2009 Jan – April Celebrating our Contributors

Thursday, April 30, 2009 Sharon Jones
Sharon Jones is the owner of Guardian Pet Sitters, a professional in-home pet sitting company that provides service in Dallas TX and surrounding communities. After spending 18 years in corporate America, Sharon started Guardian Pet Sitters out of her love for animals. It was her own experience with her Shih TzuPrecious when she traveled while working in corporate America that gave her the idea for the business. Guardian Pet Sitters was started in 1992, currently has 28 associates and offers a variety of services from visits to overnights. Sharon’s ambition is helping people enjoy their pets by helping owners keep them safe, healthy and happy. Sharon has a passion to help pet owners with their pets through education and enjoys writing articles or doing seminars that teach about pet care. This puts her degree in Education and her love of animals together. Sharon has taught classes onHow to start a Professional Pet Sitting business andA-1 Customer Service. One of her mottos isTo be successful in business it is all about the customers and your associates. Sharon is involved with ABWA, Ewomen and several local chambers. She served on the board of the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters from 1996-1999. You can contact Sharon at 972-625-5272 or email her at sharon@guardianpetsitters.com . Visit the website at www.guardianpetsitters.com where you can sign up for our newsletterPet Tracks. You can also catch her blog at txgps.wordpress.com.

Thursday, April 30, 2009 Barb Girson

Thursday, April 30, 2009 Ann Guyer
Ann Guyer is an entrepreneur and lifelong artist. Her company PCS List & Information Technologies has been providing marketing lists for publishers, universities, non-profits, recruiters, accrediting organizations and institutions for over 30 years. She is active in the arts as a painter and patron, involved in national political causes, and serves on various boards and volunteer initiatives. Her marketing newsletters are focused on a realistic expectation and practical approach to using transactional and characteristic data to forward brand and successfully achieve selling objectives. When not promoting her business you can find her on her skis or bicycle with friends and adult daughters. Her website is www.pcslist.com and she would love to talk with you about your business. 1-800-532-LIST(5478)

Wednesday, April 29, 2009 Margalit Ward
Margalit Ward is an ICF Certified Empowerment Coach. She is the Founder of Creative Coaching where she combines her background in Counseling &Spiritual Psychology with her business and marketing experience to support her clients in creating success and discovering the blocks that my keep them stuck. She is also the Co-Founder of Get Up Girl Coaching that specializes in women’s coaching groups, workshops, and retreats. They provide programs throughout the year to empower the personal and professional lives of women. Margalit has four years of formal training in Counseling Psychology from the University of Santa Monica, and has completed six years of study in Spiritual Science Doctoral program at Peace Theological Seminary in Los Angeles. As a successful entrepreneur, Margalit started and grew two successful graphic design and publishing companies, and later a flourishing freelance design and marketing business. Margalit enjoys art, hiking, gardening and spending time with her family. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, son and adorable puppy Kira.

Wednesday, April 29, 2009 Shannon Bindler
Shannon Bindler is an ICF Certified Life Coach with a specialization in Health and Wellness and the Co-Founder of Get Up Girl, Women’s Coaching. She received a Bachelors Degree in Communication from Lewis and Clark and was
Life Style editor for LA based Yogi Times Magazine. She is currently obtaining a Masters Degree in Spiritual Psychology with an emphasis in Consciousness, Health, and Healing from the University of Santa Monica. Shannon is the founder of Orangelife Coaching and Co-Founder of Get Up Girl Coaching that specializes in womens coaching groups, workshops, and retreats. Shannon provides an on-going partnership that empowers her clients to create change, bring balance, and achieve personal success. Shannon is currently publishing a coaching workbook/planner called Your Time Is Now with her coaching partner.

Wednesday, April 29, 2009 Erica A Brooks

Wednesday, April 29, 2009 Charrise McCrorey
Charrise McCrorey is a certified business coach, and creator of a unique coaching program called Full Out & Fearless. Charrise has dedicated her coaching practice to the exploration of fear, and has effectively helped people understand the ways in which fear stops them from living the life of their dreams. Charrise uses a multitude of resources in order to customize her approach with clients. She is committed to meeting a person where they are, and to providing a safe and loving place from which people grow and flourish. She is action oriented, and uses humor and intuitiveness to shape the course of her work with clients. Charrise is a published author and inspirational speaker, living in Indiana. Through technology, she has built a thriving global coaching practice. Contact her at info@fulloutandfearless.com, or visit www.fulloutandfearless.com for more information.

Wednesday, April 29, 2009 H. Stein

Monday, April 27, 2009 Shann Vander Leek
Unconventional, spirited and delightfully curious, Shann Vander Leek is a fresh new voice in the arena of mindfulness and extreme self care. Shann is the founder of True Balance Life Coaching and is a Certified Life Coach and Registered Yoga Instructor. Shann inspires women in transition to set big goals, achieve extraordinary results and create balance in their lives through personal coaching, yoga and creative expression. Sign up for our Life Balance Newsletter and claim your free special report: Clobbering Overwhelm. www.truebalancelifecoaching.com

Friday, April 24, 2009 Barbara Hartsook

Thursday, April 23, 2009 Kellie DAndrea
Kellie DAndrea is CEO of Kellie D’Andrea & Associates, a company devoted to empowering motivated entrepreneurs to reach their goals and to build a business that yields results by providing them the tools for success. Kellie works with entrepreneurs on ways to maximize their business profits by teaching them techniques to BLAST their profits to new heights using on-line and off-line strategies to build the business of their dreams. She publishes the award-winning “Marketing Edge” weekly ezine with tips on gaining the competitive edge. If you’re ready to jump-start your marketing, make more money, and have more fun in your small business, get your FREE tips now at www.KellieDandrea.com

Wednesday, April 22, 2009 Gail Mitchell Emilsson

Wednesday, April 22, 2009 Jane Morrison

Wednesday, April 22, 2009 Michelle Davies
Michelle Davies was born in Bristol, England and has 2 daughters Evie and Lily – with another on the way! Michelle has an honors degree in IT and Electronics with a Post Grad Certificate in teaching and after a successful career in IT moved with her family to the USA in April 2005 where she moved into the interactive world of web development and soon forged a position as Managing Director of the Orlando arm of the Global digital agency Lightmaker where the client list included; JK Rowling, BMW USA, Ripley’s Entertainment, Manchester United, Nickelodeon, EA, Warner Brothers and M Night Shyamalan. Michelle left Lightmaker in November 2007 to start her own company called Big Belly Creative to allow her to spend more time at home with her family, She lives in Celebration Florida. Michelle can be contacted at: Michelle@bigbellycreative.com

Wednesday, April 22, 2009 Donna Biasi

Wednesday, April 22, 2009 Amie Konwinski
Amie Konwinski is a Marketing and Communications Consultant who specializes in business development, marketing, and public relations. Catering to small-to-medium sized businesses, Amie offers a range of services including: Development and implementation of business and marketing plans, franchising, Website development, product and service documentation, SOPs, employee manuals, eNewletters, and press releases. Amie’s diverse background includes 14 years experience in management and computer engineering, with the United States Navy and Sterling Software, and 4 years as a Sales and Marketing Manager in the ECM and Publishing industries. She has a degree in Communications, from the University of Nebraska, is a decorated Chief Petty Officer in the US Navy, and a wife and mother of five daughters. To learn more about Amie or Konwinski Consulting, please visit www.AmieKonwinski.com

Wednesday, April 22, 2009 Joan Jesion
Trained as a teacher, the arrival of her family led Joan Jesion to embrace direct selling. She taught clients about educational toys for eight years and cooking solutions for nine. Soon she realized, she achieved more satisfaction, supporting her team to achieve their goals so she enrolled in coach training in 2004. Passionate about coaching individuals, to really understand who they are and what it is, they really want, she branded her business Just Love Your Life Now! She offers one-one coaching, workshops and coaching groups. She speaks in the areas of balance and boundaries in working from a home office, adding more fun and joy to every day of your life, and loving yourself. Loving her work but feeling a bit isolated in her home office, she was thrilled to receive an e-mail inviting her to look at a new business model for coaches with Compass. While maintaining her private practice, Joan is proud to be part of this growing international personal development company that offers affordable coaching for women. When women come together, share their common goals and obstacles with the support of a coach, it is powerful! Not only is Compass improving the lives of women through coaching but is also providing a business building opportunity. Joan just loves her life now! www.JustLoveYourLifeNow.com

Wednesday, April 22, 2009 Gail Eddy

Tuesday, April 21, 2009 Otto Thav

Sunday, April 19, 2009 Sonja Watt
Sonja Watt as been working in the natural health movement for over 6 years, and has over 15 years of experience in the field of nutrition, health, personal & child development. She is the author of a children’s book (more books are coming) and her articles are read by hundreds of people every month, in her online newsletters. She also started and organizes raw food family retreats which are well-known in Germany where she is from. If you want to take part in one of those fun filled events please click here. To learn more about Sonja visit www.rawfunfamily.com

Sunday, April 19, 2009 Jo-Ann Fair

Thursday, April 16, 2009 Cathy Puett Miller

Tuesday, April 14, 2009 Judit Price
Judit Price, MS, CDFI, IJCTC, CCM, CPRW is an employment and career transition consultant, coach and personal brand specialist. in private practice with over 30 years experience. She holds a Masters Degree in counseling and is a Masters level certified career guidance professional, Certified Professional Resume Writer, Career Development Facilitator Instructor, International Job and Career Coach a Certified Career Master. She counsels individuals in career direction and job search strategies from entry and mid level professionals to senior level management. She consults for various organizations in the greater Boston area, and leads workshops and training seminars for other trainers in employment and world of work related topics. Learn more at: www.careercampaign.com

Monday, April 13, 2009 Gini Graham Scott
Gini Graham Scott, Ph.D., J.D., is a nationally known writer, consultant, speaker, and seminar/workshop leader, specializing in business and work relationships and in professional and personal development. She writes books about social trends, popular culture, lifestyles, and criminal justice. She is founder and director of Changemakers and Creative Communications & Research, and has published over 50 books on diverse subjects. Her latest books on business relationships and professional development include: WANT IT, SEE IT, GET IT; ENJOY! 101 LITTLE WAYS TO ADD FUN TO YOUR WORK EVERYDAY and DISAGREEMENTS, DISPUTES AND ALL OUT WAR. Scott has received national media exposure for her books (including appearances on Good Morning America, Oprah, Montel Williams, CNN, and the O’Reilly Factor). Her Website is at www.workwithgini.com.

Monday, April 6, 2009 Victoria Poller
Ms.V (Victoria Thomas Poller) The Dear Abby’ of the Christian circuit. She has a target audience that includes everyone. Her main objective is to answer questions and give advice from a Christian perspective, to all nationalities. If you’re male, female, young, or more mature – Ms.V will touch subjects that may not come across the pulpit. You may have had the subject matter on your mind, yet she will give a reply that is Bible based and down to earth (scripture and verses included). Learn more at www.victoriapoller.com

Sunday, April 5, 2009 Kim Duke

Friday, April 3, 2009 Kathy Doan
Kathy Doan has spent the last decade in the banking industry, and is currently Assistant Vice President for Wells Fargo’s Regional Banking Human Resources, where she is responsible for HR data and analytics. She currently serves as the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for Asian Community Mental Health Services based in Oakland and sits on the Board of Directors for Pacific Environment based in San Francisco. Kathy is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR). She has a B.A. in Mathematics, a B.S. in Statistics, and an M.S. in Financial Engineering. Her passion towards the environment and animal rights prompted Kathy to become a vegetarian. Although living with asthma, Kathy completed 3 full marathons in 3 consecutive months in 3 states in 2008, and one of her goals is to complete a full marathon in all 50 states.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009 Gael Chiarella Alba
Founder of The Yokibics Institute for Personal Development, Gael Chiarella Alba is President of The Yokibics Productions Company Inc. whose mission is “dedicated to healing body, mind and spirit through the spoken word.” Divisions of the Institute include The School for Spiritual Warriors, a mentoring vehicle for the practice of higher consciousness, and the pioneering Yokibics Mindbody Fitness Program listed throughout the 90′s amongThe Nations Top Ten. Today the Yokibics Productions Company is dedicated to healing programs such as My Fearless Flyer and Cancer Care. Using the principles of Yokibics, Gael successfully moved past her own early fears to become a mountaineer who has reached the summit of many of the highest US peaks, and an advanced SCUBA explorer entering the caverns and wrecks of the ocean floor. No matter our age or experience, Yo – ki – bics invite us to yoke, or harness, the powers of mind body and spirit; to extend our chi energy with focused attention, and bam!…to act with all the powers at our command in the direction of our choice. This is the success formula for all creation. You can visit Gael at www.yokibics.com or go to http://gaelsyokibics.blogspot.com/ and add your comments. Namaste!

Tuesday, March 31, 2009 Wendy Timmons
Wendy Timmons is a professional home stager and co-owner of The Real Estate Stagers, located in Temecula, CA. Her passion and mission in life is to educate as many home sellers and Realtors as possible of the benefits of staging their properties. Staging is preparing a home for sale. It is merchandising the home, highlighting it’s strengths and architectural features, while creating warmth and appeal.Staging can be anything from de-cluttering, rearranging the existing furnishings, adding accessories, to completely refurnishing/ accessorizing the entire home. Buyers tend to gravitate towards the listings that look good and are in move-in condition. Staging creates a welcoming atmosphere that buyers can emotionally connect to and feel at home. Whatever degree of staging you do, can make a significant difference in how quickly and for how much a home sells. Learn more at: TheRealEstateStagers.com

Tuesday, March 31, 2009 Linda Waters
After 20 years working in a corporate environment, Linda transformed her career and her life by creating Back to Business LLC, a firm dedicated to helping moms return to the world of work. Her passion and mission is toun-stick fabulous women and help them devise strategies to move forward with confidence in their own unique strengths and talents. She is adept at helping women market themselves strategically in order to get the jobs and lives they want.
Her business has since grown to provide career direction and effective job search strategies to college-aged students as well. An accomplished business leader and presenter, Linda co- hosts a local TV show calledYou’re Hired, and speaks regularly to academic, professional and corporate audiences on career-related topics.
Linda has recently been names the recipient of her region’s 2009 Athena Award. Learn more at: www.backtobusiness.org

Tuesday, March 31, 2009 Joy Turner

Monday, March 30, 2009 Francine Allaire

Saturday, March 28, 2009 Marie Denee
Marie Denee has been in retail for about 11 years, supporting herself through college, working in various retail stores as a stylist, fashion expert, or assistant manager. While working in retail, she noticed that there were not many options for her, a proud size 14+. And by options, she means the Contemporary, high fashioned, impeccably fitting, high quality fits that work for her and all of her curves! Fast forward to her post graduate days in college and her intro to store management. Here she learned about the inner workings of retail and how choices are made to clothe the modern day fashionista. She dedicated her MBA to research what was available and who was available in the Plus Size industry to hear OUR plea. Thus, The Curvy Fashionista was born. After she finished her MBA, she set out to share with all the Curvy.Confident.Chic. Fashionistas that we CAN don the latest and greatest of trends, fashions and styles that are made with US in mind! A site where women 12+ can come to research, gawk, share, relate, love, and laugh, The Curvy Fashionista celebrates all things “Curvy” for the Fashionista in all of us. Learn more at: www.thecurvyfashionista-mariedenee.com

Saturday, March 28, 2009 Chris Vasiliadis
Chris Vasiliadis had a wake-up-call to her wellness in late 2005, when she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis: a chronic disease of the central nervous system. That diagnosis spurred Chris into action to make many lifestyle changes. These changes ultimately led to her improved health and a career as a Certified Wellness Coach. . Through her business, Priority Wellness, she helps individuals make their wellness a priority and make habit changes to master their well-being. Working over the phone, with a special interest in sole proprietors and small business owners, clients come to Chris when they know they’re not eating right, exercising enough or consistently, and/or not managing stress well. Along with her client work, Chris writes and speaks on a variety of wellness topics including handling today’s stressors, present moment living, managing energy and mindful wellness. For more information on Chris and her business, including her free newsletter, visit www.prioritywellness.com.

Friday, March 20, 2009 Stephanie Bennett Vogt
Stephanie Bennett Vogt’s journey of self-discovery began, as she puts it, “with clearing out a single drawer.” In 1996 she quit a successful twenty-year teaching career and devoted a decade to the study of clutter and its effects on people, twice certifying with two of the world’s experts in a more-intuitive branch of feng shui called Space Clearing. In 2001 she founded SpaceClear, a private teaching and consulting practice, which is dedicated to bringing homes and their occupants back into balance. Stephanie writes and speaks widely on topics of home tending, self-care, simplifying, mindfulness, and the divine feminine and is the author of the award-winning book Your Spacious Self: Clear Your Clutter and Discover Who You Are. To learn more about Stephanie, her book, and her free online programs, please visit: www.spaceclear.com.

Friday, March 20, 2009 Barbara Wayman

Friday, March 20, 2009 Herb Pearce
Herb Pearce, M.Ed., has been teaching the Enneagram Personality Typing System, as well as the Myers-Briggs for 18 years. He has been a therapist and relationship coach for 30 years. His speciality is working with personality differences and conflict and finding new ways to bridge those differences to create more understanding, harmony and pizzazz in relationships. He specializes in working with couples, families, and parent/child healing. Herb is the author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to the Power of the Enneagram and he’s led 2000 Enneagram workshops. He leads team building and sales trainings for companies and organizations and presents and leads Enneagram and Personality Types workshops for groups, schools, colleges, growth centers and churches. www.herbpearce.com, herb@herbpearce.com, 781 648 3737.

Thursday, March 19, 2009 Mary McManus
Mary McManus contracted paralytic polio in one of the last polio epidemics in 1959, at the age of 5. Through her steadfast faith and courage and the help of a dedicated physiatrist and loving physical therapist, she was able to walk again. She worked for over 25 years as a dedicated social worker helping her patients to heal their lives. After being diagnosed with post polio syndrome in December, 2006, at Spaulding Rehab’s International Rehab Center for Polio, Mary realized that God was calling her to find a new path in her life. What had once been a hobby for Mary, writing poetry to commemorate special occasions in the lives of friends and family, now became a passion and she used poetry to inspire her body to heal. She created her own company, New World Greetings, customized poetry for all occasions. You can see samples of her amazing work by visiting www.newworldgreetings.com. Mary is the author of the book New World Greetings: Inspirational Poetry and Musings for a New World and generously donates 20% of the proceeds to Spaulding Rehab. Her book is available for purchase through her website www.newworldgreetings.com. On April 20, 2009, Mary along with her husband Tom and daughter Ruth Anne will be running the Boston Marathon.

Thursday, March 19, 2009 Linda Saggau

Thursday, March 19, 2009 Jill Ann Bromwich

Saturday, March 14, 2009 Susan Swanson
Susan Swanson, LCSW is the Executive Director and Founder of The Stepfamily Center in Beverly Hills, California. She is a noted authority on issues involving step, blended, and remarried families and has spent over 15 years working with couples. She is licensed therapist and has attained Board Certified Diplomate status in her field. She was recently awarded Cambridge’s Distinguished Outstanding VIP of the year award. To learn more about Susan and The Stepfamily Center, visit stepfamilycenter.com.

Thursday, March 12, 2009 Douglas Penta MD

Monday, March 9, 2009 Marc Warnke

Friday, March 6, 2009 Deborah Crespo
Deborah Crespo is a Registered Dietitian, Nutrition Coach, and the founder and CEO of P.H.A.B. Nutrition, Inc. in Savannah, GA. She works with clients who want to stop trying, and start living a full, abundant life. Deborah guides her clients on the journey that allows them to increase their awareness, develop healthy habits, and implement real life strategies to reach personal balance, wellness and the enjoyment of food. She shares this philosophy as a speaker, coach and in her book, Health & Wellness Style: The Smart Woman’s Guide to Balance Wellness and the Enjoyment of Food. Learn more about Deborah and connecting to her programs at www.HealthandWellnessStyle.com and www.phabnutrition.com.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009 DeLores Pressley
DeLores Pressley, Motivational Speaker, Founder and Principal of the BornSuccessful Institute and DeLores Pressley Worldwide, brings an impressive blend of personal and professional experience to her presentations that allow her to connect with her audience, inspiring and energizing them to take their confidence and success to the next level. Having spent 27 years teaching elementary school students, DeLores knows a thing or two about inspiring others to achieve their potential. During her teaching tenure, she also founded a successful modeling agency for plus-sized women. The experience helped her find the confidence she needed to succeed and served as a