Professional Services

Finding a Good Night’s Sleep

A mother-daughter duo succeeds in the male-dominated world of mattresses. Article by Linda Ditch When Mattresses & Beyond (new.mattressesandbeyond.com) opened in Royal Oak in 2007, it became Michigan’s first women-owned, mother-daughter mattress store.  Daughter Robin Zurla was searching for a career that was both interesting and fulfilling. After testing a few jobs that didn’t hit the mark, she and her mom, Mary Jo Dinha, teamed up. “We decided to do some research and try to figure out what...

Professional Services

Meet Christina McKenna

The voice whispering in the ear of America’s leaders. Article by Susan Thwing | Photography by Aly Darin In the high-stakes world of corporate leadership, where every word can influence markets, policies and reputations, Christina McKenna stands as an indispensable guide. As the founder and president of Bluestone Executive Communications, McKenna has built a career helping America’s top corporate and community leaders master the art of impactful communication. Her journey to this niche was...

Local Services

2025 Women of Birmingham

We asked who inspires you — and you answered in droves. Article by Lynne Konstantin We asked who inspires you — and you answered in droves. We wish we could include every nominated woman because all of you inspire us. Here, Birmingham City Lifestyle shines a spotlight on some of the women from our community who lift each other up in their everyday lives — who lead, inspire and transform Birmingham and Bloomfield with their brilliance and heart. And thank you to everyone who participated — we...

Home + Design

Southern Charm

A Southern transplant with power tools is creating a home-content empire from Birmingham — while inspiring women to transform their houses into homes. Article by Lynne Konstantin | Photography by Gail Disner Gail Disner has a knack for making everything she touches turn to gold. She’s like a Disney princess — with power tools. A Mississippi transplant, she moved to Birmingham with her husband, Groves High School graduate Mike Disner — now chief operating officer for the Detroit Lions — and...