Dr. Manal Fakhoury

Dr. Manal Fakhoury

Dr. Manal Fakhoury Dr. Manal Fakhoury is a distinguished community leader, entrepreneur, and philanthropist whose life’s work is rooted in service, leadership development, and the pursuit of justice. She is the President and CEO of Fakhoury Leadership International, where she brings decades of expertise in strategy, organizational growth, and fundraising to empower individuals and organizations […]

Laurie Zink

Laurie ZInk

Laurie Zink Laurie is a creative, results driven professional with entrepreneurial vision, who has over thirty years of experience greatly impacting growth and performance in both not-for-profit and for-profit organizations. Originally from Colorado and arriving in Florida from North Carolina and Brazil, she landed in Ocala due to her work in the equine industry. Due […]

Angie Lewis

Angie Lewis

Angie Lewis Angie is an accomplished leader and a proud Alumna of Southern Illinois University. In her professional career, she has achieved recognition as an Ambassador Travel Qualifier and a member of the Presidents Club in Auto & Multi-Line. Beyond her professional success, Angie is deeply committed to community service, currently serving as President of […]

Cynthia Wilson-Graham

Cynthia Wilson-Graham

Cynthia Wilson-Graham My name is Cynthia Wilson Graham, founder and owner of Helping Hands Photography & Design Publishing, LLC (HHP), a business I established over two decades ago with a mission to capture the lives of senior citizens in the comfort of their own environments. Today, I work as a freelance photojournalist and proudly serve […]

Jessica McCune

Jessica McCune

Jessica McCune Combining the power of art into health care and healing have been the driving force of my career. Allowing moments of ‘stillness’ and creativity opens up the well of wisdom and hope that lives in our unconscious minds. I suffer from the disease of wanting to do more in a day, than is […]

Margaret Spontak

Margaret Spontak

Margaret Spontak Margaret Hankinson Spontak is an experienced organizational leader and strategic planning consultant. She is president and CEO of the Great Florida Riverway Trust, Inc., a political non-profit organization advocating for reconnection of the Ocklawaha and St. Johns Rivers and historic Silver Springs. She also has a private consulting practice focused on strategic planning […]

Barbara Fitos

Barbara Fitos

Barbara Fitos Former County Commissioner, retired banking executive in Human Resources, founding Executive Director/Community Foundation Marion County, Barbara Fitos is a 45+ year resident of Ocala Marion County and the Mother of one son, attorney Joseph Fitos, and Grandmother of four.  She is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate/ Douglass College/Rutgers University – BA/American Studies with […]

Dr. Leslie Hammond

Dr. Leslie Hammond

Dr. Leslie Hammond Leslie Hammond, Ph.D., possesses decades of experience as an Art Appraiser, Art Historian, Archaeologist, and Museum Professional. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Art History from Ohio State University, a Masters in Classical Archaeology from Indiana University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Missouri in Art History and Archaeology, and a […]

Lisa Irwin

Lisa Irwin Lisa Ann Irwin is the President and founder of The LILAC Foundation, a private foundation rooted in creativity, community, and forward-thinking philanthropy. With a background in the arts, nonprofit leadership, and serial entrepreneurship, Lisa brings both heart and hustle to everything she touches. She’s launched multiple businesses, including the iconic ArtCastle/NOMA Gallery project […]

R.J. Jenkins

R.J. Jenkins

R.J. Jenkins Born in Long Island; raised in Sarasota; moved to New York City for college; moved to England—then to Boston—for graduate school; moved back to New York City to begin my career; moved to Ocala in 2016 to build a life with my partner (hands down the best decision I’ve ever made). By day, […]

Dave Schlenker

Dave Schlenker

Dave Schlenker Dave Schlenker spent 33 years as a writer, editor and columnist, mostly for the Ocala Star-Banner, Gainesville Sun and Ocala Style magazine. He has won two New York Times Chairman’s Awards – one for environmental reporting and the other for humor columns. His columns have won top honors with Florida Society of Newspaper […]