F

ollowing her husband’s AF career, 

Paula and Bill Sherman moved to 

the Emerald Coast in 2002. She 

continued her work as a nurse at Twin 

Cities Hospital in Niceville and her 

military career as Squadron Commander 

of the 714 Aeromedical Squadron in NJ 

for the next year. After 33 years, Paula 

decided to retire from nursing and the 

military. Retiring with the rank of Colonel, 

Paula decided to pursue a new career in 

real estate. She has been a leader and Top 

Ten agent with ERA American Real Estate 

for the past 15 years. She and her team 

of 5 licensed agents enjoy taking care of 

both buyers and sellers and offer a Heroes 

Home Advantage rebate to local heroes. 

Continuing in her leadership role, she is an 

ECAR Board member and Healing Paws 

for Warriors Board member. Paula believes 

in giving back to her community and is a 

participant in 100+ Women Emerald Coast 

and Impact 100. In memory of the 20 

year-old daughter she lost in 1999 (Morgan 

Chandler Haynes), she established a 

scholarship at the University of South 

Carolina for the Arts and Healthcare 

Sciences.

Realtor

®

,

ERA American Real Estate

PAULA

 SHERMAN

850.218.0537

60 2nd Street, Shalimar

R

isa Priestley is the owner 

of Risa’s Interiors located 

in Miramar Beach/Destin. 

Trusting God and relying on faith, 

she opened her fi rst business in Rome, 

Georgia, in 1982, while going through 

a divorce and caring for two infants. 

With nothing but hard work, dogged 

determination, and God’s leadership, 

Risa found herself 36 years later on 

the Emerald Coast where her fourth 

business, Risa’s Interiors, was birthed 

and has fl ourished! 

With award-winning designers 

to consult her loyal clients and the 

stunning 14,000 square ft. showroom, 

Risa truly decorates the Gulf Coast. 

Recognition has come from many 

accolades and awards, but God is 

given all the credit. Risa’s Interiors 

has been awarded Best in Destin for 

3 consecutive years,  2016, 2017 and 

2018.

Just visit the showroom to be 

“wowed”… Risa’s Interiors sells 

directly off the fl oor. Visit her website at 

www.RisasInteriors.com to see the 

many design successes. As Risa will 

tell you, “We Create Dreams, Not Just 

Rooms!”

Owner,

Risa’s Interiors

RISA

 PRIESTLEY

850.654.7472

10123 Emerald Coast Parkway

Miramar Beach

H

and Arendall Harrison Sale LLC 

partner, Leslie D. Sheekley is one 

of the few attorneys in Northwest 

Florida who is Board Certifi ed by the Florida 

Bar in Business Litigation.  She is also AV-

Preeminient® rated, which is the highest 

rating attainable from the Martindale-

Hubbell Peer Review Registry for lawyers. 

Ms. Sheekley practices law in both state and 

federal courts throughout Okaloosa, Walton, 

Bay, Santa Rosa and Escambia counties. 

She has more than 30 years of litigation and 

trial experience in complex business matters 

and insurance defense.  She also has extensive 

experience and oversees the fi rm’s practice 

representing condominium and homeowners’ 

associations in their operations, contract 

disputes, and covenant enforcement.  Ms. 

Sheekley is a frequent presenter of continuing 

education and certifi cation classes for 

association managers and board members. 

After graduating from the University of 

Florida and the Levin College of Law, Leslie 

practiced law in Arizona where she met her 

husband, an Air Force Offi cer. Upon his 

retirement to civilian work at Hurlburt Field, 

they relocated with their two children in 2001 

to the Emerald Coast.  Leslie is grateful for 

the opportunity of a diverse and challenging 

law practice balanced with a rich and full 

family life that includes community and 

volunteer involvement. 

850.351.0600

1401 Indian Bayou Trail, Destin

Partner Attorney,

Hand Arendall Harrison Sale LLC

850.650.0010

35008 Emerald Coast Parkway, Suite 500

Destin

LESLIE D.

 SHEEKLEY

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