sk a person who has lived 6 or 7 decades about life and she or he is likely to tell you, sage-like, that “your health is everything.” This observation flies over the heads of most people under age 40. But what if you’re 30 and your health—or lack of it—confronts you radically, rudely, as it did Brandyn Herbold? Who is Brandyn? Perhaps you’ve seen those baby blue signs scattered around area front yards with Sky Realty on them. That’s her company which she started with fellow realtor Chad Roffers back in 2004 and has had meteoric success with ever since. So where’s the radical, rude confrontation you might ask?

Yep, she’s worked hard—that burning her candle at both ends thing—but, as you’ll read, her genes were the real culprit. Thus her profile is not one of the typical workaholic, type-A, driven, career woman. When I first met Brandyn a few years back she had left Michael Saunders and had started Brandyn & Co. I recall her asking me about WCW and I in turn enjoyed hearing her plans for her company. Now, just a few years later, I find myself interviewing a woman who is on the verge of having a $200 million- dollar company. I was taken by her comment, “I’ve always been in survival mode,” which at first suggests a dire situation—survival—but she says it calmly, and in doing so, it takes on new meaning: not succeeding is not an option. Now, looking at her burgeoning career, I know what she meant.

More About Our May 19 Event...
Buoyed by the success of this year’s “Front Page” event, plans are already underway to create and promote a second edition for WCW readers. Giving you the opportunity to meet some of the many powerful and interesting women we’ve profiled is still our top priority, as well as providing you with a chance to meet women in our community. But we’ll be adding more to the agenda while tweaking other parts. Want to be kept up to date on next year’s event? If so, please send us an email at wcwnewspaper@aol.com. Remember, this year’s event was SOLD OUT, so please be sure to shoot us an email expressing your interest. You can also offer ideas, suggestions and find our about sponsorship opportunities.

The V Word
What’s a vacation? Maybe that moment when you really feel yourself relax. Your shoulders loosen, the frown falls from your face and you exhale...completely. Add to that, sleeping late, eating in the middle of the afternoon or at random hours and buying yourself something extravagant.

I had several of these moments recently on a trip to London. It was London at its best—early spring with bold sunshine, blue skies and flowers in bloom. I was, however, not alone as natives and fellow tourists packed the sidewalks—all turning out that white flesh toward the rare orb in the English sky. Oddly, particularly memorable for me was a picnic in Hyde Park and actually sitting on the grass sans shoes and socks. Also sans bugs, ants, gnats, see ‘ums and no see ‘ums. Add to the mix goodies from Harrods, and memories of theatre the night before.

In conclusion: I like this V-word...va va...still working on it. Another V-word is on the horizon—Venice....and I don’t mean 15 miles south from here.