Thays (pronounced Ta-eese) Franca, also known by her clients and friends as “Hot Mama”. Her nickname only begins to paint the picture of her spicy, energetic personality. Originally from Brazil, she fell in love with art at the age of 3 when she first started coloring and drawing. She graduated from the School of Fine Arts of Sao Paulo at the age of 19 and then promptly moved to the USA to learn English. Fifteen years later, she is still hee and now she owns an art gallery and studio in sunny Ormond Beach, Florida. She earned the Daytona Beach News Journal’s coveted ‘Top 40 under 40’ award, her first year in Ormond. Thays felt her calling for helping adults with disabilities while working at a nonprofit organization in Georgia where she taught art lessons and helped with community integration.