October 2011 by Belva Greenage

OCTOBER 2011

VOL 15 NO 5 COMPLIMENTARY

WOMAN chef carrie Appetite For Life

go yoga for good health Tapping Into Yogaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Healing Power

beyond surviving Thriving With Cancer

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around the block Make Way For Color-Blocking

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SOUTHPARK’S WEEKEND OF FASHION OCTOBER 21 & 22 The latest fall fashions hit the runway featuring the newest styles in clothing and accessories during Simon Fashion Now presented by Land Rover Charlotte. Enjoy a weekend of spectacular runway fashion shows, prize giveaways, interactive style and design competitions, in-store events and discounts. Score free samples, see cosmetic demonstrations and take home your favorite item straight off the runway! For event details, visit simon.com, like us on Facebook at facebook.com/SouthParkMallNC and follow us on Twitter @southparkmallnc. Belk x Dillard’s x Macy’s x Aéropostale x Aerosoles x Ann Taylor x Banana Republic x Chico’s x Coldwater Creek x Cole Haan Everything But Water x Francesca’s Collections x Gap x GapKids x GUESS x Jessica McClintock x Lucky Brand x Pink & Blue 7 For All Mankind x Solstice x Sunglass Hut x Tommy Bahama x vineyard vines x White House | Black Market Sponsored by:

Corner of Sharon and Fairview Roads in Charlotte Shopping Line® 704.364.4411

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Complete Your Look This Fall.

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Autumn is in the air, and there’s never been a better time for a fresh new look, courtesy of Dr. Sean Freeman. From a quick touch-up on your lunch hour to an entirely new, fresh look—and everything in between—Dr. Freeman specializes in the art of providing the most natural looking results. A double board certified facial plastic surgeon with over 20 years of experience and training, Dr. Freeman is dedicated solely to faces. So, whether you choose a surgical or non-surgical procedure, make sure you choose the very best doctor.

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(704)543-1110 9/19/11 8:36 AM

Presbyterian saved my life. I had just started a new job and thought I could put off my annual mammogram until I settled into a routine. Finding a lump was anything but settling, but the experts at Presbyterian immediately fast-tracked me through diagnosis. Their aggressive, assertive treatment and hands-on support helped me control my cancer before it had a chance to control me. They saved my life, no doubt about it.

Melinda Breast Cancer | 2008

For more on Melindaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s story and details about Presbyterianâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s comprehensive breast health services, visit www.presbyterian.org/pink.

Is it time for your annual mammogram? Schedule yours today with our team of experts: 704-384-7226.

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Contents October 2011

o Mo

Departments

10 From The Publisher Beyond Surviving

12 Girl Time Tips, Trends, And Fancies

23 Green Corner Toast Mother Earth With Ecofriendly Vino

16 Queen City Jewels

46 Fashion

Happenings You Don’t Want To Miss

It’s Hip To Be Square With Color Blocking

20 Money Talks Tips For Women Entrepreneurs

22 On The Move Charlotte Women Making Strides 6

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54 Health Flash

What You Need To Know To Stay Well

58 Tomorrow’s Charlotte Woman Charlotte’s Future Fabulous Females

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Revita1

B rai n Fog

d Swings o o M

Brain Fog

Are your

“Horror-mones” spooking friends & family?

od Swings o M

Poor Sleep Poor Sleep

Energy

Crashes

Energy C rash e

Low Libido Low Libido

Call

REVIT Tod A ay

Mood Swings are often caused by hormone imbalances or deficiencies. Our Doctor can help you determine if bioidentical hormone replacement therapy may be right for you. Feel better, sleep well, decrease body fat, eliminate brain fog & hot flashes. • Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy • Lab analysis of aging variables • Anti-Aging and Wellness Center • Care from a Specially Trained MD

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7810 Ballantyne Commons Parkway, Suite 220, Charlotte, NC 28277

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Find testimonials that could be your story!

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32 Volume XV, Number 5 October 2011 PUBLISHER

Belva Greenage ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Fern Howerin

Editor

Karsen Price ART DIRECTor

Anita O’Hara Sales Executive

Barbara Herd Business Manager

Nikki Wilson

Profiles 24 Season Of Grace Chef Carrie Leonard Serves Up A Zest For Life

28 Yoga Warriors, Unite Yvonne Brown Trains Cancer Survivors To Tap Into Yoga’s Healing Power

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Jennifer Bradford-Epstein Judy Cole Dana Durham Fiona Harmon Melinda Johnston Victoria Moreland Kelly Picarsic Lee Rhodes Sherry Shaw Diane Silcox-Jarrett

Features 32 Rallying For A Cause BCC Rally Creates Survivors By Raising Breast Cancer Awareness

36 Invisible Child, Invincible Woman A Q&A With Dr. Iyanla Vanzant

40 Define Extraordinary TCW Unveils The League Of Extraordinary Women 44 Getting Lost, Getting Found How One Girl Found Solitude In Charlotte For 25 Bucks

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Augusto Photography Joe Martin

5200 Park Road, Suite 126 Charlotte, NC 28209 704/521-6872 www.todayscharlottewoman.com Today’s Charlotte Woman is published by Today’s Woman Inc., and is distributed on a complimentary basis throughout the greater Charlotte area. Subscription rate is $20 per year for 10 issues plus the TCW Resource Guide. Copyright ©2011 Today’s Woman, Inc. All rights reserved. Copying or reproduction, in part or in whole, is strictly prohibited.

OnTheCover Chef Carrie Leonard.

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

photo by joe martin.

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October 2011 EI Breast Aug_CW.pdf

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PHOTO BY AUGUSTO PHOTOGRAPHY

FromThePublisher

Beyond Surviving

could call myself a two-time cancer survivor … but I am a tad reluctant to embrace that term. To me, survive means that I have been successful in staying alive for three years while handling a second diagnosis of a known killer — cancer. I would like to believe that I have done much more that just stay alive. Rather, I have vigorously pursued my dreams while fulfilling my roles as mother, wife, leader, and nonprofit founder, all while reshaping the paradigm on what a Stage IV cancer patient should do and be. I don’t claim this honor alone. There are many others out there like me who are not only surviving, but thriving in the face of a horrific diagnosis. Everyone tells me to slow down, and I have … but you have to remember that we’re talking about going from 100 mph to 75 mph, in a world where the speed limit is 55. I still have so much to do for my God, my family, and for so many others out there like me, thriving with cancer. Through it all, I have learned a few things, thanks to my many caring friends. I can’t help but wonder, if I had learned these things years ago, would I be in this situation? But that is water under the bridge. What did I have to learn in order to move beyond surviving, onto thriving and living? For one thing, I learned to prioritize what really matters, without

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compromising my dreams and goals. And I have incorporated some very practical habits into my life. First is to rest without guilt. A siesta does not mean that I am lazy! Sleep is critical to my ability to recharge and recover from the barrage of treatments. I have also learned to eat well, including organic foods; more fruits and vegetables; juicing for life and energy; and adding supplements such as vitamin D into my array of medicines. Then there is that pesky thing called stress. I did not realize how much stress I had allowed to enter my life. It was no passing fancy — stress had built a 9,000 square-foot mansion in my body and the rooms were fully furnished and decorated! I had to discover how to lessen the stress level, and then effectively handle what remained. Lastly, I have taken my doctor’s advice and embraced two facts: It is not a sin to take an antidepressant; and exercise and being a cancer patient can go hand-in-hand. I am doing what I love to do, for the most part, and my life is much lighter for it.

Now onto really living,

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Debra Engelhardt-Nash's smile by Dr. Ross W. Nash Photo by Deborah Triplett

An unexpected compliment? A well-deserved evening out with friends? That certain look from someone special? Or the confidence that only a healthy and attractive smile can bring. Of the nearly 8000 American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry members worldwide, there are only 45 who have achieved the exclusive level of Accredited Fellow. In all of North and South Carolina, only one dentist has earned this elite status by illustrating the required level of excellence in the area of cosmetic dentistry: Accredited Fellow Ross W. Nash, DDS.

Let Dr. Nash restore your healthy smile with gentle, attentive, non-hurried care. You and your family can enjoy complete, general dental care that guarantees people will notice your smile, not your dental work. For a comfortable stress-free visit, call our office now. We'll make you smile.

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www.Cosmetic Dentistry of the Carolinas.com 9/21/11 10:50 AM

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COMPILED BY Karsen Price

Driven To Divorce Your Commute Could Be Killing Your Relationship

recent study by Erika Sandow, a social geographer at Umea University in Sweden, shows that people who spend more than 45 minutes commuting to work each way are 40 percent more likely to split up with their partners than those who don’t. The study was conducted on 2 million Swedish couples over a 10-year period. If this study is worth its salt, Charlotte couples might want to take note. Let’s face it, commuting is a way of life in this town. (My personal commute varies from 30 min-

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utes to an hour-plus, depending on time of day.) But do Sandow’s findings mean that many Queen City relationships are heading south? Perhaps not. Sandow notes that the study may have been based on relationships that were initially weak to begin with; she adds that if a couple survives the first year, they will probably steer clear of Splitsville. >

ToLearnMore Visit http://www.infrastructurist.com/2011/06/02/newreport-long-commutes-are-relationship-killers/.

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Cancer is just a word, not a sentence.

Levine Cancer Institute is changing the

Our team helps you with:

course of cancer care, by offering

• Concerns and decisions regarding treatment

convenient access to a network of cancer

• Appointments for tests, surgeries or therapies

care locations across the Carolinas.

• Resources for support • Every question about your cancer care

We are uniquely positioned to support you

Fight breast cancer with our support.

through our nationally accredited physicians, nurse navigators, nutritionists

For more information, contact us at

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ons of your care. This comprehensive support system will help you through

every step of the breast cancer detection, treatment and healing process.

OUR CANCER CARE LOCATIONS: ANMED HEALTH

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STANLY REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER

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GirlTime Urology Specialists of the Carolinas:

Tie The Knot … Affordably

Tips For Recession-Proofing Your Wedding Day

The best place to go to relieve incontinence. Pineville 704-541-8207 ConCord 704-707-2200 UniverSity 704-547-1495

MatthewS 704-841-8877 hUnterSville 704-892-2949 ballantyne 704-334-4824

Charlotte Queens Rd 704-372-5180 E Third St 704-370-2076

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Today’s up-and-down market doesn’t exactly inspire confidence when it comes to making big purchases — and there’s no investment like your wedding day. (The typical price for weddings in the first half of 2011 rang in at just over $21,000!) However, a shaky economy doesn’t mean the show can’t go on. Cara Davis, author of Cheap Ways To Tie The Knot, offers ways to recession-proof your wedding: 1. Go off-peak. Choose an offseason month (such as January, February, or November) to get married, and an off-peak day and time. Saturday afternoon and evenings are generally the most desired spots, so go for Saturday morning, or Friday or Sunday night to save money on venues and services.

4. Get your hands dirty. The key to any successful wedding budget is doing it all yourself, but that often requires delegating to friends and family, who are generally honored to play a part in your big day. Get loved ones involved by addressing envelopes, folding programs, creating favors, and making a headpiece or veil. Some family members might be willing to cover a few costs as a wedding gift to you. The greatest benefit of going DIY is saving money, which will allow you to spend on what you can’t do — or don’t want to leave to chance, like photography.

2. Limit the guest list. Most caterers charge per person, so the difference between 100 guests and 150 is significant. The reception is usually half of your budget, and with food prices rising, feeding your guests tastefully will be hard. Simplify the reception by serving high tea, a dessert buffet or brunch, or delicious — 5. Consider insurance. Wedding insurance can protect you in the yet affordable — finger-foods. event a vendor goes bankrupt or 3. Buy discounted gift cards out of business. If you are spending from GiftCardGranny.com. Use more than $5,000 on your wedding, gift cards to purchase decorations, it might be worth the extra cost. Talk supplies, and materials from stores to your insurance agent for advice, such as Hobby Lobby, and consider or check out online offerings like buying your wedding attire from WedSafe.com. department stores such as Macy’s or J. Crew, which are among a growing Source: Visit weddings expert Cara number of retailers with affordable Davis’ website at CheapWaysTo.com for wedding boutiques. more wedding tips. 14

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A New Attitude About Breast Cancer Awareness

f you only do one thing in honor of breast cancer awareness this month, visit The SCAR Project at thescarproject.org. If you haven’t already experienced fashion photographer David Jay’s national initiative featuring beautiful, poignant, real images of women in all stages of breast reconstruction, you should. It is simultaneously beautiful, startling, and victorious. The SCAR Project is based on the premise that “Breast Cancer Is Not A Pink Ribbon.” And while the pink ribbon symbol has done a world of good for raising awareness about breast cancer since it was adopted as the official symbol of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in 1992, it may be time for a new attitude. The SCAR Project offers exactly this. Featuring a series of large-scale portraits of young breast cancer survivors photographed by Jay, The SCAR Project is dedi-

cated to the more than 10,000 women under the age of 40 who will be diagnosed this year alone. Jay’s artwork has been described as “raw,” and “unflinching,” and pays tribute to the courage of breast cancer survivors around the world. “For these young women, having their portrait taken seems to represent their personal victory over this terrifying disease,” Jay says. “Through these simple pictures, they seem to gain some acceptance of what has happened to them and the strength to move forward with pride.” TCW

ToLearnMore Volume 1 of The SCAR Project: Breast Cancer Is Not A Pink Ribbon is available from amazon.com.

Walk The Walk ... Or Donate $$$ Want to take action in honor of breast cancer awareness month? Sign up to do one of two local breast cancer races, or make a donation to someone who is participating. The 15th annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure® is Oct. 1 (visit komencharlotte.org) and the Avon 2-Day Walk for Breast Cancer is Oct. 22-23 (visit avonwalk.org).

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O C T O B E R october

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Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend But You Can’t Beat A Royal Flush

oes your poker face need a little finetuning? Never fear, Diamonds Direct is here. The company is partnering with The Basara Company to offer free Texas Hold ‘Em lessons for beginners or advanced players Oct. 6, from 7 to 9 p.m. in Diamonds Direct SouthPark’s newly renovated showroom at 4521 Sharon Road. A precursor to the third annual Queen City Shootout on Oct. 12, which benefits the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the Texas Hold ‘Em event is a don’t-miss, whether you are a novice poker player or a card shark. In addition to signature cocktails and hors d’oeurves provided by Brio Tuscan Grille, attendees will enjoy tips and strategies from Greg Dinkin, professional poker player, speaker, columnist, entrepreneur, and

Need A Good Cause? Don’t Miss First Annual Charlotte NEDA Walk

upport the National Eating Disorders Association — and show encouragement for a loved one battling an eating disorder — by attending the first annual NEDA walk in Charlotte Oct. 22, at Freedom Park. NEDA is a nonprofit organization that sponsors walks across the country to benefit the cause against eating disorders. NEDA campaigns for prevention, improved access to quality treatment, and increased funding for research to better understand and treat eating disorders. The group’s national, tollfree helpline has assisted families, friends, and individuals in finding appropriate treatment and support since 1999. 16

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WantToGo? Registration for the event begins at 8 a.m.; the walk begins at 9 a.m. Visit http://neda.nationaleatingdisorders.org/CharlotteWalk for information.

author. The evening includes a raffle of prizes, including a $1000 gift certificate to Diamonds Direct SouthPark, and special appearances by Debbie Miller, Miss North Carolina 2011; and Jo Ann Darby, radio personality and author of “The Girlfriend Book” and “MGFL-Much Girlfriend Love.”

WantToGo? The doors open at 6:30 p.m., and seating will be limited. To register for the Texas Hold ‘Em lesson, visit QueenCityShootout.com or call 704/532-9041.

Work For Change With The Women’s Inter-Cultural Exchange Would you love to change the world? Get a jump-start with help from the Women’s InterCultural Exchange, which is hosting its annual, multicultural women’s conference “Bridging the Chasm: Changing the World” Oct. 26 from 7:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Queens University Sports and Conference Center, 2229 Tyvola Road. The town-hall style meeting will reveal research on the status of women, including statistics from keynote speaker Katherine Giscombe, Ph.D., vice president of Diverse Women and Inclusion Research, Catalyst Inc. In addition, a panel of multicultural corporate and community leaders will present data on the status of women in the Charlotte area. >

WantToGo? Tickets are $85. For information, or to register for the event, contact Stephanie Counts at 704/365-4452, or visit wi-ce.org.

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Feeling Dramatic? CAST Calls For Auditions Carolina Actors Studio Theatre is hosting auditions by appointment only for the play “Jack Goes Boating,” by Bob Glaudini. Auditions will be held Sat., Oct. 15, at CAST, located at 2424 N. Davidson St., starting at 1 p.m. Actors are allowed to read scenes from the play, or to use a prepared monologue. CAST is seeking stage managers and running crew for this production as well, and stipends are available.

WantToGo? For an appointment to audition, email director Paige Johnston Thomas at cast.jackgoesboating@gmail.com. Visit http://www.nccast.com/ fundraising/auditions/ for audition philosophy, requirements, and character breakdowns.

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Pamper Yourself And Raise Arthritis Awareness

assage Envy has joined forces with the Arthritis Foundation to host Healing Hands for Arthritis on World Arthritis Day, Oct. 12. As part of this one-day, national event, Massage Envy will donate $10 from every one-hour massage and facial to the Arthritis Foundation. One in five adults and nearly 300,000 children suffer from the pain of arthritis, which has over 100 types. By the year 2030, an estimated 67 million — or 25 percent of the projected total adult population — will have arthritis. Recent scientific studies have found that massage therapy increases immune function, decreases stress levels, and reduces recovery time in many medical conditions, including arthritis. All proceeds donated during Healing Hands for Arthritis will support the Arthritis Foundation’s efforts to prevent, control, and cure arthritis and related diseases.

Rock On, Royally 23rd Annual International House Gala

on’t miss the International House’s 23rd annual benefit gala — featuring the theme Great Britain: a Rock ‘n Royal Celebration — Oct. 22, from 6:30 p.m. to midnight at the Westin Hotel. The Gala supports International House programming, and this year includes fine British cuisine, drinks, live and silent auctions, a bagpipe performance and classic 18 QCJ1011.indd 18

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British rock music. Since 1981, International House has been a provider of direct services to Charlotte’s growing international community, which includes more than 104,000 immigrants and foreign-born citizens. This year, International House will help over 1,000 local immigrants with legal services and free English instruction.

WantToGo? The event is black-tie optional, and tickets are $150. Visit ihclt.org for information.

“Partnering with the Arthritis Foundation was a natural fit, as we both share a common understanding about the seriousness of the disease, the power of massage therapy to relieve certain symptoms, and what must be done to prevent, cure, and control it,” says Jim Fitzsimmons, regional developer for Massage Envy North Carolina.

WantToGo? Visit massageenvyclt.com for information.

Cheers For The Red, White & Blue Fifth Annual Patriot Gala Reveal your patriotic side at the fifth annual Patriot Gala Nov. 5th at Quail Hollow Club. The event has a twofold focus: to help honor those serving in the military, and to raise money to benefit wounded warriors and their families in the Carolinas. The Gala, emceed by WSOC-TV’s Erica Bryant, will include fine wine and food, a 21-gun salute, a special tribute to our fallen warriors from North and South Carolina, champagne toasts, dancing, and live and silent auctions. TCW

WantToGo? Tickets are $250-$400 per person, and tables of 10 are $6,000. Contact 704/496-2794 or patriotcharities.org for information.

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Job Changes/Promotions CEO Inc. has hired Sheila Cox as project assistant/coordinator. Jacob’s Ladder Job Center Inc. has hired Cay’me Jones as development coordinator.

Sherpa, a staffing, recruiting, and consulting firm, has named Hope Summerhill technology recruiting manager, and Sarah Goins as the project management recruiting manager. Studiobanks, a digital agency specializing in online marketing and web development, has hired Crystal Wright as a senior producer, and Katie Fisher as a copywriter. Real estate veteran Kathy Landgraff has joined Springfield as sales associate.

Laura C. Thomas was named a search consultant for Coleman Lew & Associates Inc.

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Lauren A. McNally was promoted to sponsorship developer at the Community Blood Center of the Carolinas.

CottinghamChalkHayes has hired Suzanne Lail as corporate homes specialist.

New Business/Changes lululemon athletica has opened at SouthPark Mall, 4400 Sharon Road.

Janice Scanziani has opened Fancy Full Gifts, LLC, located at The Village Emporium, 1615 Sardis Road North. Jeannine Gingras, M.D., has opened Gingras Sleep Medicine in two locations: 6207 Park South Road, Suite 101; and 248 LePhillip Court, Concord.

Awards/Installations

Lori McKee has joined Business Expansion Funding Corporation as a loan processing manager.

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Tonya Bishop was named market manager of tech startup OverstockAds.

Nancy B. McNelis was named director of the executive MBA program at Queens University of Charlotte.

T h e

Roxanne Crouch, ACP, assistant vice president, sales support manager at BB&T Governmental Finance, was named The Metrolina Paralegal Association’s 2011 Paralegal of the Year.

s t o r i e s

NAWBO Charlotte has announced its 2011-2012 board of directors: Memuna Williams, president; Mary Germani, presidentelect; Marguerite Rupar, immediate past president; Lillie Newton, member services; Karen Bennetts, marketing and public relations; Delaine Mead, special events; Emily Knudson, education; Lynn Ivey, chapter expansion; Gina Herald, secretary; Wendy Shanahan, community relations; Toby Hamilton, electronic communications; Mary Kathryn Ewart, public policy; and Julie Ayers, treasurer. Moonlight Creative Group has received the following awards: Gold 2011 Aster Award; three American Graphic Design & Advertising 27 Awards; and two Communicator Awards. Women Executives has announced its 2011 board of directors: Joan O. Wright, president; Maggie Norris, president-elect; Martha Schweppe, v.p. membership; Deb McWilliams Wiles, v.p. programs and networking; Cheryl Richards, v.p. communications; Dianne Bailey, secretary; Beth Gibson, treasurer; Alisa McDonald and Carson Tate, at large; Mary Vickers-Koch, past president and chair of governance committee; and Selma Fox, Wendy Laxton, Linda Farthing, and Betty Trautwein, at large members of the governance committee.

Tell Us Your News

On The Move Send announcements and high-resolution images to:

editor@todayscharlottewoman.com

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There were only 11 in the world. CMC-Mercy makes 12. As one of only 12 hospitals in the world to be recognized as a “Planetree Designated Patient-Centered Hospital,” CMC-Mercy ensures patients and their families receive the very best in personalized care by placing patients at the forefront of their healthcare journey. This designation underscores our unwavering commitment to the unique needs of our patients and their families throughout their healthcare experience. Every action we take and every decision we make is done with their overall health and well-being in mind.

Patient-Centered Care day 7 a.m. – 5 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 13 Join us for a day of wellness including free health screenings, dietitian consults and giveaways in the CMC-Mercy auditorium. For details, visit www.cmc-mercy.org/events.

A Planetree Designated Facility www.cmc-mercy.org | 2001 Vail Ave., Charlotte, NC 28207

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Job Changes/Promotions CEO Inc. has hired Sheila Cox as project assistant/coordinator. Jacob’s Ladder Job Center Inc. has hired Cay’me Jones as development coordinator.

Laura C. Thomas was named a search consultant for Coleman Lew & Associates Inc.

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Lauren A. McNally was promoted to sponsorship developer at the Community Blood Center of the Carolinas.

CottinghamChalkHayes has hired Suzanne Lail as corporate homes specialist.

New Business/Changes lululemon athletica has opened at SouthPark Mall, 4400 Sharon Road.

Awards/Installations

Lori McKee has joined Business Expansion Funding Corporation as a loan processing manager.

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Tonya Bishop was named market manager of tech startup OverstockAds.

Nancy B. McNelis was named director of the executive MBA program at Queens University of Charlotte.

T h e

Roxanne Crouch, ACP, assistant vice president, sales support manager at BB&T Governmental Finance, was named The Metrolina Paralegal Association’s 2011 Paralegal of the Year.

s t o r i e s

Tell Us Your News

On The Move Send announcements and high-resolution images to:

editor@todayscharlottewoman.com

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9/19/11 10:47 AM

green

P E R S O N A L I Z E D , C O M PA S S I O N AT E D E N T I S T R Y

corner

A Woman’s Touch

A Toast To Mother Earth Enjoy A Glass Of Organic Vino

By Kelly Picarsic

hen searching for ways to lessen your environmental footprint, look no further than your glass of wine! Like many farmers, winemakers have embraced ecofriendly agriculture; but knowing what’s in your bottle can be confusing. The law requires a certified “green” wine to be labeled as one of four categories. 100-Percent Organic: For a wine to be labeled 100-percent organic and earn the USDA-organic seal, it must be made from chemical-free grown grapes and processed organically. It cannot contain any added sulfites — a synthetic preservative added to extend shelf life. Organic: Wines labeled “organic” are required to use 95-percent organically grown ingredients, and must not contain added sulfites. The USDA-organic seal may be placed on these bottles. Made With Organic Ingredients: Wines labeled in this category are processed with at least 75-percent organically grown ingredients, and may contain sulfites. These cannot bear the USDA-organic seal. Some Organic Ingredients: These wines must be made with 70-percent organically grown ingredients and may contain sulfites. According to the Organic Consumers Association, all claims must be listed on the label, including the name and contact information of the certifying agency. Be cautious about how stores advertise, and read labels carefully to know what you are purchasing. Of course, buying from a local vineyard is usually your safest bet, and is always a greener option. It reduces air pollution by eliminating long-distance transporting, and supports community farmers who are more likely to care for the land. Unfortunately, North Carolina doesn’t provide the best climate for growing grapes organically. High humidity can cause plants to rot easily and spurs the growth of disease. However, with a strong commitment and the right altitude, one vineyard has proven it can be done. Located in North Carolina’s Yadkin Valley, and the first USDA-certified organic vineyard in our state, Carolina Heritage Vineyard uses native muscadine grapes and hybrids known for their tolerance of disease. The winery also takes care to hand-pull weeds, and relies on natural predators to eliminate pests. Visit carolinaheritagevineyards.com for information. TCW

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Season Of Grace Five-Year Cancer Survivor & Chef Carrie Leonard Serves Up A Zest For Life By Lee Rhodes • PHOTOS BY JOE MARTIN

hef Carrie Leonard sometimes has to pinch herself to believe she’s living out her professional dream. Even after 17 years as a chef instructor at Johnson & Wales, the vivacious 48-year-old is still sometimes surprised by how she’s culled her diverse experiences — a childhood

spent around boats, drama club, and her mother’s indelible influence — into a fulfilling career. Throw into the mix that Leonard is celebrating five years of being cancer-free from renal cell carcinoma, and you’ll understand her zest for life.

“Somehow, this path God has put me on keeps leading me to a place where I say, ‘Wow, I’ve done that somewhere else in my life, or experienced that somewhere else in my life,’ ” she says. “So now, I’ve got this combination of things that are just tailor made for Carrie.”

Recipe For Success Leonard’s father, an engineer and naval officer, designed and built catamarans. He often took his family away from their Norfolk, Va., home for extended trips up the Intracoastal Waterway. Leonard’s mom acted as the boat’s chef, thinking nothing of whipping up roux, the thickening agent in classical French cooking, in the galley. Leonard soaked up the culinary experiences she gained on the open water. A few years later, with one year of college under her belt (“It wasn’t for me,” she says), Leonard tried her hand at a variety of careers. She sold real estate, managed a video store, and considered the field of mechanical engineering. She also waitressed, bartended, and served as a Jill of all trades in the restaurant business.

“We were starting to see chefs as professionals, almost as rock stars,” she recalls. “I thought, ‘I’d like to do this.’ ” One day, she overheard a conversation in which a young man explained that his homework that particular day was “veal piccata.” The man was a student at the Providence, R.I., campus of Johnson & Wales. Leonard had been mulling over the idea of giving college another shot, despite being in her 30s. She decided that very evening to go back to school, and was delighted to find that Johnson & Wales, one of the nation’s premier culinary institutions, had a campus in Norfolk. She graduated No. 1 in her class, twice — once for her culinary degree, and again for her management degree. She won the President’s Award and earned various accolades, including two advanced certificates with Wine and Spirits Education Trust. She began teaching soon after graduation. “I never thought I’d be a teacher,” she says, “but I adore everything about it. I am with an extraordinary group of people every day.” >

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The Spice Of Life Post-cancer, Leonard tweaked her diet, but not radically (“I’m not Miss Organic or anything,” she says). She favors a Mediterranean-type diet, but still loves to indulge in her favorite foods, including her childhood birthday treat: chicken tacos with avocado, cilantro, and a squeeze of lemon or lime juice. “I started learning more about toxins and antioxidants, and the importance of putting in all the right nutrients. I got more in tune with my body,” she says. These days, Leonard is looking to a happy future. She’s currently launching Chef Factor, featuring private, in-home parties teach26

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Johnson & Wales chef and instructor Carrie Leonard, who recently celebrated her fifth year of being cancer-free, is determined to live life to its fullest.

ing culinary techniques, designed for people career, her health, her daughter, and her new who either love to cook or want to learn husband, Dave, as icing on the cake. Then there’s her Chrisproper techniques. tian faith. She is exploring Post-cancer, I started learning more about “All the time, I options for the production of her own toxins and antioxidants, and the importance think, ‘There’s God; of putting in all the right nutrients. I got there’s God again,’ ” culinary instrucmore in tune with my body. she says. “I love life. tion show, as well. It’s all grace, but I’m Meanwhile, she — Carrie Leonard really in a season of has advice for people facing their own cancer crisis. “There’s a grace now. And I’m so thankful.” TCW whole lot of assuming that goes on when you ToLearnMore get diagnosed,” she says. “Don’t assume, and don’t let it take you out of your life.” Visit culinarycarrie.com for information on Chef Factor. Her own life is as full as ever, with her

‘‘

Leonard’s spirits were not dampened when Johnson & Wales announced they were closing the Virginia campus and relocating her to Charlotte. She arrived in the summer of 2005, and that’s when life took a turn. Around the same time, both of her parents passed away, she got divorced, and she was diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma. Doctors initially blamed stress for Leonard’s sudden chest pains. During her second emergency room visit, doctors acknowledged that her gall bladder might be a contributing factor. An ultrasound showed that her gall bladder was “kaput,” as she puts it; the doctors then broke the news that Leonard also had a large mass on her kidney. She spent weeks in the hospital while doctors tried to determine how to tackle first the gall bladder and then the kidney, which had already shut down. Her father had died from cancer, and Leonard recalls thinking she soon would follow in his footsteps. “I thought if he could die that quickly, I could die that quickly,” she says, with tears in her eyes. “I have a little girl, and she is everything to me. It was so hard.” Leonard got her affairs in order. She taught daughter Emily, who was 8 at the time, how to run the washer and dryer, how to manage money and, of course, how to cook. “I had those conversations you’re not sure you’re going to be able to have later,” she says. And then, Leonard’s ship righted itself. Her health came back post-surgery, and she recently celebrated her fifth year of living cancerfree. “I’m a healthy kid,” she says, with a grin.

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TMB MarkeTing FirM presenTs

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Cocktail Reception Gala Saturday, October 1, 2011 7-9 pm The Omni Hotel, Uptown Charlotte, NC

Guest speaker, Belva Wallace Greenage Publisher, Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Charlotte Woman Magazine

Featuring Chocolatier Sadruddin Abdullah, Dessert Specialist, Inc. Tickets $35/Portion of proceeds will go to local Breast Cancer Foundations For ticket information, please go to www.ez-tixx.com or call 1.877.993.8499

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Yoga Warriors, Unite Yvonne Brown Shares The Healing Power Of Yoga By Diane Silcox-Jarrett • PHOTOS BY JOE MARTIN

hen Yvonne Brown looks out across her yoga class, she sees warriors — and she isn’t referring to the yoga position known as warrior pose. Her class-

rooms at Presbyterian Cancer Rehabilitation and Wellness are filled with real-

life fighters; brave warriors who are learning to outwit cancer using the ancient

discipline of yoga.

“By coming here and participating in yoga, survivors can gain knowledge that can help them as soon as they’re diagnosed,” Brown says. “And they learn quickly that it is not all about the poses.”

Stretching The Boundaries Brown is the type of person who ushers positive energy into the room with her presence. With 500 hours of training, she is an expert on warrior, triangle, and half-moon poses, to name a few. Beyond yoga knowledge, Brown’s passionate, gentle nature makes her a perfect match for those diagnosed with cancer. Brown’s personal discovery of yoga came when she was working for Belk’s corporate office and looking for exercise and mental relaxation. She decided to train to become a yoga teacher in order “to become more guided with my own practice.” Before long, she relinquished her corporate position for a career teaching yoga. “Many of my friends told me they knew I was destined to be a yoga instructor, I just had to figure it out on my own,” she says. After sharing yoga with a neighbor who had a spinal disorder, Brown realized she wanted to do more than lead standard classes. In 2006, Brown started teaching at Presbyterian Cancer Rehabilitation and Wellness; at that time, the classes took place at the Dowd YMCA. She

was impressed with how diligently students worked during sessions, often without revealing how physically depleted they were. Brown then signed up for an intensive seven-day teacher training in Yogaville, Va., designed for working with cancer survivors. Classes ran from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., and covered a range of topics, including cell biology, breathing, and meditation, in addition to poses.

Healing Through Yoga When a person is diagnosed with cancer, she is often bombarded with information. Through yoga, Brown gives students the tools needed to handle the stress that comes from information overload. Teaching methods focus on the mental aspects of yoga and breathing, offering a much-needed break from the worries of the present and future. Brown says many people try yoga only after they have run out of ways to make themselves feel better. “They say, ‘I am at my wits’ end; I’ll try the yoga thing now,’ and then they find out how much yoga can help them,” she says. “It can do incredible things.” >

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Yvonne brown teaches students to tap into the healing power of Yoga, introducing them to yoga poses and methods, such as awareness, meditation, and guided imagery.

Hilary Greenberg has been in the program since June. “When you are going through cancer treatment, with all the doctors’ appointments, tests, and chemo, you really feel out of control,” Greenberg says. “Yoga allows you, no matter where you are, to see beyond what is going on with the cancer.” Brown incorporates the use of awareness, a practice of focusing on the moment. “It is natural for cancer students to want to pretend like cancer is not happening to them,” Brown says. “Awareness practice has you accept where you are. You don’t have to like it, but you have to learn to accept it.” Guided imagery is also introduced; students lie down and close their eyes while Brown talks through their vision of the perfect day. This technique trains students to relax, which can be beneficial to those undergoing treatments and tests. Even students who are weak from chemo or radiation can benefit from yoga. Brown says the poses offer a powerful way to overcome the biggest obstacle those with cancer often face — the feeling that their bodies have turned on them, and they have no control over their bodies. “I do the position first, and then explain to each person how to modify the positions to their own physical abilities, depending on the type of cancer they have, or how they are feeling on a given day,” Brown says.

Classes are small, so she can develop personalized programs. And students are encouraged to attend class if they can get out of bed. “I promise them, they will feel better,” Brown says. “I know many of them are exhausted and nauseated. They may have to lie on the floor the whole class — but relaxing and breathing will still benefit them.” The program helps students develop a support system with people who understand exactly what they are going through. Greenberg says that camaraderie is vitally important. “It helps to have that support group,” she says, adding, “We are lucky to have Yvonne in our lives. There’s not a time I go that I don’t benefit from her class.” It is not only Brown’s warrior students who benefit from the yoga sessions. “My students help me keep things in perspective,” Brown says. “I see them living and struggling, and it makes me stay focused on what I am doing in my life. I can help them with relaxing and coping, but they are my inspiration.” TCW

ToLearnMore Presbyterian Cancer Rehabilitation and Wellness is located at 125 Baldwin Ave. For information, call 704/384-6953 or visit presbyterian.org/cancer and click on “cancer rehabilitation and wellness.”

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Rally On

H o w A G r o u p O f N e i g h b o r s B a n d e d T o g e t h e r T o R a i s e B r e a s t C a n c e r Awa r e n e s s

By Melinda Johnston

BCC Rally, a grassroots Rally for the Cure® organization that supports Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, began in 2004 with a small group of ladies playing golf at Ballantyne Country Club. It has since evolved into something much grander than any of them could have imagined. The organization is now a registered nonprofit with a nine-member board that works year-round leading a volunteer committee of 50 women. Hundreds of other volunteers join in to support a flurry of activities each September. “It really started out as a very small, very modest group,” says Sue Dockstader, BCC Rally’s publicity coordinator. “It’s amazing how, when you get a group of motivated individuals together, things can develop.” >

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Through golf and tennis tournaments, a Pink Harvest Festival, plus the sale of pink bows and Ruthie and the Pink Fairy (above), BCC Rally has raised over $500,000 for Komen for the Cure in just eight years. Left, BCC Rally board members (from short to tall) Lee Lustig, Jean Rottmann, Jeanne Puckett, Terri Williamson, Beth Freudenthal, and Sue Dockstader.

The Power Of Pink

In eight years, the group has raised over $500,000 for Susan G. Komen for the Cure. For the past three years, BCC Rally has been named the top fundraiser in the nation for Rally for the Cure, raising $168,000 in 2010. In addition to ladies’ golf, organizers of BCC Rally have continually created new events in order to reach an ever-widening audience. A men’s golf tournament is now in place, as is a day of junior golf and junior tennis. Entire families look forward to the Pink Harvest Festival, which includes food, rides, and a pumpkin patch complete with pumpkins sporting pink bows. An adults-only, black-tie gala wraps up the week’s events. The group also has a children’s book to their credit. As a community outreach project, BCC Rally helped publish and market Ruthie and the Pink Fairy, designed to help children whose mothers are fighting the disease. Written by recent Ardrey Kell high school gradu34

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ates Heidi Eggles and Allison Eddy, the book tells the story of a young girl named Ruthie who is visited in her dreams by a pink fairy, who reveals ways for her to be strong for her mother. In addition, BCC Rally’s Pink Bow campaign reaches around the world. Volunteers started small several years ago by tying handmade pink bows to the mailboxes in Ballantyne, and the idea caught on. “We started cutting pink tulle and tying it to mailboxes in our neighborhood. Other neighborhoods saw the bows and wanted to join in. We realized there was only so much cutting we could do, so we looked around and found a manufacturer that could make pull bows for us,” Dockstader says. The project is now in more than 40 neighborhoods, 30 businesses, and 10 schools in the area. Bows have been sent to Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles. A few were even

mailed overseas to the Cayman Islands and England. This year, BCC Rally has added more selections, including 7-inch bows specially sized for cubicles and computer monitors, and 5-inch bows perfect for adorning purses, backpacks, and hair. “These vibrant pink bows provide an easy way for everyone to contribute in some small way to the fight against breast cancer, and are a decorative reminder that early detection saves lives,” Dockstader says.

Raising Awareness, Creating Survivors While the money raised through bows, books, and events is important, members say the message of early detection and awareness is the main reason they work so hard. “Although raising money is good, our real underlying goal is to raise awareness,” says Dockstader. “It was not that long ago that no media outlet would use the term ‘breast can-

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cer.’ We are a group of women getting together to raise awareness. There are massive amounts of resources available, but many people don’t know they exist.” Jeanne Puckett, BCC Rally captain of business partnerships and a 13-year breast cancer survivor, knows the importance of early detection. Doctors discovered cancer on her baseline mammogram at age 42. “I lost a very good friend who had the same kind of breast cancer as I had,” Puckett says. “The only difference was that mine was caught early and hers was not. I’m a firm believer in early detection, and that’s what a lot of our efforts are aimed at.” She adds, “The way we make survivors is to educate women on getting their mammograms. Until we find a cure, my goal is to help make survivors. I want people to know that this group cares.” It’s that quality of passionate caring that makes BCC Rally so successful year after year. “We feed on each other’s energy,” Dockstader says. “We’re not experts, but we persevere. There are women on this committee who, just this year, have lost their mothers to breast cancer. When you hear that, you redouble your efforts. You have to pick a cause that moves you, and then do all you can do for it.” Beth Freudenthal, 2011 BCC Rally chairperson, says the mission of the group — bringing men, women, and children together to raise breast cancer awareness — is a powerful cause that brings out the best in its volunteers. “It’s amazing to watch this group work together,” Freudenthal says. “It’s not just about one person, it’s about the whole group. It’s a very humbling thing to be a part of.” TCW

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Invisible Child, Invincible Woman D r .

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he fabric of Dr. Iyanla Vanzant’s childhood was interwoven with dark strands of tragedy. At 2, she lost her mother to

breast cancer. Her father, indifferent, passed her from relative to relative to be raised. At 9, an uncle raped her, and although she spoke up and was believed, it was she who became the family pariah. Unwanted, unloved, and all but invisible, at 14, she got pregnant, but lost the baby to SIDS. By 16, she’d had a child, and at 21, was the mother of three. Nine years into an abusive marriage, she escaped, only to land on welfare. For others, it might have been the first step in a pattern as familiar as it is insidious, but for Dr. Vanzant, it was a temporary stopgap. > O C T O B E R

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In the ensuing years, she would be ordained a Yoruba priestess and graduate summa cum laude from Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn, N.Y. She earned a law degree at the New York Law School at Queens College, and landed a job in the Philadelphia public defender’s office. She was on the fast track to success … but the truth had other plans for her. Leaving a promising legal career might seem counterintuitive. However, finding one’s authentic self isn’t just about hearing the truth, Dr. Vanzant says, it’s about heeding it. “I heard the voice,” she says, “and because I know God and I know God’s voice, I said, ‘OK.’ He said, ‘Leave here now, and don’t come back,’ and I never did. I figured if I could survive rape and teenage pregnancy and physical abuse, surely I could survive without a job. I still had a law degree, two legs, two eyes, two feet, two ears, two lips, a heart beating … Being unemployed was not the worst thing that could have happened to me.” She was right. Soon, her truth transformed her life. Dr. Vanzant went from being broke and sleeping on a friend’s sofa, to a bestselling author, a soughtafter radio and television personality, and a frequent guest on “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” Dr. Vanzant was on top of the world — and then nearly lost it all. Following the prolonged illness and death of her daughter, Gemmia, Dr. Vanzant’s million-dollar

home went into foreclosure, and her marriage ended. The road back hasn’t been easy, yet she adamantly owns the choices she’s made, and in so doing, has allowed joy to re-enter her heart. TCW recently caught up with Dr. Vanzant during a speaking engagement at the Minority Business Expo in Charlotte. TCW: Over the course of your life, you’ve reinvented yourself several times. How many of your “previous selves” are still with you? I.V.: All of them. I’ve just given them new job assignments. So, whereas my little girl had to be secretive and covert, now I look to discover the secrets in other people and things, and reveal them to the light. Where my teenager had to be rebellious and defiant, I’ve given her a new job to be vigilant. You never lose the elements that are there, but you can take dominion over them. TCW: Your uncle molested you at age 9, but you say the way you were treated by family members afterward was more traumatic than the actual abuse. I.V.: I think the greatest damage that I experienced in my life, the deepest wounding, came not from my mother dying or my father abandoning me or my uncle raping me or my brother ignoring me … the greatest damage came from what I told myself about myself because nobody saw me, nobody heard me, nobody ever demonstrated that I mattered — not the world, not the community, not black people, not women … just me, a motherless child being shuttled around. If they’d just attended to my mind, my heart, my spirit, I think it would have been very different. Then again, we make our issues our cause, so in my work, I don’t care if I’m speaking to one person or a thousand, I’m speaking to

every heart, every mind, every soul. TCW: Describe your life now. I.V.: I’m old enough, bold enough, and powerful enough to do whatever I want … and when I don’t want to do something, I don’t. I’m not driving, I’m driven — by peace. If it’s peaceful, I’ll do it. If it’s fun, I’ll do it. If it’s not … (laughs) I don’t have to prove anything. I lost my daughter. I lost my husband. I lost my home. I don’t need anything else, so whether I’m in a hut, a hovel, or a mansion, I’m still going to have my peace. TCW: Who inspires you? I.V.: My son, who was raised by a single mother bordering on emotional shutdown. He completed high school, got himself in trouble, went to prison, did threeand-a-half years, then came out and began to recreate his life. Today, he’s 40, and has a double master’s degree with the desire to teach high school history. A black man in America with a criminal record who refused to go back to jail, who refused to do drugs, who refused to abandon his children ... my son inspires me. TCW: For someone who’s had to cope with so much adversity, you seem to have an awful lot of joy. I.V.: I do. What can I say? I chose this. My soul chose my parents, my location, my gender, my race. I chose it to be able to learn and grow and feel and do what I need to do to be of service to the world. I’m very clear that every single experience in my life was my OJT — On the Job Training — for the work that God would have me do. I can’t complain and I can’t be a victim. Everyone has a curriculum of what they’ve come here to learn, to grow, to evolve through. That was mine. I didn’t know it then; I know it now. TCW

ToLearnMore Dr. Iyanla Vanzant’s latest book, Peace from Broken Pieces: How to Get Through What You’re Going Through (SmileyBooks, 2010) is available at amazon.com. To learn about her Inner Visions Institute for Spiritual Development, call 301/419-8085.

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PhotOS BY JOE MARTIN

TCW unveiled the League of Extraordinary Women at the third annual Coffee & Conversation Sept. 16 at the Southern Women’s Show. Clockwise, from top left: Belva Greenage, TCW publisher and founder of the Belva Wallace Greenage Cancer Fund, entertains the crowd. League winners Diane Morais, LaRita Barber, and Tish Atkins pose with awards in hand. Diane Morais and Belva Greenage share a hug and a smile. The crowd reacts to Ramona Holloway’s speech about living successfully with a parent (Holloway’s mother, Wheezy, is in the purple dress). Joan Zimmerman is surprised to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from Belva Greenage. One stylish attendee dips into the breakfast bounty. LaRita Barber is the epitome of grace as she accepts her award. Tish Atkins gives the crowd a grin as she shows off her plaque. The TCW staff (from left to right): Nikki Wilson, Fern Howerin, Belva Greenage, Anita O’Hara, Karsen Price, and Barbara Herd. Lastly, the ladies of the Red Hat Society attend Coffee & Conversation for the third consecutive year.

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Extraordinary Define

In t r o du c in g

TC W ’ s

Le a g u e B y

O f

D a n a

ou know extraordinary

E x t r a o r di n a r y D u r

Wo m e n

h a m

give credit where credit is due.

women. They are often the

Today’s Charlotte Woman magazine

ones behind-the-scenes ... making

knows all about extraordinary women: We

difficult endeavors seem smooth

meet them every day. This year, publisher

and effortless. Caring and compe-

Belva Greenage decided it was time to

tent, and willing to go the extra mile for

sing the praises of some of the unsung, yet

others, these women are adept at getting

notable, extraordinary women found around

it done and managing to live their lives to

town; hence the creation of TCW’s League

the fullest. Oddly enough, the world tends

of Extraordinary Women, recently unveiled

to take extraordinary women in stride,

at the third annual Coffee & Conversation at

appreciating their special gifts, but failing to

the Southern Women’s Show. >

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Tish Atkins

LaRita Barber

Diane Morais

Tish Atkins, a critical player in the Southern Shows organization since 1998, is the epitome of the term “team player.” A behind-the-scenes force to be reckoned with, Atkins works with the Women’s Show division of the Southern Women’s Show in both Charlotte and Raleigh as executive show manager. Atkins is known for getting it done; she is also recognized for her long-standing commitment to volunteerism. Atkins is a member of the board of Dress for Success Charlotte; was recently elected board chair of The Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte; and is a member of the Women’s Inter-Cultural Exchange, Junior League of Charlotte, and NAWBO. How does Atkins define an extraordinary woman? “Turning 50 this year has given me time to reflect on the many women who have helped shape the communities in which I have lived,” Atkins says. “Whether it was through their entrepreneurial spirit, chairing a board, passing legislation, or raising their families, these women exemplify what it takes to be extraordinary.”

LaRita Barber leaves her mark on everything she touches. The vice president for community engagement at Goodwill Industries, Barber is responsible for building communitywide support for the organization’s mission. A native Charlottean, Barber has been active in the area since 1987, serving on several community boards, including the Arts & Science Council, CPCC’s Education Foundation, Johnson C. Smith University’s board of visitors, and Wells Fargo’s Champions for Education board of directors. She has led a stellar career of service in the public and private sectors. Barber defines an extraordinary woman as someone who “allows her life to flow like a river, not allowing things to get in her way … moving through, around, and over barriers and challenges with grace, while gaining strength and power created with forward motion. She lives each day with a heart full of gratitude; loves herself and accepts ‘who she is’ as good enough; and pursues spiritual joy in life’s little pleasures,” Barber says. “She radiates light, and is blessed.”

Diane Morais is an example of a woman who balances family with career, while being an agent for change. The mother of three young boys, Morais is an executive in the Deposits and Line of Business Integration sector at Ally Bank, with extensive experience in the financial services industry. Morais has been married for 20 years and is mother to Drew, 11; Alex, 8; and Michael, 7. She has been involved in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure®® , Thompson Child & Family Focus, and Charlotte Direct Marketing Club. Morais also serves on several church and school committees. “When I first considered what makes an extraordinary woman, I envisioned trailblazers,” she says. “Then I realized I see extraordinary women everywhere. In the doctor’s office, I see a mother struggling to lift her child out of a wheelchair. I have a friend who is a single mother raising three children alone. My sister-in-law is caring for her ailing mother while working full time. And my special friend continues to battle cancer and live her life to the fullest.”

Joan Zimmerman

TCW Le a g u e Of E x tr a or d i n a r y Wom e n L i f e t i m e Ac h i e v e m e n t Aw a r d W i n n e r

• Joan Zimmerman is founder of Southern Shows Inc., which annually hosts the Southern Women’s Show and Southern Christmas Show, among others. • She was named the first Charlotte BusinessWoman of the Year by Queens University of Charlotte in 1986; in 2005, she was inducted into the North Carolina Business Hall of Fame; and she was named the 2007 Charlotte Woman of the Year.

League of Extraordinary Women.indd 42

• Zimmerman has served on the board of directors for Discovery Place, Presbyterian Hospital, Queens University of Charlotte, United Way of Central Carolinas Inc., the Arts & Science Council, and the American Heart Association, to name a few. • Zimmerman’s life is filled with examples of courage, generosity, and success. She takes the greatest joy in helping others achieve greatness. She is a woman to admire, and a woman to model. TCW

9/22/11 3:43 PM

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Getting Lost, Getting Found H o w O n e G i r l F o u n d S o l i t u d e O n A S a t u r d ay F o r 2 5 B u c k s

B y S h e r r y S h aw

“I floated without a care like baby Moses in his basket down the Nile. I floated like Muhammad Ali’s butterfly. I floated like the vapors on asphalt from the window seat on a plane. I wanted nothing; I became nothing; I evaporated.” 44 Essay1011.indd 44

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nstinctively, I paddled away from the crowd of kayakers hoarding by the dock. From a distance, I settled into the seat of the rented yellow fiberglass kayak, positioned my oars in a way that felt natural, and braced my bare feet against each foothold. I was a first-timer. Prior to climbing in, I’d been given only one instruction: Buckle your life jacket. “It’s a rule,” the tousled blond-haired teen said, shrugging. “Flip-flops or barefoot?” I asked. “Whatever you want.” I liked this already. I waved my oar to my husband, and he waved back. With one last look over my shoulder, I began to paddle down the river. She was wide and smooth and offered me what I craved: solitude. I crept upon a turtle sunning on a riverbank log; I quietly stalked a leggy heron along the bank until she fled, taking flight with those great wings, almost in slow motion. Once airborne, she circled me twice, her screech piercing the silence. Watching her take flight was the sort of sight that makes you remember how badly you wished you could fly as a child. Anxious to see what lay around the next river bend, I fiddled with my technique until I found my rhythm, or at least that of an amateur’s: raise your oars high, then plunge deep into the water to get the most out of each stroke; engage your abs; use your thigh muscles for power. Next thing, there I was: Pocahontas, gliding down the river. Within a few minutes, I sat in the middle of the broad Catawba River, with nothing but a canopy of green trees surrounding me, and not a soul in sight. I loosened my life vest, placed my oar in my lap, and lay back. I floated like that, my face open to the sun, the earthy smell of the river rushing over me. Soaking wet, my shoulders dusty with dried sweat, I floated. I floated without a care like baby Moses in his basket down the Nile. I floated like Muhammad Ali’s butterfly. I floated like the vapors on asphalt from the window seat on a plane. I wanted nothing; I became nothing; I evaporated. This river was older and more vast than any of my worries. The beauty surrounding me was more majestic and lofty than anything I, or you, will ever accomplish. This life, it’s an eye-blink. There’s only three of us here now: a turtle; a heron; me. No one who knows me would describe me as easy-

going. It’s not unusual for my husband to glance at me beachside on day four of a seven-day vacation and say, “Now, you’re finally relaxing.” It would be very Disney of me to mention an old dead relative of mine who was easygoing about now. It would also be a lie. Case in point: Every year at Thanksgiving, my family’s house is loud and crowded and chaotic, with children running in and out and the constant chatter of cell phone conversations. Casseroles and pies are passed overhead, while my brothers and sister and I shout to be heard over the football game on TV. Someone will yell, “Touchdown!” and for a second there is quiet. It does not last. All of which makes me wonder: Are our temperaments genetic or learned? Do we have any ability to change them, or is it all self-help spin? And is Thanksgiving really only a few short weeks away? Perversely, I am drawn to intense people: I married an intense man. Fortunately, we are intense in opposite ways, which may account for the reason we’re still married after almost 20 years. My husband, a lawyer, is intense about order. “Look at that!” he’ll say, pointing to the one weed that won’t die no matter how much Roundup he sprays. I am intense about not just telling you this story — about the river, and the turtle, and the heron — but telling it in such a way that you feel you were there with me. Because as much as I crave solitude, I also crave connecting with you. And the river. And the turtle. And the heron. Don’t ask me how floating down a river in a rented kayak can give you both the feeling of escaping and connecting. But it did for me. Maybe it was because it was my first time: a mere novelty. Maybe it was my mood. Maybe I had a heat stroke and became delirious. I know this. Need some solitude? Go out alone and float down the river. It’s 25 bucks at the U.S. National Whitewater Center. That’s cheaper than therapy, booze, a fancy dinner, a blind date, or even a bad movie. I started out to tell you a story about how I found solitude in the simplest way: floating down a river alone under a clear Carolina sky on a hot autumn day. Yet it is precisely that solitude that made me more connected to the world in every good way a person can be. You should try it. Sherry Shaw is a writer in Gastonia, N.C., in search of solitude. TCW

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Fashion

It’s Hip To Be Square Fall Fashion Statement: Color-Blocking By Fiona Harmon

he shrinking violets of spring and summer may be out of luck (or at least out of style!) because this season’s looks

are not for the faint of heart. When it comes to fall fashion, strong, solid colors in geometric shapes are the statement of choice for many designers — from high fashion to off-price. The good news is, this look fits and flatters many body types and trends across age groups. (In other words, don’t be surprised if your daughter starts pilfering your wardrobe as the days get cooler!) Color-blocking is basically the creation of pattern by putting contrasting colors together geometrically through piecing or printing. It’s a design trend showing up on sweaters, dresses, and even accessories, particularly this season’s beautiful platform-wedge shoes. And, according to Elliot Staples, vice president and design director for The Limited fashion brand, it’s something that can easily be achieved by pairing two contrasting colors. “Try a top in bright red and a camel trouser,” Staples says. >

Fashion1011.indd 46

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Red, in fact, is turning out to be this fall’s new “neutral.” And it’s the color from which the iconic brand (which opens its newest store this month at Northlake Mall) is springboarding its entire collection. “We have interpreted color-blocking for fall by using one strong color off of classic neutrals,” Staples explains. “Red is the color for the season, so it was the perfect color choice. When adding in black, off-white, camel, and taupe, the red is the focal point and the star of the outfit.” (Style alert: Later in the season, The Limited — and most likely other designers — will replace the red with an electric blue.) To wear the trend, the best place to start is, as always, your own closet. Wearing two contrasting colors automatically creates a color-block look. “Take it a step further,” Staples says. “Wear that bright red sweater with the camel pant or skirt, but add a hot pink skinny belt to contribute to the geometry of the blocking.” Color-blocking also can be achieved with different variations of the same color (three shades of

blue) or by going all out with strikingly different colors (yellow and navy, for example). “Both types of color-blocking can look equally fashionable and polished,” Staples says. “Tonal color-blocking is probably the easiest way to interpret the trend. You can never go wrong with tonal dressing in the same shade! On the flip side, contrast colorblocking is harder to achieve, but is definitely a more striking and confident fashion statement.” If you can add one piece to your wardrobe this fall, choose a color-blocked top or sweater. There are plenty to choose from at a variety of price points and designers. Accessories are a perfect way to play with color, as well. “You can add fun pop colors to an outfit by carrying a colorful bag,” Staples says. And the commitment is less permanent; you can always leave the bag at your desk! “I am always careful to ensure that the accessories add to the overall look without distracting it,” he explains. “On the flip side, sometimes the accessories can be the focal point, so the core of the outfit has to be simple pieces.” >

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Trying To Conceive? Just Say No To That Cup Of Joe

ew research performed on mice may go a long way toward explaining why drinking caffeinated drinks can reduce a woman’s chance of becoming pregnant, according to research by Dr. Seán Ward, professor of physiology and cell biology at the University of Nevada School of Medicine. It appears that caffeine reduces muscle activity in the Fallopian tubes that carry eggs from a woman’s ovaries to her womb. It was generally assumed that tiny, hair-like projections in the lining of the tubes, called cilia, move eggs along the tubes assisted by muscle contractions in the tube walls.

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By studying tubes from mice, Dr. Ward and his team discovered that caffeine stops the actions of specialized pacemaker cells in the wall of the tubes. These cells coordinate tube contractions so that when they are inhibited, eggs can’t move down the tubes. In fact, these muscle contractions play a bigger role than the beating cilia in moving the egg toward the womb. “This provides an intriguing explanation as to why women with high-caffeine consumption often take longer to conceive than women who do not consume caffeine,” Dr. Ward says. It could also increase our understanding of what causes ectopic pregnancy, an extremely painful and potentially life-threatening situation in which embryos get stuck and start developing inside a woman’s Fallopian tube.

W o m a n

9/22/11 3:52 PM

Ounce Of Prevention

Upping The Ante For Women’s Care We’ve all heard the old adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” and it seems the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is listening. Beginning in August 2012, as part of the Affordable Care Act, new insurance plans will be required to fully cover women’s preventive care, which will include free FDAapproved birth control, voluntary sterilization, yearly wellness visits, breastfeeding counseling and equipment, screening for gestational diabetes, domestic abuse, HPV, sexually transmitted infections, and HIV. Mammograms and cervical cancer screening are already covered, without co-pay, under the Affordable Care Act. The law also makes preventive services free for women on Medicare. Although the new requirement doesn’t affect health plans already in effect before March 23, 2010, Health and Human Services secretary Kathleen Sebelius states, “No woman in America needs to choose between paying a grocery bill and paying for the key care that can save her life.” It is estimated that by 2013, 34 million U.S. women ages 18 to 64 will receive the benefits spelled out in the new guidelines. And while it may mean a small increase in premium costs, in the long run, preventive care saves money by avoiding or delaying more costly chronic disease care. >

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HealthFlash

D-Constructing Skin Cancer

Up In Smoke

Vitamin D May Prevent Melanoma

n a large, seven-year study of women who previously had skin cancer, those who took a calcium and vitamin D supplement every day experienced 57 percent fewer melanomas compared with women who didn’t take the supplement. More research is needed to confirm the results of this early study. Researchers are not yet sure whether a calcium and vitamin D supplement could play a role in helping prevent melanoma in people who have never had the disease. But plenty of research has shown that vitamin D, which helps control how quickly cells replicate, has the potential to keep the growth of many different types of cancer cells in check, including colon, breast, and prostate cancer cells. And if you’ve had another form of skin cancer, you are at higher risk of developing melanoma — the deadliest kind — later in life. So popping a supplement, in addition to living a sun-smart lifestyle, may be an easy, extra preventative measure to take.

Secondhand Smoke & Cervical Cancer

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There is a well-established empirical link between smoking and an increased risk of developing cervical cancer. However,

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This conclusive link between secondhand smoke and the possibility of developing cervical cancer is a good reason for nonsmokers who live with smokers to make an effort to decrease their secondhand smoke exposure.

According to findings recently released in the Archives of Internal Medicine, people who ingest more sodium and less potassium are more likely to die sooner of heart failure or other major health ailments. The 15-year study looked at more than 12,000 Americans, with the average male consuming 4,323 milligrams of sodium a day, and women taking in about 2,918 milligrams a day. (Keep in mind, the American Heart Association recommends only 1,500 milligrams a day — about ½ teaspoon.) The study found that the group with the highest sodium-to-potassium ratio was 50 percent more likely to die than the group with the lowest. Since most of our sodium intake comes from processed foods, the Institute of Medicine recommended that the FDA start regulating sodium in food just last year. This gave birth to the National Salt Reduction Initiative — a pact between food manufacturers who have pledged to cut sodium in processed foods by 25 percent by 2014. So far, 28 companies have taken the pledge to cut salt from at least one of their retail products, including household brands such as Hostess, Butterball, Heinz, Kraft, Starbucks, and Subway. TCW

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(Licensed Acupuncturist)

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T o d a y ’ s

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were 70 percent more likely to have irregular

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Par For The Course

Allison Emrey Golfer

By Victoria Moreland • Photo BY JOE MARTIN

or competitive golfer Allison Emrey, this fall presents the opportunity to make her mark with a new team at a new level. The 18-year-old Ardrey Kell graduate just began college at Wake Forest University on a full athletic golf scholarship. Emrey’s golf credentials are impressive. In 2008, she was the 4A individual state champion, and in 2009 she was a runner-up. Recruited by Wake Forest in 2010, Emrey was then ranked as the No. 1 junior golfer in the state, according to juniorgolfscoreboard.com. As a senior at Ardrey Kell, she led her golf team to a decisive win at the NCHSAA 4A State Championship. In July, at her final junior golf tournament, she won the American Junior Golf Association’s Golf Pride Junior Classic; and in August, she qualified for the U.S. Women’s Amateur tournament in Rhode Island. Emrey enjoys playing team golf, but she also likes the individual nature of the game. “I think it’s all about you. You’re the one deciding. You can’t blame it on anyone else,” she says. Emrey credits her mellow personality with her success on the course. She strives to focus on one shot at

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a time, but admits it’s not always that easy. “I’m usually pretty good at forgetting about bad shots, but it’s still hard to come back from that and stay level the whole round to keep it together,” Emrey says. The night before a tournament, Emrey prepares mentally by imagining she is playing the course as she goes to sleep. She thinks about hitting the perfect shot right by the pin and making all her putts. On the course, she has her superstitions, such as the hoop diamond earrings that she wears to every tournament. If she plays well, she’ll use the same Sharpie to mark her ball the next day. Likewise, she’ll tweak habits if she’s not playing well, such as moving her golf glove from her bag to her pocket if she misses a putt. Her driver is her best club, she says. She enjoys the social aspects of the game and uses it to her advantage. “I like to talk to the other players, so I’m not thinking about golf, and then over-thinking it,” she says. As Emrey settles in at her college home, she hopes to continue to be a competitive player, and to eventually play at the professional level. If she manages to fulfill those dreams, she should be easy to spot: She’ll be the mellow one wearing the sparkling hoop earrings. TCW

W o m a n

9/22/11 3:57 PM

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American EagleÂŽ now offers daily nonstop service from Charlotte to New York LaGuardia. From there, American and American Eagle can easily take you to more than 250 cities in 40 countries worldwide. To book your travel, visit AA.com.

Service totals include American Eagle. AmericanAirlines, American Eagle and AA.com are marks of American Airlines, Inc. oneworld is a mark of the oneworld Alliance, LLC. ÂŠ 2011 American Airlines, Inc. All rights reserved.

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