The Team

Courtney Hays, a West Virginia native, made Navarre her home in 2020 after purchasing her grandmother’s house. A former English teacher for eight years, she now enjoys her work with Bella Magazine. Newly married, Courtney loves traveling, practicing yoga, listening to podcasts and hosting game nights with friends.

Liz Biggs is a Pensacola native and mother of four. Once upon a time, she had a high-pressure career but now she has a pension and is a freelance writer for Bella Magazine. Liz enjoys music, dancing, tennis and travel and tries to find humor in everything.

Sharla Dawn Gorder is a Pensacola Beach resident and columnist for the Island Times newspaper. She is the author of “My Vices Collide; a Celebration of Being a Little Messed Up,” and “Crayon Dawn,” a coffee table book sold in stores throughout the Pensacola area and at her website, crayondawn.com.

Jennifer Harrison is a Pensacola native (via the Navy). She is very involved in the Pensacola community through IMPACT 100, Pensacola Navy Days, Food Distributions for Representative Salzman, Leadership Pensacola, ECPS Foundation, Achieve Escambia, and is also the General Manager of Splash City Adventures. Making an impact is what drives her to do more.

Kelly MacLeod is the owner and publisher of Bella Magazine. She grew up in Pensacola and lived in Atlanta and Philadelphia until the call of the water and the salty air brought her back home in 2012. Kelly has a diverse background – she began her career in I.T. consulting and worked in several industries, including financial services and public health. She went on to manage a team of technology and public health professionals at the Centers for Disease Control while earning her M.B.A. She then launched a sorbet and gelato business which she ran for several years until she accepted a position at Gulf Coast Kid’s House, where she worked until the need to care for a sick family member led her to need part-time work. She was lucky enough to become a freelance writer for Bella and the Pensacola News Journal, eventually becoming the editor of Bella. Kelly is passionate about supporting women and when she received the news that the previous owner was closing Bella she took the opportunity to buy the magazine and reinvent herself, yet again. She believes life is an adventure and we can all create a life of joy and meaning — that we should all embrace and be grateful for what we have and always keep striving to make this world and ourselves better. She is on the board at Gulf Coast Kid’s House, loves sailing and traveling and wishes she could have a pack of Jack Russell Terriers at all times. Contact her at kelly@bellamagazine.com.

Allison McCrory is almost a Pensacola native who studied journalism and has worked in writing and editing since beginning her career in 1984 with Pensacola’s afternoon newspaper, The News, before moving to the Pensacola News-Journal when morning and afternoon papers merged. The mother of two adult children, she suffers from a tennis addiction, practices yoga regularly, likes to get creative in the kitchen and has worked with children through mentoring and fostering.

Betsy Meyer is a graphic designer with more than 25 years of experience. Betsy spent her early career as a designer and design director at newspapers across the country before becoming an advertising and marketing designer. She is currently an adjunct instructor, professional advisor and director of The McKinley Avenue Agency at Ball State University – a student run strategic communication and media sales agency. Betsy was actually born in Pensacola while her father was in the U.S. Navy. She is married to Chad, a contractor, and they enjoy exploring state and national parks with their travel trailer. They have two cats and 26 nieces and nephews.

Sonshine is a Northwest Florida media personality, business consultant, author, motivational speaker, and fitness consultant. She can be reached at Sonshinemoorer@gmail.com.

Chelsea Owens grew up in Gulf Breeze and received degrees in communications and art from the University of West Florida. She has a lifelong passion for style and art, and over 10 years of social media and marketing experience. She is also a pilates instructor who enjoys both staying busy and relaxing at the beach.

Leslie Peck is a local aesthetician, makeup artist, lash artist and brow specialist. She has experience in TV, film, print and celebrity makeup in Los Angeles and 11 seasons of NYC Fashion week. Leslie was featured on the front page of the Wall Street Journal in 2007 for her work at Fashion Week.

Long-time writer Cynthia Reeves spent 25 years as a broadcast journalist across the southeast, including 10 years as a news reporter at WEAR-TV in Pensacola. She passed her skills down to young writers working as a high school teacher of journalism, TV Production and English. She also served several years as District 1 Director for the Florida Scholastic Press Association.

Justine Roper is a doctor of physical therapy, personal trainer and speaker from Pensacola. She has written articles surrounding women’s health for publications like Essence magazine and enjoys all things movement and food. She is the proud owner of InHer Physique Pelvic Floor Therapy & Wellness where her passion for women’s health truly shines.

Leah Seacrest is a seasoned fitness industry veteran with 30 years of experience teaching individual and group fitness. Leah is passionate about inspiring people to move and she contributes as a writer for Bella Magazine, co-owns REGYMEN Fitness Pensacola and is corporate vice president of REGYMEN Fitness. Leah is also an ambassador for YOLO Board and Garden of Life. She is a mother of three and loves spending time on the water paddleboarding and hanging out with her family.

Toni Sparks is a proud Pensacola native. As the visionary behind Short Story Studios. Toni is dedicated to creating magazine-quality images with unparalleled elegance and style. Her experiences infuse her photography with a unique perspective that celebrates and elevates every moment.

Kate Treick is a professional photographer, writer, speaker and publisher who has called Pensacola home since 2012. She and her husband Joel have two teenaged kids and two funny little dogs. Kate enjoys doing anything creative and loves spending time with friends, leading music at her church, reading, and traveling. She can be reached at kate@katetreickphotography.com.

Teresa Zwierzchowski has more than 20 years’ experience in communications, including more than 15 years working for the Pensacola News Journal. She is a lover of all things communication including brand, culture and social media as well as community and public relations.