The Local Woman

Thanks for tuning in to your new favorite podcast The Local Woman! That's right, your favorite local podcast is back and ready to share more incredible interviews with local women like you and me!

We are kicking off Season 2, with a fun and heartwarming episode we recorded over the summer with Atlanta-based interior designer Susie Prince!

Susie Prince, owner of Susie Mae Design is a residential interior designer based in Atlanta, Georgia. Prior to launching her own business, Susie worked in corporate graphic and package design before accepting a position on HGTV’s Emmy Award-winning “Elbow Room.” In 2015, she and her husband Victor were contestants on FOX’s design and build reality show “Home Free”, hosted by Mike Holmes. Her experience working in television taught her that the personalization and relationship-building aspect of the business was essential for her. Design should not be trendy or “in vs out”, it should be authentic and personal. Susie loves to blend old and new, color, pattern, texture, and shine to create spaces that are dynamic, timeless, and unique.

Co-founder of Macon Black Tech and HamTECH Solutions, Christèle Parham shares her love of Macon and her experience cultivating community in the tech and innovation space. As a consultant and the founder of two companies, Parham recognizes that building something is hard and often isolating. As a board member, organizer, and regular presenter at Macon Startup Christele is a force for positive, inclusivity, and good in the Middle Georgia community. 

Attorney Eden Jackson was born and raised in Macon, Georgia.  Being from a family of generations of Maconites, Eden’s mother encouraged at a young age to move away, to gain perspective. Eden went to undergrad in Atlanta at Georgia State University, Law school in Jacksonville, Florida at Florida Coastal School of Law, and received her Legal Masters from Brunel University London.

This week Eden was a guest speaker at Macon Startup Week and spoke about the importance of patents and the importance of safeguarding your business. Patents are important because they can help safeguard your invention or business. Check out this episode to learn more! Also, be on the lookout for more about Eden during season 2! When we re-release her episode for a full week's feature on The Local Woman!

In today's episode, we chat with local entrepreneur Kaitlynn Kressin about the highs and lows of entrepreneurship while, discussing the ongoing fortitude needed to withstand difficult times and challenges as a business owner. Running one business can be difficult, but running multiple successful businesses is no laughing matter! Yet Kaitlynn still finds daily joy in the operations of her various businesses!

As a Mercer graduate with ties to the Middle Georgia community, when Kaitlynn began her ascent into the world of entrepreneurship she knew downtown would be the anchor for her growth. Whether you've stopped into Just Tap'd or Fall Line Brewing for a cold pint, or sat down to enjoy a delicious meal at Ocmulgee Brew Pup, Kaitlynn's impact can be seen all over Downtown Macon.

Like many of the restauranteurs we've highlighted this week, Kaitlynn and her husband saw a need for more culinary and social options for young adults and families in the area. In addition to their desire to fill a culinary and social need, much thought and time were put into the development and design of each space. This commitment to the creation of their space can be seen in the design, branding, and aesthetic of each location.

Check out her story and stay tuned in for more inspiring stories from entrepreneurs throughout the community.

Noting a gap in the Macon market, owner, Tina Dickson, filled it with pizza. Known as “Our Lady of Pizza”, Tina has remained the driving force behind Ingleside Village Pizza since its doors opened. Great service, great pizza, salads, and sandwiches, and great atmosphere is exactly what the bustling pizzeria delivers. The “Macon-style” pizza, described as medium thickness, hand-tossed, and loaded generously with fresh toppings, is created using dough made on premises each day.

You can't call yourself a Maconite if you've never enjoyed an iconic slice from IVP. From the eclectic decor to the phenomenal staff, Tina Dickson put Macon on the map with her signature in-house dough and her funky laid back style.

Check out our interview with Tina Dickson and learn how an idea that spawned on Super Bowl Sunday of 1992, turned into a lasting legacy! 

http://littleguidemacon.com/directory/good-eats-and-good-drinks/ingleside-village-pizza.html

Richie Jones is the proprietor of the Downtown Grill. He purchased the restaurant in April of 2008 from the founder of the restaurant, Tom Noelke. Richie is a Macon native who is a graduate of First Presbyterian Day School. After leaving Macon, Richie attended the University of Georgia in Athens and obtained two Bachelor's degrees from the Terry College of Business. Athens is where Richie became interested in the restaurant industry. He worked his way up in different restaurants and taverns. After college, he continued his dream as he moved to Breckenridge, CO where he skied and worked at the resort in two of their food and beverage establishments. After a year in the mountains, he decided to move to the beach and obtained a job as a bartender at the Sea Island Beach Club. When the summer ended, Richie was ready for bigger and better things and was hired as a manager for a restaurant just across the causeway, called Spanky's. Richie continued to manage this restaurant for the next 5 and a half years, before moving back to Macon. He is proud to call Macon his home and loves seeing all of the great things that Macon is doing downtown. 

Check out our special bonus episode, featuring our unboxing of the SUMMER LOCAL LOVE BOX!

That's right, Rachelle granted the ladies of The Local Woman access to an exclusive sneak peek of the Summer Local Love Box! Stay tuned all week to learn about the artists and makers featured in the summer box. Then head right over to https://www.the567center.org/locallovebox to grab your summer box today!

On this episode of The Local Woman, Sierra and Jade chat with Local Woman, Rachelle Wilson! 

Rachelle is a proud Maconite and advocate for all things local. Currently serving as the Vice President of Mission Advancement & Chief Development Officer for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Georgia, she is able to connect her passion for her community with her experience in non-profit and with youth development in the Peace Corps. She also founded and curates the Local Love Box, a quarterly subscription box that features locally made items. Though she finds herself wearing many hats, writing about what she loves over a cup of hot tea will always be her preferred way to pass the time.

If you're a lover of community and want to learn more ways to engage local businesses and makers, this is the episode for you! 

Also, tune in tomorrow for a special bonus episode, featuring our unboxing of the SUMMER LOCAL LOVE BOX! 

That's right, Rachelle granted the ladies of The Local Woman access to an exclusive sneak peek of the Summer Local Love Box! Stay tuned all week to learn about the artists and makers featured in the summer box. So, be sure to check out the bonus episode, then head right over to https://www.the567center.org/locallovebox to grab your summer box! 

In Episode 20 of The Local Woman, Sierra and Jade have an uplifting conversation with American soprano, Jasmine Habersham! As a Macon native, she credits the foundation of her performance experience to participating in local community theatre and to encouraging mentors and family! We loved talking to her about her path from the local stage to Opera stages all around the world! 

She most recently performed the role of Pip in Moby Dick with Utah Opera, Pamina in The Magic Flute with Opera Theatre of St. Louis: Opera on the Go, Papagena in Die Zauberflöte with Cincinnati Opera, Yum-Yum in the The Mikado with Kentucky Opera, Esther in Intimate Apparel with Cincinnati Opera Fusion, and Clara in Porgy and Bess with Utah Festival Opera. She has also performed the roles of Papagena in The Magic Flute and as an Apparition in Macbeth at The Glimmerglass Festival. 

A finalist in the Lotte Lenya Competition, she is well-versed as a crossover artist in opera and musical theater. She has performed the roles Edith in The Pirates of Penzance with Atlanta Opera, Susannah in The Musical: Tintypes with Janiec Opera Company, and Pearl in Morning Star with Cincinnati Opera Fusion. She has won numerous awards including 2nd Place in the 2018 Southeast Regional Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, The Strauss Award in the National Orpheus Competition, the John Alexander Memorial Award from University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and the Young Artist Guild Award from Central City Opera. Ms. Habersham has participated in several esteemed young artists programs including The Glimmerglass Festival, Central City Opera, Kentucky Opera, and the Brevard Music Center. 

As a graduate student at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Habersham performed the roles Despina in Così fan tutte, Norina in Don Pasquale, Mrs. Julian in Owen Wingrave, and covered the role of Zerlina in Don Giovanni. She received her Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance at Shorter College and her Master of Music and Artist Diploma from the University of Cincinnati College- Conservatory of Music. If you're a lover of music and theatre, don't miss our interview with this talented Local Woman!

On this episode of The Local Woman, Sierra chats with Local Woman Neisha Himes! 

After leaving a toxic and abusive relationship in late 2012, Neisha Himes began telling her story years later via her gift of spoken word. Known to the poetry community as “Beautiful Dizaster”, Neisha has featured on many stages and to date, uses her talent as a method of bringing awareness. In August 2016, she founded G.R.O.W. Foundation (Girls Recognizing Our Worth), a 501c3 non-profit assisting domestic violence survivors with rebuilding their lives after abuse. To learn more about victims’ rights and navigating through the legal system, Neisha served as a Victim/Witness Advocate for the Norfolk Commonwealth Attorney’s Office and a Domestic Violence Paralegal for the Chesapeake Commonwealth Attorney’s Office. In April 2020, she joined the Newport News Police Department as their Domestic Violence Outreach Liaison, playing a vital role in the agency’s newly implemented domestic violence program.

Since creating G.R.O.W., Neisha has received several notable accolades for her incredible advocacy work and relentless activism. In 2016, she was recognized by Investigation Discovery (in collaboration with Peoplemagazine) as their “Inspire A Difference: Hero of the Month,” and in 2017, was also featured on PBS channel’s “Virginia Currents.” In 2019, she was the recipient of YWCA’s “Woman of Distinction Award”, as well as the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence “Voices in Action-Survivor Activist Award”. In October 2020, she had the honor of being interviewed by Essence magazine in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Most recently, in April 2021, she was recognized by WTKR Channel 3 News with the “People Taking Action” Community Award.

Neisha’s unwavering dedication to ending domestic violence and her passion for helping others is the driving force behind her motto “from pain to purpose”.