2010 Top Singles
Meet the Emerald Coast’s Best CatchesWe’ve narrowed down your nominations for the area’s most eligible bachelors and bachelorettes and voted on this year’s selections. So here they are, folks — the 10 top singles of the Emerald Coast.By Wendy O. Dixon | Photographed by Scott Holstein at Emerald Grande at HarborWalk Village Haim David 38 :: President and Founder of 654LIMO
Tell me something most people don’t know about you. David is my last name, but I do use it as a first name since people mix my name around. Haim actually means “life” in Hebrew. You probably hear when people do cheers, they often say “Le haim!” meaning “To life!”
How long have you been an entrepreneur? Since I was 12 years old. My sister and I set up a table in our front yard to sell our old toys so we could go get new ones.
How long have you lived in Destin? I lived in Las Vegas and Los Angeles when I came to visit for the summer 12 years ago. That’s when I decided to move to Destin. It reminded me of my hometown of Eilat, Israel.
What are your hobbies? I’m a certified scuba dive master, so any water activity is great. I also like sky diving, photography, oil painting, riding my motorcycle and traveling. I backpacked throughout Europe for six months right after I got out of my army service.
What do you find attractive in a mate? I love a smart, funny, independent woman who is ambitious and full of life and love.
What is your favorite thing to eat? I love a lot of different kinds of food — cooking it as well as eating it. I think that with the right company, everything tastes so much better.
Do you have pets? Yes, my Bianca. She’s my baby Maltese. I’ve had her for four years.
Favorite TV shows? “Celebrity Apprentice” and “Entourage.”
Favorite book? “Rich Dad Poor Dad” by Robert T. Kiyosaki.
On Haim: Cotton shirt (Apricottree, $108) and denim jean (Rock Revival, $138) from Luksus Clothing at HarborWalk Village. Watch, (Tag Heuer, $3,400 from Reeds Jewelers.
Lela Coker22 :: Marketing and Public Relations Assistant at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort
What do people not know about you? I have never broken any bones or needed stitches.
What are your hobbies? Reading, going to the beach, being outside and hosting dinner parties.
What do you find attractive in a mate? Someone with great manners, a great smile, a slightly quirky personality, and someone whose morals are close to mine.
What is a relationship deal-breaker? Clinginess and negativity are a deal-breaker. Boring is also bad.
What would a perfect day be like? Sleeping in and then going to the beach on a day when the weather is perfect, the sandbar is close to the shore and there are no jellyfish. I’d bring one of those books you can’t put down. Later, I’d enjoy a nice dinner out with my friends and a really great concert like Lady Antebellum.
Do you have a recurring dream? I often dream my teeth are falling out. It’s more of a recurring nightmare.
What is your favorite thing to eat? Jerk chicken and pineapple pizza from Mellow Mushroom.
What’s your biggest pet peeve? When a person says they are going to do something and then they don’t do it.
Do you have pets? I have a black Lab, Jenny, who lives with my parents in Texas.
Favorite TV shows? “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Glee.”
Favorite movie? “Elf.”
Favorite book? “Redeeming Love” by Francis Rivers. But “Something Borrowed” and “Something Blue” by Emily Griffin are close runners-up.
What’s on your nightstand? TV remote, Burt’s Bees lip balm, a picture of my family, lamp and “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett.
On Lela: Rayon/polyester jacket (Joseph Ribkoff, $298), patent leather belt (Sandy Duftler Designs, $168), from The Village Boutique at Redfish Village. Beaded necklace (Edna Designs, $228), ring (Golden Stella, $48), clutch (Sandy Byerly, $198) from Coco’s by M. Cline and The Village Boutique. Bracelet (Pandora $55, plus beads starting at $25) from Vandegriff Jewelers.
Kevin Boyle26 :: Owner of Poor Truman Creative Services
What do you love to do? I love to perform comedy. There’s no better feeling than making people laugh. I like to be spontaneous and have fun with my friends. Taking my dog out on walks as she unsuccessfully tries to hunt for lizards. She cornered one once and had no idea what to do. I like to watch sports and be outside. I love to cook and relax on a Sunday after playing a game of kickball.
What do you find attractive in a mate? I’m attracted to someone who is driven in their life, generous to others in action and words, and has the ability to challenge me and accept who I am.
What is a relationship deal-breaker? Serious deal-breaker: cheating. Funny (but slightly serious) deal-breaker: not liking sports.
What would a perfect day be like? Some combination of being outside, hanging out with friends, watching movies on the couch, peanut butter and chocolate waffles, watching the Yankees/Steelers/Seminoles win their respective championships at the same time, and going on a random road trip.
What are your favorite things to eat? Thai food and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. And pizza. And pasta. And Chinese food. And sour gummi worms. Not all at once, of course.
Do you have a recurring dream? Yes, of actually owning the Porsche I’m pictured with.
Do you have pets? I have a rescue dog named Rigby. Adopting her was the best decision I’ve ever made. She’s my sidekick.
What’s on your nightstand? Some books I tell myself I’ll read, but I usually choose sleep instead.
On Kevin: Cotton shirt ($79.50), silk tie ($49.50), denim jean ($79.50) and belt ($49.50) from Banana Republic at Destin Commons. Watch (Tag Heuer, $3,900) from McCaskill & Company. Boxster S, 2002 from Porsche of Destin an All Pro Imports Company.
Jim Loznicka39 :: Meteorologist for WJHG-TV NewsChannel 7
Do you think about weather all the time? Not all the time. But I think how the weather is going to affect me, especially when the weekend is coming up.
What is something interesting about you that a lot of people don’t know? I was on “MTV Spring Break PCB” in 1996, where they shot a segment in our room with Bill Bellamy. The segment included a bunch of my friends from Mississippi State piled into a room at Boardwalk Beach Resort. I guess that’s my Panama City claim to fame.
Do you have a recurring dream? I have multiple recurring dreams. It’s like a daytime soap opera in my mind when I go to sleep at night. Although lately, I have had dreams of waking up very late for work.
What do you find attractive in a mate? A wrinkle in the crease of the eyes when she smiles. It shows her smile is genuine.
What would a perfect day be like? Eighty degrees with low humidity, sunny sky at the beach, and building sandcastles with my daughter, Emma.
What is your favorite thing to eat? That’s a toss-up. I like pizza, club sandwich and Oreos … in no particular order.
What’s your biggest pet peeve? People who drive slow in the left-hand lane.
What would your Facebook status update be right now? “Playing dress-up. I feel like Ken looking for Barbie.”
Do you have any pets? No. Well, wait … do my co-anchors count?
What are your favorite iPhone apps? Google Sky Maps, Twidroid and Foursquare.
What is on your nightstand? A picture of Emma in her Florida Gator gear.
On Jim: Linen/wool blend jacket ($395) and cotton shirt ($69.50) from Jos. A. Bank at Pier Park. Watch (Ball, $1,899) from Bico Destin.
Kerri Price37 :: Marketing Specialist for ResortQuest and Owner of dogoodllc.com
What would people be surprised to know about you? One day I would like to become a professor of arts. Some people would be surprised to know I have performed in dozens of theatrical productions.
What’s your biggest pet peeve? There isn’t any reason for snobbery.
What would a perfect day be like? I have one almost every Sunday. I get up and make biscuits and gravy, or a variation thereof; head out with my beautiful girls (including my best friend); listen to the greatest choir in the world, then some spiritual inspiration; push off to hear some live music over lunch; and then we cruise home to kayak or lie in the sun with the clan. I love Sunday fun day! About the only way Sunday could get better is if I get a chance to play some beach volleyball or if family is visiting.
Do you have a recurring dream? I dream about returning to live in my favorite college town — Lawrence, Kan. The dream usually entails missing enrollment or classes.
What is a relationship deal-breaker? I cannot relate to people who do not delight in the small things in life.
Do you have pets? Yes, a fat, drooling cat named Camo (short for camouflage), who behaves like a dog.
What is on your nightstand? A couple of books, a piece of graphic art from decades past, a real plant with leaves that look like a drawing, and a glass of water from the night before.
What would your Facebook status update be right now? “Currently celebrating my relationship status.”
On Kerri: Silk dress (Diane von Furstenberg, $340), gold cuff ($272) and gold hoops ($152) from Teena Haven A Ladies Boutique.
Rosalynn Woodberry 23 :: Singer-Songwriter
Have you always been musically talented? I was born singing. I recently got signed on with Blues Destin Records. I write about whatever is going on in my life. Everything I write is literal and real, which is why I think I have so much material.
What are your hobbies? I work out often; fitness is a big part of who I am. But I also love fashion. I like big hair and big jewelry. I always like to glam it up.
What do you find attractive in a mate? I like a man who is confident in who he is, and someone who is witty and athletic. I need someone who can keep up with my sarcasm.
What would your Facebook status update be right now? “I’m channeling my inner Cindy Crawford.”
What is a relationship deal-breaker? Someone who is boring.
What would a perfect day be like? Seventy-three degrees on the beach after a great workout, with a good style magazine and something delicious from Fresh Market.
What is your favorite thing to eat? Cheez-It, cherry candy and my mom’s banana pudding.
What’s your biggest pet peeve? When people insert themselves into a conversation. Also, sneezing into their hands and not washing them.
Favorite book? My Bible and “The Forever King” by Molly Cochran.
What is on your nightstand? Water, hand sanitizer, lip balm, lavender chamomile lotion, a hair clip, face lotion, and a nail file and clippers. Also, I keep a pen and notepad there for song ideas, thoughts, Scriptures — anything that I think of and don’t want to forget.
On Rosalynn: Sequined tunic (Joyous & Free, $92) from Today’s Boutique. Bangles (Ippolita, $595–$3,400), necklaces (Ippolita, $1,350–$3,400), earrings (Ippolita, $2,400) and ring (Ippolita, $995) from Reeds Jewelers.
Steve Sametz51 :: Business Director, Matthews and Hawkins, P.A.
What’s something people don’t know about you? I was honorary commander at Eglin for the 96th Air Base Wing.
What do you find attractive in a mate? A love for the outdoors, people, honesty, integrity and the ability to enjoy life.
What is a relationship deal-breaker? Deception and drama.
What would a perfect day be like? In the Bahamas, waking up on the back of a sailboat in a hammock with someone special, looking at the sun rising over Tiloo Pass and smelling the morning salt air. Then spending the day cay hopping, shopping and enjoying the conversation along the blue waters of the Abacos. Lunch at Nippers — a grouper sandwich, mac and cheese, and beer while overlooking the ocean and its coral reefs. After lunch, diving the underwater park at Sandy Cay, winding through its coral canyons, enjoying watching live coral-reef sea life. Then snorkeling for dinner — conch and lobster with a bottle of ’97 Puligny-Montrachet. Back to the hammock where the day began to catch the sunset with a Gray Goose dirty martini in one hand and my love’s hand in the other.
What is on your nightstand? A picture of my daughters.
Do you have pets? Yeah, Sheba, a German shepherd.
What’s your biggest pet peeve? I have spent countless hours working on the backyard fence to keep Sheba inside. Consistently, I come home to find her gone to bum around the neighborhood.
Favorite TV show? “24” and “House.”
Favorite movie? “The Contender.”
Favorite book? “Skinny Dip” by Carl Hiaasen.
On Steve: Silk shirt (Tiki Bay, $98) from Tommy Bahama. Watch (Rolex, $7,525) from McCaskill & Company.
Andrea Ortega24 :: Real Estate Agent, Pelican Real Estate & Development
What would surprise people to know about you? I used to play the flute in the middle school band and won superiors in the regional competition. I was a natural. But when I went to high school, I quit because I wanted to be a cool kid. I’m sure if I had stuck with it I would have gone to college on a music scholarship.
How long have you lived in the area? I’ve lived here in Niceville almost all my life — 20 years. The past four years I’ve spent living in a variety of cities, including South Beach, Los Angeles, New York City and Boston. I moved back here last year.
What do you find attractive in a mate? An open mind and a great sense of humor; someone who is active and spontaneous.
What’s your biggest pet peeve? A big ego. A man is most attractive to me when he is quietly confident.
What is a relationship deal-breaker? Dishonesty and laziness.
What would a perfect day be like? My perfect day would be spending time with friends on a boat wakeboarding, going to Crab Island, then having a cookout after a long day on the water.
What are your favorite things to eat? Steak from McGuire’s and mashed potatoes from Bonefish Grill.
Favorite movie? “Wedding Crashers.”
Favorite book? “Young, Fabulous & Broke” by Suze Orman.
What’s your favorite iPhone app? “Words with Friends” and “Scrabble.” (I love learning new words).
What would your Facebook status update be right now? “I get my hair done for this photo shoot and it looks great. Then I go outside and the wind messes it up!”
On Andrea: Cashmere sweater (Rebecca Taylor, $275), denim jean (7 For All Mankind, $198), gold earrings ($18), gold chain necklace ($15) and gold bangle ($26) from Luxe Apothetique at Destin Commons. Leather bag (Private Gallery, $39) and sandals (Volatile, $52) from Private Gallery at Destin Commons. Panamera S, 2010 from Porsche of Destin an All Pro Imports Company.
Donna Johns54 :: Retired U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant, Private Investigator and Owner of Donna J. Investigations
You were in the Air Force assigned to Hurlburt Field. What did you do? I worked for the hurricane hunters. And during the last 10 years of my Air Force career, I was a special agent with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations.
What do you find attractive in a mate? Honesty, intelligence, confidence and a sense of humor.
What is a relationship deal-breaker? Dishonesty, being self-absorbed and smoking.
What would a perfect day be like? The sun shining, I’m enjoying breakfast outside on the patio with a great cup of coffee, then driving along 30A. Lunch outside at Smiling Fish, sunset at Bud and Alleys at Seaside, and dinner with a nice glass of pinot noir at Paradis in Rosemary Beach. At the end of the day, I head back home for a relaxing evening and realize how lucky I am to live in such a beautiful area.
What’s your biggest pet peeve? Clutter. Can’t stand it. I like things clean and simple.
Do you have pets? Yes, I have two Shih Tzus — mother Ellie and daughter Gracie. Since my children, Jason and Jennifer, are grown, the pups are now my babies.
Favorite book? “The Power of Now.” It keeps me focused on today. I think that’s important. I can’t change the past, I don’t know the future. I can just handle life a day at a time.
What’s your favorite iPhone app? I love the 30A app. It gives you a list of all the hot spots, local events and restaurants along Scenic Highway 30A.
What would your Facebook status update be right now? “I can’t believe I’m sitting where I am at this moment.”
On Donna: Sequin tank (David Cline, $67), beaded cotton jean (Not Your Daughter’s Jeans, $124) and sandals (Skemo, $90) from Today’s Boutique. Diamond bracelet (David Yurman, $2,500), diamond and blue topaz cuff (David Yurman $2,400), chain (David Yurman $795), diamond and blue topaz enhancer (David Yurman $2,150) diamond earrings (David Yurman $1,300) and watch (Tag Heuer, $3,600) from McCaskill & Company.
Neal Wright34 :: Vice President of Sales, GCS Building Solutions Inc.
Does your job take you all over the Southeast? Yes, but I focus mainly on the Gulf Coast from Mobile to Tallahassee.
What are your hobbies? Fishing, boating, boxing, riding motorcycles and anything outdoors.
What do you find attractive in a mate? Eyes and personality. The color of the eyes doesn’t matter, it’s just the look. As for personality, I enjoy being around someone who is spontaneous and goes with the flow.
What is a relationship deal-breaker? Cheating.
What would a perfect day be like? A day on the boat with good friends and cold drinks.
What is your favorite thing to eat? Surf and turf with a good wine or beer.
What’s your biggest pet peeve? I hate it when people are late. I’m usually early for everything, so this drives me crazy.
Do you have pets? Yes, a rescue dog named Max, who just turned a year old. He’s always ready to go for a walk in the morning, and especially when I get home at night.
Favorite TV show? “House.”
Favorite movie? “Wedding Crashers.”
Favorite book? “Better than Good.” It’s all about living a life of purpose, passion and peak performance.
What is on your nightstand? My BlackBerry and iPod doc.
On Neal: Silk jacket ($395), cotton shirt ($69.50), silk pant ($125), leather belt ($65) and loafers (Cole Haan ($148) from Jos. A. Bank at Destin Commons. Watch (Ball, $1,099) from Bico Destin.
Special thanks to the many businesses that helped make the 2010 Top Singles photo shoot happen:
:: On location at Emerald Grande at HarborWalk Village
:: Hair and makeup by Avantgarde Salon and Spa
:: Ladies’ fashions provided by Luxe Apothetique, Teena Haven A Ladies Boutique, Today’s Boutique, The Village Boutique and Private Gallery
:: Men’s fashions provided by Banana Republic, Jos. A. Bank at Destin Commons, Jos. A. Bank at Pier Park, Luksus Clothing and Tommy Bahama
:: Jewelry provided by Coco’s by M. Cline, McCaskill & Company, Reeds Jewelers and Vandegriff Jewelers
:: Cars provided by Porsche of Destin an All Pro Imports Company
