For the first time in the history of the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival® three consecutive generations in a family will have served as Queen Shenandoah.  Susan Ford Bales, Queen in 1975, and Tyne Vance Berlanga, Queen in 2001, will be accompanying Joy Elizabeth Berlanga as she assumes her role as Queen Shenandoah XCVII. 
 
The Crowning Ceremony entertains from regal pomp and circumstance to joyful enthusiasm of Little Maids and Pages who are ever present to serve their Queen.  The youthful court interchange historical and educational facts from the British Crown to learning about a United States President – to asking, “Who has the Crown?,”  and with dancing.  The Queen will be crowned at the memorable Coronation celebration under the direction of Elaine B. Aikens.  The Ceremony to install the new sovereign is sponsored by Morgan Orthodontics, on Friday, May 3 at 1:30 p.m.at Handley High School. President Gerald Ford crowned Susan. Susan crowned Tyne, and Joy will be crowned by her mother and escorted by her grandmother.
 
Susan, Joy’s grandmother, is a Virginia native and now resides in Texas. She is the daughter of President Gerald R. Ford and Betty Ford.  Susan is the mother of two daughters, Tyne Berlanga and Heather Deavers, five grandchildren, Joy Elizabeth Berlanga, Cruz Vance Berlanga, Elizabeth Blanch Deavers, Jude Deavers, and Sullivan Bales, and three stepsons, Kevin, Matthew, and Andrew Bales.
 
Susan was raised in Alexandria, Virginia and attended Holton Arms School and the University of Kansas, where she studied photojournalism.  She is the recipient of an Honorary Doctorate of Public Service degree, an Honorary Doctorate of Letters degree, and an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters degree.  She is the author of two novels set in the White House, “Double Exposure: A First Daughter Mystery”, and its sequel, “Sharp Focus.”
 
Susan is the Ship’s Sponsor for the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), which she officially christened on November 9, 2013.   On April 8, 2016, in recognition of her service as the Ship’s Sponsor, she was named an Honorary Naval Aviator by the United States Navy, becoming only the 31st American to receive this distinction.  And history was made with her selection – Susan is the first woman to be chosen as an Honorary Naval Aviator.
 
During her high school years, Susan lived in the White House and served as official White House hostess following her mother’s surgery for breast cancer in 1974.  In 1984, she and her mother helped launch National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Susan subsequently served as national spokesperson for breast cancer awareness.  Since the founding of the Betty Ford Center in 1982, Susan worked side by side with her mother on projects at the Center and was elected to the Center’s Board of Directors in 1992.  She succeeded her mother as Chairman of the Board 2005-2010, and currently serves on the board of directors of Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation. 
 
In addition to her many charitable public service activities, Susan serves as Co-Trustee of the President Gerald R. Ford Historical Legacy, Trustee, Trustee of the Elizabeth B. Ford Charitable Trust, and the Honorary Advisory Committee of the Children’s National Medical Center.
 
Tyne, mother of Joy, Queen-designate, resides in Frisco, TX with her husband Hector and two children, Joy and Cruz.  She serves as a marketing manager for Western Son. With a passion for community involvement, Tyne sits on multiple school booster club boards for all her children’s activities.
 
On Tyne’s departure as Queen she reflected, “It was easy to be kind, gracious and humble Queen when surrounded by the people of Winchester.  My five-day reign as Queen Shenandoah was an occasion that will have a special place in my heart. I have formed friendships and made memories that will hopefully stay with me for a long time to come. On Sunday morning I was doing an exit interview with one of the reporters and he asked me, "If l had a daughter would I let her be Queen?" My answer was immediately "Yes, if she's lucky enough to be given this opportunity."   Now, Tyne eagerly anticipates returning to Winchester where Joy is set to embark on a remarkable journey, echoing Tyne's own experiences from 23 years prior. It’s truly heartwarming to be able to share this moment with both her mother and daughter.  
 
The Queen and her family will ride in the Hang 10 Firefighters’ Parade Friday evening at 5:30 and the glo fiber Grand Feature Parade on Saturday, May 4 at 1:30 p.m.   Queen-designate Joy and her family will be making appearances at Festival events during the weekend.

Archie Manning, of the Manning family quarterback legacy, philanthropist, football analyst, award winner will be welcomed as Sport Marshal of the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival® by Sharen Gromling, Festival president.
 
When people think of Archie Manning, they think football. But Archie’s appeal transcends his athletic achievements. People far and wide have been inspired by his warm personality, his drive and sense of humor. He currently serves in public relations and consulting capacities for several local, regional, and national companies. For 25 years he hosted four Archie Manning Cystic Fibrosis benefit golf tournaments in Louisiana and Mississippi and is active in a wide variety of charitable and civic causes.
 
Archie was born May 19, 1949, in Drew, Mississippi. He attended the University of Mississippi where he was named an All-American Quarterback and his #18 is retired. He was voted Mississippi’s Greatest All-Time Athlete in 1992 and was named Mississippi’s Most Popular Athlete of the Century. He was elected to the 50-Year All-South Team (1940-1990), named one of the Top 25 Athletes of the Century in Louisiana and he and his son Peyton were named among the 100 All-Time Greatest College Football Players. Archie was inducted into the National Football Foundation College Hall of Fame and is a member of other Halls of Fame including the Gator Bowl and Sugar Bowl and Louisiana and Mississippi Halls of Fame. He was named an American Spirit Medallion honoree by the World War II Museum and received the SEC’s Michael L. Slive Distinguished Service Award. In December 2022, Archie was recognized by the National College Football Awards Association for his contributions to college football.
 
In 1971, Archie was the second player chosen in the NFL draft – the number one draft choice of the New Orleans Saints. He set Saints passing records, played in Pro Bowls, and was named the NFC Most Valuable Player in 1978. He concluded his 15-year career in 1985. He was the first player in Saints history to be inducted into the Louisiana Superdome Wall of Fame and was in the first class of the Saints Ring of Honor. He was named to the All 50th Saints team, recognized as one of the top 50 players in franchise history. He was also drafted four times by major league baseball.
 
His community activities include Louisiana Special Olympics, the New Orleans Area Boy Scout Council, the Salvation Army, United Way Speakers Bureau, Allstate Sugar Bowl Committee, New Orleans Sports Foundation, and is Chairman of the Board of the National Football Foundation. While in pro football, Archie received the Byron “Whizzer” White Humanitarian Award, the Bart Starr Humanitarian Award, the Spirit of Good Sports Award from the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association and the U.S. Jaycees named him one of 10 Outstanding Young Americans. In 2005 Archie received the Legends award from the Davey O’Brien Foundation and the Aspire award, a tribute to life’s coaches, from the Cal Ripken Foundation. Archie was honored by the United States Sports Academy with the 2006 Distinguished Service Award. He was selected Father of the Year by the National Father’s Day Council. Also, he received the Silver Buffalo, the Boy Scouts of America’s highest award. Archie received the Reds Bagnell Award from the Maxwell Football Club, was the 51st winner of the Bert Bell Award, and was honored at the Super Bowl in New Orleans with the Pat Summerall Award. He was honored by the American Football Coaches Association and received the Distinguished American award from the Walter Camp Foundation. Archie and his wife Olivia were recipients of the National Pathfinder Award for their work in post-Hurricane Katrina. Archie received one of the highest honors in football, the Gold Medal Award, presented by the National Football Foundation. This award has gone to seven Presidents, Admirals and Generals, corporate CEOs, and other distinguished Americans.
 
Archie and Olivia reside in New Orleans and have three sons, Cooper, Peyton, and Eli. They are the proud grandparents of four boys and five girls.
 
Cooper was an all-state high school athlete and his football career at Ole Miss ended with a spinal cord injury. He is Senior Managing Director at the hotel/real estate firm, AJ Capital Partners. He is also the host of “The 2 Cooper Manning Hour (minus 58 minutes)” on Fox Sports. Cooper’s son, Arch, was rated the #1 high school player in the country in 2022. He is currently a quarterback at the University of Texas.
 
Peyton is a former All-American at Tennessee where his #16 is retired. He and Archie are the only father/son duo in the College Football Hall of Fame. He was the first player chosen in the 1998 NFL Draft and spent 18 years in pro football. He was named one of the top 10 pro football quarterbacks of all time. Peyton was selected to 14 Pro Bowls and named the NFL MVP five times. He retired as the NFL all-time leader in yardage, touchdown passes and wins. He quarterbacked the Colts and the Broncos to Super Bowl championships. Peyton was the NFL Man of the Year in 2006. Indianapolis unveiled a statue of Peyton in front of Lucas Oil Stadium and retired his #18. He has hosted the ESPYs and received the Lincoln Award from the White House. He was named one of the top 100 players in college and pro football. Tiger Woods and Peyton teamed up to win The Match, raising $20 million for COVID-19 relief. He was recently elected to the NFL Hall of Fame.
 
Eli was also an All-American at Ole Miss and has had his #10 retired. He won the Maxwell Award as the top player in college football. He was the first player chosen in the 2004 NFL draft. He was selected to four Pro Bowls and led the Giants to world championships in Super Bowl XLII (42) and XLVI (46) and was named MVP of both games. He was named the 2017 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year. Eli won the 2020 Bart Starr Character and Leadership Award and the “Good Guy” award, selected by the Pro Football Writers of America. Eli retired after 16 years with the Giants and his #10 was retired by Ole Miss and New York.
 
Archie, Cooper, Peyton and Eli were inducted into the inaugural class of the National High School Football Hall of Fame in 2023.
 
Archie and Peyton wrote a book entitled “Manning: A Father, His Sons and A Football Legacy”. Peyton and Eli also wrote a children’s book entitled “Family Huddle”. Archie and his boys have operated the Manning Passing Academy, a summer camp for high school quarterbacks and receivers, for 27 years. Archie is an owner of Manning’s, a sports-themed restaurant on Fulton Street in New Orleans.
 
In honor of the Mannings’ college football accomplishments, the Sugar Bowl has created the Manning Award to go to the nation’s best college quarterback. The Manning family was named the second most inspiring family in America by Town & Country Magazine. They were featured in a highly rated documentary on ESPN entitled “The Book of Manning.
 
Manning will be a speaker at the Partlow Sports Breakfast in the Tolley Dental Zone at the James R. Wilkins, Jr, Athletic and Events Center on the Shenandoah University campus on Saturday, May 4 at 8 a.m.  That afternoon he will be riding in the glo fiber Grand Feature Parade, which will step off at 1:30 p.m.

​Katie Rose, Miss Virginia 2023, is thrilled to say, “I’m honored to represent Virginia and very excited to make an everlasting impact on the place I call home.”  

The Winchester native captured the crown in July of 2023 during the annual Miss Virginia Pageant held at the Berglund Center in Roanoke. Competing as Miss Loudoun County, Katie won a total of $22,500 in cash scholarships.

Katie is an accomplished ballerina and performed a classical ballet en pointe in the talent competition. She earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Richmond School of Law, and a bachelor’s degree in government and international politics from George Mason University.

As Miss Virginia, she promotes her community service initiative, “Ending Domestic Violence by Empowering Women and Enabling Reform,” inspired by her own personal story of surviving domestic violence. Katie works with women’s shelters across the Commonwealth to ensure women not only survive, but thrive. She also teaches our youth about the importance of building and maintaining healthy relationships.

Katie promotes healthy choices and substance abuse prevention to students in Virginia’s elementary schools as spokeswoman for the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority’s Miss Virginia School Tour program.

During her year as Miss Virginia, Katie also makes personal appearances to promote local businesses and non-profits, while traveling thousands of miles across the Commonwealth speaking about the tremendous impact of the Miss America and Miss Virginia Organizations. In January, Katie represented Virginia in the Miss America Competition at the Walt Disney Theater in Orlando, Florida.

​Sharen Gromling, president of the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival®, announces that the Festival did “Vote for Pedro”, and Efren Ramirez has been “elected” as Court Ambassador for the Coronation of Queen-elect, Joy Berlanga. 
 
It was his memorable portrayal of “PEDRO” in the feature film, NAPOLEON DYNAMITE, that dramatically launched what has become a hugely prolific acting career with an unusually diverse series of performances in Film, Television, Drama, Comedy…every imaginable medium and genre.
 
Efren Ramirez has been working as a professional actor for the entirety of his adult life.  Initially, his career consisted of guest appearances on television, as he appeared in diverse character roles on E.R., American Dad, Judging Amy, The District, Boston Public, and Scrubs.
 
In the years since that film was released, Efren Ramirez has appeared in scores of films and network television shows including leading roles in the HBO film, Walkout, with Edward James Olmos, Employee of the Month opposite Dane Cook and Dax Shepard, Crank  and Crank High Voltage opposite Jason Statham; (playing his own twin brother in the sequel), Gamer with Gerard Butler, When in Rome with Kristen Bell, House of My Father opposite Will Farrell, HBO’s Eastbound and Down with Danny McBride, Middle School  with Lauren Graham and Andy Daly, Ice with Jeremy Sisto, Perpetual Grace LTD with Sir Ben Kingsley, Monsters of God with Garret Dillahunt, and FBI Most Wanted with Dillon McDermott.  Efren’s range of voiceover work consists of countless characters in such animated series as “Bordertown”, “The Casagrande’s”, “Robot Chicken”, “American Dad”, and the animated series of “Napoleon Dynamite”. He can presently be seen in DISNEY/PIXAR’s highly anticipated animated film, “Lightyear” playing “Airman Diaz” opposite Chris Evans.
 
Most recently Efren has appeared in the HBO MAX series Made for Love and stars in the upcoming films, 7 Cemeteries, Due Justice and Satanic Hispanic.
 
Ramirez currently resides in Los Angeles and New York.  When he isn’t filming, he is spinning records as a Celeb D.J. across the country.  He has published his first book, Direct Your Own Life.  He has participated in a USO TOUR visiting our troops around the world.  He frequently speaks to students at high schools and universities.
 
The Alamo Drafthouse Cinema will host a 20th anniversary screening of Napoleon Dynamite with Efren Ramirez on Sunday, May 5.  The film screening will be an Alamo “Movie Party”, meaning all guests will get “Vote For Pedro” buttons and other interactive props.  The event with feature a live Q&A after the film, as well as a pre-film reception for VIP ticket holders. Tickets and event details will be available at www.drafthouse.com/winchester starting Wednesday, April 10.
 
Efren will be at the Coronation presented by Morgan Orthodontics on Friday, May 3, at 1:30 pm. and then ride in the Hang 10 Firefighters’ Parade at 5:30 p.m. and the glo fiber Grand Feature Parade on Saturday, May 4 at 1:30 p.m.  

​Sharen Gromling, president of the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival® is honored to welcome Jon Huertas back to his hometown to serve as Grand Marshal of the 2024 Festival.  Jon Huertas is known professionally as an actor, director, and producer. In his hometown, when he graduated from John Handley High School in 1987, he was known as Scott Hofstedt.
 
For six seasons, Jon starred as Miguel Rivas on NBC’s critically acclaimed, award winning series, This Is Us. His character’s story spanned decades, from the 1970’s to present day, not just allowing Jon to show exceptional range as an actor but also an impressive physically trans-formative range. Audiences also know Jon from his role as the tough but affable, Detective Javier Esposito on the hit dramedy, Castle, which ran for eight seasons on ABC and can now be found on Hulu. He and his Castle co-star, Stana Katic, received the award for Best Performance in a Drama Episode in the 16th Annual PRISMS Awards. He had a stand-out performance as Sgt. Tony “Poke” Espera in HBO’s limited series, “Generation Kill”, which offered an unheralded streetwise view of the USMC's 1st Recon invasion of Iraq that Jon, being a veteran himself, calls the most meaningful role of his career.
 
As a filmmaker, Jon’s directed episodic television, including episodes of Tracker, The Irrational, This Is Us, The Rookie, The Rookie: Feds, The Company You Keep, Home for The Holidays Castle and Castle.   DVD Bonus Content, as well as award winning short films and music videos. He has produced narrative and documentary feature films, earning him an appointment to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. And his production shingle, WestSide Stories, formed with his fellow Groundlings alum Kenny Stevenson, has several TV, Podcast and Film projects in various stages of production and development. He most recently produced Lena Heady’s feature directorial debut, The Trap, and is currently preparing for his own feature debut as a director with the feature films, Rock Bottom Express and Defenses. His company has several series in development with Peter Farrelly/Happy Madison & Village Roadshow, eOne and Alexi Hawley’s Perfect Man Pictures, Campanario, Christina Davis/Amazon and George Tillman’s, State Street.
 
Jon served on active duty in the United States Air Force from 1987-1995.  He participated in Operation Just Cause and Operation Desert Storm where he served as an aircraft nuclear/conventional weapons specialist.  He simultaneously earned his degree in Musical Theatre before making the move to Los Angeles in 1995 where he pursued his childhood dream of becoming an actor. This year marks 29 years in the entertainment business.  He is now putting more of his focus into Directing and Producing as he relocates to Gold Country in Northern California to live with his wife, Nicole, and animals on a horse farm.
 
Jon will be attending Festival events, including the Coronation, presented by Morgan Orthodontics, at John Handley High School, where he will be knighted by Queen Shenandoah, Joy Berlanga. He will then ride through his hometown streets in the Hang 10 Car Wash Firefighters’ Parade, May 3, at 5:30 p.m. He will lead the glo fiber Grand Feature Parade on Saturday, May 4, at 1:30 p.m.

​Festival President, Sharen Gromling, is pleased to announce that the winner of Season 24 of The Voice, Huntley, will serve as Firefighters’ Marshal in the 2024 Hang 10 Car Wash Firefighters’ Parade.
 
Singer-songwriter Huntley captivated fans and audiences with his style of southern blues and rock, and raspy vocal ranges and gained mass recognition for his versatile style and command on stage. Compared to the likes of Chris Stapleton, Radiohead, and Bradley Nowell of Sublime, Huntley’s polished performances garnered him as having performed on big stages his whole life. No stranger to the music grind, Huntley earned the crown and has continued to captivate fans and audiences. Huntley’s performance is best described by coach Niall Horan “…a machine on stage, it's insane.”
 
In keeping with our effort to have a local/regional connection to our Festival guests, Gromling is thrilled that Huntley is “almost local”, living just over the mountains in Fredericksburg, VA, with his two children, Stella and Michael, Jr. Stella joined her dad on The Voice stage to help him choose Niall Horan as his coach.  Huntley has been open and motivated about being involved in his children’s lives even with his busy schedule.
 
He independently released his first single and video, “Holdin’ On”, in 2022 and a later project titled, “Fire and Flames”.
 
Huntley will appear at Festival events including the Coronation of Queen Shenandoah presented by Morgan Orthodontics at Handley High School, Hang 10 Car Wash Firefighters’ Parade on Friday, May 3, and the Glo Fiber Grand Feature Parade on Saturday, May 4.
 
Additionally, Huntley, “singer-songwriter, country, definitely Southern blues rock 'n' roll" performer, has agreed to perform at the Malloy Toyota Country Music Party at the Tolley Dental Zone in the James R. Wilkins, Jr. Athletics & Events Center, 1188 Ralph Shockey Drive, on Saturday, May 4, at 7:15 p.m.

​Sharen Gromling, president of the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival® is honored to welcome a man of courage, on and off the field, Rocky Bleier, Pittsburgh Steeler and War Hero, as a guest at the 97th Festival.  

Just as Pittsburgh Steelers running back, Rocky Bleier, was about to wrap up his rookie season in 1968, a teammate called him over to the table the team reserved for fan mail. The former Notre Dame standout was surprised. He was not a high NFL draft pick or a well-known player and, in a few months with the team, had yet to receive any letters of support. When he opened the envelope, though, he realized that was still the case: In his hand was a notification that he had been drafted by the U.S. Army, which was immersed in the Vietnam War. He was due to report the next day. In combat the next year, he suffered grisly injuries that would reshape his life, but improbably, not nudge him off course. Bleier's military service was commemorated in the Pentagon’s Wounded Warrior corridor.

The football player turned soldier turned injured veteran fought his way back to a professional football career that spanned more than a decade and included winning 4 Super Bowls alongside running mate Franco Harris and QB Terry Bradshaw. He was also the recipient of the George Halas Award in 1975, which is awarded to a player, coach or staff member who overcomes the most adversity to succeed. At the time of his retirement, he was the Steelers’ fourth all-time leading rusher. In turn, he has used that story to inspire countless others not to yield in the most difficult circumstances, and he has donated time and energy to helping veterans like him reacclimate to the jarringly different lives they faced when they returned home. 

Rocky is a member of the Congressional Committee for the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War and the Purple Heart Foundation. He is an active board member of the Warriors to Citizens Foundation, which is devoted to helping soldiers, police, fire, EMTs and their families recover from the psychological harm caused by career induced stress. Rocky also serves on the board of The National Flag Foundation that was founded to honor and respect our nation’s greatest symbol, the Flag of the United States of America. Rocky started the Rocky Bleier Golf Tournament to support Veterans Village in Appleton, Wisconsin. Rocky was born in Appleton, Wisconsin and currently lives in Pittsburgh, PA, with his wife Jan.

Rocky will be attending Festival events, including the Coronation, presented by Morgan Orthodontics.  He will then ride through Winchester’s historic streets in the Hang 10 Car Wash Firefighters’ Parade, May 3, at 5:30 p.m. and the Glo Fiber Grand Feature Parade on Saturday, May 4, at 1:30 p.m. Rocky will be a guest speaker at the Partlow Insurance Sports Breakfast at the Tolley Dental Zone in the James R. Wilkins, Jr. Athletic and Event Center on the campus of Shenandoah University. 

​Kara Dixon will be returning to her hometown this spring to be the guest speaker at the Ladies Horticultural Luncheon presented by Spring Arbor Assisted Living.
 
Kara Dixon is the Deputy Director of Video Production for the Senate Democratic Media Center for the US Senate in Washington, D.C. She grew up in Winchester, Virginia and is a proud graduate of John Handley High School, where she was student government vice president and a member of the state record breaking 4x400 meter track and field relay team.
 
Kara is also a graduate of the University of Maryland’s Philip Merrill College of Journalism. At UMD, she participated in the CBC-UNC Diversity Fellowship Program led by UNC and WRAL. During college, Kara was a member of Capital News Service and View Finder presented by the University of Maryland. Both programs won numerous regional and national awards.
 
After graduating, Kara spent eight years working as a tv news reporter at KFDM/KBTV in Beaumont, Texas and at WAVY-TV in Hampton Roads, Virginia. She covered everything from weather to crime and hosted the political digital series "Candid with Kara..."
 
Last summer, Kara was awarded a regional Emmy for her work at WAVY. The story, “Road to Reconciliation: Uncovering our Past” highlighted the First Baptist Church in Williamsburg, Virginia, which is believed to be one of the oldest Black churches in the United States.
 
Kara is also involved in her community and active with diversity and young adult ministries within the Catholic church. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the National Institute for Ministry with Young Adults.
 
In 2020, Kara completed the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership’s Emerging Leaders Program at the University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Leadership. She is also an adjunct lecturer at the University of Maryland’s Philip Merrill College of Journalism, where she teaches video production.
 
In her free time, she enjoys reading, watching movies, and singing karaoke.
 
The Ladies Horticultural Luncheon presented by Spring Arbor Assisted Living will be held on Friday, May 3, 2024, at 10:30 a.m., Millwood Station Banquet Hall, 252 Costello Drive, Winchester, VA. Tickets may be obtained by calling (540) 662-3409. 

​Stephanie Stuckey has been named the featured speaker of Valley Health Business at the Bloom Luncheon by Sharen Gromling, president of the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival®
 
Stephanie Stuckey is Chair of Stuckey’s, known as a highway oasis to generations of Americans. Founded in 1937 by her grandfather, W.S. Stuckey, Sr. in Eastman, Georgia, Stuckey’s grew into over 350 stores nationwide. However, the company was sold and sadly declined for decades under outside ownership.
 
Fortunately, it’s now back in family hands thanks to Stephanie buying Stuckey’s in 2019. She and her partners purchased a candy plant in Wrens, GA in 2021 and are reviving the company as a pecan snack & candy brand.
 
Stephanie received her BA and JD from the University of Georgia.  She’s worked as a trial lawyer, a state representative, Director of Sustainability for Atlanta, and an adjunct professor at UGA’s School of Law.  Stephanie’s achievements include being named one of the Most Admired CEOs of 2022 by the Atlanta Business Chronicle, 100 Most Influential Georgians by Georgia Trend Magazine, and a graduate of Leadership Atlanta.
 
Stephanie’s book, “UnStuck” Rebirth of an American Icon,” will be released in April 2024. It is available for pre-sales on Amazon.com.
 
When she’s not running Stuckey’s, Stephanie enjoys road tripping across America in search of the World’s Largest Ball of Twine.
 
Valley Health Business at the Bloom Luncheon, an event for business networking, will be held Wednesday, May 1, 2024, at 11 a.m. a Tolley Dental Zone at James R. Wilkins Athletic and Events Center, 1188 Ralph Shockey Drive, Winchester, VA.  

Sharen Gromling, president of the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival® is honored to announce Ryan Dobson as the motivational speaker of the 25th Annual Prayer Brunch, presented by Knouse Foods / Musselman’s.
 
Parenting expert Ryan Dobson grew up as the son of another parenting expert, Focus on the Family founder, Dr. James Dobson.
 
Ryan, along with his wife Laura, speaks around the country nearly every weekend in churches, strengthening families and marriages. Dobson is also host of the REBEL Parenting Podcast.
 
The author of six books—including multiple best-sellers—Dobson is a Radio Host, has a Top 20 iTunes podcast, has spoken before more than one million people around the world, and has appeared in numerous major media outlets including FOX News Huckabee, and The Wall Street Journal print edition.
 
He and his wife Laura live in Colorado Springs with their two children.
 
The Prayer Brunch presented by Knouse Foods, an interdenominational event with an inspirational message, will be held Friday, May 3, 2024, at 11 a.m. at the Winchester Church of God, 2080 N. Frederick Pike, Winchester, VA.  Tickets are $45.00 and are available online at www.thebloom.com.