When a fresh issue of Southlake Style arrives in your mailbox, we hope you peruse the pages with enthusiasm.brWe certainly create it with the community in mind. It's indeed a labor of love every month—especially forbrMike and Nicole Tesoriero. This married couple first published the magazine in March 2006, with a vision tobrcreate a lifestyle publication that celebrated Southlake and the people in it. Ten years and more than 100brissues later, the Tesorieros continue to enlighten, entertain and inspire the community, one page at a time.
brbrbr
Q: Southlake Style is celebrating its 10th year.brIn a word, how would you describe the journey?
A: (Nicole) Amazing!br
Q: Mike: You worked in pharmaceuticals.brNicole: You built a successful career in salesbrand marketing. What inspired you to start abrlifestyle magazine?br
A: (Mike) As new residents to Southlake, we werebrlooking for ways to become better acquainted withbrthe area. Lots of publications came to the house, butbrnone were able to connect us to the community in thebrways we wanted.br
Q: Tell us about the early days. What was it likebrcreating the magazine from scratch each issue?
A: (Nicole) It was a lot of work but also a lot of fun.brIt provided us a great way to get to know so manybramazing people within our community. It also helpedbrus establish local friends who are what we nowbrconsider our Texas family.br
(Mike) Learning a new industry on the fly was bothbrchallenging and invigorating. We were also jugglingbrthe newfound joys of parenthood. We were fortunatebrto have some early supporters and colleagues whobreach brought something special to the magazine.br
Q: What has it been like to watch the businessbrgrow over the years?
A: (Nicole) It’s a lot like watching your own children.brYou don’t realize how much they’ve grown until youbrlook back and say “wow!”br
(Mike) I keep an issue of every magazine in date orderbrin my office. It helps me remember past ideas andbrwhat worked well or didn't work at all. I find myselfbrlooking at them more and more often. I'm proudbr
of where we are, humbled by our beginnings andbrthankful for all the friends and organizations we'vebrconnected with over the years.br
Q: What’s something about the magazine thatbrmight surprise people?
A: (Nicole) It started with just the two of us in ourbrhome office (and living room floor).br
br
(Mike) Southlake Style accomplishes a lot with a verybrsmall and dedicated team.
brbrbr
Q: Is there a story or cover that stands out to
you as particularly meaningful?
A: (Nicole) I’ve always loved our “Phantom of thebrOpera” cover. It was fun and unique with a theatre-brcurtain cover that opened to unveil CISD’s cast/crew.brMy close second would be our Peter Max cover.
brbrbr
It's amazing to have an internationally known artistbroffer to give you his rendering of the city's fountain.br(Mike) Absolutely, but as time goes by, each coverbrbecomes that much more special as it chronicles thebrchanges in our vibrant city. We've covered the grandbropening of the Grand Avenue district of Town Square,brThe Hilton, Central Market and so many other placesbrand people who make the city what it is today.br
Q: Tell us about a funny moment in Southlake Style’sbrhistory.
A: (Mike) I shot the cover of our first issue with a Cannon Elph camera that was half the size andbrcapabilities of my current cell phone.br
Q: What do you enjoy most about your roles?
A: (Nicole) I love meeting new people and creatingbrlong-lasting relationships. As our AdvertisingbrDirector, I get to meet with new business owners andbrmarketing directors on a daily basis.br
(Mike) I love the opportunity to spotlight greatbrachievements and connect people to each other andbrto what's great about living in north Texas.br
Q: We all want to know: What’s it really like workingbrwith your spouse?
A: (Mike) We never have to ask each other, “Honey,brhow was your day?”br
(Nicole) We have different approaches to almostbreverything, and we balance each other out. We makebra great team.br
Q: Southlake Style is a member of the City andbrRegional Magazine Association (CRMA). Why isbrthis an important distinction?br
A: (Mike) It’s proof that we are an accepted andbrupstanding member of the magazine and publishingbrindustries.br
Q: What would you like to say to readers? And tobradvertisers?
A: (Mike) We give each of them our very best eachbrmonth. We know that treating our readers withbrrespect for their time is the best way to serve ourbradvertisers and supporters.br
br
(Nicole) Thank you for your loyalty and belief inbrSouthlake Style! Without our advertisers, we wouldn'tbrbe able to provide the product that so many in ourbrcommunity have come to love, and without ourbrreaders, our advertisers wouldn't see results.