Margaret Duprey Instills Importance Of Education Through Philanthropy

By Annan Hepner

For lifelong horsewoman Margaret Duprey, supporting charitable programs that align with her passion for education inspires her involvement not only in the equestrian industry, but in many international philanthropies.

Growing up just outside of Philadelphia, Duprey was immersed in the horse world from a young age. “I come from a family that owned racehorses throughout my childhood — horses are in my blood,” she explained.

Duprey, a Grand Prix dressage rider, owns and operates Cherry Knoll Farm, with locations in Wellington and West Grove, Pa. In addition to it being a haven for retired horses, the Pennsylvania location breeds Black Angus cattle that are nationally competitive and sought-after. Operated with the philosophy of “quality over quantity,” the farm is recognized in the market for its attention to premier genetics in the Black Angus it produces.

Since moving to Wellington 11 years ago from the west coast of Florida, Duprey has come to treasure the unique atmosphere of the world’s winter equestrian capital.

“I love that the winters are warm and Wellington has so much to offer,” she explained. “Wellington is an area where people from all over the world come to enjoy the best of horse sport. It has the ability to house all of these talented horses from different disciplines. It is always nice to watch the best riders train and show, and I enjoy watching great jumping.”

Besides her personal dressage endeavors, Duprey is involved at all levels of the sport, from importing high-quality young horses to train up through the levels to owning high-performance horses. She owns Beijing Olympic gold medalist Cedric and decorated grand prix show jumper Constable, both competed by Laura Kraut, as well as Rio Paralympic mount Schroeter’s Romani, ridden by Rebecca Hart. She is also a partner in a syndication for top international show jumper Andretti S.

“Watching my horses progress into Olympic athletes is a joy and a profoundly rewarding experience,” Duprey said. “It is every rider’s childhood dream to go to the Olympics. The only way you can go to the Olympics is to have horses of that caliber, so that was my goal. There was a point in my life when I realized I personally could not compete; however, I could help sponsor someone who could go to the Olympics and still be a part of the team.”

In addition to owning world-class equines, she has a deep passion for horses and the people involved with them. Duprey is an active board member for numerous organizations in the equine realm, as well as philanthropies with education initiatives.

In 2015, Duprey became Brooke USA’s first ambassador with the goal of taking international animal welfare to a new level and educating owners and laborers to take better care of their animals. Brooke USA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the betterment of the lives of working animals all over the world.

“It is a great organization that educates people for the benefit of the animals — how to take care of them and educating people in the community,” she explained. “It’s being able to make a difference. By working directly with animal-owning communities and providing practical education, it comes full circle. Brooke USA is a charity that helps the animals and the people. No matter how well-educated, where you come from or how old you are, change is always hard. There is always going to be that resistance. Brooke USA approaches this challenge with strategy, education and proven techniques, which help those individuals build their own understanding. In turn, they have developed a sustainable program that is effective.”

Duprey has also given unwavering support to JustWorld International, a nonprofit based in Wellington, as well as the Caridad Center. As a graduate of Cabrini University in Radnor, Pa., she served on its board of trustees for numerous years, and now serves as a trustee for the United States Equestrian Team Foundation.

In addition to her contributions to various nonprofit organizations, she recently gifted Wilson College in Chambersburg, Pa., a donation to enhance its veterinary medical technology (VMT) program. The new Equi-Assist program trains VMT students to provide horses the best veterinary care possible while they remain in their home to ease stress and make the recovery process more efficient.

“The program was launched last year and creates a team approach between the veterinarian, the vet tech, the owner and the groom to ensure that the horse receives the best care while recovering at home,” Duprey said. “It is something that is being well-received in all aspects of the equine industry.”

She plans to continue these efforts to help the horse community.

“When I choose philanthropies to support or design initiatives myself, I like to think outside of the box,” Duprey said. “I often select programs that are educational for the children or young adults because they are the ones who are the future of the sport and the community. They are the ones who are going to follow in our footsteps, and education at the lower level is important.”

To learn more about Margaret Duprey, visit www.cherryknollfarminc.com.

Wellington-Based Tota Comfort System A Leap Forward In Headgear For Horses

By Deborah Welky

Word is spreading quickly between barns, behind the scenes and along the sidelines at Wellington’s equestrian venues about the Tota Comfort System for horses. In less than a year, the nosebands and bridles designed by Charles Tota of the Dressage Connection have revolutionized tack that has been in use for thousands of years.

A rider himself, Tota grew up alongside a father, who was a master carpenter and “Italian perfectionist,” and he has been intrigued by design ever since he was a boy.

“Everything my father did had to be perfect, and that’s the way I look at things, too,” said Tota, already well-known in equestrian circles for his expertise with saddles. “No matter what it is, I want it to be better. I see so many products on the market that weren’t completed properly, where the stitching is not right, where I can see the shortcuts they’ve taken.”

In his Wellington shop, Tota carries only the highest quality products imported from Europe; saddles he designed, then commissioned from German craftsmen, and other equipment that he would put on his own horse.

Tota’s strong reputation is what prompted one frustrated Olympic rider to call him with a problem. The Olympian’s horse had developed such an aversion to its headgear that the mount could not be ridden.

“They were having tremendous issues with the pull and TMJ in the horse to the point where it resisted having its bridle put on. It had become tremendously sensitive,” Tota recalled. “I worked with the veterinarian, who showed me the medical diagram and explained what needed to be done regarding the facial nerves.”

He learned which parts of the horse’s face to stay away from.

“Now, we redesign bridles all the time, but this one took about a month and a half of different prototypes,” Tota said. “We kept fine-tuning it and modifying it and, over the course of the next six months, we came up with this whole new system.”

Necessity had, once again, become the mother of invention.

“Initially, we started out with just the noseband, trying to make the horse comfortable using the client’s existing bridle, but the functionality wasn’t working,” Tota explained. “That’s how we ended up designing an entire bridle line — the noseband, the bridle, the whole package. We submitted it to the FEI, and it was approved in under two weeks. They saw the medical background — it wasn’t a training gimmick or a wacko invention with a high-profile rider to sponsor it — it had medical guidance and approval.”

The Tota Comfort System works because its unique, contouring cheek piece relieves pressure along the poll and facial nerves of the horse. When traditional bridles put pressure on the poll and temporomandibular joint (TMJ), the natural connection between the horse’s mouth and the rider’s hands is hampered. The cheek piece, browband, crownpiece and throat latch all converge over the TMJ, and all of the equine facial nerves run parallel to the cheek pieces that connect the crown and browband to the noseband.

The Tota Comfort System noseband reduces poll pressure by eliminating the forward angle of traditional nosebands along the cheekbone, freeing the TMJ and facial nerves.

Inspired by the success of his new design, Tota began fitting and experimenting with the nosebands on horses around Wellington. The results were happier, more engaged athletes and major performance boosts for the horse-and-rider team.

While the noseband was intended to help relieve poll and facial pressure, it became clear that the curved cheek pieces and overall design simply provided a more comfortable bridle. In the past year, a number of top professionals and world-renowned trainers have embraced the Tota Comfort System. It has been called a “game-changer” by industry experts. Tota also noted that the testimonials on his web site were not solicited. He’s proud that he never gave any bridles away in exchange for an endorsement.

“I’m very proud that it was used in the Olympics. It stands on its own merits. It actually works,” Tota said. “And the horse’s size doesn’t matter, or whether it’s jumping or eventing. Riders of all disciplines are using the system with positive results… Considering last year was our first full year — for a product to come out and be in the Olympics and everywhere — it’s just exploding.”

The Dressage Connection, home of the Tota Comfort System, is located at 3500 Fairlane Farms Road, Suite 10, in Wellington. For more information, call (561) 790-7858 or visit www.thedressageconnection.com or www.totacomfortsystem.com.

 

Car Lover Scott Levinsohn’s Dream Is Driven To A Reality Of Success

Scott Levinsohn took a circuitous route to his career in the automobile industry. He and his father shared a passion for cars. Levinsohn’s love of cars developed as he watched his father collect them. He grew up around cars and always felt that he would eventually work in the automobile industry.

Scott Levinsohn took a circuitous route to his career in the automobile industry. He and his father shared a passion for cars. Levinsohn’s love of cars developed as he watched his father collect them. He grew up around cars and always felt that he would eventually work in the automobile industry.

“I always wanted to do something with cars, but I never knew what,” said Levinsohn, managing director of The Finest Automobile Auctions.

As the reality of life set in, Levinsohn put his passion aside to pursue a more grounded and financially secure path. After graduating from Hofstra University, Levinsohn worked as a financial adviser and wealth manager. However, a void was not being filled.

After six years, Levinsohn left the corporate financial industry and drove down an alternative career path in event-based marketing. While transitioning between a few different positions, Levinsohn concentrated mainly on luxury goods and specialized in the cross-branding of products and services using event-driven marketing. Levinsohn focused on partnerships, tie-ins and bringing products to the market.

Working in luxury goods led Levinsohn to the Wellington community, the equestrian capital of the world, which was unfamiliar territory for him. He had never been a part of a tight-knit community like Wellington.

“I loved doing events in Wellington because the community welcomed us and appreciated the quality of events we were producing,” he said. “We were selective in order to maintain the integrity of our brand. We were always very cognizant of how other brands are represented in accordance with ours because we worked together to achieve an experience.”

When in Wellington, Levinsohn and his team worked closely with and became familiar with the International Polo Club Palm Beach as they orchestrated Sunday polo VIP parties and sponsored a polo team each season.

“We organized many events in conjunction with IPC,” Levinsohn said. “While working and coordinating these events in Wellington, I learned a lot about the luxury space.  Most importantly, I learned how to put events together, produce them properly, showcase the products and the selection of sponsors.”

He developed an appreciation for the community. Its passion for horses reminded him of his passion for cars. The more time he spent in Wellington, the more Levinsohn saw similarities between the automotive and equestrian communities.

“They are all pursuits of passion,” he said. “We try to stress the importance of automobiles in people’s lives in a different capacity than just transportation. We want to convey the experience of owning them much as participating in polo is an experience and riding a horse is an experience… so there are correlations between them.”

After changing lanes and driving full-speed straight into the automobile industry, Levinsohn was brought onto The Finest’s team to pursue his passion as managing director, where he is responsible for overseeing all daily operations and event productions.

“How can I take a love of cars and turn it into a business?” he asked, just as he queried of himself. “I always loved cars but never knew what the end product would be. I knew it was going to be something with automotive events. The opportunity to work with cars wasn’t necessarily a dream but something really fun. Thankfully it turned into a successful, growing business.”

The Finest Automobile Auctions is a new auction house that focuses on delivering the finest experience for collector car enthusiasts and offers customized buying opportunities for onsite and online buyers.

“We believe that it is important to work together to achieve an experience, as this is seen through our live auctions,” Levinsohn explained. “We want to promote it as an experience for people, one that is enjoyable and unique, which sets us apart from other companies.”

The Finest will conduct quarterly online auctions. At this point in time, it is the only automotive auction house to engage collectors in this way. The company found an opening in the industry that it is well equipped to fill. “I have been very fortunate to work with a lot of very accomplished and intelligent people,” Levinsohn said. “No one person makes a successful event or company; it’s everyone you work with. I’m very humble in business, and I believe that we learn from everyone we come into contact with. I attribute the intelligence of the people around me to assisting us in becoming successful.”

Due to Levinsohn’s Wellington ties, a week before the Feb. 11 auction in Boca Raton, The Finest staged a preview event at The Patio at Polo. Levinsohn enjoyed the time he spent in Wellington so much that a few years ago, he purchased a house in the community.

For more information about the auction company, visit www.thefinest.com.

Xcelerate Wellington 2.0 Awards Grants To Coffee Roaster And Menswear Store

Story and Photos by Julie Unger

Amy and Scott Angelo of Oceana Coffee wowed a four-judge panel at Xcelerate Wellington 2.0, a special entrepreneurship event hosted by the Young Professionals of Wellington on Jan. 25 at the Wanderers Club.

Oceana Coffee edged out runner-up Aquaco Farms and finalists AllerCheck and Direct Dispatch.

After presenting their company, winning the grant was a milestone accomplishment for the Oceana Coffee owners. “We were surprised and kind of overwhelmed, but it definitely makes you feel validated in what you’re doing and that you’re on the right track with your business. It’s an amazing achievement,” Amy said. “We’re super passionate about the product and where it comes from. We’re all about the coffee.”

Judges Tre Zimmerman of Ubicquia and Wellington Regional Medical Center CEO Robbin Lee were impressed with the company. Lee felt that the owners showed entrepreneurial drive and epitomized the American spirit. Zimmerman looked for scalability and sustainability with the business model and where the $10,000 grant would have the greatest impact.

“We weren’t looking at it as awarding a prize,” Zimmerman said. “Where would we put our money? That was where we all agreed. If we were going to place our own personal capital into funding and growing a business, it was going to be the coffee business.”

Working with groups such as the Young Professionals also helps them refine their pitch, Scott said, which, as the company grows, will help them when approaching larger investors.

The grant will help toward opening at kiosk at 189 Bradley Place on Palm Beach and is also helping with a new cold-brew program. “We have our ready-to-drink cold brew in cans, and also in bottles coming,” Amy said.

Growing the company and reaching as many people as they can, as well as opening the new location, is what Amy is looking forward to in the coming months. They already have two locations in Tequesta — one with a roasting facility and a café, and the other with a café and a rentable conference room, in addition to approximately 60 wholesale clients in Palm Beach, Martin and Broward counties.

Roasting and grinding their own coffee, the company hopes to change the way people enjoy and drink coffee.

“It was a selfish necessity,” said Scott, who is from Australia. “I couldn’t find any coffee here that was good enough for me to drink, or that I really enjoyed.”

Scott realized that creating specialty coffee was a passion that would change his future. “The whole landscape of coffee is changing quite dramatically. Florida is probably a long way behind the rest of the country,” he said. “For me, it’s like a fine red wine. There’s wines you can just go and drink for the sake of drinking, or there are wines that you can certainly really enjoy.”

Each coffee that they roast, they know the farmer and the best way to roast the beans.

“People are learning and catching up to the fact that coffee’s not just a brown liquid — it’s something to enjoy and to find our own flavor,” he said.

Oceana Coffee is available for order online and ships around the world. Wholesale partners, such as local bakers, candy makers, chocolatiers and other vendors, are welcome to contact the company for more information.

“We’re always bringing in new products. Everything that we have is made locally,” Amy said. “It is a higher-end product. It is luxurious, but it’s not out of reach. It’s something that anybody can experience.”

Learn more about the company at http://oceanacoffee.com.

Also winning at Xcelerate Wellington 2.0 was Wellington businessman Henry Mosley of HNM Menswear.

Mosley’s pitch to the audience, including that HNM offers a uniquely large necktie collection, won him the “Homegrown” People’s Choice Award, a $2,000 grant. Other candidates were the Med Writers and Rich Oak Vineyards.

“It was a great opportunity,” Mosley said. “I was very excited.”

HNM Menswear epitomizes the evolution of fashion, working to style men — including those wearing big and tall sizes — for a night on the town, polo, special events, an anniversary or casual everyday wear.

The grant will allow Mosley to continue growing his business, increase his inventory to keep styles up-to-date and increase his marketing and advertising to let men in the community know that HNM Menswear is here and ready to help.

Mosley’s personal touch, rather than a major retailer, makes a huge difference.

“When guys come to me, they get my personal service. I pay attention to the details,” he said. “I look at things such as what colors light them up… I pay attention to the colors that they like, the styles that they like. With me, every time you come, you’ll see the same guy.”

He also tracks what is purchased, allowing customers to avoid unintentionally buying duplicates and making it easier to add complementary items.

“You have to put the right colors together that complement their skin tone, their height, their size and their weight,” Mosely explained.

Lee was impressed with how Mosley offers both a service as well as a product. HNM Menswear is a local, growth-stimulating company with entrepreneurial spirit, and that is what impressed Zimmerman most.

For more information, visit www.hnmmenswear.com.

Xcelerate 2.0 presenting sponsor the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center made both the event and the $10,000 grant possible, while the “Homegrown” award, presented by TD Bank and CBIZ, included a $2,000 grant and business assistance from Anidea Engineering, CRGO Law, RM5 Design and Peter Marcus Coaching. Learn more about the Young Professionals at www.ypwellington.com.