News

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  • Wednesday, October 07, 2026 4:37 PM | Elizabeth Mattke (Administrator)

    I’m a true Florida native, born and raised in the Gainesville area. I was born three months early here at Shands Hospital. Apparently, I saw my due date and thought, “Challenge accepted.” I’ve been an overachiever since the get-go. Honestly, that still tracks.

    I started working at 15 and have spent my career in customer service from serving to bartending to sales, financing, banking and insurance, even a few random adventures in truck driving, welding, and outfitting. But I always find my way back to sales. I love people, I love numbers, and I REALLY love solving problems, which makes mortgage lending the perfect fit.

    This year I made the move from direct lending to the broker side, and I love it. Instead of having one box of options, I can shop multiple lenders to find the right fit. Got a unique situation? Got a “no” somewhere else? Bring it to me, this is where I shine.

    I’m a wife, mom of three girls, an autism mom, business owner, and professional chaos coordinator. I believe in surrounding myself with successful women, knowing your worth, and never giving up when things get hard.

    I’m excited to meet all of you at GAWN, learn from you, build relationships, and hopefully inspire someone along the way.

    Rosanna Anderson, Branch Manager, Satori Mortgage / 352 210 5429 rosanna@satorimortgage.com


  • Wednesday, September 09, 2026 9:33 AM | Elizabeth Mattke (Administrator)

    My husband and I came to Gainesville 28 years ago after serving for 4 years in Guatemala doing mission work. Prior to joining Gainesville Direct Primary Care Physicians, I worked at the UF for 14 years and also worked at a clinic doing Functional Medicine. I joined Gainesville Direct Primary Care Physicians 6 years ago, and at last, I could spend time with my patients listening to their concerns which I believe is the beginning of healing.  It is an affordable monthly model of healthcare, where our patients have access to their own doctor and can get the help they need when they need it. 

    We have 5 Family Physicians with years of varied experiences including Osteopathic medicine, Gynecology, Obesity medicine, as well as Functional Medicine, which is my area of expertise.  Functional Medicine is a more holistic approach and I am passionate about helping my patients get to the root causes of their health issues and how we can support the body to heal itself through addressing diet and lifestyle, gut health, food sensitivities, adrenal health and optimizing hormones. Recently we have a new Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation machine, a proven non-pharmacological treatment for those who suffer from depression, anxiety, OCD. 


  • Monday, August 03, 2026 11:38 AM | Elizabeth Mattke (Administrator)

    I've lived in Gainesville for 2.5 years, after living in three other Florida cities, Michigan, and Grand Cayman. Gainesville is truly special, and I've loved finding my new community.

    I support small business owners who want more of their time back and less overwhelm. My background in tech, project management, with some teaching now shows up as behind-the-scenes support - websites, email newsletters, and admin tasks - so they can focus on why they started their business in the first place.

    What makes my business different is the flexibility of prepaid hourly packages to be used when the small business owner needs support. Yet over time, I get to know the big picture of their business, how they work best, and we build trust. This means they can hand off projects and dedicate more of their energy to their zone of genius.

    My advice to someone starting out: be true to who you are in order to build meaningful relationships. Don't wait until everything feels perfectly ready. Systems can start simple and develop over time.

    Beyond work, I love walking nature trails and travelling, especially visiting family in Cayman and my daughter in Europe. I share how travel connects us on my Forever Explorers YouTube channel.

    I joined GAWN when I was starting all over again in Gainesville. I’m inspired by the variety of businesses here and am grateful for the friendships that GAWN has brought into my life.

    Cassandra Taylor / Silver Thatch Solutions / cassandra@silverthatchsolutions.com  


  • Sunday, July 05, 2026 12:01 PM | Elizabeth Mattke (Administrator)

    Effective July 1st, 2026, Guests will no longer be allowed to park in the School Board parking lot. 

    NEW Alternative parking is available. Going East on University, guests will pass Sweetwater on their Right. After passing Sweetwater, guests will make a right at the Salvation Army at the light and turn onto Southeast 7th Street. After turning, they will immediately proceed to a large lot on the left.

    ​​

  • Sunday, June 28, 2026 1:33 PM | Elizabeth Mattke (Administrator)

    I’ve lived in the Gainesville/Alachua County area for four years, and my husband and I are currently building a home in Alachua. 

    I have four years of experience in the financial industry, starting as a teller, then working in back-office roles in collections and fraud, and now serving as a Personal Banker. I love being back on the front lines, helping people reach their financial goals. What makes my services unique is a personalized, relationship-based approach—we focus on meeting customers where they are and supporting them through every stage of life. Over the past year, I’ve applied my back-office experience, especially in credit, to better guide customers in building credit and achieving long-term success. 

    What I enjoy most about GAWN is connecting with inspiring, driven individuals. It’s motivating and refreshing to be part of such a supportive community. My advice to those starting out is to build relationships and step outside your comfort zone—growth happens when you put yourself out there. I’m especially grateful to the Lord for guiding my path—“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). I’m also thankful for the support of my husband, Sam, and our church, City Light, who have helped shape who I am today.

    Mikala Allen, Personal Banker, 5/3rd Bank, mikala.allen@53.com


  • Tuesday, June 02, 2026 5:11 PM | Elizabeth Mattke (Administrator)

    I have lived in Gainesville for the past 10 years, after originally moving here for college. I quickly fell in love with the community and knew it was where I wanted to build my home and future.

    My professional journey began right out of high school at a wrap company in Ocala, where I managed front-of-house operations. After moving to Gainesville, I transitioned into healthcare administration at a skilled nursing facility, where I grew into leadership roles such as Staffing Director and Accounts Payable Director. Those experiences helped shape my skills in leadership, organization, communication, marketing, and workflow management.

    Today, I own Wrap Theory, a full-service wrap and graphics company specializing in design, print, and installation, all done in-house. We are proud to be a 3M Preferred Installer and are working toward becoming a 3M Approved shop in Gainesville. Our team values quality workmanship, continued education, and contributing to the growth of our industry.

    One of the things I appreciate most about GAWN is the networking, encouragement, and community support it provides. For new business owners, I believe it is important to keep learning, stay open to new ideas, and set meaningful goals.

    Kaylae Behan
    Wrap Theory LLC
     Phone: 352-207-1609
     Email: sales@wraptheorygnv.com
     Facebook: Wrap Theory


  • Monday, May 04, 2026 4:37 PM | Elizabeth Mattke (Administrator)

    I’ve proudly called Gainesville home for several seasons of my life, but community has always been my through-line. As a military kid who moved often, I learned early how powerful it is when people intentionally build connection and that’s shaped both my life and career.

    Before joining Santa Fe College as Director of Development, I spent nearly 14 years with the University of Florida as both a frontline fundraiser and in alumni engagement, building volunteer networks and philanthropic programs that connected people back to purpose.

    Today, my work at Santa Fe is grounded in expanding opportunity. Our students are future nurses, first responders, entrepreneurs, and skilled trades professionals and many are supported through transformative programs like ACB Excel, Freedom to Learn, and Displaced Homemakers. These initiatives remove barriers and create real pathways to stability and success.

    My focus has been strengthening alumni engagement and inviting the community to invest in students in meaningful ways.

    What I love about GAWN is women championing one another. Collaboration over competition changes everything.

    My best advice? Build trust first. The rest follows.

    Outside of work, I love being outdoors, especially on the water, paddleboarding or floating. I also volunteer with Oh Hey, Dog! a dog behavior nonprofit as VP/COO.  I run a book club, love trying new restaurants, traveling, and spending time with friends and my Labrador, Harper.

    Carré Saunders

    Director of Development
    Office of Advancement
    352.395.5201 (o) | 954.254.6898 (c)

    Santa Fe College
    3000 NW 83rd Street, F-204
    Gainesville, FL 32606


  • Thursday, April 02, 2026 2:22 PM | Elizabeth Mattke (Administrator)

    Hello, I am Mychelle Angstadt! Last fall I started a new career in Gainesville at Thrivent Financial – North Central Florida Group as an insurance associate. Previously I was in the US Army Intelligence field, an elementary school teacher, and a caregiver.

    My goal at this job is to teach people the benefits of having life insurance. It has helped my family and I immensely, through the process of losing my father when I was young and when my husband passed away last year after a 10-year battle with ALS. Both times having life insurance made it so we could take a breath before moving onto the next thing in life.

    Being introduced to GAWN last fall was a big positive in my adventure to this new career. Having a wonderful group of people who are welcoming and supportive as I venture into the business world has made the transition smoother. I look forward to making more connections!

    Connect with Mychelle Angstadt

  • Wednesday, January 07, 2026 8:09 PM | Elizabeth Mattke (Administrator)

    Recently relocated from the NYC area this past summer, I’ve been humbled by the warm welcome I’ve received in Gainesville. The move was inspired by close friends who settled here a few years ago, and I’m excited to begin this new chapter.

    A little about me: After performing on stage and television as a child, I earned a BFA from the renowned Juilliard School and worked as a professional dancer in NYC. I became a Master Teacher in the dance and fitness industry teaching children to adult populations and training the teachers in the latest trends in fitness. After retiring from performing to raise a family, I pursued academics—earning a doctorate and multiple master’s degrees in Applied Physiology and Movement Science from Columbia University’s Teachers College. During that time, I conducted research at Columbia’s College of Physicians & Surgeons in women’s health, obesity, and the autonomic nervous system.

    My career then shifted into medical writing, strategy, and education, working with top healthcare information companies and medical news organizations. Leading and developing content for Continuing Medical Education initiatives, I refined my expertise in cardiometabolic health (cardiology, endocrinology, diabetes). This path led me to manage and mentor educational field teams for several pharmaceutical companies. A lifelong learner, I earned an MBA from Walden University during COVID.

    Seeing a need in the dance world, I founded Performing Health (www.PerformingHealth.com), a company dedicated to nutrition awareness and mindfulness for preprofessional dancers and athletes. I co-authored the Dance Nutrition Guidelines published by the International Association for Dance Medicine & Science and delivered invited lectures at conservatories in the U.S. and Europe on eating disorders and improving teacher-student conversations around weight and perfectionism. While I’m encouraged that more schools now address disordered eating and guide teachers on how to speak with students about weight, I am particularly interested today in the mental impact of high‑performance training on young performers.

    I am thrilled to serve as Ambassador and member of the Board of Trustees at Dance Alive National Ballet Company here in Gainesville, helping to raise awareness about the new facilities under construction that will strengthen the company’s artistic and educational mission in the community.

    Having served for over a decade on nonprofit boards spanning community development, arts education, and higher learning—championing inclusive governance, strategic growth, and high‑impact fundraising—I am looking forward to exploring opportunities to be part of mission‑driven organizations that value strategic leadership, community engagement, and sustainable growth.

    The discipline, ensemble work, attention to detail, and communication skills I learned through dance have shaped my leadership roles as an executive director and board member across civic, religious, performing arts, and fitness organizations. My “superpower” is bringing people together to apply creative, collaborative methods to innovate and meet challenges.

    This next chapter in Gainesville is about exploring where I can be of service—and building meaningful friendships along the way. 

    Adrienne Stevens, EdD, MBA | LinkedIn

     

  • Saturday, January 03, 2026 5:12 PM | Elizabeth Mattke (Administrator)


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