Women’s Executive Club

My name is Dr. Dora Vilk-Shapiro and I first joined WEC in 1997, when WEC met at the Riverside Hotel.  I enjoyed the  meetings, cannon circles, and annual retreats, and have made many friends and done business with several WEC members.  One of my favorite things about WEC is hearing speakers from various occupations and organizations and I feel that WEC has widened my horizons and helped my personal growth.  I served as Board Member At Large during Ann Meacham’s term as WEC president.  At a WEC tea party fundraiser many years ago, my employees and I won the Most creative hats award when we fabricated our own hats with dental goodies.

Most WEC members know me as Dr. Dora.  What they may not know about me is that I was born in Cuba, have lived in Mexico, Jamaica, New York (Bronx and Brooklyn), Nassau Bahamas, Florida, Milan, Italy, and Madrid, Spain.  Lastly New Jersey and back to Florida.  Even though I am Jewish, I went to St. Andrew’s school for 4 years while we lived in Nassau.  Talk about diversity, I count for almost every position.

My main passion in life, besides my family,  is my Dentistry and my work for Charity.  The awards have been numerous:  Healthy Mother, Healthy Babies Mother of the Year, Hispanic Woman of Distinction, NAWBO National Pioneer Award, State, and local chapter awards, ABWA Coral Springs Charter Chapter Woman of the Year, Palm Beach Crystal Slipper Trailblazer Award, and others.  However, it is the rewards for helping others that really makes me tick.

I am a Past President of both NAWBO, Broward/Ft. Lauderdale chapter and ABWA, Coral Springs Charter Chapter.  I graduated Dental school from University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-New Jersey Dental School in 1986. I now work at The Tamarac Dentist with Dr. Alan Bussell,  and together we take care of patients from kids to seniors in a comfortable, private, gentle, state of the art way, and for those who really know me, humorous too. We accept most insurance and also have many financing options for our patients to help them afford the care that they need or elect. It has been a privilege to have served so many WEC members and their friends and family with their dental needs over the years.  I am a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry since 2002, A charter member of the Florida Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, I have served on the Peer Review committee of the Broward Dental Association, and am a member of the American Dental Association along with all of it’s component groups.  Recently I was elected as the Founding President for the American Association of Women Dentists, South Florida Chapter.

I live in Coral Springs with my husband Larry of 27 years,  Larry, a PhD,  is a Clinical Science Liaison with Merck, Inc. I also live with  my Boston Terrier Mr. Peanut  who’s 8, and my six  zebra finches: Pickles, Pringles, and their children: Pez, Poptart, Punch, and last but not least Panini.  My 21 year old son, Jordan is a Junior at UCF in Orlando and is following in my footsteps in both Dental and Leadership:  He is a Psychology major, with minor in Molecular Biology and Microbiology, and Pre-Dent.  Also he is the Vice President  and Sergeant of Arms of his fraternity Beta Theta Pi, and is Assistant Chief Justice of UCF’s Student Government. 

I look forward to enjoying more of what WEC has to offer, now that my son is grown, my practice more established, and it’s time to have some more fun with friends.

Kudos to Laurina Anderson who received a glowing business testimonial from one of her clients, through her “Get Off the Couch, NOW” program!

“Prior to working with Laurina Anderson, I was on a daily regimen of anxiety medication.  My brother was in prison, demanding my help to get out – and combined with the daily stress of functioning as a high-powered executive business woman, the dichotomies and crosscurrents were disordering my thought process and draining my energies.  “Overwhelmed” was my constant condition.

With Laurina’s guidance, I came to the awareness of my own control of my body/mind and reality.  The self determination and self confidence instilled in me throughout our sessions has led to amazing transformations in my life, and the lives of those I love.

My brother experienced two miracles while in prison, and a third upon his release.  He credits me with these – and his new-found spirituality – the result of forcing him to accept personal responsibility and the consequences of his actions.  My business life is flourishing.  I’ve been nominated for a major award, and also been asked to join the Board of a respected non-profit organization.  My personal relationships are flourishing, the result of my own self-directed energy and intention.

Free of anxiety.  Free of medication.  Full of love, power, and self confidence.  With Laurina’s ongoing guidance, love and support, I gave these gifts to myself.

Laurina Anderson

· Taught me techniques and awareness to increase my self control

· More thought and reasoning to difficult responses

· Self awareness before reacting

· Helped to bring out the Power within me

· Helped me open up to love and meaningful friendships

· Taught me that I can create my own outcomes, Power of thinking positively and as if the desired outcome is already present becomes reality.

· Self awareness when my attitude is not what it can or should be;

· Techniques to draw myself out of that frame of mind.

· I have so much more self awareness now which gives me much more Power than ever before, in my professional life, my close friendships and love relationships.

· Not allowing politics to run my ethical professional life,

· I have moved forward with confidence and experienced major successes in terms of my financial status.

· I have been nominated for a major award and have been asked to join a non-profit Board of Directors.

· Was able to no longer have to take the Anxiety medication.

· Was able to see that I was enabling family members and helped my brother find spirituality, thanked me for leaving him in jail, not paying fines to get him out early, this gave him time and thus learned to pray and be thankful.  Experienced two miracles while in jail and another when out immediately.  I could not have done this without Laurina’s coaching.”

The 1000+ Club to Benefit Cancer, Inc. assists in the efforts of local cancer organizations in patient advocacy (supporting those who need prosthesis and wigs and transportation to have chemo and radiation therapy), camp for children who have cancer, education about early detection, and research to find cures for the various cancers. Each year they host the  Annual Women of the Year Luncheon honoring women in the communitiy who volunteer their time, talents and treasures for the benefit of their nominating organizations and the community. Our own Gail Smith was an honoree in 2009.  Jan Bullard is a nominee for next year’s award. This year’s 29th anniversary celebration and awards ceremony took place at the Marriot Harbor Beach Hotel and Resort in Fort Lauderdale.

Belly Dancin’ Babes!   Nearly two dozen WEC members gathered in the  beautiful  lobby of  Chadia’s Auto  Tech and Body  on Ap.5^th to leave their cares behind , dress in colorful scarves, belts and  beads,  feast on Middle Eastern delicacies,  and shake, rattle  and roll their way to discover  the  exciting  and sensuous art of belly dance!  Led by Dr.Donna’s  exotic and playful belly dance teacher, Ringah, the group discovered how easy and fun belly dance could be and what fabulous exercise it is for all parts of your body !   We laughed a lot, found our “goddess selves”, drank lots of wine and  enjoyed a great evening  together- many have already asked “when can we do this again?”.

Have you ever wanted to wear a veil

or exotic belly dance costume ?

Become an enchantress with fun and easy belly dance moves ?

Lose inches off your hips and middle ?

Join us for  a fabulous  evening of exotic  Middle  Eastern food, drinks,  music  and

dance, with  Ringah, Dr.Donna’s belly dance teacher (see photo) who has

danced for Donald Trump and dozen’s of other parties and events.  Ringah

has taught hundreds of women to find their inner “goddesses” and can make

belly dancing fun and accessible  for us all!

Event Schedule- Tuesday, April 5th

Class Location – Chadia Meroueh’s Auto Tech and Body

6:30 – 7:00 Networking and Middle Eastern nibbles

7:00 – 8:15 Belly dance class – you can even borrow or purchase a colorful veil

or jingly coin belt!

8:15 – 9:00 More food, music, laughter wine, Middle Eastern food and deserts!

$15 for the whole evening! Join us and jingle away- it’s a blast!

Headcount as of 3/30 = 25. Event is Full.

Class size limit is 25 people. Members Only Event.

RSVP to Susan Kingsley SKingsley@remax.net / 954-661-2305, by March 31st please. Pay online in Special Events Area of Reservations Page or mail a check to Karen Rowe.