Kara Kane Criswell, M.D., F.A.C.S, is a plastic and reconstructive surgeon board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Criswell is the owner of Criswell & Criswell Plastic Surgery and director of the accredited ambulatory surgery center, Carolina’s Center for Plastic Surgery. She is the chairman of the Department of Plastic Surgery at Novant Health Presbyterian Hospital where she has served as chairman for over 13 years and is the first woman surgeon chosen for this position. Her practice is dedicated to the performance of a comprehensive range of cosmetic and reconstructive surgical procedures. Dr. Criswell, a strong advocate for breast cancer patients, thrivers and survivors, co-developed Criswell Cares, a charitable organization within Criswell & Criswell Plastic Surgery. This organization was created with the purpose of giving back to the community and donates throughout the year to multiple local and regional noteworthy causes.
From a very early age, Dr. Kara Kane Criswell was raised to understand the demands of a career in medicine. She developed a deep respect for the life-altering results achieved by both the medical and surgical disciplines. This admiration and understanding led her to pursue a career in surgery, then further specializing in plastic and reconstructive surgery. Dr. Criswell found the field of plastic surgery offered the unique opportunity to combine her skills as an artist with her technical skills as a surgeon, combining her two passions: surgery and the visual arts.
Dr. Kara Kane Criswell received her college degree from Colgate University, with a major in both Studio Art and Biology, with a pre-medical emphasis. She attended medical school at Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara, receiving her medical degree through New York Medical College. Dr. Criswell then completed a five year General Surgery residency at Loyola University, followed by a three-year Plastic and Reconstructive fellowship at University of Illinois at Chicago. In 2008, Dr. Criswell opened Criswell & Criswell Plastic Surgery in Charlotte with her husband and partner, Dr. Bryan Criswell.
Dr. Kara Criswell is highly respected by her fellow surgeons and physician colleagues as a meticulous surgeon known for her exceptional results and excellent patient rapport. She has been voted one of Charlotte Magazine’s Top Docs for the past seven years in a row. As one of the few female plastic surgeons in the country, Dr. Criswell offers her patients a uniquely feminine perspective. Dr. Criswell’s love of her profession, sensitivity and warmth promotes the development of an open and relaxed relationship with her patients. Her enthusiasm and humor is contagious, and fosters a pleasant, comfortable environment in her office for both her patients and staff. In addition to providing comprehensive care to her patients and overseeing her successful practice and surgery center, Dr. Criswell is the proud mother of two sons, Jack and Wyatt.

After more than 20 years as one half of the “Matt and Ramona Show,” nominated for radio’s prestigious Marconi Award, Ramona Holloway has segued into a corporate role as Community Affairs Manager for Radio One Charlotte. She is responsible for cultivating relationships between businesses, nonprofits and community organizations across all six stations in the cluster.

Her goal is to use these platforms — on the radio and on social media — as bridges to solutions we can share in this post-pandemic life.  

The cherry on top is that she still hangs with Matt on MIX 107.9 from 9-10 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays and is still featured on two fresh “Off Air Podcast” episodes weekly.

Ramona calls it just “sharing life” when she talks about her 30-year career in media, motivational speaking and event hosting.  She was awarded the 2009, 2010 and 2011 Alliance for Women in Media’s Gracie Award for radio comedy and has been named Best Radio Personality three times by “Charlotte Magazine.” 

Her experience on the microphone includes formats from country and urban to Top 40 and Gospel; she has served in a range of positions from news director to talk-show host. 

Comfortable in front of the camera as well, Ramona co-hosted NBC Charlotte’s “Charlotte Today” for two years; she and Matt hosted “News Edge” on WCCB-TV in Charlotte for four years. She also served as a part-time anchor for WBNS-TV in Columbus, Ohio, and co-host of WOSU-TV’s “Viewpoint” program.

Ramona is a big believer in giving back to the community.  She sets aside time each month to volunteer with numerous charitable organizations and created an all-ages inclusive fundraiser called #FamilyDancePartyCLT to support local charities and teach the next generation about philanthropy. 

She sits on the boards of Holy Angels, serving people with developmental disabilities, and the Western Carolina Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. For more than a decade, Ramona was on the board of A Child’s Place, an organization that serves homeless children in Charlotte’s public schools.  She is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta, a public service sorority.

Born in Oberlin, Ohio, and raised in Somerset, N.J., Ramona was educated at Penn State University. She is a fan of the arts and history, and in her free time, enjoys decorating, traveling and watching movies. Most Sundays, you will find her fellowshipping with other believers and watching her beloved Carolina Panthers afterward.  On Saturdays, she indulges her passion -- bargain-hunting.

Jesi Stracham is a trauma survivor on a mission to help individuals see the opportunity in their obstacles. She is the founder of Wheel With Me Foundation, the owner of Wheel With Me Consulting, and a fitness and growth coach. Through her struggles, she works for teaching individuals the power of our mindset. Jesi is an honest, authentic, America-loving athlete.

In January 2015, Jesi was the passenger on a motorcycle when it collided with a car. She woke up a week later in an intensive care unit without the use of her legs secondary to a spinal cord injury. Instead of accepting disability as her reality, she rejected the prognosis that she would be wheelchair dependent for the rest of her life. In the face of adversity, Jesi is recovering from her disability, using it as a platform to reach her world. Since the onset of her injury, she has achieved more than she previously dreamed possible.

Over the past several years, she has generated a significant following among both the spinal cord injury and able-bodied community. Her goal is simple: show the world there is an opportunity in their obstacles, restoring hope during life’s difficult moments. She helps people achieve their dreams through the importance of goal setting, taking control of what we have control over, and showing YOU what’s possible with consistent hard-work.

Anna N. Blood is the founding and managing attorney at Blood Law. She has been in the legal profession for more than a decade and prides herself on fierce advocacy and compassion for her clients. As a mother of four, she truly understands the trial and tribulations her clients endure, and fights to protect their rights. Since graduating from law school Anna’s main practice area has been family law, and she is truly passionate about what she does. As a child of divorce, she truly understands the painful process that her clients experience. When Anna is not in the courtroom, you will find her spending time with her family, and her husband who is the son of WWE hall of fame wrestler Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat. Anna has built a team at Blood Law that takes a wholehearted approach to the law and provides a different kind of experience for all her clients.