letter from the publisher
PUBLISHER
GREG ALEXANDER
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
VERLA PRICE
MANAGING EDITOR
STEVE BARBER
PRODUCTION EDITOR
JESSICA GRAÑA
ADVERTISING
BETH MANGUM
ELIZABETH NETHERLAND
SENIOR DESIGNER
PRISCILLA ATKINS
DESIGNER
SHEILA MACDIARMID
CONTRIBUTING
WRITERS/PHOTOGRAPHERS
GREG ALEXANDER
JEN DEEB
ZHALMAN HARRIS
SHANNA MAGNUSON
COURTNEY MURRAY
LIESEL SCHMIDT
VIP FOUNDER
JEFF WATSON
FOUNDER-DESTIN MAGAZINE
LINDA CHRISTIANSEN
VIP DESTIN MAGAZINE
EVENTS@VIPDESTINMAGAZINE.COM
INFO@VIPDESTINMAGAZINE.COM
WWW.VIPDESTINMAGAZINE.COM
WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/VIPDESTINMAGAZINE
VOLUME XIV • ISSUE 9
12 | VIPDestinMagazine.com
Because we are an events-centric
magazine celebrating the many pleasures,
opportunities, milestones, and happenings
of our beautiful little part of the country,
we have a platform allowing us to
commemorate and attend events for
philanthropic causes, business openings,
cultural and social events, and many more
entertaining and educational occasions.
Most months,
VIP Destin Magazine has a
special section that brings you insight on
a specific industry or theme where we feel
our readers have interest. This issue offers a
section that we are certain everyone will be
interested in… we call it Wonder Women.
Women truly make the world go around.
I cannot write this without thinking about
the important women in my life – my wife, my mother, my sister, my
grandmother, and a host of female friends. Further, I have recently
had more cause to reflect on these important women in my life as I lost
my mother in late July. Many saw her as the kind, loving, gentle, true
Southern lady that she was. They did not, however, outwardly see the
strength, depth, and compassion that she possessed and exemplified,
especially in her final days. She loved, and was loved, just as all of these
Wonder Women you will read about here. We all have women in our
lives that we consider Wonder Women and there is no end to the number
of pages we could have taken to include them; So, for this year, check out
these profiles, as we look forward to bringing you more in the future.
Additionally, you will find some interesting events in the September
issue as we showcase and recap them for you here. These include the
DCWAF check presentation of over $2.7M to area charities, the Subaru
Lifestyle Event at Step One Automotive Group, networking at Business
After Hours –where our cover photo was captured, fierce but friendly
competition at Paddle at the Porch, and much more. The features in this
issue will lead you to great food and fun such as Rockin Tacos in our
Coastal Cuisine piece, and then you can make plans for the Baytowne
Wharf Beer Fest in
Adventure Out.
Thank you for reading this issue and every issue of
VIP Destin
Magazine. We look forward to continuing to take you to the events that
you could not attend and capturing in print the ones that you did. Also, I
encourage you to seize each opportunity you are provided to spend with
all the Wonder Women in your life.
Greg Alexander
Publisher
Greg@VIPMag.com
Being the Queen is not all about singing, and being a diva is
not all about singing. It has much to do with your service to
people and your social contributions to your community, and
your civic contributions as well. -Aretha Franklin
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