Stepping Out with Space Coast Singles
Historic Downtown Melbourne nightspots provide the perfect backdrop for some of the area’s most eligible singles. So linger on the sidewalk, forget all your troubles and come downtown with us to see the four women and five men we thought you’d like to meet.
Brad White, Palm Bay
Age: 29
Occupation: Attorney, GrayRobinson-Melbourne
“If you polled all of my friends, family and colleagues, I think most of them would tell you I’m a pretty considerate person. That’s important to me. Life ‘s too short to be an inconsiderate jerk.” As a student mentor with Take Stock in Children, a program that provides high school students living in poverty with college scholarships, “I remember what it was like to be in high school and how much I would have appreciated having someone other than a parent or teacher to talk to.”
Brad was photographed at Florida Keys Piano Bar and Cocktail Lounge
Sarah Stoeckel, Titusville
Age: 25
Occupation: Student Activities Coordinator, BCC-Titusville
“I think one of my best qualities is my personality. I consider myself outgoing and fun loving,” says Sarah, whose idea of a good date is “doing something active, where we can talk and get to know each other.” Qualities she finds attractive include “someone I can respect and trust, with good morals and values.” Sarah’s involvement as a youth group leader allows her to “help others and have a positive impact on kids.”
Sarah was photographed at Foo Bar
Tri Pham, Melbourne
Age: 38
Occupation: Owner, Maui Wowi Hawaiian Coffees and Smoothies at Merritt Square Mall
When he was eight years old Tri and his father escaped communist Vietnam, sailing off in the middle of the night in a small wooden fishing boat with 25 others “risking our lives to escape communism and find freedom.” Ten years later Tri’s mother and two brothers joined them in the U.S. A graduate of Eau Gallie High school and the University of Central Florida, “I enjoyed growing up here. I think I’m extremely fortunate to be where I am, considering where I came from. I’m living the American dream.”
Tri was photographed at Foo Bar
Scott Widerman, Cocoa Beach
Age: 39
Occupation: Attorney, Zies Widerman & Malek
Scott says one of his best qualities is his easygoing nature, “The world is too stressed out…at some point it got itself in such a damn hurry and we all need to bring it down a notch. Scott serves on the advisory council for Freedom 7 Elementary School and on the boards of Melbourne Main Street and the March of Dimes. “As I became established in Brevard County I wanted to be a part of the community…I have been very lucky, passing some of that forward is important to me.”
Scott was photographed in downtown Melbourne
Pam Marticke, Viera
Age: 28
Occupation: Marketing Manager, The Avenue Viera
Pam’s civic involvement “has special meaning to me”. The Brevard Zoo and the EDC are among the local organizations Pam is involved with. “I am the daughter of a breast cancer survivor (American Cancer Society) and one of my best friends gave birth to her daughter prematurely (March of Dimes), We are all here to serve a greater purpose than just our day job. I want to help as many individuals or organizations as I can and really feel like I’m making a difference and contributing to our society.”
Pam was photographed at Off the Traxx
(Clothing provided by Caché)
Patrick O’Neill, Viera
Age: 29
Occupation: Community Affairs Specialist at the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast
Although he says he’s driven to succeed, Patrick says he doesn’t take “life or myself too seriously. Life is meant to be enjoyed, not endured.” On a date “I like to do anything out of the ordinary, no dinner and a movie: bowling, mini golf, sporting events or concerts. Anything that allows you to have fun and show off your true personality.” A native of San Diego, Patrick’s hobbies include “rooting for all things San Diego-San Diego State, the Padres and the Chargers.”
Patrick was photographed at Florida Keys Piano Bar & Cocktail Lounge
Beate Pollei, Merritt Island
Age: 48
Occupation: Model and Assistant for Abonita Scarf LLC (semi-retired)
Fluent in English, French and German, Beate loves horseback riding, tennis, hiking, golf, swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving. Her idea of a perfect date is a romantic dinner followed by a nice walk on the beach filled with good conversation, or to be “surprised by my date.” Beate says “humor, honesty, integrity, good morals and ethics” are important characteristics she’s looking for in a companion. “I was raised with good morals and ethics”, something she says she likes most about herself.
Beate was photographed at Florida Keys Piano Bar & Cocktail Lounge
(Dress provided by Caché)
Dr. David Arteaga, Merritt Island
Age: 51
Occupation: Oral Surgeon
“I’ve been lucky enough to develop skills, any chance to give back is a good idea”, David Arteaga says of his medical mission to Haiti just days before last year’s earthquake. “The truth of the matter is that, a lot of times, we get more from doing this than the people we end up helping.” A father of four (two daughters and twin sons) Dr. Arteaga says he likes a woman who is “intelligent, compassionate and ambitious.”
Dr. Arteaga was photographed at Dondi’s Downtown
Jennifer Neuhard, Melbourne
Age: 36
Occupation: Assistant Vice President of Marketing for Florida Institute of Technology
As board chairman of Connected by 25 and through her involvement with the Guardian ad Litem program and PROMISE of Brevard, Jennifer believes in giving back to the community. “Somebody needs to love these children-they all may feel like no one loves them and everyone has left them. We try and look after them when everyone else has left their lives.” It’s that desire to help and accomplish things that Jennifer says she likes best about herself.
Jennifer was photographed at Mainstreet Pub
(Dress provided by Isabella’s)