Publisher’s Perspective; March 2026

Bring on Spring!

In my mind, winter officially ended the moment my family and I stepped off the plane in San Juan. This was my first trip to Puerto Rico, and from the second we arrived, it felt like pure sunshine therapy. Me, my mom, dad, my brother and his wife, all together, 80–85 degrees every single day, blue skies and exactly the kind of warmth we didn’t even realize we needed.

There is something so special about stepping away for a few days with the people who know you best. The sunshine was good for the soul. The laughter was even better. For that little window of time, winter felt very far away.

And then… reality.

We landed back home to ice and bitter cold… the tail end of that first storm — and as you all now know, what followed was more snow than we’ve seen in this community for many, many years. While I was incredibly grateful for our time in San Juan, I’ll admit that returning to frigid temperatures made re-entry just a little more difficult.

But that’s the beauty of seasons, they always change. And now, we are turning the page.

Spring is officially here, my absolute favorite season. Fresh blooms, longer days, boats heading back onto the water and a renewed sense of energy everywhere you look. It’s the season of momentum, and we have so much happening this month.

If you’re a boat owner (or dreaming of becoming one), turn to page 28 to read more about Kenyon Stanley with Details Matter… and yes, they truly do. Lake season will be here before we know it.

You’ll also see information about the Dynamis Dash inside this issue. It’s shaping up to be something truly special, and we’ll continue sharing details on social as everything comes together.

Be sure to flip to page 33 for the final call for tickets to our 5th Annual Women on the Move Conference in Winston-Salem. It’s about an hour drive, and I can promise you it will be worth it. The connections, the encouragement and the inspiration make it one of my favorite days every year.

We’re also excited to debut our first bi-annual wedding section beginning on page 34. If you love what you see and your business is targeting brides, now is the perfect time to reach out about our bridal section coming this fall.

And finally, we’ve refreshed one of our favorite community initiatives. You may remember it as the Boutique Crawl, but moving forward we’re proud to introduce Lake Norman Favorites, where we’ll spotlight one community at a time and celebrate the small businesses that make each area so special.

First up: Lake Norman Favorites: Denver on Saturday, April 11th.

We are honored to have Fidelity Bank as the Presenting Sponsor of this new series. Fidelity Bank has long been a champion of local businesses and meaningful community engagement, and their leadership support allows us to elevate this experience in a bigger, more intentional way.

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Keela Johnson

Hello! I’m Keela Johnson, the founder and publisher of Forsyth Magazines, a family of three publications that began in 2005 in Forsyth County, NC. After living in Clemmons for 30 years, I "retired" to Lake Norman and discovered a vibrant, active community filled with friendly people and new hobbies like paddle boarding, walking, and gardening. But with publishing in my blood, I quickly recognized an exciting opportunity to engage further with the wonderful Lake Norman community. Now, as the publisher of LKN Magazine, I’m thrilled to be part of a growing platform that celebrates the Lake Norman area. My daughter, Brooke Eagle, now co-owner and publisher, has been instrumental in helping take our family of magazines to new heights, and together, we’re continuing to share stories and promote local businesses in meaningful ways. At the heart of everything we do is the belief in the power of community. We’re passionate about creating a platform where local businesses can grow organically and meaningfully, and we’re excited to bring that same vision to the Lake Norman market. LKN Magazine proudly serves Catawba, Iredell, Lincoln, and Mecklenburg counties, from Statesville to North Charlotte. In addition to print and online advertising, LKN Magazine offers a comprehensive range of services to help tell your story—including editorial features, social media promotion, and a monthly newsletter. You can subscribe to our newsletter at lkn-magazine.com to stay connected with all that’s happening around the Lake Norman community. We’re so grateful to be part of such dynamic communities in Forsyth and Lake Norman, and I’m honored to continue this journey with you. Let’s keep sharing stories, supporting local businesses, and building something meaningful together. Here’s to many more years of growth, connection, and celebration!

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