We know that Tampa Bay is special and a big part of what makes this area an amazing place to live is the people. We’re introducing you to kids and adults whose stories you should know. This is not a ‘pay for play’ list like those published by some other sites and magazines. We are simply featuring people who are doing incredible things in our community and deserve the recognition. Let’s dive in and meet your extraordinary Tampa Bay neighbors!
Acupuncture on a duck… or a manatee? You betcha! ZooTampa’s veterinary team is incorporating this holistic approach to care for animals that may not be responding as well to traditional treatments, and it appears to be working.
Have you ever used an everyday product and thought to yourself … there has to be something better out there? Or maybe you have a really cool idea for something that doesn’t even exist yet. Three local parents are proving it IS possible to turn your bright ideas into real, tangible products families will fall…
Q&A with Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s new president, Jon Vigue, on the park’s history and latest area, the new Lion & Hyena Ridge!
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.
I first came across the Emerson and Friends children’s clothing line a couple of years ago at Butter Bug Boutique in South Tampa. While the fabrics were everything I was looking for — buttery soft and lightweight — what caught my eye were the Florida-inspired designs. My favorite? The pattern featuring our beloved manatee. Come…
Meet Jen Smurr, Owner of Born + Bread Bakehouse in Lakeland, Florida.
We’re learning more about Largo Central Railroad from the people who keep the trains moving as they celebrate 35 years in our community.
Orlando native and Hamilton star, Eddie Ortega, talks about being in one of Broadway’s biggest musicals of all time, which heads to the Straz this fall.
On any given day at Glazer Children’s Museum, you might find children building forts, climbing to the rafters, dancing to a piano melody or transforming recycled materials into imaginative creations. For Guest Engagement Coordinator Anna Grulich, those playful moments are where the real magic happens. If you’ve visited GCM recently, you may recognize Anna as…
Kevin Perez is in his eighth year at Shorecrest Preparatory School, he teaches Algebra 1, Algebra 1 Honors and Geometry Honors, while also staying closely connected to students through coaching and travel experiences.
A teacher does not need a classroom; José Cotayo has an entire museum at his fingertips to teach people of all ages about the wonders of STEAM.
Caring, positive and inspirational — that’s how students describe Denise White of James B. Sanderlin K-8 IB World School. This year, she was named 2026 Teacher of the Year for Pinellas County Schools, recognizing more than three decades of dedication to local students. A proud Pinellas County native, White was honored at the Evening of Excellence hosted by the…
Owning her own business was a childhood dream that nagged at Amy Martinez-Monfort even after succeeding as a corporate litigator for a top law firm and climbing to upper management at a pharmaceutical company. “I loved the work and the people,” she says, “yet deep down, I knew I was destined to build something of…
Tampa Prep high school students Leela and Sonia are helping inspire the next generation of STEM leaders by coaching elementary robotics teams across multiple schools. Through competitions, teamwork and problem‑solving, they’re showing younger students, especially girls, that robotics can be both challenging and fun. What has surprised you most about working with younger students in…
USF is launching its inaugural NCAA Beach Volleyball season. We’re introducing you to head coach Pri Piantadosi Lima, a longtime professional beach volleyball player with an elite background, as she leads this history-making team in Tampa Bay.
As a Tampa Bay parent raising young children, Schuyler reflects on how a life-altering experience shapes the way he approaches parenting, resilience, and the fleeting nature of time.
In all of top-level American pro soccer, among 55 teams, only one has a woman in every lead coaching and competition role. That history-making team is also the Tampa Bay Sun.
Yamel Belen was 17 when she had her first of five children. Another baby arrived three years later. Fast forward two decades and those daughters, now 27 and 24, are a huge part of their mother’s career success. They not only help with childcare for their younger siblings but also work alongside their mom at…
As we celebrate Women’s History Month this month, we wanted to turn the spotlight on the future female changemakers who are already making a big impact in our community, and they’ve had the sweetest gig to make it all possible … selling Girl Scout cookies! We recently met up with Kinley Whitt of Troop 33228…
At Wharton High School, Christi Atkinson is doing far more than teaching science; she is shaping future environmental leaders and elevating excellence across campus. Serving as head of the science department, she teaches Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE)/Cambridge Marine Science and AICE Environmental Science, where her students consistently outperform global averages in these rigorous…
Sophie Moenter talks to us about what inspired her to create The Paloma House and how you can become a part of this fun new community!
With the Florida State Fair kicking off on Feb. 5, my daughter is ready for her Super Bowl. The Florida State Fair is a culminating show for thousands of livestock exhibitors all over the state of Florida. Youth will come and show off all of their hard work in the TECO Arena with their animals and knowledge of all species.
Meet Margaret Zakarian, CEO of Zakarian Hospitality and mom of three.
The American Bios Project: Student-Led Veteran Storytelling High school students Drew Garcia and Paige Wilson are helping preserve Tampa Bay history in a powerful way: researching and writing biographies of veterans buried at the American Legion Cemetery. Through the American Bios Project, they’re ensuring that veterans’ stories aren’t forgotten and helping others feel connected to…
We met up with Andrew Smith of YMKG and his wife, Cali, to talk about what Gasparilla means to them, the importance of giving back to the community, and why they love raising their family in Tampa Bay.
The Greatest Show on Earth is officially back after kicking off its national tour here in Tampa in early January, and if you went, we know you were wowed by the experience. Even before the historic Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey circus launched its all-new show, we got a chance to sit down with some of the stars of the show.
We got a SNEAK PEEK of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® circus, which is about to make history again when it debuts its new production of the “Greatest Show on Earth®” right here in Tampa Bay, kicking off its next ALL-NEW national tour at the Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Jan. 2-4, 2026.
We’re taking you inside the production of Nutcracker by Next Generation Ballet® at the Straz which has been months in the making.
Get to know Dominic Fouché, Sheldon Fouché, and cousins Michael Kuhn, and Christian Kuhn – the four boys behind Kids 4 A Cause.
Get to know mom and businesswoman, Malissa Spencer, senior entertainment manager for Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.
Discover how networking for Moms of South Tampa is being redefined by the ‘MOST’ Business Networking group and how you can get involved.
You have to wonder, what would Tampa Bay look like if the Glazer family had not become the owners of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1995? We would have a very different community, and not just because of football.
He’s only in 8th grade, and yet Corbett Prep 8th grader Jacob Pham has already lived a dream of so many: performing in one of the longest-running shows on Broadway, “The Lion King.” But landing the role of Young Simba was not overnight success, but the result of years of hard work, perseverance and the…
Thanks to Habitat for Humanity, a new Thanksgiving tradition is beginning at the Simmons family home this year. As usual, three generations of women — grandmother, mother and daughters — will prepare the meal together “from scratch and with love.” The menu will include all their favorite dishes: turkey, pot roast, honey ham, mashed potatoes,…
For the Gramatica family, hard work and athleticism are part of the DNA. In 2003, Martin Gramatica helped lead the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to their first Super Bowl victory. Today, Martin has traded his kicking tee for a whistle — coaching youth soccer, cheering from the sidelines and mentoring his athletic trio: Nico, a kicker…
Get to know Molly Lippincott, senior curator at ZooTampa at Lowry Park as the Zoo gets ready to debut all-new animal experiences in 2026!
Q&A with Kimmy Sanford, a passionate and dedicated middle school teacher of history and the social sciences at Tampa Preparatory School.
Brainard Harris is a mentor, innovator and leader who brings aerospace technology to life for students at Stewart Middle Magnet.
Local mom and changemaker, Angeline Howell, is inspiring hands-on learning, building community and shaping the future of education in Tampa Bay.
Meet Madison Richardson, a tae kwon do champion raising awareness for causes that empower kids and fund life-changing cancer research.
Remembering the joyful legacy of Dr. Michael Mcilwain and what he meant to his patients and the Tampa Bay community.
Get to know Candace Donnelly and Whitney Williams, co-hosts of the popular parenting podcast, Mom Group Chat.
Triathlon siblings, Miller and Linden Brown, are making waves in Tampa Bay and sharing advice for other kids who dream of crossing the finish line.
Teaching is a calling, and for Madeline Olivera, a fifth-grade math teacher at Corbett Prep in Tampa, it was a lifelong dream to share her love of learning with a new generation of students. Olivera gets to share this love of education at one of the most unique schools in the Tampa Bay Area, where…
Read about Dr. Lisa Hayes, a pediatrician and mom, and how she’s building her own practice while navigating motherhood and life’s challenges.
Pre-IB Biology teacher at Strawberry Crest High, Yung Ramano, is sharing how STEM students are being prepared for world-changing careers.
Read how Samira Garcia is embracing her passion for dance at Blake High School and inspiring others to follow their artistic dreams!
Learn how Kniya Godfrey helped Bloomingdale’s girls’ basketball team win its first state title and what inspires her on and off the court.
Learn how Aahan Swain’s experience in robotics and coding is preparing him for a future in medicine and inspiring others to never give up!
Learn how Kate White brings play into everyday life, from leading at Glazer Children’s Museum to making memories at home with her kids.
Get to know Decker Deady, Berkeley Prep high school senior dedicated to helping the No More Foundation carry out its mission to end poverty, orphans and human trafficking in Tampa Bay.
Get to know Tami Kent, founder of The No More Foundation, which aims to eliminate poverty, orphans, and human trafficking in Tampa Bay.
Read about Annabelle Gutowski and how her nonprofit, Kicks for Kids, International, is making a difference for foster children.
Learn how Mindy McCord is shaping the future of lacrosse at USF, building a competitive program while inspiring the next generation of athletes.
Learn about Ananda Farm in Terra Ceia through a discussion with the owners, who share how they turned their dream into a farm-focused escape.
Discover how Elise McEachern balances school, riding, and training while working toward her dream of becoming a professional horse trainer.
Read about Lia Beatty’s journey from being a mom of four to founding Télia Agency, where she helps brand stand out in a crowded market.
Read about moms who navigated career transitions after motherhood and found new purpose in their work and lives.
Veteran coaches, Mindy and Paul McCord are trailblazing the way for USF Women’s Lacrosse and gearing up for their inaugural game on Feb. 7!
Discover Ananda and Keel Farms, two of our favorite local farms offering fresh food and seasonal festivities that showcase the best of Florida farming!
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