Local Folks: Britt Aubley
By Jennifer Jensen San Marco trainer brings ‘sparkle’ to personal fitness Sprint. Squat. Sparkle. These three words are somewhat of a mantra for fitness enthusiast and personal trainer Britt Aubley. “Sometimes I run, sometimes I sprint, but I always sparkle,” Aubley said. “I have so much energy and leftover glitter, so I leave some sparkle […]
Local Folks: Natalie Wells
By Jennifer Jensen While Jacksonville native Natalie Wells might be part of the team that makes up Oak Wells Aquatics, she didn’t always play such an integral part of the business. Prior to joining her husband, Ryan, in 2023 as a project consultant, she was an elementary teacher for 16 years. “I always wanted to […]
Local Folks: Cliff Leonard
By Jennifer Jensen Avondale sculptor honors the fallen More than 20 years ago, something caught Cliff Leonard’s eye, and he decided to try a new hobby. The object was a life-size sculpture of a carousel horse created by an Orange Park woman. “I thought, I’d love to do that,” Leonard said. He visited the artist […]
Local Folks: Pete Kimmel
Around the globe to San Marco By Michele Leivas Pete Kimmel has a unique appreciation for the roots he’s laid in his San Marco community. Growing up, Kimmel traveled extensively with his family, both nationally and internationally, for his father’s job. At the time, his father worked for Ally Bank – then known as GMAC […]
Local Folks: Rhiannon Powell
Rhiannon Powell moved to Jacksonville when she was 8 years old and only left once when she attended the University of Florida. In 2002, after graduation, she moved to Riverside and began working at Ascension St. Vincent’s as a nurse in the emergency department. “And I just stayed here ever since,” she added. In 2003, […]
Local Folks: Leigh & Bryan Fogle
From the River City to Music City, art and music define couple’s life The Fogles are no strangers to taking chances and investing in their passions. In fact, Bryan and Leigh Fogle have done so numerous times in their 31 years of marriage. “We just say, you’ve got to do what you’re passionate about,” Leigh […]
Local Folks: Alexei Acosta
Although Alexei Acosta isn’t a Jacksonville native, he has an immense amount of love for his new home and wants to use his business to showcase the city the way he sees it. “I very much, unapologetically, try to be as much of a local as I can,” he said. “I really do just love […]
Loyal to Local: des Islets Florist & Gifts
.For small business owner Miranda “Randy” des Islets, combining her passion for floral and jewelry design was a natural fit, a lifetime in the making. “I used to save up my birthday money to attend jewelry camps during the summer and buy jewelry-making supplies,” she said. “I started fixing jewelry pieces on the playground.” Today, […]
