Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/90756
from our staff " " Life is a sum of all your choices. Albert Camus to bring you a story about each of the winners. If you didn't get in on the voting, be sure to sign up for Th e Cue, our e-newsletter, at bravamagazine.com so you don't miss out on letting your vote count in 2013. Th is year we left the choice of our feature profi le up to the Th e Choice is Yours Every day we're faced with a myriad of choices. Some are small: Should I hit the snooze button one more time? Which accessory goes best with my outfi t? Other choices are monumental: Whom should I marry? Will I have kids? Where do I want to take my career? All of these daily decisions shape who we are and who we want to become. I'm currently reading "11/22/63," the latest Stephen King novel about a time traveler who goes back in time to try to stop John F. Kennedy's assassination. It has given me pause to ponder how some decisions we make, even small ones, can change the trajec- tory of our lives or those of others around us (hopefully in ways for the better!). Every month our team is faced with the wonderful job of mak- ing choices about what we think you'll enjoy reading, so when November rolls around it is exciting for us to take a break and let you, our wonderful readers, decide! Th is second annual Readers' Choice Issue is packed with your favorite local places to go, food to eat, personalities to hear about and more, and it was our pleasure members of TEMPO Madison, a group of infl uential women all in leadership positions in the community. We asked them this: Who is the most infl uential woman on the business scene in Madison today. Th eir pick? Dr. Bettsey Barhorst, the president of Madison College. As one of BRAVA's Women to Watch in our January is- sue, we were thrilled to have the opportunity to capture more of Bettsey's story and spirit with an in-depth profi le. Turn to p. 40 to read about how her effervescent personality and business acu- men are leading the college into a new era of success. By now, I'm also sure you've noticed a new twist to this issue: fl ip the magazine over and you'll fi nd a whole new section dedicated to our 14th annual Madison Women's Expo! Learn more about this year's celebrity presenters, fi nd a schedule of events and all we have in store for this year in this special guide to the Expo. Lastly, over the last month we were tasked with a very big choice to make: Who is going to be the next editor-in-chief of BRAVA? Who could we bring on board to our small, passionate staff that would understand who we are and where we want to go, and con- tinue to deliver a publication that you will read cover-to-cover? We're excited to say that a decision has been made, so check back for her offi cial introduction in our December issue! In the meantime, we invite you to make an easy choice: sit back, put your feet up, and enjoy your issue. Michelle Reddington Publisher Behind the Scenes at BRAVA: A bike journey not for the faint of heart The 96-degree temperature and harsh terrain of Death Valley, Calif. wasn't enough to stop Michelle Reddington, publisher, Michelle Alswager, director of marketing and events and Mollie Busby, interim associate editor, from completing a 103-mile bike ride through the desert. What kept them going? It was all in the name of raising funds for type 1 diabetes research in the JDRF Ride to Cure. Together, they raised more than $10,000 to help fi nd a cure for those living with the disease. 8 BRAVA Magazine November 2012