Meet Our Sisters of the Leaf

What do you enjoy most about cigar culture?

For Brittany, cigar culture is about more than smoking. It is the stories, laughs, friendships and experiences that happen around the cigar.

How do you serve and support your community?

Brittany has spent 17 years in law enforcement and serves as a Patrol Sergeant. Her work also includes peer support, mental-health advocacy and crisis intervention. She earned a master's degree in psychology, mentors through Ambition in Motion, supports Clippers and Cops, and received a Life-Saving Award in 2019 after performing CPR.

What does mentorship mean to you?

Mentorship is an opportunity to guide others, invest in their growth and help them develop into what they are capable of becoming.

How did your cigar journey begin?

Kim's cigar journey began nearly fourteen years ago at a barbecue in Chicago. She tried a Cuban Partagás and was drawn into the flavor, community and friendships surrounding premium cigars.

How have you served your community?

Kim spent approximately a year and a half working with a human-trafficking task force and helped create red-flag guidelines for law-enforcement personnel. She has also provided seated massage during the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk.

How long have you been part of AHCC?

Kim has been part of Ash Hole Cigar Club since August 2022 and serves the Nebraska Chapter as Sergeant in addition to serving as a Board Member.

What is your favorite song?

“Kiss the Sky” by Shawn Lee's Ping Pong Orchestra.

How did your cigar journey begin?

More than eight years ago, Quinetta saw a beautiful woman smoking a cigar and thought the image was sexy. She decided to try cigars herself and fell in love with the culture.

How do you support your community?

Quinetta helps parents involved with foster care and also pours energy into her family and local youth as a Cheer Mom and Grandma supporting the Choctaw Cheerleaders.

How long have you been with AHCC?

Six years.

What is your background in tobacco and cigars?

Nana Ira brings more than fifteen years of tobacco-industry experience to her work. She serves as Cigar Manager at Wismilak and has experience in strategic business development.

How do you contribute to AHCC and cigar culture?

Nana Ira supports AHCC Indonesia, official club activities, premium cigar education and strategic partnerships. Her perspective connects professional tobacco knowledge with the community side of cigar culture.

How did your cigar journey develop?

Curiosity led Tootsie deeper into cigar education. She became a Certified Cigar Sommelier Tobacconist, learned cigar rolling and eventually built her own business, For The Love Of Cigars, in 2020.

What do you enjoy about cigar culture?

Tootsie values the camaraderie and the endless opportunity to learn. Her interests include tobacco, blends, growing regions, aging, rolling and pairing.

How do you give back?

Her community service has included tutoring children, feeding people experiencing homelessness, senior daycare and companionship. She also founded Anna's Meow Haven to help cats and is pursuing Veterinary Technician studies.

What is your favorite cigar?

La Morena Rexach.

What is your favorite song?

“DtMF” by Bad Bunny.

How did you get into cigars?

Stacy was introduced to cigars by Cigar Lady Taylor.

What do you enjoy most about cigar culture?

She enjoys the flavor and taste of a good cigar along with the laid-back nature of the community.

How do you support the community?

Stacy participates each year as an AshHole in a breast-cancer awareness walk.

What is your go-to cigar?

Plasencia.

What is your favorite song?

“My Type of Carryin' on” by Nephew Jones.

How did your cigar journey begin?

As the season of full-time onsite parenting began to change, Jershondria wanted to rediscover interests of her own outside parenting. Cigars became part of that new chapter.

How do you contribute to cigar culture?

She continues Talk To Me Tuesday, creating conversation for everyday smokers as well as people who are new to cigars.

How long have you been an AshHole?

Since 2021.

What is your favorite song?

UGK's “Int'l Players Anthem,” which is also her wedding song.

What do you enjoy about cigar culture?

Winda enjoys the connection cigar culture creates and the opportunity to slow down and relax together. She also supports her husband, who serves as the AHCC Indonesia Chapter President.

Tell us about your service and professional life.

Winda is an Army veteran who transitioned into work as a Security Coordinator, helping protect the food supply.

What is your favorite cigar?

She does not limit herself to a single favorite cigar. She enjoys exploring different flavor profiles.

What is your favorite song?

“Heaven” by Bryan Adams.

How did your cigar journey begin?

Shirlonda's brother introduced her to cigars approximately nine to ten years ago.

What do you enjoy most about cigar culture?

She values authenticity, comfortable fellowship and the opportunity to keep learning and sharing with other people.

Tell us about Cigar Broad.

Shirlonda owns Cigar Broad™, a private-event cigar-bar setup. The business provides the cigar-bar experience for private events and does not sell cigars.

Tell us about an act of kindness that matters to you.

During another member's hardship, Shirlonda anonymously paid that member's cigar-club membership fee. She did not do it for recognition.

What else should people know about you?

Shirlonda is a Manager in Acute Dialysis and a mother of three.

How did your cigar journey begin?

Daisy had never smoked anything before cigars entered her life. Her husband was the cigar smoker in the family. On his way home from work, he would call and ask her to pull a cigar from his humidor and have it waiting with a drink. Eventually, that ritual became hers too.

What do you enjoy most about cigar culture?

Daisy appreciates a lounge with a well-stocked humidor, good cocktails, knowledgeable staff and people willing to talk, learn and connect.

How have you supported your cigar community?

To support a newly opened local lounge, Daisy hosted an unpaid educational event called “Cigars 101: Women Smoke 'Em Too!” The gathering grew into a weekly book club. She organized the effort without compensation because she wanted to support the lounge and help women feel more comfortable learning about cigars.

What else should people know about you?

Daisy is a devoted wife, mother of six, grandmother of ten and has spent more than thirty years working at a major SEC university. She and her husband also enjoy traveling together and visiting cigar lounges.

How did your cigar journey begin?

Teresa tried a cigar and was hooked. What started with that first experience became an appreciation for cigar culture and the people around it.

What do you enjoy about cigar culture?

Teresa values the fellowship and the shared moments that happen around cigars.

How have you given back?

She has donated clothing to women's shelters.

How long have you been with AHCC?

Six years.

What is your favorite song?

“Lose Control” by Silk.

How long have cigars been part of your life?

Karen has been smoking cigars for approximately fifteen years.

What do you value about cigar culture?

Karen values the social interaction, exposure to different cultures, meeting people with different backgrounds and hearing the stories people bring with them. She also enjoys learning her palate and understanding flavor notes.

How do you support the community?

Karen supports battered women, mental-health causes and people experiencing homelessness. Her support has included volunteering time and making donations of food, clothing and financial assistance.

What is your role with AHCC?

Karen serves as Vice President of the Ash Hole Cigar Club Texas Chapter and has been part of AHCC for four years and counting.

How did your cigar journey begin?

Carmen's husband, Ryan, introduced her to cigars. What began with the two of them sharing cigars became a much larger network of friendships.

What do you value most about cigar culture?

For Carmen, it is the people and the friendships. Many of those friendships have grown beyond the lounge and become family.

How do you serve your community?

Carmen's community work includes supporting people with disabilities through Mosaic, participating in Special Needs Day and supporting Concrete Cares.

Do you have one favorite song?

No single favorite. Carmen listens to everything.

How did you enter the cigar world?

Ikova entered the cigar community after responding to a casino job advertisement for sales associates. She was hired on the spot, and the experience opened the door to the cigar industry and community.

What do you appreciate about cigar culture?

Ikova values the sense of community and unity. Customers and fellow cigar smokers became more than people she happened to meet. Many became family.

How do you support your community?

As an immigrant from Mexico, Ikova makes an effort to support local small businesses, members of the Hispanic community, charities and other causes.

What is your go-to cigar?

Davidoff 2000.

What is your favorite song?

“Ayer me dijo un Ave” by Caifanes.

How did your cigar journey begin?

Leslie started smoking cigars in 2015 while celebrating her brother's birthday. Her first cigar was a Java Espresso.

How do you serve your community?

Leslie volunteers at an Oklahoma women's shelter and participates in her church's food-bank ministry, which helps feed people experiencing homelessness.

How long have you been part of AHCC?

Six years with the Oklahoma City AHCC family.

What is your favorite song?

“My Favorite Thing” by Kem.

How long have cigars been part of your life?

Whitney has been part of cigar culture for nearly twenty years.

What do you enjoy most about cigar culture?

Whitney values the friendships and connections created through cigars, along with the opportunity to keep learning.

How are you involved in the cigar community?

Whitney serves as Vice President of the AHCC Michigan Chapter. Her involvement also includes the Sisters of the Leaf Global Movement and Whit's Sticks Cigar and Pipe Group. She earned Certified Cigar Sommelier Tobacconist credentials through Tobacconist University.

What is your favorite cigar?

Fuente Opus X.

What else should people know about you?

Whitney is also a stay-at-home mother, balancing family life with her involvement in cigar education and community.

How did your cigar journey begin?

Her fiancé introduced her to cigars. Her first cigar was a Perdomo 10th Anniversary Champagne at Montecristo Manhattan.

What do you enjoy most about cigar culture?

The people and the connections. Cigar culture created relationships that became a meaningful part of her experience.

How do you support the cigar community?

She uses Instagram Live conversations to help spotlight boutique and emerging cigar brands. Those conversations have included collaborations with @SmokeWithMe_LV and @queenofthecigar.

What is your favorite song?

“Texas Sun” by Khruangbin and Leon Bridges.