People Profiles

Back in the Game Lauren’s father had bought her brother tickets to a New York Rangers hockey game for his birthday. And she was not happy about the male-bonding thing. “I must have been 6, and I said to my dad, ‘Excuse me, do you think because I’m a girl that I don’t want to

Kelly Hyman can still hear the anguish and desperation in their voices. Feel the pain ravaging their bodies. Understand the anger and the determination to seek justice. Hyman was an attorney for hundreds of women suffering from the horrific complications connected to transvaginal mesh implants—devices used to repair weakened bladder and pelvic areas. Clients cited

The irony, Lauren Brill will tell you, is that English never revealed itself in school as an entrepreneurial path, let alone the life-altering off-ramp in her healing journey. As a youngster growing up in Rockland County, New York, math was her academic jam, a subject easily digested by her logical, incisive mind—although, given Lauren’s opinionated,

Devin Braddock Corporate pastry chef, Ariete Hospitality Group Back story: The prodigious talent that has made Braddock a household name in Miami pastry circles runs in the family. Her grandmother was an elaborate cake decorator in Tampa, where Braddock grew up; she cooked out of a baking kitchen inside her house. “I’d see her forming

Luis Vasquez Executive pastry chef, Miami Beach Edition Back story: The native of Caracas, Venezuela recalls cooking in the kitchen with his father and decorating cakes with his mother at a young age. But, early on, it was his love of painting and sculpting that fueled his creative energy. But the worlds of art and

Deborah Williams Owner, Chewy Suz Back story: Though Williams ultimately took the road likely never before traveled to achieve notoriety as a pastry chef, it didn’t start out that way. The South Florida native has loved baking since she was a youngster. In particular, she was immensely fond of the peanut butter cookies that her

Dallas Wynne Corporate pastry chef, Groot Hospitality; executive chef and partner, Toothfairy Back story: Though still a few years shy of 30, Wynne has won over Miami time and again with her original pastry concoctions and infectious enthusiasm for all things sweet. As the Palm City native tells the story, she might have tossed a

Monica McAfee Chief Marketing/Innovation Officer, John Knox Village Backstory: Giving back was baked into McAfee’s core being at an early age. Her parents always had a place at their table, and spare resources, for those who needed an act of kindness. It’s how she raised her own children. “It’s never about I or me,” she

Raquel Case Director of community relations and business development, Rick Case Automotive Group Backstory: Rick and Rita Case never pressed their children, Ryan and Raquel, to join the family automotive business. Then again, they didn’t have to. Raquel recalls being intrigued as a child by the nightly conversation around the dinner table, the talk of

Gregory Fried President, Gregory’s Fine Jewelry Backstory: Though he’s been in the jewelry industry since 1991, the native of New Jersey didn’t strike out on his own until purchasing the Delray Beach-based store in 2005 (from the prior owners; Fried was manager there at the time) that now bears his name. However, it was a vacation

Marla Garchik Founder, Peace Love Solve Backstory: Son Jack was a mid-life blessing for Marla and Steve Garchik; Marla was 42 when he was born; Steve was 50. But at an early age, Jack was diagnosed with pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified, a condition that’s on the autism spectrum. Around that time, Marla was chairing

Mike Linder Owner/CEO, Silver Lining Inflight Catering Owner, Jet Runway Café and Yot Bar & Kitchen Backstory: The Florida State graduate was working at Bennigan’s in Tallahassee when the unthinkable happened on Christmas Day 2000. An infection that spread to his heart—with nary a symptom—created an embolism and life-threatening inflammation of his heart’s inner lining