Retired Nurse and Firefighter Open Uniforms for America in Coral Springs

July 24, 2025 • By David Volz

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Matt Whiteshield, co-owner of Uniforms for America and store manager Lara Gordon. {David Volz}

Michelle Ugalde, a retired nurse, had dreamed of opening a clothing business.

She and her partner, Matt Whiteshield, a Margate firefighter, opened Uniforms for America on July 23 at 3111 North University Drive, Suite 103.

The store focuses on health professional uniforms, such as medical scrubs and laboratory coats, but Uniforms for America will provide workwear for nearly any occupation.

“We are here to serve the community, and we want to provide high-quality uniforms and apparel for health professionals,” said Whiteshield.

Ugalde, who owns the Emergency Education Institute, located on the third floor above Uniforms for America, has an interest in clothing and wanted to provide quality apparel for health professionals.

“The store was operating online for a time, and we decided it needed a retail space. We looked around before deciding on our location in Coral Springs,’ said Whiteshield.

Uniforms for America will work with customers and businesses to meet their professional clothing needs. Lara Gordon, the store manager, will visit a company and meet with the owners to assess their uniform needs.

The store provides practice attire for the Coral Glades High School football team and hopes to collaborate with other local athletic teams. They will also provide shoes and accessories for organizations, according to Gordon.

Business hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Tuesday and Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., with Saturday hours from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

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Author Profile

David Volz

David Volz has worked as a writer in South Florida for 35 years. He has written for the Sun-Sentinel, Hollywood Gazette, School Transportation News, South Dade News Leaders, Observer among others. He has an MA in Communications from Florida Atlantic University and a BA in Communications from Valparaiso University. Volz teaches Communications at Miami Dade College and Palm Beach State College. He lives in Coral Springs and enjoys running and participating in 5Ks and half-marathons.