It’s all about the PEOPLE.
As I flipped through this issue, remembering all of the places we traveled in the last three weeks to put this issue together, I was struck by the number of faces in this April edition. C2 has always focused primarily on the people behind the businesses—whether it’s a housekeeping company that services local hotels and rental companies, the lady who teaches your children gymnastics, or the famous faces on the TV station that you invite into your living room to tell you that day’s newsworthy stories.
Businesses are propelled forward by people, not things, and we would rather tell you the owner’s history (what inspired them to start the business, where they moved here from, what they are passionate about) than list the 86 brands the store we are writing about carries. There are over 200 different restaurants in our area, but why do you repeatedly patronize the same ones? I bet it’s because you have a connection with your favorite bartender, chef, owner, or server. I don’t care if a restaurant has a remarkable water view, if they have horrendous service or bad food, that table by the water isn’t going to bring me back. But I’ll return to a bar where I get friendly service along with a great drink any day, even if all I have to look at is a bunch of liquor bottles on the wall.
Maybe this is hitting me differently today because I have had at least five conversations with different advertisers in the last few days who can’t seem to find enough competent employees to keep their businesses running at optimal level. Where do you find good people who are motivated to work … and how do you keep them? (I’m really asking. Email me the answer, please, so I can share it.)
One of my favorite “people” stories in this issue is about Susan Rafetto and her clothing line, Peace by Piece. We spent the better part of two days photographing Susan and her wares in C2’s studio, and I really enjoyed meeting all the cool women she had come by to model her unique styles. See her story on page 40.
In that same vein, for this month’s fashion spread, The Garden Party, our team went on location to several local nurseries to shoot spring looks from our local boutiques. COVID had us all in sweatpants for the better part of 2020, but I’m thinking it might be time to start wearing some real clothes again. Check out the spread on page 52.
From page 18-39, we feature the local media: faces you probably already know like Monty Jett, Riley Miller, Ben Senger and Holly Bounds Jackson. They reveal their personal journeys, how much social media they consume in a day, and their favorite interviewees. Linda Hopkins also shares what goes into the production of a magazine every day, but if you are following us on Instagram and Facebook, you’ve probably already gotten a tiny peek. See that story on page 36.
Over 55 people were photographed by Hunter Kostylo and me for this issue in over 25 separate photoshoots that happened over the last three weeks. I hope you enjoy seeing their faces and reading their stories as much as we enjoyed meeting and chatting with every single one of them.
See you next month!
Maggie Washo
Publisher / Editor-in-Chief
