For more than a decade I’ve been a part of the Best of the Vineyard contest, which Martha’s Vineyard Magazine has produced since 2001. I’ve sent congratulation emails to finalists, written the blurbs, put together the first-place plaques, and helped plan the awards party. And while the contest highlights the best businesses, places, and people the Island has to offer, this year I found myself thinking about who brings out the best in me.

Since the end of January, I’ve been leading the charge at the magazine while editor Vanessa Czarnecki was out on maternity leave. I’ll admit now that I was scared at first. And, at times, overwhelmed. But whenever I felt like I didn’t have an answer, I would say to myself: “What would Vanessa do?” It was in those moments that I realized Vanessa, for years, has been teaching me how to be the best version of an editor I can be. 

With her words in my head, I navigated through Spring Home & Garden, May–June, and now our biggest issue of the year: July. But not without the help of senior editor Connie Berry, associate editor Vivian Ewing, and art director Emma Nicholas Young. They helped keep me on track and stepped up when I needed them most during these past few months. In turn, they taught me how to be the best version of a manager I can be. 

At home, when deadlines loomed and thoughts of cover lines and story titles and subheads danced around in my head, my husband, Lance, offered me constant words of encouragement. But, more importantly, he also knew how to refocus me to the thing that truly matters most: our growing family. Every day he pushes me to be the best version of a wife and mother that I can be. 

So this year, I’m giving out my own Best of the Vineyard accolades. Best Mentor: Vanessa Czarnecki; Best Reinforcements: Connie Berry, Vivian Ewing, and Emma Nicholas Young; and Best Support System: Lance Fullin.