Chef Tina Calhoon & Alexandra Lee and Mary Stephenson

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 a small bistro to a 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.

Alexandra Lee, Citizens Bank & Trust

Alexandra Lee is a 4^th generation Florida Native and Lakelander. She is a Vice President and Office Manager at Citizens Bank & Trust at the Downtown Lakeland location and has been in the banking industry for 16 years serving her clients.  Alexandra is an active member of her community and is currently serving on the board of the Salvation Army of West Polk County and prior, served on the Explorations V Children’s Museum for 9 years.

She has been married for 18 amazing years to her husband, Jarred, and has two beautiful girls, Isabella and Addison.  She and her family are active members of Epic Church of Lakeland and on the weekends she spends her free time with her family and friends enjoying many of the great community events in Lakeland.

Mary Stephenson, Citizens Bank & Trust

Mary works for Citizens Bank & Trust where she is Vice President and Residential Loan Officer.

Mary is active in the community: she is a member of Kiwanis, Lakeland Realtors, Polk County Builders Association (PCBA), serves on the Lakeland Chamber Board, graduate of Leadership Lakeland Class XXXVII and a member of the Lakeland Downtown Chapter of American Business Women’s Association (ABWA). Mary has been involved with KidsPack, United Way and Cornerstone Hospice.

Mary has received several awards and recognitions locally and nationally. She was named 2020 PCBA volunteer of the year, 2020 finalist for the International ATHENA Award, Woman of the Year from the Lakeland Downtown Chapter of ABWA, 2016 Top Ten Business Woman with ABWA and served as District Vice President and National Vice President for American Business Women’s Association.

Mary is the proud mom of two children, Jason and Kala and seven wonderful grandchildren, Joshua, Kaitlyn, Savanna, Addison, Isabel, Haley and Trinity.