Talk It Up With Cindy

Val Caruso tells us about the Air Force making her braver, and how she learned to suck things up and move forward.  Valerie is a retired Air Force officer who spent 25 years specializing in Information, Communications and Systems. Upon retirement she packed two suitcases and moved to Italy to study wine & Italian. For the next two years she split her life between Italy and Colorado and learning about wine. She believes you never stop learning, and is now over half-way through her Level 4 Wine & Spirits Diploma journey.  She is a Certified Wine Educator (CWE) through the Society of Wine Educators, one of only 398 in the world to achieve this rigorous certification. She also has recently earned the French Wine Scholar (FWS) certification with Highest Honors. Val is a speaker, presenter and teaches classes and wine workshops, as well as conducting private tasting events. With experience gained from her military career, and professional wine studies at international culinary academies in Italy a

Deena discusses her experiences and views on being a Change Angel. Listen to her story of becoming confident, finding her voice and believing in her self. She encourages women to mentor and sponsor other women because it's so important to us all.  Deena Pierott is the founder of the award winning and nationally recognized program iUrban Teen which is a STEM+Arts program for youth of color. She is also the President of Mosaic Blueprint, a Pacific NW firm specializing in diversity consulting and multicultural branding.  An advocate for equity and inclusion, all of her social enterprise brands are centered on inclusion. Awards and Recognition: 2014 Essence Magazine – Black Women in Tech2014 Black Enterprise Magazine Innovator of the Week2014 Whitney M. Young Community Impact Award2014 Fulbright Scholars Presenter on Global Innovation and Social Enterprise2013 White House Champion of Change for Tech Inclusion2013 Business Journal Women of Influence Orchid Award Recipient2013 Rockefeller Innovation

You will be touched by Gitta Grether-Sweeney's passion for helping kids learn nutrition and get healthy meals.  She leads a wonderful team of equally passionate leaders.  Gitta Grether-Sweeney received her Bachelor of Science and Masters of Science degree in Nutrition from Texas A&M University.  She is a registered dietitian and has been instrumental in impacting child nutrition for the past 28 years by leading school district child nutrition programs. She joined Portland Public Schools in 2003 as an Assistant Director and has been the Director for the past 5 years. Gitta is passionate educating student palates, inspiring culinary curiosity, and nourishing the health of the community through delicious, nutrient-rich school meals.  She has made significant contributions to Portland Public Schools child nutrition programs by redesigning menus for school breakfast, lunch and after-school suppers, sourcing local and regional products for the Farm to School Harvest of the Month and Loc

Listen to Emma tell us about leading an international team, how she deals with burn-out (having a team of practitioners at the ready!), and her first experience as an entrepreneur at 12 years old.  Emma Weber is the founder of Lever – Transfer of Learning and developer of the Turning Learning into Action™ (TLA) methodology. Emma’s firm belief, and the platform on which she has built her successful global business, is that the key aim of learning in the workplace is to create tangible business benefits. She established Lever to help organisations and their employees convert learning into effective action back on the job. Under her guidance Lever now delivers TLA programs throughout 16 countries and in 11 languages. A recognized authority on the transfer of learning, Emma has been a guest speaker on learning effectiveness at conferences in Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and the USA. Her book ‘Turning Learning into Action: a proven methodology for effective transfer of learning&rsq

Michelle Brubaker is an inspirational leader in motivation and marketing. As a successful Internet entrepreneur, marketing coach, author and speaker, she supports people who are ready to step out and achieve their goals and dreams. Working together side-by-side, with accountability, inspiration, and encouragement she shows you how to move forward by equipping you with the tools you need to empower you to achieve your next level of success! Using her skills as an accomplished senior web developer, internet marketing guru, published author and seminar leader, she shares with you how you can take your idea, product, service or invention and create a profitable Internet presence. Michelle has a degree in EBusiness Administration and is a contract instructor with Portland, Mt Hood, Chemeketa and Lower Columbia Colleges, and is an adjunct faculty member at Clackamas Community College. Connect with Michelle at www.MichelleBrubaker.com .

Kathie Nelson tells us how women can press into their strengths to have your brilliance shine and to make space for others to shine as well.  A true strategist, Kathie also informs us on how creating a career strategy can make you more confident and credible.    In addition to being a serial entrepreneur and the recipient of multiple awards for sales and leadership during her career, Kathie Nelson was also recognized by the Women Entrepreneurs of Oregon (WEO) with a Lifetime Achievement award in 2009 for her contribution to the women’s business community. A former President of the Oregon/SW Washington chapter Kathie currently serves as a National Director for the Institute of Management Consultants (IMC).  Kathie is known for her innovation, membership growth, and direction. She received the internationally recognized designation as a Certified Management Consultant™ (CMC®) in July 2011.  This designation is held by less than 1% of management consultants. A publis

Dianna's message is about changin lives. Inspired by a woman in a dress Navy uniform, Dianna left the reservation as a single mom and joined the U.S. Navy. She became a highly recognized leader and mentor. Listen as her infectious enthusisam as she tells us her story.  Dianna Goodsky-Hertig joined the Navy when she was just 18 years old, leaving behind her childhood on the reservation in Nett Lake, Minnesota. She loved her career in the U.S. Navy, and for a high school drop out with a GED, she excelled.  She eventually became a member of a small number of women making Chief, or E-7. In civilian terms, that is a Division Director.  She retired in 1995, and had the first ever ceremony to include both Native and Naval traditions. Dianna was the first and only to reach the rank of Chief from her reservation and the first female to retire from military service. After retirement from the Navy, Dianna went into Real Estate, eventually moving into investments and “flippin

Patricia talks to us about how vital networking is to grow personally and professionally. She says that women need to care for themselves in real authentic ways and use that wholeness to change the world.  Listen and learn what it means when she says, " If you hang out in a barber shop long enough, you'll get a haircut."  Patricia works in field of success. Throughout her career success is what she has fostered for each of the many organizations with whom she has worked. Building a strong plan for success can only be truly achieved once every component is broken down to its most basic form. Patricia’s refined processes brings this basic premise to everything she does. The heavy lifting lies in Patricia’s ability to find what makes things work. Things, in this case, are most often people, teams, organizations, projects, and relationships. When one invests energy in learning the properties of your building blocks, the plan for growth and action practically builds itself. Som

Hear Ronnie Noize, The DIY Marketing Coach, tell us about how women develop their leadership strengths by being mission driven and pursuing their passion. Women can use their emotions as a strength by presenting them in a neutral way.  Women must invest in themselves in order to grow and learn as a leader.  Veronika (Ronnie) Noize, known professionally as The Marketing Coach, is the author of three books: How to Create a Killer Elevator Speech, The 30-Minute Networking Secret Toolkit, and Marketing Strategies that Really Work, from Insight publications. Ronnie appeared on “Dream Builders TV: A Focus on Entrepreneurship” as Your Marketing Coach, for which she won the Small Business Journalist of the Year award from the SBA. She is a member (and past president) of the NW Coaches Association (a chapter of the ICF), and was named the chapter’s Coach of the Year for 2007. That same year she was also honored as one of the NW Women’s Business Journal’s 100 Most Powerful Women.

Jean talks to us about wearing many hats, as a coach and as the COO of a start-up. She tells us how she decompresses, and it's not what you think! She also informs us on women in the gaming world.  Jean says, "...at the end of the day, when you close your eyes, you need to love yourself first." 

She is the author of the book, “How to make more Good Stuff Happen.” Deborah has worked with over 4000 realtors and “go-gettin’” entrepreneurs across North America; helping them to get off their butt and get things done, so they can finally have what they want. Her tried and true method gets right to the heart of issues quickly, so people can move forward without delay! You’re going to love her joyful attitude and the blend of practical & energetic tools and tips she always sprinkles through out any interview. With $1.80 to her name and a single mom, Deborah became a successful entrepreneur

Jone Bosworth, CEO of inCourage Leading, LLC, talks to us about growing a team, speaking up, telling your story and striving to rest.  One of Jone's mantras is "Speak out for what you believe in no matter what the consequences." She tells us that we are not telling our stories and that it is through our stories we will gain strength and community.  Jone’s calling is to empower others to reach their full potential. Through inCourage Leading, Jone uses her leadership and legal expertise to co-create solutions for organizations who serve vulnerable populations—especially women and children. She also designs and implements intensive leadership courses for women and egalitarian-minded men who recognize that when women lead, families, communities, companies and countries thrive. In 2015, Jone launched Fearless Females Forum, a column that spotlights women who have found the courage to meet their calling, take a road less traveled, or overcome sticky obstacles.   Find Jone at Incourag