Somewhere in the Middle with Michele Barard

Somewhere in the Middle welcomes Julie Edelman to discuss sisterhood, resilience, and finding strength in unexpected journeys Julie Edelman is the bestselling author of the how-to book The Accidental Housewife: How to Overcome Housekeeping Hysteria One Task at a Time. She is a well-known lifestyle expert and has appeared on “The Today Show,” “The View,” “Rachael Ray,” “Fox & Friends,” “The Doctors,” ABC Audio Networks and iHeart Radio. She lives in Florida, close to her son, who is her heart and testament to a blessed life lived fully. Julie speaks publicly with heart and humor and in high heels about the value of sisterhood and not letting life's detours define nor stop us from achieving our dreams. Julie recently published The Accidental Sisterhood, her debut novel, and a testimony to embracing a life detour with hope and determination following her triumph over breast cancer. Connect with Julie Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/julieedelmanauthor  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julieedelmanauthor/ Twitter: https://x.com/Julie_Edelman  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@julieedelmanauthor  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-edelman-bbb1a416/  Website: www.julieedelman.com Amazon: The Accidental Sisterhood is now available on Amazon.  

Somewhere in the Middle welcomes Business Strategist Alex Brueckmann  Alex Brueckmann is an entrepreneur, the author of three Wall Street Journal bestselling books, and a highly regarded speaker. His most notable book is The Strategy Legacy, which has made a significant impact in the business world. Alex has built successful companies in Europe and Canada and led client projects worldwide. He is the founder and CEO of Brueckmann Strategy Consultants Ltd, where he helps CEOs and executive teams design and implement impactful business strategies and human-centric high-performance leadership. More than 20 years ago, Alex transitioned from being a music journalist to studying General Management at prestigious institutions such as the European Business School in Germany, Universidad ORT in Uruguay, INSEAD in France, and Harvard Business School in the United States. Over the years, Alex has developed a unique approach to make leadership and strategy accessible for all leaders and executives. His clients range from high-growth Inc 5000 businesses to Fortune 50 enterprises, including some of the biggest brands in automotive, healthcare, tech, logistics, industrial manufacturing, hospitality, and finance. Alex is a firm believer that business strategy is not just a tool, but a powerful force that empowers and creates clarity about what matters to grow impact and profits. He tailors his approaches to help his clients make choices that position their businesses to win. His process reduces friction and overwhelm for leaders and their organizations, creating commitment and accountability to get results. Connect with Alex Brueckmann LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexanderbrueckmann/  Website: https://brueckmann.ca/ 

Somewhere in the Middle welcomes Business Consultant David Newby David Newby is a Global Developer, End-Time Revivalist, and Life Strategist, as well as a trainer, speaker, author, business developer, and philanthropist. David's journey began in high school with a focus on God, business excellence, and world-changing work. He attended the University of Maryland College Park and Morgan State University and graduated from the University of Phoenix with a BS in Business/Public Administration and an MBA in Global Management. An epiphany during college deepened his faith. Over the past twenty years, David has become a sought-after Christian leader, business executive, and humanitarian. He founded Global Innovations and REVIVE Movement Inc., and he is known for his innovative thinking and motivational prowess. David has learned from personal development legends like John Maxwell, Zig Ziglar, Les Brown, Tony Robbins, and Grant Cardone. He has appeared on TV, radio, and in various publications, including The Business Makers TV Show and Phoenix Focus Alumni Magazine. He has also written for CBS and Examiner and trained thousands globally. David, recognized by many as a "leader of leaders," is deeply committed to serving God and others. He dedicates his time to growing his businesses, consulting leaders, traveling, writing, and enjoying family time. David is a sought-after speaker and provides both group training and one-to-one coaching to diverse audiences. He is currently expanding the Revive Movement and assisting with business funding as a Funding Consultant. Connect with David Newby Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DNvm2  Twitter: http://twitter.com/davidgnewby  Instagram: http://instagram.com/dnvm22  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidgnewby/  Website: http://revive-movement.com  Buy State of the Kingdom Address on Amazon

Somewhere in the Middle welcomes Entrepreneur and Marketer John C. Morley John C. Morley is a man of many talents. As a seasoned serial entrepreneur, John has a proven track record of founding and growing successful businesses. He blends his expertise in engineering and marketing to create innovative solutions and drive growth. Beyond his business ventures, John is a recognized thought leader and talk show host, known for sharing his valuable insights and experiences with a broad audience. His knack for simplifying complex ideas and presenting them in an engaging way has made him a sought-after keynote speaker. As a motivational speaker, John inspires others to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams, drawing from his own journey of resilience and determination. His career, marked by both triumphs and challenges, serves as a powerful testament to the strength of perseverance. John's diverse career and his dedication to sharing his knowledge and experiences are what truly set him apart. His ability to motivate others makes him a valuable voice in the entrepreneurial community. Connect with John Morley LinkedIn Group: https://www.linkedin.com/company/john-c-morley-serial-entrepreneur/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7ESFQifbn4&list=PLQgeBMLATG-dW6NP3fvSsu8gSdyKZgdry  Website: https://jmor.com/  Podcast: https://podcastscj.podbean.com/   

Somewhere in the Middle welcomes Mental Health Advocate and Author Randi-Lee Bowslaugh Randi-Lee Bowslaugh is a mental health advocate, author, motivational speaker and YouTuber. She started writing at 14 years old as a coping strategy for her depression. Twenty years later she is a mom, grandma, and thriving creative individual. Connect with Randi Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/rbwriting  Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/randibwriting  TikTok: www.tiktok.com/writeordieshow  Website: http://www.rbwriting.ca  Buy Randi-Lee's Books on Amazon

Somewhere in the Middle welcomes Entrepreneur and Marketing Expert Darrell Evans Darrell Evans is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and co-founder of Yokel Local Internet Marketing. He and his team have helped entrepreneurs and companies generate over $300M in revenue online since 2011. He's personally started and/or operated six businesses since the age of 20. He's also the host of “The MindShift Podcast,” which launched in 2019, and he is the founder of the MindShift Business Accelerator (MBA) and the MindShift Growth Mastermind (MGM). Darrell is passionate about entrepreneurship. When he appears on podcasts, he loves sharing the lessons, mistakes, and breakthrough frameworks that have helped him and hundreds of other businesses market profitably, grow sales predictably, and build superstar teams. His goal is to help entrepreneurial-minded people identify at least one “MindShift” that could catapult them to their next level of success. Connect with Darrell Evans Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/darrellevansfan Twitter: https://twitter.com/mrdarrellevans Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrdarrellevans/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrdarrellevans/ Website: https://www.darrellevans.net/ 

Dr. Beverly A Browning, author of Grant Writing for Dummies, joins me on Somewhere in the Middle Dr. Beverly A. Browning has been consulting in the areas of grant writing, RFP responses, technical writing, and organizational development for over four decades. Her clients have included Tribal nations, nonprofit organizations, small businesses, career, volunteer, and combination fire departments; chambers of commerce, faith-based organizations, and units of government including state and federal government agencies; school districts and colleges; charter schools, social and human service agencies, hospitals, service associations, and Fortune 500 corporations. Dr. Browning has assisted clients and workshop participants throughout the United States in receiving awards of more than $500 million. Dr. Browning is the author of 43 grant-related publications, including six editions (over 1 million books sold) of Grant Writing for Dummies™ (Wiley.com). She is also an international trainer and keynote speaker. In 2015, she was selected by the Centers for Disease Control NICRD division to conduct a five-day Grant Writing Boot Camp in South Africa for ministers of health and other top-level health directors from 23 African countries. Dr. Browning holds graduate and post-graduate degrees in Organizational Development, Public Administration, and Business Administration. She has been a grant writing course developer and online facilitator for Cengage Learning (www.ed2go.com) for 19 years. Her online courses (taught to thousands of students annually) are Advanced Proposal Writing, Becoming a Grant Writing Consultant, and A to Z Grant Writing: Part 2 – Beyond the Basics. Dr. Browning is the Founder and Director of the Grant Writing Training Foundation and CEO of Bev Browning, LLC. She has been a member of the Grant Professionals Association (GPA) for 17 years and has presented training workshops and keynote presentations for multiple GPA chapters Nationwide. In 2017, she joined the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and was a workshop presenter at their 2018 International conference in New Orleans. She is an approved trainer for GPA and CFRE International. Dr. Browning has been married to John for 54 years and has one daughter, Lara, a licensed therapist, and a special needs granddaughter, Aaliyah.

Peter Davidson shares his writing journey from typewriters to triumphs Peter Davidson is the author or co-author of thirty books published by McGraw-Hill Book Company, Perigee/Putnam Publishers, Haworth Press, Sweet Memories Publishing, and Northwestern Publishing. His works include fiction, nonfiction, college textbooks, and children's picture books. For more than two decades, Davidson was one of America's most active writer's seminar presenters, having presented 637 one-day seminars in a 15-state area from Minnesota to Tennessee and Colorado to Illinois. Davidson is also a songwriter and one of his songs was used in a television series in The Netherlands. Davidson has owned several small businesses, including a professional recording studio. He was a real estate salesman and taught college business courses. Whatever else Davidson was doing in his life, he always kept on writing. Connect with Peter Davidson Facebook: www.facebook.com/PeterDavidson X (formerly Twitter): www.twitter.com/PeterDavidsonau Instagram: www.instagram.com/peterdavidson LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/peterdavidson Buy Making Your Mark | Leaving a Legacy on Amazon

Somewhere in the Middle Welcomes Author Teri M. Brown Born in Athens, Greece as an Air Force brat, Teri M Brown graduated from UNC Greensboro with a multitude of degrees – majors in Elementary Education and Psychology and minors in Math and Sociology – she just couldn't settle on one thing! While homeschooling her four children, she began her writing career by focusing on small businesses, writing articles, blog posts, and website content. She published five nonfiction self-help books dealing with real estate and finance, receiving First Runner Up in the Eric Hoffman Book Awards for 301 Simple Things You Can Do To Sell Your Home Now, finalist in the USA Best Books Awards for How To Open and Operate a Financially Successful Redesign, Redecorate, and Real Estate Staging Business and for 301 Simple Things You Can Do To Sell Your Home Now, and Honorable Mention in Foreword Magazine's Book of the Year Award for Private Mortgage Investing. In 2017, Teri began dabbling in fiction, a lifelong dream. Upon winning the First Annual Anita Bloom Ornoff Award for Inspirational Short Story for a piece about her grandfather, she began writing in earnest, and recently published Sunflowers Beneath the Snow. Teri is a wife, mother, grandmother, and author who loves word games, reading, bumming on the beach, taking photos, singing in the shower, hunting for bargains, ballroom dancing, playing bridge, and mentoring others – especially youth and women who are having trouble discovering their worth. Teri's debut novel, Sunflowers Beneath the Snow, is a historical fiction set in Ukraine.   Connect with Teri M. Brown Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/terimbrownauthor  X (formerly Twitter): http://www.twitter.com/terimbrown1  Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/terimbrown_author  LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/terimbrown  Website: http://www.terimbrown.com  Buy Sunflowers Beneath the Snow on Amazon

Somewhere in the Middle welcomes Leadership Coach and Author William Schirmer William Schirmer is the author of both The Leadership Core and Fulfilled: Finding Joy and Prosperity in Life. He is a senior management professional in Human Resources, having been involved with HR, Talent Management, and Learning & Development functions for domestic and international firms for more than twenty years. His expertise includes the creation and deployment of leadership development programs for several organizations. William holds USA, UK, and Global Human Resource certifications. His undergraduate study in Political & Behavioral Sciences was completed via Minnesota State University-Mankato in the USA. William completed his Graduate Degrees in Human Resource Management at Fort Hays State University in the USA and Social Sciences at the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom. William grew up in Minnesota and is a lover of the outdoors, travel, motorcycling, and exercise. He's a proud father of three grown children: Daniel, Richard, and Alyssa. Connect with William Website: https://www.willschirmerofficial.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-schirmer-b887ba8/  Buy The Leadership Core on Amazon Buy Fulfilled: Finding Joy and Prosperity in Life on Amazon

Somewhere in the Middle welcomes Transformational Coach and Author Mestanna Gay Mestanna Gay is a renowned Transformational Coach, Author, Inspirational Speaker, and Entrepreneur, celebrated for her expertise in guiding individuals through personal transformations. Her journey, marked by overcoming traumatic experiences and adversity, began in 1991 when she turned to poetry and prayer as a therapeutic outlet. Mestanna's work embodies the essence of resilience, utilizing her intuitive empathy and deep understanding of universal truths and spiritual wisdom. As a coach, Mestanna's mission is laser-focused: empowering others to shed the burdens of guilt and shame, unlocking their full potential. Her philosophy is grounded in the belief that understanding the multidimensional language of the Universe – spanning the physical, spiritual, and mental realms – is key to holistic healing and growth. In 2019, Mestanna harnessed her life's lessons into her debut book, The Devil's Bedroom – Breaking Free from The Chains of Guilt & Shame. This urban, inspirational fiction piece, rooted in her own experiences, is more than just a narrative. It serves as a transformative tool, using its characters, poetry, and prayers to guide readers on a journey of self-discovery, healing, and forgiveness, ultimately leading them to their true calling by introspecting their life experiences and choices. Mestanna's work is a beacon for those seeking to transform pain into passion and adversity into opportunity. Connect with Mestanna Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/donna.d.walker.754 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cosmic.empress/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-d-gay-700655a7/  Website: http://www.mestanna.com/  Buy Mestanna's Book on Amazon

Somewhere in the Middle welcomes Author and President of GoGet It, Inc., Nefateria Fonda' Nefateria Fonda' is the President of Go Get It, Inc., a Certified Business and Sales Coach, Author, and Facilitator specializing in helping Christian parallel-preneurs (Professionals who are building a service-based business alongside their 9-5) get clear on whom they serve and how they serve, get confident in their sales skills, get cash into their business, so that God gets glory. She believes you deserve to have a business with a bountiful bank account that doesn't require long hours, sleepless nights, and countless sacrifices. Her book How to Activate Your Faith, Commit to a Plan, and Take Action; That Will Change Your Life is for faith-based individuals who are interested in learning how to experience the best that life has to offer. For groups and organizations, who are interested in offering a Private Vision Board Experience for their group, she is a Facilitator whose energy is contagious, who provides valuable content, and who keeps audiences engaged. Connect with Nefateria Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NefateriaFonda.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/NefateriaFonda Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/NefateriaFonda LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/nefateria-robinson Website: www.nefateriafonda.com Buy Nefateria's Book

Somewhere in the Middle Welcomes College Strategist and Founder & CEO of College Ready Shellee Howard  Shellee Howard is the Founder and CEO of College Ready and CR Tutoring and Test. She is a college graduate and is a Certified Independent College Strategist. She is a best-selling author, a member of HECA (ethics organization), and a member of SOFA (Society of Financial Awareness). Shellee is a mother of four young adults. Her oldest son graduated from Harvard in 2016 debt free and graduated from UC San Diego Medical School in 2021.  He will be completing his Orthopedic Surgeon Residency at UCLA.  Her oldest daughter attended the University of Alabama and CBU and graduated debt free with her BSN in 2020 and received her RN in 2021. Her youngest son attends SFSU majoring in Film Production. Her youngest daughter is a rising Senior and will be looking to attend college as a business major internationally. Shellee has traveled around the world helping students create their “Stand out Strategy". She knows what it takes to compete in the Top tier schools as well as find the best-fit college for all students. Shellee believes that no two students are the same and each student must have their own strategy and plan to be successful. Each student has a gift/talent and a passion that will set him or her apart from their competition. Getting to know your student one on one is the key to success. Her focus is to find the best academic, financial, and social fit college for each student to thrive at and graduate debt free! Connect with Shellee Howard Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CollegeReadyPlan Twitter: https://twitter.com/GoCollegeReady LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/college-ready/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCr_WodPHDfSWEbiPdsRDbyQ Website: http://www.collegereadyplan.com/ 

Somewhere in the Middle Welcomes Calendar Coach Paul D. Casey Originally from Chicago, Paul D. Casey has now been a professional speaker for over 25 years (giving almost 300 presentations in the past 4 years), and he is one of the leading authorities in leadership and personal growth—especially time management—helping people take back their calendars and restore sanity to their lives. He has spoken for organizations like Mcdonald's, Subway, Lamb Weston, Northwest Public Power, and Autozone—and among the 80 leaders he coaches per year, 25 of them lead at Pacific NW National Laboratories. Paul has a Master's degree in education and has been an educator/administrator/Chief Operating Officer in 5 non-profit organizations. He is an ACC-certified coach with the International Coaching Federation, a Master Trainer, and a member of the National Speakers Association. He was awarded Solopreneur of the Year by the West Richland Chamber a few years ago. Through his company, Growing Forward Services, Paul has partnered with his corporate and individual clients to transform their vision, their habits, and their lives. Currently, Paul carries out his mission of sparking breakthrough success by contributing daily inspirational growth messages on local radio, other people's podcasts, and social media. Also, he has inspired thousands of individuals and leaders to grow forward through his seminars, team-building off-site retreats, one-to-one self-leadership coaching, and as a keynote speaker. Paul has written 4 books: The Static Cling Principle (on habits and mindsets), Maximizing Every Minute (on time management), Leading the Team You've Always Wanted, and Leading with Super-Vision. And he interviews local leaders in his podcast: the Tri-Cities Influencer. Paul is married to Lovely Laura, has a 23- and a 19-year-old named after state capitals, owns a cat named Sasha and has lived in the Tri-Cities, WA, for over 20 years. For fun, he enjoys golfing, hiking, and bicycling—and orange slices—and he reads about 40 books per year. Connect with Paul Casey Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paul.d.casey.9 Twitter: https://twitter.com/growingfwd Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/growingforwardservices/ LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/pauldcasey Website: http://www.paulcasey.org/ Buy Maximizing Every Minute on Paul's website

Somewhere in the Middle Welcomes Master Integrative Life Coach Nancy Pickard Nancy Pickard is a certified Master Integrative Life Coach with a myriad of coaching certifications specializing in shadow work: Boundaries, Healing your Heart, Bigger, Better, Braver, Parenting, Reinvention, and Worthy, to name many of them. She is the author of the international best-selling book Bigger Better Braver:  Conquer your fears, Embrace your courage, Transform your life. She offers a digital course and an online-  zoom coaching course featuring her book. Coaching others to step out of fear and into bigger versions of themselves is her passion. Connect with Nancy Pickard Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Nancypickardlifecoach Twitter: https://twitter.com/cnancyrun Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nancypickardlifecoach/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-pickard-771993a6/ Website: https://nancypickardlifecoach.com Amazon: Buy Bigger Better Braver:  Conquer your fears, Embrace your courage, Transform your life 

Somewhere in the Middle welcomes Daniel Alfon, Author of Build a LinkedIn Profile for Business Success Daniel Alfon is the author of Build a LinkedIn Profile for Business Success. Daniel joined LinkedIn in early 2004 and publishes articles, interviews, and exclusive content about advanced LinkedIn strategies to clients and subscribers to his website, www.danielalfon.com. Connect with Daniel Alfon Twitter: https://twitter.com/DanielAlfon  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielalfon/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alfon/ Website: https://www.danielalfon.com/ Amazon: Buy Build a LinkedIn Profile for Business Success   

Somewhere in the Middle Welcomes Connie S. Johnson and Rufus D. Stephens, Co-authors of Leave a Mark! Connie S. Johnson Connie Johnson is a graduate of Tuskegee University with a B.S in Elementary Education. Later, her heart required that she equip herself with new ways to help her students work through traumas and become their greatest selves. She then went on to earn her M.Ed. from the University of West Alabama. Connie has worked in the field of education for 17 years and she is in her 8th year as an elementary school counselor. Her prime objective is to impact her students for greatness. In 2022, she co-authored, with her father Rufus Stephens, an exceptional book entitled, “Leave A Mark!” Amazon released the book as its #1 New Release in the Education and Teacher category. Rufus D. Stephens Rufus Stephens is a native of Savannah, GA. He graduated from Savannah State University and pursued a graduate degree at the University of Florida. He is a former business owner, corporate executive and an ordained minister.  In 2015 he formed a speaking company called “Raisin' the Rufe Communications”. He is currently a motivational speaker, author and voice over talent. He has authored two books. The first, “Life Lessons from Miss Mattie” chronicles the life of his mother, a single mom of five and educator in the deep south. The next book, “Leave A Mark!”, he co-authored with his daughter, Connie S. Johnson. Mr. Stephens' life is defined by his unrelenting passion for encouraging others. His presentation goal is to “always leave audiences better off than when they came.” Connect with Rufus and Connie Connie's Author Website: https://conniejohnson.authorsites.co/  Rufus's Author Website: https://rufusdstephens.authorsites.co/  Buy Leave a Mark! on Amazon

Somewhere in the Middle Welcomes Wellness & Spa Business Coach Gael Wood Gael Wood is a massage and spa professional with over 25 years of experience in the industry. She graduated from massage school at the age of 19 and then went on to open her very own day spa and therapeutic massage center in 2003, which she ran for 6 years. In 2013, Gael launched her first online business, which she managed along with her career as a Massage Therapist. As the online businesses began to take off, she made the decision to retire from the hands-on massage work in 2016 and concentrate on using her extensive knowledge and experience to create tailored training and coaching materials and courses for estheticians, massage, and spa professionals. Gael is the co-host and co-founder of the Global Wellness Professionals Marketing Summits and The Work Freedom Summit. She was honored to be inducted into the World Massage Hall of Fame and featured as a Massage Magazine All-Star in 2019. Since giving up hands-on massage work and concentrating on her online businesses, Gael has been prolific with her creativity. To date, she has created over 60 successful online courses, launched popular Massage and Spa Marketing Content Clubs, written and self-published more than 15 eBooks, and created a library of invaluable resources for massage, beauty, and spa professionals such as the popular Massage and Spa Resource Bundles. Gael has always been fascinated by Feng Shui, and this led her to study at the International Feng Shui School. In 2019 she gained certification in Feng Shui, enabling her to carry out consultations as another part of her business. She has since trained in Life and Business Coaching through The Rebel Millionaire Coach Certification Program and successfully completed her training in 2021. Most recently, Gael has created the ELEVATE Mastermind, which is a program for people who want to learn about adding an online business to their income streams or segue into online business. She currently runs a low-cost subscription program alongside this called The Monthly Challenge Club for Entrepreneurs, and she teaches online business strategy through The Elevate Mastermind. Gael is happiest when she is in creator mode, finding new ideas for courses, marketing content, and books. She is constantly inspired to create more courses and materials - and continues to launch new ideas. She loves to educate herself and discover new ideas, learning as much as she can through reading books, doing online research, and studying online classes and programs to boost her knowledge. Her number one wish is that what she does can inspire other people, and she aims to help as many people as she can to thrive with her courses, books, and programs. Gael lives in Boone, North Carolina, with her husband Dave and son Santino who she has been homeschooling since March 2020. She also has an older daughter, Grace. Connect with Gael Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gaelwoodsuccesscoach Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elevate_with_gael_wood/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gaelwood/ Website: https://www.elevatewithgael.com/ Find Gael's Books Online: https://www.elevatewithgael.com/shop 

Somewhere in the Middle welcomes 'Tine Zekis, Founder and CEO of Getting Black Women Paid Christine ('Tine) Zekis is an educator turned software engineer, international speaker, and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) advocate. She is the Founder and CEO of Getting Black Women Paid, which empowers Black women professionals to change the trajectory of their careers, dramatically increase their lifetime earning potential, and build generational wealth. 'Tine is a sought-after speaker on panels and at tech conferences where she discusses salary negotiation, career changers, imposter syndrome, and DEIB in the industry. Connect with 'Tine Zekis Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christinezekis Twitter: https://twitter.com/tinezekis  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tinezekis/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gettingblackwomenpaid/  Website: https://www.gettingblackwomenpaid.com/ 

Somewhere in the Middle welcomes William Attaway, Leadership Coach for Catalytic Leadership, LLC William Attaway is a Leadership Coach for Catalytic Leadership, LLC, a company he founded to help leaders to INTENTIONALLY grow and thrive. He has served in local church ministry for over 25 years and is currently the Lead Pastor of Southview Community Church, a church in Herndon, Virginia (near Washington, D.C.), where he has served since 2004. He holds a Ph.D. in Old Testament (with an emphasis on Biblical Backgrounds and Archaeology), and he loves to read and speak about leadership, organizational change, archaeology, and building up people and teams. His newest book is Catalytic Leadership (January 2022). Originally from Birmingham, Alabama, William now lives in northern Virginia with his beautiful wife, Charlotte, and their two daughters. Connect with William Attaway Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/williamattaway  Twitter: https://twitter.com/WilliamAttaway  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wattaway/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamattaway/  Website: https://catalyticleadership.net/  Amazon: Purchase Catalytic Leadership on Amazon

Somewhere in the Middle welcomes Jason Zara, Owner of Blue Moon Estate Sales, Rancho Cucamonga Jason Zara owns and operates Blue Moon Estate Sales, providing professional quality estate sales throughout the Inland Empire. He has worked with Chambers of Commerce, as well as in marketing, journalism, and as the owner of a retail store. He has an MBA with a concentration in marketing and a passion for helping business owners to succeed. Jason lives in Fontana, California, with his wife, Kris. They have one daughter, Amber, as well as a koi pond and six chickens. Connect with Jason Zara Facebook (Personal): https://www.facebook.com/jason.zara.71  Facebook (Business): https://www.facebook.com/BlueMoonRanchoCucamonga  Instagram: @bluemoonestatesales_rc Website: https://www.bluemoonestatesales.com/rancho-cucamonga/ 

Somewhere in the Middle welcomes Anne Arceneaux, author of A Horse Named Tuni Anne Arceneaux is a native of New Orleans, Louisiana, and is an experienced educator who started her teaching career in the Chicagoland area and continued working in education in the Houston, Texas, area. Her span in the education field included but was not limited to teaching language arts and science in an integrated manner and working as a campus Science Instructional Coach. Although she thought she would never work in education again, Anne moved back to Louisiana after working in the oil and gas industry for six years. Upon her return, Anne instructed gifted students in fifth through eighth grades in St. Tammany public schools. She also worked as the STEM lab facilitator at Ursuline Academy in New Orleans. She is currently the Educational Television Technology Specialist at the PBS affiliate in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Anne's mission in life is to empower young people to know themselves and to believe they can reach their highest potential. Along with Tuni, Anne is developing a series called Gifted Glenn. In addition to writing for children, Anne creates poetry and stories for adults. Connect with Anne Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077570331405 Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuntieSarreh Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maria_veronique3/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/analyticalanimation LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-arceneaux-m-ed-author-8a27911b4/ Buy A Horse Named Tuni on Amazon: https://a.co/hXMFhQM Buy A Horse Named Tuni BookBaby: https://store.bookbaby.com/book/a-horse-named-tuni

Somewhere in the Middle welcomes Isaac Peterson & Jessica Hammerman of Emerald Books Dr. Jessica Hammerman holds a Ph.D. in history and has two decades of experience editing for writers of all kinds—academic, non-fiction, fiction, and textbooks. She has worked as an editor for Penguin Putnam and W.W. Norton and has also served as a copyeditor for several national magazines, including Condé Nast Traveler, Time Out New York, and Playbill. She lives in Bend, Oregon, with her husband, Isaac, and her two children, where she teaches world history. With twenty years of experience in digital design, art, and book layout, Isaac is the heart of Emerald Book design. He has designed books and built websites for fiction authors, memoirists, and professionals. He is an award-winning photographer, renowned painter, and illustrator, who has also authored a few books of his own. He brings an artistic eye to all of his book and web design projects. He is an excellent editor and coach and has a unique ability to bring out the most creative voice for writers and artists of all kinds. Connect with Jessica and Isaac Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emeraldbooksllc Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/emeraldbooksllc Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/emerald.books.usa LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-hammerman-6954b0231/ Website: http://www.emerald-books.com Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Isaac-Peterson/e/B00JCUJ37A

Somewhere in the Middle welcomes Executive Coach Michael S. Seaver  Michael S. Seaver is an award-winning executive coach, leadership consultant, keynote speaker, and author. He's on a mission to unlock human potential to help people uncover and live their purpose and live a more meaningful and authentic life. His unique methodology has revolutionized how leaders can live authentically and how organizations engage employees. He offers no-nonsense strategies to help people find confidence in their life's narrative, commonalities across generations working today, and ways to communicate with emotional intelligence. Michael's newest book, I Know, A Practical Guide For Awakening To What's Within And Finding Work-Life Integration, tells his story of excruciating emotional pain and contemplating suicide. Cleopatra, his cat, sensed his despair, kept him grounded and helped him rise from his life's ashes. I Know is a how-to guide Michael uses with clients walking you through the three phases of personal transformation and nine processes you can complete alone or with trusted friends. The book tells Michael's raw and authentic story, offers research-based psychological truths, and is full of real-world client examples. After reading I Know, you'll transition from believing life's answers come from outside yourself to knowing you can discover the answers already inside yourself. For more than 25 years, Michael has led teams and has coached global leaders since 2011. He's invested thousands of hours in the arena, managing personal and organizational change, guiding others to uncover their lives' missions, and teaching leaders how to create psychological safety by inviting employee life experiences into the workplace. Michael has been featured in numerous publications, including Forbes, Authority, Medium, Thrive Global, Arizona Republic, Business Journals, Accounting Today, Financial Executives International, and Best Companies USA. He is a frequent guest on international podcasts and has served on a variety of boards of directors. Michael graduated from the Thunderbird School of Global Management with an MBA and speaks a bit of Mandarin. He is certified by TTI Success Insights to administer the DISC, 12 Driving Forces, and Emotional Intelligence assessments. Connect with Michael S. Seaver Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MichaelScottSeaver Twitter: https://twitter.com/michaelsseaver Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelsseaver/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelsseaver/  Website: https://michaelsseaver.com/  Book: I Know, A Practical Guide For Awakening To What's Within And Finding Work-Life Integration

Somewhere in the Middle welcomes SEO Specialist Brandon Leibowitz Brandon Leibowitz runs and operate SEO Optimizers since 2007. We are a digital marketing company that focuses on helping small and medium-sized businesses get more online traffic, which in turn converts into leads, sales, and clients. Connect with Bradon Leibowitz Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrandonLeibs Twitter: https://twitter.com/brandonleibs Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leibowitzbrandon/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonleibowitz/ Website: https://seooptimizers.com/ 

Somewhere in the Middle welcomes Conflict Resolution Coach Jerry Fu Jerry Fu is a conflict resolution coach who helps Asian-American leaders advance in their career and life journeys. Having taken on several pharmacy leadership roles, Jerry started coaching in 2017 to help other Asian-American professionals deal with the conflict they encounter at work, with their culture, and within themselves. Prior to starting his coaching business, Jerry served as a pharmacist and began facilitating leadership workshops in 2012. Today, Jerry offers a range of coaching services, which include individual coaching, group workshops, and keynote presentations.  Connect with Jerry Fu LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jerry-fu-pharmd-acc-53710187/ Website: https://www.adaptingleaders.com

Somewhere in the Middle welcomes Chris Burns, Men Mastermind Coach & Podcast Host Christopher Burns dedicates his life to coaching men to activate their purpose, power, and prosperity. He has been coaching men, entrepreneurs, leaders, and professionals for almost a decade and works with clients 1-on-1, in group coaching, home study courses, and hosts live events, retreats, and masterminds. Christopher's company coaches and teaches men through the “Mastered Man Curriculum™,” where men create their Purpose Manifesto™, start to master the skill of Channeling Power™, download and receive their Prosperity Codes™, and implement the Transcendence Blueprint™ so they can leave their greatest legacy. He has interviewed 800 leaders, influencers, and experts, sharing powerful growth strategies, mindsets, and teachings to empower his audience to find the bigger answers to life, resulting in over 500,000 views and podcast downloads. Today, Christopher is the host of the Mastering The Man Within Podcast™ and the founder of the Men Mastermind™, a brotherhood dedicated to empowering men to become the ultimate creators of their reality, designing and living a life of success and fulfillment in every area of life that matters most to them! As Christopher says, “It's time to LEVEL UP!” Connect with Chris Burns Facebook: http://Facebook.com/Th3Burns Instagram: http://Instagram.com/iAmMillionaireChris LinkedIn: http://LinkedIn.com/in/ChristopherCBurns Website: http://MenMastermind.com

Somewhere in the Middle welcomes Sam Thiara, Founder & Chief Motivating Officer at Ignite the Dream Coaching and Consulting   Sam Thiara is a professional who has created a personal journey as a coach, speaker, storyteller, writer, workshop facilitator, educator, and entrepreneur. His goal is to engage individuals in personal and professional development. He was recognized by the Governor-General of Canada with the Canadian Sovereign's Volunteer Medal and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. His work is reflected in the hundreds of individuals he has mentored and the thousands he has engaged. Added to this are the 45+ non-profits he has worked with over the years. Sam is currently working on numerous projects. His area of expertise is engaging with post-secondary institutions, administrators, educators, students, and alumni to support the journey of all and the collaboration required to support each area. He is also called upon to help with organizational alignment and company improvements. Presently, Sam is the Founder and Chief Motivating Officer at Ignite the Dream Coaching and Consulting, a platform that engages his audience to define their path. He is a lecturer at the Beedie School of Business at Simon Fraser University. Sam blends academic and professional experiences into a rich environment that captivates his audience. He also spent many years in administration, building a unique program focusing on activities outside the classroom. He saw a transformation of a student population from disengagement to active engagement. Sam's signature tagline is, “Everyone's life is an autobiography. Make yours worth reading.” Connect with Sam Thiara Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sam.thiara.site Twitter: https://twitter.com/Sam_Thiara Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samthiara LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sthiara Website: http://sam-thiara.com

Gunther Mueller discusses turning thoughts into things Optimal (Physical & Mental) Health Strategist, Gunther Mueller, has spent the better part of the last decade working closely with over 300 medical professionals in a variety of specialties, assisting them in bringing life-changing therapies to their patients that help them Feel Young, Healthy, and Vibrant again. Gunther enjoys living in Anthem, AZ, and loves to Ski (water and snow), kite surf, hike, bike, read, and experience the life he loves in the American Southwest. Gunther delivers the education, insights, understandings, and sometimes complex information in a simple, easy-to-understand conversation that inspires people to act and take charge of their own life now. Today, Gunther is extremely excited to be sharing the revolutionary Magnetic Mind Method that is taking the personal development movement by storm so that his clients can learn how to turn “Thoughts Into Things” and become Conscious Creators so that they also can live a life that they absolutely LOVE! Having the “Entrepreneurial Spirit” for the past 30 years, Gunther has been involved in several different industries, created, bought & sold businesses, and earned millions of dollars in the process, which gives him a unique perspective and ability to see things differently and to coach his clients through sometimes daunting problems and life situations. Gunther has been personally mentored by Chris Duncan, the creator of the Magnetic Mind Method, and is certified to assist others in learning how to manifest a life that they love in all aspects magically. Connect with Gunther Mueller Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mueller.gunther/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gunthermueller/  Website: https://DreamLifeMasters.com 

Author and TED speaker Nathaniel A. Turner discusses rearing children to excel Author and TED speaker Nathaniel A. Turner, JD, MALS, is a self-described “Humanity Propulsion Engineer.” Nate is the author of several books, including the children's book series “The Amazing World of STEM” and his history-making book “Raising Supaman.” Turner's appeared in many media outlets, including The Washington Post, Black Enterprise, Fatherly, iHeartRadio, The Good Men Project, Sirius XM, and U.S. News & World Report. Corporations, municipalities, and NGOs like Anthem, Inc., the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the National Education Association, U.S. Department of Education, the City of Indianapolis, and the National Society of Black Engineers invite Nate to share his practical message for living the life we've always imagined while also serving the greater good. A modern-day Renaissance Man, as evidenced by the diversity of his education, including a bachelor's in accounting, masters in history and theology, and doctorate of jurisprudence combined with a wide range of personal experiences and professions, are only part of what makes his wide-ranging presentations “can't miss” events. What truly sets Nate apart from others is his unique often comical ability not only to see the world differently but to challenge his audiences in an edutaining way to live outside the box so that the world might be able to experience us at our very best. As a zealous advocate that every person has an opportunity to maximize their human potential, Nate regularly shares through books, courses, workshops, and conferences a backward design life process initially created to help his unborn child become an intellectually ambitious, great global citizen who would meet the rigorous educational requirements of the top colleges and universities without means of wealth, privilege, legacy status, fraud, bribery, cheating or Adobe Photoshop. Turner's son not only met Harvard's admission benchmarks (i.e., test scores in the top 1%, 33 college credits by his junior year, proficiency in four languages, left home after his junior year to play soccer in Brazil; and started a foundation to address teen homelessness); he eviscerated the profiled criterion by his sixteenth birthday. At present, Turner's son is a fourth-year Electrical and Computer Engineering Ph.D. candidate at one of the world's premier graduate engineering schools. Today, those tools, techniques, and strategies initially created to help his Gen-Zer thrive in the Fourth Industrial Revolution are educational and life development staples for students and parents of all ages and organizations worldwide. Through his 501(c)(3), The League of Extraordinary Parents, he provides parents with a template to independently and tactically raise children from conception to college. Nate works to help more children use education to improve their lives, communities, and society at large.  Connect with Nate Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RaisingSupaman Twitter: https://twitter.com/Supamans_Dad Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/supamans_dad/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanielaturner/ Website: https://www.nathanielaturner.com/ Book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B00IKUJ6MU

Sonia Lewis invites us to challenge racism and address the harm it causes From age 7 to now, humanity and belonging are at the center of Sonia's motivation. She is on a mission to rectify the harm and oppression of racism and is unflinching in asking the tough questions, facing uncomfortable truths, and building on equity-driven outcomes. Get ready for a conversation with Sonia Lewis, a mother, wife, influencer, entrepreneur, and all-around unapologetic yet authentic Black magical force to be reckoned with. Connect with Sonia Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ASCRIBEsuccess Twitter:  http://www.twitter.com/AscribeEd Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/ASCRIBEsuccess LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/SoniaLewis Website: www.ascribesuccess.com

Emily Sander joins me on Somewhere in the Middle with Michele Barard Emily Sander has spent more than fifteen years in the business world, but when she realized that her favorite role was mentoring leaders, she decided to pursue coaching. As a C-Suite Executive and ICF-Certified coach, Emily combines her experience and proven insights with a keen ability to understand each client's unique personality and situation. She is the author of the book Hacking Executive Leadership. Connect with Emily LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilysander/  Website: www.nextlevel.coach  Purchase the book Hacking Executive Leadership: Go from insecure, indecisive, and overloaded to confident, influential, and effective.

Rha Arayal, author Encapsulated Emotions joins me on Somewhere in the Middle Rha Arayal is a 17-year-old British Nepalese writer and the author of Encapsulated Emotions. She loves writing poetry and is inspired by classical poets such as Emily Dickinson. She aims to raise awareness and project marginalized voices through her writing. Connect with Rha Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/encapsulated_emotions/  Purchase Encapsulated Emotions on Amazon    

Somewhere in the Middle welcomes Charles Read, CPA and Founder of GetPayroll Charles J Read is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), U.S. Tax Court Practitioner (USTCP), member of the Internal Revenue Service Advisory Council (IRSAC), Veteran, and the Founder of GetPayroll. Mr. Read's companies have provided full-service payroll services, payroll tax services, and other payroll-related services since 1991. Charles is an accomplished senior executive and entrepreneur with more than fifty years of financial leadership experience in a broad range of industries and the author of four books. His latest book The Payroll Book: A Guide for Small Businesses and Startups is currently #25 in Small Business Books section on Amazon. Facebook: http://facebook.com/getpayroll Twitter: http://twitter.com/getpayroll Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getpayroll/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/10964861/ Website: https://getpayroll.com/ Purchase The Payroll Book: A Guide for Small Businesses and Startups online

Financial Advisor Jason Zara joins me on Somewhere in the Middle Jason Zara is a financial advisor with Transamerica/World Financial Group. He is life, health, and securities (Series 6 & 63) licensed and loves working with families to help them find financial independence. He has worked with chambers of commerce for more than five years. He has years of experience in marketing, journalism, and as a small business owner. He has an MBA with a concentration in marketing. He is president of the Fontana Kiwanis Club, the Fontana Chamber of Commerce, and BNI Connect and Thrive (Fontana Chapter).  Jason lives in Fontana, California, with his wife, Kris. They have one daughter, Amber.

BONUS EPISODE: Tax Accountant Damari Gold shares why we should start preparing for the 2022 tax season today Damari Gold has a unique perspective on money and personal finances. She holds a Master's Degree in Accounting and Finance, has been a practicing tax accountant for over ten years, and founded The Gold Standard Accounting & Tax Inc. in Huntington Beach, CA. Damari is passionate about helping small business owners, more specifically women-owned businesses, to understand their money. As a first-generation American and an entrepreneur, she understands the difficulties that are faced. Money goes beyond business; that is why she is determined to help others Be Confident Money Women. Damari can explain money and personal finance's different levels and aspects, whether money mindset, money management, taxes, or just business fundamentals. She has a wealth of knowledge to share. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/damarigold/ Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/damarigold Website: https://damari-gold-consulting.mykajabi.com/

Somewhere in the Middle Welcomes Change-Management Expert and Self-leadership Coach Eric Winters Eric Winters is a self-leadership coach, black-belt hand-washer, speaker, and author with deep knowledge in the science of building courageous and emotionally intelligent mindsets. His know-how is a result of over 20 years of international corporate life, two master's degrees in human behavior change and over 12 years helping leaders and their teams become their best selves to meet workplace challenges effectively. He spends much of his time developing authentically courageous leadership through keynotes, workshops, and individual coaching. Eric is the author of Swipe Right on Your Best Self: Simple Steps to a Bolder Life with Fewer Regrets. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ericwinterscomau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericwinterscomau Website: https://www.ericwinters.com.au/ Find Swipe Right on Your Best Self: Simple Steps to a Bolder Life with Fewer Regrets on Amazon.

Somewhere in the Middle Welcomes Storm Cunningham, Executive Director of RECONOMICS Institute Storm Cunningham is Executive Director of RECONOMICS Institute: The Society of Revitalization & Resilience Professionals, which helps ensure that communities worldwide have certified Revitalization & Resilience Facilitators (RE Facilitators). Look for the “RE” after their names. As editor of REVITALIZATION: The Journal of Economic & Environmental Resilience, Storm tracks the latest trends and techniques in urban/rural regeneration, natural resource restoration, and resilience worldwide. Storm is the author of 2002's The Restoration Economy, which has been hailed by government and business leaders around the world as “Extraordinary”, “Remarkable”, “A modern classic”, “A landmark work”, “Required reading”, and “The most important and valuable business book I have read in many years.” His second book, reWealth, was published by McGraw-Hill in 2008. George Ochs, Director of Real Asset Investment at JP Morgan calls Storm “the world's thought leader on community revitalization and natural resource restoration” and calls reWealth: “The secret weapon…for economic recovery at both local and global scales.” Storm's third book, RECONOMICS: The Path to Resilient Prosperity was published in both paperback and e-book form on January 9, 2020. It's a guide for policymakers, real estate investors, and social entrepreneurs. From 2006-2009 Storm was Distinguished Visiting Professor at Seneca College (Canada's largest college) in Toronto. From 1996 to 2002, he was Director, Strategic Initiatives at the Construction Specifications Institute, a 60+ year-old association of 14,000 architects, engineers, contractors, and manufacturers. A former Green Beret SCUBA medic with the U.S. Army's 7th Special Forces Group, he is an avid SCUBA diver, motorcyclist, and amateur herpetologist. He lives in Arlington, Virginia, USA. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/storm.cunningham Twitter: https://twitter.com/restorm LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/restorm Website: https://StormCunningham.com Buy Reconomics Now on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1657011720

BONUS EPISODE: Tax Accountant Damari Gold shares why we should start preparing for the 2022 tax season today Damari Gold has a unique perspective on money and personal finances. She holds a Master's Degree in Accounting and Finance, has been a practicing tax accountant for over ten years, and founded The Gold Standard Accounting & Tax Inc. in Huntington Beach, CA. Damari is passionate about helping small business owners, more specifically women-owned businesses, to understand their money. As a first-generation American and an entrepreneur, she understands the difficulties that are faced. Money goes beyond business; that is why she is determined to help others Be Confident Money Women. Damari can explain money and personal finance's different levels and aspects, whether money mindset, money management, taxes, or just business fundamentals. She has a wealth of knowledge to share. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/damarigold/ Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/damarigold Website: https://damari-gold-consulting.mykajabi.com/

Somewhere in the Middle Welcomes Damari Gold, Founder of The Gold Standard Accounting & Tax Inc. Damari Gold has a unique perspective on money and personal finances. She holds a Master's Degree in Accounting and Finance, has been a practicing tax accountant for over ten years, and founded The Gold Standard Accounting & Tax Inc in Huntington Beach, CA. Damari is passionate about helping small business owners, more specifically women-owned businesses, to understand their money. As a first-generation American and an entrepreneur, she understands the difficulties that are faced. Money goes beyond business; that is why she is determined to help others Be Confident Money Women. Damari can explain money and personal finance's different levels and aspects, whether money mindset, money management, taxes, or just business fundamentals. She has a wealth of knowledge to share. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/damarigold/ Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/damarigold Website: https://damari-gold-consulting.mykajabi.com/

Petia Kolibova is a women's transformation coach who helps women who have been pushed down and been playing it small due to toxic relationships or unhealed childhood trauma to create a life that is true to them and their soul purpose. Her mission is to help women who are on the path to healing from past wounds move through their limiting beliefs and internal blocks so they can finally do what they want to do, what feels good to them, serve other women in a powerful way online. Petia pairs feminine flow with strategic planning to give entrepreneurs immense clarity + exact steps to transition from side-hustler to CEO. If she is not interviewing on her podcast Unapologetically Abundant, working out, or reading, you will find her in nature disconnecting from the world, connecting to herself. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/unapologeticallyabundant Instagram: www.instagram.com/petiakolibova LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petia-kolibova-coach/ Website: https://petiakolibova.com/

Education Mentor and Author Darrian Tanner Shares Tactics for Better Classroom Management Darrian Tanner is currently an 11th-year secondary education English teacher and a 2nd-year Instructional Mentor in the state of Florida. She was born and raised in East St. Louis, IL, and this is where her love for education truly began as she was inspired by both her teachers and aunts who were educators and administrators in the school district. Darrian graduated from the College of Education at Michigan State University with a B.A. in English Ed and completed the teacher certification program with a yearlong internship at a local high school. Throughout her years of teaching, she came across great success on the school campus whether it was through her student mentorship programs or The Classroom Experience. Darrian was presented with the Florida High Impact Teacher Award two years in a row because of the significant growth in her students' reading and writing state testing scores. She has a philosophy behind these results that's much bigger than a lesson plan or special classroom assignments, and she developed a passion to share these principles with other educators. In 2016, she wrote her first ebook entitled, Finally Some Answers: 50 Classroom Solutions for the Secondary Ed Teacher. Her newest book, Teacher Authority in the Classroom: It's Not a Battle-It's a Bargain, was released in August 2019. In this book, she talks about the perspective of both the educators and students when it comes to understanding teacher authority in the classroom. Three years ago, she developed a strong heart to help other educators in the areas of student behavior and engagement. As a former ambassador for Teach.org and a live and online workshop presenter, Darrian makes a great effort to reach educators and students across the world in hopes of impacting the world in an unforgettable way.

Alan Black shares his journey of surrender to become a Christian author Alan Black grew up in the United Methodist Church. While he proudly embraces his background and personal history within the United Methodist Church, he does not feel that denomination is important. What matters most is the relationship that you have with the Lord. Through the years, if Alan were to describe his relationship with the Lord using one word it would be “transformation” marked by daily growth in his walk with the Lord, and as well continuing to display the fruits of his Spirit. For these times, his attitude and belief are that the world is looking to Christians to see if, in fact, their talk does indeed match their walk. Like all of us, Alan has experienced twists and turns along the road of life. But each step along that road has led him to this point in life to humbly say that he is an author. But being able to say that he is a Christian author is the most important thing of all to him. To everything, there is a time and season. Though Alan was unsure of what was in store for him, Alan sought to be obedient and to trust in the Lord. Alan is now able to show others that God will qualify you and lead you to accomplish what His charge is for you if you can be a willing servant.

Somewhere in the Middle with Michele Barard welcomes Author Keshia Williams Keshia L. Williams loves the arts, music, people, and self-expression. She moved from Newark, NJ, to Atlanta, GA, to start the next chapter of life, moments, and inner peace. She enjoys discussing love, relationships, and raw feelings. Her book Loving with Emotions: You Must Feel Everything is who she is and represents what she has experienced as a child, adolescent, as well as coming into adulthood. Keshia has been writing since she was seven years old and has been told she had a wise soul beyond her years since the age of eight. Keshia had the opportunity to write children’s books as a child, but this option was held back from her without her knowledge. Later, she was told it was because she needed to enjoy her childhood. Keshia wants to share her voice with others to know the spoken word is for healing and that it is okay to release the past and speak out. Keshia wants to give people the opportunity to live out loud, live in their truth, and not be ashamed of who they are because strength is the key to excellence.

Somewhere in the Middle Welcomes Author Michael Kenneth Bell Michael Bell is a author of the recently published book The Occult Meaning of Masonry its Symbols and the Chakra System. He has been a member in good standing of Monarch Lodge no.73, Oakland California Prince Hall Affiliated Free and Accepted Mason's since 2015. He describes himself as "a self-taught symbologist" and has a personal library of close to 500 books as his personal testimonial to this fact. As a spiritualist and metaphysician, he has investigated the world's religions, searching for the common threads of Truth amongst them all. Michael Bell is a proud, loving father of three beautiful children, one of which is his social needs son, who inspired his soon-to-be-released second book entitled, Dayna's BART Book. In August of 2020, Bell began his own publishing company, Pillar Publishing LLC, as the vehicle to empower not only his visions of self-publishing but to help others tackle the hurdles of authorship. For more information, visit https://pillarbookpublishing.com/. 

Somewhere in the Middle Welcomes Financial Strategist Kendall Weaver Kendall Weaver grew up in Decatur, Georgia, which is on the East side of Metro Atlanta, but she hails from the windy city, which is why she considers herself to be a tough-skinned, bittersweet GA peach. Kendall runs a financial consulting firm located in the heart of Atlanta that focuses on empowering women and minorities through financial education and implementation of sound financial strategies. This is a pretty big deal considering Kendall’s family was poor and she became a teen mom by the age of 17. The situation forced Kendall to grow up quickly so she could take care of her new family, but she soon discovered that she wasn’t cut out for the corporate world. After being fired from just about every job she’d ever worked, and after much coaxing by a mentor, she decided to pursue a career in finance. Now she runs offices for one of the largest financial marketing firms in North America and leads a team of multicultural boss ladies. Kendall is no stranger to the mental toughness and perseverance required to tackle the challenging times. After struggling with homelessness, poverty, teen pregnancy, and two divorces, Kendall has mastered the art of manifesting while making it look easy. In addition, Kendall gives back to her community and is currently working on a project to mentor teen mothers through business and entrepreneurship skills.

Somewhere in the Middle with Michele Barard Welcomes Caregiver Life Strategist Denise Bampoe Denise Bampoe is a native New Yorker whose background is colored by her immigrant Caribbean heritage and Southern roots. She spent her youth as a track and field scholar-athlete. This took dedication and as a result, Denise was no stranger to hard work and continually pursued excellence.  Due to her intensive academic and athletic training, she was prepared for the challenges of the fast-paced business world. She gained solid experience after having spent over 15 years in the financial services industry. Even though she cultivated a certain level of business acumen, it didn’t prepare her for what was to come next as a caregiver. A strong foundation for survival was laid but her expertise as a compassionate and resilient advocate was cultivated through her experiences as a caregiver for both of her parents. She soon found herself running to the hospital and patient care facilities for her father who suffered from chronic kidney failure and was on kidney dialysis. Soon thereafter her caregiving duties expanded to include her mother, who was her father’s primary caregiver until diabetic episodes eventually led to leg amputations. This led to a lot of frustrating situations which can be tough on an only child dealing with a lack of support. To her advantage, Denise’s business background helped her to exercise foresight which prompted Denise to tap into resources early enough to begin to prepare for the road ahead. Health and wellness have also become a key priority for Denise especially after witnessing the effects of chronic illness on her parents.  This prompted Denise to establish the wellness and lifestyle platform BeWellBeSwell.com to chronicle her journey and provide resources, tools, support, and information for new and existing caregivers on preparing for caregiving, caregiver self-care, and dealing with post-caregiving. She hopes to build a community that encourages caregivers to remember to take care of themselves while caring for others.  Her goal is to inspire caregivers to seek the daily joys in life despite the challenges that may arise.  By sharing her experiences, Denise is not only a source of support but serves as a resource to only children or "those who feel like only children" who are caring for their elder parents. Denise graduated from SUNY Albany with a degree in Business Administration.  She is a professional coach with a certificate in personal development coaching from The CAPP Institute. Currently, she resides in New York with her husband. As a Distinguished Toastmaster, she also can be found speaking on a stage near you. When she’s not curled up with a good book, Denise can be found dancing in a Zumba class or fine-tuning her kickboxing moves. One of her favorite pastimes includes making scrumptious organic meals as she enjoys delicious culinary flavors.

Author, Speaker, and Diversity Expert Deloria Nelson Streete joins me on Somewhere in the Middle  Deloria Nelson Streete is the President of Authentic Culture and Engagement Solutions, Inc. (ACE). ACE is a dynamic consulting firm that focuses on providing solutions to companies who want to enhance and strengthen their culture through authentic engagement and inclusion. Dee was recently the Managing Director of Diversity & Inclusion for Charles Schwab & Company, where she led the firm’s national Inclusion efforts. Deloria is a published author and fantastic speaker who has worked professionally in Human Resources for more than 25 years with various Fortune 500 companies, including Walt Disney World. Deloria’s personal brand is positive energy, courage, authenticity, and an uplifting spirit. Her workshops and keynotes are engaging, educational, and transformational. Dee has her BA degree in Mass Communications and an MPA in Human Resources from Clark Atlanta University. Her commitment to Diversity & Inclusion stems from her personal mission statement, which encapsulates helping people find and leverage their unique gifts. You will find Deloria writing poetry, spoiling her twin granddaughters, or on the farm with her husband, children, and adorable goats in her spare time.

Sharon Mae King, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of SharonKingWorldWide.com, joins me on Somewhere in the Middle with Michele Barard Sharon Mae King is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of SharonKingWorldWide.com and the author of This is my Introduction from Me to You. Remember Me? She was a professional actress in New York City before moving into public relations with Sain-City Magazine. King is involved in civic and professional organizations, such as the African American Art Museum, and was recognized by the Cambridge Who’s Who Registry of Executives, Professionals, and Entrepreneurs as a VIP in the 2011 – 2012 edition. A lifetime member of the International Women’s Leadership Association, King was named Top Female Executive by Successful Women Making a Difference. She also has been featured in several magazines, including Ellements, Diversity New Magazine, and Sain-City. King majored in Legal Studies at Western International University. One of her dreams was to become a Criminal Prosecuting Attorney. She has kept her dream alive by working at a law firm in the greater Los Angeles area. She currently works for the State of California as the Judge Secretary. Although King is a successful author, actress, producer, director, entrepreneur, and speaker, her primary joy comes from being a mother. As King has often said, “There is a vision for my life greater than my imagination could hold!”

Diane Sears, the founder of "In Search of Fatherhood" and Prison Reform Advocate, joins me on Somewhere in the Middle Diane A. Sears is the United States Coordinator for International Men’s Day, a position she has held since 2009 and the inaugurator of the International Day of Prayer for Men and Boys which is observed in November and launches the United States’ observance of International Men’s Day.   In October 1999, Sears launched IN SEARCH OF FATHERHOOD®, a quarterly international Fatherhood and Men’s Issues Journal which moderates a Global Dialogue on Fatherhood. The concept for IN SEARCH OF FATHERHOOD® was created by Sears’ mentor, the late L.T. Henry, a classically trained jazz musician who briefly performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra and was a former drummer for internationally acclaimed songstress and film and television actress Ms. Della Reese. L.T. Henry also was and author; a photojournalist; and a sales and success motivation trainer   Mr. Henry envisioned a world in which Men from All Walks of Life would work together, support one another, and share solutions to address the unique issues, directly and indirectly, related to parenting from a male perspective. Ms. Sears has spent the past 18 years resurrecting Mr. Henry’s vision and perpetuating his legacy. 

ENCORE PRESENTATION Christian Coach, Author, and Inspirational Speaker Dr. Kendra Davis-Burch helps women change their lives for the better Dr. Kendra Davis-Burch is a 1999 & 2009 graduate of Winston-Salem State University. She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology (1999) & a Master of Science Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling (2009). She is also a 2016 graduate of Apex School of Theology where she earned a Master of Divinity Degree. Kendra earned a Doctor of Ministry Degree in Biblical Studies at Apex School of Theology May 2017. In 2010, Kendra established K*METAMORPHOSIS, a Christian counseling organization whose vision, mission and philosophy were birthed out of the desire to fill a much-needed treatment gap in the community. The organization’s mission is to utilize a holistic approach to restore fallen humanity. This organization believes that individuals; despite their past are capable of transforming spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally. In 2012, Kendra became a published author. Her book Rivers of Life, a collection of life-changing sermons and homilies; has been said to be a resource that will empower you and inspire you to bounce back from anything. Many have described it as a spiritual vitamin that will rejuvenate, revitalize and refresh you! Kendra has released her second book NO MORE DISCOUNTS: “Lessons Learned Living Single!” A therapeutic tool used by many who have found themselves in the vicious cycle of abuse and toxic relationships, while seeking love and happiness. Kendra’s transparency in this book has empowered others to heal, forgive and move beyond the pain to find their purpose! In May of 2017, Kendra released her third literary project PRAY MORE, TALK LESS.