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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8/29/18   10:42 AM