Women in Leadership

Stepping back, here's an episode from April of last year with Sherry Smith and Crystal Silins:

Sherry Smith is a Premier Designs Jeweler and has been with Premier since March 2013. She is a wife, mother, and a Grammy of 3 precious grandchildren. She loves helping women feel beautiful, confident and having a pulled together look with their outfits whether they are going to work, church, special occasions, or even the ball park. She does home shows, catalog shows, vendor events, closet consultations or fundraisers for your favorite causes.

She worked to build to designer status with Premier and has a great team of ladies under her. She is currently working to achieve 1 diamond and above status and loves working with her team to help them reach and achieve their goals. She has won prizes, cash and lots of free jewelry and last summer earned a 7 day Caribbean “Designer” cruise that she got to share with her husband Craig.

Sherry loves to encourage and mentor women and enjoys building her team, meeting new friends, and enriching others lives through Premier Designs. She also loves jewelry, being on trend and having a great time at work, so Premier Designs is the perfect job for her.
Schedule an event with her, join her team, shop with her or on her website at premierdesigns.com/sherrysmith. 850-375-0037

Crystal Silins is a Navy veteran and former cyber security analyst. These days, Crystal advocates for the cannabis industry and promotes the health effects of CBD through Cannaliving with Crystal and Hempworx. She's also a breast cancer survivor and volunteers with Here for the Girls, Inc, and mother to a beautiful 4 year old daughter.

Check out her website at PensacolaCBD.com

Email her at cannalivingcrystal@gmail.com

Telecia Ellis is the owner of Experience Anew, a transformational speaker, wellbeing life coach, medical massage therapist, former radio host, and international best selling author. In her practice, Telecia offers complementary health services that help her clients increase their levels of performance and fulfillment in their daily lives, establish healthy relationships with themselves and others and facilitate healing from occupational and emotional stressors.

She has been the keynote speaker and/or facilitator for several local community events and conferences, private healthcare practices and government agencies such as the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services and the Loudon County Office of Elections.

Telecia's formal education includes an MBA with a concentration on Public Administration and a B.S. in Management from Strayer University. She also has obtained certifications in Medical Massage and certifications from the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching with extra focus on life and COR.E Wellbeing Dynamics coaching.

www.experienceanew.com
teleciaellis@experienceanew.com

Kolleen continues the conversation with Dr. Griffen, discussing the difficulties with being a black female in getting ahead in business, mentoring, business advice, and so SO much more.

Dr. Jessica A. Griffen is the Chairwoman & Chief Executive Officer of the Urban Development Center, Incorporated and Chief Operating Officer of The Soft Skills Training Institute of Florida. Both entities serve as a catalyst for the development of education and training programs in urban communities. She brings vitality, professionalism, warmth, and a mindset of service and advocacy to her work with existing and emerging business persons and owners in urban communities across the country.

Prior to establishing The Urban Development Center, Incorporated and The Soft Skills Training Institute of Florida with her business partner, Jessica spent fifteen years in corporate America as a leader in the areas of business development, project management, systems development, business area analysis, business process reengineering, configuration management, and risk management. She worked for Digital Equipment Corporation, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, KPMG Consulting, and PricewaterhouseCoopers where she held leading roles as a business developer, systems developer, senior consultant systems development manager, global risk management solutions manager, and national training manager.

Dr. Jessica A. Griffen is the Chairwoman & Chief Executive Officer of the Urban Development Center, Incorporated and Chief Operating Officer of The Soft Skills Training Institute of Florida. Both entities serve as a catalyst for the development of education and training programs in urban communities. She brings vitality, professionalism, warmth, and a mindset of service and advocacy to her work with existing and emerging business persons and owners in urban communities across the country.

Prior to establishing The Urban Development Center, Incorporated and The Soft Skills Training Institute of Florida with her business partner, Jessica spent fifteen years in corporate America as a leader in the areas of business development, project management, systems development, business area analysis, business process reengineering, configuration management, and risk management. She worked for Digital Equipment Corporation, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, KPMG Consulting, and PricewaterhouseCoopers where she held leading roles as a business developer, systems developer, senior consultant systems development manager, global risk management solutions manager, and national training manager.

Kristen Deese is a Business Coach and Certified Behavioral Consultant who helps businesses grow by strengthening the ‘behind the scenes’ framework and communication strategies within the organization.

Kristen holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and nearly 20 years of business ownership.  She has experienced the ups and downs of running a business and after spending quite a bit of time with her own business coach she realized becoming a coach was her purpose and vehicle in which to serve others.

Website: gcbcoaching.com

Email: Kristen@gcbcoaching.com

Selling The Lifestyle With Every Home. Whether you are looking to buy and/or sell property in the Gulf Coast area, Monica Mortara is devoted to listening and learning about her clients' needs. Her integrity, energy, hard work, and creative service will be reflected in all aspects of your real estate transaction. Since she is a life-long resident of the Pensacola area, she has significant expertise and knowledge of this real estate market. In addition, she is a Military Relocation Professional, so she is familiar with processes and procedures involved in a military relocation and how these impact service members’ relocation and housing choices. She provides excellent service and works very hard to help service members purchase suitable homes.

Dr. Lusharon Wiley is the Director of Culture for Innisfree Hotels. She was the emcee for the Pursue Your Passion Conference 2019 and official “dot connector” for the conference. Lusharon exudes infectious energy while focusing on key areas of learning, keeping attendees motivated and energized! 

Formerly the Director of Case Management Services and Senior Associate Dean of Students at the University of West Florida, Lusharon played an instrumental role in multiple inclusion and diversity groups and programs on campus. She is the founder of the University’s Argo Pantry. Lusharon wrote and starred in her one-woman show – Lusharon Unleashed. She is currently working on her second show.

Felipe Munoz - An Internationally Certified Meditation Teacher and Life Coach. Felipe has been working for more than a decade of training and coaching creatives and clients to find their purpose and align their actions and goals.
Successfully working with Mindfulness, Meditation, Art, and Healing in Pensacola, Felipe brings his expertise to Empathic Practice so you can receive holistic support in warming, personal, and compassionate way.

Ashleigh Livingston - For the past 10 years, Ashleigh has been a leader and innovator in the world of ADHD/EFD. She has taken her personal struggles with ADHD and all that comes with it and used those experiences to be the inspiration for the Integrated Wellness Program.
Utilizing a multi-modality approach to ADHD/EFD, incorporating coaching, with Bio-Feedback (Interactive-Metronome) and family wellness, Ashleigh is able to give you tools to be more organized, patient, and independent.

https://www.empathicpractice.us

Cheryl Murphy: CEO/Co-Founder; The engine that keeps Vivid Bridge Studios growing to greater heights. Cheryl has a track record of building businesses from the ground up in a variety of industries. She spent the last decade shifting her business from real estate to real estate media to a production partnership that has grown to full-scale work in record time. She is positioned to build a business unlike any other in our region in an industry that's captured her heart.

Vivid Bridge Studios is more than a video production company. They are advisors, strategists, storytellers and team driven who are compelled by the “why” in everything they do–from intentional execution of creative to making an impact in the community. They cultivate strong and kind leaders within Vivid Bridge, the community, and the industry through education and fostering curiosity.

www.VividBridge.com 
Cheryl@VividBridge.com

Natalie Sommer: Born and raised in Germany, Natalie attended university in Miami & Pensacola where she earned her bachelor’s degree in English education and master’s in Curriculum & Instruction and Educational Leadership. She’s a veteran educator with over 25 years’ experience and currently teaches art at Avalon Middle School in Santa Rosa County. She birthed Studio South 159 days ago and recently opened her doors in June. Opening a business has always been Sommer’s dream and she hopes that Studio South with leave her mark on all hand-crafters by providing workshops in the cottage and domestic arts to revive that maker’s spirit, soothing the soul or creating a self-sustaining lifestyle of quality and goodness.

www.StudioSouthon9MileRoad.com
StudioSouthon9MileRd@gmail.com 

Lynne Virant: I am a Navy veteran who discovered a passion for fitness while on serving overseas. Since leaving military service, I’ve been in the health and fitness industry for 19 years as a group fitness instructor, personal trainer, and physical therapy practitioner. I live an active life with my husband and daughter, and I’ve participated in many sports such as distance running, triathlons, volleyball, tennis, hiking, rock climbing, golf, yoga, and stand up paddle boarding. I believe that we are all athletes in the game of life. It is my desire to EDUCATE, EMPOWER, and TRANSFORM athletes and active adults of all ages, like you. We want you to Move Well, Live Brave, and LOVE MORE so you can stay in the game!

Email: drlynne@getmovingpt.co
Website: www.getmovingpt.com

Lorie Weekley: Lorie worked in the corporate world for 10 years until starting a family. She put her career aside to raise her two children. In 2011 when deciding to reenter the work force she wanted to do something that tapped her creative side. She was always drawn to art and colors so she decided to pursue the beauty industry. She trained with celebrity makeup artist and Dinair Airbrush Makeup. She also received her esthetics license from Cindy Cassidy School of Esthetics. In 2012 she and her business partner created Weber & Weekley makeup and skincare. In 2019 they opened their own makeup and skincare studio.

Email: Contact@lorieweekley.com

Briana's back! Today she talks about the formation of Social Icon, some of the interesting challenges and struggles, and how she and her team became a successful digital marketing team!

“Bri” is a Pensacola native, a wife, mom of two children (under 4) and two Rhodesian Ridgebacks. She has a Bachelor's degree from the University of West Florida including a certificate in Sales Management. After spending time in the industries of print media, non-profit management, hospitality, agency and event logistics, she landed on digital marketing and strategic planning. Social ICON was a conceptual idea that was born at Pensacola's Startup Weekend in March 2014. Since then, her entrepreneurial addiction has manifested. She specializes in project management, communication, event management, creative digital campaign, email marketing, social media content planning and more. Ya know, all the things!

Contact her at Bri@marketingwellplayed.com.

Kristie Tobias is an innovative and dynamic Huron Consulting Group Consultant, Studer Group Coach and National Speaker with over 15 years of progressive healthcare-based consulting and leadership experience. She has consulted with over 30 organizations on topics focused on change management and leadership, employee engagement, patient experience, leadership development, business optimization, and financial improvement. She has provided value added consultation to C-suite leaders, physicians, directors and managers on implementing and understanding patient experience improvement tools, change management principles, financial optimization systems, accountability tools, leadership evaluation systems, leadership institutes and conferences, and service excellence programs.

With a background in human resources and change leadership, Kristie partners with leaders and organizations to foster an environment focused on developing talent and driving results. Through her creation of change leadership curriculum and leadership development workshops, she has provided professional development for thousands of employees and leaders. She excels at bridging communication and relationship gaps at all levels of leadership to create high-performing organizations of effective and proactive change competency, high employee engagement and reduced turnover results. As a national speaker, she developed her own brand and website www.fearlesslymadeyou.com centered around change leadership and mentorship.

Linda Moorer earned the name “Sonshine” The hardest working lady in show business, by focusing and working hard in the community to make a positive difference. Thousands listen to Sonshine the Midday Diva every day. Allow her to touch you with her positive attitude.

Very spiritual, inspirational, very opinionated, and fair! Sonshine is also an advocate for the youth educating, being a mentor and very much being an example for healthy living. Sonshine is an on air personality for Magic 106.

Kate Treick is a native of Santa Barbara, California, but moved to Pensacola seven years ago with her husband and two children. She opened her studio five years ago and loves creating custom artwork for her clients. She is involved with the Chamber of Commerce and other groups of fellow business owners and enjoys connecting with other people who are developing their own businesses.

KateTreickPhotography.com

PensacolaHeadshots.com

Kellye Henderson is the property manager for Storage King USA (where Powerful Women rents a unit!). She has been a mentor in Escambia County for over twenty years and volunteers as much as she can. Toys for Tots is particularly close to her heart! 

Call Storage King USA at 850-444-9191 or visit them online at StorageKingUSA.com.

Two of our Pursue Your Passion Conference Speakers speak!

Emily Elmore is a former Air Force pilot, business owner, and married mother of two. She was medically retired from the Air Force following a catastrophic injury while flying her C-130J Super Hercules aircraft. Unable to use her right arm, she utilized her background in coding and engineering to transition to web design and data analysis, analyzing and improving brand performance by increasing traffic, leads, and engagement through optimized online platforms and improved web design.

A confessed motorhead,Emily started podcasting as "The MotoDoll" in an effort to connect with the community she lost after her injury. Through car stories she discovered that everyone is looking to journey boldly from one destination to the next, and that we often need a wingman to overcome roadblocks. The MotoDoll became the vehicle of her own reinvention.

She later founded The MotoDoll LLC, Brand Management and Web Design,offering services that increase traffic, leads, and sales by building brands that build community. Emily is a board member of Powerful Women of the Gulf Coast and an advocate for women in leadership. As an educator and speaker she is available for public engagements and private seminars; past topics include brand development and web design, team dynamics,work-life balance, gender and generational leadership and conflict management.

Michelle Salzman is a Wounded Warrior and local business owner who began her philanthropy journey while attending UWF over a decade ago, and is now a fulltime community volunteer. Michelle served in the US Army for five years and transitioned into the civilian community by completing a degree in Computer Analytics as well as a degree in Business Administration. 

For over a decade she has been a fulltime volunteer and board member of various nonprofit organizations, and has also served as the County level PTA President as well as served on the State Florida PTA Board of Directors. Most recently, Michelle was named a Distinguished Woman by the Gulf Coast Girls Scouts Council, as well as received the Blaise Adams Give Back Award from Junior Achievement. Further, she was named the 2015, 2017 and 2018 IN Weekly Volunteer of the Year and has continued displaying her passion to help others. Along with many State, County and local awards for building momentum within the parent organizations and promoting collaborative impact efforts across the school district, she has also received the honor of being named “Mom of the Month” for Greater Pensacola Parenting Magazine, a prestigious nomination for Woman of Distinction for the North Florida Girl Scouts, as well as being named “I am Pensacola” in VIP Pensacola magazine. For the 2019 Women’s History Month, she was one of five women featured in Pensacola’s “Out Front Magazine,” for her advocacy work in Pensacola. 

Michelle Salzman sits on several boards throughout the community and has had a hand in many great accomplishments. Her leadership and philanthropy efforts led to locally fundraising millions of dollars each year and hundreds of thousand community service hours. 

Michelle has followed her heart and passion to help those who cannot help themselves. This passion leads her in the focus areas of children, families in poverty and her fellow wounded veterans. Most recently, she has announced her candidacy for the State Congress elections in 2020. When she is not serving her community, she is managing her photography business, Salz Studio, which has been serving the gulf coast community for over 15 years.

Today's guests are Margie Kalaluhi and Joan Irby.

Margie is a holistic practitioner and a life coach certified in the lifeline technique. She helps her clients release their emotions that are no longer serving their higher good to help them live in the now!

www.heartcenteredwellness.com

FacebookPage@HeartCenteredWell

Instagram-margiekalaluhi

Joan is a Guardian Ad Litem recruitment coordinator. Guardian Ad Litem is a state organization that advocates for Florida’s abused, abandoned and neglected children.

Office #: 850-595-3746

GuardianAdLitem.org

Today's guest is Briana Snellgrove, founder of Social Icon, this year's Pursue Your Passion Platinum Sponsor:

“Bri” is a Pensacola native, a wife, mom of two children (under 4) and two Rhodesian Ridgebacks. She has a Bachelor's degree from the University of West Florida including a certificate in Sales Management. After spending time in the industries of print media, non-profit management, hospitality, agency and event logistics, she landed on digital marketing and strategic planning. Social ICON was a conceptual idea that was born at Pensacola's Startup Weekend in March 2014. Since then, her entrepreneurial addiction has manifested. She specializes in project management, communication, event management, creative digital campaign, email marketing, social media content planning and more. Ya know, all the things!

Contact her at Bri@marketingwellplayed.com.

Emily Elmore is a former Air Force pilot, business owner, and married mother of two. She was medically retired from the Air Force following a catastrophic injury while flying her C-130J Super Hercules aircraft. Unable to use her right arm, she utilized her background in coding and engineering to transition to web design and data analysis, analyzing and improving brand performance by increasing traffic, leads, and engagement through optimized online platforms and improved web design.
A confessed motorhead, Emily started podcasting as "The MotoDoll" in an effort to connect with the community she lost after her injury. Through car stories she discovered that everyone is looking to journey boldly from one destination to the next, and that we often need a wingman to overcome roadblocks. The MotoDoll became the vehicle of her own reinvention.
She later founded The MotoDoll LLC, Brand Management and Web Design, offering services that increase traffic, leads, and sales by building brands that build community.
Emily is a member of Powerful Women of the Gulf Coast and an advocate for women in leadership. As an educator and speaker she is available for public engagements and private seminars; past topics include brand development and web design, team dynamics, work-life balance, gender and generational leadership and conflict management.

Email: Emily.elmore@theMotoDoll.com

URL: theMotoDoll.com

Emily Elmore is a former Air Force pilot, business owner, and married mother of two. She was medically retired from the Air Force following a catastrophic injury while flying her C-130J Super Hercules aircraft. Unable to use her right arm, she utilized her background in coding and engineering to transition to web design and data analysis, analyzing and improving brand performance by increasing traffic, leads, and engagement through optimized online platforms and improved web design.

A confessed motorhead, Emily started podcasting as "The MotoDoll" in an effort to connect with the community she lost after her injury. Through car stories she discovered that everyone is looking to journey boldly from one destination to the next, and that we often need a wingman to overcome roadblocks. The MotoDoll became the vehicle of her own reinvention. She later founded The MotoDoll LLC, Brand Management and Web Design, offering services that increase traffic, leads, and sales by building brands that build community.

Emily is a board member of Powerful Women of the Gulf Coast and an advocate for women in leadership. As an educator and speaker she is available for public engagements and private seminars; past topics include brand development and web design, team dynamics, work-life balance, gender and generational leadership and conflict management.

Facebook.com/theMotoDoll

Twitter.com/theMotoDoll

theMotoDoll.com

Emily.elmore@theMotoDoll.com

Kiala Givehand is a multi-passionate entrepreneur, creativity and empowerment expert, and a life and business strategist for passionate and purpose driven women. Along with her husband Damon, she owns and operates Healing Arts Creativity & Empowerment Studio where they lead and host a variety of small group classes, workshops, masterminds, and retreats designed to help you live a R.I.C.H. Life™.

R.I.C.H. stands for being Radically Intent on Cultivating Happiness.

Kiala says she has lived a WIDE life, learning many skills, earning 6 academic degrees, and obtaining multiple certifications, trainings, and professional accolades. She had a 20 year teaching and training career in the K-12 system and at the college level. She is a bookbinder, a published poet, an author, a certified yoga instructor, and an intuitive artist. Ultimately everything Kiala has learned and everything she does in her business is about helping women and couples find what makes them come alive and pursue it without regret or apology.

Kiala, a Pensacola native, recently returned to the area after 27 years. She hopes to bring the global work she's been doing online for almost 10 years to the local area by creating a space where we can learn to live with intention and heal from within. 

HealingArtsCreativeStudio.com

facebook.com/healingartscreativestudio

kialagivehand.com

kiala@healingartscreativestudio.com

Christina Powers runs Christina Powers Tax, a full service tax, bookkeeping and payroll company. They also set up corporations, partnerships and LLC's.

Contact: info@christinapowerstax.com

Today's guests are Megan Ferrand and Christina Powers:

Megan moved to Pensacola from Japan about 14 years ago. Her father was in the Navy for 20 years. She is an American Red Cross Volunteer and Zeta Tau Alpha alumnus. Megan works for Cypress Bay Solutions, where she offers emergent services and helps merchants find a better way to accept electronic payments.

Website: MeganFerrand.com

Christina Powers runs Christina Powers Tax, a full service tax, bookkeeping and payroll company. They also set up corporations, partnerships and LLC's.

Contact: info@christinapowerstax.com