Growing up on the Islands produced a special love of Southwest Florida and its islands. Spending my childhood on Sanibel & Captiva, Cayo Costa, Pine Island and Useppa, I grew up knowing that this was where I would raise my family some day. My mom’s family first came to Sanibel in the 1950’s. My dad’s family came to Pine Island in the 1950’s. Mom and Dad married on Useppa Island over 40 years ago. My mom is a well-known local artist, Mel Meo, and my father is a fisherman. After traveling the world for about 10 years visiting, working, and schooling in places across Southeast Asia, London, and Barcelona, I earned a BA in science from FSU. Settling down in New York, I married and had 2 children. Following my dream, I decided to move back home to raise my family in beautiful South Florida.