For Wendy Tatanish, success has never been measured only by what you build—it is also measured by what you give back.
A supporter of women, local businesses, and community, Wendy continues to invest in the Emerald Coast through her generosity. This year, she has proudly sponsored the Ladies Leadership Luncheon multiple times, including the Ladies Leadership Luncheon Staycation, helping create opportunities for women to connect, recharge, build relationships, and celebrate one another.
Wendy brings warmth to every luncheon. She believes these gatherings should be spaces where women find inspiration, encouragement, friendship, and connection.
That spirit extends naturally into her professional life.
For 32 remarkable years, Wendy, alongside her husband, Jim Tatanish, has helped build Emerald Coast Fabrication into a premier destination for luxury stone. Their state-of-the-art facility is based in Panama City Beach, while their reputation reaches throughout the Florida Panhandle.
For Wendy, leadership is more than business and branding. It is about showing up, giving back, building relationships, and helping make the community stronger.
Melanie Contreras has also played an important role in helping the family company grow, bringing dedication and support to the business. Her involvement reflects the family-first spirit that has strengthened Emerald Coast Fabrication relationships through the years.
All fabrication and installation are completed in-house by their own employees rather than subcontractors. This allows the company to maintain consistency, accountability, and attention to detail from the first design conversation through final installation.
Their work combines traditional craftsmanship with advanced technology. Emerald Coast Fabrication utilizes CNC machinery for stone fabrication, bringing precision and efficiency to customized projects while creating the elevated finishes luxury homes demand.
But Wendy’s impact extends beyond the showroom. Her involvement with the Ladies Leadership Luncheon reflects her belief in creating opportunities for women to connect, support one another, and give back.
During the Ladies Leadership Luncheon Staycation at The Alice Cottages in Destin, all members came together for connection and relaxation. Together, we helped raise money for The Freedom Collective, contributing to a cause dedicated to bringing hope, support, and pathways toward freedom for women affected by exploitation and trafficking.
As co-founder of the Ladies Leadership Luncheon, I want to thank the women who participated and donated, and especially to all our sponsors for their generosity and support.
That spirit of giving is part of what makes Wendy’s leadership special. She understands that communities are built through participation, encouragement, generosity, and investment in others.
Sheryl Siller
For Sheryl and Adam Siler, that chapter began during a 27-day journey celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary. Their “30th Anniversary Extravaganza” took them from Athens, Greece, to a 10-day Mediterranean cruise, then to Rome, where they had spent their honeymoon 30 years earlier, and back to Turkey, where they had spent the first two years of their marriage.
The journey was a celebration of where they had been, but somewhere along the way, it also revealed where they might be going next.
While on the cruise, Sheryl and Adam met a couple who happened to be travel advisors. The conversation sparked something in Sheryl. Years earlier, while homeschooling their children, she had dreamed of becoming a travel agent but never pursued the idea.
Looking back, Sheryl and Adam see that encounter as a God-appointed meeting—an ordinary conversation that opened the door to a new calling.
That spark became Everlasting Joy Destinations, a boutique travel agency built around the belief that travel can be about far more than reaching a destination. It can strengthen relationships, create memories, and bring renewed joy into everyday life.
Today, Sheryl and Adam create intentional travel experiences for women, couples, and groups. Their hosted group journeys and girls’ getaways are designed to feel welcoming and life-giving, creating space for friendships to grow and memories to become part of the story.
Their newest offering, Purposeful Retreats, takes that mission deeper, giving couples and small groups room to slow down, reconnect, reflect, and dream together about what comes next.
In many ways, their business grew from what they discovered on their anniversary journey: sometimes stepping away from everyday life gives you a clearer view of what matters most.
What began as a celebration of 30 years of marriage became the beginning of a shared purpose. Now, Sheryl and Adam are helping others find joy, connection, and sparkle through meaningful journeys designed with intention.
Their story is a reminder that opportunities sometimes arrive when life slows down enough to notice them. That conversation became a calling and a new way to serve others.
AURORA KATTINE
As a licensed esthetician with a background in skin and beauty, Aurora combines technical knowledge with ongoing education to create individualized experiences for every client. Her approach is rooted in the belief that beauty should never feel one-size-fits-all. Instead, it should reflect the person sitting in her chair—their features, their style, their confidence, and the way they want to see themselves.
For Aurora, beauty is both a science and an art. She continues to learn from talented artists and beauty professionals, gathering new techniques, inspiration, and perspective that she can bring into her own work. That commitment to education allows her to continually refine her craft while keeping each experience personal and intentional.
Her artistry also extends beyond her everyday client appointments. This season, Aurora generously donated her time and talent to help bring our bridal theme to life, working with the publisher to create the perfect glam look just before the event. From the finishing touches to the details that made the look feel polished and camera-ready, her contribution was a beautiful example of how she uses her talents to support the people and creative projects around her.
This November, Aurora is especially thankful for the artists who generously share their knowledge, the experiences that continue to shape her craft, and the clients who trust her to bring that continued education into every beauty experience. She is equally grateful for opportunities to collaborate, give back, and use beauty as a way to make someone feel confident, celebrated, and completely themselves.
For her, bespoke beauty is an ongoing pursuit: continuing to learn, refine, and create beauty that feels uniquely yours. Every client brings a different story, and Aurora approaches each appointment with curiosity, care, and an artist’s eye for detail. Whether she is preparing a client for an important celebration, creating a bridal-inspired look, or simply helping someone feel their best, Aurora believes the most beautiful result is one that feels authentic.
Because true beauty is not about changing the way you look—it is about enhancing what is already there and helping you see yourself in a whole new way.
"When women come together with purpose, connection becomes something greater: an opportunity to give back, lift one another up, and make a meaningful difference in the community we share. The Staycation reminded us that generosity can turn a beautiful gathering into something that reaches far beyond the room itself, together."