We have lived in Cheval since July 2023. We moved to the Tampa area from Ridgefield,

Connecticut, during the pandemic, we were attracted to the sunshine and the coastal,

cosmopolitan lifestyle. After exploring different areas around Tampa Bay, Including St.

Petersburgh and Apollo Beach, we are thrilled to have found our home in Cheval.

Our answer to “Where are you from?” is typically, “It’s complicated.”  I was born and raised on Long Island, New York, and moved to the Atlanta suburbs during high school. Liz was born in Lexington, Kentucky, and her upbringing took her across various places, including Oklahoma, Australia, Connecticut, South Carolina, and the Atlanta suburbs. We’ve lived in North Carolina, Atlanta (where our kids were born), Ohio, Connecticut, and now Florida. Each place holds special memories and lasting friendships.

If we had to pick one place, Atlanta, GA, feels closest to being “home.” We lived there the longest and still have significant ties with family and friends. It’s where Sophie and Max were born. But now, we’re delighted to call Cheval our home—though you might occasionally catch us slipping into various accents!

We each earned our bachelor's at the University of Georgia, me in Biochemistry and

Molecular Biology, and Liz in Sociology and Political Science. Liz added a Master of

Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University. I also earned an MBA from Emory

University.

I am a real estate agent with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Properties Group. I

specialize in residential and investment properties and new home construction. My office is just outside Cheval’s gates, at the Chateau Professional Park on Dale Mabry. It’s super

convenient having an office close by to get away from home and neighborhood distractions!

Liz is a human resource executive with nearly 20 years of experience in financial services. She is the Chief Human Resources Officer of Penn Mutual and works primarily from her home office.

We first met “at a bar” in Athens, GA. She was on a date, but it didn’t stop us from hitting it

off. What did stop us was the fact that Liz was leaving the next day for a semester’s study

in Italy, and I didn’t know anything about her besides her first name. Fortunately, three months

later, we randomly ran into each other at another bar in Athens. She was on another date, but this time, I made sure to get her contact information. We had our first date shortly

after, eloped 13 months later, and have been happily married for 23 years.

Sophie Heitner, 15, is a rising sophomore at Steinbrenner. She’s passionate about school, though more for the social aspects than the academics. An avid hunter/jumper, equestrian, and animal lover, Sophie is also deeply into music. She earned a letter in Chorus this year and had the incredible opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York when she was in 8th grade.

Max Heitner, 13, is a rising 8th grader at Martinez. He’s very active in FFA and competed in dog showing, speech-making, and parliamentary procedures this year. Max will be captaining the dog-showing team this year. For exercise, he trains at the Cheval pool with Tampa Elite Aquatics, plays pickleball with club members weekly, and is getting started with Cheval’s youth tennis and golf programs. Max also recently completed a backpacking trip in Colorado.

We have a lively household with two dogs, two cats, a lizard, and a horse. Teddy, our caramel cream Labradoodle, loves long walks but can never decide whether to play fetch or keep away. He's also notorious for barking at cyclists, joggers, and other dogs as we drive around the neighborhood. Jojo, our bichon frise, is a little troublemaker with sharp eyes and a strong will. He recently took 2nd place in agility at the Florida State Fair’s Youth Dog Show, although obedience wasn’t his strong suit. Sophie is in charge of caring for Tilly and Tallulah, our friendly “house panthers”, Goose, our leopard gecko, and Maggie, her 16-hand Zangersheide horse stabled at North Star Farms, part of Cheval.

Our family brings a lot of fun and diverse talents to the table, and we're always up for a good laugh.  I enjoy exploring a bit of everything. I mix things up for exercise with yoga, pickleball, swimming, strength training, and, recently, tennis. I'm adventurous regarding food, both cooking and eating, with a special love for curries and smoked meats and veggies. Music is a constant in my life—especially rock—and I can strum a few tunes on the guitar and ukulele. I love happy hours with friends, long walks on the beach, in big cities, or on hiking trails, and I keep up with the latest in science, medicine, and technology. I’m also an ordained minister and had the honor of officiating my sister’s wedding in Key West last summer. Regarding TV, I’m into the NBA, documentaries, sci-fi, and shows like The Bear, Breaking Bad, and The Sopranos. I also have a soft spot for reality dating shows like Love is Blind and The Bachelor/Bachelorette.

Sophie is our social butterfly—silly, dramatic, and full of heart, especially regarding animals. She’s fearless, constantly pushing boundaries, especially on horseback. Even after a fall, she’s right back in the saddle.

Max is passionate about political and military history, enjoys outdoor activities, and loves cooking. He's all in when something piques his interest until he masters it. He’s memorized the Rubik’s cube solution and can solve it faster than you’d believe. After a trip to Europe last summer, he became determined to perfect the ‘Full English Breakfast’ and all its variations.

Liz is all about tennis, travel, the beach, and scary movies. She and Coach Mike joke that she needs to start traveling with her racket because her love for tennis and travel sometimes conflict. Liz is also our master planner, keeping our family’s schedule full and organized.

As a family, we love traveling together, and the kids are at a great age to appreciate the experiences. We’re big fans of the Caribbean and Europe for international trips and regularly visit Wyoming, South Carolina, Ohio, and Georgia to reconnect with family and friends. Last summer, we took a WW2-themed trip to Europe, exploring historic sites like Churchill’s War Room, Normandy, and Eagle’s Nest. We’re now planning our first family cruise and a week in Rome.

We are very festive and love celebrations with lots of laughter and big feasts! Birthdays,

holidays, rites of passage, and really any weekend are great excuses to bring friends and family together for good times and appreciation! One of our traditions at Thanksgiving is to ask

everyone we’re with to share something they are thankful for. One of the reasons we love Cheval is that we have made wonderful friends, and it seems there is always someone to get together with within and outside of the neighborhood.

We are big foodies and love exploring independent restaurants and local specialty foods. Of

course, we love The Tavern. We like the friendly neighborhood vibe where we can go

business casual after work, sporty after tennis, or beachy after a day at the pool. Outside of

Cheval, we generally head south through Carrollwood and west towards the coast. Quality

Foods Market, Michael’s Grill, and Nabruzzi’s are places south of Cheval that we like. Max

and I are more adventurous and regularly seek out Vietnamese, Korean, Indian, and Kebabs

closer to USF.

To the west, we love walking around Tarpon Springs and getting to the gulf beach towns. At

least once a month, we’ll drive to St. Pete Beach or Indian Shores and hike south along the

beach while checking out local restaurants and shops in neighboring towns like Pass-a-Grille.

We are Freedom Boat Club members and have used that to explore the bay and gulf shore

islands. Liz loves to anchor around bird sanctuaries and watch for roseate spoonbills. We

feel lucky to have found neighbors who like boating to sandbars on Anclote Key and Three

Rooker Island.

Liz and I also like comedy shows and live music. We’ve taken in events at Amalie Arena,

Mehaffey, Side Splitters, Raymond James, and Eckerd Hall. Max and I have gone to

Tampa Bay Lightning and Yankees games. I’m considering starting a campaign to bring an NBA franchise into the area!

We try to stay active at the Tavern and keep an eye on the weekly specials—prime rib night is definitely my favorite! We’ve had a great time at events like the Halloween party, the Tuscany Under the Moon Holiday Dinner in December, Burgers, Barks, and Brews in March, and the Country Concert in April.  Liz started playing tennis in October and joined the 2.5 team this spring. She’s also become involved with the Cheval Women’s Club.  I regularly participate in Cheval’s fitness classes. I especially enjoy Jimmy’s strength circuits, Raj’s balance and core work, Claudia’s yoga, and Ben’s full-body sessions. I also join the Tuesday and Thursday evening pickleball group whenever I can, and I’ve recently started tennis lessons with Mike. Occasionally, I even get off the waitlist for Cardio Tennis! Beyond the fitness benefits, I’ve enjoyed meeting new neighbors from Cheval and the surrounding areas and making friends through these activities.

Our family actively fosters a strong sense of community in our neighborhood. I volunteer with several school and neighborhood groups, including the Future Farmers of America (FFA) at Martinez Middle School. I find the Land Lab cleanups particularly rewarding; it's a productive morning that supports an incredible resource for our kids. I'm also proud to sponsor community events like the Cheval Women’s Club kickoff in September. My participation in various classes is not just about personal growth—it's about building social connections and strengthening our community.  Buc Strong,  www.bucstrong.org, is part of the Cheval family and is another opportunity to support a great cause.

 Liz, recently named Vice President of the Cheval Women’s Club, is passionate about expanding membership and hosting exciting events this fall. Through the club, she’s met many incredible women and is eager to help others connect, build friendships, and enjoy all it offers. Liz also serves on the board of Ability Beyond, a nonprofit that provides essential services and care for people with disabilities.

Halloween in Cheval was absolutely over the top, with formal and informal events spanning an

entire week. We met so many people at the Halloween event at the Club and had a great time with neighbors enjoying trick or treating. Cheval West, around Chamille Drive, was vibrant and teeming with trick-or-treaters. The neighborhood had many great decorations, costumes, haunted houses, music, and treats for kids and adults. Seeing so many people out and about enjoying the festivities was wonderful.  We appreciate Cheval's strong sense of community and festiveness.