The BE Series: Untold Stories of Leadership Transformation

BE A River - Gina Burris Interview

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Gina Marie Burris is a children’s book author/blogger that lives in a small riverside community in Western Pennsylvania.  She has a love for cooking, traveling, spending warm summer days on the river, maintaining positive relationships with those she holds dear, spreading awareness about cancer prevention, and collecting memories instead of material possessions.  

Gina Marie is a humbled BRCA1 “Previvor.”.  With zero known family history of breast or ovarian cancer, Gina discovered her positive BRCA1 status via the Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Test, 23andme.  After speaking to an incredible genetic counselor and confirming that she did in fact carry the mutation, she worked closely with a skilled team of health care providers and chose to take the path to prevention.  Having such a high risk of developing cancer, she will be forever grateful to 23andme for giving her the opportunity to be proactive instead of reactive in her healthcare choices.  

Gina was inspired by others who had made similar choices, and she decided the best way to give back to the BRCA community was to blog about her own experiences.  Gina’s blog chronicles her journey from the beginning and gives you an honest and sometimes humorous look into what the path to prevention and life after surgeries looks like.  You can find the blog at: https://rivergirlreflections.com/

 

In addition to blogging, Gina felt passionate about creating a handheld book women could take with them as they navigated their own road.  What started as an idea, turned into a 130-page companion book, titled BRCA BRCA 1-9.  It is filled with educational components, motivation, organization suggestions and one-of-a kind activities to help women stay in a positive space when the days feel dark.  She likes to think of the book as a silent friend, placed in the reader’s hand to encourage and cheer her on.  Books can be ordered through Amazon or directly from Gina Marie. 

https://www.amazon.com/BRCA-1-9-Womans-Guide/dp/B0CGL39373/ref=sr_1_1?crid=34HQZ975VSJ13&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.tZ5-0k-oL3Il1DMOx7ArJM0x0Y4uO_9PL5XuQoTlNTU.EmoNMimtJcdMI5QZIXhuW0SvLnAE7j1X8HFXejAEmIM&dib_tag=se&keywords=brca+brca+1-9&qid=1717594043&sprefix=brca+brca+1-9%2Caps%2C125&sr=8-1

BE NICE - Ashley "Rhodie" Menzies Interview

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ASHLEY “RHODIE” MENZIES

Paul Mitchell Schools Advanced Education Core Team

Rhodie graduated from Paul Mitchell The School Rhode Island before
accepting a position with Robert Cromeans, the Global Artistic Director of
John Paul Mitchell Systems, at a Robert Cromeans Salon.

She has assisted at The Gathering and other hair shows nationwide for stylists including
Stephanie Kocieiski and Mary Cromeans. Rhodie’s passion for education led
to teaching many specialties as a Learning Leader. She currently serves as
Night Lead and Texture Specialist at Paul Mitchell The School Tulsa. She
shares her love of culture and education with our network as a member of the
Community Success Team and Core Team.

BE Transformed - Jenny Sersen Interview

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Jenny's Website: givevalue.org

Jenny was rescued by Jesus Christ out of a 10 year addiction to drugs and alcohol. After successfully completing Teen Challenge , cosmetology school and Bible school, she attended and completed Iris Global Leadership School. Jenny was able to share the Gospel in Mozambique , Tanzania, South Africa and Australia. Her heart is to see the homeless, mentally ill, those trapped in human trafficking, touched, delivered and transformed by the Gospel.

She has used her gifting of cutting hair on the streets for the homeless. She has a passion to see those set, free, holistically, body, soul, and spirit. She is pursued natural health and know that all of this plays apart to healing our bodies.   Together, they completed Kaleo Leadership School and have been ordained and sent out to reach the least and disciple individuals. Their hearts are to see lives and communities transformed by Gods love, presence and power.   3. I started using drugs and alcohol when i was 13 years old , looking for love , Acceptance, and value in all the wrong places. It led me down a very dark place until I was 23 years old. By that time, I was addicted to drugs and alcohol, using heroin every day and smoking crack at night. It was a very dark season of my life. I felt hopeless, Ashamed, hated myself, very lonely, lost, depressed, never felt like I would ever be good enough for anything. I came to a very desperate place in my life where I cried out for help , God Rescued me when I was 23 years old I went into Teen Challenge a faith-based recovery home and my life has never been the same. That dark season shaped my in such an incredible way because my story is my passion to help others !   

 

Here are 2 defining moments that shaped me in these last few years !    

1) 2020 of February we were away on a date weekend and we came home to our house burning down. it was an older mobile home and when we got home, everything was destroyed. In a moment, we lost our home, all our belongings, God spared my new son stuff that was only a baby. All I heard was, I will work all things out for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose. We had no money no place to go, but the Lord has just given us a church building . That week we had an ice storm where everything was frozen and shut down. The Lord provided aThat week we had an ice storm where everything was frozen and shut down. The Lord provided a place for us to stay for two weeks. right before the storm we went to sleep and we mentioned to each other it’s going to be so cold. How could we have a building and not open our building for the homeless. So for one week we did an emergency shelter at the church building. It was the only building in that whole area that had electricity throughout the whole storm. we had nowhere to live yet God was calling us to take care of the homeless. It was a season of Depending and trusting on God. After that one week when we close the shelter down. That day, the Lord provided a home, Provided all the furniture and everything we needed for a home, provided financial blessings from all over the world to help us. We were beyond amazed and blessed for God‘s love and abundance and that season.  

 

 2) Another Defining moment for us was this last season the Lord has used betrayal, Disappointment, lost, and a lot of pain to shape us in a beautiful way! We went through two of our closest leaders betraying us, A lot of division on our team, too, leaving our building and taking a season of sabbatical and rest for our family and for our souls. I think one of the most beautiful lessons I’ve learned in the season is don’t skim through grief, disappointment or loss, but allow the Lord to heal your heart, work through the pain of growth and don’t be Afraid to step back as a leader to deal with the more important things of the heart.This season we have learned the importance of Rest, delight, replenish and allowing the heart to heal !  Truly know the meaning of Psalms 23 The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want, he makes me lay down and green pastures , He Leads me by Still-waters , He restores my soul, He leads me in the path of righteousness for his name sake.   

 

We launched the G.I.V.E project , Our heart still love, God and love people!  Motto - Go impart Value to Everyone - GIVE compassion - GIVE the Gospel !  we wanted to create an easy tool to empower people to give compassion and give the gospel with easy resources, but also with giving value to the person receiving. So we created compassion kits to empower those that it’s easy to give. The compassion kits have a QR code with resources to whatever city or state you’re in to the shelters, food, bank, etc., we also have a questionnaire if you are being trafficked by someone you have a number to call ! everything is on the website if you have any questions. We are also working on getting our certification for anti-human trafficking so we can others on the signs of it and also create outreaches to different churches and community through the US. We want to see These compassion kits in every city and throughout the United States.   https://givevalue.org

BE Hopeful- Darcy McLane Interview

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Darcy McLane is the Director of Accounting and Financial Systems for SEMCO Energy, Inc. holding a master’s degree in administration.  She is also the Executive Director of Hope Endeavors and Hope Village in Malawi Africa.

The vision for HOPE Endeavors started in 2004, on a mission trip to the Philippines.  Darcy had been completely content living her version of the American dream.  She was busy raising three wonderful children and had a career that she enjoyed.  On this trip, she came face to face with extreme poverty.  Here God broke her heart, and she knew I had to do more.  So, Darcy founded Hope Endeavors in 2005 along with her husband, Rod and dear friends, Mike and Denise Vrooman.

Today, Darcy is the Executive Director of Hope Endeavors and oversees the operations of HOPE Village in Malawi Africa as her hobby on steroids. 

Hope Endeavors is a 501c3 charitable organization whose mission is to bring HOPE to those suffering in extreme poverty.  We are committed to helping children not only survive but thrive by providing holistic care and sustaining projects that provide hope for the future.  We seek to educate, engage and empower others to make a difference.

BE Spiritually Mature - Dorrie Cummings Interview

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Dorie Elizabeth Cummings is the founder of Valuable Women Network Ministry. She is married and has two grown children and one grandson. Her passion is prayer and teaching the Word of God with Key Note presentations.

 

She has worked in the beauty industry for over 30 years as a makeup artist, skin care consultant, fragrance and spokesmodel. Dorie has a calling on her life to women’s ministry, and she is in the process of finishing OC School of Ministry in Rochester MI.

 

She recently published her first book “Tokens of His Grace” on Amazon. Her token stories are an encouragement to the body of Christ. You can find her on Dorieelizabeth.com or Face Book.

BE Curated- Anedra Eatman Interview

Leader. Vice President. Author. Entrepreneur.

 

Anedra R. Eatman brings a unique and professional background to the business field.  As Vice President of People Operations, she leads the people operations team for a small, startup-hybrid remote workforce technology organization. Before her human resources focus, she worked in higher and K-12 education, retail sales, and healthcare administration organizations.  Education has always been important to her, which is why she successfully obtained her Master of Science degree in Management. Anedra has always had a passion for serving people.  Her outgoing personality and fun spirit will light up any room she enters.  Her diverse background and ability to relate to women striving to improve have been a talent and gift she knows come from Abba Father.  

 

Anedra is the founder and owner of NedraE Consulting Services. She provides consulting for small businesses in the areas of administration and human resources. Anedra is the chair and executive board committee member for Mel Trotter Ministries. She actively serves on the board of directors for the Human Resources Group of West Michigan and volunteers as a team member for Global Women Who Lead.  She has previously served as a Council member of the Women’s and Executive Patient and Family Advisory Council for Spectrum Health. She has received awards from the West Michigan Associate of Health Underwriters-Vanguard Award, the Women of Golden Rule Dialogue-Dr. Vicki Harris Community Award, and P.O.W.E.R, Professional Organization of Women of Excellence Recognized-Honoree Award.  Finally, Anedra has been a two-time nominee for the Grand Rapids Business Journal 40 under 40.

Anedra is a co-author of The Day She Left Survivor’s Diary: Stories of Transforming Trauma into Triumph. Her chapter, Better not Bitter speaks to how she views life’s tests and how to conquer them.

 

When you ask Anedra, what keeps her going, her love for her family and faith. They keep her focused, healthy, and motivated to continue her journey of purpose. Anedra has found her passion and purpose. She is focused on affirming, empowering, and inspiring women to live better in their purpose, the purpose that Abba Father has designed for their lives. Each woman has a unique crown, uniquely designed and created only for them. She desires to ensure they see it and wear it confidently. Because of her passion for ministry and serving, she recently launched a podcast, SheSpeaks, candid conversations with diverse guests speaking on various topics that will impact, influence, and innovate.

BE Empowered- Sonna Johns Interview

Sonna Johns

I am a personal empowerment coach. My background is in training, facilitation and public speaking. It was through own personal journey that led me to where I am today; empowering women to start prioritizing themselves.

This means taking care of themselves physically,
mentally, emotionally and Spiritually to live life with more ease and grace.
As a single mom working in the corporate world raising two young boys, I struggled to keep up with all the pressures of life. I finally realized after a lot heartache, pain and health issues, I had to start choosing myself. It was through all of the multiple roles I’ve been in through the years
that brought me full circle to helping and serving others today.

The purpose of my work is to teach women how to tap into their inner power through personal transformation and cultivating a strong Spiritual connection. It was through my own unhealthy relationship patterns, dimming my light to please others, and soul crushing heartbreaks that led
me to get the right support to gain back my power. This has allowed me to share with others what completely transformed my life through the darkest times. 

 

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BE Brave- Nicole Bianchi Interview

Nicole Bianchi is widely regarded as the go-to source for bravery and leadership. As an international speaker, author, and award-winning entrepreneur, Nicole is known as the Bravership expert, a term coined by the Master Coach, works with executives, leaders, and teams to develop their bravery and leadership skills.

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Also the author of two books, Nicole’s first release, SMALL BRAVE MOVES emphasizes the importance of little acts of bravery in life-changing leadership. FIVE TOUGH TALKS, out September 6th 2023, is a transformative read that empowers individuals to navigate challenging conversations with confidence, empathy, and effectiveness.

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After spending sixteen years as an executive in two Fortune 300 companies, Nicole co-founded and scaled Bravium HD. The company partners with esteemed brands such as Google, GE, Macy's, First National Bank, and Union Pacific.

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According to Daniel H. Pink, Author of WHEN, DRIVE, and TO SELL IS HUMAN, “Bianchi shatters the false belief that only some of us are brave” and truly, clients and audiences are left inspired, and transformed, which has had Nicole who is frequently booked out, known as a “Secret weapon of the C-Suite World” – Mentors Collective 2023

 

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BE Courageous- Kate Owens- Heins Interview

Salon Owner and CEO Kate Owens Heins prides herself on educating, supporting and growing other stylists. 

 

Kate has an industry changing mission as a mother to an autistic son she has started The Sensory Safe Salon to educate other stylists with clients that maybe on the spectrum! 

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BE Empowered- Monica Nagy Interview

Monica Nagy is a SWFL native and survivor of familial sex-trafficking.

 

She is the founder and executive director for a SWFL local nonprofit called I AM F.U.S.E. (Free - Unashamed - Safe - Empowered).

 

After serving as an advocate in her community for 4 years Monica knew it was time to use her experience, knowledge, and training to launch a unique survivor lead program.

 

Monica and her team strive to abolish slavery through prevention education, community outreach projects, rescue missions, and restoration initiatives. Her goal is to have a Freedom Center opened by 2023-2024.

 

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