The Publisher Perspective; March 2026

photo by: JODIE BRIM CREATIVE

March is Women’s History Month! A time to celebrate the strength, resilience, and impact of women in our community and beyond. And what a perfect example of a phenomenal woman we have on our cover this month: Barbara Maida-Stolle, CEO of Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina.

I had the pleasure of meeting Barbara at our cover photo shoot, and from the moment she walked into the room, she carried an aura that made you feel like the most important person there. She was kind, genuine, and refreshingly down-to-earth — not at all the stereotypical, buttoned-up CEO presence you might expect. Instead, she leads with warmth and purpose. As Goodwill celebrates 100 years this year (what an incredible milestone!), I hope you’ll take time to read more about the impact they’ve made across Northwest North Carolina.

We are also thrilled to debut our first-ever Wedding Section in Forsyth Woman! The Wedding Edit begins on page 56, and pulling it together was such a joy. If you’ve been around for a while, you may remember that we published Forsyth Woman Engaged for 10 years. Creating this section felt nostalgic in the best way… like revisiting a chapter that meant so much to me professionally and creatively.

If you’re newly engaged (or love someone who is!), you’ll find thoughtful resources including a detailed planning timeline, an article on what not to stress about during the wedding process, and of course, so many talented local vendors right here in Winston-Salem. We are surrounded by incredible creativity in this community, and it’s truly an honor to showcase it.

And if you missed the opportunity to be part of this Wedding Section – don’t worry! We’ll be bringing it back again this fall. If you’d like details on how to be included, email me at [email protected] .

And speaking of celebrating women — our 5th Annual Women on the Move Conference is happening Thursday, March 19th (!!!). I can hardly believe it’s our fifth year. One article I’m especially excited about in this issue features my dear friend, Kristin Johnson, our conference emcee since day one. Kristin brings unmatched energy to this event every single year, and we are so proud of her as she took a leap of faith to launch her own speaking business — and write a book! She has been a mentor and role model to me for many years, and I’m thrilled for you to read her story on page 24.

There are SO many fantastic events happening this time of year, and I hope you’ll make time to attend at least one:

Triple Crown Casino Night benefiting the Pretty in Pink Foundation (page 26)
5th Annual Women on the Move Conference (page 42)
2nd Annual Dynamis Dash 5K (page 48)
Wine, Women & Shoes benefiting Ronald McDonald House Charities (page 87)

And so much more.

Now that daylight saving time has “sprung forward” (hallelujah!), it’s the perfect excuse to get out, get dressed up, and enjoy all that’s happening in our community.

Wishing you a powerful and inspiring Women’s History Month.

All my best,
Brooke

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Brooke Culler

Brooke Culler is the publisher of Forsyth Woman and Forsyth Family Magazines and the voice behind the Forsyth Magazines Podcast. Born and raised in Clemmons, NC, she now calls Winston-Salem home. Though she earned a degree in Elementary Education from High Point University, Brooke followed her passion for storytelling and community connection by jumping straight into the world of publishing after college.

In addition to leading two of the Triad’s most-loved publications, Brooke is also the co-owner of Washington Park CrossFit—where she merges her love for fitness, leadership, and building strong (literally and figuratively) communities.

Outside of work, you'll find Brooke soaking up quality time with her husband, their two dogs (a Bernedoodle and a German Shepherd), and their crew of family and friends. She’s happiest on the water, wake surfing in the summer, snowboarding in the winter, and squeezing in CrossFit workouts all year round.

Brooke’s heart for local connection, positive impact, and high-energy hustle keeps her calendar full—but she wouldn’t have it any other way.

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