Five years of stories, conversations, and connections have brought VBD Magazine to a milestone we are grateful to share. Our October 2026 commemorative fifth anniversary issue is now available, celebrating the people whose leadership, creativity, faith, and service continue to inspire us.
Since our launch in October 2021, we have welcomed leaders, entrepreneurs, authors, professionals, and creatives into our pages. Their experiences have given readers opportunities to consider new perspectives, learn from challenges, and find encouragement for their own journeys. This anniversary honors those contributions while introducing people whose work is shaping communities today.
Inside this special edition, readers will find a candid conversation with Apopka Mayor Nick Nesta, the inaugural 2026 Victorious Leadership Awards honoring 25 Central Florida leaders, anniversary greetings from two local mayors, and the authors behind Pieces of Us. Features on health, inspiration, and personal and professional development round out an issue filled with stories worth sharing.
In “The Vision and the Work Ahead,” Apopka Mayor Nick Nesta discusses the responsibilities of leading the city that raised him. His connection to Apopka is both professional and personal. It is where he established his business and where he and his wife, Lauren, are raising their twin daughters.
Our conversation explores responsible growth, infrastructure, public trust, and the daily work of improving city government. Nesta also reflects on faith, family, and his interest in creating opportunities for young people and entrepreneurs.
Nesta speaks candidly about the decisions facing his administration and his responsibility to Apopka’s future. Readers will meet a leader considering both the immediate needs of a growing city and the foundations he hopes to leave for those who follow him.
This anniversary issue introduces the 2026 Victorious Leadership Awards, recognizing 25 Central Florida leaders whose work strengthens the communities they serve.
Across ten recognition categories, these honorees contribute through business, education, healthcare, ministry, the arts, technology, advocacy, and civic and nonprofit leadership. Their profiles explore the experiences behind their commitments, the challenges they have faced, and the people who give their work meaning.
Some create opportunities for young people to learn and lead. Others help families access care, support entrepreneurs, address hunger, or bring neighbors together. Each offers a distinct perspective on what it means to accept responsibility and use one’s abilities in service to others.
The recognition begins in the pages of this issue. We look forward to building on it with our first in-person Victorious Leadership Awards celebration in 2027.
We are honored to include congratulatory messages from Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings and Apopka Mayor Nick Nesta.
Their greetings bring a meaningful local connection to this anniversary. As an international lifestyle and leadership publication with roots in Central Florida, VBD Magazine values the opportunity to share stories from our own communities alongside experiences that resonate with readers around the world.
Storytelling also takes center stage through our spotlight on the authors of Pieces of Us, the first book in The Story of Us anthology series.
Led by visionary author Dr. Ann Marie Bryan, the anthology brings together distinct voices in Christian fiction to explore love, vulnerability, healing, and restoration. In this issue, readers can meet the writers behind the stories and learn about the perspectives they bring to their work.
We also introduce the Pieces of Us companion journal, which invites readers to continue reflecting through prayer, thoughtful questions, and personal application. Together, the anthology and journal offer opportunities for individual reflection and meaningful group conversations.
Every issue represents the efforts of people who believe in the value of this publication. We thank our editorial and creative teams, contributors, photographers, featured guests, advertisers, and partners for the care they bring to their work. We are equally grateful to the readers who return to our pages and introduce VBD Magazine to others.
Above all, we thank God for His guidance throughout these five years. As we begin our next year, we remain committed to publishing stories with substance and connecting readers with ideas and experiences that enrich their lives.
We invite you to explore the anniversary issue, celebrate our honorees, meet our featured authors, and share a story that speaks to you.
Read the October 2026 anniversary issue: ISSUU
Purchase your commemorative print copy: Amazon
Meet our 25 honorees: VBD Anniversary
Stay safe, stay connected, and as always, stay victorious. Enjoy this issue.
