060123_SALON & SPA_ DIGITAL EDITION

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4 x June 1 — 14, 2023 x www.SouthwestOrlandoBulletin.com Khristian Dentley, the baritone voice of the multi-Grammy Awardwinning vocal group Take 6, has always lived his life by the principle of faith. He said faith helps him not to worry about what he doesn’t have. “I just take what I have and put it to work in the best way I know how,” he said. “God takes care of the rest.” Born to pastor parents in Columbia, South Carolina, Khristian has been immersed since birth in a musical environment that not only includes gospel greats like Commissioned, the Winans and the Clark Sisters, but artists from a variety of genres, including Barbra Streisand; Earth, Wind & Fire; Barry Manilow and others. “I’m grateful my parents exposed me to many types of music,” Khristian said. “It gave me many colors to paint with later in life.” Khristian was drawn to the stage at an early age. He graduated from the Dillard Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale in 2000 and began to look for opportunities to find his musical place in life. When musical heroes Fred Hammond and Take 6 brought their show to town, Khristian saw his chance. Undeterred by not having a ticket, he simply did what he always does. He went to work with what he had. What he had was a Fred Hammond T-shirt. He put it on, drove to the venue, and sat in the parking lot wondering how he might get into the show. He thought it might take a miracle, but he had no idea how big the miracle would be. When local stage workers began arriving to set up the sound equipment SHOWBIZ SPOTLIGHT Taking the Stage With Take 6 Ocoee Resident Lives With Faith and Humility Khristian Dentley of Ocoee brings a fresh perspective to Christian music group Take 6. and staging for the show, they saw Khristian’s Fred Hammond T-shirt and assumed he was the singer’s roadie. They invited him into the venue for breakfast and began asking him how to stage the show. His quick and clever reply was, “Let’s check the fax machine.” Hammond’s tech rider, or set-up page, was on the fax machine waiting with all the load-in instructions. Half-way through the equipment load-in, Hammond’s band walked in and saw Khristian wearing his T-shirt, so they invited him to lunch. Upon their return to the venue, Take 6 arrived, and Khristian seized an opportunity to introduce himself to one of the group — Mark Kibble. Kibble Nurse Practitioners: Esther Pelissier, ARPN-BC Irene Gan, PMHNP Raykha Crag-Chaderton, PMHNP-BC Nadine Massillon, ARPN Therapists: Michael Kellogg, LMHC, ATR-BC Randie Morillo, LCSW, ACSW Amy Singleton, LMHC Brooke Parker, LMHC Cristal Daniel, LMHC Nadine Massillon Esther Pelissier by Joel Staley took an interest in Khristian, and they exchanged contact information. Khristian said it was an amazing experience to meet his heroes; however, fast-forward to four years later, and he hadn’t yet left Fort Lauderdale. In fact, he was working at a call center and not in the music industry at all. “I was grateful for the job, but I didn’t feel I was fulfilling my purpose in life,” Khristian said. “I was restlessly seeking more.” Khristian didn’t know what “more” was or how to find it, but he did have Kibble’s email address. He sent a song he wrote and recorded and asked if Kibble would critique it. Khristian’s timing was perfect. Take 6 member Cedric Dent had just accepted an offer from Middle Tennessee State University to join their faculty as a professor and couldn’t make all the group’s tour dates. “Mark called me and asked if I wrote and performed the song I emailed to him, and I said yes,” Khristian said. “He then invited me to work with him on one of his songs and to fill in for Cedric on a couple of tour dates.” It was the moment he had been hoping for. Khristian impressed Kibble and the rest of Take 6 with his fill-in performances and eventually became a fullfledged member of the group in 2011. Khristian no longer lives in South Florida. He’s currently a resident of Ocoee. Many ask why he doesn’t live closer to the action like Atlanta or Los Angeles. Khristian explained that his family is based in Ocoee, so there’s no way he would live anywhere else. “Taking care of my family is always the priority,” he said. “I pride myself on being a present father and husband. I fly a lot and have a busy schedule. Some entertain tens of thousands and give everything on stage, but phone it in with their families. You win the crowd, but you lose your family. I can never allow myself to be guilty of that.” In addition to the silky smooth vocals he delivers on Take 6 recordings and in live performances, Khristian also plays keyboards, drums and bass guitar. “My father taught my brother and I to play these instruments,” Khristian said. “He said you might walk into a church service one day where they need an extra hand. He insisted that we always be available to serve the Lord with our musical gifts.” Khristian is about 10 years younger than the other members of Take 6 and has had different influences in his life. He believes this allows him to bring new ideas to the group that help keep their collective artistry and performances fresh. For example, though the group is best known for its a cappella delivery, at Khristian’s encouragement, they are now adding a band behind them from time to time. “Once you’ve been blessed with great success, it’s easy to relax and become comfortable,” he said. “If our group is going to progress, we have to be willing to be uncomfortable.” The group debuted its new show format, including the backing band, in a performance earlier this year and hope to share it in other venues soon. They also recently headlined This Is Jesus at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. It’s a show many have called the Christian music event of the year. They shared the stage with Jordan Smith, winner of The Voice Season 9, and Tecla Award-winner Blanca. Other recent performances include a Beach Boys tribute where they sang Don’t Worry Baby with R&B legend Michael McDonald at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles. It was taped and aired this past Easter. Despite all the achievements and stars he’s performed with, Khristian insists humility is the key. “The level of humility we choose is critical to our success in life,” he said. “Jesus made himself in the form of a servant. I don’t mind serving those around me, either.” ª
www.SouthwestOrlandoBulletin.com x June 1 — 14, 2023 x 5 A World-Class Destination Celebrating the International Drive Resort Area Maria Triscari, president and CEO of the International Drive Resort Area Chamber of Commerce. The tourism industry and convention markets are back in full swing, and, for more than 35 years, the International Drive Resort Area Chamber of Commerce has led the way with game-changing initiatives to ensure the success of the I-Drive Resort Area as a world-class resort destination. Maria Triscari, president and CEO of the International Drive Resort Area Chamber of Commerce, discussed I-Drive’s initiatives in transportation and development that will ensure I-Drive’s future success as a worldclass resort destination. What transformations have occurred in the I-Drive Resort Area? The International Drive corridor has experienced incredible growth. We now have more than 130 hotels, which equates to 45,000 hotel rooms. We are now home to 40% of all the hotel rooms in Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties. I-Drive also has hundreds of restaurants of every cuisine; 900 retail outlets; six major theme parks; 45 family-friendly attractions; and the Orange County Convention Center, which is world-renowned and provides a $3 billion economic impact. We are a major economic engine for the Southwest region, and we are essential to the tourism market. Why is completing the master plan at the Orange County Convention Center crucial for future success? Conventions have come back strong to prepandemic levels. Meetings and conventions are back, and they are here to stay and will continue to grow. The comeback has been even greater than we anticipated. We are very confident on the future success of the convention market. That is why we are excited to revisit the Orange County Convention Center master plan that was put on hold due to the pandemic. The enhancements at the convention center are essential to stay competitive in a very competitive market. The Orange County Convention Center creates a $3 billion annual economic impact to the region. We are the premiere convention center in the nation and must stay on the forefront to ensure future success. The International Drive Resort Area currently employs more than 75,000 employees. What type of opportunities are available in the hospitality industry? The wonderful thing about the tourism industry is that there are opportunities for everyone regardless of age, education, language or prior work experience. You can start at an entry level position and become management level and beyond. Many executives started at entry level and excelled. It’s a great time to become a part of this exciting industry that provides good pay and great benefits. In addition, many of our companies provide scholarships to colleges to help enhance their employees’ life skills and educational levels. The I-Drive Corridor has a very strong economic outlook, and it’s a very exciting time for the resort destination. What types of initiatives have been implemented? New attractions like Epic Universe will open in 2025, and, because of the chamber’s Right Rail initiative, mass transit from Orlando International Airport to an International Drive station will become a reality. The Sunshine Corridor will include a mass transit station at I-Drive to service both Sunrail and Brightline. This new rail line is great news for residents, employees and visitors alike. It will be a mass transit system that will service everyone. What transformations has the International Drive Resort Area undergone? I-Drive is such a success because it continues to transform. The 1980’s attraction Mercado is now ICON Park, a $300 million investment; Friday’s Front Row is now Mango’s and Hollywood Plaza; and the Orange County Civic Center is now the Orange County Convention Center, a world-premiere convention center. What has been the impact of I-Drive Chamber initiatives like the Tourism Orlando Leadership Program? One of the most successful programs that the chamber has created is the highly acclaimed Tourism Orlando Leadership Program that is now celebrating its 23rd anniversary. This incredible 11-month program enables participants to learn about the vast components and aspects of the tourism industry, from marketing to operations to behind-the-scenes tours and special presentations at our major theme parks and facilities like the Orlando International Airport, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, and the Orange County Convention Center. We are delighted with the tremendous success of this program that is now a staple in our tourism industry, with more than 1,000 people graduating to date, earning their “Ph.T.” in tourism. How does the I-Drive Resort Area give back to the community? PROMOTIONAL FEATURE I-Drive is a community of generosity. The International Drive Resort Area leaders believe in giving back. Major stakeholders like Harris Rosen have donated millions of dollars through their philanthropic work. I-Drive representatives care about their community and proudly support many charitable organizations through philanthropic programs, events and monetary donations as well as through donating goods and services to those in need. What does the future hold for I-Drive Resort Area? The I-Drive Chamber is a very strong and active chamber with a tremendous vision for the future and great political leaders to lead the way. All those things combined make our future very bright. As Abraham Lincoln once said, “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” And that is what the International Drive Resort Area has done for more than 50 years. We just can’t wait to see what the next 50 years will bring. For more information or to join the International Drive Resort Area Chamber of Commerce, visit www.internationaldrivechamber.com. Members of the International Drive Resort Area Chamber of Commerce Tourism Orlando Leadership Program.
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