Looking for a place to go dancing and a way to impart their love of dance onto others, Finley and Carmen Walker stepped in to create a community for Salsa and Swing in Lakeland. In partnership with the City of Lakeland’s Parks & Rec., The Walkers teach group and private social dance lessons with their company, Lakeland Salsa & Swing. A high school Spanish teacher who would teach Fin and his classmates Salsa, and a Swing-dance-themed senior prom were Walker’s foray into dance. He enjoyed it so much that in college he connected with different groups and would go dancing every week. After about a year of social dancing – mainly Salsa and Swing – Walker was offered the opportunity to teach some basic classes. That grew into a weekly Friday night social in downtown Lynchburg, Virginia that attracted over 200 people each weekend. Fin participated in styles from Waltz and Tango to Foxtrot, Cha-Cha, Rumba, Merengue, and Bachata though his passion has remained Salsa and Swing. When Fin and Carmen met, naturally the two spent time on the dance floor. They would periodically go out dancing and do private lessons. The pair lived in Miami for a time and Durham, North Carolina. The pursuit of Fin’s doctorate in Organizational Leadership at Southeastern University and Lakeland’s “awesome community vibe” brought the couple here to stay. FINDING THE RHYTHM “We wanted to have something to go to in Lakeland. We were looking for a place to go dancing,” said Fin. Lakeland does have dance studios for formal lessons but seemed to be lacking what they were looking for – informal, lowpressure, social dancing that was fun and accessible to both novices and professionals alike. So, in March they created it themselves with Lakeland Salsa & Swing. Every Tuesday evening in the Lake Mirror Auditorium, for $5 per person, folks of all ages and skill levels, with and without partners gather to learn from the Walkers and socialize with fellow dancers. “Most of our students that come are beginners,” said Walker. For this reason, they’ve created lessons comfortable for everyone. Each week, they cover a basic step along with the foundational basics of moving to the music and dancing with a partner. They marry that with a combination, turn, or another maneuver. The Walkers switch it up each week to make the class accessible to newcomers and not repetitive for those who attend regularly. “What we’re looking to do now is build more of a culture and a community,” said Fin. He explained that bigger cities like Orlando or Tampa have these types of dance events regularly. Instead of having a studio, they rely on a different restaurant or business to host. This is the model he’d like to create here, partnering with Lakeland business owners. Both the accessibility and the ubiquity of the dances were the reason he wanted to bring Salsa and Swing to Lakeland. “It’s kind of like a gateway to the other partner dances. The steps are a little more accommodating to beginners,” he said. “They’re kind of these evolving dances because they’re more social dances and less of the traditional formal styles. They’re constantly evolving, changing, adapting with different music that’s coming out.” Periodically they change formats from their usual class and host Salsa social. The last one was at LKLD Live with another scheduled this month at Haus 820. The social is typically longer than a normal class and draws in more people. The Walkers are hoping to have upwards of 100 people at their upcoming Haus 820 social on October 11. TRY SOMETHING NEW, YOU MIGHT JUST FALL IN LOVE If you’re on the fence about stepping into your dancin’ shoes, Fin had a story that might change your mind about trying something new. In college, Walker would ask his roommate to go out dancing with him as a way to meet new people, unwind, and build confidence. “Dancing helped build my self-esteem,” Fin said. “It also taught me a lot about relationships.”For an entire semester, his roommate declined. Finally, at the end of that semester, he gave in and went dancing. Walker said, “He loved it after that first time. He was hooked!” His roommate went dancing every week from then on. He moved back to Los Angeles where he was from and began working with a professional dance group. Now, he competes professionally and teaches at a prestigious dance studio in L.A. The roommate even met his wife through dance. “Dance, it brings people together,” said Walker. “Everyone should give it a shot at least once and you never know, it might be your new favorite thing.” Walker says he and Carmen would love to add another day of the week to their dance schedule – one day for Salsa and another for Swing. At the moment, the family’s schedule won’t allow it as Carmen works full-time in the mental health field and Fin will soon start a position teaching 5th grade English. Oh, and they’re expecting a baby! They look to add that extra day in the future and potentially try out a “Dancing with the Stars” event with Polk County celebs. In the meantime, the duo will keep using dance as a conduit for community, confidence building, and fun. “I love teaching – with dancing or teaching English and Social Studies – I love seeing the lightbulb moments in people’s eyes when they get it,” said Fin Walker. “The moment when they self-discover what they’re capable of, that’s an awesome feeling. For me and my wife, that’s the reason we love to teach dance.” Lakeland Salsa and Swing www.lakelandsalsa.com FB @lakelandsalsa IG @lakelandsalsa Classes: When: Tuesday 6:30pm - 9pm Where: Lake Mirror Auditorium 121 South Lake Ave., Lakeland $5 per person Photo by Amy Sexson

For Meagan and Colin Wells, the thought of bringing people together and supporting downtown business was at the forefront when imagining Union Taproom. Union will be Polk County’s first self-pour taproom featuring 40 taps of rotating craft beer, cider, wine, cold brew coffee, and kombucha. Union Taproom has a motto – PYOB (Pour Your Own Beer). The PYOB process is simple. Guests present their ID and form of payment at the check-in counter to be scanned to verify age and start a tab. They are given an RFID bracelet that is linked to their tab, allowing them to pour as much or as little as they would like. After grabbing a glass, thirsty patrons can head over to the tap wall. Above each tap is a tablet displaying the price per ounce, location and history of the brew, ABV (Alcohol By Volume), and IBU (International Bitterness Units). Guests pour what they’d like using your bracelet to activate the tap, allowing craft beer adventurers to taste before committing to a whole glass of something they may not love. When you’re ready to leave, return the bracelet and close out the tab. The tap system has safeguards built in to avoid overserving. When you start a tab, the system will cut you off after 32 oz. From there, the guest can visit one of their staff who will do a visual check before allowing for more ounces. “Having 40 choices is really exciting,” said Colin. Union will focus on craft brews from around the country with a few domestics and Florida beers available. “It’s like an adult candy store,” said Meagan. The Taproom will feature a lounge area with warm leather seating and an assortment of funky furniture. The industrial concrete floors and mix-matched lighting fixtures are just the atmosphere Meagan envisioned for the space. “I just want a loft type of feel,” she said. A warm, comfy, casual environment that invites everyone to stop in for a drink. Along with the lounge there will be the main seating area with live acoustic music set up against the back wall on the weekends. They will have trivia every second Thursday of the month starting in October. To keep the good times rolling for you or the kids, Union will have an area with board and card games. A sectioned off, but not entirely partitioned backroom will have a long table seating around 14 for larger parties that want a bit of privacy. That space leads to their back patio which will have a pergola and outdoor seating. Their back entrance conveniently leads to the parking garage. Union Taproom is family-friendly and pet-friendly. Though they will not serve food, some downtown eateries have agreed to deliver, and patrons are invited to bring in their own food. Kids will be able to cheers’ as well with Union’s cooler of bottled craft sodas. “One of the things that we wanted to do was be part of Destination Downtown. There’s a lot of great business downtown. While we have people here, we want to introduce them to the other businesses,” said Colin. With so many fantastic dining options, he added, “The more we can push people to those business helps everybody downtown – it helps us, it helps them.” Meagan was born in Miami but has spent all of her life here. Colin moved here 15 years ago from Pittsburg. He and Meagan have been married for ten years and have two daughters, aged four and ten. Meagan, a hairstylist for seven years, most recently at Posh Salon Suites, explained that Colin’s family lives in Aiken, South Carolina. There is a similar self-pour taproom there, The Alley Downtown Taproom. When they visited a few years ago, they fell in love with the concept. Meagan said, “My first thought was ‘Oh my gosh, Winter Haven has to have this.’” The wheels began to turn on the concept and more and more they had conversations about it. There was no one moment where they committed to opening it, but the momentum of incremental progress sealed the deal. The pair thought over a million different names. Meagan said, “We want to bring everyone in Winter Haven together and Union kind of fit that.” Colin added that in other settings where you might only interact amongst your friends, the self-pour element forces you to mutual ground to grab a beer. They hope to see people interact, recommend beers to each other, and ultimately form new friendships. “Winter Haven is experiencing so much growth now. People are investing in the community, we want to be a part of that,” said Colin. The Wells are excited to bring this new concept to Winter Haven and Polk. They expect to draw people from surrounding communities inside and out of the county. “While we have them here, we can introduce them to this beautiful city – this vibrant growing downtown area,” he said. There is no official grand opening date yet set, but they are fairly confident it will be in August. The Wells extend an invite to you and yours, “Come have a beer!” Union Taproom 245 West Central Avenue, Suite 102, Winter Haven (863) 268-4921 info@uniontaproomwh.com Uniontaproomwh.com FB @uniontaproom IG @uniontaproom Photos by Amy Sexson

Black Skimmer by Adam Strang Bass A Florida Wildman in spirit (and Instagram handle), Adam Strang Bass captures timeless shots of old Florida in the name of preservation. His images are striking. Photographs that are in and of themselves an argument for protecting our wild state. Bass has a knack for capturing moments seldom seen or at least seldom appreciated by modern man – the speckled golden gaze of an alligator contrasted by it’s dark scaled armor, a black and white shot of sand, freshly slickened by a receding wave being watched over by a cascade of clouds bursting with sunlight, a pelican flying low, its reflection mirrored in the unbroken glassy ocean surface. Bass was born and raised in Winter Haven. He, wife Kim and two children, six-year-old Max and three-and-half-year-old (going on fifteen, he joked) Haddie moved out to Lake Pierce about six months ago – an idyllic homestead for the hunter, fisher, nature photographer. “It’s awesome because now I’m right there where I want to be – I can walk out back and take pictures of wood ducks anytime I want,” he said. His time not shooting wild Florida is spent helping farmers with crop insurance as an agent for Carden & Associates Insurance Agency in Winter Haven. A true outdoorsman, Adam enjoys boating, fishing, and duck hunting. “Usually I’ve got my sidekicks by my side. I enjoy taking my kids out and showing them the woods, showing them the water,” he said. One of his little sidekicks, son Max, has picked up his dad’s affinity for photography. “I gave him one of my old cameras,” said Bass. “My son, I think just wants to be with Daddy all the time which I’m thrilled about.” Adam even started an Instagram for Max’s photography, @maxbass863. An Outlet “I’ve always been into art. My mom got me into art when I was a kid – she’s very artistic,” said Bass. Growing up, Adam would draw and paint. He loved it so much he almost attended art school. His career trajectory turned following 9/11 when he decided to join the Marine Corps. Bass served in the Marine Corps from 2004 to 2012. His time in the service included two tours in Iraq, in the Al Anbar Province. “It was a good experience,” he said. “I made some great brothers over there and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.” His first exposure to photography was the stark black and white landscapes of beaches, everglades, ancient cypress trees and Florida wilderness shot by Clyde Butcher. He had Butcher’s prints hanging up in his room growing up. Bass, influenced by Butcher’s work, said, “Clyde Butcher, in my opinion, is one of the best photographers of all time.” Three or four years ago, Bass felt he needed an outlet – he wanted to get back into art. He discovered Paul Marcellini, another Florida wildscape photographer, who has since become one of his favorites. Seeing Marcellini’s work gave Bass the nudge he needed to pick up the camera. “It’s an addiction for me now, I enjoy it – trying to capture that perfect shot,” he smiled. When he began his photography, Bass said, “I kind of went out and [shot] whatever I saw. Now, I’ve gotten much more methodical about it.” He went from “spray and pray” to finding that perfect image. He scouts places to photograph and sets up, waiting for the right lighting or for an animal to come along and complete the scene. Spending so much time off the beaten path, he’s been witness to scenes akin to a religious experience. One such spot, which he described as “overwhelming nature” is Lake Marion Creek. “It’s like a Cypress cathedral there. It’s like a holy place – just beautiful,” he said. “Cypress trees that are twenty, thirty feet around and Cypress knees that are taller than me, it’s a cool spot.” His absolute favorite place to shoot his photography is right here in Polk County where he grew up, where he’s raising his family – where his heart is. He quotes Clyde Butcher, “I have always felt that your best photographs are taken in surroundings near to your heart.” Lake Pierce, the Kissimmee River Valley, Allen David Broussard Catfish Creek, and Lake Hatchineha are also frequently visited areas for the photographer. The palm trees and salt marshes of Crystal River in Homosassa call to him as well. His more recent affinity for the sea turtle has him heading south for Jupiter and Fort Pierce. “Right now, I’m kind of fascinated with sea turtles,” he said. “I’m trying to get long exposure night shots of them while they’re laying their eggs.” “Keep Florida Wild” In September, the public will have the opportunity to admire and purchase Bass’s work at his nature photography exhibit at the Lake Wales Arts Center. This will be his first showing at a formal gallery. In June he had a successful pop-up exhibit at Grove Roots Brewing Co. The exhibit, titled “Keep Florida Wild” will commence Lake Wales Arts Council’s 2019-2020 Exhibit Series. Executive Director of the Lake Wales Arts Council Andrew Allen was introduced to Bass’s photography through artist and, Blair Updike. “Needless to say, I was BLOWN AWAY by his work. He’s a master photographer and I knew that his art would resonate with our community. Adam’s a natural fit for the Lake Wales Arts Council’s exhibit series,” said Allen. He described Adam’s photography as “visually stunning,” adding, “He has been able to capture the natural beauty of our local wildlife.” The exhibit is themed around the conservation of Florida’s wild spaces. Bass said, “One thing I’m very passionate about is preserving our wild spaces here because they’re rapidly disappearing.” He humbly hopes that by showing off the grandeur of primordial Florida through his photography, people will be more inclined to protect it. “Not too many people have been that close to a wood stork,” he said, pointing to a large print on his office wall. “They might have seen them on a golf course, but they haven’t seen them out in a swamp in the Everglades Headwaters.” “My work, I like to think maybe it’s going to help. I don’t know if that’s true or not,” he said, “but maybe [it will] just paint a picture for people that this is what’s out there and this is what’s worth protecting.” A reception for the exhibit will be held on September 19, 2019, from 5:30 – 7pm in the Michael Crews Gallery with an open bar and food available. Admission is free to the public. The exhibit will be on display from September 20 through November 8, 2019. Conservation Adam doesn’t take photos to make money, but he is happy to sell his prints. To him, photography has become an intrinsic passion, an addiction. “It helps center me,” he said. His work will be available for sale at his LWAC exhibit as well as on his website. Conservation of the untamed beauty of the sunshine state is so important to the photographer that he donates 15% of the proceeds from each sale to The Florida Wildlife Corridor, a non-profit organization founded by another photographer he admires, Carlton Ward. According to the organization’s website, “The Florida Wildlife Corridor organization champions the public and partner support needed to permanently connect, protect and restore the Florida Wildlife Corridor – a statewide network of lands and waters that supports wildlife and people. Using a sciencebased approach, on-the-ground knowledge of the Corridor, and the support of thousands of followers throughout the state and nation, the Florida Wildlife Corridor now embarks on its most important journey – to accelerate the rate of conservation in Florida by 10% annually in order to protect 300,000 acres within the Corridor by the end of 2020.” They approach this goal in a number of ways says Bass, “Working with land acquisitions, with conservation easements with ranchers, farmers. I think they understand the complexities of Florida and I like their process and their goals.” The photographer is assisting with another project, the “Share Your Heritage” campaign by the Florida Cattlemen’s Association this year. The initiative of Cattlemen’s President, Matt Pearce, Bass explained the campaign’s purpose is to, “help bring awareness to the lifestyle and stewardship of wildlands in Florida that cattle families have.” In a July 2019 monthly message regarding the campaign, Pearce wrote, “I encourage each and every member to promote their story by using the #showyourpassion hashtag to tell your family’s ranching heritage. The Florida ranching heritage is the longest in the United States starting 500 years ago when Ponce de Leon brought the first cattle to Florida.” Bass hopes to continue shooting unique landscapes and wildlife photos that breathe life into old Florida. He also plans to continue doing his part to take care of wild Florida and hopes others will follow suit. “If we want to keep Florida, Florida, we have to grow smart,” he said. “It’s great to have population growth and the positive economic climate that comes from that, but there’s also a responsibility with that. Everybody’s moving here because Florida’s amazing, but it won’t be amazing if we don’t do a better job of taking care of it.” Adam S. Bass Adamstrangbass.com adam@adamstrangbass.com IG @afloridawildman Lakewalesartscouncil.org floridawildlifecorridor.org

He’s probably served you a beer at Grove Roots Brewing sometime in the past year, but don’t let his laidback vibe fool you. This past April, the indie filmmaker premiered his latest film, Something Else at the Tribeca Film Festival. In July he was invited to the The Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival in Switzerland. NIFFF is a Swiss film festival renowned internationally as one of the foremost film festivals in the world for genre cinema. He will be attending two more festivals around the world by the end of this year, and has had to say no to several more. He’s kind of a big deal... Gardner was born and raised in Kissimmee. That’s where he met his best friend, Christian Stella and together they’ve been making movies since high school, “with just whatever we could,” Gardner said with a smile. When Gardner was 23, he moved to Connecticut with Stella and his family because Stella’s dad had a new show on the Food Network. With the close proximity to NYC, Gardner used this opportunity to audition and focus more on his acting. His friend Stella slowly became a very good photographer, shooting all of the photos for his dad’s cookbooks. Not loving the emotional drain of the audition process, he realized he did love everything that went on behind the scenes. He thought, why not do it himself? Gardner explained, “So I wrote a script about two people on the road during an apocalypse.” It’s called The Battery. “I convinced my buddy Christian to help shoot it. He was already taking photos, so I asked him, can you use that camera to shoot a movie?” Needing funds, he made a plan. At the time, he was working at a bar and asked ten of his coworkers for $600 in exchange for a 5% stake in their movie. “We went with six grand and five people out into the woods. It was a surreal trip because we didn’t know a soul in the industry,” he laughed. They made a few rookie decisions and ended up signing with the first distributor that took their digital and world-wide rights. “But we didn’t know it was a bad thing at the time.” When writing the screenplay for The Battery, Jeremy explained that since they didn’t know anybody in the business, they didn’t care about how others did it. “So The Battery is more of a tone poem. It’s like an elegiac, flowing, long moments without dialogue, big wide shots to just kind of show nature creeping back in after humanity. And what happens when two people are forced to live together, when they really don’t like each other that much but they have to rely on each other. And it’s a zombie movie.” The Battery premiered at the Telluride Horror Festival in 2012. After that, they didn’t get into another festival for another 4 or 5 months. Gardner said, “We figured we tried, we did our best. And then we got into the Imagine Film Festival in Amsterdam. Because we got into that festival, it’s part of a network of genre festivals around the world, we started being asked by other festivals.” Before they knew it, they were getting letters from festivals all over the world saying they would waive the submission fee. “After awhile, we were invited to go without even submitting anything,” he explained. Having never been to a festival before, they stayed at Imagine for the entire week. “We hobnobbed with everybody and then at the end of the week we had won the audience award. It made me realize that it’s all politics. If I hadn’t stayed for 6 days and shook hands and talked to everyone, we wouldn’t have won. There’s no way we would’ve beaten filmmakers like Danny Boyle or Wong Kar-wai,” Gardner said. A week later they went to Scotland for the Dead by Dawn horror film festival, did the same thing and won the audience award again. It snowballed. Gardner said, “We ended up getting a DVD distribution deal in the states, got our worldwide rights back, and sold them through an international agency.” The Battery was being sold all over the country. Jeremy started writing his next movie and it took awhile to finish. “I had been in this very long term relationship in Connecticut.” He continued, “I started writing this script about what it’s like to be in a long term relationship and what happens when one person sacrifices a part of who they are for the other person. It all started with this image of a couch in front of a door. I write so slow because I don’t start with a plot, I start with an inspiration that grabs me. I took that image and the idea of long term commitment and turned it into a monster movie with romance.” The world premier of Something Else was at the Tribeca Film Festival this past April. “It was incredible and surreal. And now I’m back at the bar. It’s a weird, humbling up and down with this business.” Something Else would end up costing quite a bit more money to make than The Battery. Coincidentally, at the first festival in Amsterdam, they met Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead while touring with a movie called The Resolution. Gardner said, “They had made it for $20,000 and they seemed to have their shit together. We saw them again at a film festival in Brazil and became very close with them.” Over the next few years, Gardner was an actor in several of their movies that he has never auditioned for. He laughed because of going through all the auditions earlier and getting nothing, he was now getting parts avoiding the audition process all together. Benson and Moorhead read the script for Something Else and loved it. They couldn’t make it though, because it was clearly Gardner’s passion. Benson and Moorhead had decided to form their own production company and they wanted Something Else to be the first movie under their new banner. They got the money and fought for Gardner and Stella to have final cut rights. “They know how weird we are and if the investors could veto an idea, it wouldn’t be our movie anymore. And the only thing that makes a movie about a guy and a monster and his romance-sadness interesting, is if there’s an ethereal voice behind it,” Gardner said. With investors to consider, it changes things. It makes you question everything. “It’s hard to make character driven ‘think pieces’ even if they have monsters or zombies. Once your start to get up in the budget range, then it’s scarier to make,” he said. “When it’s a $6000 movie, who cares if it’s really a think piece.” He laughed. Something Else has been sold, but details haven’t been released. During those few months after Tribeca, requests for film festivals starting coming in. Now they are better prepared with a spreadsheet of all the festivals, contacts, places they’ve been, places they want to go to, etc. With more cooks in the kitchen this time, there are more people advising them on which festivals to go to, which ones to avoid. It was Justin and Aaron that suggested they go to NIFFF. “It’s been going for a long time and has a very good reputation. It’s one of the most amazing film festivals as you look out across this glacial lake at the Alps with other filmmakers and having breakfast, lunch and dinner served to you everyday,” Gardner said. “I created a piece of artwork that the regulars and so many nice people bought, giving me just enough money to go over there so I didn’t have to worry about missing bills, which was pretty humbling and crazy. And it really filled me with a lot of anxiety to come back behind the bar again serving after standing on a stage hamming it up and being the center of attention.” Gardner and Stella have festivals coming up in September and October. He was bummed to talk about turning down trips to Vienna and Portugal simply because they can’t afford to be out of work for that long. Gardner thoughtfully said, “How much of my heart do I take out of writing and put more of my head in and try to craft something that will have a far wider audience just so I can take advantage of the contacts I’ve made and lessons I’ve learned? Do I be stubborn and make these small, personal movies while working a day job or take a crack at writing something that’s a little more mainstream? How do I craft something of quality that has a broad appeal? It’s like a puzzle.” We sat, he took a drink of his Cheerwine and said, “But you know, I’m a bartender, I work at the brewery. Joe and everyone here has been extremely supportive since I’ve started. Joe will support people following their dreams. That’s why I was gone for six months last year, while shooting the movie. That’s why they named a beer after me called, Where’s Jeremy because everyone kept asking where I was.” Something Else will be released first quarter of 2020 on demand and in select cities, Orlando being one of them. “And now I put my head down and start writing again,” Gardner said.

“You are beautiful – but I’m sure that’s the least interesting thing about you.” -Sarah Powers For many, Top Buttons is a trendy designer thrift and boutique where you can browse the racks for a new-toyou outfit. For around 300 girls a year, Top Buttons is an interview outfit, a bra that fits properly, an ensemble that resonates confidence and pride – Top Buttons is an incubator for self-worth. Their mission is not only to teach girls and women how to dress but to let them express their style in a contextually modest way by providing them the resources to do so. This 501(c)(3) faith-based nonprofit was opened in 2012, by Sarah Powers. “We provide confidence-building education and proper fitting attire to young women in need,” said Powers. “We exist to build up girls inside and out through our program.” Top Buttons currently works with 18 organizations from around Polk County like PACE Center for Girls, Girls Inc., Heartland for Children, Sheriff’s Youth Villa, and the Department of Corrections First Steps program. Through their Boutique Program, Top Buttons Boutique and Designer Thrift Stores are open for public shopping. The income from the Boutique Program goes back into funding their full-time charitable efforts with the Wearing Confidence Program. This program is for young women between 11 and 25 years old that are nominated by a “civic or religious organization targeting young women in need,” according to the Top Buttons website. Throughout the program, the girls receive faith-based educational sessions on topics such as “On the Job Attire,” “Cultural Impact on Clothing Ethics,” “Understanding Contextual Modesty,” and “Positive Body Image.” Paired with these educational sessions are: personal styling services, at least one wardrobe makeover with up to $75 of quality, proper fitting attire, new undergarments, bonus vouchers to receive more clothing based on need, a Top Buttons t-shirt, skincare and makeup tutorial, free makeup carefully selected for their skin tone, photoshoot with images to keep, and ongoing mentorship. The Lakeland shop opens into a cozy, airy boutique featuring modern, modestly on-trend pieces. Passing through the boutique down a few steps is the well-stocked thrift shop with garments like shorts, athletic wear, shoes, bags, dresses, special occasion, tops, plus size, and accessories including jewelry, scarves, and belts. “We call it designer thrift because we curate all of the racks with our girls in mind,” said Powers. Top Buttons is picky about what they put out on their floor. You will only find quality items, sans holes or stains. The designer thrift store manages to be both high-end and unpretentious. This balance is reflective of Top Buttons’ demographic – everyone. Powers said, “We want women of all economic backgrounds in here shopping, all shapes and sizes, all colors. We want it to be a place where women feel comfortable and no matter what their economic background is, that they are being blessed and they are both giving to, and receiving from. It’s really, pretty beautiful.” You Are More Than Your Body Top Buttons founder and CEO, Sarah Powers has a deep-rooted passion for helping young people navigate their adolescent years. She acknowledges that as a teenager or young adult, there are so many things out of your control. Fluctuating weight, hormones, skin issues, home, and social lives, all the while on the precipice of adulthood, staring the rest of your life in the face is daunting. “Knowing my own personal struggle is one of the reasons why I’m so passionate about wanting to be an encouragement, a resource, and an educator for teenage girls specifically,” said Powers. Powers has a background in social work, with a degree in Human Services from Southeastern University. She is a writer, a teacher, a speaker, an empowerer of young women, and the mother of four. She’ll never forget the day she was standing in the checkout line of Sam’s Club, ultimately soul searching how she could best utilize her strength of connecting with young people, while not taking time away from her family. Her then 8-year-old daughter picked up a magazine with one of her favorite celebrities on the front. The celeb was dressed cute, but provocatively. A blurb on the cover mortified Powers. Explicit wording that Sarah paraphrased in a much tamer way as, “How to have your best first time.” She returned without her daughter and purchased the magazine. She still has it. It’s a reminder of the messages girls and women are bombarded with at every turn from the fashion and media industries that their bodies are the most important things they have to offer the world. “I feel like we’re doing damage to our girls by sending them these messages that to get attention they have to put themselves out there provocatively,” she said. “That’s part of the inspiration and it fuels my passion for the work that we’re doing.” She wanted to counter these harmful messages with the notion that girls and women deserve a healthy self-image and the understanding that they are more than just their body. This idea bloomed organically according to Powers. One thing after another “from the Sam’s Club incident to me praying and seeking the Lord for what he would have me do, to wanting opportunities for my daughters to incorporate a healthy principle in their life in a fun way,” confirmed to Sarah that fashion was going to be, “the tool that we would use to connect and inspire and equip and build up young women.” She started Top Buttons in 2012 as a nonprofit, “presenting our positive body image and modesty message at local civic and religious organizations along with creating content for our online resources.” This included a fashion blog. Fashion blogging was booming at the time, but Powers didn’t see anyone doing it in a way that she felt would both be a good example and appeal to young people. There were extremes like the impeccablystyled blogs with no boundaries or at least no emphasis on contextual modesty. Then there were extremely modest sites that were well put together, but Sarah didn’t feel would speak to the majority of the youth. For this first year, she blogged while traveling locally to talk to young women about expressing themselves within the boundaries of contextual modesty. Her blogs and fashion-focused content were well received – the Top Buttons message was spreading. In her local travels to speak, she had girls express to her that they would love to dress appropriately, but they didn’t have the money to buy the proper-fitting or modest attire. “I never want to be someone who is talking at someone, telling them what they should do, without providing them the opportunity to do it.” Powers knew she had to put clothing in their hands. She began bringing clothing with her when she would talk to the girls. Focusing On Local Though Top Buttons still has an online presence, Powers said, “Our hearts and our time and energy are all local now and being a resource locally for girls.” In 2015, Top Buttons had a fundraiser event to fund a brick and mortar store rather than taking clothes to the organizations. Having a store would eliminate the problem of lacking sufficient clothing to fit the sizing needs and style preferences of each girl. Top Buttons opened in Dixieland, they weren’t open to the public, just for the girls they served. Now, Top Buttons has two full boutique and designer thrift shops open to the public in downtown Lakeland and Bartow. Wearing Confidence Program Young women enrolled in the Wearing Confidence Program come to the store in large groups for private shopping sessions. Each girl is matched with a personal stylist who helps to style them in the clothes that the girls will then take at no cost. They receive hair and makeup and even a professional photoshoot. Powers said, “We can serve them for specific things like job interviews, prom, special occasions or for every day,” she said. The one on one attention the girls receive from their stylists is invaluable. More than stylists, they are mentors says Wearing Confidence Program Director, Emily Trivette. “They speak empowerment and encouragement into their lives,” she said. Often shy and timid when entering the shop, the girls leave with bountiful confidence, knowing that Top Buttons is a safe place for them. “We just want to love on them and support them in whatever it is they feel they’ve been created to do,” said Trivette. As for the educational piece of the program, Trivette explained that through close relationships with the organizations they serve, Top Buttons has been able to tailor a curriculum of sorts around the needs and struggles of the girls. Emily Trivette, whose daughter went to elementary school with Sarah’s daughter, watched Sarah go from carrying clothes out of the back of her car to now having several stores serving around 300 girls a year. Their daughters are now 15 with Trivette saying, “Having two teen girls ourselves and watching them be bombarded with messages that aren’t necessarily healthy, watching them struggle through their own temptations, is helpful to know what the girls could benefit from.” Powers touched on one of the main points they convey to the girls – contextual modesty. “Contextual modesty is what we talk to the girls about because we know modesty is subjective to everyone, but most agree there are certain things that are appropriate for certain settings,” said Powers. With a job interview, for example, they talk to the girls about researching their potential employer for what dress requirements they might have. They can then use that knowledge as a basis to choose an appropriate, stylish, and well-fitted outfit to make the right impression for the interview. “We’re trying to help them understand that there will be opportunities for you to express yourself and show who you are, artistically through your clothing, but some environments have boundaries and there are requirements as far as dress for a reason,” said Powers. “There will be places where they can show off their style in a greater way and other places where they have to tone it down a little bit.” The girls not only receive this education when they’re in a styling session but also on a broader scale. Top Buttons hosts “Building up Girls” educational events which are attended by 100-120 girls from the organizations they work with. “We talk to them about life skills, goal setting, effective communication, positive body image, how to dress on the job,” said Powers. One thing she always tells the girls is, “You have so much more to offer the world than your bodies.” Top Buttons is putting a contextually modest and stylish wardrobe in the hands of these girls. Powers explains, “If you want your employer or a young man, a future relationship, to value who you are in your mind, and your heart, your personality, your talents, your achievements, let’s not take away the attention from up here by focusing on your sexuality more than your achievements.” Top Buttons is constantly launching initiatives that could fill another need for their girls. A recent partnership with JOY FM fundraised money to provide new undergarments for the girls. Powers said that they have seen many girls and women come in with twisty ties used to tighten a poorly fitted bra, wearing their prison bra, or none at all. Something as simple as a brand new bra, camisole, or pair of underwear is an underappreciated necessity if you’ve always had it, but a luxury if you haven’t. For Girls Everywhere Big news for the east side of the county, Top Buttons is coming to Winter Haven! The nonprofit’s newest location will be opening at 226 W Central Avenue in downtown Winter Haven, with plans to open their doors by September. Even bigger news for Top Buttons and communities around the country, the nonprofit is ready to open affiliate locations. “From the beginning, it was a message for girls everywhere,” said Powers. In the past, they have met people and received requests from those interested in starting a Top Buttons in their community. Powers feels Top Buttons finally has the legal and financial framework to start affiliate locations. “As cities around the U.S. focus on serving their local community using our model and our systems of operation,” said Powers, “I think that they too can have a really unique impact on their community.” The first affiliate location is being opened by a couple in Tennessee – Top Buttons Nashville. Top Buttons, whether it’s in Polk County or Nashville, isn’t about Sarah Powers. It’s about the girls. It’s about the message. “There is a great team of women and men that care very much about young women knowing their value and having the tools and resources – not just teaching, but the physical resources – to reflect who they are as a whole person without compromising their value,” said Powers in thanks to their community of over 60 volunteers. “We’re really grateful for the support of the community. We couldn’t do what we do without volunteers. We have some incredible people that come alongside us,” said Emily Trivette. Powers knows what it’s like to need help – a reason she extends herself so much to others. As a single mom in her twenties, she needed people around, especially her mom, to encourage her, to let her know life is one day at a time, that she would get through it, and that someone was there to help her. “Had I not had her, I don’t know where I would be,” said the Top Buttons CEO. “I tell these girls that there is nothing wrong with needing help and accepting help. I’m thankful that I’m in a position where I can offer help because people have been a help to me.” www.topbuttons.org 236 N Kentucky Ave. Lakeland, Florida 33801 160A East Summerlin St. Bartow, FL, 33830 (863) 220-2464

Lakeland’s Benjamin Vickers thought he’d go to college for English Lit and become a “bookish academic” type. His hobby for home baking for his friends and family slowly took center stage. He called his parents one day and said, “I’m going to New York for culinary school, guys.” He was accepted into the Culinary Institute of America in upstate New York for a slot opening three weeks later. “It was a whirlwind starting out, but I haven’t looked back since,” said Vickers. Benjamin did his externship at Manhattan bakery, Dominique Ansel. He was even part of the team that brought into being the popular croissant, donut hybrid – the cronut. After graduation, he was invited to work at a high-end catering service in Ithaca, New York. The business catered many of the galas and banquets for nearby Cornell University. The company didn’t have a pastry or dessert program at the time Vickers joined them. Fresh out of culinary school he stepped up to help them build one from the ground up. He catered many weddings and banquets at first. With an understanding that dessert and cake were the most in-demand pastry jobs, he knew he wanted to be a bread baker. He said, “The rest of my journey was kind of carving out that career.” He thought, “How can I make bread relevant and monetize it so that it’s worth something to somebody?” The next stop in his bread baking journey lay in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains at world-renowned Blackberry Farm in Maryville, TN. There, he was able to foray from desserts into bread. Benjamin remembered fondly, “We would bake bread all night and then we had these little golf carts and would go down these twisting paths through the farmlands to deliver to all the houses and restaurants. You’d see the sun rising over the mountains and all the sheep as you’re driving your little bread cart.” Down to visit his parents and attend his brother-in law’s birthday party – Vickers got his next pastry gig by happenstance while out to dinner at Nineteen61. Chef Marcos needed a pastry chef, and there was Vickers. He became the pastry chef for Chef Marcos and worked about 2 and a half years. He started his cottage food business making bread, Honeycomb in February of 2018, though Honeycomb’s official birthday is October of that year. He joined Catapult and began selling at the Lakeland Downtown Farmers Curb Market a month later. The baker is glad to be back home. He’s seen Lakeland transform since his high school years into something special. He said, “There are so many interesting people that are really pushing, ‘how can we improve our town and how can reinvest in our city?’” He also couldn’t fathom living away from his parents who he loves dearly. He lives 10 minutes away from them. If he’s struggling with something he knows that he can say, “Mom, let’s go watch Jeopardy together,” he smiled. “I could talk forever and ever about my parents,” he said. “Their philosophy of parenting is ‘You stand on my shoulders so that you can reach higher than I can reach.’” No doubt that’s part of the reason for Vickers’ soaring baking career. That also means he’s only ten minutes away from his sweet Millie, a 15-year-old Border Collie/ Spaniel mix. She might be the most popular member of Team Honeycomb according to Benjamin. In his weekly newsletter detailing his farmers market menu, he includes staff picks – things that are interesting to them that week. Millie always gets a staff pick right along with them. “Our first day was one loaf of bread to Concord,” he remembers. Word spread, and Vickers began to realize just how much of a need there was for quality bread from an honest source. “That’s one of the things that I’m trying to cultivate – a brand on one hand that is really accessible because bread should humble, it shouldn’t be too expensive or unattainable. It should be easy to find and delicious and nutritious and fill your belly,” said Vickers. Bread should also come from a brand you trust and believe in. “When people see the little gold bee, it should have a resonance or a meaning.” Even before he truly knew he wanted to be a baker, as a kid Benjamin Vickers envisioned a bakery called Honeycomb. “I’ve always had this kind of affinity with bees as a symbology, […] they kind of represent a place where the natural, wild world meets the more rigorous and architectural world which as an aesthetic, I’ve always really liked,” he said. “With our bread, for example, I love the kind of wild and rustic – it is what it is, but also, we do a lot to make it have a beautiful ear and a nice golden crust and it’s a certain shape and everything is precisely measured. When those two things meet, I think that’s a nice sense of beauty,” he said. “Also, Honeycomb in bakery parlance, when you slice a loaf of bread and you see that kind of whirl pattern of air bubbles – bakers call that the honeycomb. Whenever it’s properly fermented it should be a nice open honeycomb.” It was important to Vickers to pay homage to the tradition of bread baking. The version of bread that Honeycomb produces is only slightly modernized from the ancient Greeks according to Benjamin. “What I love about us being one tiny piece of that long timeline is that it’s not necessarily about reinventing the wheel,” he said. He isn’t looking for a gimmick, he simply wants to do his part to make the simple staples incrementally better over time – a blip in bread’s evolution. Honeycomb’s most popular items are their Country Sourdough, followed by their Wild Maine Blueberry Muffin. Among the many things that make his muffins stand out are the small Maine wild blueberries he uses. He said they grow wild in bushes on the sides of the road there. They are notably smaller than Florida’s plump blueberries that tend to hold more water. These berries offer a sweet, tart, “punch of flavor” says the baker. “We have to bend over backwards to get these berries, but it is so worth it.” All of Lakeland is a-buzz about Honeycomb’s partnership with Jenna O’Brien, owner of Twenty Seven Creative. Vickers and O’Brien though with vastly different ventures seem to have found the perfect retail marriage. The two businesses will share a brick and mortar space at 213 E. Bay Street in Lakeland on the corner of Kentucky and Bay. A former stain glass window shop according to Vickers, the window elements are stunning, complemented by historic exposed brick wall. A beautiful second-floor mezzanine overlooking the downstairs will feature bistro seating for guests to enjoy a pick-me-up. With renovations underway, Vickers and O’Brien also plan for a garden/ patio area outside in the ally. Though not set in stone, the two hope to stagger their openings in August. O’Brien says she has always dreamt of a brick and mortar store. “I think there is such great value in meeting customers face to face. It’s wild that it’s happening. I thought it would be years down the road - but instead, it’s happening now!” She’s most excited to be there every day. “I am thrilled to be a fulltime art spot, meet my customers, and take care of the store every day!” Vickers said he and O’Brien came to the same career crossroads at the same time. “It was this kind of nice, serendipitous thing,” he said. O’Brien remarked, “Benjamin said “yes” to me when we didn’t know each other very well, didn’t have much of a plan, and weren’t even sure we could get the space. He’s a big dreamer and I am too. When I took him to see the building, I watched the same hope appear in his eyes that I felt too. Now we’ve developed a friendship and I’m so excited to be working with him on the daily. We think my paper goods and his spectacular menu were just a perfect match for Lakeland.” With the opening of the downtown storefront, Honeycomb will simultaneously be opening a second location purely dedicated to wholesale production. A side of the business that is spreading like wildfire, with clients from Concord, Hillcrest, Red Door, Cob & Pen, to Nutwood, and Mr. Fish, Benjamin needs to space to serve everyone in demand of his delicious goods. Though he will be a busy bee running two locations, Vickers plans to continue selling at the farmers market saying, “Every one of our guests I have this sense of duty towards them I guess. They really rely on us to provide them their weekly bread. I don’t want to let them down.” To start, Honeycomb will offer hot and cold coffees and teas including a full-service option for both. Vickers says he is leaning more into the tea. His mother’s family is from England and across Europe, so he’s selecting tea brands that he grew up with like Harney & Sons and Twinings. Also on the menu are all of his usual suspects and a substantial breakfast offering including the likes of quiche and gluten-free granola with Greek yogurt, local honey, and fresh fruit. Vickers plans to ease this largely continent breakfast menu into more brunch and lunch options later. On the horizon, upon growing with this space, Vickers one day envisions a larger wholesale bakery and eventually a standalone flagship store serving European style bistro cuisine utilizing his breads. Above all, Benjamin said, “My dream is to serve people, and fill their bellies, and make good bread.” Honeycomb Bread Bakers www.honeycombbread.com FB @honeycombbread IG @honeycombbread

Lakeland’s live entertainment is bursting at the seams and they have a new stage on which to belt a note or tell a joke. Dan Signor, a noteworthy musician himself, conceptualized Dixieland’s Union Hall as a premier event space for the community and a stepping stone for local up and comers. Signor moved to Lakeland from the Hudson Valley area of upstate New York fifteen years ago. He started playing at many of the local clubs and even some of the restaurants that at that time didn’t offer live entertainment. Over those 15 years, Signor saw the demand for live music grow. Moving on from local gigs, he began to take his act on the road. He traveled to play his music – even on cruise ships. Union Hall is Born As a husband and a father to three, Signor found himself with the desire to exchange his travels for a more locally rooted music career. Signor and wife Raena most recently welcomed six-month-old son Hudson into the world. The pair also have two daughters, Aaralyn 9 and Doña 14. Their oldest attends Harrison School for the arts and has made quite a reputation for herself as a local singer according to her dad. The father and daughter have performed together at LKLD Live. The duo now has a new stage to share – Union Hall. “With a growing thirst for it and a growing need for it, there’s not really a platform for it here in Lakeland,” said Signor about Lakeland’s live music scene. He applauded LKLD Live’s contribution to the local live entertainment, adding that he wanted a bit of a different vibe. He envisioned a bar and lounge space with live music four to five nights a week. “I wanted to build the venue that wasn’t here when I was playing a lot. I wanted to build the venue that I never had basically,” he said. From the initial concept to opening the doors took roughly 18 months. The space was previously a Truly Nolen Pest Control building. “We started with a shell and built it all out. When we pulled down the sheetrock and saw this exposed brick, we thought it would be perfect for that urban sort of environment,” said Signor. The exposed terracotta bricks were significant for more than the raw character and radiating warmth they add to the room. The bricks were built for a New York college in the 1920s, Cooper Union. The name Union Hall was only fitting. The venue’s grand opening party was held on May 24th, earlier this year. The 3000 square foot entertainment space can host 125-150 people seated or 249 people standing. The patio area, displaying their signature mural by Carroll Design Co., brilliant greenery, and picnic tables built around trees can hold an additional 80. Signor plans to further utilize their outdoor space which already has a PA system, by adding screens. Food trucks are on-site every day they are open so guests need not leave the party to grab a bite. Though the pulse of Union Hall is music, it is also an appealing option to rent out for your next event. “It’s a great space,” said Signor. “It lends itself well to any sort of reception, private function, business meeting, or whatever you want to do.” The entire venue can be reserved or space can be sectioned off by curtains, and certain areas including the patio can be rented individually. Union Hall has a full liquor license and a preferred vendors list. “We can be a one-stop-shop for planning your whole party from the florist to a twelve-piece band,” said Signor. Music at the Forefront It was important to Signor not only to spotlight the established talent but to also give a platform to those coming up. “I want to help catapult them to a point that took me a long time [to reach],” he said. It took him a while to make a living from playing music. “If I can take the new artists and get them to that point quicker, time will be on their side,” he said. “I like to see people fly – spread their wings and go.” Discussing Lakeland’s current music scene, the Union Hall founder mentioned Sheldon Benjamin, Anisette Mayer, and Sumner Curtis, saying, “It’s very soulful, folky, singer/ songwriter stuff that’s really quality. It needs to be brought to a different platform rather than in the corner of a bar somewhere where everyone’s talking and not listening to the music.” Walking through the doors of Union Hall, the room shotguns directly to the stage, drawing your attention and holding it on the talent. Only time will tell what budding musicians came from “the corner of a bar somewhere” to have their metamorphosis on that stage. Along with the emergence of this soulful folk music, the owner said that blues, funk, and rock have seemed to work well in their space. Every Wednesday, Signor hosts their Open Mic Night. “Right now it’s a lot of fun. It’s a jam night – people come up, they play, we collaborate,” he said. Signor described it as having become somewhat of a music mecca where people come to meet other musicians and even form bands. He said, “My vision for that is for it to become more of an artist spotlight than a regular open mic.” Signor would love to see it evolve into an organized spotlight, designating half-hour sets to artists who return week after week and resonate with the community. Thursday’s are a bit of a mixed bag with events from Boozy Bingo, solo artists, game show night, or karaoke. The first Friday of every month has become their comedy series with bigger shows happening on the weekends. Not even a year old yet, Signor said he had no clue Union Hall was going to gain favor in Lakeland as quickly as it did. “I’m fortunate to have the supporters and followers that I’ve had just from playing who are also supporting me in this endeavor. It has taken off exponentially better than I thought it would,” he said. “We’re still the shiny penny, the new kid on the block, but I think if I continue to bring more quality entertainment here, it will build and snowball into something and hopefully put Lakeland on the map for live entertainment.” Union Hall Unionhallevents.com bookunionhall@gmail.com (863) 999-1013 FB @unionhallevents IG @unionhallevents Photo by Amy Sexson

“Norm, let’s start from the beginning,” I said. Norman Small, Founding Producing Director for Theatre Winter Haven pulled out a black and white photograph and slid it across the table. Beneath the group of shaggy-haired ’70s youngsters read, “First Play Reading Committee 1970.” “There’s a guy there with a lot more weight and a lot more hair at the time,” he laughed pointing to his 25-year-old self. Theatre Winter Haven got its start by two of the people in that photo. “They were a couple of clowns in town,” said Small. “And I mean literally clowns, they made a living out of that.” The couple had gotten together with the Department of Recreation to found a community theatre. They asked Norman if he would join. A professor at then Polk Junior College at the time, he obliged. The clowns left town–money and all, after the first show, “Don’t Drink the Water” by Woody Allen. “As a professor of theatre at the college and a local little theatre beginning, let’s do it or die,” Small remembered thinking. “So, I did it.” Making a whopping $6K a year teaching, Small was able to volunteer his time to continue the theatre. Season One would show only two productions, the second, “Barefoot in the Park” by Neil Simon. But Small persisted. Asked if he had any funny stories to share about the first season, Small quipped, “Why don’t I say that the first season was the funny story.” Funny or not, they climbed to 150 subscriptions in their first year. For the first five or so years, the performances were held at the Tourist Club Auditorium on Lake Silver. The small, flat stage auditorium could seat 150 and had a 15-foot-wide stage. Sandwiched between the shuffleboard courts and bingo and bridge hall, Norm joked, “We never knew when we performed whether it was going to be B-16 or I-41.” Between 1947 and 1955, there was another community theatre (that had since dissolved) in Winter Haven according to Small. They would use the Women’s Club auditorium to perform. Small asked the Women’s Club if they could use the space and they agreed. They were at the Women’s Club from 1975 to 1976 while their current theatre was in construction. Asked to leave the Women’s Club auditorium, TWH went back to the small tourist auditorium until 1977 when the current theatre was completed. Small remembered their time at the Women’s Club, “We had to bring all of our lights in. We put one down backstage, forgetting that it was still on. It started to smoke,” he burst with laughter. “That’s one of the reasons they asked us to leave!” The theatre’s infancy was held together by a shoestring budget. For years, everyone, including Norman worked as a volunteer. There were a few vital volunteers that particularly stood out to the founding producing director. First, box office chairman, Virginia Myers who volunteered for thirteen years until her passing. Two other instrumental players were actors from Lakeland, Barbara Smith and Mike O’Steen. The two performed for Lakeland Little Theatre and would go on to play many leads for Theatre Winter Haven. “Barbara and Mike were really our stalwarts in surviving,” said Small crediting the actors. A year for the record books for Theatre Winter Haven was 1977. That year, the theatre hired its first employee, technical director, David Seavey. In 1980, Norman Small became the second employee, finally drawing a paycheck following ten years of volunteering. Measurable Impact “When you are in the arts, you have a passion,” said Small. This passion is inflamed by both the process and the product. “If the product turns out and you adore what you’ve done and hopefully the audience does too – you want it to continue.” “I went to a national conference in 1979 in New York City. One of the showcases of the American Community Theatre Association was the last time’s national winner – it was called “The Good Doctor” from Topeka Kansas,” recalled Small. He watched it and thought, “We can do that.” He decided to enter the theatre in the competition which started at the state level, moving up to regional and national. Busy at the theatre, Norm was unable to attend the competition. “I remember getting the phone call backstage,” he said. It was a Friday night, the production they had entered was “The Shadow Box.” His excitement still almost as palpable as the day it happened, Small said, “We won!” “Went to nationals, didn’t win. Who cares? We were [among] the ten best in the country,” he said. The win energized him artistically. “It validated what we were doing by those who are in the same world as we are.” Between 1980 and 2017, Theatre Winter Haven has been nominated for and won numerous awards regionally, nationally, and internationally – donning the crown of most honored community theatre. “How does it impact the community? The community knows they’ve got something here,” said Small, speaking to the cultural draw of the theatre. Current Producing Director, Dan Chesnicka added, “The economic impact right now for Theatre Winter Haven is about 8.5 million dollars to this community.” That is 8.5 million dollars in food, lodging, gas, amenities, etc. that have been measured to directly result from the work of Theatre Winter Haven. “We bill ourselves as Florida’s most honored community theatre because of the number of awards that have been bestowed upon us in a number of arenas,” said Chesnicka. Widely regarded as one of the best community theatres in the nation, the shows they produce impact the culture and economy of the surrounding areas. “Our county measures the success of an organization by how many visitors we bring from outside our local area. Our audience represents 35% from outside of Polk County that travel here to see these shows which is a fantastic measure of our success,” said Chesnicka. More important still is the safe place the theatre provides. This is true especially of kids that participate in their academy. Chesnicka said, “They always have a safe place to come. We have classes that go throughout the year, we have two academy shows that we do each year. These kids are in a safe environment where they are valued and they are trusted and they are given all the tools that will give them accumulated advantages that they will take on through life.” For Chesnicka, it’s the “off the balance sheets” effects that theatre has on people which impact him most. “It’s the kid who comes in whose struggling in their life in one way or another and finds a home and finds a friend and is able to finally find that one place where they feel like they belong,” he said. The volunteers get something from the theatre as well. There must be a reason they sacrifice their time and talent for the theatre’s sake. “They do it because it feeds them in a way that is meaningful and it’s admirable that we have the institution in our community,” said Chesnicka. “I’m so proud to be affiliated with it and with the people who donate their time and their energy and their talent for the only purpose of creating happiness for others.” Support from the City Without the relationship between Theatre Winter Haven and The City of Winter Haven which Small noted as “important and significant,” the theatre would never have happened at all. “We had to have a place, they provided that at a very low cost. This theatre that was built was specifically built for us, with input by me,” he said. “Their continued relationship with us is a symbiotic relationship that without them, what we have provided since, wouldn’t have continued.” That tradition of local government support continues according to Chesnicka. Motioning to the construction on the Field House, Chesnicka acknowledged what it will do for the athletic community, adding, “It should be noted that there’s also going to be a second theatre that is built here so that we can double up on the amount of entertainment we provide for the people of this community.” More rehearsal and multi-use space will allow the theatre to expand their children’s programs from simply theatre to that of a broader visual and performing arts center – including dance and voice programs, chamber music and instruments. “If the mainstage is the beating heart of our theatre, our academy is its soul,” said Chesnicka. “We’re wildly proud of everything that we do on our mainstage, but rarely do I feel more connected to our mission than when we’re doing our academy shows.” Theatre Winter Haven has been home and host to many successful actors, actresses, and technicians. Actress Karen Olivo who came through the academy won a Tony Award for her role as Anita in West Side Story, the same role she played here. TV host, personality and Hamilton star, Wayne Brady has even graced the Winter Haven stage. If the theatre ever put together a wall of fame, Chesnicka said it would be wildly impressive – a nod to their reputation as the best community theatre around. A tinge of pride in his voice, Small smiled, “How many theatres can say their little theatre produced a Tony winner?” Of the city’s investment in Theatre Winter Haven, Chesnicka said, “I would say from Mayor Dantzler to the commissioners, to City Commissioner Herr, to Assistant City Commissioner T. Michael Stavres – there is a unanimous sense of commitment to having arts be if not the central part of our community, certainly a central part of our community.” Looking Back, Moving Forward For 45 seasons, Norman Small was at Theatre Winter Haven’s helm. It isn’t just the building that holds memories for him, it’s the people and the art they made together. Small thought for a moment before listing out monumental times in his theatre career. First, was moving into the building in ’77. “Before that point, I never really considered that what I was doing was show business, I was just doing shows,” he said. “When the very first rehearsal happened under lights, when they went on for the first time – I’ve never had an experience like that except when my first child was born. When they came out and showed me the baby, something happened. And that happened whenever the lights went on and the curtain came up for the first rehearsal here in this building.” Next was when they were finally able to afford to hire their technical director David Seavey as a paid employee. Seavey left his job at what was then Circus World, taking a pay cut to do so. Norm asked him why. Small’s eyes began to water, “He said, ‘I was a Vietnam war vet. I’ve never seen people work harder to create a product and make it all happen since I was in the military than in the theatre.’” He went on to say that the coalescence of people working together to create something meaningful and significant was why he joined TWH. Small paused, “What an incredible, holy thing to say.” This powerful sentiment was followed up by the memory of entering and winning the first competition, hiring production manager, Thom Altman who Norm one time gifted a gallon of white glue because he held them all together. Volunteers Virginia Myers and Dave Burger were given high praise, and Small mentioned his first paycheck from the theatre and reaching 4,000 members during their 45th season. These spotlights were brief for the sake of the interview, but Small could have gone on telling sidesplitting stories and thanking the people who have made Theatre Winter Haven successful. Season 50 – Shows and Celebration The Season 50 lineup of shows is promising. To kick off this milestone season is, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” a production that too is turning 50 this year. Following that production will be “Coming Back Like a Song,” “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change,” and “Kinky Boots.” The latter is significant as Theatre Winter Haven will be the first community theatre in Florida to debut “Kinky Boots.” “We’re going to be doing that before you’ll be able to see it anywhere. That happens quite regularly based on our reputation and our number of years of service,” said Chesnicka. Rounding out the season will be “Calendar Girls” and “The Wedding Singer.” To celebrate the big 5-0, the theatre is planning a gala to take place in March. We don’t yet have many details to offer, other than, “It’s going to be big,” according to the Producing Director. Final Thoughts A nationally recognized community theatre, the most honored in Florida – Theatre Winter Haven has grown that initial 150 subscriber base to nearly 5,000. Here from day one, Norm still catches every show he can when he’s in town. He’ll tell you that his favorite production throughout the years will always be, “The next one.” The torch has been passed to Chesnicka and the next fifty or so years will be his to nurture. “My goal is to honor our city commissioners’ and our city manager’s wish to make Winter Haven a great place to live, work, and play,” he said. “I found this place as a volunteer. My kids grew up in this place. The reason I’m in this job is because I want to preserve what Norm has created and if possible cast a wider net – to continue the growth that Norm talks about that has happened through the first 50 years. And, to make sure that 50 years from now, there’s someone from Haven Magazine sitting down with whoever the next director is, to talk about what a milestone it is that Theatre Winter Haven is turning 100.” “Norm, any final thoughts on the theatre’s 50th season?” I asked. The Theatre Winter Haven luminary answered, “I never expected this to happen when I was 25 years old, but I’m so glad it has.”

Much of the success Pati Mills has seen in her life can be attributed to knowing the right people at the right time – the same kind of associations she cultivates with her networking group the Greneteam Gals. Her life has been an interesting one. “I bought my house on the lake with a six-car garage with my art. How many artists do you know that can do that?” said Pati, smiling. “And, I never had a contract.” She has her seaplane license and her first public speaking engagement was alongside former first lady Barbara Bush. Pati spent three days and $50 to become a security guard to gain access to Cypress Gardens in an attempt to snap photos to help to save it. She even gained a one of a kind position with real estate tycoon David Seigel as his Corporate Facilities Artist for 28 of his Westgate Resorts – stories chronicling Mills’ meaningful life experiences go on. Here a few great ones. Executive Business Women’s Network Twenty-five years ago, Pati Mills founded the Executive Business Women’s Network. She wanted to meet smart people – leaders of the community. She didn’t want another social club. “I don’t talk about my kids or dogs or backaches,” she said. The network was the same in that regard. “Be specific, say who you are, what you’re working on, what your needs are, sit down and shut up,” she said. The group did become successful and certainly, many business connections were made, but Pati eventually phased the group out to pursue other ventures. Painting for Publix The artist is perhaps most well-known locally for her work as a Publix muralist. When she was first contacted by Publix, Mills owned a small craft shop off of Dundee Road called The Cinnamon Tree where she hand-made ceramic tiles. According to Mills, the supermarket chain had heard about her through someone in her network. They called Pati to inquire about having the façade of their store painted. She agreed and got to work. She lined the room of her shop with sheets of 4x8 plywood as her easel. Pati stacked the tiles, using a number and letter system. She and her children worked on the storefront piece. She said, “I gave them the first one and they said that they loved it and wanted to do it again.” The first murals depicted a cornucopia. One day she got a call from Publix that they weren’t doing murals on their buildings anymore. The city wanted to charge them a sign tax as the murals depicted items sold in the store. “So, I said, ‘Well isn’t the next one over by the park in Lakeland? Why don’t I do a park scene?’ They loved it!” remembered Pati. From then on, she’d find a distinguishing landmark or something symbolic of whatever town the mural was to go in. Mills went on to paint 200 murals for Publix Supermarkets. Pati’s Pottery Another opportunity opened up for her one day when a city employee stopped in her shop. He was looking for crafters for a craft village at Cypress Gardens. Pati remembered, “He said, ‘I’m looking for a potter.’ And I lied. I said, ‘You are? I’m a potter!’” It wasn’t too big of a fib. She had been pouring slip and making dishes but hadn’t forayed into the pottery wheel. How hard could it be? “The first thing I did was buy a book on how to be a potter because I’d told him I was a Master Potter, that was in the book. Then I bought a pottery wheel. In three months – just three months – I had five thousand pots. Now, they weren’t all beautiful, but I took a picture of them and put the bad side in the back.” Next thing you know, her name was in seven-foot letters at Cypress Gardens – ‘Pati’s Pottery.’ “My first year, I made $84,000,” she said. The Greneteam Gals Pati’s current women’s networking group, modeled after the Executive Business Women’s Network, started two years ago with twelve members attending the first meeting. The Greenlefe community, where Pati was living at the time, was their original meeting space. This is where their moniker, the Greneteam Gals, stems from. A petite woman, on the lower end of five feet tall, Pati Mills has no trouble commanding a room. Twenty women flowed into the meeting space at Bambu Café. Each put their cellphone into a basket where it would remain until the end of the meeting. This isn’t a social hour. For the Greneteam Gals, it’s time to get down to business. The business cards of real estate agents, former county commissioners, writers, bakers, and other female entrepreneurs are exchanged. Budding deals and business connections are formed. No chit chat, or Pati who has earned and finds amusement in the name they’ve affectionately given her, ‘The General’ will call you out for interrupting the speaker. “I’m real strict about them not chit-chatting when the speaker is speaking,” she would tell me later. To keep the group intimate and useful for the members, they meet twice monthly with the opportunity to attend one of two meetings on that day. “The point of the meeting is not to be chatty, but to really listen to who’s speaking and see if we can help them,” said Mills. Pati gives every one of the members a blank notebook so that as the ladies enjoy lunch and listen intently to the speaker, they can take notes. “The whole purpose of the meeting is that I want to be able to market you and support you,” said Pati. The meeting commenced with a prayer and a pledge followed by Pati’s instructions. “You’ll say who you are, what you’re working on, what your needs are,” she said. Each attendee has three minutes to give their elevator speech to the group. “It’s very important that you contact at least five people that were at the meeting that you had at least a little bit of a connection with,” said Pati to the group. If the person doesn’t answer, she encouraged them to leave a short message simply asking if there is anything they can help with. Pati wants the connections to be honest and organic. I even got a call or two in the weeks following the meeting. After the meeting, Mills spoke openly and fervently about the group. She asked me, “What if you met the best of the best – you met the leaders of the community?” The Greneteam Gals is her answer to that question. If you’re interested in attending the next meeting or becoming a member, find their group by searching ‘Greneteam Gals’ on Facebook.

Silvia Vega has recently become the new owner of Winter Haven Montessori. Silvia is married to Dr. Celestino Vega, who works for Lakeland Regional Hospital, at a clinic in Auburndale. Silvia was born in Cuba and her family came to the states when she was ten. Her father was a physician and her mother was a nurse. They both were licensed and practiced in Miami. Silvia went to school in Miami and then studied nursing and worked until the birth of her first child. They have two children, Catherine, a third year medical student and Mathew who is beginning his Pathology Residency Program in Chicago. With her children well on their way, Silvia has always dreamed of having her own school. She worked as a teacher at the school for 10 years. When the previous owner, Melissa Davis, decided to leave, an opportunity presented itself. Silvia decided it was time to make her own dream come true. When asked what her husband thought about this monumental undertaking, she said he thought she was crazy. Montessori is a method of education which allows a type of “discovery“ model where the child learns concepts by working with materials rather than direct instruction. An example of this was in their activity room where little bags were lined up with a letter on each bag. Silvia pulled out a bag and poured out a number of objects. There were items all beginning with the letter “W.” A tiny water bottle and other things could all be held and discussed while making the sound Woo. These real life experiences are integrated into learning.The classrooms tend to be organized by ability rather than strictly by age. Winter Haven Montessori is dedicated to providing a challenging educational environment in which each child is empowered to grow to his/her fullest potential academically, emotionally, physically and socially at each stage of development. “I truly believe in Montessori as it is a great environment to raise children in. It teaches discipline, responsibility and how to care for others,” Silvia said. The school can accommodate children from three-montholds to one-year-olds in the same class. The ratio is four children to one teacher at this age. The toddler class is for one and two-year-olds, and has one teacher for every six children. The two, three, and four-year-old class has one teacher for every 15 children. The ratio is the same for kindergarten. “When I took over this school it went up to Kindergarten. Now we will be opening classes to third grade. We already have students lined up for these grades.” Silvia said. “I have great teachers. They come to work with a smile on their faces and truly enjoy being with children. My teachers have all been trained in the Montessori Method and any helpers are expected to take courses for certification. I am pleased to pay for the training. We are like a family. I have an excellent Director, Courtney Brooks. She is in charge of all paperwork for DCF, ELC, and all the phone calls. She is like my right hand. She is amazing.” Silvia is excited to start the new school term in August and welcomes parents to come and visit. Developed by Italian physician and educator Maria Montessori (1870–1952), Montessori education is practiced in an estimated 20,000 schools worldwide, serving children from birth to eighteen years old. Please visit online or call for 2019-20 tuition rates. www.winterhavenmontessori.com 305 Ave E SW Winter Haven, FL 33880 (863) 268-8208

The proprietor of Confection and self-described Candyman of Winter Haven Ivy Horn just opened what might be the coolest little candy shop anywhere across deep space. The sci-fi themed Confection Candy Shop, had its grand opening was July 17. A vision in silver, Ivy was surrounded by friends, family and excited community members, all there to celebrate this delicious addition to downtown. “I love candy as much as all kids do I think,” said Ivy. “In the last five or six years, it’s become my thing.” Candy became a part of her identity. During her travels, she was always on the lookout for something she hadn’t tried before – her next favorite treat. Ivy grew up in Winter Haven, leaving for a time to live in Orlando. She moved back and has been working as a Wand Assistant in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios teaching the ins and outs of magic and spells. She still works her magic one day a week at the park. The 27-year-old candy connoisseur has entertained a few studies of interest from Mandarin and women’s studies to film, writing children’s books to teaching. Among her studies, one of her favorite classes was a science fiction literature course at Polk State College. She described her professor, Mr. Junkins as an incredible teacher. The class’s exploration of pulp novels pushed her deeper into science fiction. This isn’t where her infatuation with the genre began though. “I started watching Star Trek because it was on in the morning before high school,” she remembers. She devoured the original series and fell in love with the franchise. Now, Ivy can’t get enough of old horror and sci-fi flicks with The Twilight Zone being one of her favorites. The Candy Concept Sitting around the dinner table with her parents, the conversation of what they would like to see in downtown Winter Haven came up. Chocolate! Her parents are very involved downtown, her mom, Anita, has had two shops downtown. When they asked if she would consider opening a candy store, the possibilities began to whirl around her mind. Her initial concept was a horror-themed shop called Confection Crypt. Searching for something a little more kid-friendly, she turned from the macabre to sci-fi. “I could do candy and science fiction together, merge both of those things and create a space that’s inspiring – something that you’ll always remember,” she thought. Ivy wanted a flying saucer fixture for the store, but her attention quickly turned to robots. Perusing the internet for famous robot replicas like Robbie the Robot and Gort from The Day the Earth Stood Still, she found a man named Fred Barton in California who makes them. He sent over information about his work and there she found him, at the bottom of the sheet – Confection’s robot. The replica of a robot from the 1954 film, Target Earth, towers over 7-feet. She planned to integrate him into everything to do with the store, including the Confection logo. Her partner and mascot was soon on his way. When asked his name, Ivy quipped, “He’s going to reveal his name to me very soon. We’re spending time together.” She did tell us what his name was not going to be. Amongst the rejects – Ringo, Bobby, and Lollitron. The two have since gotten to know each other and Winter Haven’s sweetest robot has introduced himself to be Zondar. Beyond the “Nebulous Blue” store exterior, he is the first thing to catch your eye. Perhaps followed by the old science fiction movies Ivy projects on the wall or her offerings of tin robot toys. The shop’s walls and shelves are confettied by a rainbow of candies. A neon red sign, reading, “The Future is Sweet” hangs behind the counter. Even the trash bin is ready for a galactic mission – a white rocket-shaped Spaceboy. The wide-eyed wonderment of a kid in a candy store – that’s what the Confection owner was most excited for prior to opening. “Just seeing them experience everything and asking me questions about things, “whatever they come up,” she smiled. Little Surprises Around Every Corner Confection stocks a blissful mix of import and nostalgia candy, as well as craft chocolate. Each section of the store offers something different. Much like in Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, you’re sure to find, “Little surprises around every corner, but nothing dangerous.” “I love import candy,” said the Winter Haven Candyman. Her sweet treats dot the map from the UK, Eastern Europe, and the Nordic regions. She has a selection from Japan and France, two countries she hopes to get more stock from. As for the nostalgia side of things – lovers of Zotz, Zagnut Bars, and the like are in for a real treat, pun intended. Browsing the shelves with Confection’s adorable tiny red candy baskets in hand, you’ll also find fun sweets for the kids (or adults, we’re not judging) like 3D gummy monsters, gummy pizzas, and gummy take out. Then, there’s the bean-to-bar craft chocolate. Ivy held up a bar with the name Frazer Nordi on it, a Sea Buckthorn & Salty Caramel flavor. “This is a line of chocolate bars inspired by the Nordic wilderness,” she said. She saw them set up at a market and was inspired by their clever look, wilderness vests and all. Confection also boasts an exclusive selection from Castronovo, a chocolatier out of Stuart, Florida, considered to be a national leader in bean-to-bar craft chocolates. Other offerings come from the Nashville based Olive & Sinclair who produce duck fat caramels, smoked nib brittle, bourbon brittle, and craft flavors like salt and pepper chocolate. The shop’s Sour Laboratory is run by mad scientist, Doctor Sisko. It displays an assortment of tart, vibrantly colored candy. This area of the store is complete with bubbling vials, Formula Sours in test tubes and other brimming scientific equipment. Asked what her most coveted candies are, Ivy said at the top of her list was MozartKugel. “It’s a truffle and it has pistachio flavored marzipan and chocolate.” She’s hoping to get some for the holidays. “It has a picture of Motzart on it, it’s beautiful,” she said. Next was none other than the brightly colored, tart Formula Sours at her store. Halloween – The Most Sacred Candy Holiday Ivy’s favorite holiday? Halloween of course. “It’s like a candy harvest,” she said. In her spare time, she reimagines horror movie titles using candy lingo – Children of the Candy Corn, The Hills Have Buckeyes, The Texas Chick-O-Stick Massacre. Ivy wants Confection to not only be Winter Haven’s candy connection, but also a place of candy celebration. She’ll get the opportunity to play into her original “Confection Crypt” idea and maybe use a few of these titles to celebrate come October. She has been compiling a 1930s and 40s vintage horror playlist that is scary, but still kid-appropriate. Inspired by memories of laying out Halloween candy on the floor, meticulously dividing it up by category, and trading with her brother – Ivy has thought about hosting a candy trade at Confection for the kids. Operation Candy: Phase II The candy store proprietor has a few eccentric and exciting ideas up her sleeve. “The thing about a candy store – you can be as weird and eccentric as you want. That’s why people liked Willy Wonka and why they wanted his candy so badly,” she smiled. Once she’s settled in, her phase two plans involve cocktail and candy pairings. The Confection owner gave the community a taste of what that might be like at her grand opening, bringing in mixologist Justin Levaughn of The Courtesy Bar and also the Suffering Bastard Tiki Bar. She brought Levaughn candy for inspiration and asked him to create an accompanying menu. He did not disappoint. The first, “Howard’s Old Fashioned” was a duck fat washed bourbon with Guyanese Cacao honey and bitters that could be paired with Olive & Sinclair Duck Fat Caramels. The “Venus Attacks” was a gin, almond cordial, passionfruit, lemon, orange blossom, and bubble cocktail – suggested to be paired with Formula Sours from Confection’s Sour Laboratory. A perfect pairing to Geisha candy was “Manfish” a vodka, macadamia, toasted coconut, palm sugar, and pineapple concoction. Eventually, she’d also like a cotton candy machine to create custom blends. “Freshly spun cotton candy is just incredibly visual, everything about it,” she said. “You can get bell pepper cotton candy – or any flavor.” She hopes to introduce patrons to these types of wild flavors, while also offering the classics. It’s only fitting that Ivy Horn’s favorite candy movie is 1971’s Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. “The original [Willy Wonka] is everything I want this to feel like,” she said. “The sense of wonder and global panic over candy, like with the Wonka Bars – that’s what I really love.” Confection Candy Shop 254 West Central Ave. Suite B Winter Haven (863) 207-6007 Confectioncandyshop.com FB @confectionwh IG @confectionwh Photo by Amy Sexson

What does it mean to live loudly? Perhaps it’s using art to heal, or embracing the fact that you’ve “always been extra,” or using your film or photography to start a conversation. For husband and wife, Jamie and Natalya Clemens, living loudly meant starting an award-winning video production company to tell the stories of brands and people who are doing the same. The pair started Loud Life Productions in January of 2016. Jamie has been into video production since high school. “I remember thinking ‘This is a lot of fun – I can make things interesting and energetic and fun,’” he said. “It really engaged my mind. As soon as I got done shooting something, I just wanted to go and edit it.” A source of instant gratification, he liked creating something that others would enjoy. His first job in video production was filming projects on-staff at a West Palm Beach construction company. His work in the industry extends beyond borders. Clemens has completed projects in Costa Rica with Natalya, as well as in the Dominican Republic and Cuba. Jamie described Natalya has an avid reader and writer. A coowner of the company, she also plays the role of producer and director on many of their projects. “She’s actually more into story and storytelling than I am,” said Clemens, “When she grew up, all she wanted was a typewriter, so she could sit next to a window and write short stories.” The family moved from West Palm Beach to Lakeland four months after starting LLP at the suggestion of good friend and fellow entrepreneur/ video maker, Andy McEntire. McEntire, who owns Indie Atlantic Films and Concord Coffee, has been an encouraging force for Clemens. Indie Atlantic, NFocus Studios, and others in the industry locally have all been supportive. “That’s one thing about the video industry, especially in Lakeland is that everybody, for the most part, is super helpful,” He said. “While it is competitive, we’re all cheering each other on – it’s a great thing.” As soon as they moved, Jamie and Natalya joined Catapult and set out to become plugged into the city. “Luckily, it’s a shallow pool, you can touch the bottom pretty quickly, which is great. We needed a city like that where, if you wanted to have coffee with your mayor, you could set it up,” said Jamie. They have since plugged–in to Lakeland’s growing, tight-knit community – growing their business within it. Helping Brands Become ‘The Guide’ The technical side of video can be uncomfortable, costly, and generally not enjoyable for a business. Loud Life set out with a simple mission, “Let’s make this enjoyable for everybody.” Loud Life Productions has a portfolio boasting clients from CenterState Bank, Bank of Central Florida, Keller Williams, to Gate Arty, One More Child, and Catapult. They started out doing B2B projects for small business, now working more with agencies and marketing teams. Though agencies and marketing directors may be more comfortable with the technical aspects than most, Clemens said, “We still want them to feel like that experience with Loud Life Productions they felt very communicated to, very catered to, and felt confident where they’re spending their money.” An intentional focus of the production company currently is brand commercials. “What sparked my interest in brand commercials was a project we did last year for a realtor, Gate Arty,” said Jamie. Arty hired LLP to produce a brand commercial for his team. The video went on to earn the production company a Golden ADDY Award from the American Advertising Federation. (Loud Life won a Silver ADDY the same year for their video “Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) | Join The Movement”). “I realized taking someone whether they make coffee mugs or sell houses, you can still write a script and film them in such a way that doesn’t make them feel salesy and gimmicky,” said Clemens. “The best brands talk about their users – Subaru, Nike, Apple.” Citing author and business owner Donald Miller and his book, “Building a StoryBrand,” Clemens explained, “You have a character who has a problem, who meets a guide, the guide gives them a plan, then calls them to action, then there’s a climactic point, and it either ends in success or failure.” “That’s how a typical story arc goes and if you break that framework, oftentimes people don’t care to finish that story because that’s how you keep people intrigued.” Helping brands to establish themselves as that guide to their audience is both challenging and fun according to the producer. To that end, consulting with clients is a large portion of the work they do. To get to the bottom of what message needs to be conveyed and how to achieve it through a video begins with a lot of questions. Loud Life uses the information they learn from consulting with a client – who their audience is, when and why they’re watching that video, and what they would ideally do with that information – to ask questions and simplify the message to find the most easily digestible and compelling way to communicate it. Loud Life People Marketing and branding aren’t the sole focus of the production company. “We made the company Loud Life because we wanted to tell the stories of people who we felt live life loud,” said Jamie, discussing a series of artist spotlight videos they’ve produced. Through the series called “Loud Life People”, LLP has artfully and impactfully told the stories of a few fascinating people. They illuminated Josh ‘Bump’ Galletta’s story of turning to art after a traumatic accident and now using his creativity to make a living. Also featured was photographer Jordan Weiland and her show “Women in Beauty.” Her project was an extension of the conversation surrounding how beauty is defined, a reflection of beauty ideals and standards, and a call to all women to love themselves – flaws and all. Lindsay Johnson is a gypsyesque fire dancer, performer, artist, and all-around “extra” person. The Clemens’s knew Johnson from West Palm Beach. “We felt like, here’s a woman who feels empowered to be her best self and doesn’t want to fit into a single mold and is going to make a living being who she is,” said Jamie, adding, “We wanted to tell her story and show off something really fun and cinematic.” Another Loud Life People feature followed, Kevin and Teresa O’Brien. Kevin made the film joining the conversation between the church and the LGBTQ community titled “At the End of the Day.” Teresa, who worked with her husband on the film, has since become the newest member of the Loud Life Productions team as a producer. According to an LLP social media post, Teresa’s experience “specializes in coordinating large-scale events, producing digital streaming content and most recently a feature film.” The post went on to say that they couldn’t be more excited to have her join them. What’s Next What does the future have in store for Loud Life Productions? “We really value repeat clients. Mainly because the more you work with somebody, the more you understand them, their brand AND their audience. We also find that one video is rarely the key to their messaging; it needs constant attention,” said Clemens. “We want to work along clients long term as a part of their strategic planning in their overall marketing plan.” Clements also recognizes the need for brands to put out a “message void of their brand” and would love the opportunity to partner with a brand “who tells in-depth stories about their audience” in a mini-doc format. Loud Life Productions Loudlifeproductions.com IG @ loud.life.productions FB @loudlifeproductions Photos by Jordan Weiland Photography