Author: Julie Tingley

Julie Tingley introduced the KNOW Women community to Tampa Bay, and founded Wee Macree, a purpose-driven brand for kids. She is a 10-year Tampa transplant who has found her way through many professional and parenting transitions by maintaining focus on her vision of a better future for, and daily inspiration, her daughters Ella and Kate.
Tyra Andre Mommy and wee travels
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Moms to Know: Tyra Andre, Mommy and Wee Travels

Learn about Tyra Andre’s journey from scientist to world traveler and how she turned her passion into a travel agency, “Mommy and Wee Travels.”

Isabella Cooley
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Kids to Know: Isabella Cooley

Get to know Isabella Cooley, a young traveler and author of the book series “Let’s Explore with Isabella”, who’s explored 30+ countries!

Touchdown Pass Foundation Dylan Gandhi, Eaon McQuade and MJ Jones Jr.
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Kids to Know: Touchdown Pass Foundation: Dylan Gandhi, Eaon McQuade, MJ Jones Jr.

Discover how the Touchdown Pass Foundation makes football accessible for kids by providing equipment and opportunities to play.

Amber Uhler Mrs. Universe USA
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January Moms to Know: Amber Uhler, Mrs. Universe USA

Read about Amber Uhler’s story of perseverance, water safety advocacy, and her journey to becoming Mrs. Universe USA 2024.

Nola Schoos

Kids to Know: Nola Schoos

Learn about Nola Schoos, a 7-year-old who loves the beach, helps protect marine wildlife, and inspires others after Hurricane Helene.

Souad Dreyfus of Open Arms Surrogacy

Moms to Know: Souad Dreyfus

Read about Souad Dreyfus, founder of Open Arms Surrogacy, and how she helps families navigate their journey to parenthood.

Corina Kowalski, Bubbles & Blowouts
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Moms to Know: Corina Kowalski, Bubbles & Blowouts

Learn how Corina Kowalski’s passion for beauty and community inspired Bubbles and Blowouts, a Tampa salon for everyone.

Jacob Ari Kamis

Kids to Know: Remembering Jacob Ari Kamis (2006-2022)

Learn about Tampa teen, Jacob Ari Kamis, who’s legacy continues to shine through a photographer contest at Florida Museum of Photographic Arts.

wee macree kids helping kids

Kids to Know: Wee Macree Junior Leadership Board

Get to know the kids behind the Wee Macree 501c3 nonprofit Junior Leadership Board who serve the mission of ‘kids helping kids’ in Tampa Bay!

Natalie Zfat Tampa
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Moms to Know: Natalie Zfat

Get to know local Tampa mom and digital media expert, Natalie Zfat, who’s sharing awareness tips to help protect your kids from cyber-bullying.

Courage & Grace Foundation Inc. Maxine Reyes

Mom to Know: Maxine Reyes

From the Air Force to the Army, Maxine Reyes shares about her incredible career with the U.S. Military, plus founding Courage & Grace Foundation.

Shelby Langford

Kids to Know: Shelby Langford

Getting to know Tampa’s Shelby Langford: Future Farmers of America member and the student responsible for the fodder farm being built behind Gaither High School.

Lemonade Stand Fundraisers Sailor Garfield, Anderson O’Kelley, Reagan Leung, Ruby Nolan, Haydon Swanson

Kids to Know: Sailor Garfield, Anderson O’Kelley, Reagan Leung, Ruby Nolan, Haydon Swanson

In preparation for summer break, most students across Tampa Bay anticipate what the season means for them: vacation travel, athletic camps, beach days, pool time, late nights and no homework. But for five rising sixth and seventh grade girls, this was the time to host their fourth annual lemonade stand to raise money for local…

Ambika Agrawal

Moms to Know: Ambika Agrawal, Ambika Photography

In the wizarding world of Harry Potter, a wand is a conduit that brings out the energy of a magical person and manifests it in the physical world in the shape of what they may be casting or creating. This is also true for Ambika Agrawal and her camera, a tool that blends the creative…

Jenna Cibran
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Moms to Know: Jenna Cibran 

In the five years that we have featured mothers in this special space, I have yet to focus on a part of motherhood that is just as important as all of the others that have been highlighted before. The role of the woman in the home to be there for every member of the family,…

St. John’s Episcopal school 3rd & 4th grade
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Kids to Know: St. John’s Episcopal Parish Day School Grades 3 & 4

In collaboration with Rise Against Hunger and St. John’s Episcopal Parish Day School, the Taylor Koulouris Foundation made it possible for students to pack 12,500 meals that will feed 347 children in Haiti each for an entire school year. As third and fourth graders at the school, our Kids to Know share their experience.  …

Omar Germany cancer survivor Tampa
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Kids to Know: Omar Germany

Cancer. It was a word the Germanys never expected to hear when they brought their 12-year-old son to a medical professional for answers about a mass growing in his cheek. In 2020, Omar Jr. was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare childhood cancer. With great fortitude and unwavering faith, Omar began a lengthy fight with his…

Jessica Payne Tampa
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Moms to Know Jessica Payne: Sweatology Studio, Undressed Tans

Every child is truly a treasure, and for most, pregnancy is a gift. However, after navigating a journey through in vitro fertilization (IVF) and surrogacy to welcome her two children, Lenny (6) and Bowie (3), Jessica Payne could have never predicted the miracle waiting to unfold years later. As this local mom announces the arrival…

Caroline and Charlotte Gallagher of C&C Lemonade Factory
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Kids to Know: Caroline and Charlotte Gallagher, C&C Lemonade Factory

This June marks the 20th anniversary of the first Lemonade Days, a tradition that was started by 8-year-old Alex Scott, founder of Alex’s Lemonade Stand, to help doctors help kids like her who were fighting cancer. Before Alex passed away in 2004, she knew that Lemonade Days raised $1 million for childhood cancer, and it…

Bhavna Kanakia
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Moms to Know: Bhavna Kanakia

Just as the lotus emerges from muddy waters to bloom into a beautiful flower, the story of Bhavna Kanakia is one of growth and transcendence. Rather than remaining in her birth country of India, among the familiar ceremonies that honor the cultural symbolism of the lotus, she resolved instead to expand an offering of superb…

Entertainment Revue Empowers Young Voices in the Performing Arts for 34 Years cover

Entertainment Revue Empowers Young Voices in the Performing Arts for 34 Years

Like a trending remix of a favorite 90’s song, Tina Novak Robles involvement with Entertainment Revue has come full-circle in the most harmonious way. As a member of the founding cast of the singing ensemble, Tina is now the Creative Director of the group that is celebrating 34 years of show-stopping singing and dancing acts,…

Christian Vorderbrueggen Blush x Bashful

Moms to Know: Christian Vorderbrueggen, Blush x Bashful

Discover how Christian Vorderbrueggen, local mom turned entrepreneur, is revolutionizing maternity wear with Blush x Bashful, crafting bras that blend comfort with beauty for postpartum bodies.

Daniel Rodriguez

Kids to Know: Daniel Rodriguez

Meet Daniel Rodriguez, a 5-year-old with a heart for people and a knack for brightening days at Elite Body Cryotherapy in St. Petersburg, FL. His eagerness to connect and help in his family’s business is inspiring, proving it’s never too early to make a difference.

Danielle Bayard Jackson
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Moms to Know: Danielle Bayard Jackson, Friendship Coach, Educator & Author

With schedules that are packed with playdates, sports, school, and the many other ways we socialize our kids, what, then, is left for us parents who also dream of a Monica to our Rachel? This is where a Friendship Coach comes in.

Emaline Khavin

Kids to Know: Emaline Khavin

Meet Emaline, my friend who attended the Wee Macree Giveback Spectacular last fall. As she learned about different local youth populations in need and participated in activities to serve on the spot, she felt like something was missing. At 5 years old, with a heart bigger than her whole self, she looked lovingly at her…

Gorrie Elementary School Tampa
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Kids to Know: The Students of Gorrie Elementary School in Tampa

When Gorrie Elementary School mother Haylie Katz discovered Bess the Book Bus, she immediately thought of her children’s school community. With a committed PTA team that partners with nonprofits monthly to teachers who encourage students’ kindness potential, this neighborhood school has nurtured many standout kids to know.   How did collecting for Bess the Book…

Vicki Sokolik
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Moms to Know: Vicki Sokolik, founder of Starting Right, Now

Our local youth are at the very core of all we do, of how and why we make decisions, and why we give back and serve. Yet, there is a population of children among us that we do not speak nearly enough about. We notice them, but we do not see them. We hear them,…

Bayshore Christian Fourth Grade

Kids to Know: Bayshore Christian School’s Fourth Grade Class

Every fall at Bayshore Christian School, the fourth grade classes gather to plan for a market. The products, packaging and prices are determined individually by each nine and ten year old student. However, they decide collectively how the profits from the project will be used. While they learned how to execute a successful business, they…

Lauren Suttell, LJ Aesthetics
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Moms to Know: Lauren Suttell, LJ Aesthetics

Have you ever heard the saying “in a world full of Kardashians, be an Audrey (Hepburn)?” When it comes to raising girls in today’s world, I am reassured that there are women in the aesthetics field that promote a graceful approach to aging that enhances natural inner and outer beauty—much like the iconic faces before…

Sadie Dixon
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Kids to Know: Sadie Dutton

Through the Children’s Dream Fund, I have had the incredible honor of connecting with a family that has endured so much. When the chances of survival were statistically low, where the critical number of perfectly matched stem cells were extraordinarily high, Sadie can say today that her battle is won. Because of the grace of…

Giselle Mcnab The SIS Project.Org

Moms to Know: Giselle Mcnab – Author, Speaker, Founder of The SIS Project.Org

From a challenging childhood in New York City to troubled teen years marked by resilience and survival, Giselle McNab’s path to motherhood has taken her from darkness to enlightenment. With a remarkable account of breaking a cycle of abuse, the inspiration behind her book, and her mission to empower women and teen girls through her…

Dev Shah, winner of the 2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee
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Kids to Know: Dev Shah, winner of the 2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee

How did local teen, Dev Shah, really win the 2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee? He was focused and ready. But even more than that, he went into the competition to enjoy every part of the experience.

mandy schulis The story Shift
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Moms to Know: Mandy Schulis, founder of The Story Shift

Meet Mandy Schulis, a certified trauma-informed story coach and a driving force behind inspiring female entrepreneurs to dismantle their own barriers and harness the power of their unique stories for both income and impact.

Christina Unkel, president of Super League Tampa Bay
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Moms to Know: Meet Christina Unkel with the Super League Tampa Bay

As Super League Tampa Bay prepares to make its mark on the world of women’s soccer, the appointment of Christina Unkel as President represents an important moment in the sport’s history.

Kids to Know, Jake Klopfenstein of Angling for Relief
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Kids to Know: Meet Jake Klopfenstein with Angling For Relief

With a remarkable mission to brighten the lives of pediatric cancer patients through the therapeutic art of fishing, Angling For Relief has served families in Tampa Bay for five years. While his heart-warming initiative has made a lasting difference in so many lives around him, it is Jake who has been changed by the kids he gets to take fishing.

Dominique Richardson
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Moms to Know: Dominique Richardson

Meet Dominique Richardson, local author and founder of Tampa Bay’s first book festival, YA By the Bay, which aims to promote a love for literacy and leadership among local students.

Emersyn Southwick
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Kids to Know: Emersyn Southwick

Meet 7-year-old Emersyn, a remarkable little girl who bravely confronts medulloblastoma with her family, the community, and the Children’s Cancer Center by her side.

Mason Hawk:
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Kids to Know: Mason Hawk

Mason Hawk may be a great student, a strong athlete and a gifted pianist, but his passion and advocacy for children battling life-threatening illnesses is what truly makes him stand out. Inspired by his brother’s liver transplant journey, Mason found purpose through volunteering with Children’s Dream Fund at the age of 13. This past spring,…

Eileen Esposito The Sunflower Patch
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Moms to Know: Eileen Esposito, The Sunflower Patch

At The Sunflower Patch, Eileen Esposito combines her talents as a music therapist, recording artist and songwriter to create enchanting experiences for children. With a deep-rooted passion for music ingrained in her DNA (her great-great-uncle composed “Silent Night”), Esposito’s own musical journey began at a young age. Today, with a bachelor’s degree in music therapy…

Dr. Cynthia Stringfield
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Moms to Know: Dr. Cynthia Stringfield, ZooTampa

Driven by a cross-country opportunity to combine her passions and make a difference, Dr. Cynthia Stringfield embarked on a new chapter in her life when she moved from California to Florida in 2019. Today at ZooTampa, driven by a deep-rooted belief in the power of education, Dr. Stringfield dedicates her work to instilling a sense…

Alyson Hobbs
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Kids to Know: Alyson Hobbs @aly_8_hockey

In a world where young dreams hold infinite possibilities, an 8-year-old girl who loved to skate found her way to the Tampa Bay Lightning Girls Hockey League to leave her mark on the ice. Alyson Hobbs, a focused and flourishing young player, is among other skillful teammates who showcase the boundless potential of girls in…

Quin Brewington
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Moms to Know: Quin Brewington, Sister Lady Girl, Second Act Summit

We’re getting to know Quin Brewington, creator of Sister Lady Girl and Second Act Summit.

Madden Sheridan
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Kids to Know: Madden Sheridan, Miracle By The Bay

At 11 years old, every breath Madden Sheridan takes is a miracle. Diagnosed with Jeune’s Syndrome in utero, Madden may have special needs and accommodations, but his passion for sports, making people laugh and building with Legos is just like any other kid his age.

Sorboni Banerjee
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Moms to Know: Sorboni Banerjee

We’re getting to know Sorboni Banerjee, a former television anchor who is not only a published author, but is inspiring others to dream big.

Ansley Kins
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Kids to Know: Ansley Kins

Meet Ansley Kins, a kid author, designer and more!

Melanie Humenansky Bayshore Christian School

Moms to Know: Melanie Humenansky, Bayshore Christian School

Get to know Melanie Humenansky, head of school at Bayshore Christian School in South Tampa.

Emma Campbell Hillsborough County 2022 Anti-Bullying Award recipient
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Kids to Know: Emma Campbell, 2022 Hillsborough Co. Anti-Bullying Recognition Award Winner

Meet the 5th grade recipient of Hillsborough County’s 2022 Anti-Bullying Recognition Award and find out how you can nominate a child or teen who has gone above and beyond to battle bullying.

Bianca Burrows
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Local Artist, Bianca Burrows, shares her heart on blank canvases

Bianca Burrows, @itsbbart Did you know that local students get less than one hour of art instruction in school each week? For children that express themselves through a more creative approach or kids that struggle in school because they do not meet traditional academic standards, that’s not enough time in the school year for them to…

Rylee Miller
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Kids to Know: Meet kid-DJ, Rylee Miller

Meet Rylee Miller: Academy of the Holy Names fifth-grader, twin sister and a professional kid-DJ who’s spun for the Tampa Bay Lightning and more!

Alyssa Rhoads
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Moms to Know: Alyssa Rhoads, Eventing Tampa Bay, CEO Council

Meet Alyssa Rhoads, producer of show-stopping events and creator of joy, wonder and enchantment in everything she creates.

Jordan Parramore
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Kids to Know: Jordan Parramore, Jordan’s Juice Bar & Delights

Meet Jordan Parramore, kid on a mission: gamer, foodie, autism advocate, and founder of Jordan’s Juice Bar when he was only 8 years old.

Kiva Williams
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Moms to Know: Kiva Williams

Meet Kiva Williams, the @thefunfoodiemama and founder of Mahogany Kids Fine Arts Foundation benefitting children in Tampa Bay.

Redefinging Refuge Natasha Human Trafficking Prevention Tampa

Redefining Refuge on Human Trafficking Prevention: What parents should know

Here’s the hard truth: human trafficking is happening in our community. Redefining Refuge is working to change that and you can help.

Lexline Johnson
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Kids to Know: Lexline Johnson

Winner of Apple’s prestigious Swift Student Challenge, Lexline taught herself coding, and then created her own app on quantum physics.

Dr. Amy Patenaude
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Moms to Know: Dr. Amy Patenaude, ED.D., NCSP, A Child’s Path

What if we approached the “tough” seasons of parenting differently? Dr. Amy Patenaude is helping families make lasting positive changes.

Karrie Mueller

Moms to Know: Karrie Mueller, Webhead Interactive, Parties With Character, Cheap Cookie Cutters, Dairy Joy

Karrie Mueller has successful businesses, three happy children and a soulmate husband. Beyond Super Mom, she’s a Mom to KNOW!

Noah Cheong Kids to KNOW

Kids to Know: Noah Cheong

At a time of year when so much is celebrated with the holidays, it’s important to remember that so much can change in a short time…and honoring and cherishing the people- every person- around us is what makes December truly special. This is precisely why we get to know Noah Cheong, someone who has always put others first.

Lindsay Hernandez and Julie Tingley.
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Moms to Know: A nonprofit leader’s mission inspires meaningful holiday family traditions

Mother of three boys, Tampa Bay realtor, and founder of the Christian Michael Hernandez Foundation (CMHF), Lindsay Hernandez lives by the mission of her nonprofit in every way possible: to be a light in this world through the provision of unconditional kindness. In a month that focuses on giving and gratitude, we are thankful for…

Victoria Reyes

Kids to Know: Victoria Reyes

A gifted creator at 13 years old, Victoria Reyes has already shown her work at an art show and started her own clothing and accessories line.

Amy Dascola

Moms to Know: Amy Dascola

A psychic medium since she was six years old, Amy Dascola experiences life, people and energy on a different level than you and I.