URGENT CARE just for you.
Don’t let flu season keep you from enjoying family dinners, game nights, and all of life’s special moments. Our three Urgent Care locations offer you and your family comprehensive services like diagnostic testing, relief from flu symptoms, and more.
Even better? We’re open after work until 8PM during the week and until 5PM on the weekends!
Not an LRH patient? Not a problem. We welcome all patients ages 2+ to receive care even if they are not established with LRH. So come on in, we’ll take care of the rest!
HOURS: Monday - Friday 8am to 8pm I Saturday - Sunday 8am to 5pm
COMMON CONDITIONS WE TREAT: OUR URGENT CARE LOCATIONS:
Kathleen Campus (N. Lakeland)
2400 Kathleen Road, Lakeland, FL
• Asthma
• Bronchitis
• Cough & cold symptoms
• Earaches
• Flu symptoms
• Minor back & shoulder pain
• Minor medical concerns
4710 Florida Ave South, Lakeland, FL
Pablo Campus (Near Southgate) Lake Miriam (S. Lakeland)
130 Pablo Street, Lakeland, FL
• Minor trauma, burns, or lacerations
• Seasonal allergies
• Sinus infections
• Skin rashes
• Sprains
• Urinary tract infections
• Yeast infections
LAKELAND GENESIS
Tampa Bay’s only exclusive Genesis showroom…is NOW OPEN in Lakeland on Memorial Boulevard!
With our 20,000 square foot showroom and 12 state of the art service bays, Lakeland Genesis welcomes you to a new level of luxury here in Lakeland.
And for added convenience, we offer complimentary valet pick up and delivery for sales and service.
Experience
EMILY PLANK
Photo by Jordan Randall
PUBLISHER
Curt Patterson
OPERATIONS DIRECTOR
Jason Jacobs
VP, FINANCE
Deb Patterson
BOOKKEEPER
Bechard Bookkeeping
CIRCULATION
CIRCULATION DIRECTOR
Jason Jacobs
DISTRIBUTION
David Heideman
GENERAL COUNSEL
Ted W. Weeks IV
ISSUE 105
THE MADE ISSUE
ADVERTISING
ADVERTISING DIRECTOR
Curt Patterson | 863.409.2449
ADVERTISING SALES
Sharon Blackburn | 813.789.4361
LAKELANDER CREATIVE SERVICES
Jason Jacobs | 803.960.0030
EDITOR, CONTENT STRATEGIST
RJ Walters
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Allie Brinton
DIGITAL MEDIA PRODUCER
Jordan Randall
EDITORIAL INTERN
Katy Lister
CONTRIBUTORS
EDITORIAL
Katy Lister
Victoria Bardega
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Madi Elizabeth
The Lakelander is published 12 times annually by Lakelander Media, 1505 Florida Ave. S, Lakeland, FL 33803. Reproduction in whole or in part without express written permission of The Lakelander is prohibited. The Lakelander is not responsible for any unsolicited submissions.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6
CONTACT
Lakelander Media, 1505 Florida Ave. S, Lakeland, FL 33803
Customer Service: 863.701.2707 TheLakelander.com
IWHAT DOES IT TAKE TO “MAKE IT”?
recently typed the following into an A.I. app: “How can I become a successful entrepreneur?”
In under five seconds it spit out some well defined strategies and business buzz phrases like: identify your passion, do market research, create a financial plan, create a compelling pitch, etc.
I’m not going to argue with the savvy ever-developing robot because it is not wrong, but I would like to remind it and all of us, that there is so much more to making it as a creative, as a business owner or as a product designer that is less artificial and genuinely too complex for an algorithm to articulate.
The Made issue is one of our favorites to produce every single year. This is partly because we get to highlight and show off some of the newly discovered or underappreciated people who make Lakeland so special, and it’s partly because you can’t help but be inspired by the grit, creativity and faithfulness so many of these individuals embody.
As I witnessed the men and women featured in this issue doing what they love at the level needed to sustain a business I found myself formulating a different idea of what it takes to be successful than the Internet does.
Oftentimes it takes responding well to adversity to find your footing, just as our cover feature subject Emily Plank learned when the pandemic almost instantly shuttered her wedding photography business for several months.
For some, like videographer and music producer Campbell Rice it’s simply about absorbing as much information as possible, teaching yourself hard skills that match your soft skills and learning every step of the way.
The origin of local bath, body and fragrance company Roam & Ramble is part
“madhatter scientist”, i.e. Hope Alexander, coupled with the necessity of finding a way to smell good while dealing with severe allergies.
And the feel good, tastes even better story of Plates on Deck highlights the importance of finding your community, proving yourself worthy and taking on unexpected risks that could lead to the biggest payoff.
In every smile and success story that was shared with us through the making of this issue there was a sense of pride, resilience and determination that was similar but different, distinctive to the journey each individual has been on.
It’s sometimes the products or services that are easiest to focus on when we think of success, but for me, it’s usually the person who truly makes the product or service special.
RJ Walters EDITOR
• Facial Rejuvenation (Facelifts, Eyelifts and Minimally Invasive Browlifts)
• Breast enlargement, breast implant revision, lifts and reductions
• Drain free tummy tucks and liposuction
• DaxxifyTM, BOTOX®, Dysport®, Kybella® for unwanted fat, and fillers such as Restylane®, Juvéderm®, Voluma® and RHA for the face and hands
Physician assistant CHALSEY LOCKHART, PA works alongside Dr. Kazmier to provide Clear + Brilliant® Touch Laser treatments, as well as Sciton® and Candela® Gentlemax Pro lasers for hair removal, and treatment of brown spots & spider veins. She also offers injectables including DaxxifyTM, BOTOX®, Dysport® and fillers.
THE BUZZ
COMMENTS FROM LAKELANDERS
CONTRIBUTORS
KATY LISTER
Katy was born and raised in South Bend, Indiana, but she has been living in Lakeland for the past three years while attending Southeastern University. She is pursuing a degree in communication and is passionate about studying mass communication media–film, television, magazines, and social media–and how it affects humanity. In the future, Katy hopes to have a job that allows her to use her creativity in some capacity.
When she’s not writing and researching for her internship with The Lakelander, you can find Katy walking backwards on campus (hey, she’s a tour guide) or helping lead SEU’s Unpland Improv team. Katy loves exploring local antique shops and getting iced coffee at Pressed.
MADI ELIZABETH
Madi Elizabeth is a California-born photographer who now resides in Lakeland. Known for her ability to capture fleeting moments with authenticity, Madi’s work showcases a diverse range of subjects and settings, from landscapes to intimate portraits.
With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, she invites viewers to experience the emotions and beauty of each captured scene. Madi’s talent has gained recognition through features and publications in People Magazine, The Lakelander, Voyage Tampa, etc, solidifying her place as a sought-after artist in the field of photography.
VICTORIA BARDEGA
Victoria Bardega is a content creator based out of Central Florida who is passionate about building community. She earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism/public relations at Southeastern University, and has worked in marketing at a large non-profit and was a leader at a regional digital media company. She is gifted in photography, writing, social media and marketing.
When she’s not photographing a love story or writing lifestyle pieces, she’s making memories with her husband, Alan, and their sweet daughters, Valley and Lucia. She loves team work, the Oxford comma, laughter, and endless cups of tea lattes!
Inside the Arracal experience center on South Florida Ave. you can see first hand how smart technology could enhance your home.
WRITTEN BY RJ WALTERS
PHOTOS BY JORDAN RANDALL DEVELOPED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BANK OF CENTRAL FLORIDA
I SEE IT, HEaR IT, BELIEVE IT
magine returning home after a long day at work and effortlessly transforming your space into a haven of comfort. With just a few taps on your smart device, you can close your blinds, adjust the lights to your desired brightness, play soothing music, and cool down your home—all within 30 seconds. Thanks to innovative solutions like those offered by Arracal, managing your home environment has never been easier or more convenient.
When you visit Arracal’s experience center in Lakeland, you can touch and see what it’s like to have your own “smart home.”
This innovative space showcases the expertise of a locally-owned company that began 16 years ago, driven by one man’s passion for cinema. Today, Arracal is dedicated to helping people “simplify their lives” through advanced technology and tailored solutions.
Tony Calero and Rene Arrazcaeta have been best friends since the late 80s, often joking about starting a business together. One day, Tony decided to sit down and list his true passions. At the top of Tony’s list was spending quality time watching movies with his son.
Meanwhile, Rene was seeking a job that offered a more flexible schedule, and greater fulfillment. In 2008, the two friends took a leap and founded their company, initially focusing on building home theater rooms and installing high-fidelity audio systems.
Arracal has evolved as technology has rapidly advanced since the company’s founding. Today, they provide a wide range of services, from landscape lighting and security solutions to an extensive array of smart home options for residential settings. Additionally, they offer comprehensive commercial solutions for bars, restaurants, small businesses, corporate offices and more.
“If you’re unsure about what we do, we aim to simplify your life,” says Tony, the President. He emphasizes that his best friend Rene, the Vice President, shares equal ownership and authority within the company.
Arracal owners Tony Calero (far left) and Rene Arrazcaeta (far right) have benefited from the expertise of Bank of Central Florida staff Trey Barnett and Emily Jesse as they have navigated the process of expanding their business.
Over the years, their business has primarily grown through word-of-mouth referrals. However, an unexpected opportunity arose that required Tony and Rene to seek expert advice. A close friend who owned a similar business in Venice, Fla. became ill and approached them with a proposition: to consider acquiring his 25-year-old business.
“This was never on our roadmap, and we were somewhat unaware of what it would take or how we would approach it. Honestly, it’s something we are still learning,” Tony explains. “But thanks to the team at Bank of Central Florida, we have been able to navigate it all and know we have people dedicated to our success.”
Tony and Rene joke that they realized Bank of Central Florida might be the perfect partner for their expansion when Professional Relationship Manager Emily Jesse stopped by with a gift of fresh pastries, eager to learn more about Arracal and their future aspirations.
Tony notes that the Lakeland-based bank has been attentive and responsive since their first interaction, just over six months ago when they began exploring the acquisition. “The same day we sent a request for more information, we received a response, and they followed up with an in-person visit,” he shares. “They provided an extremely white-glove experience in a field we knew very little about.”
Bank of Central Florida equipped Arracal with essential tools, such as an in-office scanner for checking deposits,
along with a dedicated team ready to answer their calls and provide assistance during challenges. Part of that team was Trey Barnett, the Commercial Relationship Manager who Emily brought to help with questions about the business acquisition. The support of a team enabled Tony and Rene
to concentrate on integrating their company culture and educating a completely new team of professionals in the Sarasota and Venice regions who have recently joined their organization.
Traditionally, about 80 percent of Arracal’s business has been concentrated in Polk County, with the remaining 20 percent of customers located just south. Now, the owners are diligently working to maintain their close-knit family atmosphere while serving more customers than ever.
Similarly, Arracal’s goal is to create an extended family experience for its customers by providing tailored solutions and a customer experience that lasts far beyond installation day.
Building a strong relationship with a bank is crucial for businesses like Arracal. It allows them to confidently explore new opportunities, expand operations, and secure the expert guidance needed to navigate complex financial decisions.
Bank of Central Florida is a Member FDIC
The Family Shawn & Dee Built
WRITTEN BY RJ WALTERS
PHOTOS BY EMILY PLANK AND DAVID DICKEY JR.
DEVELOPED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH S&D
The woman affectionately referred to as “Momma Dee” by dozens of agents can often be found pacing her driveway, conversing on the phone with one of her team members about the precise strategy needed to help a buyer or seller navigate the inevitable challenges of modern day real estate.
The man who this tireless leader calls the “ying to her yang” may at the same time be driving a truck filled with everyday essentials to drop off at a local nonprofit or a neighborhood reeling from the effects of a natural disaster.
Shawn McDonough is the “S” and Dee McDonough is the “D” in S&D Real Estate Services, a Lakeland-based and locally focused business that has grown from a dream that began at the couple’s dining room table into a well-respected company of almost 100 realtors that functions more like a family.
Shawn and Dee are proud of their 4.9-star Google Review rating that encompasses more than 230 reviews, but if you spend any amount of time with them you will quickly realize they are most satisfied with how they have built their business, not just the tactile outcomes.
Dee, who has more than 35 years of experience in real estate—including co-founding Chandler & Co. in downtown Lakeland and growing it from four agents to 21 before selling the agency, and who was named the Lakeland Association of Realtors Realtor of the Year in 2003 and 2005—knew from her vast experience what she did and did not want S&D to be when the business opened in 2014.
“They were all about agent count…hire as many agents as you can, we don’t care what their ethics are, their morals are…if they’re breathing, hire them,” Dee recalls about one company she served as broker for years ago.
“So [Shawn and I] just started talking about how if we ever opened our own company we wanted to work with our friends and people with the same moral and ethical compass as us, and who loved our community as much as we do.”
Sitting together in the S&D Real Estate office off of Edgewood Dr., where the couple knows it did well to snatch up the Lake Bentley property a decade ago, Shawn
shares what makes Dee a successful leader.
“The way she expresses herself and cares so deeply for other people, just by building on that foundation you know you have the right ingredients…and even though she was happy with a company of around 25 agents, I don’t have a number on what she may bring our company to one day,” he says about his wife of almost 19 years.
Dee admits she has long been afraid that growth would mean she wouldn’t be able to build deep relationships with her agents, but because of her deep commitment to the close-knit culture of the business and the very selective process S&D has of bringing on new realtors she has managed to stay in her sweet spot.
“Not every agent who wants to join us is able to. If you’re just interested in making a commission check, S&D is not the place for you,” she says. “If you’re interested in helping families with their needs then S&D may be the right place for you.”
Anyone who stopped by their office recently would have walked by a large room at the front that resembled more of a food pantry than business space. The couple has always made giving back to the community a top priority, and the S&D team became helping hands for those near and far to assist families recovering from the effects of Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton.
In early October, agents made an assembly line
“[Shawn and I] just started talking about how if we ever opened our own company we wanted to work with our friends and people with the same moral and ethical compass as us, and who loved our community as much as we do.”
as they tossed goods all the way to a large trailer that Shawn drove up to tiny Kite, Georgia, a town the McDonough’s have a second home in.
When Milton passed through, the S&D family did exactly what it’s been doing for 10 years—“wrapping arms around more local needs of charities” to support neighbors, as Dee puts it.
To celebrate its 10th Anniversary Shawn and Dee created the “10 Acts of Kindness” campaign for S&D agents to bless local nonprofits like One More Child, Pace Center for Girls and Combee Connection, but that act of generosity will now be part of their 2025 calendar so they can remain focused on helping with hurricane relief.
That mentality of locking arms extends to how S&D onboards new agents into its culture. Nearly five years ago, Dee created the Mentor Program. For the first eight transactions of an agent’s career at the McDonough’s company a realtor works in tandem with an S&D veteran, as well as either Shawn or Dee, with a shared vested interest that enables solid sales opportunities as well as ensures the credibility of the S&D brand.
“When you’re out wearing a S&D shirt, my goal is for people in the community to go, ‘That’s a good agent,’” Dee says. “They might not know who the person is, but they’re wearing a S&D shirt and trust them.”
A mention of the logo on the S&D apparel makes Dee smile. Her 32 year-old-
Shawn and Dee McDonough founded S&D Real Estate Services in 2014 with the goal of making clients feel valued and respected and building a business that prioritizes giving back to the community.
daughter Rachel Keller, the founder of Keller Creative, created the brand almost eight years ago, and to this day is her mom’s first call for social media and marketing strategy. The couple’s 36-year-old son, Matt Chandler, is a licensed realtor for S&D, and their niece, Kristina, is their trusted office administrator. Whether at work or with their family—which includes their five grandchildren—the McDonough’s are intentional about cultivating healthy relationships for themselves and others.
Neither Shawn and Dee are strangers to the curveballs of life. Both were raised in military families and went through waves of highs and lows in their careers; Dee also raised three children, including as a single mom for a spell prior to marrying Shawn, and she has had to learn what it means to be a present leader at home and at work.
Dee prides herself on spending countless hours educating her team members on ever-changing real estate law and industry trends, and she looks at the constant change as opportunities for her agents to really shine for their buyers and sellers. While she is known more as the face of the business whose warmth fills up a room, she is quick to acknowledge S&D would not be what it has become without Shawn.
“He’s the anchor, and he’s always encouraging us that ‘we can do this’ even as we grow close to 100 (realtors) and
when he shows up at a meeting he cuts up and laughs with people and is just a solid piece, while I’m a little bit more mushy.”
“When you’re out wearing a S&D shirt, my goal is for people in the community to go, ‘That’s a good agent.’”
S&D Real Estate Services 2000 E. Edgewood Dr. Suite 103
WRITTEN BY VICTORIA BARDEGA
PHOTOS BY JORDAN RANDALL
Sometimes it can feel like an epic love story when an artist finds what they were born to create for the world to see. It feels like home when as a creative you’re finally able to dive into a medium that truly connects with your soul—where every stroke of paint or snapshot of a photograph becomes the way you depict and share meaningful stories. While the creative arts industry continues to reflect timeless rhythms of artistic expression, it also is an everevolving world full of talents yet to be discovered.
For third generation Lakelander Emily Plank— a well known photographer and now artist gone viral—the journey to reaching the height of her work has itself been quite the creative process.
Over the last decade, Emily made a name for herself as a lifestyle portrait and events photographer in the Central Florida community. After she graduated with her Fine Arts degree from the University of Florida, she came back home to Lakeland to embark on a career in photography. With the aid of mentors like Jordan Weiland and Tina Sergeant, Emily began creating a business centered around capturing special moments behind the camera for others––everything from nonprofit events to weddings, engagements and everything in between.
“Both of my grandfathers were business
Emily’s partner in crime, Flynn, has been along for the ride and shows up occasionally on her social media channels.
Using fabric acrylic paints, Plank creates one-of-one floral designs tailored to a bride’s dreams.
owners, and deep down, I always knew I wanted to run a business, too,” shares Emily, as she recalls her entrepreneurial tenacity she started to develop at a young age. “If you wanted a business plan, I was your girl. I’ve always been business minded.”
She always loved helping others tell their stories, and through a series of events realized she had a platform to start telling her own.
After building a sterling reputation as a professional photographer, the year of the pandemic brought a turning point season of reflection where she would begin to reinvent herself as an artist and go back to her first love––painting.
“The seed had been planted before the world shut down. 2020 really forced my hand a little to step out from behind the camera to step in front of it,” she admits.
She began to receive so many wedding
“ I had to figure out how to hustle all over again, and I started by picking up my paint brush again ,” she explains.
This moody swan painting will be featured as a giveaway on The Lakelander’s social media later this year. Follow us at @lakelandermag to keep an eye on the contest.
cancellations (due to the pandemic) that she began to think outside of the box for her next creative endeavor. She actually put her camera away for 45 days.
“I had to figure out how to hustle all over again, and I started by picking up my paint brush again,” she explains.
During that year, a couple of key collaborations with local business owners became the launching pad into who Emily would soon become. In one of Emily’s college classes, students were tasked with creating renditions of a famous art piece from any era. She decided to paint a rendition of “The Girl with the Pearl Earring”—an oil painting masterpiece by Johannes Vermeer that dated back to 1665, the Dutch Golden Age.
Emily gifted this piece to her mother, who proudly showed off her daughter’s artwork to friends. One of those friend’s was Heidi Campbell, owner of Stationary Loft. Soon after, Heidi contacted Emily to paint an exclusive, small collection for Stationary Loft that is still available locally.
Olivia Jacoby, owner of The Southern Swan bridal boutique, heard about Emily’s
talent from Heidi, and she reached out to Emily with an opportunity to collaborate on painting a bridal gown exclusively for her boutique. Using fabric acrylic paint, Emily painted a beautiful gown that was inspired by an idea Olivia came across from Martha Stewart. While the dress was breathtaking, the final product never gained much traction on social media.
In the summer of 2021, Molly Harvey, the daughter of the owners of Flower Cart Floral Shop in Lakeland, reached out to Emily. Molly was going to purchase a dress from The Southern Swan, and she wanted Emily to paint it for her.
This one-of-a-kind dress caused quite the stir on social media with thousands of people viewing and liking posts about it, and a number of people actually requesting custom dresses.
“My phone screen was so hot from how
many notifications I was getting from social media. I remember sitting and realizing ‘Oh my! I think I’m going viral’ on my parents’ couch,” shares Emily with excitement. “I immediately continued to refine my process by experimenting and doing extensive research on fabric preservation.”
Since painting that custom wedding gown, Emily has painted 12 custom wedding dresses for others. She also crafted a custom jacket for up-and-coming country artist Kayley Bishop.
Today the Lakeland High School alum has built an engaged social media following that includes nearly 75,000 followers on Instagram. She has created custom designs exclusively to sell on her website. Her work has been celebrated and featured by People
Magazine, Newsweek, Heartland Living, 100 Layer Cake and The Knot, to name a few.
Although she could not have predicted the direction her career would turn, Emily feels confident about the changes she has made. She still does occasional family photo shoots, but most of her time is spent painting everything from dresses to holiday decor to Florida-centric canvases to custom commissioned work.
“[Painting] fills my bucket. It gives me so much energy to paint, and [as I look back in retrospect], I think I always wanted to be an artist,” she acknowledges with a sure smile.
Not only has the 36-year old rekindled a passion, she has turned it into a profitable career—which is not something she takes for granted.
“There was always this stigma growing up that said ‘an artist is a starving artist.’ It’s why I never really thought of painting [as my
At the local boutique Stationary Loft you can find some of Emily’s artistic work as options for your upcoming wedding.
bread and butter] until the opportunity came to truly share this part of who I am as a creative,” she continues.
Part of her joy as an artist includes also giving back to the community she calls home. For example, following Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, Plank donated 100% of proceeds of any purchases of her #FloridaStrong art and apparel to United Way of Central Florida’s Hurricane Relief.
“I’m so excited and hopeful for what’s coming. I’ll be releasing handcrafted patterns I’ve made in collaboration with East of These to release headbands very soon. My hope is to also apply my art design onto other products and make them available online for purchase (such as t-shirts, tee towels, coffee mugs, painted wedding accessory lines, and more),” she shares.
In addition to continuing to develop her revenue stream on Instagram, Emily wants to continue inspiring others through her art. With 10 years of entrepreneurial passion under her belt, Emily’s authentic determination and deep love for what she produces will continue to shine brighter as she continues to color the world in her own way.
“ There was always this stigma growing up that said ‘an artist is a starving artist.’ It’s why I never really thought of painting [as my bread and butter] until the opportunity came to truly share this part of who I am as a creative.”
Kayley Bishop, an up-and-coming musician in the Nashville music scene, sported a jacket at a live show that was custom painted by Plank and that honors one of her hit songs.
Hope Alexander is the owner of Roam & Ramble, a clean home fragrance and body care business. She officially started her business in 2022, but had been experimenting with clean scents and products long before that due to her own allergy to artificial fragrances. Alexander, who just celebrated 30 years working at Publix as her day job, wanted to create products she and her five daughters could freely use at home without causing a reaction, so she got to work and created her first scent, Lemon Patchouli. Roam & Ramble features soap, lotion, candles and a variety of other home and personal products in scents that remind Alexander (and her customers) of the nostalgia of growing up in Florida.
THE LAKELANDER
How did you get started in the soap and candle making industry? Is this something you always thought you’d be doing?
No, I actually always shied away from fragrances because I have an artificial fragrance allergy. I just started mixing fragrances that didn’t cause a reaction, and those seem to be earthy citrus fragrances. I wanted something all natural that I could wear while incorporating things that I loved about Florida, because at the time I was [living] in Georgia, and I was really missing the sunshine in Florida, the salty air, the orange groves…all those things. So I started trying to find ways to kind of get that nostalgia of home.
TL
On your website, you describe Roam & Ramble as your passion project. Why do you think others seem to love your products as much as you do?
HOPE ALEXANDER
INTERVIEW BY KATY LISTER PHOTOS BY MADI ELIZABETH
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Step into the world of architectural genius with a guided tour of Frank Lloyd Wright’s masterpiece at Florida Southern College.
Experience the awe-inspiring beauty of Wright’s largest single-site collection of buildings, where every curve and detail reflects his visionary design philosophy. From the majestic Annie Pfeiffer Chapel to the serene Water Dome, witness how Wright’s genius seamlessly merges with nature.
HOPE
I think that every fragrance seems to speak to somebody in a different way. They are natural products that actually smell good and that’s not always the case. There’s a lot of times where you get a natural product and it just doesn’t smell like anything. The quality is amazing. That was one of the main things that was important to me. If I was going to get involved in this business, it would be the highest quality product I can make, but also within reason, so people can still afford it.
TL
As you mentioned, you really try to embody the feeling of Florida in your products. So what does Florida smell like to you?
HOPE
I would say the very first thing that comes to mind is the salty breeze when you’re at the ocean. And also driving through the orange groves in March, smelling the orange blossoms. Lemon Patchouli reminds me of friends and
being at festivals, but it also brings in being at the beach in Florida and having that earthy, citrusy fragrance. My Coconut and Redwood is a straight up beach day. It reminds me of me being 14 and chasing waves and not having a care in the world.
TL
The name of your company is inspired by the memories made while roaming and rambling through life. What is your favorite memory you have associated with Roam & Ramble?
Well, I’m gonna talk about a recent memory. We actually just took a trip to Alaska and we were developing the newest fragrance, Toasted Vanilla and Campfire. And that was the perfect place for inspiration because we were literally in the wild having a bonfire and toasting marshmallows—just that experience of actually being able to be out and draw inspiration from being outdoors and roaming and rambling and traveling. That’s probably my favorite memory.
HOPE
“ My Coconut and Redwood is a straight up beach day. It reminds me of me being 14 and chasing waves and not having a care in the world.”
What makes Roam & Ramble products different from other products and fragrances that people can buy?
HOPE
They’re clean and I think that the combination of the fragrances we use makes us stand apart from others because we do things that are different that other people might not put together. It’s a surprising mix. Oftentimes people go “Oh, what is this?” You know? And it’s always fun to see somebody discover my fragrance and go “this smells really good!”
TL
How have your five daughters served as inspiration on your journey with Roam & Ramble?
Part of the reason why I started developing it when I got serious about it was they weren’t allowed to spray perfume or even sometimes wear strong deodorant. So they got sick of having to spray perfume outside of the house because you can’t wear it around me because it made me physically sick. So I was like, okay, I need to create something that they can wear. But what’s funny is that I think their boyfriends actually wear more of my products than they do. Everything is unisex and Lemon Patchouli is actually what my husband wears.
INTERVIEW BY JASON
JACOBS
PHOTOS BY JORDAN RANDALL
We interviewed the “nicest” guy In Lakeland, but he’s more than just a positive person who loves to make people smile. This self-taught videography professional with a propensity for crafting catchy original tunes is worthy of the title of 2024 Lakelander Made Art & Culture winner. Lakelander’s will know him for his work on documentaries like “The People Who Live There” and “Gospel Village: A Story of Hope.” Campbell Rice, a 10-year veteran in the video production game, at only 25 years old, is a creative force to be reckoned with. He is a proud Lakeland Christian School (LCS) and Southeastern University alum, So, strike up the band, turn on the spotlights, hear the lion roar, because he’s just getting started.
THE LAKELANDER
Good morning Campbell. I’ve known you for a long time. But, for those who don’t, tell us a few things about yourself.
CAMPBELL RICE
I’m 25 years old, married to Audra, no kids but we have a dog named Stewart. I’ve lived in Lakeland my whole life.
TL
Alright. So let’s see. What are you up to these days in your career? What’s happening right now?
CAMPBELL
Primarily documentary related where I am planning, filming and editing videos of varying length. Some are for Instagram, some are medium format, some are documentary, feature length for different brands. Some [are for] businesses, some are one-off projects with one person. Doing all that at once, it is so fun. It’s very chaotic but it’s so fun because one day I might be filming something for LCS (Lakeland Christian School) and then my afternoon was spent editing for a fitness brand in
Tennessee (Crossfit Mayhem). Going back and forth like that might stress some people out. That’s tough, but I love it. I’m reminded of all these different stories that I get to be a part of.
TL Ok, let’s back up a little bit. You made a name for yourself with The Collection, a company you owned and operated with your friend and partner Conner O’Brien. Walk us through that. How long have you known him? How many years did you do that with him? And what is your biggest takeaway from that time?
That’s such a good question. I knew him basically my whole life, and in middle school we started making YouTube videos together. So, there was already an interest from when we were like 12. We started our business in college, which was 2019. So, we worked together for 4 ½ years but were making films together for more than 10. I would say the biggest takeaway was both the challenge and also the immense level of fun of doing a big project when we were both young and experienced and didn’t have a lot of resources.
TL Now, let’s go a little deeper. How does your faith inform your art?
CAMPBELL
Yes, It definitely does. There’s an intimacy with the people that I get to embark on storytelling journeys with. My faith allows me to go into that place in a healthy way and get to meet people, love them and explore what they’re about [in a way] that maybe someone without faith could never even get to. And that also allows for really, really great connections that I totally believe makes me a better storyteller. If I didn’t actually care about them, I believe that cuts me off from being able to tell a really, really great story. Also, I love what God has made. So that also inspires my film making. I just love the beauty of the world. And I think that that is a very, very important factor in my film making.
TL Is it movies or is it documentaries that you first fell in love with? Was it YouTube? Or was it documentaries specifically that you fell in love with?
CAMPBELL
That’s a good distinction. Actually, no one’s asked me that before. It’s pretty cool. When I was a teenager, it was not necessarily a specific genre. For me it…was I know what I want to do, let me find a YouTube channel that teaches me how to do it versus finding someone who’s already doing it and just copying or studying or being inspired. I found Film
CAMPBELL
Riot on YouTube. They were teaching you like, ‘This is kind of the cameras you want.’ They were like film school for me. So I’m pretty sure there’s a lot of young filmmakers they’ve inspired.
TL Anyone local who inspired you early in the process?
CAMPBELL
So there’s a guy actually in Lakeland. He used to live in LA. He’s done some time in Lakeland too. Jason Harper. He was one of the first people who is in the documentary and television and film space as a producer who really believed in us and believed in me and helped me learn a lot more about the industry. That relationship, that was incredible.
TL
So, tell me about producing soundtracks for your films, I know that is a very important part of your process.
This is honestly one of my favorite things to talk about because it’s very messy but very fun part of my process. So, I started doing it by necessity because I didn’t really know how to download or find music that I liked that would fit my videos. So, part of that is I was dumb, which is awesome because it led to this. And then partly I also was aware of copyright issues. And I didn’t wanna steal people’s music and just put it in my videos. So, I either need to pay a lot of money to license this song, which is hundreds of dollars I don’t have as a 15-year-old, or I can make it. So, as a kid I had Garage Band. I had no experience either playing an instrument or making music prior. But I figured out, oh, I can make sounds that….can mimic an orchestra and a piano and something epic, something cinematic. At first, It wasn’t great. But, to me, that was a better process than trying to find money to buy or license a song. So a few years of doing that, and I really figured out I actually can kind of do this thing. And over the course of a few years, I really started to learn more about music composition. And it was all self-taught. I still to this day know nothing about actual music theory. Over the course of 10 years, I’ve just fallen in love with making music almost as much as filming or editing.
CAMPBELL
“ Over the course of 10 years, I’ve just fallen in love with making music almost as much as filming or editing.”
TL What’s next for Campbell Rice?
CAMPBELL
Can’t say much about it now, but I’m co-directing a local project with Andy McEntire of Indie Atlantic Films. Also, while working on a project for Crossfit Mayhem in Bermuda, I produced a personal documentary called The Feelings of Bermuda. You can find that on my YouTube channel @campbell_rice.
WRITTEN
BY
RJ WALTERS
PHOTOS BY MADI ELIZABETH
When Chef Ken says “food evokes” emotion, it’s more than a tagline. Reminiscing about some of his first memories in the kitchen he gets a little mushy talking about “Ma” and “Nana,” his grandmothers who are the inspiration behind his popular honey vanilla cornbread.
Take a bite of the Passa Passa Pasta and you will find out Ken James loves spices, and the coconut cream sauce and jerk shrimp are nods to his Caribbean roots in Bermuda. If you have the opportunity to converse with the affable and ambitious entrepreneur at a pop-up food event he might share with you that his love for pasta came from his mom, who would go out for lunch at Italian restaurants near the family’s Flushing, NY home—and often bring home leftovers for him to savor.
“Google” his business and you’ll likely come across clips of him and his fiancé, Ziomara Taveras, on Season 17 of the Food Network show “The Great Food Truck Race.” While serving up crabcakes and deep fried lobster tail the couple can be seen experiencing the thrill of victory, navigating the challenges of 15 hour days with production crews following their every move and coping with a “spilled milk” moment that made for good Internet fodder.
Plates on Deck is a catering and private chef service that began in 2019 and has been a member of Catapult since 2023. Ken and Ziomara have had a banner year serving up their selfproclaimed eclectic soul food, and they are ecstatic about the opportunity to create unforgettable food memories for more people.
A keen observer could have guessed Ken’s pickup line of choice would be “What’s your favorite meal?” when the two met for the first time in Queens, NY in 2018, but their lives as a whole have been quite unpredictable.
Ken grew up as an active member of The Boys’ Club of New York, and eventually he was hired as a counselor at the youth development organization. Over the course of nearly eight years he was promoted several times, eventually becoming the lead curriculum planner. He also served as the culinary coach for the club’s competitive cooking team, where he led a group of young men to three consecutive competitive cooking championships.
“We ran it just like a basketball team,” he recalls. “You had to have the grades…and we were very active with parent engagement and school engagement. We developed a strong
sense of brotherhood and then also [taught] them something they could be marketable with.”
Ziomara is well versed in leading the marketing and outreach efforts for Plates on Deck, and a variety of experiences have amply prepared her for those roles.
Her older sister moved to Florida in the early 2000s and Ziomara fell in love with Florida Southern College when she went for a visit. Soon she was living on the campus set along picturesque Lake Hollingsworth, working toward a bachelor’s degree in sociology.
After college, she moved between states and jobs periodically, doing everything from serving as a child protective investigator for the Florida Department of Children and Families to developing websites.
Plates on Deck officially launched in the Empire State in 2019, with seafood boils and custom catering as the company’s forte, but the pandemic had the couple rethinking its New York state of mind.
Ken’s father, a retired NYPD detective, lived in Central Florida, as did many of his cousins and other family members, so he and Ziomara relocated.
Jerk shrimp tacos with pineapple pico de gallo, sauteed broccolini, honey bourbon salmon and mac and cheese are just some of the mouthwatering eclectic soul food dishes served up by Plates on Deck.
“When we got into the Dixieland Night Market it was a game changer because we found another niche of people here in Lakeland who were a littleandyounger, a little hungrier, you know?”
In 2023 they expanded from their Orlando commissary kitchen by becoming members of Catapult in Lakeland.
“This commissary kitchen was unlike anything we had ever seen,” Ken said recently while prepping food in the entrepreneurial hub.
And Ziomara noted that Catapult offers sound business advice as well as partners committed to helping startups like theirs grow.
They started making a name for themselves locally at pop-up events, through catering gigs and with on-location private chef dining experiences. But Ken pinpoints one part of Lakeland’s culture that has truly helped make them feel at home.
“When we got into the Dixieland Night Market it was a game changer because we found another niche of people here in Lakeland who were a little younger, and a little hungrier, you know?” he says with a grin. “And the Night Market is a visual representation of eclectic soul foods because you’ve got people from
all walks of life with different beliefs and cultural backgrounds…together having a great time, not to mention all of the great businesses there.”
While growing their local influence has involved a steady growth plan, a chance for national exposure came swooping in unexpectedly when a producer from Food Network dropped a DM into one of the Plates on Deck social media accounts.
“The Great Food Truck Race” features an impassioned competition of teams trying to cook up the best food and business plan to outduel the competition from the tight confines of a food truck to win a grand prize of $50,000—even though many of the teams in the competition, like Plates on Deck, are either catering services or brick and mortar restaurants that don’t operate food trucks.
That meant on the fly, Ken and Ziomara had to learn how to utilize the equipment inside a food truck, which does not include a standard oven, leaving their uber cheesy mac and cheese and beloved honey vanilla cornbread off the menu.
Sometimes it went swimmingly, such as on the first episode of the season, where the Plates on Deck team—which included Ken’s younger cousin, Samuel Jenkins—won the Houston, Tex. leg of the competition by wooing the crowd with its Passa Passa Pasta with jerk shrimp egg rolls.
“A standout moment for me was when I put that gold medal around your neck,” Ken says, directing a gleeful gaze at Ziomara.
“Yeah, I was crying,” Ziomara responds. “I mean it was at the end of a long day and you felt just like it was the Olympics of food prep.”
Other times, the adventure was a bit more rocky, but made for intriguing reality television.
In episode three, teams were given the opportunity to go into an opposing food truck and remove any one food item. If that wasn’t enough to cause anxiety, Ken and his team found spilled milk on some of their seafood when they returned to their truck.
On national television James’ emotions got the best of him and the Plates on Deck team was disqualified from the challenge due to a rules violation they committed in the heat of the moment.
James said that could have torn the team apart and had a significant impact on he and Ziomara’s relationship, but he took ownership of the situation and the couple was able to use it as a learning experience.
“I learn things quickly. You’ve got to, especially when you grow up in New York because sometimes you don’t get a second chance,” he says.
Behind the scenes: Ken and Ziomara shared a few candid shots from their time competing in “The Great Food Truck Race” on Food Network.
Ziomara said it was wild watching the show— which was filmed starting in January—with their children this summer. The couple has a blended family of six children, from a toddler to several college students. She said when her kids were seeing her real life experience play back they didn’t hold back.
“They would be like, ‘What, why did you say that? Mom, why are you crying so much,’” she says.
Ken also had a near teary eyed moment offcamera in Lake Charles, La., where episode three was filmed. When he bit into a tea cake at local establishment Mama Reta’s Kitchen he said it was like the perfect combination of his Nana’s biscuits and Ma’s cornbread.
“Both of them have passed, so it was really touching for me and really special that I was able to have that moment completely unexpected. It almost broke me to tears.”
Plates on Deck survived episode three, before gracefully bowing out in episode four. They might not have won $50,000 but they won over countless new fans, including Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd who sent the couple a note of encouragement.
“[Our experience on the show] gave us confidence to know we can be capable in a mobile food space and it also reiterated that the catering space is right for us,” Ken says. “We learned that our crab cakes are a hit, no matter where we are… and one thing [host] Tyler [Florence] did say is, ‘Stick with the classics.’”
For Ziomara, it was a revelation to her that she could play a great sous chef to Ken in the kitchen, and she feels more confident in their future than ever.
“We added on wedding catering at the end of 2023 and are adjusting well to that, and really we just keep finding joy in all the little things,” Ken says. “And we can’t wait to have our own brick and mortar kitchen to work out of at some point.”
“ We learned that our crab cakes are a hit, no matter where we are…and one thing [host] Tyler [Florence] did say is, ‘Stick with the classics.’”
Makers of Note
Dark Fired Leather
Ed Graves brings together old world craftsmanship and timeless style through his handmade leather goods. His catalog of premium items includes fashionable lighter sleeves, pipe wallets and tobacco trays, but it also includes more exotic offerings like a dark brown alligator attache case with soft brown calf skin liner.
darkfiredleather.com
Pizza Odyssey
It has been more than just an adventure for Heath Hester since he opened his own pizza shop inside the Lake Morton Market and Deli in November 2023—it truly has been an Odyssey. What was originally branded as Pizza Daddy’s received an outpouring of early support from locals on social media, and about half a year later he ran into some challenges and was forced to rebrand.
People continue to rave about the artisan pizza with sauce made from scratch and handmade dough, and one of the favorites is the “Not Your Momma’s” pie which has spinach, ricotta cheese, pepperoni and mushrooms. The shop also serves up fresh wings, subs and more.
@pizzaodyssey.lkld
Twenty8 of November Furniture
Twenty8 of November is a husband and wife duo who loves to create custom furniture and signage for small businesses. Recently, they have planted out roots in Polk County from South Florida. They have made a name for themselves by crafting affordable and aesthetically pleasing custom dining tables, barn doors and more.
Some of their pieces have been featured in West Elm Furniture, Ashley Furniture and Fox News. Their goal is to serve their community and create memorable pieces that not only enhance your home but can be passed down for generations to come.
twenty8ofnovember.com
Laura Shannon Bloom Shakalaka
Taylor Ard East of These
Hope and Joy at the Center of It All
East of These and Bloom Shakalaka bring a distinctive shopping experience to Lakeland
WRITTEN BY KATY LISTER
BY MADI ELIZABETH
Next time you find yourself shopping downtown, take a turn down Trader’s Alley, find the white brick building with a pink awning and green doors, and step inside. The interior of the shop is somehow even more charming than the outside. The architectural design of this store would make Chip and Joanna Gaines jealous with rustic exposed beams and white wooden staircases splitting the shop down the middle and branching off into separate flights of stairs that lead to a lofted makerspace.
Of course, downstairs is where the real fun happens. The left side of the store at 214 Trader’s Alley is full of fresh cut flowers, vases, coffee table books and other funky and fresh home decorations courtesy of Bloom Shakalaka. The right side features handmade headbands and scrunchies from East of These as well as t-shirts featuring local designs, dresses and tailored jeans for men.
Whether you came to the store with a specific flower arrangement or hair accessory in mind, or you just want to look around (and perhaps get some fashion advice) you will certainly feel welcome. There is a window seat filled with pillows for you to simply take a breather, and so many products to smell, look at, feel, or try on. By the time you leave, it’s likely you will have spent more time in the shop than anticipated.
East of These is all about the hope that comes when the sun rises in the east, and Bloom Shakalaka is a business built on spreading joy to the world through flowers. With similar clientele and positive messages, it seems only right that friends-turned-business-partners Taylor Ard (East of These) and Laura Shannon (Bloom Shakalaka) would collaborate to bring this wonderful new addition to the downtown area. Shannon said it best when she shared how “the heartbeat behind the shop for both of us has been [that] we want it to be a destination that uplifts people.”
In early September, East of These and Bloom Shakalaka celebrated the opening of their new store at 214 Traders Alley.
PHOTOS
bloomshakalaka.com | @bloom.shakalaka
Laura Shannon’s first business venture, Ashton Events, specialized in wedding planning, design, and, of course, florals for the big day. In 2020, Bloom Shakalaka was born out of customer demand for individual floral arrangements–something for a wife’s birthday or a gift to commemorate a special milestone. Shannon’s first location was inside The Joinery, though her growing business soon needed more space than the food hall could provide. In order to offer more products and floral options, Shannon began seeking a partner to open a new storefront with.
“We want the uniqueness of flowers to be accessible to Lakeland. We love finding the weird, unexpected flower that just surprises people.”
Walking into the store and looking at the bright and fun space, it is obvious that something makes the bouquets and arrangements at Bloom Shakalaka different from any bunch of flowers you can pick up at a grocery store. The main goal behind Bloom Shakalaka is to “spread joy with every bloom,” Shannon says. Sometimes, the joy is abundant, such as with a wedding or a celebration, and other times, those going through hardships allow Bloom Shakalaka to be “the avenue…to find joy in a hard situation,” as she puts it.
Since starting Bloom Shakalaka, Shannon said she has learned to appreciate the impact flowers can have on a room. A highlight of her business truly blooming has been seeing customers who may not have cared much about flowers before grow into an appreciation for the art of flower arranging. Getting to know regular customers is also a perk of the job when previous wedding clients decide to use Bloom for anniversary and birthday celebrations.
“We are very community minded.” she explained about her staff. “We love collaboration,” whether adding fresh flowers to a wedding venue, or helping celebrate a retirement, as Bloom Shakalaka was pleased to do last month, during President and CEO Carol Sipe’s retirement from Summit Consulting LLC held at Bonnet Springs Park.
With the larger storefront, Shannon and her team are able to offer a stem bar every day, as well as a pop-up stem bar during the farmer’s market. This stem bar allows anyone to participate in the art of floral arranging by picking single flowers that look good together.
Shannon said that retired florists will even stop by and pick some stems to arrange at home to rekindle an old passion.
Bloom Shakalaka prides itself in pushing boundaries and offering a modern approach to florals. Shannon works with her suppliers to offer customers new flower varieties that no other local vendor has.
Bringing the new space to life has been a team effort, and Shannon said her staff, her family and her faith have all been pillars on this journey.
Taylor Ard, who started East of These, a company known for its handmade hair accessories, chose to partner with Bloom Shakalaka because she was facing a similar situation. Ard’s loyal customers wanted an in-store experience and the ability to visit any day of the week, not just on Saturdays at the farmer’s market. Anyone who has been downtown on a Saturday during the market has seen the two large tents that East of These is located under. The scrunchies, t-shirts and headbands will still be sold street-side but a much wider selection of Ard’s creations can be found day-to-day inside the store on Trader’s Alley.
Taylor Ard, was not necessarily planning on starting her own brick-and-mortar shop, but when Laura Shannon asked the founder of East of These to share the downtown storefront, the answer was an easy “Yes.” This was the perfect way for Ard to satisfy her customers’ desire for a daily shopping experience, and was a solution for the fact she had begun to outgrow her farmer’s market stand. Now, she is able to display more of her own products and diversify her offerings to include men’s and women’s clothing to create a more “traditional boutique” setting. The boutique recently announced that they would be carrying Marc Nelson Denim, designed by one of Ard’s personal mentors, Marcus Hall.
At East of These, Ard finds creative ways to be involved in the community. She formed a partnership with Gospel Inc., a local nonprofit ministry that offers living spaces and work opportunities to the formerly homeless. At one point, East of These hired several Gospel Inc. residents as part of a sewing rehabilitation program.
Another way Ard gets involved in the community is through her business collaborations.
“We’ve been able to celebrate Lakeland culture by incorporating things that people love about Lakeland into our products,” explained Ard. One of the shop’s most popular prints, “Miss Morton,” is based on the beautiful swans that give this city its nickname. East of These has also collaborated on trucker hat designs for Fat Jack’s Deli & Pub and Mister Fish, which is Ard’s personal favorite piece of local merchandise. For fans of her locally inspired collection, be on the lookout in the near future for new hats and t-shirts from upcoming collaborations.
Ard humbly credits the Lord, the supportive community of Lakeland, and her amazing team of hardworking women as the reasons that East of These has been able to thrive. On a practical level, she also acknowledged that the heat and humidity of Florida creates a demand for her ever popular scrunchies as a necessary means to keep hair up and out of the way. Finally, she said that the support of her husband (also named Taylor) has been so valuable. “If he were not in the picture…supporting me, then we would not be here.”
The love that these women—Taylor Ard and Laura Shannon have for the people of Lakeland is evident in every corner of their shop. Both women have expressed their gratitude for this community that “just love[s] getting behind small businesses” as Ard put it. Downtown is a more hopeful and more joyful place because of the new shop on 214 Trader’s Alley, and it is something that everyone must experience. Stop by one Saturday and see for yourself!
“The heartbeat behind the shop for both of us has been [that] we want it to be a destination that uplifts people.”
MESSIEH ORTHOPEDIC CLINIC
Leader in anterior hip replacement in Central Florida since 1991
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Cigar workers roll and press cigars for the Paul Watkins Cigar Company which was located at 121 1/2 East Main Street.
Courtesy of the Lakeland Public Library
Paul Watkins Cigar Company
1924
