MOD Society Magazine - January/February 2022

TRANQUIL TRANSITION

Brittain Knight Mehler

Linda Knight Carr

Greg Hughes

EDITOR from the

Happy New Year, wonderful readers! We hope your holidays were full of joy, family, fun — and the occasional nap! Because 2021 was a doozy: Busy, eventful, challenging in ways we’re ready to move beyond — and full of much to be grateful for, including you, our neighbors and friends.

Here’s another reason we hope you’ve rested up: A brand, spanking new year and a new issue! Our pages are full of MOD marvels — people to meet, places to visit, stories to share and the latest and greatest in lifestyle tips and trends.

To whet your appetite, let’s start with a visit to Founding Fathers Distillery. The small-batch distillery is aptly named, as it sits on a spread of Guilford County farmland that once served as an important staging point during the Revolutionary War. There, Jeff Cooper and Marta Price create their acclaimed Cooper’s Cut Single Malt Whiskey and Deep River Rum.

Jeff Triplette has retired his NFL referee stripes and whistle, and now he’s sharing the leadership lessons he gained while officiating on the field with business students at his alma mater Wake Forest University. Now that’s what we call good sportsmanship!

Summer McGee, the newest — and youngest— president of Salem Academy and College is also all about leadership and learning. As she helps the school mark its 250th anniversary, she’s also charting a future course to position the college as a trailblazer in elevating the role of women in health leadership. Interior designer Teresa Keller gives us a tour of a classic, contemporary Greensboro home. We love the look — and that her client was — and remains (even after construction!) — a good friend.

You won’t find North Carolina’s Poet Laureate Jaki Shelton Green sitting demurely behind a desk waiting for inspiration to strike. She believes in bringing poetry to the people, and so she travels the state, encouraging individuals of all ages, backgrounds and circumstances to tell their stories. There is so much more in this great issue, from fashion galas to vacation home considerations to a new take on resolutions you’ll actually keep. This is my last issue as editor of MOD Society as I move on to new endeavors on my own resolutions list. It has been a grand and gratifying adventure, and I leave you in excellent hands: Jennifer Bringle takes over as editor-in-chief and is an accomplished writer, editor, creative dynamo and a new friend.

Wishing you all the best in 2022 and beyond!

Lucinda Trew, editor-in-chief

CONTENTS

EDITOR’S LETTER

We celebrate all the new in 2022 — and we’re grateful for readers like you!

LEADERSHIP TOUCHDOWN!

Jeff Triplette knows a thing or two (or three) about leadership. He’s enjoyed successful careers as a C-suite business executive, a U.S. Army National Guard colonel and an NFL referee. And now he’s sharing those lessons as Executive in Residence at Wake Forest University’s School of Business’ Allegacy Center for Leadership and Character.

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TRANQUIL TRANSITION

Interior designer Teresa Keller helped a busy family design a new construction home that is an oasis of classic, contemporary calm. You’ll experience the “aah” reaction as soon as you step into this lovely home in Greensboro’s Northern Shores Estate.

CLOTHES WHISPERER

Did your invitation to fashion’s biggest, glitziest party get lost in the mail? Not to worry! Maribeth Geraci gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the fabulous Met Gala.

POINTS OF VIEW

Lisa Johnson welcomes 2022 one step at a time, easing into the new year with intentional, kinder and gentler resolutions.

CONTENTS

POET WITNESS

North Carolina’s Poet Laureate, Jaki Shelton Green makes her home in Mebane, North Carolina. But most days you’ll find her traveling the Tar Heel state to teach, read, write, listen and advocate for all voices.

TRIAD’S FINEST TIPS

Considering investing in a vacation home? Kristen Haynes of Triad’s Finest Real Estate offers advice on what to think about before you take the leap.

THE ROAD TO SALEM

Summer McGee, Salem Academy and College’s newest — and youngest-ever — president is leading the school on a bold new course to elevate and expand the role of women in health leadership.

YOU ARE MY WHY

Tiffany Allen of Triad Lifestyle Medicine shares what motivated her to leave a traditional medical career and open something as unconventional as a lifestyle medicine practice. Spoiler alert: It’s her patients.

REVOLUTIONARY SPIRITS

Jeff Cooper and Marta Price are all about American spirit(s)! They own and operate Founding Fathers Distillery on Guilford County farmland that has historic ties to the American Revolution. That’s where they create the acclaimed Cooper’s Cut Single Malt Whiskey and dark Deep River Rum. Raise a toast!

LEADERSHIP TOUCHDOWN!

Jeff Triplette has worn the black and white zebra stripes of an NFL referee, the tailored pinstripes of a corporate executive and the desert fatigues of a U.S. Army National Guard colonel who earned a Bronze Star while serving in the Gulf War.

As you might expect, he has closets full of lessons to share, and he’s doing just that at his alma mater, Wake Forest University, as Executive in Residence at the School of Business’ Allegacy Center for Leadership and Character. In that role, he serves as guest lecturer, student team coach and mentor for business school students. He also serves on the School of Business Board of Visitors and Board of Directors for the Wake Forest Deacon Club.

You’d think after hanging up his stripes, he’d be ready to sit on the bench for a while and take a breather. But that’s not the case. “Nothing gives me greater joy than seeing folks I’ve mentored, talked with or helped in some small way, succeed,” says Jeff, as we make our way to an office in the business school’s sleek and sunny Farrell Hall. “It’s the best feeling in the world.”

Jeff is especially pleased to provide counsel and career guidance to students at the school he loves. He graduated from Wake Forest in 1973 with bachelor’s degree in economics. He got his start officiating high school sports during his freshman and sophomore years to help cover tuition costs. He refereed baseball, basketball and football, eventually choosing to focus exclusively on football.

Like players, sports officials are scouted and recruited. Jeff made his way to the collegiate level, and then to the NFL in 1996. The progression is not so different from business, he reflects, where good work gets noticed, and you work your way up the ladder.

Upon graduating from Wake Forest, Jeff went to work for Duke Power (now Duke Energy) in the company’s real estate department. He rose through the ranks, serving in various executive leadership roles, including vice president of risk management and assistant treasurer. He served as president and chief operating officer at FNC, a technology provider to mortgage lenders, and as president and CEO of ArbiterSports, a leading sports management and payment software platform for athletic directors, commissioners and game officials for collegiate, scholastic and youth programs.

All the while, he was traveling across the country on weekends officiating NFL games and tournaments and serving a 32-year stint with the Army National Guard and Reserve, including tours in Saudi Arabia and Iraq. At first glance, the career paths appear to be widely divergent — and exhausting! — but Jeff has been able to weave together the common threads of leadership, service, teamwork and making tough calls. He shares those lessons with students, colleagues — and us. High performers stretch themselves: One of the first things Jeff noticed when he came into the NFL and transitioned from collegiate ranks to pro was the level of exceptionalism. On a college team, you might have three or four really strong players, he explains. But when you get to the NFL, or the upper echelons of corporate life, you’re playing and competing with all-stars. Everyone has been vetted, tested and earned their spot, which tends to elevate both personal and team performance. His advice?

Surround yourself with highachieving performers, professionals who will motivate you to nextlevel excellence.

The focus factor: Jeff has never forgotten a piece of advice he received during his rookie days

“The right calls aren’t always the easy calls or the popular calls.”

photography by aura marzouk

with the league: “You’ll know you’ve arrived when you start seeing things in slow motion.” That’s what a veteran referee told him and what he now shares with others. Focus intently on what’s coming at you. Be in the moment, and let everything else blur away as you concentrate on the issue at hand.

Baseball Hall of Famer Ted Williams was said to focus so keenly on a pitch that he could see the laces on a ball speeding toward him. The rest of us mere mortals have the same capacity, Jeff believes. If you’ve ever been in a car accident, for example, you’ll recall, in precise, decelerated detail, exactly what happened. The same concentration can be applied to any sector of business. Top-of-field professionals such as surgeons, CEOs, pilots and engineers can concentrate on the task at hand and eliminate all distractions. It took Jeff about three years to achieve the suggested Zen-like, slo-mo level of focus on the football field, and he’s able to do the same in business.

The value of diversity: Diversity, in all forms, strengthens teams. “We make better decisions with better input, informed by diverse perspectives,” Jeff explains. One of his greatest take-aways from his time serving in the Gulf War was the tremendous fortitude and valor of female soldiers. This respect deepened when he welcomed Sarah Thomas, the NFL’s first female referee, to his crew. “I admire passion and commitment from all, especially those who pave the way for others.” Our differences aren’t always apparent, Jeff notes, and he’d committed to supporting those with limited economic means. He and his wife Laurie endowed a scholarship at Wake Forest for students enrolled in the School of Business, with preference given to undergraduates with financial need.

The balancing act: There’s a lot of talk in business about balance, prioritizing and managing your schedule so it doesn’t manage you. Jeff had to master that one early on. His professional career was demanding. and so were his gridiron commitments. They weren’t relegated to weekends, either. Monday nights were spent reviewing game tapes. Tuesday nights he hosted calls with his crew, Other nights included obligatory study and testing on NFL rules; and, of course, daily physical training was required. Add to that his military obligations, and the fact that Jeff is a devoted, and present, husband and father. “Every successful executive has to learn how to block-manage his or her schedule. It’s essential. You have to value your time, be efficient and judicious with your time, and include time for

reading and reflection.” That last bit is especially important, Jeff believes. He reminds students to set aside quiet, screenfree time to gain perspective and to think big-picture. Accountability in all things: Athletes have bad games. So do the men and women officiating, fans in the stands and the executives in VIP suites. “We all get it wrong sometimes. It happens to the best of us. We make a wrong call.” The leadership advantage, he believes, is having the self-awareness to own and grow from your mistakes — and the self-confidence to hold your teammates accountable as well. Midway during his 22-year career with the league, Jeff recalls being pulled aside following a pre-season game by his crew’s line judge, Jeff Bergman. “He told me to watch the tape, that my penalty announcements were not up to par and I was letting the crew down.” That was tough feedback to hear. But Jeff did watch the tape, and he realized Jeff Bergman was right.

“He challenged me and made me a better leader. And that’s exactly what you want from a teammate or colleague or buddy in the foxhole.” Integrity above all else: There are steadfast rules, recorded in the NFL Rulebook, in regulatory statutes, accounting codes and professional standards across sectors. They’re the black-and-white directive we seek and do our best to adhere to, says Jeff. But there are plenty of shades of gray as well, in business and in sports, and leaders need to put ethical behavior above winning — and above all else. “The right calls aren’t always the easy calls or the popular calls.” Like any self-respecting referee, Jeff has made calls that went against the home team. He’s been booed and harassed by fans and irate players. He’s taken plenty of heat. But that’s beside the point, he believes. “My job isn’t to make sure a team wins or loses. It’s to enforce the rules and ensure fair play.”

Given that perspective gained during time on the gridiron, in the board room and on the battlefield, Jeff seems ideally suited for his role working with Wake Forest’s Center for Leadership and Character. The Center’s purpose is “Advancing the profession of business by developing passionate ethical business leaders who get results with integrity.” We’d call that a very good play!

For more information: https://clc.business.wfu.edu/ – Lucinda Trew,

editor-in-chief

TRANQUIL

TRANSITION

photography by mynda bullock

The first step in building a new home isn’t turning dirt or picking tile. It’s all about visualization: Picturing your loved ones around the Thanksgiving table, passing the sweet potatoes and dressing, celebrating birthdays in the backyard, family game nights and pizza parties in the den.

When Holly and David Jones decided to build a new abode in the community they love, Greensboro’s Northern Shores Estate, Holly imagined a home that was light and airy, full of sunlight and soothing colors. “I wanted a cozy, easy place,” she says. “Somewhere you’d come into, settle in on the couch, put your feet up and snuggle under a blanket.”

What better direction does a designer need? Especially a designer who is a dear friend. Someone who knows you, your preferences and predilections, your favorite colors and what you can’t abide.

Interior designer Teresa Keller had created a stunning living room in the couple’s previous home, so Holly called on her friend Teresa as soon as they began work on the new home, constructed by R&K Custom Homes.

Working with an interior designer from the start of a custom home build offers many advantages, Teresa notes. In addition to providing an overall sense of aesthetic cohesion, designers can help you picture space and materials; select finishes; collaborate with building contractors on optimal placement of doors, windows and other components; and importantly, reduce homeowner stress.

That was important to Holly, who appreciated how easy Teresa made the project. “Teresa helped me pick out everything — every knob, handle, color and cabinet. She made it so easy, giving me great options to choose from so I wasn’t overwhelmed.”

The end result is lovely, serene, with exactly the “aah” factor Holly was going for.

The stately dining room is painted a pewter gray that makes the bright white millwork and tray ceiling gleam and pop. A rich mahogany dining set sits atop a silky blue patterned rug by Nourison. Hanging above the table is a graceful, beaded crystal chandelier.

A trio of Palladian windows frame a gorgeous view of the manicured front lawn and provide a welcome splash of sunlight. Teresa chose to dress the windows in custom treatments by Jennifer O’Neill. The geometric blue pattern of the applique drapes gives a modern touch of color and texture to the room, as does a watercolor by artist Becky Clodfelter.

Holly loves the airy openness of the kitchen and family room, that flow into one another. The kitchen is crisp and bright with white cabinets, sleek quartz countertops with a hint of sparkle and a generous center island. A custom white cabinetry hood frames the stove and a herringbone backsplash in gray and white tile adds depth and dimension. Hanging above the island are a pair of pendant lights in winter gold. And the bar between the kitchen and family room is perfect for entertaining or serving up casual meals.

The breakfast area features a dark wood farm table. Teresa mixed things up here, opting for a set of pretty gray bamboo-style chairs with seat cushions upholstered in a velvet animal print. And the chandelier above the table is bold and gold and fabulous!

The kitchen area opens to a comfortable, casual family room. Pewter gray walls contrast with glossy white cabinetry. Teresa made the most of the floor-toceiling windows by selecting matching curtains and Roman shades in a breezy, floral fabric with touches of bright teal. The two sofas are upholstered in a warm gray linen, and the pair of comfy armchairs are covered in a classic Greek key pattern. Holly wanted comfy, and Teresa delivered with lots of pillows and soft fabrics. A tufted velvet ottoman in pale blue does double duty as a place to rest your feet, a book or snacks, and an intricately carved console in dark wood, by Worlds Away, sits behind one sofa. An array of small occasional tables, in different finishes, shapes and styles, adds fun and interest to the space.

The primary suite is a favorite of both Holly and Teresa. The focal point of the room is a stunning accent wall behind the bed, custom-designed and constructed by Andrew Bereznak of Brezlin Custom Furniture & Cabinetry. The diamond-patterned wall, painted a mineral gray-green, is a dramatic touch. “It sounds crazy to say that my favorite thing in the whole house is a wall,” Holly laughs. “But it’s true. Teresa absolutely made the right call on that. Everyone loves our beautiful wall.”

The tufted linen headboard is framed in dark wood with nail head detail. Bedding is sumptuous, in soft natural shades. The matching nightstands are by Gabby Home and finished in a blue-gray faux shagreen with acrylic trim. The modern, circle-based lamps in gold complete the room’s sophisticated, contemporary look.

“We wanted subtle colors to provide a serene backdrop for the beautiful trim work of this home, and to allow the furnishings and fabrics to stand out.”

The primary suite also boasts a sitting room, centered around a fireplace. It’s a cozy place to relax, watch a movie or cuddle up with a good book. The custom work in this room, and throughout the home, is exquisite. The sitting room is separated from the bedroom by an elegant arch, lighting is tucked within the tray ceiling and creamy built-in cabinetry flanks the fireplace. Color and interest are courtesy of a Kevin Rutan abstract painting.

The peaceful color palette of grays and cream continues in the ensuite. The floor and spa tub are tiled in a marble-look ceramic and the dual vanities are topped in a vivid, veiny quartz. The vanity mirrors are framed in creamy white, complementing the detailed window casings.

There is definitely a flow to this lovely, tranquil home. From the color palette of calming hues to the clean, contemporary lines and layout to profuse natural light and pristine, thoughtfully selected accessories and art — it feels calm, comfortable, unfussy and welcoming. “We wanted subtle colors to provide a serene backdrop for the beautiful trim work of this home, and to allow the furnishings and fabrics to stand out,” comments Teresa.

This dream home began with a vision, and Holly says her talented friend delivered all she envisioned and made the dream come true. All went smoothly. It was a low-hassle, stress-free process. The only surprises were happy ones — like a very cool bedroom wall!

Regarding the Home...

HOMEOWNERS: Holly and David Jones

DESIGN TEAM: Teresa Keller Interior Design

CONTRACTOR: R&K Custom Homes

Featured Home Photos

Cover Dining Room

Pages 24-25 Family Room

Page 26 Kitchen

Page 27 Breakfast Area

Page 28-29 Primary Suite Sitting Room

Page 30 Display Niche (upper)

Primary Suite Sitting Room (lower)

Page 31 Primary Suite

Page 32 Ensuite

PUBLISHER MSM Media, LLC

Kathryn Field

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Lucinda Trew

Editor@yourMODsociety.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Tiffany Allen

Maribeth Geraci

Kristen Haynes

COPY EDITOR

Jennifer Weaver-Spencer

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Lindley Battle

Mynda Bullock

Anna Danielle

Aura Marzouk

Stephen Thrift

DESIGN FIRM Stallard Studio, LLC

DIGITAL AGENCY

The Buzz Effect ADVERTISING Advertising@yourMODsociety.com

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CLOTHES WHISPERER

As we look back on the holiday party season and move into 2022, I began thinking about what’s considered to be one of the biggest parties of every year, “fashion’s biggest night out” — the Met Gala.

This gala is on the calendar every year to benefit The Museum of Modern Art’s (MOMA) Costume Institute and to open that year’s exhibition. In 2022, MOMA will celebrate its 75th anniversary. The theme for the exhibition, “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion” will also serve as the suggested dress code for gala party guests. Some past themes include “Fashion in the Age of Technology” in 2016 and “China Through the Looking Glass” in 2015.

The Met Gala started out as a socialite fundraiser in 1948, organized by none other than Eleanor Lambert, who also spearheaded the Battle of Versailles fashion competition. Beginning in the early 1970s, the Met Gala attracted more celebrities than socialites, and the guest list expanded to include A-list stars.

The Met Gala is considered the most anticipated fashion event of the year. The theme sets the stage for what the celebrity guests choose to wear by the top designers in the world. It’s quite the show and continues to be more and more dramatic. Often the clothes are bold statements that are meant to send a message. The 2021 fashion was no exception. Many critics of the themes say they are too vague and that the celebrities fall short of reflecting them. Below is a link to the 2021 show.

Take a look, and decide what you think. Whatever your opinion, it’s quite the spectacle and can be very entertaining.

Cheers to 2022 and to more dress-up fun.

https://www.vogue.com/article/ met-gala-live-stream-2021

–

Maribeth Geraci, DressCode Style

photography by stephen thrift

POINTS OF VIEW

Lisa Johnson welcomes 2022 one step at a time, easing into the new year with intentional, kinder and gentler resolutions.

Finding time for everything that matters will always be a challenge. Resolutions to do better, try harder, succeed more can leave a person either energized or, in some cases, filled with regret as some people procrastinate repeatedly. This year, instead of lofty goals and resolutions, I’m planning to step into the new year. Stepping, as opposed to charging into the year seems plausible and attainable.

A new year can mean making changes, starting something new or living the way you’ve always wanted. Somehow reframing resolutions as achievable hopes makes it easier for me to grasp the concept of changing for the better. With every renewed effort, large or small, I marvel that each step gets easier. I’ll even go so far as to say that the sense of accomplishment can even produce joy!

If 2021 wasn’t the best for you, let that perhaps motivate you to make 2022 a better year.

In 2022, I will try to make intentional choices to create the future I want. A consistent sleep schedule is an example of an achievable goal at the top of my list. Doing just this one simple thing would have positive ripple effects on many aspects of my life and would make me happier. Rather than learning something new, I’d like

to improve on the things I’m passionate about. Lastly, I’d like to push through adversity — to persevere through hard times. In doing so, I’d learn new coping skills that would alleviate a wide range of emotions.

So, there you have it. I’ve shared — or maybe overshared — my steps into 2022. Life really is a journey. I won’t put too much pressure on myself to do everything at once! While not everyone has the same urgency to achieve goals, there can be a powerful argument against waiting around until inspiration strikes. If you have a task ahead of you, try to take steps toward creating something positive, no matter the time of year. Even if your first attempt is not your best, it will give you a foundation to build upon. Starting somewhere will get you closer to where you’d like to end up!

In the new year, let your resolutions put you first. Taking stock of both your mental and physical health will allow you to possess the power you need to attain a better future.

I hope this year will be one of the best you’ve ever had.

– Lisa Johnson Lisa Johnson & Company | Shop on Blair

WITNESS Poet

photography by anna danielle

Jaki Shelton Green’s grandmother taught her to hear the song contained within the rain. “When I was a child, she taught me to listen to the rhythm of rain, its calling and cadence — and to respect and be inspired by the natural world around me,” recalls North Carolina’s ninth Poet Laureate.

She’s been listening — and raising a lyrical voice — ever since.

Jaki is the first African American person and third woman to earn the prestigious honor of Poet Laureate of North Carolina. She was first appointed by Governor Roy Cooper in 2018 and reappointed in 2021. She has also served as North Carolina’s Piedmont Poet Laureate and was inducted into North Carolina’s Literary Hall of Fame in 2014. She’s published eight poetry collections, and her work has been included in more than 80 national and international anthologies. And she teaches, from Duke University’s elegant campus to elementary schools in underserved rural communities.

Surely her beloved grandmother, Eva Tate, would be proud of how Jaki’s words have bloomed, thrived, and propagated new growth. Eva was a prodigious gardener who instilled in young Jaki a reverence for raising things up — flowers, vegetables, verse and people.

Born in Alamance County, Jaki grew up in Efland and now makes her home in Mebane, where she lives with her husband and 105-year-old mother, Mama Ivory. But most days you’ll find her traveling the state, visiting schools, local libraries, prisons, retirement homes, libraries and universities. She shares her poetry with all; and, perhaps even more importantly, she encourages others to find their voice and tell their own stories. “I cannot be an ambassador for the literary arts from an office or via a podcast,” Jaki explains. “My role involves outreach, community engagement, education and connecting with everyone, especially those who may feel disenfranchised or silenced.”

And so, she travels the dusty backroads of North Carolina, as well as the city highways. She conducts

writing workshops for homeless men and women, teaches journaling at juvenile detention facilities, encourages elders in senior living facilities to recall and record their stories and introduces elementary school-age children to the magic of poetry. Jaki is determined to deliver the uplifting gift of literature to every corner and every soul she can reach.

Her mission to honor all voices is especially relevant today. In the wake of COVID-19 and other societal pressures and divides, storytelling allows us to connect and celebrate the beauty of diversity, Jaki believes. It brings us together, providing a bridge that Jaki says allows us to “find ourselves, over and over again, inside one another’s stories.”

Think about being on the dance floor, she suggests. “You’re getting your boogie on, having a great time and you look across the room and see others dancing and smiling. You don’t stop and think, ‘Hmm. I wonder who the drummer voted for?’ You don’t care. Creativity, music, poetry and art bring us together.”

It seems that listening — and dancing — to the song within the rain are lessons this Poet Laureate carries with her.

Education and an abiding respect for books, words and writing were instilled in Jaki early on. Her extended family, all of whom lived nearby, included many educators. She recalls aunts keeping her and all the cousins busy with worksheets during summer break, and her grandmother giving her the small notebooks that Jaki would sneak into church. She was nosy as a child, she says with a smile, inquisitive and alert to all around her — traits that serve her well today. Jaki teaches Documentary Poetry at Duke University’s Center for Documentary Studies, and she speaks ardently about the role of “poet witnesses” — writers who research, reflect on history, document current events and weave together personal and more expansive narratives. We are living in a time that requires witnessing, she says, recalling an assignment she gave recently to a group of teenage students: “Write a love poem to COVID.” She gave them the chance to write

the breakup letter, too, but wanted her students to think deeply about the experience and emotion of living during unusual times.

Ancestry, of both people and place, figures prominently In Jaki’s poetry. She writes of those who came before her, both those within her close family circle and those she’s never met — ancestors who worked as plantation slaves. She listens to the land, the graves, the wind and the trees of her southern home. Telling untold stories is an important part of generational healing, she explains. It gives a voice to the voiceless and sets history in the context of human spirit.

While she is intentional in honoring the past, Jaki’s work also focuses on current issues and concerns. She recently released her first poetry album, “The River Speaks of Thirst,” an evocative collection of poems that convey cultural and political commentary on tracks such as “Oh My Brother,” “This I Know for Sure,” and “Letter from the Other Daughter of the Confederacy.” In addition to Jaki’s melodic reading, the LP features the vocals and music of Nnenna Freelon, featuring CJ Suitt and Shirlette Ammons.

Jaki moves gracefully through her many roles: Poet, teacher, cultural activist — and creativity coach. Years ago, she fulfilled a long-time dream by founding SistaWRITE, an entity that provides writing retreats for women. Sedona, Arizona; Ocracoke, North Carolina; Northern Morocco; and Tullamore, Ireland are among the favored destinations. Attendees describe the experience as transformative, nurturing, renewing and affirming. Not all who participate are professional writers, Jaki notes. She’s had fiber artists, sculptors and songwriters join in retreats. “They all come seeking narrative: The narrative inside their stitches, their fire, their iron or song,” she says.

Jaki is pleased and hopeful to see poetry being redefined, crafted and intoned by a growing choir of diverse voices. “I’m happy to see this lovely revival, to witness the beauty of masses of people speaking, sharing and celebrating their stories. Poetry has always been with us, as the container that holds our stories.”

Poetry is everywhere, Jaki reminds us: In the rain, the earth, our past and our future. And it endures, championed by a grassroots Poet Laureate planting literary seeds across the state.

For more information: https://jakisheltongreen.com/ and https://sistawrite.com/ – Lucinda Trew, editor-in-chief

TRIAD’S FINEST TIPS

Has anyone else felt the itch to buy a vacation home? You are not alone! Vacation homes have been a huge trend since the beginning of the pandemic. Those who were able to secure a retreat in the past two years are undoubtedly feeling most fortunate.

Do you have a vacation destination that you just love? If you’re not ready to relocate permanently but you would like to spend a lot of your extra time in your favorite place, it may be time to consider purchasing a vacation home. Given the right situation, vacation homes can be a great way to build wealth. There are many options to occupy and pay for those second homes, especially given their growing popularity for vacation accommodation. Whether or not you plan to rent your getaway home, you’ll want to do your research before making a decision.

Owning a vacation home allows you to save money over the long run. Rather than paying rental fees or hotel costs, the money you spend could build equity as you pay down your mortgage, and your investment may grow in value, especially if it’s in a popular vacation destination. Many savvy owners of lessutilized vacation homes rent them out when not in use to help cover carry costs — and possibly more!

Be sure to decide how often you’ll use the home as taxes and financing options for vacation homes and investment properties vary greatly. It’s important to speak with your real estate agent, financial advisor and mortgage lender to make sure your investment works for you and your long-term goals.

It’s a very exciting and momentous time in your life if you’re considering buying a second home, and it’s important to enjoy the process and not rush it. Make a list of goals, research the area and have your finances in order before beginning your search. It may take a few offers to secure a home, but don’t give up.

For more information: www.triadsfinest.com or 336-209-3382

– Kristen Haynes, Triad’s Finest

Mary Claire Thomas Stylist Associate

Ashley Staton Scott Pearl Stylist

THE ROAD TO SALEM

photography by anna danielle

Summer McGee had been in her new role as President of Salem Academy and College just three months when she presided over a momentous cross-country trek honoring the college and its founders. Talk about hitting the ground running — or historically hiking!

Salem Academy and College traces its beginnings to the Moravian community of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and a small group of women who set out from Bethlehem’s Single Sisters House in 1766 to North Carolina’s fledgling Moravian community of Bethabara. Five and a half years later, Salem Academy and College was founded with the mission of providing young women with an education as rich and rigorous as that afforded to young men of the time.

To commemorate the school’s 250th anniversary, alumni and friends recreated the journey, hiking 500 miles in 29 days. Summer participated in the first leg of the memorial journey when the group set out from Bethlehem on September 29, 2021, and in the triumphant final stretch when the group arrived to celebratory cheers in Old Salem on October 26, 2021. “It was such a remarkable, moving feat,” she says. “A real testament to how passionate and committed our alumnae are — and how brave and determined our founders were.”

Summer is not only marking history; she’s making history as the youngest-ever president of the school, and the person tasked with envisioning and leading a bold new future for Salem Academy and College. The significance of the moment is not lost on her. She is grateful to have come on board when the school is remembering and paying respect to its proud legacy, and she looks forward to helping shape what’s ahead. “I feel fortunate to have joined such an impressive institution, steeped in amazing history, at a pivotal time.”

Salem Academy and College is indeed a venerable institution. It is the 13th oldest college in the United States, and the oldest educational institution for women and girls in the nation. Salem College is a four-year liberal arts school historically for women, though men over the age of 23 are admitted to the school’s adult education and graduate programs. Salem Academy is a college preparatory day and boarding school for girls

in grades nine to 12. The Academy and College share a campus, and Summer leads both.

Passionate about the power of women’s education since she was a teenager, Summer’s top college choice was Wellesley, where she was accepted. But when Indiana University offered her a full scholarship, she went the financially prudent, and co-ed, route. She’s happy to have come full-circle now and finally have her women’s college experience — just from a different perspective.

“Women’s colleges are the hidden jewels of our higher education system,” Summer reflects. “They are a place where students can engage in selfdiscovery and explore what it is they want to contribute to the world. They are places that are safe and open to that exploration and incredibly supportive communities that allow students to embark upon the journey of finding their own passions and successes.”

The journey that led Summer to Winston-Salem and her new role is inspiring. She grew up in rural Indiana where her father taught and her mother worked as a health professional. After graduating from Indiana University in Bloomington with bachelor’s degrees in Bioethics and Philosophy, Summer went on to earn her Ph.D. in Health Policy and Management from Johns Hopkins University. She is also a graduate of Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education Management Development Program. Her passion? Being a part of institutions where she can build or transform programs focused on elevating the field of healthcare.

Before joining Salem Academy and College, Summer served as the Founding Dean of the School of Health Sciences at the University of New Haven where she oversaw an ambitious strategic plan and the creation of one of the only professional doctoral programs in health sciences in the nation. Under her leadership, the university’s healthcare management graduate program became the ninth largest in the nation.

So, when Salem Academy and College announced its intent to become the nation’s only liberal arts college dedicated to elevating and expanding the role of women in health leadership, Summer quickly rose to the top of

“

My vision for the future of Salem is that we will be radically bold and innovative in the education we provide.”

WE HAVE EXPANDED INTO THE

the list of candidates to oversee the transformation. It’s exactly the kind of challenge she appreciates: Preparing a rising generation of women to become empowered, ethical, effective leaders in a wide range of fields from medicine and wellness to law and public policy, from business and not-for-profit to advocacy and the environment.

Salem has long been an institution ahead of its time, Summer reflects. She’s impressed by how adaptive and responsive the school has been from its very beginning. Salem Academy began as a school for young girls, and later, realizing the community would need women in the workforce skilled in bookkeeping, the basics of business law and education, the college was founded, becoming the first program in the state to certify teachers. To this day it remains the oldest continuously operating educational institution in North Carolina.

The new president has grand goals for Salem: “My vision for the future of Salem is that we will be radically bold and innovative in the education we provide. We’re in the midst of a dramatic transformation that involves changing our academic programs, changing our core curriculum and inspiring a student body that is incredibly passionate about making the world a better, healthier and more equitable place.”

Program majors currently include Health Humanities, Health Communication, and Health Advocacy and Humanitarian Systems. A Public Health major is in development, along with a number of graduate programs. Even students pursuing liberal arts majors will gain valuable exposure to health-related topics. The school isn’t just adding health programs or teaching new health courses, Summer explains. Salem is integrating health, wellness and leadership skills holistically and campus-wide, from residence halls to student activities to the dining hall.

Speaking with Summer, you get the sense that this is a perfect, meant-to-be match. She loves the idea of being part of an exceptional community, pushing the envelope of what’s possible and reimagining a dynamic future. “Salem has been a trailblazer for 250 years,” she says, with the spirit of someone following in the footsteps of a Bethlehem-toBethabara pioneer. “That legacy inspires us to continue doing that today.”

For more information: https://www.salem.edu/ – Lucinda Trew, editor-in-chief

YOU ARE MY WHY

Many people ask why I chose to leave a secure, well-paying career at a traditional medical office to open a new office, from scratch, under the guise of something as unconventional as lifestyle medicine. The answer is simple: It is you — the patient. My patients, quite simply, needed more than I could give them in a 15-minute checkup. My patients deserved more time. More attention. More information. More accountability.

I have seen over the course of my career that wellness cannot be achieved within the four walls of a medical office. Wellness is achieved through the daily practice of an informed, healthy lifestyle. If we medical providers truly want our patients to live their longest, healthiest, happiest lives, we must give them more tools to take control of their health when they aren’t in front of us. It is the patient who has the largest and final say over his or her health.

This is why I pivoted to create a new environment in which I could give my patients personalized wellness care. And having seen the results, my passion for patient advocacy is even stronger! I encourage you to take a self-assessment of how well you are advocating for your own health. Start here: Are you playing an active role in customizing your treatment plan or accepting a dictated one-size-fits-all solution? Patients should feel empowered to ask questions, bring ideas and speak up if a suggestion doesn’t feel right for them. After all, you know yourself best! Are you pushing for answers when something still feels off, even when you have been dismissed or told everything looks normal? Are you vested in identifying the root of your symptoms? Are you seeking solutions beyond medication? Are you taking accountability for your health, meaning what you eat, and how you move, sleep, manage stress, cultivate a healthy social network and maintain a healthy environment? How would you rate your self-care habits? I encourage you to seek out the resources and partners (both personally and professionally) that can help you take the best care of yourself when it counts the most — every day.

– Tiffany Allen, Triad Lifestyle Medicine

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RevolutionarySpirits

Founding Fathers Distillery is located in the heart of Guilford County farmland, in the center of High Point’s Old Parsons Farm property. It is a beautiful and bucolic stretch of land running along the Deep River, a place with deep, patriotic roots.

As Founding Fathers’ partners Jeff Cooper and Marta Price explain, the land carries a proud legacy — beyond the cultivation of grain and tobacco. “Where we are today once served as a favored staging point during the Revolutionary War,” says Jeff. Revolutionary-era artifacts have been found on the farm and archival records connect the property to the Battle of Guilford Court House.

As history buffs and patriots, Jeff and Marta were thrilled to learn of the farm’s honorable connection to the past. It serves as inspiration to their business, a small batch, single barrel craft distillery. Founding Fathers Distillery ferments, distills and bottles Cooper’s Cut Single Malt Whisky and light and dark Deep River Rum, spirits that carry forth a tradition of independence, ingenuity and adherence to excellence.

“We are committed to making the very best products possible,” Jeff says. “If that is not our goal, then we are just another distillery. The sacrifice of greater expense in our singularly-designed processes is considered small when compared to the exceptional product we have designed, created and achieved.”

Founding Fathers Distillery has been a long time in the making. But as with the best whisky, aging and carefully understood and selected wood profiles served to make the product and process better.

Jeff became intrigued with launching a distillery in the 1970s during a brief, 20-minute conversation with a colleague. In the interim, he enjoyed successful careers as an author, artist and photographer. Marta is a retired teacher and psychotherapist. Both enjoy research, scientific inquiry and creative pursuits. So, they dug in and learned everything they could about the process of

photography by anna danielle

making fine whisky and rum. They took their time, were patient, diligent students, and worked their way up the requisite trial and error learning curve. They had a barn constructed on the property to house the distillery, which at present includes two stills, familiarly known as Ben (Franklin) and George (Washington).

“Jeff is a perfectionist,” Marta says. “He is not happy unless whatever he is doing, be that the art of photography or the art of distilling, is the very best.” Jeff agrees with his everpresent grin. “I didn’t want to just put something brown in a bottle and then go out there and try to market it,” says Jeff. “I wasn’t interested in producing swill. It had to be exceptional.”

Quality ingredients are essential. Founding Fathers Distillery uses high-quality, American-sourced, aromatic barley; specially formulated yeast; and artesian water from the farm’s aquifer. While the components are simple and straightforward, the process is anything but.

Distilling done right is an engineering feat and scientific marvel. It requires understanding what happens at a molecular level, a grasp of chemical reactions and the ability to replicate success and high standards.

“The art of the process is in the oak,” he says, with reverence and respect for the oaken barrels used to store and flavor whisky. Founding Fathers primarily uses new American white oak, with French oak as a secondary

“The art of process is in the oak.”

influence. The wood is charred and toasted to Jeff’s design specifications and contributes to the whisky’s rich, multi-layered flavor.

Storing spirits in oak barrels dates back to the early Romans who discovered that wine stored in oak barrels tasted better. It has something to do with the chemistry of the wood and the resulting complexity of flavor and smooth texture. Porous white oak allows for the exchange of oxygen and the optimal amount of alcohol evaporation, Jeff says.

Jeff and Marta’s precision and exactitude paid off. After years of exhaustive research, experimentation and meticulous modification, Jeff was finally satisfied that he had indeed achieved his goal of exceptional. “Objectively speaking, I believe this to be the best whisky I’ve tasted,” he says matter-of-factly.

Others agree. A review from a five-star chef states: “… in all honesty this is probably the best Malt Whisky I have ever had … truly a balanced start and finish. It’s like I’m getting the smokiness and the oak in just the right amount! Not bitter — not straight tobacco — definitely not a one-trick pony — it is seasoned with specific intent. Bravo, sir!”

Jeff and Marta enjoy watching friends, customers and guests to the farm take their first sip of Cooper’s Cut. “They look at each other, struggle to find the right descriptors and words and then finally they just go silent and savor the experience.”

The stillness of the experience is something both Marta and Jeff appreciate and want to share with others. “We want to welcome guests to tour the farm, sample our product, enjoy the tasting room and wide-open porches — just sit a while and take in the scenery,” says Marta.

And if you happen to take away some American History lessons with your American Spirit, all the better! The two pair well — exceptionally well.

Founding Fathers Distillery is open by appointment. Cooper’s Cut Single Malt Whisky and Deep River Rum are available for purchase at the distillery.

For additional information: https://www.foundingfathersdistillery.com/ – Lucinda Trew, editor-in-chief

Ashley M Pritchett Financial Advisor

Ashley M. Pritchett

Financial Advisor

1208 Eastchester Dr Suite 132 High Point, NC 27265-3103 336-886-7942

336-803-4823

ashley.pritchett@edwardjones.com 3750 Admiral Drive, Suite 103 High Point, NC 27265 MKT-5894M-A

Tammy Milani, Potter

Ben Owen III, Potter

CHEERS to INSPIRE!

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