With a Passion for Innovation, Technology & Education, Meet CEO & Founder, Marnie Forestieri at Young Innovators Academies & Childcare Network
Q: Let’s begin after High School Graduation … did you know what type of career you wanted to pursue? MF: I've always had a natural inclination for journalism, entrepreneurship, and writing. When it was time to choose a college major, it was tough to make a decision. Therefore, I did what most teenagers do: the opposite of what your dad tells you. That's how I ended up in the school of medicine. Three years into the program, I realized that I couldn't do th..
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She’s Tough, Ambitions & Works Hard for Success! Meet Jennifer Moon, Founder of New Moon Market Orlando’s Cool Juice Bar!
Q: Lets start with the story behind New Moon Market, what made you decide there was a need and were going to pursue this venture?JM: My name is Jennifer Moon-Huggett. I began this journey in 2009 when I decided to make changes in my life. Clean it up if you will in all aspects. I began watching food documentaries Food Inc., Forks over Knives, Hungry for Change … I must have watched them all - I wasn't’ just watching I was taking notes. Driving my family an..
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Common Sense Leadership & A Voice of Commitment to Her District. An Exclusive Interview with District 1 Commissioner, Betsy VanderLey
Q: After you completed your education, where did you feel your career path would take you? BV: The birth of my first child interrupted my education. I had envisioned raising my family and then returning to school to complete my degree. As the saying goes, “you make your plans and God laughs.” Things did not go as I had planned. At the time that seemed frustrating, but now, looking back I can honestly say that the life I have lived has been so much mor..
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She’s Learned in Life that it’s Important to Have a Hand Available to Lift Others Up. Meet GROW Central Florida, Founder & Executive Director Colleen Gonzalez
GROW stands for: Grass Roots Outreach Within. Their mission is to make a positive difference in children's lives by increasing opportunities for healthy living. GROW Central Florida works to promote environments that support increased opportunities for physical activity and healthy living for Central Florida school children.Q: For those in our audience not familiar with the nonprofit “Grow Central Florida” can you tells us about it?CG: The story of myself..
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Preparing Young Girls to be the Next Generation of STEM Innovators. An Exclusive Interview with Dr. Laine Powell, Founder & Executive Director of Tech Sassy Girlz
Dr. Laine Powell is a Vanguard in Advancing Young Women to be Leading STEM Professionals & Inventors. Tech Sassy Girlz is the signature program of Collegiate Pathways, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Orlando, FL. Their mission is to empower middle and high school girls to pursue science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields through college preparation, career readiness, mentoring and entrepreneurship.Q: After college, w..
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She Stands Up for Every Child with Cancer, Meet Melissa Wiggins, Founder of Cannonball Kids’ Cancer Foundation
Q: When you were 10, what did you want to be when you grew up?MW: When I was 10 years old, I wanted to be a lawyer. I was very determined and in high school I would work in law firms in my town for no pay - they had me file papers and read and summarize documents - I didn’t care I just loved the whole law firm vibe and knew it’s what I wanted to do with my life. From a very young age learning excited me! It still does! I live to learn more every single day..
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Come Find Out Why Paradise is Just a Cupcake Away! Meet Jillycakes Owner, Jillian Hopke
Q: Is it safe to say it all started when you were a young girl baking in the kitchen with your Mother and Grandmother? Tell us about some of those elaborate cakes you baked?JH: Oh yes! Our house always threw the parties around major events, Birthdays, Halloween, Christmas, etc. If there was such a thing as a “Pinterest Mom” back in 1985 my mom pioneered that lifestyle. Whatever we (my brother and I) were into she would turn into a showpiece cake. She made..
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Inspiring Women to Lead Meet, CEO Advisor, Executive Coach & Consultant Heatherann Antonacci
Q: When you graduated from high school, did you have an idea, where your career path would take you?HA: At a very young age I wanted to be a teacher. I loved school and I was sure that was the reason for my career choice. What I learned much later in life was that I had natural leadership skills and that is what teachers really are-they are leaders. So, I made a commitment to hone my leadership skills and use them in a way that would help others achieve th..
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She’s an Air Force Veteran, Mental Health Therapist & Founder of the I Am Enough Movement! Meet Best Selling Author, Megan Fenyoe
Q: When you graduated from High School, did you have any idea you would be an Air Force Veteran, a Mental Health Therapist, Best Selling Author and run a Nonprofit Organization? MF: Absolutely not. I knew I wanted to help people, but I have a learning disability and when I was in high school my guidance counselor told me that I should never go to college because I was never going to graduate. Little did I know that at that exact moment I would begin worki..
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She Pursued Her Dream with Passion & Appreciation, Meet Orlando’s Premiere Wine & Cheese Enthusiast, Tonda Corrente
Q: When did you discover you were a wine and cheese enthusiast?TC: My passion for wine started over 20 years ago while working in various restaurants around town. I was always intrigued by wine pairings, paying close attention to the chef’s skills and menus, I really trained my palate through pairing the different dinner courses of my guests. When I took a job at a local wine shop offering a unique cheese program, my life really changed. I mean it is the o..
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She’s The First to Open a GLO30 Membership-Based Skincare Brand in Florida. An Exclusive Interview With Dr. Aparna Sharma
Q: After high school, where did you feel your career path would take you? AS: Interestingly enough, I was voted “Most likely to succeed” in my high school superlatives. I knew even then that I would not choose a traditional path and that I wanted to set my sights high. I was certain that medicine was my heart, but I studied foreign affairs, got my MPH, and had planned on using my medical degree beyond only the bedside. I wanted to use that knowledge in dif..
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Going Beyond the Boundaries of Taste to Fit Your Lifestyle, Meet Orlando Chef/Owner Chelsie Savage
Q: Who or what inspired you to become a chef and when?CS: I consider myself the accidental restauranteur. My friends and family always told me I was a great cook, but I thought they were just being kind. I was a health advocate with particular foodie taste buds, so I made what I liked to eat out of ingredients I believed in. As a holistic nutritionist, I was running my own health consulting company working to reverse clinical diagnosis with a whole lifesty..
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Smart, Gifted & Tough. Making a Change to Create a Better World, Meet The Color Blue & Hope Founder, Jenna Dail
Q: For those in our audience, who may not be familiar with the nonprofit, The Color Blue and Hope, can you share the story behind it?JD: The Color Blue and Hope started as a blog after the loss of our twins, Grady and Ryder. At five months pregnant, I went into preterm labor after one complication followed another. At the time, not many knew I was expecting, let alone experienced a great loss, and I needed to find an outlet to share my feelings and process..
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