Chef Tina Calhoon, Frescos Southern Kitchen & Bar
Chef Tina Calhoon is a Florida native – born in Jacksonville and raised in Ocala. Her maternal roots hail from the south and include many days spent in the kitchen with her mom learning the cooking basics and giving her the best kind of culinary education…a real world one. This hands-on culinary training allowed Tina to build on her southern roots to create unique, new southern dishes, as well as regional and ethnic offerings that appeal to all palates.
Chef Tina and her husband Tim, Frescos’ Director of Spirits and Entertainment, opened the doors to Frescos in 2009 with a vision that has seen them through three restaurant expansions over the last 10 years. Frescos has gone from small bistro to downtown destination, helping to revitalize the Downtown Lakeland dining scene while paving the way for other boutique restaurants to establish themselves here.
Chef Tina believes that with good food comes comfort and happiness. THAT is the Frescos’ philosophy and tradition that she continues to build on – offering warm, southern hospitality and creating an experience through food that brings joy to others.
Danielle Harris, Bank of Central Florida
Danielle has wide-ranging professional experience in strategic development, community engagement, and marketing. Before joining the team at Bank of Central Florida, she worked as an account executive at an ad agency, where she managed client relationships, created messaging strategies, and built marketing budgets for franchise growth. Prior to the ad agency, she served in strategic development roles where she managed special events and developed fundraising portfolios for nonprofit organizations, including One More Child and the American Cancer Society. Danielle also has experience working in hospitality and customer service-oriented roles at Chick-fil-A, Publix, and Walt Disney World.
She graduated from the University of Central Florida with a degree in business management and a specialization in entrepreneurship. Danielle is active within the Lakeland community and holds a position on the Steering Committee in a young professionals group called EMERGE Lakeland and volunteers at her local church.
Dawn Lyons, Bank of Central Florida
Dawn Lyons is a Central Florida native. After graduating from Stetson University with a bachelor’s degree in history, Dawn began her banking career in 1999. She has worked in the financial services industry for 20 years before joining Bank of Central Florida in 2021. She leads local business development activities and develops banking relationships with current and potential commercial banking clients.
Dawn is passionate about financial education and financial literacy. She is actively involved in the Polk County community, serving the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA), Lakeland’s Aerospace Center for Excellence, and the UCF Advisory Board Council. Dawn is thrilled to participate in Top Chef of Polk County with funds raised directly benefiting Achievement Academy’s at-risk and special needs children.
