People In Profile Second Quarter 2026
A special thanks to all of our profile participants this issue. Get to know them here, check out their websites and follow them on social media. All linked here.
click on the magazine above to read the flip-thru version
Cynthia Crosser, D.C., F.I.A.M.A., I.F.M.C.P
Dr. Crosser graduated from Palmer College of Chiropractic in 1986, followed by a three-year post graduate study in Chiropractic Neurology through New York College of Chiropractic, while maintaining private practice in New Hampshire. She relocated to Wilmington, DE in 1996 and soon thereafter completed her fellowship in acupuncture, as well as postgraduate studies in Physical Rehabilitation through Los Angeles College of Chiropractic. She completed her certification with the Institute for Functional Medicine in 2025 after many years of implementing the functional medicine paradigm within her practice.
Clinical nutrition has always played a part in the care of her patients, assisting them beyond the purely musculoskeletal condition. She has thousands of hours of training in clinical nutrition, which she utilizes in conjunction with other disciplines to relieve pain and to restore her patients to a more optimum level of health without invasive treatments and adverse side effects. The functional medicine model involves an in-depth understanding of the patient’s history, lifestyle, dietary factors and genetics, as well as the challenges to their biochemistry. This comprehensive view is used to determine how to resolve the symptomatology and ultimately create significant transformation in the lives of her patients.
She has been practicing for 40 years and continues to educate herself, evolving her practice to meet the needs of her patients in a way that creates a lifestyle that they can ultimately manage themselves. Given that she sees patients presenting with thyroid issues, autoimmune disease, digestive issues, hair loss, and neck and back pain, it is most valuable to find the causative factors, and to create an individualized plan for each patient: truly personalized lifestyle medicine.
Dr. Crosser resides in Wilmington, DE and is a backpacking, hiking, and biking leader for AMCDV. She is also a member of the Wilmington Trail Club. Most weekends she is outdoors on the trail hiking, biking (or bikepacking), in the pool at the Hockessin Athletic Club or outdoors climbing that next peak or kayaking.
One of Dr. Crosser’s greatest passions in practice is to inspire and help her patients understand where and how their health unraveled and how to rebuild their bodies, stay well and age well so they escape chronic diseases as their lives are transformed. This helps them to evolve stave off those unnecessary chronic diseases that most people deem inevitable. We all have great potential for a good and healthy life with thoughtful choices and habits and her objective is to move her patients along to experience that type of transformation to evolve and stave off.
Crosser Natural Health 302-994-1010 www.CrosserNaturalHealth.com
[email protected] 5700 Kirkwood Hwy., Suite 101, Wilmington, Delaware
@crossernaturalhealth on instagram @crossernaturalhealth on facebook
Dr. Patricia H. Smith
Dr. Pat Smith is an experienced educator, career counselor/coach, academic advisor, college planning consultant, and author. Dr. Pat believes that education and career planning are the keys to career exploration, engagement, and satisfaction. In 2012, she established Holmes Smith Consulting Services, Inc., a small consulting firm that offers college planning, career counseling/coaching, and employee and leadership development. As the CEO/Owner of this firm, Dr. Pat has helped countless families navigate the college planning process. Individuals pursue and accomplish career satisfaction, and organizations invest in employees to support workplace engagement and leadership development. Dr. Pat has successfully led her firm to be recognized by the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce as a Superstars Business Award of Excellence in 2018.
Dr. Pat has numerous degrees: Ed.D. (Organizational Leadership), M.Ed. (Counselor Education), MBA (Human Resources/Labor Relations) and a B.S. These credentials have been essential to her success as a practitioner, entrepreneur, and leader. Dr. Pat believes that sharpening the “mental saw” must be ongoing to stay abreast of industry trends and changes. Therefore, she is a certified educational planner and certified career counselor. Her scholarly work and research have supported her in writing articles for professional publications and a book entitled, “The Power of Parent Involvement in the College Planning Process” and establishing the Parents & Guardians College Planning Conference, Inc. (non-profit 501 (C) 3). This non-profit organization provides parents and guardians with college planning resources and scholarships to help students pay for college. Dr. Pat has written career and college-planning curricula and established the college awareness program for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware and other nonprofits.
Dr. Pat’s professional career includes working and teaching at three universities (Millersville University, University of Mary Washington, and Southeastern University). At each of these universities, she was instrumental in counseling, advising, and teaching undergraduate and graduate students in career, organizational, business, and leadership development. Dr. Pat’s experiences have enabled her to offer career counseling and coaching services to individuals seeking career guidance and to organizations seeking to engage their employees in career mapping and leadership development.
Dr. Pat’s community involvement includes leadership in organizations such as the Maryland Career Development Association, and she serves on several boards and committees such as the Women’s Enterprise National Forum.
Holmes Smith Consulting Services, Inc. 302-884-6748 / 302-502-3698
www.holmessmithconsulting.com [email protected]
@holmessmithconsultingservices on facebook @holmessmithconsultingservices on instagram
LinkenIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/holmes-smith-consulting-services
Joe White
I did not set out to become a coach. I set out to understand why intelligent people — myself included — repeat patterns that quietly damage their own lives.
In my early adulthood, I had to confront my own conditioning. My own loops. The beliefs and reactions I thought were personality, were in reality, learned responses to childhood events and fear. I turned to drugs and alcohol to cope. Those patterns cost me relationships, emotional balance, time, money, and ultimately, myself.
That period forced a question that I could not ignore: If capable people can see their behavior but still feel unable to change it, what is actually driving it? The answer wasn’t motivation. It wasn’t willpower. It was mechanics.
I began studying human behavior differently — not as inspiration, but as structure. I wanted to understand why we default to certain reactions under stress, why we sabotage what we value, and why insight alone rarely produces change. That realization became the foundation of my work and my methodology.
For the past 27 years, I have helped teens, individuals, couples, executives, and families, identify and break the loops shaping their lives. Not by shaming behavior. Not by layering on positive thinking. But by breaking down the conditioning at the source, teaching people how to recognize the pattern while it is happening, and giving them the tools to become stronger coaches in their own lives.
People are not broken. They are patterned.
And once you understand the pattern — once you can see it clearly and separate it from your identity — you can change it. That is not a theory for me. It is a lived experience. It is the difference between reacting automatically and choosing deliberately. Empowerment versus disempowerment. Results that fade quickly versus true and lasting, sustainable results.
Get Life Coaching getlifecoaching.com 302-832-3424 [email protected]
@getlifecoaching on instagram @getlifecoaching on facebook
Kimberly Nolan
For me, hospitality has always been about more than service; it’s about connection. As a Wedding and Special Events Specialist at our family-owned venue, The Waterfall, I have the privilege of helping people celebrate some of the most meaningful moments of their lives. While weddings are at the heart of what I do, I also work with clients to create memorable milestone birthdays, church celebrations, and corporate gatherings. Each event is unique, but the goal remains the same, to create an experience where every guest feels welcome, celebrated, and genuinely cared for.
My journey into the events world began long before I stepped into this role. I was naturally drawn to the restaurant industry as a people-person, where I learned that the smallest details often make the greatest impact and lasting impressions. The goal was always to make dining an experience and ensure every guest felt comfortable and well taken care of. Those early experiences shaped my understanding of what true hospitality means. It’s not simply about quality and efficiency, it’s about people.
Building personal connections has always been central to both my life and my work. When people feel seen, heard, and valued, an event becomes something truly meaningful. In this industry, couples trust me with one of the most important days of their lives, and families and organizations trust me to help bring their most special celebrations to reality. That responsibility is something I never take for granted.
Working at The Waterfall adds an even deeper sense of purpose to what I do. Being part of a family-owned business means that values like care, tradition, and dedication are woven into everything we do as a team. It’s more than just a venue; it’s a place where families gather, milestones are honored, and lasting memories are created and cherished.
At the end of the day, what motivates me most isn’t simply planning beautiful events, it’s knowing I helped create moments that people will cherish for years to come. I’m incredibly grateful to the hardworking staff and wonderful clients who make every event possible, and I’m thankful to The Women’s Journal for the opportunity to share a part of my story!
The Waterfall Catering & Special Events [email protected] 3416 Philadelphia Pike, Claymont, Delaware
www.waterfallbanquets.com 302-732-2600
@thewaterfall_de on instagram @TheWaterfallDE on facebook
Philmekia Donato
Philmekia Donato is an educator, writer, and advocate, whose work lives at the intersection of education, healing, and community impact. With a foundation in literacy, special education, and student-centered practice, she has built a reputation for meeting students, not only at their academic level, but at their human need. Her approach is rooted in the belief that education is most powerful when it affirms identity, nurtures voice, and creates space for growth beyond the classroom.
As the founder of The Knowledge Nook, Philmekia extends her work beyond traditional school walls, supporting families, educators, and students through advocacy, coaching, and resource development. Her mission is simple but transformative. Every child deserves access, every family deserves clarity, and every educator deserves the tools to teach with purpose and sustainability. Whether designing professional learning, mentoring teachers, or guiding parents through complex educational systems, her work centers empowerment through knowledge.
Philmekia’s writing reflects the same depth and intentionality that defines her educational practice. Through her editorials, she explores personal development, healing, identity, and the responsibility educators carry as shapers of future generations. Her voice is reflective yet grounded, blending lived experience with professional insight to challenge, inspire, and affirm. She writes not as an observer, but as someone actively doing the work, both personally and professionally.
Beyond titles and roles, Philmekia is deeply committed to community. She believes education should feel human, relationships should feel safe, and growth should feel possible. Her presence in both classrooms and communities is marked by authenticity, clarity, and care.
Above all, she believes that teaching is not simply about delivering content, but about modeling growth, integrity, and possibility. Her work stands as both mirror and invitation.
The Knowledge Nook 302-893-9598 [email protected] @knxnook on instragram
To Our Location
I would like to extend a special thank you to The Waterfall for graciously hosting our second quarter 2026 photoshoot. Their beautiful venue and accommodating staff helped make the day a wonderful success.
Experience True Luxury with Distinctive, All-Inclusive Events at The Waterfall.
From the blown-glass chandeliers to the marble dance floors to the atrium’s glass ceiling, every consideration is taken to create the perfect day for your special event. Whether you are planning the most important day of your life, a corporate gala, a professional conference, or an elegant luncheon, our experienced event coordinators will assist you in arranging it from start to finish.
The Waterfall Banquet 3416 Philadelphia Pike, Claymont, Delaware www.waterfallbanquets.com 302-732-2600
@thewaterfall_de on instagram @TheWaterfallDE on facebook
To Our Stylist
I would also like to thank Lori Zaiss, Owner of Fusion Salon, and her wonderful team of stylist and makeup artists for providing hair and makeup for our shoot. As always it was a pleasure working with Fusion.
Fusion Salon 302-479-9444 www.FusionSalonDE.com 3444 Naamans Road Wilmington Delaware @fusionsalonde on instagram @fusionsalonde on facebook
Thank You To Our Photographer
I would like to thank Debra Zeccola of Debra Zeccola Photography of Newark, DE for being our photographer for our profiles and covers photoshoot. Debra has over 28 years of experience as a licensed professional photographer. Debra provides her clients with outstanding photography services for weddings and events, family and individual portraits, baby photos ,and so much more. Debra is a joy to work with, and I couldn’t ask for a more professional photographer than Debra.
Debra Zeccola Photography 302-540-5800 @ZeccolaPhoto on facebook
[email protected] www.debrazeccolaphotography.com
