Although I was born and raised in New Jersey, a true “Jersey Girl” at heart, Lakeland, Florida, has been my home for almost two decades. Since moving here with my family, not only have I established roots of my own — including marrying my husband who is a Lakeland native — I’ve also seen Lakeland transition from a rural city to a thriving Metropolitan area. Witnessing the way our community has adapted is one reason why I made the career change to...