted her for the Glamour competition she knew that there was no guarantee she would win so as a backup, she wrote to an editor at Newsweek who told her that she was welcome to apply but women were never promoted above a certain level and were not allowed to be senior editors.
So Glamour was her shot. Becoming an honoree and cover girl may have gained her access to the publishing world but it was a shaky start. She says, “Once I got to New York, there were a few years where any chutzpah I had was sucked out of me because the city was so big and I was suddenly in a whole different fish bowl.” Instead of landing the writing gig she dearly wanted, White took a job in the promotions department at Glamour. It was not the best fit. She decided to start writing articles on the side for the magazine for free, noting that to get where you want to go, “You just sort of have to do more than you’re told to do.” Finally Glamour gave her an editorial assignment. The magazine sent her to participate as a guest clown with the Ringling Brothers Circus at Madison Square Garden and asked her to write about her experience. The article was a hit and White was promoted to be a top staff writer. Buoyed by this success, she decided to write an essay about being single in the city and submitted it to the Editor in Chief. “They’d never done a first person essay before, it was always these how-to pieces like, ‘The New Dating Rules’ and ‘Everything You Should Know About Birth Control’. My career at Glamour took off from there. They had me write more essays and gave me a column. That gave me back my chutzpah.,” she says. From promotions to feature writer and columnist at Glamour, her career trajectory led her to work on and helm numerous national publications including Mademoiselle, Child, Working Woman, McCall’s and Redbook magazines before landing the top job at Cosmopolitan. “I guess the main thing is I wanted to be successful and I didn’t
really know what that meant. I was always compelled to create, eventually within the context of the magazine world. Then I thought, I want to write articles that get me noticed, that help me get the next job. I did the math. If I wanted to be editor in chief, I realized that every woman I knew who was an editor in chief of a major women’s magazine had gotten there by the time they were 39 to 41. I was 33 at the time. So I took a little class in public speaking and started to do things with the idea of ‘I’ve got a window here’,” she says.” She took the window and rose on the fast track, editing and producing the top magazines in the US.
While she was at RedBook a former employee wrote an article about how White was a gutsy girl compared to a good girl. “I never really thought of myself as a gutsy girl but I just loved the idea of that,” she says. So she wrote a book based on that concept called Why Good Girls Don’t Get Ahead...But Gutsy Girls Do: Nine Secrets Every Career Woman Must Know. She says, “The book did extraordinarily well and I loved being able to write again.” Her success reawakened the passion for mystery and suspense writing she had as a child. Around the same time a meeting with an unusual visitor added fuel to that fire. White recalls, “One day a woman came in to see me who wanted to pitch a horoscope column. We didn’t really do that at RedBook, but I thought it would be fun to see her. She took my palm to read it and said ‘I see two sides of you. I see you sitting in this pretty office with all these people around you but I also see a part of you that’s all by yourself in this little office doing something creative.’” The reading was illuminating and White realized, “If I didn’t write that suspense novel before too long, I was going to die without ever having done it.” She pounded out four chapters of a thriller. Then fate intervened and seemed to stall her plans. One Sunday, White got a call from her boss, “I thought, ‘I’m not the editor of RedBook anymore’,” she said. But instead of losing her job, she got a better one. White recalls, “They wanted me to take over Cosmo. Of course I said yes because it was the big money maker in the company and came with all these perks. I
loved the packaging for Cosmo and finding the celebrities that were going to be perfect Cosmo cover girls but I knew I’d never be able to write a thriller now.”
It was an all-consuming job and White, married to former news anchorman Brad Holbrook with whom she has two children, knew that Cosmopolitan demanded total commitment from its staff. Nevertheless, she was determined to find balance. She says, “The person who was running Cosmopolitan when I got the job worked until 8:15pm. There was a note on her office wall that her kids left for her saying, ‘Mommy. Please come home.’ She thought that was cute. I was used to leaving at five every day and then working after the kids went to bed and I thought my gosh, I’m just not going to feel comfortable working those hours. And you don’t have to do that with magazines. It’s not like a law firm. So I just decided I’m gonna try it my way. I started leaving at 5:30 instead of five and I worked every night probably for two hours after the kids went to bed. That’s a long day when you’re finally hanging it up at 11pm but I could still take my kids to school. I was still there for dinner.”
She says, “One thing that Cosmo really reinforced for me is the go big or go home stuff. Cosmo was so over the top. And I hadn’t worked in a magazine like that before and I used to keep a note in my drawer that said ‘What have you done to break the law today?’ I would get in trouble sometimes from my boss, but then the issue would sell two and a half million copies and all was forgiven. Cosmo just reinforced that you’ve got to go big. You have to ask yourself every time: Could it be bigger? Could it be bolder or could it be more badass?”
White’s accomplishments during her time at Cosmo were extensive. Over her 14 year run, she increased Cosmopolitan’s monthly circulation to over three million readers and presided over the most successful magazine in single copy sales in the US. She also oversaw Cosmo Books, Cosmopolitan.com, digital projects and the Cosmo fashion line introduced at JCPenney. White also found success as a career advice writer. In addition to her first gutsy career book, she published more non-fiction books with career advice for
women including 9 Secrets of Women Who Get Everything They Want, and I Shouldn’t Be Telling You This: How to Ask for the Money, Snag the Promotion, and Create the Career You Deserve.
Along with the books, White developed a thriving speaking gig. While running the magazine and writing career and suspense books she also managed to make a name for herself as an in-demand speaker at corporations, women’s groups and literary societies. She was a frequent guest expert on television sharing her wisdom for audiences of The Today Show, CBS This Morning, Morning Joe and Good Morning America
About five months into her new job White decided to tackle the four chapters of the thriller she set aside and try and finish it. She wrote eight suspense novels while at Cosmo and notes, “I was definitely burning the candle at both ends, but I did it before my kids got up on weekends and I did it before my staff got in. I wrote an hour a day at Cosmo and the pages added up. Not only did the suspense writing satisfy White’s calling but it also provided her with a fallback. She says, “I figured it would give me a plan B if I got fired which, fortunately, I never did. So the writing was both making sure I still did this thing I love but also a bit of a cushion for me in case I fell on my ass.”
Her fallback plan proved to be prescient. In the highly competitive magazine publishing world during its heyday, editors and publishers were used to competing for the number one position on newsstands and the fight for readership was fierce. But there was a new threat to the industry on the horizon and White recognized it immediately— the internet. On the day White got the Cosmopolitan job she had the foresight to hire a trend spotter specializing in the Gen X and Gen Y demographics who suggested shorter cover lines right off the bat and changes overall to established norms. White notes, “A lot of magazines did not adapt to the attention span of young readers. So many editors were at the mercy of their temperamental art directors and there wasn’t enough attention paid to the fact that magazines needed to be designed differently.” White held focus groups every month and read every email she got from readers. But the signs of change kept rolling in and she recognized the industry was in trouble. “One of the things I learned in my job as the Editor in Chief of McCall’s and RedBook is that there would be a really precipitous drop in circulation and then it would all level out and plateau for a while. That was a warning. When those big industry dips happen you better put
on your wading boots. After those big dips and plateaus everybody would think okay, it stabilized, but I knew that it hadn’t,” she says. It was time for a new chapter and a return to her first love but the transition was bittersweet. White notes, “I loved my job, I loved my boss, I loved my company, but I just knew. I had a fabulous career and loved every minute of it but I saw the magazine business just going downhill.” She committed to writing suspense fiction and has produced 18 novels of suspense: eight Bailey Weggins mysteries and ten standalone psychological thrillers, her most recent called The Last Time She Saw Him Her writing is described by adoring fans as “layered” and “full of red herrings and plot twists you didn’t see coming.” She has a gift for creating depth in her characters and intricate details in environments that jump off the page and beckon you in. White’s first mystery, If Looks Could Kill, was a Kelly Ripa Book Club pick, a #1 bestseller on Amazon and an instant New York Times bestseller. As happy as White was with her new career, switching from the bustling atmosphere of a magazine to solo novel writer took some adjusting. “It is very solitary compared to magazines. At Cosmo I had my private office but we did our meetings out in the bullpen. It was exhilarating. I did a salon every six weeks where we would have interesting speakers. Dave Simone did three salons with us and he brought a 13-week-old tiger to one and a mountain lion to another. Celebrities like Alicia Keys, Pharrell Williams Ludicrous or Rumor Willis would just stop by. It was like being in a television show. It was so much fun. Suddenly, I’m in this private office and dealing with a different type of content.” Without the regular magazine deadlines, motivation was also a challenge. “When I tried to write fiction before I’d been a big procrastinator. That was one of the good things about magazines. Done was better than perfect. You just had to get it out the door and you didn’t have more time to write that cover line.“ Her new vocation required new systems which she uses to this day. She notes, “I use a time management trick where you slice the project into the thinnest slice that you can handle. With the first book I wrote for only 15 minutes a day for the first six months. There’s another technique called the Pomodoro Technique where you use a timer and do 25 minutes of work then a five minute break. You must work for these 25 minutes.”
In addition to time management practices, White has rituals she uses to spur creativity and help the writing process. “I’ve got a home
office and I like to use a scented candle just to make it a little bit more appealing to force me in there. I like it quiet. Too much music or the wrong kind is just too intrusive. My zone is in the morning. So I try to be at my desk at 8:30am and go to lunch time and then I can usually edit for an hour or so in the afternoon. Where my ideas come from can be a conversation or from a news article and then I do a wonderful technique that writers use where you just start playing with the possibilities. Also, I have to remind myself, just like I did at Cosmo: Did I do anything in my books today that broke the law or is going to scare somebody to death?”
White says that writing is a lot like life and can provide a roadmap for those embarking upon a path of change and reinvention. She recommends using a suspense writing technique that ignites the plot, and creates a thriller’s page-turning momentum called the “inciting incident,” a moment when the protagonist realizes there’s something that needs to be done and she’s going to do it. In the Hunger Games it’s when Katniss sees that her sister has been tapped to be in the game and knows she will never survive so volunteers to take her place. White notes, “When you are ready for the next chapter in life, whether it aligns closely with what you’ve been doing, I guess mine did a little bit but there’s a big difference between running a fashion magazine and writing about blood spatter and corpses, what you have to do is create your own inciting incident and embrace it. A protagonist’s stakes are that she’s probably got a serial killer on her ass. That’s a motivator. It’s worth thinking about your own stakes. For me, it was if I don’t write this suspense novel now I’m gonna die without having done it. Sometimes in the inciting incident the motivator is feelings. Is it regret? Envy is a great motivator. We think it’s so horrible, but let it shine a light on what you want. What you’re trying to do in your own life is embrace activational energy. Motion begets motion. Start small. Raise your hand. Create the job. Start with just making that one call or going to hear that one talk or like me writing 15 minutes a day. You will find that you start to create that energy that allows you to go after the next chapter.” SHE ROARS
KATE WHITE WILL BE RECOGNIZED AT THE SRQ TOGETHER WE ROAR LEADERSHIP AND AWARDS LUNCHEON ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25. 2024. TO RESERVE YOUR TICKETS AND TABLE: SRQMAG.COM/WEROAR
“ I had to tone everything down. I played a role. I wore pearls, and I like pearls, but not the pearls that I had to wear for work. But I did it. I did whatever I had to do. I did it because that’s what they told me to do. To my core, my deep core, it never crushed my spirit. You’ve got to do what you got to do until you don’t—and then you can do your own thing.” — Elyse DeLucci
Illuminator Award Recipient
AUTHENTIC AT THE MIC
Elyse DeLucci proves that being unabashedly yourself is the ultimate superpower. interviewed and written by ashley grant
ELYSE DELUCCI IS PROOF THAT BEING TRUE TO YOURSELF IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS AND ONE LITTLE STEP IN THE DIRECTION OF YOUR DREAMS CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE. Eight years ago, as an overworked executive dealing with outrageous corporate deadlines, two small children and a failing marriage, Delucci was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. In her desperation she took a leap of faith, headed to a comedy club, stood up at an open mic night and transformed her life through laughter. From burnout to breakdown to breakthrough she reinvented herself as a standup comedian, podcaster and social media star who inspires others to live life to the fullest with gusto.
Mix a dash of Mrs. Maisel with liberal shots of Fran Drescher in The Nanny, add in the speed-talking magic of Loralei Gilmore and finish off with the sparkle of Lucille Ball as Auntie Mame and you have the recipe for DeLucci’s special sauce. Delving into topics ranging from her Italian-American heritage, corporate experiences, marriage, divorce, food, co-parenting, motherhood and how to navigate the wonderfully messy thing called life, her New York Tawk podcast has garnered 5 star reviews and is filled with hilarious stream-of-consciousness observations with a warm confidential tone that feels like you are having a chat with your BFF. She has amassed a tribe of over 330,000 die-hard followers who regularly come up to her on the street to share what a difference she has made in their lives, and has clocked over 60 million views on TikTok and Instagram combined. She has been featured in the New York Times, The New York Post, Business Insider, Wall Street Journal’s Marketwatch and more. Equal parts best friend, confidant, honorary Italian mother and keeper of the secrets to the best life tips on the planet—she is an absolute treasure. The recipient of the SRQ Illuminator Award, presented to a woman who lights the way for others to follow their dreams, DeLucci’s joie de vivre is so infectious, one might be tempted to think she has led a charmed life. And while in some ways she has had the benefit of serendipity, it has been at the expense of painful experiences of bullying and feeling like a fish out of water. Her story is one of overcoming judgment and misperceptions, showing people how to rise above everyday challenges with grace and humor and most of all—embrace being themselves.
Born in Brooklyn and raised in Staten Island in a middle class Italian-American family, she spent her days playing with other kids out on the block but it was not a fairytale experience. “I was bullied. Even though I had the same accent as those kids, I had a funny sounding voice. We would play cops and robbers and the kids would make me the robber and throw rocks at me. I was always so in my own head, I wouldn’t ever really get that that was bullying. I’ll never forget my mother would stand on the terrace and scream over our gray Monte Carlo, ‘What’s the matter with you? Don’t you know they’re not being nice to you?’ But I was just happy to be included,” she
says. High school wasn’t much better. DeLucci recalls “My senior prom, I didn’t have a date. I wasn’t popular and there was a guy, he was the captain of the football team, very popular. He had a girlfriend for a long time and they broke up and as a joke he asked me to go to prom on one condition—that I brought a friend to the after party so he could meet her. That’d be so insulting to most people, but I didn’t care. I was like, ‘All right, sure.’ And then I filled a limousine with all of my other friends that didn’t have dates, and we all just partied together.”
DeLucci notes that the bullying helped her to realize the power of authenticity and develop a thick skin which came in handy later in life. She says, “I think when you’ve had a lot of shitty things happen in your life, you just learn to make the best of them. Then you get out into the world, and realize it’s a much bigger place. People will talk and make their assumptions, and who cares? You run into trouble when you care about what other people think. I’ve always just been like, ‘I’ll make the lemonade out of the lemons,’ and I think that worked for me.”
Being “different” turned out to be her secret weapon and was the key to her resilience and willingness to see the positive side of challenge. In college she decided “I’m going to have seven internships. I’m in Staten Island, Manhattan’s right here. And I worked, worked, worked. At the time, interns didn’t get paid. I can’t believe, by the way, what I hear they make now. They get $30 an hour, these interns, I’m just like, I watered plants for nothing.”
After she graduated, DeLucci got a job selling advertising in the “boiler room” of a publishing company and found her niche in bringing print magazines online for top publishing houses. Eventually arriving at NASDAQ, one of the world’s largest financial exchanges, she rose through the ranks to become head of digital revenue and strategy. Early in her Wall Street career she was told that if she wanted to get promoted she would need postgraduate study to have a larger institution “validate” her. She completed a Harvard Business School program in Digital Strategy while pregnant with her first child and another at University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business in Managerial Economics and Leadership while pregnant with her second child.
DeLucci was highly successful, credentialed, at the top of her game and yet, the “different” thing reared its ugly head again. Despite all her hard work and achievements she was once again criticized for just being herself. It became glaringly obvious when her company tasked her with interviewing tech CEOs on camera. She says, “I sounded very…I just sounded however I sounded.” And that sound is not what her company wanted so they sent her to a vocal coach, a Shakespearean actor, who told her, “With that voice, the only thing you’re going to do is be in a commercial for Ragu.” She says, “When I was on Wall Street, I had to be undercover Italian. They liked my resume, they liked my personality but they had me dress a certain way. They gave me voice lessons, like elocution lessons. I had to tone everything down. I played a role. I wore pearls, and I like pearls, but not the pearls that I had to wear for work. But I did it. I did whatever I had to do. I did it because that’s what they told me to do. To my core, my deep core, it never crushed my spirit. You’ve got to do what you got to do until you don’t—and then you can do your own thing.”
The pace of managing her fast tracked career and maintaining her “cover” alongside raising a family was grueling. “I had a very full life and two babies seventeen months apart and a husband, and an apartment that we renovated and this beautiful job. I was working some days, nine hours, some days, fourteen hours. I was traveling all over the world, and I was really starting to break. I mean, really break down. I was the primary earner of my household, my husband had a job and we had a very 50-50 thing. He wasn’t one of these guys that were like, ‘Yeah, make me coffee.’ He was very there, but it was just too much on me. And our marriage started to dissolve. I called my Aunt and said, ‘I’m working all these hours, my marriage is falling apart.’ And I’ll never forget her saying, ‘Don’t let work become who you are. Don’t become all work consuming.’”
In an effort to help relieve some of the pressure DeLucci looked for an outlet doing something she had loved as a child. She says, “Before I got into performing, I would love to watch all the old musicals. I would go to the theater. I would always go to shows.” So she decided to sign up for classes at The People’s Improv Theater (The PIT) in New York City. Her instructor encouraged her to try standup comedy but she felt she had nothing to talk about. And then one night, she did. She says, “I
ELYSE DELUCCI WILL BE RECOGNIZED AT THE SRQ TOGETHER WE ROAR LEADERSHIP AND AWARDS LUNCHEON ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25. 2024 TO RESERVE YOUR TICKETS AND TABLE | SRQMAG.COM/WEROAR
had a fight with my husband. It was 11 o’clock at night, and The PIT had an open mic night. And I just showed up there. It was just a weird thing. I did five minutes just about the stress of my work and the pressure. I didn’t have a set. I didn’t have anything prepared.”
The rush of performing gave her a platform—a place to share and be unabashedly herself. And the freedom she felt led her to make other changes in her life. She says, “I started working in the clubs, and became a stand-up comedian. Left my job and got divorced. I just totally reinvented myself.”
Delucci was finally doing what she loved and following her dreams but just as she was settling into her new adventure, immediately she was faced with an unexpected situation that would test her resolve. She says, “When the world shut down with the pandemic, I was like, ‘Well, this is great. I’m homeschooling my two kids, I’m in a tiny apartment in Manhattan, two bedrooms, one bath, three girls. What a horror.’ And I was losing my mind. I left this corporate job to do stand-up comedy, and now there’s nowhere to do it, so I guess I’ll just go online.” She asked her younger sister to teach her “how to TikTok” and built a social media following. She traded Wall Street for authenticity and her fans are grateful she did. DeLucci notes that her pre-comedy background was not wasted and still informs her life in a myriad of ways. “The benefit of having the corporate background is I’m so disciplined. Every day I wake up at 6:40am and write every single day for an hour to two. If something comes out, great. If it doesn’t come out, fine. I do it every day as if I have a boss and I have to turn it into him.” Still, she recognizes how much better her life is now and is grateful for the freedom of expression and purpose. She says, “If I didn’t leave that world, would it be the worst thing? No. I mean, I had a wonderful job, my salary was fabulous, the benefits were amazing and you get your time off. But I didn’t want to spend 40, 50, 60 hours a week pretending. I didn’t want to spend all this time just trying to put money in a 401(k) and having to have all these fake conversations. This is way better. I mean, you meet some brilliant people in the corporate world, but I meet equally brilliant comedians. They have a different kind of brain, they think differently, and they’re brilliant.”
Delucci has gone from toning it down to gleefully living out loud and she’s having a ball. She has a talent for transforming everyday
humdrum into an adventure and her fans revel in her unbridled delight in life and ability to squeeze lusciousness out of the mundane. From where to buy the perfect caftan, to the virtues of painting your living room pink, to why you should carry aluminum foil in your purse, to the proper technique for sauntering around your living room, the restorative properties of cheese or the hilarious New York Tawk Word of the Day— she is the poster girl for following your dreams and living authentically. (Note, Don’t let the Schmegges get you down). For those looking to break free and change their lives like she did, DeLucci first advises going easy on yourself in times of transition. “When I first got divorced, I spent six months crawling around my floor in a kimono. I was crawling, I was crying, I was overeating. I didn’t know if I was doing the right thing, the wrong thing, but I had to give myself some grace. You’ve got to give yourself that grace,” she says. Once the dust has settled it is time to tackle practical matters. “Get yourself straight, get your money in order, your finances, and then focus on all your own stuff,” she advises. Then comes the exploration process. Examine your options and see what’s out there with a sense of curiosity. DeLucci says “The ROI of being curious is a life well-lived.” And finally the most important step of all, go for your dreams. “You just have to just take the leap. No risk, no reward. It’s a corny little saying, but why wouldn’t you do it?”
Elyse has become coach, cheerleader and gloom-chaser extraordinaire. Life may be rough but it can be funny as well so why not focus on the absurdity of the bad and celebrate the good things. She celebrates being human and acknowledges that while being human can be sad, sometimes it’s also really funny.
“At the end of the day, all the mishegoss, prices of things, all the shit in the politics, and friends, and all the stupid nonsense. At the end of the day, it’s really just about being normal, your family and keeping it together. Everybody goes through stuff. Somebody told me years ago, ‘If everybody put their problems in the center of the kitchen table, you would take yours back.’ Everybody goes through the same thing. We’re all human. So I feel like I take the things that are frustrating, or upsetting, or have been darker in my life, and I try to find the humor in them. And that’s what comedy is. I mean, that’s the essence of comedy and that’s what us comedians do.” SHE ROARS
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WHAT IS YOUR “SECRET SAUCE?”“My secret sauce is to identify mentors and learn as much as I can from them. After that I outline our goals and work hard as a team to achieve them… all while having a bit of fun along the way!”
LAUREN FULLER
AVP, FINANCIAL CENTER MANAGER II - MORTGAGE LOAN ADVISER NMLS# 1161296
WHAT IS YOUR STORY OF SUCCESS? “I started as a teller at Liberty Savings Bank and always liked helping customers. I was promoted several times, eventually becoming Financial Center Manager due to my enthusiasm, teamwork and community leadership with organizations like Habitat for Humanity, the Foodbank and The Big Bank Theory at Manatee County Schools.”
NEVENKA KOVCIC
FINANCIAL CENTER MANAGER | MORTGAGE LOAN ADVISER NMLS#676922
DESCRIBE YOUR OWN OUTLOOK ON LIFE IN SIX WORDS. “Only I can hold myself back.”
SANDY PERRINE
AVP, FINANCIAL CENTER MANAGER II - MORTGAGE LOAN ADVISER NMLS# 1532057
WHAT HAS BEEN THE SINGLE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IN WORKING AND LIVING THROUGH THE PANDEMIC AND HOW HAVE YOU CHANGED AS A RESULT? “The pandemic was scary for a lot of our older customers. Many did not want to leave their homes. At Liberty, we innovated by using our drive-thru for more things… like opening accounts or just to say hello. You see, many of our customers became friends and it was good to see them. I guess we learned to face challenges head on and figure out ways to make things work.”
SUSAN ROSS
REGION SERVICE MANAGER AVP | MORTGAGE LOAN ADVISER NMLS# 776069
HOW HAS AN EXPERIENCE IN YOUR PERSONAL LIFE MOTIVATED YOU? “My sister is currently learning to walk again after being in ICU for over a week. Her struggle reminds me that challenges in my personal and work life are minor in comparison! Dealing with personal and customer challenges can be hard work but can change lives when you succeed!”
LISA TOPPIN
AVP, FINANCIAL CENTER MANAGER II - MORTGAGE LOAN ADVISER NMLS# 1532058
EVERY DAY I AM THANKFUL FOR . . . my daughter, my customers, my team, my boss, Venice, fishing, my mom and no hurricanes!”
PATTY O'LEARY
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & CEO | CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER
"I have learned that when a community comes together in crisis, love can move mountains."
WHAT HAS BEEN THE SINGLE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IN WORKING AND LIVING THROUGH THE PANDEMIC, AND HOW HAVE YOU CHANGED AS A RESULT? The pandemic created a barrier in treating the children and families we serve. To meet their needs, I needed to be adaptable to technology, and in turn, we rolled out two virtual programs that continue to this day. WHAT IS YOUR SINGLE, MOST SIGNIFICANT STRENGTH, AND HOW HAVE YOU UTILIZED IT TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT WITHIN AN ORGANIZATIONAL OR COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP ROLE? My most significant strength is my ability to inspire and motivate others. This allows me to foster collaboration, dedication, and resilience, leading my team to achieve remarkable results. WHAT IS YOUR "SECRET SAUCE”? A touch of sweetness with compassion. A dash of spice and heat with creativity. A generous portion of strong leadership skills. DESCRIBE YOUR OWN OUTLOOK ON LIFE IN SIX WORDS. Believe in yourself and your greatness. EVERY DAY I AM THANKFUL FOR our community’s generosity enables us to serve the immediate needs of local children and families battling pediatric cancer.
CHILDREN’S CANCER CENTER
4901 W. Cypress Street | Tampa, FL 33607 813-367-5437 | ext.10 poleary@childrenscancercenter.org
TORRI ZARNOWSKI
DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT | CLIVE DANIEL HOME
"Excellence demands effort and perseverance."
AT CLIVE DANIEL HOME, MY SUCCESS STEMS FROM UNWAVERING TENACITY AND ADAPTABILITY. I prioritize genuine care for everyone involved—our team, clients, builders, developers, and the charities we support—because strong relationships drive trust and success. MY GREATEST STRENGTH LIES IN MY ABILITY TO ADAPT TO CHANGE, constantly seeking innovative solutions and new tools to enhance the client experience and stay ahead in a dynamic market. Inspired by my driven and kind parents, I strive daily to make them proud by fostering a culture of kindness, problem-solving and resilience. Embracing the principle that "Excellence demands effort and perseverance," I am proud to contribute to our firm's excellence and I AM GRATEFUL FOR the unwavering support of my loving husband, family, friends, and our top tier team at Clive Daniel Home led by our president, Daniel Lubner.
3055 Fruitville Commons Blvd. Sarasota, Florida 34240 (941) 900-4663
MEGHAN SERRANO
SHUMAKER, LOOP & KENDRICK, LLP
“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view...until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.”
—Atticus Finch, ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ by Harper Lee
WHAT IS YOUR SINGLE, MOST SIGNIFICANT STRENGTH AND HOW HAVE YOU UTILIZED IT TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT WITHIN AN ORGANIZATIONAL OR COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP ROLE? Knowing when to ask for help and not being afraid to do so has been invaluable to my work, both as an attorney and with the Boys and Girls Club of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties. A common refrain throughout the Sarasota business community is that it is hard to network and forge business relationships if you are not originally from the Sarasota area. I hail from the Northeast and can attest to the truth of this statement. As a result, I had to get comfortable asking others for help to build business connections and make a name for myself in the legal industry. Now that I’ve established my practice in Sarasota, I pride myself on helping build connections for other newcomers. This strength translates directly to my work with the Boys and Girls Club. I know firsthand the transformational effect that something as simple as an outstretched hand and a little help can have on a person’s life, and I want to be that difference maker for kids in my community. This goal has pushed me forward through some of our organization’s toughest times, especially during the pandemic, when it was even more important to continue to provide critical services to our kids. Asking for help is integral to enacting any kind of meaningful change, and it has irrevocably shaped my personal and professional life. WHAT IS YOUR “SECRET SAUCE”? As a litigator, I interact with a lot of big personalities and strong emotions on a daily basis, and it can often be difficult to shake off the negativity. To combat this, I created a folder called “Sunshine” in which I have placed all the kind and appreciative messages I’ve been lucky enough to receive from my clients and colleagues over the years. One message in particular helps give me perspective when I have a rough day. Several years ago, I represented a woman on behalf of her recently passed father in a heavily disputed case. Once the dust settled, the daughter reached out to thank me for representing who her dad was as a human being—his values and what he cared about. This message reminds me that through my work as an attorney, I have made, and will continue to make, a positive difference in the lives of my clients. In a career where kind words are sometimes few and far between, my Sunshine folder is my secret sauce. DESCRIBE YOUR OWN OUTLOOK ON LIFE IN SIX WORDS. Being kind is not a weakness. EVERY DAY I AM THANKFUL FOR the opportunity to be a problem-solver for my clients and community. TELL US ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS/ORGANIZATION OR PHILANTHROPIC WORK. Shumaker, the law firm where I have been lucky enough to work for over 15 years, is a premier provider of legal and legislative services with a team of more than 300 lawyers and advisors, 55 paralegals, and 550 employees in its 12 offices located throughout Florida, Ohio, Minnesota, and the Carolinas. We are focused on being a positive and impactful difference maker for our clients and in the communities we serve by providing high-quality, dependable counsel while supporting a variety of nonprofits and local organizations. Shumaker recently announced the launch of our Make a Difference through Literacy Initiative, which aims to improve literacy for more than 250,000 individuals by 2025.
SHUMAKER, LOOP & KENDRICK, LLP
240 South Pineapple Avenue | 9th Floor Sarasota, FL 34236
941.364.2783 | mserrano@shumaker.com
Fortitude
IVORY MATTHEWS VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNITY & GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS, NEAL COMMUNITIES
"Change your mind, change your life."
WHAT IS YOUR SINGLE, MOST SIGNIFICANT STRENGTH AND HOW HAVE YOU UTILIZED IT TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT WITHIN AN ORGANIZATIONAL OR COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP ROLE? My success has largely stemmed from my strong communication skills. Whether in my personal life or my work in public policy, I've made a significant impact by embracing and navigating difficult conversations. I'm good at articulating thoughts during challenging situations. I also take pride in acknowledging the hard work of my team and making sure that I am giving feedback and praise. I've made it a priority to confidently share my own achievements. Recognizing that women often face challenges in celebrating their accomplishments, I strive to openly discuss my successes and the impact of my work because I am very proud of it. WHAT IS YOUR “SECRET SAUCE?” The power of A-S-K. DESCRIBE YOUR OWN OUTLOOK ON LIFE IN SIX WORDS. Life is long, stay flexible. PLEASE COMPLETE THIS SENTENCE: EVERY DAY I AM THANKFUL FOR never listening to the people who want to see me fail.
NEAL COMMUNITIES
5800 Lakewood Ranch Blvd | Sarasota FL 34240 941-224-5766 | imatthews@nealcommunities.com linkedin.com/in/ivory-v-matthews
COURTNEY PETRIN
SAVANNAH'S HOME &
DESIGN
“Be yourself, everyone else is taken.”
-Oscar Wilde
MY STORY OF SUCCESS STEMS FROM RESILIENCE, FLEXIBILITY AND PERSEVERANCE. From a very young age; I believed in my internal locus of control. I believed that I had the power to change and improve my situation. I don’t believe in blame or clinging onto excuses. I believe I’m the one in control and also realize what is out of my control; and I make peace with that. I think that particular mindset can dictate your perception of success. The concept of “success” means balance and happiness to me. I don’t believe it’s a final arrival point. It’s a never ending negotiation and work in progress. I think on a personal level, I’ve operated in an underdog mentality. I operate well in that space because it’s a motivator for me. My upbringing and even now I encounter people (as we all do) who self project their insecurities onto you. If I did well as a child there were justifications for my success unrelated to my abilities or talent. Or it was about minimizing my accomplishments. I think that chip on my shoulder could’ve easily forced me to develop a hard exterior and shell. But I take pride in the fact that I have channeled it for fuel and focus. I think negative can be channeled to good. WHAT IS YOUR SECRET SAUCE? My interpersonal skills. EVERY DAY I AM THANKFUL FOR my family because they give me the courage to push forward no matter what.
SAVANNAH’S HOME AND DESIGN
8251 15th St E Sarasota 34243 | 774-888-7008
Courtney@savannahshomeanddesign.com | savannahshomeanddesign.com instagram.com/savannahs_home_and_design
VICTORIA STULTZ
ENGEL & VÖLKERS SUNCOAST
STORY
OF
SUCCESS
"Cherish every moment. Life is a series of experiences, both big and small. Be present, savor the joys, and learn from the setbacks. They all contribute to the person you are meant to become”
Originally from Boston, I attended college in Cincinnati where I started my career working in sales for a Fortune 500 company before transitioning into real estate with a prominent brokerage. In 2001, my family and I relocated to Florida, where I continued my real estate career in the Sarasota area. My effective negotiating skills and extensive business experience have contributed to my proven track record, including a record-setting sale back in 2015 for $14.5 million and 15 consecutive years of winning the Five-Star Professional Real Estate award. I have always wanted to own my own real estate brokerage. The impetus for me to go out on my own was when I realized the need for a concierge brokerage that delivers a white glove service from start to finish including after the sale. I saw that there was a lack of training and coaching in our industry; I wanted to build a company where the advisors are highly trained with the same core values so when clients hire someone from my company, they know the level of service to expect. In 2020, I started laying the foundation to go out on my own as an independent brokerage. That’s when COVID hit, and I put on the brakes. I was approached by a boutique real estate company called Engel & Völkers about opening a franchise in the Sarasota/Venice area. I had been contacted by several other real estate franchise companies but none of them compared to Engel & Völkers. I was intrigued by what they had to offer and was very impressed with their systematic approach, advisor training and coaching, cutting-edge technology, distinctive marketing measures and truly connected global network. And, their vision and core values aligned with mine.
ENGEL & VÖLKERS SUNCOAST 22 S Links Ave #201 | Sarasota, FL 34236
ANGIE STRINGER
GIRLS INC. OF SARASOTA COUNTY
"Empowered girls empower the world."
WHAT HAS BEEN THE SINGLE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IN WORKING AND LIVING THROUGH THE PANDEMIC AND HOW HAVE YOU CHANGED AS A RESULT? During COVID-19, I realized how important the support services are that we provide to girls and families. Closing our doors in March 2020 was heartbreaking, but we immediately began offering programs virtually to stay in contact with our girls and families. Our team also shifted their focus to addressing the most pressing needs of our families impacted by job loss, school closures and changing circumstances, which challenged us to be strategic in our approach. During this time the strength of our team was more evident than ever. They continuously inspire me with their unwavering commitment to our girls. WHAT IS YOUR SINGLE, MOST SIGNIFICANT STRENGTH AND HOW HAVE YOU UTILIZED IT TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT WITHIN AN ORGANIZATIONAL OR COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP ROLE? My most significant strength is empathy. I’ve used it to develop strong relationships within my team and community, ensuring everyone feels valued. I believe that empathy has allowed me to build a career and life working with many different groups of people and having the ability to understand the needs of individuals who face different challenges in life than I do. WHAT IS YOUR "SECRET SAUCE"? My secret sauce is a commitment to seeing each person as an individual, recognizing their potential and opportunities to grow into it. Above all, I am deeply committed to ensuring that every person is valued equally. EVERY DAY I AM THANKFUL FOR the opportunity to make a positive, lasting difference in the lives of our amazing girls.
GIRLS INC. OF SARASOTA
201 S. Tuttle Ave, Sarasota, FL 34237
941-366-6646 | girlsincsrq.org facebook.com/girlsincsrq
Fortitude
LUCY V. NICANDRI
“Failure is when you don’t try."
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | SUNCOAST CHARITIES FOR CHILDREN
WHAT IS YOUR SINGLE, MOST SIGNIFICANT STRENGTH AND HOW HAVE YOU UTILIZED IT TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT WITHIN AN ORGANIZATIONAL OR COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP ROLE?
Determination is my most significant strength. I never let unexpected challenges, setbacks, or negativity derail my focus on what I set out to do or achieve. Maintaining a positive attitude and finding solutions for positive outcomes is key within any organization or leadership role. HOW HAS AN EXPERIENCE IN YOUR PERSONAL LIFE MOTIVATED YOU? When a stranger came up to me in public with tears in their eyes and said to me, “Thank you for the work you do – it made such a difference for our child.” This motivated me to continue working hard, sharing all the great work that Suncoast Charities for Children provides. WHAT IS YOUR "SECRET SAUCE"? “Never stop believing in yourself.” EVERY DAY I AM THANKFUL FOR the opportunity to make a positive impact in the lives of local children, teens, and adults with special needs.”
SUNCOAST CHARITIES FOR CHILDREN
5317 Fruitville Road, Suite 43 Sarasota, FL 34232
941-487-7904 | Fax 941-706-3825
“The purpose of life is to live with purpose.”
NILAMBEN PATEL
SUNSHINE ALLERGY AND ASTHMA
WHAT IS YOUR STORY OF SUCCESS? I started out studying pre med at Rutgers University in NJ and went to medical school and internal medicine training in Pennsylvania. I applied and matched into allergy and immunology fellowship at Boston Medical Center. I graduated in 2019 and joined faculty at UMASS – Worcester where I was an Assistant Professor of Medicine, Co - Director of the Allergy Clinic and taught students and trainees.. In 2020 after COVID I decided to move to Sarasota with my new husband to work at a private practice. While the people I worked with were amazing - I was not happy working for someone else, so I decided to leave and start my own office. With the help of my incredible husband, father-in-law and countless other family members, we renovated a building in North Port and opened Sunshine Allergy and Asthma! I am incredibly grateful to be trusted and welcomed by the local primary care doctors and pediatricians as well as the people. Opening my office has been the best decision I have ever made and serving the community around it has been my greatest honor. WHAT IS YOUR “SECRET SAUCE”? Resilience and Honesty. DESCRIBE YOUR OWN OUTLOOK ON LIFE IN SIX WORDS. Embrace uncertainty, be present, find joy. EVERY DAY I AM THANKFUL FOR a supportive family and circle of friends who always believe in me. “
SUNSHINE ALLERGY AND ASTHMA
2565 Toledo Blade Blvd | North Port FL 34289 941-257-3119 Sunshineallergist.com
Meet eight talented women who have made their mark on the Sarasota interior design scene
DESIGNING WOMEN
written by kate wight | photography by wyatt kostygan
This spread, left to right: Tracee Murphy, Jennifer Masters, Chelsea Dunbar and Meg Carson, this page. Ana Santa Maria, Angela Rodriguez, Christiana Engert, Anne Folsom Smith, opposite page.
AT ITS CORE, INTERIOR DESIGN IS ABOUT CREATING ENVIRONMENTS THAT ENHANCE THE WAY WE LIVE, WORK, AND FEEL. Interior designers work closely with architects and builders, often dealing with the highly technical aspects of projects. They also develop close relationships with their clients, helping them discover and refine their style while considering the emotional and practical aspects of a space. SRQ Magazine spoke to eight talented local interior designers who are trailblazers in their field. Each woman runs her own design firm and brings a unique perspective to the world of interiors. These women are redefining what it means to create spaces that are as functional as they are beautiful.
Angela Rodriguez ANGELA RODRIGUEZ INTERIORS
“I WAS AN ARTIST FROM THE TIME I COULD HOLD A PENCIL,” says Angela Rodriguez. “But when it came to a career I was also interested in the business side of things and I wanted to find something that combined business with the creative arts.” Growing up in Philadelphia, Rodriguez spent every summer from elementary school through high school taking classes at an art college while her mom worked a few blocks away. Over the years she explored a range of disciplines including drawing, painting, sculpture, photography and metalsmithing. “By the time I was deciding where to go to college I felt like I’d already had years at art school,” she says. “I was determined not to go to an art college because as much as I loved the arts I had this impression that I hadn’t found the right thing yet to make a career out of.” Rodriguez was taking business classes when she learned about interior design. The more she understood about what the field included she felt she’d finally found the career path that appealed to both her practical and creative sides. In her sophomore year, she transferred to the Ringling College of Art and Design where she graduated in 2005 with a BFA in Interior Design. In 2020, she was named to the college’s list of most Distinguished Alumni. Ringling is also where she met her husband Pablo. After graduating, Rodriguez quickly found work in hospitality design at a major firm, designing luxury resorts and spas around the globe. While she had always intended to open her own firm someday, that plan was accelerated when her office closed during the Great Recession. In response to this, Rodriguez launched Angela Rodriguez Interiors in 2009.
“In the beginning, it was just me at my dining room table,” she laughs. Fifteen years later, the business has grown to a team of ten, including her husband who has become her business partner as well as her life partner, with offices in Sarasota and Naples. In addition to working with clients in and around Sarasota, the firm takes on projects outside the area, including Manhattan and the Florida Keys. As the firm has grown, so has the Rodriguez family. Rodriguez and her husband didn’t have children when the firm first started but since then they have welcomed three. “It’s a cool thing for my kids to see the family business,” Rodriguez says. “I like to think that it’s a good model for them about work ethic and goal-setting. I think it’s good for them to see how the business has evolved, and that success doesn’t happen overnight. Hard work, commitment and perseverance all go into it.” Angela Rodriguez Interiors, 7357 International Place Suite 105, Sarasota, 941-388-8202, angelarodriguezinteriors.com.
“i really had a passion for New York City. the avant-garde nature of the work that was coming out of New York appealed to me.”
—Jennifer Masters
Jennifer Masters AND MASTERS
JENNIFER MASTERS HAS LED AN ECLECTIC LIFE. A self-described military brat, Masters spent her childhood bouncing around the United States and Europe where she was exposed to different architectural styles. As fascinated by math and science as she was art, Masters realized early that the field of architecture was the perfect blend of those interests. She went on to attend the University of Tennessee where she received a Bachelor of Architecture Degree. After college, she was ready to tackle city life. “I really had a passion for New York City,” Masters says. “The multiculturalism and the pace of the city appealed to me, and then just the avant-garde nature of the work that was coming out of New York also appealed to me.” In New York, a lot of architecture work consists of taking existing structures and working within them, instead of creating new builds. After moving there, Masters found herself focusing more on interior architecture than exterior architecture. She built her reputation working for large firms on projects ranging from galleries and museums to high-end residential spaces to hotels in Dubai.
“But then I wasn’t happy just doing the interior architecture of those spaces,” she says. “I wanted to also put together the furnishings so that it looked like a place that was done by one hand. And that’s how I came to be more on the interior design side of things.” Masters spent the next 18 years in New York but after her daughter was born her intense work schedule and the high cost of living prompted a change of scenery. She and her daughter relocated to Sarasota and she opened And Masters. “Getting past the age of 40, I didn’t know if I necessarily wanted to work for anybody again. The move to Florida allowed me to spend more time with my daughter, and it also prompted me to really make a go of it and start my own business,” Masters says. Seven years later, the business has blossomed, growing organically from repeat clients and word of mouth. As of this summer, Masters has added two people to her team so she’s no longer flying solo. The slower pace of living has also given Masters the opportunity to give back.
“After having my daughter I wanted to give back to the community so when I came down here I knew I wanted to join the Junior League,” she says. “It ended up being important because it helped me meet other women in town. Some of my first clients came through the Junior League and those clients are now dear friends. So that’s been a blessing in twofold. I’ve been able to do what I wanted to do, which was to contribute to the community, but also teach my daughter that giving back is an important element of being a responsible adult.” And Masters, 630 Orange Avenue Suite 200D, Sarasota, 941-706-3300, andmasters.com.
DANGEROUSFIT
LAKEWOOD
RANCH | SARASOTA
"PACK
YOUR DOUBTS AND DISCOURAGEMENT INTO YOUR FITNESS BAG AND LEAVE
IT AT HOME!"
AT DANGEROUSFIT WE KNOW THAT YOU WANT TO BE POWERFUL AND SEXY. To do that, you need a strong, physical presence, lots of positive energy, and a mindset centered on wellbeing. We have all that you need to create a powerful and sexy new you. Your world needs you! Hi, I am Dangerous Donna, the personality behind DangerousFit Personal Training Service and I am excited to roar by the side of the other ladies. For over thirty years, I have trained everyone from the soccer moms to the professional athletes. I was one of the first Personal Trainers in the country, and I opened one of the first personal training facilities in the country; then known as DangerousCurves. I, myself, have competed at the highest levels of body sculpting, combining weight, aerobic training and nutrition for maximum results. The only thing I love more than overcoming challenges and creating power in my own life is multiplying it in others.
For many women, stepping into a traditional gym can feel like a daunting experience. Whether it’s the intimidating atmosphere, unwanted attention, or lack of confidence in using equipment, there are many barriers that can prevent a woman from reaching her fitness goals. This is where DangerousFit’s women-only gym comes in. We provide specialized programs designed to the unique needs and goals of women. Our service caters to a diverse range of preferences, from the elite female age 40+, targeted exercise routines that consider women’s specific physiological factors, and to the process of being nourished with a female-centric approach. Our training environments are designed to empower and have fun. Highly qualified professionals coach, encourage and “look out” for participants.
DANGEROUSFIT : DONNA TSCHOPP DANGEROUSFIT.COM | GYM@DANGEROUSFIT.COM 901.467.8004 | INSTAGRAM: @DANGEROUSEFIT_ FB: DANGEROUSFIT | TIKTOK: @DANGEROUSDONNA
Meg Carson EMCY INTERIORS
“I DO NOT WATCH HGTV BECAUSE IT CAN GIVE PEOPLE UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS OF WHAT IS POSSIBLE ON SMALL BUDGETS AND TIGHT TIMELINES,” SAYS MEG CARSON. Ironically, HGTV was popular with college students when Carson was attending Florida State University in the early 2000s. While she had originally planned to major in communications, she switched her focus to interior design. After graduating she spent several years in Orlando doing commercial projects at a boutique interior design firm before moving to Sarasota in 2011 where she worked for a luxury custom home builder. Finding herself in high demand from prior clients and referrals, Carson struck out on her own and opened Emcy Interiors 2015. Now she has two other designers and an office coordinator on her team, and the firm has as many as 40 clients at any given time. Success like that doesn’t happen overnight. “I would work 60, 80 hours a week,” Carson says. “It was nuts. I never saw my husband. But I got it off the ground.” Though she’s developed a reputation for her coastal contemporary work, Carson’s willingness to take on projects of all sizes and design styles has helped her build a loyal clientele. But while Emcy Interiors is full-service, Carson isn’t available 24/7 anymore. “I used to work all day every day, Saturdays, into the night, into the mornings,” she admits. “But I have a three-year-old and a sixteen-month-old so any free time is spent with them. Now I turn it off at five o’clock. That’s their time.” Emcy Interior Design, 2580 University Parkway, Sarasota, 941-807-0479, emcyinteriordesign.com.
Chelsea Dunbar BLU INTERIORS
NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF A GOOD ROLE MODEL.“My mom owns a graphic design company. It’s a woman-owned design company and it was out of our house so I watched her run a design firm for my whole life,” says Chelsea Dunbar. Dunbar shared her mother’s creativity, but her interests skewed toward interior design. She attended the Savannah College of Art and Design, graduating with a BFA in interior design. She landed a job at a large architecture firm in Atlanta working on major commercial projects. “I built hotels, convention centers, offices, malls all over the world, islands in Dubai,” she says. “We did the Georgia Aquarium. It was my dream job.” In 2009, the real estate market was down and the architecture and design fields were suffering economically as a result. Dunbar watched as friends and colleagues were laid off. Pregnant with her first child at the time, she started designing neighbor’s homes as a backup plan. She quickly realized working herself would give her a lot more flexibility when her son was born and decided to branch out on her own. “Shifting from commercial to residential design is like an entirely different field,” Dunbar says. “I didn’t have a single resource. It was a huge learning curve. But it was fun.” She had a knack for it. In addition to high-end residential homes, Dunbar worked on projects for HGTV, doing the design work that doesn’t show up on camera. She was pregnant with her daughter when she worked on the Atlanta season of Property Brothers. As their kids grew older, Dunbar and her husband returned to Sarasota to be closer to family. In 2015, she and longtime friend Nicole Dolan opened Blu Home and Dunbar rebranded her once eponymous design business as Blu Interiors. “I have ten women on my team right now and we all contribute to every project,” she says. “It felt wrong to have the business just be my name.” Blu Interiors, 1830 South Osprey Avenue Suite 101, Sarasota, 941-500-4563, bluinteriors.com.
Ana Santa Maria STUDIO SANTA MARIA
INTERIOR DESIGN IS OFTEN MISUNDERSTOOD. People tend to think it’s all about picking out furniture and selecting paint swatches and while that is an aspect of it, there is so much more to the profession. “I like to tell people to think of it as interior architecture,” says Ana Santa Maria. “We do the detailing, we do the selections, we pick out the paint and we pick out the wall coverings but that’s the jewels to the dress. You have to make the dress first before you add all the jewels to it.”
Santa Maria knows a thing or two about architecture. Her father is an architect and she and her older brother grew up visiting their dad’s job sites. It made an impression on them both. Her brother became an architect, while Santa Maria opted for a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Interior Arts and Space Planning from Ringling College of Art and Design. As a student, Santa Maria landed an internship at the Tampa office of HOK Architecture, a global firm where she was so impressive she was offered a job before she had even graduated. After several years in the industry she was ready to strike out on her own and she started Studio Santa Maria.
“I had a young family, I had two boys, and I wanted to be able to have the open schedule that I needed in order to be a mom,” she says. “It was important for me to establish myself as a mom, a wife and a professional and I found that it was somewhat difficult to do all of that when a company was depending on me. When I’m depending on myself, I know what my responsibilities are. I establish how hard I push myself in order to accomplish what I need to get accomplished.” Studio Santa Maria, 1100 South Tamiami Trail Suite 303, Sarasota, 941-957-8187, apex-studio.com.
“since i’m from maryland, having the orioles spring training here was kind of a match made in heaven.” —Christiana Engert
Christiana Engert FROND AND FERN DESIGN
“WHEN I WAS TEN, MY PARENTS DECIDED TO CUSTOM BUILD A HOME,” Christiana Engert says. “I was able to be part of the process, getting to choose my carpet and wall colors and what went in our bathroom. It helped open my eyes to interior design as a career pathway.” Engert started taking AutoCAD courses in high school and she specifically sought out a college with an accredited interior design program, ultimately settling on High Point University in High Point, NC. This locale is also home to the High Point Furniture Market, a major furniture trade show that attracts design industry professionals from around the globe. While in school, Engert worked at the biannual market in a variety of showrooms and built relationships with interior designers. By the time Engert graduated, job offers were rolling in. She accepted one in Sarasota in part because she was drawn to the town’s natural beauty and friendly vibe. “And since I’m from Maryland, having the Orioles spring training here was kind of a match made in heaven,” she laughs. Over the next ten years Engert explored different aspects of the interior design field, working on everything from condo renovations with quick turnovers to lengthy custom builds under the auspices of an architecture firm. “I’d say the most influential part of my career was the time I spent with a high-end design firm. That’s where I cut my teeth,” Engert says. “I got exposed to the new construction process in Florida, and I developed some great relationships in the community. In addition to building her professional life, Engert also had to develop a personal life. Aside from designers who had extended her job offers, she didn’t know anyone when she moved to Sarasota. She found a sense of community through coaching youth sports. “I’m so fortunate to be part of the lacrosse community in Sarasota,” she says. “Families really welcomed me when I started coaching. I have girls that I coached when they were very young and now they’re going off to college and I’m coaching their younger sisters.” Engert opened her firm Frond and Fern Design in January 2024. While she’s new to entrepreneurship she’s already making a splash. Her first major project as an independent designer is called the Bird Key Residence. Frond and Fern Design, 941-504-5975, frondandferndesign.com.
Anne Folsom Smith ANNE FOLSOM SMITH INTERIOR DESIGN
“WHEN I WENT TO COLLEGE I WANTED TO BE AN ENGLISH MAJOR. My freshman year I took a few English courses and I said, ‘This is not for me,’” says Anne Folsom Smith. “A dear friend of mine suggested I become an interior designer. So that’s why I got into the business.” As it turned out, interior design was a much better fit. Folsom Smith received her education at East Tennessee State University and the University of Tennessee and held several jobs in the design field before launching Anne Folsom Smith Interior Design in 1983. Since day one, her office has been located in the United States Garage Building in Burns Court, a historic building from 1924 that she renovated with her husband, architect Frank Folsom Smith. Over the last four decades, Folsom Smith has received numerous awards and has had her work featured in prestigious publications including Architectural Digest. But she doesn’t spend a lot of time looking back. “It’s very important for people to know that we’re not an old firm that does only traditional things,” Folsom Smith says. “We’re constantly making sure we stay relevant. We are more than capable of doing any kind of design that anybody throws at us.”
This philosophy carries over to her work with the Sarasota Orchestra, where she has served as a board member for over 20 years. “The majority of people who support classical music are in their 60s and 70s. We’re trying so hard to get young people to listen to classical music and to be involved in the many programs that the orchestra offers,” she says. “The orchestra is such a vital part of this community that I would be remiss not to be a part of it.” Anne Folsom Smith Interior Design, 330 South Pineapple Avenue, Suite 206, Sarasota, 941-957-0434, annefolsomsmith.com.
“design is such a personal component of your home that being able to communicate with someone and understand how they feel about their spaces is very valuable.” —Tracee Murphy
Tracee Murphy TRADE MARK INTERIORS
SOME PEOPLE KNOW FROM AN EARLY AGE THAT INTERIOR DESIGN IS THE RIGHT CAREER PATH. That wasn’t the case for Tracee Murphy who went to college for psychology. Interior design wasn’t even on her radar. “Then when I was out in the real world being an adult I bought a house and started designing it and discovered what interior design was,” says Murphy. “I started reading about it and researching it. After I designed my house I did my neighbor’s house and my sister’s house and then somebody else’s house and I thought, ‘Maybe I should go back to school.’” Murphy did just that and got a second degree in interior design. She worked at a design firm for a bit to get her feet under her before launching Trade Mark Interiors in 2006. “I started the business out of necessity basically,” she says. “I had two young kids and found I wanted freedom and flexibility. I would say I really worked part-time in the design industry for about fifteen years. Being a mom was an important thing to me and I wanted to make sure that was good.” As her kids grew older, Murphy was able to focus more time and attention on the business. Trade Mark has been steadily growing and now consists of a team of four designers and an operations manager. On September 12 of this year Murphy debuted an educational platform called the Designer Launch featuring classes she wrote where interior designers can get the accredited certification they need for licensing in Florida. Murphy’s psychology background helped her develop these classes, just like it helps her relate to her clients. “Design is such a personal component of your home that being able to communicate with someone and understand how they feel about their spaces is very valuable,” she says. “And nine times out of ten, we’re working with a couple. It helps to understand how two people coexist within a home so we can meet the needs of both parties.” Trade Mark Interiors, 3232 South Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, 941-879-9494, trademarkinteriordesign.com.