Today's Charlotte Woman August 2012

AUGUST 2012 VOL 16 | NO 4 | COMPLIMENTARY

Robin Emmons Sowing Good

2012-2013 Success Issue

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FromTheEditor

Ah, Success …

You Are So Subjective ere I am,staring down the pages of yet another August issue of Today’s Charlotte Woman, trying to conjure up an editor’s letter fitting for the annual “Success Issue.”

Honestly, I’m having a hard time of it. Perhaps it’s the leftover dregs of that record 100-degree week of weather we had not too long ago,leaving my brain fried and my pores exhausted from the gulley-washer of perspiration.

Perhaps it’s because, at 40 and 3/4, I feel that I have so much left on my to-do list. Looking down the barrel of 41 (my birthday is the second to the last day of this month), I have to say that the idea of me being successful completely depends on the eye of the beholder, the phase of the moon, and sometimes, the amount of wine in the glass!

Is the glass half full? Or is it half empty? If it has wine in it, do we really care?

Maybe I’m not drowning in success.But I’m not too shabby,either.I do have an amazing,headstrong, super-smart 9-year-old daughter who can make me belly laugh with no effort on her part at all. I have my health. I currently have a good roof over my head,food in the pantry (hey,peanut butter is food), and clothes to wear,including one fabulous blue-jean mini-skirt that never fails to make me feel like a million bucks. I am lucky enough to indulge in my love of horses (even if the ongoing cost means I can nev-

H

Today’s Charlotte Woman | August 2012 4

er buy a new car again!). I have a finished novel that only needs one line-by-line revision and an amazingly generous publishing house. I have friends,especially the female sort, who love me and laugh at me and accept all of my foibles. I am still an employee of this magazine, which honestly, I love. Most importantly, I still have my family, including my two cancer-surviving parents.

Perhaps that’s about as much success as any normal human being can expect to enjoy!

This month,TCW is full of successful Charlottean women. Some have reached the pinnacles of their careers … others,like me,are still ticking things off their to-do list and striving for more. Some are special women who have devoted their lives to developing nonprofits that improve the lives of others; these amazing women measure their success by the good they do each day.

Regardless,I’ve been mulling over the idea of success for weeks now,and I’ve come to the realization that success is a personal thing. And perhaps, an ever-evolving process. A daily creation — something we work at each and every day — until that time comes when we can finally walk out in a summer rain shower and let the droplets run down our faces and wash away our pain and failings and disappointments, and know deep in our hearts that we have become the person we always hoped to be. [TCW]

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August 2012

Contents

44

50

DEPARTMENTS 4

Editor’s Letter Success … You Are So Subjective

Today’s Charlotte Woman | August 2012 6

10 On The Move Charlotte Women Making Strides

50 At Home The Home Office Goes Minimalistic

44 Wine Up Celebrate Success With A Bottle Of Bubbly

54 So Social Around Town, In Pictures

46 Fashion Office-Wear Worth The Investment

58 Contributors Page The Names And Faces Behind The Photography

46

Volume 16, Number 4 August 2012

PROFILES Successfully Making A Difference

Publisher

Sharon Simpson

12 Sowing Much Good Robin Emmons Provides Healthy Food To Underserved Populations

24

Associate Publisher

Fern Howerin

16 A Champion For Children Pat Farmer Transforms Lives With The Allegro Foundation

Karsen Price

20 A Sweet Cause

FEATURES

Editor

Elise Redmond Honors Friendship With Cookies For A Cause

24 Happiness Is …

Sales Executive

Award Winners Reveal The 6 Things That Make Them Smile

16

42 Do Good & Celebrate Life

Trisha Robinson

Sales Executive

A Charitable Calendar

Carole Lambert

58 Essay: Success Stopped By The Other Day

Creative Director

Kerrie Boys, idesign2, inc

Special Advertising Section

Contributing Writers Trevor Burton Michaela L. Duckett Dana Durham Judy Gentry Melinda Johnston Elizabeth Lowell Pat MacEnulty Lee Rhodes

30 Professional Profiles 31 Rita Miles, Charlotte Fashion Week 32 Lynn Dreyer, Melissa’s Voice

24

33 Rene Timpone, Skincare & Antioxidants Today’s Charlotte Woman | August 2012 8

Contributing Photographers Michael C. Hernandez Joe Martin Glenn Roberson

34 Cynthia Morrison,The Hunstad-Kortesis Center For Cosmetic Surgery 35 Dr. Jodi Dodds, Presbyterian Neurology Center

P.O. Box 1676 | Cornelius, NC 28031 704.677.9159

37 Professional Spotlight 38 Fabi Preslar, SPARK Publications 39 Suzy Johnson, Employee Benefit Advisors 40 The Belva Wallace Greenage Cancer Foundation

OnTheCover Robin Emmons “sows good” in the Queen City.

Photo By Michael C. Hernandez.

Today’s Charlotte Woman is published by Venture Magazines Inc., and is distributed on a complimentary basis throughout the greater Charlotte area.

Subscription rate is $20 per year for 12 issues.

Copyright© 2012 Venture Magazines Inc. All rights reserved.

Copying or reproduction, in part or in whole, is strictly prohibited.

Today’s Charlotte Woman and Venture Magazines Inc. do not necessarily endorse the views and perceptions of contributors or advertisers.

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WOMEN MAKING STRIDES • BUSINESS SUCCESS STORIES

Job Changes/Promotions

Awards & Installations Lisa Wilbanks has joined Crescent Resources as project administrator.

Alicia Howell was named spa director at The Spa at Ballantyne, at The Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge.

Keli Fayard has joined The Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge as executive pastry chef.

The Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture has appointed Tiffany Legington Graham as director of advancement; she will provide strategic leadership in the development of philanthropic relationships throughout the Southeast region, and be responsible for annual support from individuals, corporations, foundations, and special events and membership.

New Business/Changes Susanna Goldberg has joined Northwestern Mutual as a financial representative.

YWCA Central Carolinas has hired Tiera Parker as administrative assistant for transitional housing; she will be responsible for the orientation and coordination of volunteers for transitional housing as well as provide clerical and administrative support to the Women in Transition and Families Together programs.

The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library was named a 2012 Top Innovator by the Urban Libraries Council for its strategic approach to programming in response to the recommendations of the Future of the Library Task Force.

Dana Rader Golf School’s Dana Rader and Julie Cole have once again been named among Golf Digest Woman’s America’s 50 Best Women Teachers.

Kristina Sullivan has opened Eye Candy Boutique in The Village at SouthPark, located at 4310 Sharon Road.

Corrective Care Wellness, an alternative healthcare service, has created a nonprofit organization to offer free services to families without health insurance. The organization was granted nonprofit status by the North Carolina Secretary of State in 2011 and began servicing the community in May 2012.

Natalie Tindol, president of Tindol Ford Subaru, was named chairman of the North Carolina Automobile Dealers Association.

TellUsYourNews

On The Move Today’s Charlotte Woman | August 2012 10

Ashley Packard was hired by MBAJ Architecture as marketing coordinator.

Lina V. Mistry, DDS, has opened Pineville Dentistry at 10410 Park Road, Suite 500.

Lori Vaccaro was named executive director of the Charlotte affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Kim Bolt-Davidson was promoted to general sales manager of the magazine Charlotte ForRent.com.

Send announcements about hirings, promotions, honors, and new business development — all specifically about/for Charlotte-area women — along with high-resolution images to

Kara Deir and Andrea Edwards have opened Olive This! at the Shops at Piper Glen, located at 6414 Rea Road.

Editor Karsen Price at karsenprice@hotmail.com.

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{ SUCCESSFULLY MAKING A DIFFERENCE }

Today’s Charlotte Woman | August 2012 12

Sowing Much Good Robin Emmons Provides Sustenance To Underserved Populations

By Lee Rhodes | Photos By Michael C. Hernandez

“The most rewarding part of this has been the hope and the empowerment of people that we serve who live in deserts.

We talk about food deserts, but it really is a desert — whether it’s food, healthcare institutions, or education. There really are two Charlottes.” – Robin Emmons

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Today’s Charlotte Woman | August 2012

obin Emmons has a lot of experience sowing the seeds of success. In her former life, she worked in corporate America, enjoying a distinguished career and all the perks that went with it. Today, she’s sowing different kinds of seeds — seeds that perhaps have more far-reaching and longer-lasting results.

Emmons serves as executive director of Sow Much Good, the local nonprofit she founded several years ago that provides local, organic food to low-income, underserved populations. She recounts the spark that ignited her passion to provide all people with equal access to nutritious food sources.

“Back in 2008, I decided I couldn’t suppress my inner voice any longer,” she says.

She had recently begun advocating for her older brother, who had been chronically homeless and mentally ill for a decade. She was distressed to learn that local agencies were feeding him out of cans and packages, resulting in hypertension and diabetes. A lifelong gardener, Emmons planted extra vegetables for her brother, and later, for an extra 30 people, routinely dropping off eggplants and zucchini to local facilities.

“A friend said to me,‘Your brother suffers from mental illness, but you’re the one driving around like a crazy woman with vegetables,’ ” she recalls.

At that moment, Emmons knew she wanted to do something more structured and more sustainable … something for the greater good. >

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Today’s Charlotte Woman | August 2012 14

Food For Thought Emmons began looking at farming movements and local foods, and quickly realized how often people such as her brother miss out on those opportunities.

In an effort to remedy this disparity, Sow Much Good engages in organic microfarming, community partnerships, and direct education initiatives. She was able to lean on her corporate experience and network within the Charlotte community, gaining high-level support along the way.

Sow Much Good also benefited from the fact that there wasn’t a group filling this niche back in 2008.

One of the constant challenges, though also a blessing, is the early level of success enjoyed by Sow Much Good and the rapid rate at which it’s grown. The nonprofit is 100-percent volunteer driven, and, Emmons says, “The need is great. So, working with limited resources in terms of monetary capital and human capital

has been the greatest challenge.”

To contrast this challenge, Emmons constantly reminds herself of the good stuff. “The most rewarding part of this has been the hope and the empowerment of people that we serve who live in deserts,” she says. “We talk about food deserts, but it really is a desert — whether it’s food, healthcare institutions, or education.

There really are two Charlottes.”

Sowing Success Those interested in helping merge the city’s disparities into one whole, healthy township — perhaps by starting a nonprofit such as Emmons — would be wise to listen to her advice. First, she recommends putting together a savvy business plan from the get-go. “With a nonprofit, you can go out there and hope others are as passionate about your cause, but it sets you up to have a hard road or possibly fail unless you look at it from a business stand-

point, because it is a business,” she says.

Additionally, she says, “Do your homework, by assessing the landscape to see who’s out there doing something similar.

There is sometimes a smaller pool of money to do really important work.”

Sow Much Good’s important work is sure to continue well into the future, not only in Charlotte but beyond. Recognizing that the issue of inequities in our food system is not just a Charlotte phenomenon, Emmons hopes Sow Much Good can launch a successful pilot in the Queen City that can be modeled by other communities.

“I want to implore people to continue to lend their support, whether it’s sponsorship money or by volunteering,” she concludes.“It’s everyone’s problem.”

ToLearnMore Visit sowmuchgood.org. [TCW]

{ SUCCESSFULLY MAKING A DIFFERENCE }

Today’s Charlotte Woman | August 2012 16

A Champion For Children Pat Farmer & Allegro Foundation Transform Young Lives

By Karsen Price | Photos By Michael C. Hernandez

“It’s about giving everything you have to help others live a better life. I believe everyone should follow their dreams, and mine is manifested in Allegro Foundation.” — Pat Farmer

N

ot many people enjoy the luxury of knowing what they want to do with their life at the ripe old age of 16. Pat Farmer, however, realized she wanted to make a difference in the lives of children with disabilities while still a senior at Myers Park High School.

“I was working on what is now known as a ‘senior exit project,’ ” Farmer explains.

“I chose to work in what was then called a mental institution.”

While her mother waited in the car, Farmer went into the institution alone each week, and — without any training — began teaching movement to children with disabilities.

“There was something in those children’s eyes that spoke to me,” she says.

Today’s Charlotte Woman | August 2012

Music, Movement & Miracles Farmer founded Pacific Foundation — the forerunner of Allegro Foundation — in Los Angeles in 1991. After the death of her husband, Farmer decided, with the help of the board of directors, to relocate the organization to her hometown of Charlotte under the name Allegro Foundation … a Champion for Disabilities.

Allegro has been operational in Charlotte for the past 12 years. >

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Today’s Charlotte Woman | August 2012 18

“I always knew the true reason I was put here on this earth,” she says.“ To work with children with disabilities.”

At the time that Farmer was developing what would become a groundbreaking program, the general consensus was that medication was the only option when working with children with disabilities.

Farmer thought differently. She began crafting a curriculum that combines movement instruction with medical and educational expertise. Allegro’s basic philosophy focuses on teaching those with disabilities to learn in a new way, by creating a connection between muscle memory and cognitive memory.

“The principle behind Allegro is what makes the organization unique in the United States,” she says.

Allegro serves 500 children a week in Charlotte at class sites that are strategically selected throughout the city, including in the public schools and community outreach sites such as Carolinas

Medical Center. A typical class has 20 students, 20 volunteers, and an Allegro instructor. Each child must have a medical form filled out by a physician.

The foundation implements a critical assessment and evaluation process of each child twice a year. Although Farmer notes that not all techniques work for every child, this practice provides Allegro with proven statistics to show that the curriculum changes lives. “This is why the credibility is there,” she says.

The Desire To Do More Farmer is fulfilling her dream to help children with disabilities, and is looking forward to the day when Allegro can serve more of the 15,000 children who are living with disabilities in Charlotte.

Allegro could serve 1,200 children a week if money wasn’t an issue.

“We are not a United Way agency, or an Arts & Science Council funded affiliate, and we receive no government funding,” Farmer says. “We are truly an independ-

ent charity that relies on both private and corporate donations. Public awareness is crucial to Allegro’s future.”

She adds, “As much as we help children with disabilities, we need to help more! And the need is getting greater every day.”

Farmer attests that her success at creating Allegro is multifaceted. There’s her faith, which includes her deep-rooted belief in giving back to the community.

There’s also her incredible board of directors, staff, and the foundation’s Friends of Allegro Guild. She notes that Allegro could not survive without its collection of 700 dedicated volunteers.

Most of all, she says it is the willingness to sacrifice. “It’s about giving everything you have to help others live a better life,” she says. “I believe everyone should follow their dreams, and mine is manifested in Allegro Foundation.”

ToLearnMore Visit allegrofoundation.net. [TCW]

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{ SUCCESSFULLY MAKING A DIFFERENCE }

Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Charlotte Woman | August 2012 20

A Sweet Cause Elise Redmond Helps Children, Honors Friendship

By Melinda Johnston | Photos By Glenn Roberson

“I think our success comes from the uniqueness of our approach. Everything about Club Cookie is intended to be a ‘weird wow,’ so it seems to get everybody talking and eager to participate in the event — both in sponsorships and in participants!” — Elise Redmond

C

ookies for a Cause puts a creative spin on the old-fashioned cookie exchange, raising money to promote the health, development, care, and well-being of children who need support.

How creative? As the nonprofit’s promotional literature states, “Cookies for a Cause transforms the quaint, Southern tradition of the holiday cookie exchange into an outrageous, diva-style, cookie bash rowdiness.”

But the nonprofit didn’t start to fulfill a defined need. It began as a distraction for two best friends, one of whom was dying.

Today’s Charlotte Woman | August 2012

Great Minds Elise Redmond and Kristi Crates, best friends since elementary school, hatched the idea of Cookies for a Cause in July 2007.

“Kristi was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease at age 20, and not given much time to live. Because of her outrageous personality, she lasted for another 15 years,” Redmond says.

“Toward the end, when we would get together for lunch, she would say, ‘Don’t ask me how I’m doing. Let’s talk about something else.’ So we talked about the cookie exchange we did each December, and we decided to make it a way to help kids,” she says. >

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Today’s Charlotte Woman | August 2012 22

Crates died in October 2007. In December, Redmond held the first Cookies for a Cause affair featuring a dinner party and memorial with some of Crates’ closest friends. She kept the charity lowkey at first, raising a little money here and there, with no real defined purpose.

“Kristi believed that everybody had their own passion, and she didn’t want to tell people where to give their money.

But she loved kids, and wanted it to help kids,” Redmond says.

“For two years, we did a little bit of everything. But I totally believe that Kristi was probably pushing buttons up there in heaven, because one day I said to my husband, ‘What charity should we support this year?’ And out of the blue I saw that the Ronald McDonald House was opening up in Charlotte. I called them up, and two years later I am on the board, and am the first female assistant vice president.”

Cookies For Kids In 2009, Cookies for a Cause held the

first official cookie exchange with a solid fundraising plan in place. Forty ladies raised $350 for the Ronald McDonald House. Soon after, Redmond’s husband Doug started Chips for a Cause, so that men could participate, as well.

Since then, the nonprofit’s success has been astounding. Last year, over 300 men and women raised $25,000 with their Club Cookie night at the Peninsula Club.

This year, they plan to top that by $10,000.

“I think our success comes from the uniqueness of our approach,” Redmond says. “Everything about Club Cookie is intended to be a ‘weird wow,’ so it seems to get everybody talking and eager to participate in the event — both in sponsorships and in participants!”

For instance, on Dec. 7, after the women swap cookies and the men poker chips, the group will come together for Club Cookie South Beach, where the Peninsula Club will be transformed into a scene right out of Miami — featuring art

deco décor, palm trees, and Old Havana panache. As added excitement, a few Club Cookie VIPs will enjoy dinner with Jeff Gordon to raise money for the Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation.

Redmond says it’s a unique way to kick off the holiday season, and it also helps ease the pain of the loss of her friend.

“It’s different than any other charity I’ve ever seen,” Redmond says. “They know we want their money, but also, that we want them to have a great time. And the ‘weird wow’ makes things fun. For instance, this year we will have ladies in bikinis and fur coats reading magazines.”

She adds, “It’s an outlet for me to be creative, and as an attorney, I don’t always get to do that. And it’s so much fun. If it weren’t fun, Kristi wouldn’t want us to do it. It helps take the grief away, and gives me something positive to do in her honor.”

ToLearnMore Visit cookies4acause.com. [TCW]

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Today’s Charlotte Woman | August 2012 23

Happiness is...

Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Charlotte Woman | August 2012 24

H

Award Winners Reveal The 6 Things That Make Them Smile

By Karsen Price

appiness, like success, can be a highly personal thing. What brings one person joy may give another a migraine! That said, it's usually the little things that make life worthwhile ... from special destinations to a favorite article of clothing to family and friends.

Here, five local award-winning women share the uniquely personal things that make each day a little brighter for them. >

6

Smile

Things That Make Me

Who: Dr. Paulette Bryant

What: Lead Physician, Presbyterian Blume Pediatric Hematology & Oncology Clinic Award: Girl Scouts’ Healthy Living Significant Achievement Award

iPad apps: New York Times, Bible 36O, and Pinterest

Wii Fit game “Walk It Out”

My baby-blue Hyundai Santa Fe

Hemby Children’s Hospital and Presbyterian Blume Pediatric Hematology & Oncology Clinic “The kids, my colleagues, and staff keep me smiling every day. I feel like I am going to hang out with friends while stamping out disease.”

My orange raincoat “When you look like an orange you really cannot take yourself too seriously!”

Today’s Charlotte Woman | August 2012

Breyers No Sugar Added chocolate ice cream “So I can have two scoops … need I say more? Yum!”

25

6

Smile

Things That Make Me

Who: Delaine Mead

What: Owner/CEO Valuebiz, Business Furnishings & Relocation Strategies Award: NAWBO 2012 Woman Business Owner Of The Year

Reading “I average one book each night; my current favorite book is ‘Dinner With A Perfect Stranger.’ ”

The beach, specifically Oak Island

Cooking

Technology

Today’s Charlotte Woman | August 2012 26

Music “I particularly love country music, as it is soulful, heartfelt, real American music.”

NASCAR “I love the sport, love the drivers’ ability to identify with the average man or woman, and I share their commitment to give back philanthropically … not because they need to, not because it makes good business sense, but because it’s personal, it matters, it’s the right thing to do.”

6

Smile

Things That Make Me

Who: Karen Bennetts What: Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Little Red Bird Award: NAWBO 2012 Rising Star

The new Bonnie Raitt CD “She’s the master! A little old, a little new, but all so nicely done.”

My daughters, Sam and Maddie, and my husband, Alan

Bermuda or Paris — “Bermuda for the beach, Paris for the art and the food!”

Reading mysteries or spy novels “I loved the flow of the story and beautiful writing of Ann Patchett’s ‘State of Wonder.’ ”

Yoga

Today’s Charlotte Woman | August 2012

A glass of wine and a great book ... at the beach!

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6

Smile

Things That Make Me

Who: Katie Tyler What: CEO of Tyler 2 Construction Award: NAWBO 2012 Community Service Winner

Holding hands

Dancing

The mountains

Riding my motorcycle Puppies Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Charlotte Woman | August 2012 28

Thunderstorms

6

Smile

Things That Make Me

Who: Stephanie Ansaldo

What: President & Founder, The Echo Foundation Award: Girls Scouts’ Community Building & Social Capital Award Paris

Chocolate

Paris French cuisine Snow “Lots of it!”

Classical music

Today’s Charlotte Woman | August 2012

A good book

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Success Guide 2012

Professional Profiles Whether reaching for the stars or leveling the playing field for others, these Charlotte women are redefining success.

h Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Charlotte Woman | August 2012 30

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

h Fashioning A Career Rita Miles Helps Put Charlotte On The Style Map

By Karsen Price | Photo By Glenn Roberson

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certain she had the skills to fulfill: event planning. Thus, Charlotte Seen was born in 2010.

Charlotte Seen strives to create events, galas, charity events, and grand openings that are unique, sophisticated, and above all, memorable. And Miles has been extremely successful.

A precursor to the first Charlotte Fashion Week was “The Miles Of Impact Show,” in 2010. Miles expected to have 300 attendees. An astonishing 900 people — including Bruce Willis — attended the event, which was hosted by Nikko Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar. In a matter of time, burgeoning fashion designers were flocking to Miles, asking her to create an event that would bring their art to the awareness of the public. In the fall of 2011, she and her team created, planned, and successfully hosted the first Charlotte Fashion Week, which featured over 6,000 attendees.

“Fashion shows are very much like designing space,” Miles says, “and it keeps my creativity fresh.

And the night of the event is such an experience! It’s a huge juggling act, but it all comes together and melds into an amazing night.”

Currently, Miles is elbow-deep in plans for the second-annual Charlotte Fashion Week, set for Sept. 18 through 22, at ReelWorks Studios.

This year, among her many plans for the “posh” weeklong event is a decision to sell reserved seats. Visit www.charlottefashionweek.com; the website is amazing and comprehensive. [TCW]

Charlotte Fashion Week, By Charlotte Seen Rita Miles Sept. 18-22, 2012 ReelWorks Studios at the NC Music Factory 817 Hamilton Street charlottefashionweek.com

Charlotte Fashion Week Schedule Wed., Sept. 19 at 7 p.m.

Fashion For The Modern Male Thu., Sept. 20 at 7 p.m.

Bridal & Couture Evening Fri., Sept. 21 at 7 p.m.

Emerging & Fashion Designers Sat., Sept. 22 at 7 p.m.

Recyclable & Re-Model Talent

Today’s Charlotte Woman | August 2012

ita Miles is the epitome of a “woman in the know,” and her collection of connections is becoming extremely beneficial for Charlotte’s burgeoning fashion, creative, and innovative industry.

A typical day for Miles includes meetings with movers and shakers in all walks of life — from owners of NASCAR teams to decision makers at Savannah College of Art and Design to clothing designers eager to bring their products to the public.

In fact, with Miles’ three-fold approach to business — starting with her interior design firm Miles Interiors; moving on to the event-planning company Charlotte Seen; and wrapping up with the largest North Carolina Fashion Shows, Passport For Fashion and Charlotte Fashion Week — you might wonder when Miles has time to sleep.

“I’m a busy woman,” she laughs.

Miles didn’t always wear so many fashionable hats. As an interior designer with an eye for timeless style, Miles was beginning to feel the sting of the slowing economy when she decided to start calling magazines, radio stations, and newsletters, looking for ways to drive business up. She began attending charity events and galas, and soon found that she knew a lot of people in the Charlotte area.

“I found that I was getting to know a lot of people, quality people,” she explains.“Before long, I became a public relations firm within my own firm.”

A savvy businesswoman, Miles realized a niche market that she felt

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h Savoring Life Lynn Dreyer Builds Awareness Of Eating Disorders

By Melinda Johnston | Photo By Michael C. Hernandez

L Sip & Savour Gallery Crawl Lynn Dreyer The Sip & Savour 2012 Myers Park Gallery Crawl is set for Sept. 22 and will include five galleries, food, wine, silent art auction, and an after-party at FABO featuring Simplified. Tickets are $25. For information, visit sipandsavour.org. For information on Melissa’s Voice Foundation, visit melissasvoice.org.

Today’s Charlotte Woman | August 2012 32

“I want to take this unfortunate experience and turn it into strength for other people. I want them to know that there is help out there, and that they are not alone.”

— Lynn Dreyer

ast September’s inaugural Sip & Savour gallery crawl raised over $9,000 for Melissa’s Voice Foundation Inc., a nonprofit that seeks to provide information and resources for those affected by eating disorders.

Melissa’s Voice was founded a year ago by Lynn Dreyer, who lost her sister, Melissa Rose Ritter, in 2007.

“Melissa was a beautiful and successful woman. She had a 20-year career in the professional business sector and then owned a design décor business. She was married and had a very rich life,” Dreyer says.

But she also battled an eating disorder.

“Melissa struggled with it all her life, many times in silence. At 30, she came forward, got proper treatment and support, and was thriving. But she became ill again at age 46. She had been suffering in silence again for over two years,” Dreyer says.

Melissa took her own life on Oct. 31, 2007. Now, Dreyer is working to create something positive from the pain.

“She died five years ago this coming October, and there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t miss her. But I realize that my responsibility now is to help promote eating disorder awareness,” she says.

Last summer, Dreyer started Melissa’s Voice and, along with Camine Pappas of Networking Women and Wine, began planning Sip & Savour. Starting the nonprofit was easier than she first imagined.

“I had the support of a lot of amazing people because it seems

everyone — my banker, yoga instructor, and more — knows someone who is battling an eating disorder,” she says.

An estimated 10 million women and 1 million men suffer from eating disorders in the U.S. The problem doesn’t discriminate based on age, race, or socio-economic status. Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness.

“It’s very shameful to the person, so it’s often hidden. It is one of the most difficult psychological issues to treat. You can put down a cigarette or alcohol and sustain life even though the battle may be difficult.

But you can’t put down food and sustain life,” explains Dreyer.

Treatment is expensive, averaging $500 to $2,000 a day, and many insurance plans don’t provide coverage. That’s why the scholarship portion of Melissa’s Voice Foundation is so important.

“I started the HOPE Scholarship after meeting Katie, a beautiful girl with an eating disorder, who helped me with the NEDA (National Eating Disorder Association) walk last October,” Dreyer says.

Katie was the first scholarship recipient and Dreyer hopes that this year’s Sip & Savour will earn twice as much, so more HOPE Scholarships can be awarded. She also plans to direct a portion of the earnings to the new Charlotte Chapter of the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals.

Most importantly, she wants to get the word out that there is hope and help for those suffering with eating disorders. [TCW]

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

h Better Than Before Rene Timpone Offers Extraordinary Skincare And Anti-Aging Supplements

By Elizabeth Lowell

S

antioxidants and supplements, because labels and ingredients can be misleading.

The products she uses and sells are listed in the Physician’s Desk Reference, so the ingredients are guaranteed.

Absorption levels of the antioxidants and supplements are also key. To test those levels, she uses a biophotonic scanner, featured last year on Dr. Oz, which can test the amount of antioxidants you absorb by using a painless ray of light called Ramon Spectroscopy.

Timpone can bring the biophotonic scanner to your home or office and scan your hand to see if your supplements protect you from free radicals. If deficiencies are found, she can recommend the proper supplements, then re-scan you at a later date. Scan scores are guaranteed to be higher, or you get your money back.

Timpone loves to share her expertise with other professionals.

“I help doctors, dentists, and other health-care professionals develop a preventative health-care practice,” she says.“They teach their patients how to get healthier with measurable results, and increase their bottom line. It is a win-win for all.”

Her products can also improve outward appearance.

Timpone’s products are available to the public as a consumer, or you can become an independent business owner. Regardless, combine her cutting-edge technology with the patented anti-aging products, and you will look — and feel — Better Than Before. [TCW]

Rene Timpone 704/502-6445 Rene@betterthanbefore.me spacarolina.nsedreams.com

“While I help you improve your health and teach you about anti-aging on the inside, I can help you look years younger by using our hand-held galvanic face and bodyspas.”

— Rene Timpone

Today’s Charlotte Woman | August 2012

ixty-year-old Rene Timpone says her youthful appearance and good health aren’t just a product of good genes, but rather the result of an extraordinary skincare line, anti-aging supplements, and antioxidants she takes on a regular basis.

These products have made her look and feel “Better Than Before” … and others can benefit, as well.

She proudly calls herself a “breast cancer thriver,” and as such,Timpone is particularly conscious about what goes in, and on, her body.

“I always ate well and took care of myself. No one was more surprised than me to be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004,” Timpone says.

“I couldn’t believe it. I had been so careful about what I ate, took vitamins, and I got cancer,” Timpone says.

She went through surgery and treatment … and decided to begin a quest to find out what her body needed to reach optimum health. Timpone soon discovered the importance of finding balance in her demanding professional and volunteer life. She owned a successful hair salon in Millburn, N.J., was publisher/editor–inchief of New Jersey Goodlife Magazine, and was a founding board member of Carolina Breast Friends.

“I learned that creating balance in your life with the use of a healthy amount of exercise, eating well, and learning to like yourself is so important. As women, we tend to take care of everyone else before ourselves,” Timpone says.

Her research showed that the best intentions sometimes aren’t effective — particularly when it comes to

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h Confidence Restored The Hunstad-Kortesis Center For Cosmetic Surgery Helps Rebuild Self-Love

By Michaela L. Duckett | Photo By Glenn Roberson

W The Hunstad-Kortesis Center For Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Cynthia Morrison, patient 11208 Statesville Road • Suite 300 Huntersville, NC 28078 704/659-9000 hunstadkortesiscenter.com

Today’s Charlotte Woman | August 2012 34

“As women, we often take care of our children, our families, and our jobs. It’s important to make sure that we take care ourselves. I have more energy. I can hold my head high. I know that with hard work and determination, I can do anything.”

— Cynthia Morrison

hen Cynthia Morrison stepped through the doors of the HunstadKortesis Center for Cosmetic Surgery & Medspa last year, she was in search of much more than a cosmetic procedure. She was at an emotional low point in her life, looking for the self-confidence that all humans deserve.

Morrison had a son and gained a lot of weight during the pregnancy.

After birth, she continued gaining weight as her self-esteem plummeted. When she ended her 10-year marriage in 2008, she tipped the scales at 304 pounds.

That’s when something just clicked, Morrison says.

“I felt like it was time for me to feel good about myself,” she says.

“One morning, I woke up and decided in order to be a good mother and role model, and not feel ashamed, I had to do something about my weight.”

Morrison began gradually making adjustments to her lifestyle.

Over the course of four years, she lost 140 pounds through diet and exercise. It was an astonishing accomplishment, yet it didn’t feel like enough. Despite the changes, Morrison still did not like what she saw in the mirror. The drastic weight loss left her with excess skin.

“It was absolutely ugly,” she recalls. “I had to look at it every day when I was getting dressed. It was something you had to kind of push

and tuck down in your pants. It was just an inconvenience.”

At the recommendation of a friend, Morrison researched the Hunstad-Kortesis Center online. For Morrison, it was important to find a doctor who was not just a general plastic surgeon, but also board certified and specialized in meeting her needs. Confident that Dr. Bill G. Kortesis fit the bill, she made an appointment, and after one meeting, she felt better.

“He showed how much he cared about his patients,” she says. “He wanted to know my story. He sat me down and listened. My self-esteem went up so much just by finding a doctor who really cared.”

Dr. Kortesis says the desire to help others is the sole reason he became a doctor.

“I think there is no better feeling in the world than to walk into a room and have a patient smile and be completely happy with where she is,” he says. “You see a person who is unhappy or doesn’t like something about themselves, and then afterward they have no reservations about that particular area.

That smile is priceless.”

Last December, Dr. Kortesis began helping Morrison fix her problem areas. She had a tummy tuck and liposuction to remove excess skin and fat on her abdomen, hips, and thighs. Now, Morrison says she is no longer ashamed and feels good about herself. [TCW]

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

h Thriving On Helping Others Dr. Jodi Dodds Provides Stellar Care For Stroke Patients

By Michaela L. Duckett | Photo By Michael C. Hernandez

D

blood from flowing to his brainstem; once the clot was removed, he was able to move again. Dr. Dodds was astonished.

“To see him six hours later, sitting up, talking, and moving his legs because of that intervention, was just extraordinary,” she says.“I thought,‘I just have to care for stroke patients.’”

It was this passion for treating stroke patients that drove her to pack up her family — including two young children — and move across the country to Charlotte after completing her stroke fellowship in 2010.

Many aren’t aware of it, but the Carolinas are at the heart of what is known as the nation’s “stroke belt.” The area has the highest incidence rates of stroke, obesity, and heart disease.

While working with Presbyterian Hospital, Dr. Dodds has seen a number of patients in their 20s, 30s, and 40s who, because of their ages, had no idea they were at risk for a stroke until it occurred.

“It’s been a very gratifying experience getting to help prevent people from becoming very disabled or dying as the result of a stroke, by catching it early and intervening,” she says.

Dr. Dodds attributes her success in her field to having passion for what she does. She possesses a relentless determination to achieve her goals, and does not measure success by accolades, degrees, or money. [TCW]

Presbyterian Neurology Center Dr. Jodi Dodds 1918 Randolph Road • Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28207 704/384-9437 presbyterian.org

“Success is feeling like you made the world and the environment around you a better place. You’ve made people’s lives better than they were before they met you. You can go home each day knowing that you’ve done your best, and that people have benefited from that.”

— Dr. Jodi Dodds

Today’s Charlotte Woman | August 2012

r. Jodi Dodds, medical director of the Neuroscience Institute at Presbyterian Hospital, knew at an early age that she wanted to practice medicine.

But a life-altering encounter with a patient during medical school made it clear to the Chapin, S.C., native that she wanted to specialize in the treatment and prevention of strokes.

Dr. Dodds always enjoyed the sciences and had a passion for fitness and health. She attended medical school at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, and became a vascular neurologist; meaning, she treats diseases that affect blood flow to the brain. She also provides care for people with seizures, migraines, multiple sclerosis, and diseases of nerves.

A patient encounter during her medical residency at the University of Washington enabled Dr. Dodds to determine her specialty.

The patient had just been admitted into the emergency room, and Dr. Dodds was told he was in a coma.

She examined him and found that this was not the case. The patient was completely cognizant. He could answer yes and no questions with his eyes. Yet, he could not move his body or talk.

“I thought,‘This is so scary! There is a man in here, and he is locked in his own body, and if we don’t do something, then he’s probably going to die,’ ” she recalls.

The patient was having a stroke.

A large blood clot was blocking

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h A New Lease On Life Haas Wellness Center Restores Debbie Giblin To Health

By Michaela L. Duckett | Photo By Joe Martin

even years ago, Debbie Giblin was a physical and emotional mess.

Her body always ached and was covered in bruises. She suffered headaches that would last for days, sometimes weeks. She had severe insomnia, and was always exhausted.

Life became so unbearable that Giblin no longer wanted to leave the house.

“I didn’t want to do anything,” she says. “Just going out to lunch with friends became too stressful for me.”

Giblin, who as a teen watched her grandmother succumb to Alzheimer’s disease, says she became even more concerned when she started forgetting things. She recalls teaching Sunday school and having trouble completing sentences.

“My mind would just go blank,” she says. “I would be standing there looking at everybody. I was so embarrassed. My way of hiding what was going on was to quit everything.”

For Giblin, a woman who took pride in planning elaborate events, being active in church and always living on the go, life came to a screeching halt — and stood still for about six years. In short, she lost her passion for living.

Finally, Giblin turned to her Tuesday-night Bible study group for help, asking them to pray that she would find a doctor. A week later, a friend told her about Dr. Kenneth Haas, D.C. Dr. Haas is a chiropractic physi-

S

Haas Wellness Center Dr. Kenneth N. Haas, D.C. Debbie Giblin, patient 3315 Springbank Lane • Suite 102 Charlotte, NC 28226 704/ 837-2420 • (888) 602-5883 haaswellnesscenters.com

Today’s Charlotte Woman | August 2012 36

“Seeing Dr. Haas transform the lives of patients is incredible. They come in so dejected and hurting.

Within weeks, they are bouncing in the door happy and excited. It is amazing.”

— Debbie Giblin

cian and founder of Haas Wellness Center in Charlotte. By focusing on wellness care, Dr. Haas has dedicated his entire professional life to holistic health.

“Traditional medicine treats symptoms or a specific health concern,” Dr. Haas explains. “Holistic care, on the other hand, embodies an entire lifestyle.”

In his 26 years of practice, Dr. Haas says he has helped thousands of patients like Giblin. Since no two people are alike, he believes each person’s treatment must be unique to their individual needs.

For Giblin, Dr. Haas developed a 12-week treatment plan that included chiropractic therapy, natural supplements, healthy nutrition, exercise, and body detoxification.

About halfway through her treatment, Giblin began to wonder if she would ever get better.

One day, she woke up feeling radically different.

“I turned to my husband and said, ‘I feel really good today for the first time in years.’ From that point on, every single day, I got better,” she says.

For Giblin, getting better included a 40-pound weight loss!

Now that her energy is restored, Giblin is back to living her life, and that includes working. Last August, she began working for Dr. Haas. “He

gave me my life back,” she says.

“Now I get to see him do the same for patient after patient.” [TCW]

Success Spotlight 2012

Professional Spotlight Success often needs nurturing. These women provide that nourishment in very different ways â&#x20AC;&#x201D; through experience, guidance, and sheer heroic effort.

h Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Charlotte Woman | August 2012 37

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

The Sparkling Effect Fabi Preslar Garners National Attention For Clients

By Karsen Price | Photo By Michael C. Hernandez

A SPARK Publications Fabi Preslar 700 Matthews-Mint Hill Rd. • Suite B Matthews, NC 28105 704/844-6080 SPARKpublications.com

ccording to Fabi Preslar, there is no secret formula, no special ingredient, for the astonishing success of SPARK Publications over the last 15 years.“Great service, technical talent, and creativity — that’s the only thing close to a secret,” she says.

SPARK Publications is known for creating beautiful, effective custom books, magazines, catalogs, and promotional materials. The creative publishing firm specializes in collaborating with clients to create publications and promotional needs based on each client’s unique vision.

Preslar, the president and founder of SPARK Publications, enjoys pushing others to their personal best. “I enjoy the honor of being the one to look them in the eye, challenge their boundaries, and help them discover an even deeper level of success,” she says.

Those successes have come in the national arena. Several of the company’s custom book

Caring Dentistry...

With a Gentle Touch!

WE CARE ABOUT THE PERSON BEHIND THE SMILE

Today’s Charlotte Woman | August 2012 38

clients have been invited to be speakers at national conferences, and one client recently won a national Independent Publisher Book Award.

Another received one of the 100 national Grand APEX Awards for Publishing Excellence, out of an astonishing 3,800 entrants.

An expert in her field, Preslar explains that a great publication is clear in its mission and audience, and beautifully provides that audience with the needed content in a practical, easy-tounderstand, and entertaining format.

Preslar attributes the success of her driven team — known affectionately as “the SPARKlers” — to her constant expectation to strive for bigger and better things. “As clients, vendors, and staff enter into my network, I tend to push folks to a different level,” she says.

“It makes some run far away. But to watch others flourish and break boundaries and ignite their own creative spark is simply a personal thrill.” [TCW]

Turn water into soda in seconds!

General Dentistry Serving Your Entire Family Cotswold Plaza 135 S. Sharon Amity Rd. Suite 204 Charlotte, NC 28211

704-365-2765 New Patients Welcome

DRS. PELEAUX & BAILEY www.peleauxbaileydds.com

Blakeney Shopping Center | 9844-B Rea Road | Charlotte | NC 28277 704.542.5558 | www.lecookeryusa.com

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Leading The Way Employee Benefit Advisors Helps Businesses Offer Affordable Benefits

By Melinda Johnston | Photo By Michael C. Hernandez

D

oes your small or mid-size business struggle with employee benefits?

Suzy Johnson and her dedicated team can help. Her company, Employee Benefit Advisors, can assist you in providing your employees with greater benefits — group health and life insurance, dental and vision insurance, long-term care, short and long-term disability insurance, and more — at lower prices than you ever thought possible.

“We’ve got clients who do amazing things with benefits, sometimes with only 10 employees. It can be done — you just need someone to lead the way,” Johnson says.

Johnson has been a partner in the company for 22 years, and became the sole owner in May 2012, even as the federal healthcare legislation is roiling the industry.

“Some people thought I was crazy for investing in a company that handles health insurance, but I am so sure of the value that we

offer, I’m confident it’s a wise decision,” she says.

With Employee Benefit Advisors (formerly known as Strategic Employee Benefit Services), your company can benefit from similar resources, price advantages, and proprietary solutions that large companies have access to, while working one-on-one with a Benefit Advisor who will customize a plan for your business. With access to more than 50 insurance companies, as well as a wide array of exclusive, proprietary products, Employee Benefit Advisors will help you select the best options for your employees.

Johnson says, “It would have been easy to retire, but I chose to buy the company instead.

I thrive on helping small and mid-size businesses solve their problems and the frustrations surrounding employee benefits, to help them attract and retain the very best talent.” [TCW]

Employee Benefit Advisors Suzy Johnson, CEBS, RHU, CLTC 704/442-4400 info@eb-advisor.com eb-advisor.com

Today’s Charlotte Woman | August 2012 39

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Empowering Others Belva Wallace Greenage Encourages Others To Thrive

By Karsen Price | Photo By Augusto Photography

elva Wallace Greenage knows a great deal about success, and even more about giving back. In 2010, while in the midst of her journey with a second round of cancer, Greenage created The Belva Wallace Greenage Cancer Foundation to help others receive the healing properties of holistic therapies.

“I found in my own experiences with cancer that holistic treatments such as acupuncture and massage improved my physical and emotional reactions to cancer treatments,” she says. “Since few if any of these therapies are covered by medical insurance, I was driven to provide the funding so others might benefit as well.”

The Belva Wallace Greenage Cancer Foundation funds acupuncture, exercise, massage, and yoga therapies for qualified patients, and assists patients in identifying holistic options that complement their existing cancer treatment plan. It is the only foundation in North Carolina that funds these types of therapies for cancer patients.

Greenage enjoyed a prosperous 22-year career

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The Belva Wallace Greenage Cancer Foundation 704/442-9914 belvascancerfoundation.org

with Bank of America and was the 2011 NAWBO Charlotte Community Service award winner. The former publisher of Today’s Charlotte Woman, she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004 and again in 2008. She can attest that the journey with cancer can be a strenuous one; however, in lieu of “survival,” she focuses on “thriving.”

Each year, Greenage empowers others through an event of her creation, Coffee & Conversation, which helps kick off the Southern Women’s Show each fall. The event focuses on “a rich dialogue beyond surviving on to thriving, and really living.”

Held on Fri., Sept. 21, from 7:30 to 10 a.m. at The Park Expo & Conference Center, the fourthannual Coffee & Conversation will include panelists Belva Greenage; Paula Guilfoyle, president of Claim Your Best Life; Ramona Holloway, co-host of the Matt & Ramona Show; and Dr. Reza Nazemzadeh, of the Levine Cancer Institute. Tickets are available at belvascancerfoundation.org.

All proceeds benefit the Belva Wallace Greenage Cancer Foundation. [TCW]

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The Youth Effect: A hormone therapy revolution

Patients have received: • Relief from hot flashes • Reduced risk of osteoporosis • Enhanced libido • Increased energy and vitality • Cognitive clarity For an appointment, call

Purchase your ticket before Sept. 1st and receive $10 off the regular price of $40

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AskTheExpert

The Truth About No-Prep Porcelain Veneers Dr. Ross W. Nash, DDS

ile before Danyele’s sm t treatmen

Dr. Ross W. Nash, DDS, is one of only 46 Accredited Fellows in the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, meaning he has acquired extraordinary skills in the area of esthetic and cosmetic dentistry. Founder of the Nash Institute for Dental Learning, Dr. Nash is the epitome of “expert.” Here, he answers questions about no-preparation veneers.

Q: Do I have to get my teeth drilled down to get porcelain veneers?

A: There are some situations that require no removal of natural tooth structure to apply porcelain veneers. The dentist simply makes a mold of the existing teeth and new porcelain surfaces are fabricated to give the teeth new surfaces.

Ten thin porc elain venee be bonded to her natural rs to teeth

Q: Who is a candidate for this non-invasive technique?

A: People who have teeth that are fairly well-aligned with good dental health who want a change in the color or contour of the tooth surfaces are candidates for this treatment.

Q: Is there a need for shots with this procedure?

A:There is often no need for anesthetic injections or temporary restorations with this process.

Q: Are “no-preparation veneers” more costly than regular veneers?

A: No Prep Veneers can often be placed at a lower cost due to less of the dentist’s time being needed for preparation or temporaries.

Danyele’s new smile

The patient for this case is Danyele Gardner, Mrs. South Carolina America 2012. She will be competing in the Mrs. America Pageant in August and wished to enhance her smile to make it fuller and whiter. Danyele is a dental hygienist with excellent dental health and tooth alignment and did not want any tooth drilling. The thin veneers were made to go over her 10 upper teeth and they were bonded to place with no anesthesia.

Portrait with Danyele’s new smile 403 Gilead Road, Suite E • Huntersville 704/895-7660 CosmeticDentistryofthe Carolinas.com

&

do good

Celebrate life

The 24th Annual Great Gatsby Gala Date: Aug. 4, 2012 Location: The Atrium at Two Wells Fargo Center, 301 N.Tryon St. Time: 8 p.m. to midnight Contact: Laura.Rabell@nmss.org, or 704/774-5307 Website: gatsbygala.org Benefits: The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Mid-Atlantic Chapter

Today’s Charlotte Woman | August 2012 42

Website: ncrockandrun.com Benefits: Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina What It’s All About: The 5K Rock N’ Run includes breakfast on race morning at The Saloon, plus live music during and after the race.

2012 Trail Run Challenge @ USNWC

Date: Aug. 18, 2012 Location: U.S. National Whitewater Center, 5000 Whitewater Center Parkway Time: 8:30 a.m.

Contact: Runners@trailrunchallenge.com, or Whitewater Center at 704/391-3900 Website: trailrunchallenge.com/ Benefits: The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society What It’s All About: Through What It’s All About: Dress up both 5K and 10K courses, the in 1920s garb or semi-formal attire and enjoy a night of dancing, Trail Run Challenge offers runners one of the most unique outdining, spirits, live jazz music, door environments. and a silent auction.

NC Music Factory 5K Rock N’ Run

Operation Homefront Of NC’s Freedom 5K

Date: Aug. 11, 2012 Location: NC Music Factory, 1000 Seaboard St. Time: 8 a.m.

Contact: registration@runforyourlife.com, or 704/3580717, ext. 204

Date: Aug. 25, 2012 Location: Freedom Park, 1900 East Blvd.

Time: 7:30 a.m.

Contact: info@freedom5knc.org, or call 704/527-3063

Location: The Park Expo, Website: freedom5knc.org 2500 E. Independence Blvd.

Benefits: North Carolina military children, especially those Time: 7:30 to 10 a.m. enduring the hardships and challenges of a parent’s deployment and injuries.

What It’s All About: The thirdannual Operation Homefront Freedom 5K offers participants a chance to renew their commitment to freedom and show support for military families around the state.

Dress For Success: Look At Her Power Date: Sept. 20, 2012 Location: The Park Expo, 2500 E. Independence Blvd.

Time: 6 to 9 p.m.

Contact: charlotte@dressforsuccess.org Website: dressforsuccess.org Benefits: Dress for Success Charlotte What It’s All About: Look At Her Power is Dress for Success Charlotte’s annual signature fundraising event; 100 percent of the evening’s proceeds support the organization’s workforce preparedness, and career retention and advancement programs.

Coffee & Conversation Date: Sept. 21, 2012

Website: belvascancerfoundation.org Benefits: The Belva Wallace Greenage Cancer Foundation What It’s All About: The fourth-annual event features panelists Belva Wallace Greenage; Paula Guilfoyle, president of Claim Your Best Life; Ramona Holloway, co-host of the Matt & Ramona Show; and Dr. Reza Nazemzadeh, of the Levine Cancer Institute.

American Heart Association’s Charlotte Heart Walk Date: Sept. 22, 2012 Location: Uptown Charlotte (intersection of Trade and Tryon Streets) Time: 9 a.m.

Contact: 704/208-5586 Website: charlotteheartwalk.org

Benefits: American Heart Association

What It’s All About: The Heart Walk raises funds and awareness for cardiovascular diseases and stroke.

The 27th Anniversary Bike MS: Breakaway To The Beach Ride Date: Sept. 22-23, 2012 Location: Departure from Charlotte, N.C., or Columbia, S.C., see website for details Time: Varies Contact: info@bikeMS.org Website: nationalmssociety.org/ chapters/nct/fundraisingevents/bike-ms-breakawayto-the-beach/index.aspx Benefits: The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Mid-Atlantic Chapter What It’s All About: Bike MS: Breakaway to the Beach is a twoday bike ride to Sunset Beach, N.C. Enjoy catered meals, live music, and an epic finish.

Ramblin’ Rose Charlotte Triathlon

10th Annual Charlotte Rotary Scholarship Golf Classic Date: Sept. 11, 2012

16th Annual Susan G. Komen Charlotte Race For The Cure Date: Oct. 6, 2012 Location: Uptown Charlotte Time: Festivities begin at 6 a.m.

Contact: info@komencharlotte.org, or 704/347-8181, Website: komencharlotte.org Benefits: Susan G. Komen For The Cure What It’s All About: The 5K walk/run funds and awareness for the fight against breast cancer and celebrates survivorship.

Avon 2-Day Walk For Breast Cancer Date: Oct. 27-28, 2012 Location: Frazier Park, 1201 W. Fourth St. Time: 6:30 a.m.

Contact: 1-888-540-WALK Website: avonwalk.org Benefits: Avon Walk For Breast Cancer

What It’s All About: Walk up to 26.2 miles on Saturday and 13.1 miles on Sunday to help people receive breast cancer care and fund leading research teams in the search for a cure.

Eighty percent of the funds raised stays in the Charlotte area.

Lung Strong ’12

Charlotte NEDA Walk

Date: Oct. 13, 2012 Location: Jetton Village, 19818 Northcove Road, Cornelius Time: 7:45 a.m. 15K start; 7:50 a.m. 5K start Contact: info@lungstrong.com, or 704/650-4070 Website: lungstrong.com Benefits: LUNGevity Foundation, a pioneer in lung cancer research What It’s All About: This 15K/5K helps kick off national Lung Cancer Awareness Month.

Date: Sept. 15, 2012 Location: Latta Park, 601 E. Park Ave. Time: 9 a.m.

Contact: Christy Holson, christy_holson@hotmail.com Website: nationaleatingdisorders.org/site/TR?fr_id= 1930&pg=entry Benefits: The National Eating Disorders Association What It’s All About: NEDA is committed to the fight against eating disorders.

Jingle Bell Bash Hopebuilders 5K Date: Oct. 20, 2012 Location: Parking is available in the Morehead Medical Plaza parking deck (adjacent to Morehead Medical Plaza at 1025 Morehead Medical Drive) Time: 8 a.m.

Contact: Hopebuilders5K@ Carolinashealthcare.org Website: http://events.carolinashealthcarefoundation.org Benefits: Levine Children’s Hospital What It’s All About: Hopebuilders 5K welcomes people of all ages and skill levels to participate. Many participants are walking in honor/ memory of special children in their lives.

Date: Dec. 1, 2012 Location: Wells Fargo Atrium, 301 S.Tryon St. Time: 7:30 to 11 p.m.

Contact: Carol Roth, United Family Services, 704/367-2799, croth@ufsclt.org Website: unitedfamilyservices.org Benefits: United Family Services and its Victim Service programs, including The Shelter for Battered Women What It’s All About: The 18th annual Jingle Bell Bash includes an open bar, heavy hors d’oeuvres, live entertainment, and a silent auction.Tickets are available in September 2012.

Speed For Children In Need 5K First Annual Red Tie Gala Date: Oct. 5, 2012 Location: Levine Museum of the New South, uptown Charlotte Time: 6:30 to 10:30 p.m.

Contact: 704/335-1191, or info@rmhofcharlotte.org Website: rmhofcharlotte.org Benefits: Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte What It’s All About: Hosted by the Young Professionals Society of the Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte, the Red Tie Gala offers guests a chance to make their debut on the red carpet, and includes heavy hors d’oeurves with an open bar (followed by a cash bar), music, dancing, and access to the many exhibits throughout the museum.

Date: Dec. 8, 2012 Location: Charlotte Motor Speedway, 5555 Concord Parkway South, Concord Time: 3 p.m.

Contact: 704/455-4426, ehudgens@speedwaycharities.org Website: charlotte.speedwaycharities.org/ events/speed_for_children _in_need/ Benefits: Speedway Children’s Charities and Hendrick Marrow Program What It’s All About: The 5K route runs through the zMAX Dragway, past the dirt track, over the pedestrian bridge, through the underground tunnel, and out onto Charlotte Motor Speedway.

[TCW]

Today’s Charlotte Woman | August 2012

Date: Sept. 23, 2012 Location: Huntersville Family Fitness & Aquatics, 11725 Verhoeff Drive Time: 8 a.m.

Contact: info@RamblinRoseEvents.com Website: endurancemag.com/index.php/ charlotte-home Benefits: Girls on the Run and Tri It For Life What It’s All About: Celebrate the empowerment of women by tackling this 250-yard swim, 9mile bike ride, and 2-mile run.

Location: The Golf Club at Ballantyne, 10000 Ballantyne Commons Parkway Time: Registration begins at 10:30 a.m.; shotgun start at noon Contact: chltrot@bellsouth.net, or call 704/375-6816 Website: charlotterotary.org Benefits: The Rotary Club of Charlotte’s Scholarship Fund What It’s All About: The golf classic provides college scholarships for children of Charlotte-Mecklenburg public safety employees.

43

Celebrate Your Success

Pop Open A Sparkling Bottle Of Bubbly

By Trevor Burton

Today’s Charlotte Woman | August 2012 44

ince day one, sparkling wine has played a starring role in celebrating achievements and milestones.

Success and sparkling wine have gone hand-inhand ever since bubbles first found their way into a bottle of wine. In fact, what do you imagine the reputed “inventor” of bubbly, Dom Perignon, did when he opened that first bottle? He hoisted a glass of Champagne, of course. Since then, bubblies have been used for celebrating achievement, royal weddings, milestone birthdays, anniversaries, intimate moments, and multitudes of special occasions.

Perhaps the best example of sparkling wine’s role is the time-honored tradition of toasting the culmination of a huge undertaking by smashing a bottle of Champagne against the hull of a newly launched ship. Although that’s always seemed odd to me. Why not smash a bottle of club soda against the ship and keep the Champagne for sipping on?

ness. One thing is certain: Blanc de Blancs generally carry a higher price tag. So, it’s a personal choice. For me, I’d stay with a middle-of-the-road wine.

Budget Bubblies Champagne — at least good Champagne — can be expensive. But there are several other options when you are looking to do a little celebrating. French sparkling wines are made in exactly the same way as Champagne but are made outside of that region. They can’t call themselves Champagne, but that doesn’t make them any less delicious.These wines go by the name Crémant. A bottle of Crémant looks just like a bottle of Champagne, so it’s easy to pick one out. Check on the label and you’ll see the words “méthode traditionnelle.” In days gone by, the labeling was allowed to read “méthode champenoise,” but the winemakers in Champagne put a stop to that.

There are seven regions of France that produce Crémant. The ones you’re most likely to come across on this side of the Atlantic are: Crémant d’Alsace, Crémant de Bourgogne, or Crémant de Loire. All Crémants are very much on par with their more elegant cousins. They have different flavor profiles due to the different grapes used to make them, but they are equally fun to sip on. Best of all, they carry a smaller price than Champagne.Voilá! Celebration and joy, on a budget.

Staying within the méthode champenoise family and crossing the Pyrenees into Spain, you run into a wine called Cava. Cava used to be a wine positioned as a really cheap alternative to Champagne; you can get a bottle of Cava for under $10. But, that’s changing a little. Cava is becoming more than just unpretentious fun. There are some world-class wines made under the official Cava designation. Some wineries produce only Gran Reserva bottles, which means they keep their wines in contact with the lees (spent yeast) for at least 30 months, and in some instances for five to

eight years. These are wines with depth and character, and they’re available in the $20-$30 range.

California’s Crop There’s no shortage of bubbly made on this side of the Atlantic, with most of it hailing from California. Some wines carry the description “California Champagne” on their labels. This goes back to the Prohibition era, when countries signed an international agreement regarding wine origin names. Given that the United States was in Prohibition, there was no reason to sign the agreement. Some California winemakers had been calling their wines Champagne before Prohibition, and when that law was lifted they were grandfathered in, and allowed to keep the name.

Today, as a result of international trading agreements, they placate the French by using the term California Champagne.

The fact that California Champagne is on a label is no guarantee that the wine inside the bottle will be of Champagne standard. In fact, quite the opposite. Generally, it’s only the low-end sparkling wines that misuse the Champagne name, with Korbel being a significant exception.

Probably your best bet for finding a good California sparkling wine is to seek out the wines made by Champagne houses that have set up shop in the state.

Names like Domaine Chandon, Schramsberg, Mumm-Cuvée, and Roederer.

Regardless of whether they are French, Spanish, or Californian versions, these wines are great on their own. But you can add to the fun. Pour a little Crème de Pêche or Crème de Cassis in the glass before you pour in the wine, and it adds even another dimension to the wines — a great idea for an aperitif.

So, go for the gusto when it comes to celebrating your successes, no matter how small. Success doesn’t just happen. It has to be wrestled to the ground. It’s based on a recipe of smarts, with a good helping of blood, sweat, and tears. When success finally happens, break out the bubbly and celebrate. [TCW]

Wine expert Trevor Burton would like to lift a figurative glass of bubbly to the accomplishments of women in this issue.

Today’s Charlotte Woman | August 2012

Ebullient Effervescence So, what makes up the heart of a good bubbly strategy? Champagne, of course.

The first thing to know is that only those sparkling wines made in the Champagne region of France are entitled to be called “Champagne,” although there’s a little dispensation for a few wines made in California.

How does Champagne get its sparkle?

The bubbles — and a lot of the flavors — in Champagne are the result of a second fermentation that takes place after the wine has been bottled. The fermentation produces carbon dioxide that gets absorbed into the wine. And so we have bubbles.

Fermentation also leaves behind spent (i.e., dead) yeast, which remains in the bottle as the Champagne ages. Sure, dead yeast sounds pretty unattractive, but what it does is impart some delicious flavors into the wine. In a glass of good Champagne, you get warm flavors of toast and biscuits. Very nice.

There are three types of grape that go into Champagne: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. Chardonnay is a white grape; the two types of Pinot are both red grapes. Red grapes to make white wine, you ask? After crushing the Pinots, the resulting juice is siphoned off from the skins, thereby never picking up any of the red hue.

On some bottles of Champagne you’ll see the designation “Blanc de Blancs,” which literally means “white from whites.”

What that means is, the wine has been made from only Chardonnay grapes. On the flip side, you’ll also run across “Blanc de Noirs,” which is a wine made from only red grapes.

Is one style of Champagne better than another? That, my friend, is a bit of an open question. Some winemakers think that Blanc de Blancs is where you can discover the elegance and true beauty of Chardonnay. On the other hand, there are winemakers who think it is the combination of grape varieties that gives Champagne its unique-

45

Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Charlotte Woman | August 2012 46

Work It, Woman Black twill coat, $825; olive-green Tropical wool jacket, $450; olive-green Tropical wool skirt, $240; Italian-leather handbag, $450.

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Black leather jacket, $330; gray stonehedge silk blouse, $105; purple rosea slim woven pants, $100.

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Take Your Wardrobe From Ho-Hum To High Power

By Dana Durham

e’ve all been guilty of it at some time in our career … pulling from the same mediocre handful of office-wear pieces — mixing and matching the same old pants and tired blouses and pock-mocked heels to create an office wardrobe that is more like habit than high authority.

Here, we offer some inspiration for sprucing up that rat-a-tat-tat collection of clothing in your closet. Go on, get out there and get successful! >

Today’s Charlotte Woman | August 2012

In school, we learned you are what you eat. But in today’s dog-eat-dog working climate, you are in some small part what you wear! Fact No. 1: First impressions are priceless. Fact No. 2: Image is at least half the battle.

And while a great work wardrobe can be expensive to be sure, a successful career is worth the return in investment.

Misty rose silk blouse, $250; violet multi tweed skirt, $250.

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47

Asymmetrical leather jacket, $530; cap-sleeve silk tee, $166; stretch wool pants, $166.

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From left, violet melange Tropical wool jacket, $425; violet melange Tropical wool skirt, $240; black cotton/wool coat, $525; violet melange wool pant, $370; black Italian handbag, $395.

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join us on ...

September 21

4th Annual

Today’s Charlotte Woman | August 2012 48

A Breakfast with

Friday, September 21, 2012 • 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

The Park Expo & Conference Center, 2500 E. Independence Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28205 --------

A rich dialogue about beyond surviving, on to thriving and really living.

Panelists include . . .

Paula Guilfoyle - President, Claim Your Best Life Ramona Holloway - Co Host, The Matt and Ramona Show Reza Nazemzadeh, MD - The Levine Cancer Institute

-------Tickets available at www.belvascancerfoundation.org sponsored by:

All proceeds benefit the Belva Wallace Greenage Cancer Foundation.

OUR OPEN HOUSE WILL OPEN MORE THAN DOORS FOR YOUR CHILD. It will open a world of opportunities beyond their imagination.

Our focus on students with learning disabilities and attention deficit disorder means your child receives an education that helps close the gap and provides a path to educational success.

Visit us in September in our beautiful new building to see the difference Dore Academy can make in your child's life.

Open House Mini Tours 8:15-9:00am September 6, 13, 20, 27 Tour begins promptly at 8:15 am RSVP 704-365-5490 or peley@doreacademy.org

[TCW]

5146 Parkway Plaza Blvd. • Charlotte, NC 28217 704.365.5490 • DoreAcademy.org Dore Academy does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, age, marital status, disability, religion, creed, or national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational programs, admissions, financial aid policies or employment practices.

Today’s Charlotte Woman | August 2012

Neck-tie print dress with gold-tone buttons. $495.

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49

AtHome

office

Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Charlotte Woman | August 2012

50

space

A

The Home Office Meets Wireless Technology

Rogers Writing Desk; Kelly Bookcases, prices unavailable.

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Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Charlotte Woman | August 2012

merican homes have undergone radical change in the age of the Internet. Domestic environments are acknowledging technological change, and a reflection of this is evident in the fact that most homes now include a home office. >

By Judy Gentry

51

AtHome Poets Crossing Writing Desk, price unavailable.

Royal Kahala • Lexington Home Brands

Today’s Charlotte Woman | August 2012 52

Today, the trend is to fuse together this new technology with our home office design concepts. As more people replace their desktop computers with laptops and iPads, the large desk and armoires that used to house components are being replaced. With today’s technology, the majority of important information is stored in your laptop, and so the need for additional storage in desk drawers has been eliminated.

Smaller, sleeker desks with little storage space are now being chosen over the large desks of the past.

Storage space in the home office is still important, and organization is a

must. Consider space needed for a printer, drawers to accommodate your records and files, and shelves to store your office supplies. Define how much storage space you need to meet your requirements. There are many new, innovative cabinets and bookcases available that will compliment your smaller, sleeker desk.

When furnishing that home office, take time to consider how your furnishings will accommodate your technology needs in advance, before making any new purchases. Remember to find a way to discreetly hide all cords, even if you have to call in a profes-

Wyatt weathered wood table desk; Johnson Bookcases (two shown), prices unavailable.

Barton Creek By Sligh• Lexington Home Brands

sional to help with design elements.

Space littered with cords can make a beautiful piece of furniture appear unattractive and cluttered.

It’s also important to factor in who will use your home office, and the amount of time that will be spent in the room. Determining whether it’s a one-person office or an office used by the entire family will help you decide the amount of desk and storage space required, as well as the kind of organizational tools that are needed. Try to anticipate any changes that your family may encounter over the next several years, so the space meets not only your

YOUR FACE IS THE FIRST THING PEOPLE SEE. ENTRUST IT TO EXPERT HANDS. The face is the most visible area of the body and contains many intricate parts.

So when choosing a cosmetic surgeon, shouldn’t you choose someone who knows the face in and out? At Charlotte Eye Ear Nose & Throat Associates, P.A., our award-winning group of physicians are fellowship trained in cosmetic surgery of the face and eyes. From BOTOX® to fillers such as Juvederm® to complex cosmetic surgical procedures, our doctors will work with you to get the results you want and deserve in the safest and most effective way possible.

Put your best face forward. Choose CEENTA.

GOODSENSES.COM Source: Judy Gentry is director of The Designers Guild Program for Stickley Audi & Company Furniture. [TCW]

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Today’s Charlotte Woman | August 2012

current needs but your future needs, as well.

Of course, the focus of your home office should be productivity and work.

However, the space should also reflect the people who live there. Surround yourself with things that inspire you!

Infuse your personal style into the area and create a sense of comfort that pleases your senses and makes you smile.

53

SoSocial O U T

A N D

A B O U T

I N

T H E

Q U E E N

C I T Y

Vintage Charlotte hosted its Summer Market on June 23 at The Annex, located at 3128 The Plaza. The event drew a whopping 800 customers.

Vintage Charlotte, created by Amy Herman, specializes in “pop-up vintage shops and flea markets.”

Vintage Charlotte's Amy Herman with Erin Keaton, and Jena Hannon.

Today’s Charlotte Woman | August 2012 54

Stephanie Godbold and daughter Reid.

Brooke Sloan Gibbons

Morineki Brooks

From left, Charlotte Style contributor Ariene Bethea poses with Wells Fargo’s Carolyn Cobb.

TA N GI BLE

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contributors Michael C. Hernandez “When I was a little boy, my parents subscribed to National Geographic, Time, and Newsweek.These three magazines became my reading homework and, eventually, my ticket into the world. Every night I would read aloud to my parents and flip through the pages. But what captured my imagination were the photographs … the photographs of people and the stories imprinted on their faces. It changed everything. Bottom line, I love to make people happy through pictures. Much like cooking a meal for someone, you can’t wait to hear that they love it.”

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57

s s e c c u S T

H E

F

I N A L

W

O R D

THOUGHTS & MUSINGS BY CHARLOTTE WOMEN

Stopped By The Other Day

By Pat MacEnulty

s

Today’s Charlotte Woman | August 2012 58

uccess stopped by the other day. She was in the neighborhood and, having nothing better to do, she pulled up to my house in an old Thunderbird. I was sitting on my front porch and saw her get out of the car. She slammed the passenger door and walked across the grass, not bothering with the walkway. Her driver looked a lot like Don Knotts.

For some people, Success is a tall, svelte creature with cascading blonde or auburn locks … but when she comes to visit me, she’s a bit plump, about 5’5” tall, with curly brown hair, brown eyes, and a somewhat ruddy complexion. She hoisted herself up the porch steps and practically fell into the rocking chair next to mine.

“Good Lord,” she exclaimed. (Yes, she did exclaim, just like someone in an elementary school textbook.) “The heat!”

“It’s something, isn’t it?” I responded.

She pulled one of those tiny, battery-operated fans out of the pocket of her dress and attempted to cool herself off.

I didn’t know what to say to Success. She doesn’t visit me all that often. The thing is, she’s got so much self-confidence she’s a little intimidating.

“How about your friend, Cheryl?” Success said. “Isn’t she amazing? Best-selling author. Oprah loves her. Reese Witherspoon wants to turn her book into a movie!”

It was all true. And well-deserved. I was reading Cheryl’s new book “Wild” myself and had to admit, she was definitely all that.

“Yep,” I said. “Thanks for giving her the life I was supposed to have.”

Success just laughed with her trademark carefree abandon.

“Oh, don’t you start complaining,” she said and reached down to pet my blind cat. Then she said, “You know what?

I like you, Pat.” “Why is that?” I wondered.

“You never make me work too hard. Remember the other day when that pretty server at Zada Jane’s asked you if you were ‘the author’ after you handed her your credit card? Why, you got up and hugged her!”

“Well, it was the first time that had ever happened to me,” I said.

“You’re easily pleased, Pat,” Success said. “Isn’t that nice? You don’t demand too much of me. Unlike your other friend, Patti.

She’s got to have her books in all the airports and on the front tables in the bookstores. That was awful nice of you, by the way, to help with her spelling. You, on the other hand, just about wet yourself when someone sends you a letter or an email telling you they liked your book. You’re like my Uncle Bob’s cocker spaniel, just wagging your whole rear-end if someone pats you on the head.”

I wasn’t sure I liked being compared to a dog, much less a cocker spaniel. But she did have a point.

Success put away her fan, placed her hands on her knees and pushed herself up to standing.

“Well, nice chatting with you, Pat. I’ll be seeing you.”

“Really?” I asked. “Soon?”

She just smiled enigmatically and walked back to the Thunderbird without another word.

Pat MacEnulty is the author of six books, including “Wait Until Tomorrow: A Daughter’s Memoir.” When she isn’t waiting for Success to visit, she is busy teaching and writing.

A Woman’s Best Curve is Her SMILE!

Photo by Glenn Roberson

“Dr. Kortesis did not only raise my self best,” he says. “I treat my patients just how esteem, but he has changed my life in so I would treat someone in my family.” many ways,” says Megan F. The 29-year-old The Hunstad-Kortesis Center in recently underwent 7 hours of surgery with Huntersville, where Dr. Kortesis is a partthe award-winning plastic surgeon. She had ner, shares the same pledge for superior her breasts surgically lifted, her abdomen service. “Anyone considering plastic surgery and hips contoured with liposuction, her needs to make sure his or her surgeon is abdominal muscles tightened internally, certified by the American Board of Plastic and excess skin excised.

Surgery,” says Dr. Kortesis. “Another im“I couldn't have asked for a better surportant consideration is board certification geon, and I don't know if I will be able to of anesthesia personnel. Our surgery cenever thank him enough. From the very ter is fully accredited, AAAA-certified and first consultation to my recent follow we only use board-certified MD anesthesiup appointment, Dr. Kortesis and his ologists. We hold ourselves to a very high nurses, med spa, and office manstandard, and our patients should expect agement have been out of this nothing less.” world. They provide the best Dr. Kortesis reports that beyond excelcare, bedside manner, and are allent patient service, his focus is on offering ways willing to answer questhe latest procedures and technology to pations,” she says. tients. “We are constantly evaluating the Her experience mirrors newest techniques and equipment out there that of his other patients. to make sure our patients have every opRhonda D. simply stated, “I cantion available to them. It may be injections not express my confidence for one patient, laser for another, a surgical enough except to say I am highly procedure for another or a combination of satisfied with the results I have all three. The point is we have everything obtained thanks to Dr. Kortesis. available. We really are full service and I My experiences have been of the take pride in that,” he says. utmost care and professionalism.”

The public is certainly taking notice of His bedside manner and excephis success. Word-of mouth from satisfied tional surgical technique patients has been spreading Bill G. Kortesis, MD have earned him both the Pathroughout Charlotte and tients’ Choice Award and abroad. “The care provided Compassionate Doctor Recoghas been nothing short of exnition for the last 2 years runcellent,” reports Shaun S., a ning. recent patient. “I have made Dr. Kortesis reports his phirecommendations to several losophy is simple. “I am from friends and will gladly cona large family, and I treat my tinue to do so.” Interested family with respect. My compersons are encouraged to mitment to my patients is to contact the Hunstad-Kortesis do exactly the same. Everyone Center for Cosmetic Plastic is different, every patient will Surgery & MedSpa at need something different, but (704) 659-9000 or visit online every single one deserves my at hunstadkortesiscenter.com.

11208 Statesville Road • Suite 300 • Huntersville, NC 28078 | 704.659.9000 | www.hunstadkortesiscenter.com

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