Local Business

Mary Jane VandenBerge’s family couldn’t go on road trips without her father, Ronald Boender, making several stops to explore nature. “When we rode through the Everglades,” she recalls, “the station wagon would come to a screeching halt because he saw a moth or a spider on a pole and we had to collect it.” Though

Aside from nearly three years in the U.S. Air Force, Miguel Arbesu always has lived in Miami. He used to live in Pinecrest, attending Miami Palmetto Senior High School. He went to the University of Miami for a bit and then graduated from Florida International University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in economics. After

Rebecca Loveless isn’t sure how many tattoos she has, but she guesses about 60. She calls the areas of her skin without them “spots.” “I’m filling the spots,” she says. “It’s not so much as, ‘I want a tattoo on my chest.’ It’s, ‘I need a tattoo on my chest because there’s a giant spot

If you’re looking for an entertaining venue for team building, Xtreme Action Park awaits. Want an adrenaline rush? Compete with your coworkers on a half-mile go-kart track. Want something intellectually challenging? Try solving puzzles to get out of an escape room. Want to hit the lanes and enjoy an adult beverage or two? There’s a

iFly Jump in: Imagine experiencing the sensation of freefalling from several thousand feet—without having to leap out of a plane? This place has you covered. The indoor skydiving facility features a 14-foot-wide wind tunnel powered by four electric motors, allowing people of all ages to fly on a smooth cushion of air. Before getting fitted

  Whether they’re head of the household or the boardroom, some moms juggle it all to grow thriving companies with the help of their kids, including Alina Villasante. Founder of lifestyle brand Peace Love World, Villasante turned her passion for spreading good vibes into a global apparel success. She’s signed partnerships with the likes of

The lowdown: Andrew Koppel doesn’t understand how people can walk into a chain jewelry store and talk to an impersonal salesman about diamonds, gems and everything in between. For the owner of Maurice’s Jewelers, buying jewelry is a special moment that deserves personal attention.    “Every piece of jewelry that a person gets marks time.

It’s been 13 years since Steve Newman, having sold his laminate flooring company in Atlanta, returned to South Florida to provide a custom residential service more pressing to tri-county homeowners than the surface beneath their feet. How do you maximize home storage opportunities when space, especially for those who have downsized, is at a premium?

Women often ask Evette Leib where she used to “dance.” “Mm-hmm,” she says with an eye roll, imitating their disbelief. Yes, she teaches pole dancing classes but, no, she never was a stripper. Before opening Evette’s Dance Fitness Club in 2009, she was the manager of a bank—17 years in the business. Today, the former

Wall Statements The biz: Adam’s Interiors The buzz: While one-dimensional paintings add color to a room, bright, three-dimensional wall art goes another step further—it creates depth. Jonathan Farkas, marketing director at Adam’s Interiors, says that the hottest trend in accessories is wall sculptures, especially those that make a statement in a room. “Not only does

After discovering she could get paid for the parties she hosted as a stay-at-home mom, a caterer creates a thriving business Joy Wallace has catered events for the likes of Queen Elizabeth II and Pope John Paul II, and every president from Jimmy Carter to Barack Obama. She remembers a food taster being sent in

When it comes to preparing your taxes, even do-it-yourself types are willing to leave it to the experts—especially after seeing the 1,000 pages that comprise U.S. Master Tax Guide. That’s why Coconut Creek Lifestyle spoke to three of the partners at Bergman, Hirsch, Spilfogel & Tyman—Garry S. Bergman, Jerrold Hirsch and Steven Tyman, who bring