Strong Life Coach Podcast: Recent Episodes
Derek Daniel Guajardo
Each episode, author and business coach - Derek Daniel Guajardo - hosts a dynamic attorney, showcasing their inspiring journey. As the story unfolds, Derek highlights the universal principles of success to ensure the listeners obtain maximum value from the interview.
Ally was born and raised in New York, before heading to Philadelphia and graduating from Villanova University. She eventually left the East Coast for San Diego, where she earned her law degree from the University of San Diego School of Law with a concentration in criminal litigation.
Ally got her first taste of criminal law at the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office in college, before pivoting to criminal defense in law school and never looking back. Having seen cases prepared and tried from both sides of the courtroom, Ally knows how to evaluate her cases from all angles and strategize relentlessly to ensure the best results for her clients.
Ally has practiced criminal defense on both the state and federal level. Having handled various types of cases in every stage of the defense process, she understands the care and attention that every person accused of a crime needs and deserves. Ally is proud to have the opportunity to defend people in their darkest hour, and does not take her responsibility as a defense attorney lightly. She knows that at the end of the day, the most gratifying part of her job is being able to help her clients navigate our complicated legal system.
Since 2021, Ally has also served as an Adjunct Professor of Criminal Law at the University of San Diego’s School of Law Paralegal Program.
Agustin Peña, raised in the City Heights community, earned his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from San Diego State University in 2009, and law degree from California Western School of Law in 2012. Agustin is currently a San Diego County Deputy District Attorney assigned to the Major Narcotics Division where he works with state, local, and federal agencies in prosecuting offenses involving the manufacturing, transportation, and importation of narcotics. Prior to his assignment with Major Narcotics, Agustin prosecuted domestic violence and elder abuse cases in the Family Protection Division. Throughout his career, Agustin has prosecuted a variety of sensitive cases including homicides, carjackings, sexual assault, and other crimes of violence. In 2021, he was the only government attorney awarded the San Diego Business Journal’s “Leaders in Law” award, and in 2022 California Western School of Law’s “Adjunct Professor of the Year” for the L.L.M. program. Since 2014, Agustin has frequently trained law students, attorneys, judges, and law enforcement personnel from Latin America on successful investigative and prosecution techniques, as well as the rules of evidence and effective presentation of evidence in court proceedings. He continues to serve his community as the current President of the San Diego La Raza Lawyers Association, and is also an adjunct professor for University of San Diego School of Law, and Thomas Jefferson School of Law.
Gilberto was born and raised in Miami. He attended Florida International University for undergraduate studies as well as the College of Law. He enjoys running and has completed multiple marathons. As a son of immigrant parents, he feels the strong connection to the South Florida community and is always available to lend a helping hand and guidance, no matter how big or small your case is.
Kiara Santos is the founder and managing attorney of Santos Legal Group. Kiara’s career in law began over seven years ago when she started working at a large firm as a paralegal assistant. While in law school, she transitioned to a small law office. Her externship at this small law office really engrained in her the importance and great need to bring generational wealth building knowledge and the importance of ownership to minority communities, as well as young entrepreneurs and creatives. Prior to founding Santos Legal Group, she created her own business and provided legal consulting services to a number of other small to mid-size companies. Kiara’s varying experience and exposure to Business and Trademarks law makes her a well-rounded attorney who understands business owners’ comprehensive needs.
She is passionate; she is genuine; she is insightful; she is a California attorney; she purposefully invests in personal development; she motivates; she educates; she captivates as a speaker; she’s deeply introspective; she is insanely entertaining; she is Ashley Laiken.
Attorney Ashley Laiken joins me for part 2 of her story. I’m convinced this one will empower you in your journey.
She's graceful in all she does; she's genuine; she's considerate; she extends power to women and aspiring attorneys. She is Taly Goody.
Attorney Taly Goody returns to the Podcast after three years to discuss her Iranian roots, suffering a miscarriage, her daughter, her husband joining the firm at Goody Law Group, her political perspective, and more!
Isadora Velazquez, Esq. was not born in the United States. In fact, she was born in Puerto Rico to a Puerto Rican father and a Venezuelan mother. Her experiences played a role in her decision to pursue a career goal of assisting immigrants who wish to fulfill their American dream. It was with this goal in mind that she studied for a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Spanish from the University of Miami and eventually a Juris Doctor degree from The Dickinson School of Law in Pennsylvania State University where she received various merit scholarships.
Isadora did not stop pursuing knowledge and experience after she graduated. Instead, she continued to learn and grow as an attorney who is dedicated to helping potential immigrants. She served as an Assistant State Attorney at the Miami State’s Attorney’s Office. She developed litigation skills during her time there as she argued motions and participated in courtrooms as a trial attorney. She also prepared trial, wrote appellate court briefs and memoranda, and worked as an associate attorney at Rudd and Diamond, P.A.. While working as an associate attorney, she legally represented clients from all walks of life in civil litigation matters. She was responsible for handling pre-trial discovery for around forty bodily injury and property damage cases. She also dealt with several tasks including conducting depositions, arguing pre-trial motions, preparing jury instructions, arguing motions, and many more.
Isadora is a former partner at Aigen & Velazquez, P.A. where she focused on personal injury representation that catered to each client’s specific needs. She sought to assist her clients in receiving the compensation they deserved for medical bills, lost wages, emotional distress, and other damages.
Before founding Isa Law, she also gained experience as an immigration lawyer at various law firms. At Eran Ben Ezra, P.A., she helped clients obtain difficult work visas and renewals by writing visa application essays on their behalf. Isadora researched and gathered evidence to defend political asylum and religious persecution cases. She also wrote appellate court briefs and obtained approvals for change and adjustment of status applications. Isadora also served as the only immigration attorney at Trujillo Vargas Gonzales, LLP.
Now, Isadora has more than a decade of experience in immigration law. She has represented and continues to represent clients in removal proceedings, cancellation of removal, asylum, naturalization, adjustment of status, and other cases. Additionally, thanks to her years of experience working at different law firms, Isadora has gained a lot of knowledge in various areas of law. Her time as an associate lawyer gave her successful litigation skills as a trial attorney. In fact, she has worked with respected law specialists as she practiced Insurance Defense. Isadora’s expertise in all of these areas gives her an edge in representing her clients as she is capable of giving comprehensive solutions and advice in all areas of law.
Isadora has not forgotten about her resolve to help aspiring immigrants reach their American dream. She founded Isa Law to help clients navigate all the complexities involved in the immigration process. Immigration law is considered to be one of the most complicated areas of law in the United States. However, thanks to Isadora’s experience and extensive studying, Isa Law is more than capable of assisting clients in favorably settling their immigration matters. She brings all the skills, knowledge, and expertise needed to help people reach their immigration dreams.
Byron was born and raised in Long Island, New York. He is a proud descendant of two working-class Guatemalan parents who arrived in the United States in the 1980s and went through the process of becoming legal United States citizens, wanting a better life for their family. Byron witnessed first-hand how complicated the immigration process can be and how the language barrier is a massive issue for many, miscommunications causing the individual to miss dates and not understand procedures or what to do next. Byron acknowledges that he wants to recompense his parent’s struggles to achieve the American Dream by serving as a voice and a gladiator in the courtroom on behalf of his clients.
The struggles that his clients experience with the continuing complicated immigration process empowered Byron to gain a broad cultural awareness, which motivated Byron to help the same working-class Latino communities with their legal matters near and dear to his heart.
Byron’s dedication to helping others is a testament to his work. Byron is fluent in Spanish, and he has appeared as a legal advisor to educate the Latino community on the continuing changes to the immigration laws, as they happen quickly and can significantly affect people’s lives, on monumental television networks, such as Telemundo, Univision, and other national Latino mornings programs such as Vision Latina and TV Azteca. Byron serves as the point of contact in his Great Neck community for non-native speakers and those who need legal representation, and he opens the door to clients who continue to struggle to access it. Byron’s clients chose to work with his boutique law firm because of his extreme diligence, keen eye for detail, commitment to his client’s needs, and confidence in his approach to solutions to his client’s matters.
Attorney Irving Pedroza has dedicated his life to helping people feel less broken. Irving is a skilled and accomplished lawyer who practices in courts all over the State of California. Irving has litigated hundreds of cases and recovered millions for his injured clients. Irving was the first in his family to ever attend college. After College, he stayed in San Diego for Law School and went to California Western School of Law.
Irving Pedroza was born in Guerrero, Mexico from humble beginnings. At the age of six his parents immigrated to the United States, to Escondido, CA, where he grew up. Irving’s family struggled with poverty, his older brother was diagnosed with schizophrenia as a child, and Irving saw his mother be a victim of domestic violence. Due to the struggles, Irving has dedicated his life to helping others, through the justice system or during his spare time.
Irving is a relentless and passionate advocate for his community. He serves as a Director and Motivational Speaker with PowerMentor, a non-profit organization that focuses on developing young leaders through mentorship. Additionally, Irving sits on the board of directors for Youth Will, an organization whose focus is to equip the youth with the necessary skills to drive social change through projects, community outreach, and leadership training.
In his free time Irving enjoys meditating, reading, and watching sports.
Mikaela is from Long Beach, California, and attended the University of California, Davis, where she double majored in International Relations and Sociology.
Mikaela took a gap year after her undergraduate career and began working at The Simon Law Group in 2017 as an Administrative Assistant. While there, she knew she wanted to spend her days advocating and giving a voice to those who have been injured. With this reignited passion, she applied to Law School.
Since Mikaela always viewed school as an excuse to get to know a new place, she moved to Kentucky and attended the University of Kentucky College of Law. During her three years in Kentucky, she was an Ambassador for the College of Law and volunteered with Court Appointment Special Advocates. Mikaela spent both of her summers as a Law Clerk at the Department of Public Advocacy’s Trial Office. Mikaela also completed an Externship with the Department of Public Advocacy’s Innocence Project, where she advocated for wrongly convicted individuals. Mikaela was also a Research Assistant for Professor Blanche Cook where she worked on Sex Trafficking as well as 4th Amendment issues. During her last year of Law School, she worked as a Certified Legal Intern for the University of Kentucky College of Law Legal Clinic, where she advised, counseled, and represented indigent clients. She did all of this, while continuing to work remotely as a Law Clerk for The Simon Law Group. Mikaela graduated from the University of Kentucky College of Law in May 2021 and received the Pro Bono Award for completing 120 pro bono hours.
Law School allowed Mikaela the space and time to develop her passion. She wants to spend her life and energy advocating for Justice for her clients, and The Simon Law Group gives her the opportunity to do just that.
Laila Ghauri is the principal attorney and founder of the firm. She focuses her practice in trademarks, small business advising, and government contracts. She has experience in trademark prosecution and litigation, UDRP administrative proceedings, bid protests and claims in government contract matters, False Claims Act litigation, advising small to mid-size companies in protecting their intellectual property, and has aided nonprofits and start ups with formation and business strategy. Previously, she worked for large firms and government agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
She devotes her time to her local community and is a dedicated contributor of the Maryland Pro Bono Resource Center and the DC Bar’s pro bono services for small businesses and non-profits. Over the past decade, Laila has taught as a university professor and is a published author. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in law and religion. She has native fluency in English, Urdu, Hindi, and Punjabi. She lives in Maryland with her husband. In her free time, she loves writing fiction, painting, international travel, meditation, and practicing yoga.
Byron A. Quintanilla, Esq. operates his law practice in New York City and Long Island, assisting clients with their accidents, workers’ compensation, real estate, and immigration matters. Byron’s law practice is focused on bringing efficient, predictable and cost-effective results. Byron’s team handles complex matters of litigation on a wide spectrum of issues. Byron and his team serve as trusted advisers to his clients throughout the state of New York.
Andrew Leventhal is a dynamic, passionate, and charismatic criminal defense lawyer. Andrew spent the first seven years of his career battling in the courtroom trenches as a Los Angeles Public Defender. Here, Andrew developed a reputation for being a fearless trial lawyer. In 2015, Andrew left public practice and created THE LEVENTHAL FIRM; he has defended thousands of criminal cases and conducted many jury trials involving everything from DUI and domestic violence to theft and murder. Andrew’s legal knowledge and passion for justice has led him to a 90% jury trial non-conviction rate.
Andrew loves the underdog and fights for his clients to the end. He treats his clients like family and advocates for them like they’re his own flesh and blood. Andrew earned invitations into the National Trial Lawyers “Top 100 Criminal Defense Trial Lawyers” club for the past six years in a row. He also received the Super Lawyers “Rising Stars” Award in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021. The Rising Stars list recognizes no more than 2.5 percent of attorneys in each state. In addition to the Top 100 and Super Lawyers honors, Pasadena Magazine named Andrew a “Top Attorney” for criminal defense every year he has been in private practice; and, Attorney at Law Magazine recently (Jan. 2021) featured Andrew in a cover story entitled: “Against all Odds”. Andrew was also re-selected among America’s Top 100 Criminal Defense Attorneys for Southern California in 2019 and 2020. The American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys selected Andrew as one of the “10 Best Attorneys” for California in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. And, last but not least, the American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys selected THE LEVENTHAL FIRM in 2020 as one of the “10 best law firms” for the practice area of criminal defense – an accomplishment that requires “an impeccable client satisfaction rating.” Andrew truly strives to be regarded as one of the best criminal defense attorneys in U.S. history.
Andrew Leventhal has dedicated his life to defending people. His strong reputation, vast network and authentic approach separates him from the rest. Andrew is direct and to the point. He is respectful and respected. You will know if he can help.
Attorney Teresa Gutierrez is founder and owner of Teresa Gutierrez Law - a Southern California wills, trusts, and probate law firm that helps clients plan for the transfer of their wealth to the next generation and that helps protect clients’ assets from court proceedings during their lifetimes. Teresa is ready and able to speak with you in English or Spanish at: tg@teresagutierrezlaw.com or (310) 503-6492.
Lizbeth Mateo has been an immigrant rights organizer for over 10 years, and currently runs an immigration and worker’s compensation legal practice in Los Angeles, California. Born in a Zapotec community in Oaxaca (wahaca), Mexico, Lizbeth became one of the first undocumented young people to risk deportation to demand passage of the Dream Act, when she was arrested in 2010 during a sit-in inside the office of Senator John McCain. In 2013, a few weeks before starting law school, Lizbeth and two other organizers traveled to Mexico and returned with six previously deported youth; all 9 successfully returned home to the U.S. after spending 17 days in an Arizona detention center. The first in her family to graduate from college, Lizbeth earned her J.D. from Santa Clara University School of Law in 2016 and got sworn in as an attorney in June 2017 by then Senate President Pro-Tem Kevin the Leon.
Despite meeting the requirements for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, the Obama Administration denied Lizbeth’s DACA application 8 days before Donald Trump’s inauguration. As an attorney and owner of the Law Office of Lizbeth Mateo, Lizbeth has helped many immigrants like herself apply for DACA, work permits, and to become legal permanent residents and citizens. She has also represented immigrants who are detained or living in sanctuary.
Isadora Velazquez, Esq. is an AV Board Certified Immigration Attorney, was born in Puerto Rico to a Puerto Rican father and Venezuelan mother.
She decided at a young age her career goal would be to assist immigrants who wish to make the US not a dream but a reality.
Isadora has over ten years of experience in immigration law representing individuals, in removal proceedings, cancellation of removal, asylum, adjustment of status, naturalization, as well as labor certification, Intra-Company Transfer Visas, Professional Visas and Specialty Visas.
Sharifa Tharpe is the daughter of wonderful Jamaican Immigrants. She’s now a Florida based attorney who runs a nationwide immigration practice at S.T. Law Office, dedicated to helping clients to gain permanent residence and status in the United States. She graduated with her J.D. from University of Minnesota Law School and a Master of Laws in Taxation from the University of Florida
Attorney Silvia Luna owns Luna Legal Firm which is a Los Angeles based Latina Owned Plaintiff’s Employment, Personal Injury, and Civil Rights Law Firm. But Silvia is not defined by her practice. A believer in paying it forward, Silvia also sits on the Board of the Latina Lawyers Bar Association, a non-profit organization that provides scholarships to Latina Law students and support to Latinas at all stages of their legal career. Similarly, Silvia serves as a Deputy for the National Hispanic Bar Association (Region XVIII), a non-profit organization that helps Hispanic law students and alumnae advance in their legal careers. During her spare time, Silvia enjoys hiking/trail running, camping/backpacking, reading, and spending quality time with her kids.
Attorney Vanessa Clark was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico and she is the founder and principal attorney of Clark Law PLCC in Orlando, Florida. She focuses her practice on Estate Planning, Cryptocurrency, and Personal Injury. Vanessa is active in her community – she serves on the Board of the Hispanic Bar Association of Central Florida, she was one of a few Latina Attorneys chosen to participate in the Hispanic National Bar Association’s Latina Leadership Academy, and she is a huge extrovert who enjoys working with people and providing an unparalleled client experience.
Laurore B. Jean Pierre Esq is not a typical estate planning and business attorney; she is also a licensed financial advisor. Laurore is the founding partner of the first and only combined law firm with a registered financial advisory firm, JP Law and Wealth Advisors PLLC. Laurore is no stranger to being the first, as the first attorney in her family, she has always accepted the challenges and remained focused and disciplined. Her persistence is the key to her success.
Pamela Vallero is a trial attorney at Gruenberg Law. Pamela fights for the rights of those who have been subjected to unlawful discrimination, wrongful termination, and retaliation. Pamela is a native Spanish speaker and routinely counsels clients in that language.
Pamela grew up in Medellin, Colombia and moved back to the U.S. in her teens. She is a first generation American, college graduate, and now attorney. Her parents are both Colombian and now reside on the East Coast. She is one of three sisters.
Pamela joined Gruenberg Law in 2017. Since then, Pamela has worked as trial counsel recovering millions for her clients. As trial counsel, Pamela recently obtained a $1.1 million jury verdict for a janitor who suffered disability discrimination by her employer, a large national company. It was the second largest civil rights jury verdict in San Diego County in 2019. Pamela has accumulated a track record of standing up to businesses that violate the law.
Prior to joining Gruenberg Law, Pamela served as a Law Clerk to the Honorable Charles W. Dortch, Jr., in the Superior Court of New Jersey. Before becoming a judicial law clerk, Pamela served as a judicial extern to both Magistrate Judge William V. Gallo and District Court Judge Roger T. Benitez, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California.
Pamela obtained her B.S. from Georgia Southern University in 2007 and then received her J.D. from Thomas Jefferson School of Law in 2015. She lived in Korea between 2008 and 2012 where she taught Spanish and English.
Pamela maintains memberships with the following organizations for attorneys: the California Lawyers’ Association Labor and Employment Law Section; the San Diego County Bar Association; San Diego La Raza Association; Consumer Attorneys of San Diego; San Diego Lawyers’ Club; Women of Color in the Law; the American Bar Association; the Federal Bar Association, Latinas in the Law; and The Louis M. Welsh American Inn of Court.
Pamela has been a speaker at employment law-focused seminars with Ellevate Network, the Military Spouse J.D. Network, Las Valientes – God’s Heart Ministries. Pamela routinely speaks on Spanish-speaking radio and television networks, including La Poderosa and NBC San Diego.
In her spare time, Pamela enjoys exploring new things with her six-month-old daughter, Olivia, going to the dog beach with her puppy, Goku, and playing chess and scrabble with her husband, David.
Email: pam@gruenberglaw.com
IG handle: @pamvallero which will soon become @ladefensoradeltrabajador
Evelyn Hahn is a compassionate immigration attorney and a Managing Partner at David Hirson & Partners, LLP, which is a full-service immigration law firm, headquartered in Costa Mesa, California with branch offices in Seattle, Washington and New York City, managing around 20 staff internally and assisting both corporate and individual clients from over 30+ countries.
Her passion in immigration law deeply ingrained in her because she was one of them and personally underwent the same immigration process herself. Having a full understanding of how difficult, challenging and complex the entire immigration process can be based on her personal experience, her goal is to help each of her clients, both corporate and individual clients, to expand into new opportunities, overcome obstacles, and ultimately achieve their immigration goals in the U.S. She truly believes in helping her corporate clients move around/hire talented foreign national employees to work on their critical projects in the U.S. as well as individual clients achieve their American Dream just like she did.
She represents both corporate/business clients and individual clients on all aspects of immigration law, including business, investment, and family immigration as well as immigration litigation.
Evelyn represents small, mid-size and large companies, both domestic and multinational companies, hospitals and other healthcare related facilities, entertainment companies, as well as non-profit and religious organizations and successfully filed hundreds of employment-based non-immigrant visas, including E-2, H-1B, J-1, K-1, L-1, O-1, R-1, and TN visas as well as immigrant visas, including PERM labor certifications, and EB-1 (EB-1-1, EB-1-2, and EB-1-3), EB-2 including the National Interest Waivers, EB-3, and EB-4 immigrant petitions. She also advises her corporate clients about the immigration consequences of mergers, acquisitions, corporate restructuring, employer sanctions, and immigration law audits including labor condition applications and I-9 verification.
She also focuses her practice on EB-5 investment immigration, representing both individual investors on I-526’s and I-829’s and regional centers and project developers on all aspects of the EB-5 program, including regional center creation, establishment of new EB-5 projects by filing the Form I-924’s, and the EB-5 program compliance in general.
Evelyn also has significant litigation experience in representing immigration clients in federal court, successfully filing writ of mandamus actions and securing temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions until such cases ultimately reach a settlement, resulting in final approvals.
Evelyn has spoken at several conferences, seminars, webinars and other speaking engagements, covering various immigration topics. She is licensed to practice law in California and District of Columbia. She is fluent in English and Korean.
The firm’s website is www.hirson.com, her email is evelynh@hirson.com, her Instagram is attorney_evelynh, and her profile is available on LinkedIn as well.
Esther S. Noh passionately practices immigration and nationality law. Ms. Noh is a first generation Korean-American who grew up in Anchorage, Alaska.
Ms. Noh focuses her practice on defending immigrants in complex removal proceedings before the Executive Office of Immigration Review (EOIR), who face the threat of deportation. She has successfully sought bonds for clients from ICE detention facilities and defended clients in removal proceedings.
Ms. Noh also counsels domestic and foreign businesses and investors in obtaining business related visas for their workforce. Ms. Noh specializes in E-2 nonimmigrant investor petitions. She has vast experience with clients across diverse industries including consumer goods, technology, engineering, oil and gas services, manufacturing, and transportation.
Ms. Noh received her J.D. from Thurgood Marshall School of Law. Additionally, Ms. Noh studied immigration law abroad at the University of Puerto Rico Law School in San Juan, Puerto Rico. While in law school, she was selected for a fellowship at Equal Justice Works of America serving indigent clients at Lone Star Legal Aid in Houston, Texas. She was also selected by the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund to join the Immigrant Access to Justice Department in New York, New York.
Ms. Noh co-founded the first Korean American Bar Association of Texas and serves as the president, serves as legal counsel for the Board of Directors for the Korean Language School in Houston and serves as the community liaison for the Korean American Society of Houston. Ms. Noh enjoys skiing, playing tennis, and traveling.
More information about Esther Noh and her law firm can be found on her website, esnlawfirm.com, IG @esnlawfirm, FB @esnlawfirm and tiktok at @esnlawfirm.
Taly is a Los Angeles native and the founder of Goody Law Group, LLP. She was raised by Iranian immigrant parents in Torrance, California and is fluent in Farsi. She attended the University of California, Irvine (UCI), where she was President of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. She graduated from UC Irvine with a BA in International Studies with a focus on Africa & the Middle East.
Taly attended the Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego. There, she received the Witkin Award for Academic Excellence for her legal writing class. During law school, she was a member of MELSA (Middle Eastern Law School Association) and later became the President of MELSA. She graduated law school cum laude in 2014. Thereafter, Taly began working at a boutique law firm in Century City, specializing in art transactions and business litigation.
Taly always knew she wanted to be a leader and business owner, so she started her own law firm in September 2019 focusing primarily on personal injury and employment law. In addition to running her own law firm, Taly mentors many aspiring lawyers from high school, college, law school, and beyond. She hosts monthly seminars for prospective law students on various legal topics. More information about Taly and Goody Law Group can be found at www.GoodyLawGroup.com Follow Taly on TikTok at @TalyGoodyEsq, on Instagram @TalyGoodyEsq, and her law firm account on Instagram is @GoodyLawGroup.
Kimberley Felton is a 2018 graduate of Albany Law School
with a Juris Doctor in the Law. Prior to attending Albany
Law, she graduated from the College of Saint Rose with a
Bachelor’s in political science & history. Kim has known
since a young age that going into the legal field was her
calling. Upon stumbling into immigration law in August
2016, she has never looked back. She graduated law
school with over 1,300 hours of pro bono service and vast
immigration experience. In June 2019, she started a business called Innovation Litigation, providing contract-based work to immigration lawyers. Once she had a taste of running a business, she was certain that she wanted to run a firm. In October 2020 she opened Onward Immigration, a virtual immigration law firm that serves immigrants seeking to gain status in the United States. She was admitted to practice in the State of Minnesota in August 2020, which is when she got to work building Onward Immigration. She spends her time learning how to better serve the immigration community, seeking to find various avenues to help each client obtain their ultimate immigration goal. Onward Immigration seeks to change the game for what it means to have an immigration attorney, and to change the fractured trust between the immigration community and the legal profession. Kim resides in New York with her husband and their kids. She is the mom of two boys, both who she had during law school & immediately after graduating. In addition, she has two fur babies named Bubba & Loki.
To get ahold of Kim or Onward Immigration:
https://onwardimmigrationlaw.com
(347) 669-2730
hello@onwardimmigrationlaw.com
For contract legal services through Innovation Litigation:
https://innovationlitigation.com
hello@innovationlitigation.com
Nina is an Associate Partner at Dabdoub Law Firm, a Miami-based plaintiff’s disability insurance and ERISA law firm. Born in Chile and raised in Miami, Florida, Geannina (Nina) Burgos is a first-generation lawyer. She has dedicated her entire legal career to representing those who are entitled to disability benefits from insurance companies. Nina represents clients nationwide through the entire process: from filing an initial claim to appealing disability denials to litigating benefits in federal and state courts. While majority of the cases that Nina handles fall under a federal law called the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), she also handles individual disability claims governed by state law. Because her legal career has focused on one area of the law, Nina has significant experience handling just about any disability issue. She has represented clients with disability claims with every major disability insurance company in the United States, and she has acquired extensive knowledge on many medical conditions, including Trigeminal neuropathy, Myasthenia Gravis, Chronic Migraines, ME/CFS, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Back Pain, and Parkinson’s Disease to name a few.
Education & Background Nina is a classically trained ballet, modern, and flamenco dancer. Before going to law school, she managed a multi-site nonprofit arts education organization for several years and danced professionally in local companies. Nina holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Communications and a MBA in Entrepreneurship.
A graduate of Florida International College of Law’s evening program, Nina received the CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Mediation—the highest honor for the course. During her studies she served as the vice-president of FIU Law’s Women’s Law Society and had a summer judicial clerkship under the Honorable Judge Barbara Lagoa in the Third District Court of Appeal. As a participant in FIU Law’s Community Development Clinic, she provided legal guidance to local South Florida small businesses and non-profit organizations. Several organizations awarded Nina academic fellowships during law school including Young Lawyers’ Division of the Florida Bar, the American Society of Public Administrators, the Florida Association of Women Lawyers, and the Ruden McClosky Foundation.
Nina is an active member of the non-profit arts community, sitting on the boards of multiple culture-driven organizations and has volunteered as a grant panelist for several cultural funding institutions. She serves as a mentor for business and law students as well as recent graduates. Nina is proud to have returned to her alma mater, serving as an adjunct professor of legal writing at FIU Law.
If you or someone you know has a disability claim, or is thinking about filing for disability, contact Nina’s firm at 1-888-812-0393 or visit www.longtermdisability.net
Social media handles: Facebook: Geannina Burgos Instagram: @geanninaburgos Twitter: @geanninaburgos
AVVO: https://www.avvo.com/attorneys/33134-fl-geannina-burgos- 4664545.html
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geannina-burgos-5649494
Firm website: www.longtermdisability.net
Ify Ononogbu is an immigration and family law practitioner in Dallas, Texas. She assists in reuniting families through family based immigration, deportation defense, child custody, modifications and divorces. She studied international studies at Baylor University and got her JD from American University Washington College of Law and her LLM in European Union Law from Universidad Carlos III in Madrid, Spain. After working and studying law in several countries including the United States, Spain, Colombia and Peru, she opened her own boutique law firm in Dallas, Texas ..Law Office of Ify Ononogbu. She is a lawyer that listens and is in your corner. She resides in Dallas, Texas with her husband Chike and their dog, Arya.
Kelicia Letlow-Peroune, the founder of KYL Law Firm, is a native of Guyana and was called to the bar in Ontario Canada. Kelicia represents clients before the Federal Court of Canada, as well as the Immigration Tribunals within the Immigration and Refugee Board. She has extensive knowledge of the Canadian immigration system, having successfully challenged humanitarian and compassionate application refusals, denial of refugee claims and detention orders, to name a few. Kelicia’s specialized skill set also includes assisting families with complex, emotionally challenging family law cases, which include custody/access and child protection matters. Over the years, she has assisted clients from over twenty countries, some of which include the Philippines, India, United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Nigeria, The Central African Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, Mexico, and the United States of America. Prior to starting her own law practice, Kelicia worked and volunteered with community, nongovernmental, and international organizations and she is passionate about social justice. She is a member of the Law Society of Ontario, the Women’s Law Association of Ontario, and the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers. If you have questions about Immigration or Family Law or want to connect with Kelicia, reach out to her on Instagram or Facebook at kyllawfirm. Further information about KYL Law Firm is available at https://kyllaw.com
Bibi Fell is routinely recognized as one of the top plaintiff lawyers in the nation. Bibi’s record-breaking results include a $105,000,000.00 verdict, the largest Intentional Tort Verdict in California in 2018, the second-largest overall verdict in 2018, and a top-ten verdict nationwide. Because of her track record, insurance companies know Bibi is willing to go to trial.
Bibi’s philosophy is to maintain a small caseload so every client gets the attention they deserve. At Fell Law, PC, clients are treated like family.
Follow Bibi on Instagram @felllawpc
Attorney Leslie Perez Perez was born and raised in Cuba and came to the United States at the age of 24. She was an attorney in Cuba; however, due to the government's complete disregard for human rights, She was forced to abandon my roots in search of a better judicial system. Within 5 years in the United States, she was admitted as an attorney in the State of Florida.
In 2017, Lisbet Velazquez, Esq. (also a born and raised Cuban) and her founded their firm, VPP LAW FIRM. As they both understand first-hand the challenges that come with the language barrier they are very passionate to advocate for those who don’t clearly understand their rights. Our doors remain open for those in need of legal representation.
Currently, Attorney Leslie Perez Perez continues to expand their law firm. Specifically, she specializes in real estate law, contract law, and civil litigation defense. Attorney Leslie Perez Perez has been able to successfully help clients not only buy the home of their dreams but also refinance. Call her at (305) 549-8280 or find VPP Law Firm on Instagram and Facebook, you will not regret it!
Lisbet Velazquez came to the United States at the tender age of 17, not speaking the native language and not knowing what specific path to pursue in her life. She excelled in her school work and eventually got accepted into the University of Florida where her passion for law and politics started to grow. After graduating from the university of Florida she completed her Juris Doctor degree in the Shepard Broad College of Law at Nova Southeastern University in 2015, she started her career as a litigator.
Currently, she is one of the founding partners at VPP LAW FIRM and has focused her career as a civil litigator. Specifically, she specializes in property insurance, contract law, and defamation cases. Attorney Velazquez has successfully recovered hundreds of thousands of dollars for our clients.
You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @VPPLawFirm
Norma Sepulveda received her J.D. from The Thurgood Marshall School of Law and was licensed by the State of Texas in 2010 and licensed in the Southern District of Texas in 2011. Norma also serves on AILA’s Southern Border Taskforce and serves as AILA’s EOIR liaison in South Texas.
Norma Sepulveda has been practicing primarily immigration and criminal defense since 2010. In 2011, Norma opened The Law Office of Norma Sepulveda, PLLC in Harlingen, TX and since then has been its principal attorney. She chose to open her firm right on the border, where it can have the greatest impact in defensive immigration. The Law Office of Norma Sepulveda is committed to serving the immigrant community in Texas and all over the U.S. by offering expert, highly personalized immigration and criminal defense.
Whenever she is not working, Norma loves spending time with her husband of nearly 20 years and their two boys.
Connect with her on Instagram @abogadanorma
Connect with her on TikTok @tximmigrationlawyer
Connect with her on Facebook @abogadanorma
Brianna Phillips is a Northern California native, but has acquired her knowledge and education in many different places. She pursued her Undergraduate Degree at Grambling State University in Grambling, Louisiana. She acquired her Bachelors of Science in Kinesiology with a concentration in Sports Management. Brianna was the May 2016 Valedictorian of her class at Grambling State University.
Brianna immediately began Law School after receiving her undergraduate degree. She attended Thomas Jefferson School of Law where she graduated Magna Cum Laude in May 2019. Brianna served as a Senior Editor and the Articles Selection Editor during her tenure with the TJSL Law Review. Brianna also found her love for Trademarks and Mediations when she participated in both the TJSL Trademark Clinic and Mediation Clinic.
After graduating Law School, Brianna moved back to Northern California to study for the July 2019 bar. After long hours of studying and substantial stress, Brianna passed the California Bar, one of the hardest Bar in the Nation, on her first try and was admitted to practice law in the state of California in December 2019.
Brianna worked with the very well-known Personal Injury Law Firm for a short time, gaining substantial legal knowledge in Personal Injury Law. Ultimately. She decided to pursue her passion to practice Business law and founded Oakala Law & Mediation Firm.
Brianna has continuously demonstrated academic and legal excellence throughout her life. She is very family oriented and strives to show her clients the same amount of compassion as she does to her very supportive and loving family. But do not confuse her compassion for weakness. Brianna will strive to protect her client’s rights at all costs. She will continue to demonstrate her legal knowledge through Oakala Law & Mediation Firm in order to help her clients.
You can follow Brianna on instagram @oakalalaw or follow and like her Facebook Page, Oakala Law and Mediation Firm.
If you have questions, you can email her at info@oakalalaw.com.
Pamela Rosario is a trademark and contracts attorney licensed in New York. Her current offerings include Trademark filings, contract drafting/review, and business entity formations. For more information on how to build a solid legal foundation for your business, you can find her at pamelarosariolaw.com or over on instagram at @prosariolaw.
Christine Han is a first generation Korean American attorney in Aurora, Colorado. She received her bachelor’s degree in International Studies from the University of Colorado, and considers Colorado to be her home.
In 2014, she received her Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law in the state of Michigan. That same year, Ms. Han became a licensed attorney for the state of Colorado and founded the Han Law Group.
Since then, Ms. Han has received numerous awards for her litigation skills and corresponding high success rate in the courtroom. She attributes her skills as a litigator to her experience working at the 38th District Court in the state of Michigan. Ms. Han is licensed to practice in the United States District Court– District of Colorado, and the United States Department of Justice, Executive Office for Immigration Review.
Ms. Han comes from a family of immigrants and watching the struggle of her family gain immigration status shaped her dedication to her immigration clients and the community.
As a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, Ms. Han has a reputation for her prevailing knowledge of Immigration Law. As a first generation Korean American, her own experiences contribute to the unique mark of support she provides for her clients.
In addition to her commitment to Han Law Group, Ms. Han is the Immigration and Family Law columnist for the Weekly Focus newspaper and Colorado Times.
She is very active in the community and is a mentor to many young leaders. Ms. Han is also a Board member as Legal Counsel for Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA) Denver chapter.
Ms. Han is also an experienced Mediator that handles disputes in different areas of law. She is a member of the Mediation Association of Colorado.
Social media:
IG: Christine_denverlawyer
FB: Han Law group
Website: www.Han-legal.com
"I am a trial attorney who specializes in personal injury. I practice in Long Beach, California. I was licensed in 2010, and spent the first 5 years of my career working as a defense attorney. I then transitioned to plaintiff's personal injury and worked for a premier firm in Century City, California for approximately 3.5 years. I opened Laiken Law Group in May 2019. I have a YouTube channel where I interview attorneys who provide useful tips on scaling up your own practice. You can find the channel by my name, Ashley Laiken. I am also on Facebook (Ashley Laiken) and Instagram (Laiken_Law_Group)." - Ashley Laiken
Trial Attorney Irving Pedroza practices in courts all over the State of California, litigating cases in personal injury. Irving was born in Guerrero, Mexico. At the age of six his parents immigrated to the United States. Irving grew up in Escondido, CA where his family struggled with being undocumented, poverty, mental health disorders, and domestic violence. As a result of his upbringing, Irving has dedicated his life to helping others, through the justice system, or during his spare time through peer-mentor programs. Irving was the first in his family attend college. Connect with Irving on Instagram @irving.esq
Jessica Ocampo is an attorney who is passionate about civil rights and its various, complex facets that are intertwined in both corporate and public sectors of the law. She’s resilient on both sides of the legal spectrum - focused on progressing and positively influencing the diversity and inclusion needle. She is the board director for the young lawyers division in the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois. Jessica is the assistant attorney general in the worker compensation bureau in the Illinois attorney general’s office.
Christian Contreras is a lawyer for the people who fights hard in order to obtain the best results for his clients. Mr. Contreras is a civil rights attorney and an advocate for individuals who have been injured. Mr. Contreras takes no days off and is available for his clients at any time. Mr. Contreras is a strong contributor to Carrazco Law’s commitment to helping Californians who have been wronged. Mr. Contreras earned his Bachelors of Arts degree in political science, and then earned his Juris Doctor degree (law degree) with an emphasis in Civil Litigation and Advocacy from Loyola Law School. At Loyola Law School, Mr. Contreras was a member of the Scott Moot Court Honors Board. Mr. Contreras was a brief writer and an oralist in the National Moot Court competition. Mr. Contreras completed Loyola’s Civil Rights Litigation Practicum course with a top grade and also externed at Public Counsel as part of the practicum. At Public Counsel, Mr. Contreras worked in the Homelessness Prevention Law Project working on a range of issues including eviction defense. Mr. Contreras was also a law clerk at the civil rights firm Guizar, Henderson & Carrazco, LLP (GHC). At GHC, Mr. Contreras worked on unreasonable and excessive force cases. While in law school, Mr. Contreras was also a judicial extern to the Hon. Fred J. Fujioka. Christian Contreras is also an attorney with Guizar, Henderson & Carrazco, LLP and a leader of Justice X. Mr. Contreras also volunteers his time on various pro bono matters. Be sure to follow Christian on Instagram @christian.ghc
Janeth Arias is a founding partner of Blanco & Arias. She handles employment matters including, wrongful termination, retaliation, unlawful discrimination and harassment due to race, gender, disability or other protected category. Ms. Arias also handles matters involving workers’ compensation, wage & hour, and personal injury.
Ms. Arias received her Juris Doctorate from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in 2009. Ms. Arias graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a Public Law concentration and minor in Spanish from the California State University, Long Beach.
Ms. Arias is admitted to practice before all California State Courts, the United States Central District of California, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. She is a member of the California Employment Lawyers Association, Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, and the Mexican American Bar Association. Ms. Arias is fluent in Spanish. If she is not litigating in the courtroom zealously advocating for her clients, she is traveling or at a Dodger Game.
Follow Blanco & Arias on Instagram @blancoarias_law
Attorney Katherine D. Franco established the Law Office of Katherine D. Franco to ensure that our immigrant community receives quality and honest representation.
As a daughter of hard-working immigrants, Attorney Franco understands many of the struggles our immigrant community faces. She has dedicated her career to educating and serving the community she came from. This is also reflected in her zealous and thoughtful representation. She is committed to providing quality, cost-effective, and efficient services.
Attorney Franco is licensed to practice law in California and her office serves the greater Los Angeles and San Diego area. She is a graduate from the University of California, Irvine and Western State College of Law.
Connect with Attorney Franco:
Instagram: @kfrancolaw
Facebook: Katherine Franco
Email: katherine@kfrancolaw.com
Phone: 323-673-0518
Joyce Valenzuela is the founder and principal attorney of JV Law Offices, APC and focuses her practice on estate planning and probate, personal injury and criminal defense. As a Mexican American and daughter of immigrants, she understands the needs in her community for education and honest representation. As such, her firm's main focus is to provide clarity, honesty, guidance, and support in times of need in English and Spanish. Ms. Valenzuela earned her Bachelor’s Degree from California State University Fullerton, with a double major in Criminal Justice and Political Science. She then continued her education and successfully obtained her law degree with concentrations in Civil Litigation and Criminal Law from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles. Throughout her legal career, Ms. Valenzuela has successfully represented clients in state and federal court. Her experience includes serving as a law clerk for the Orange County District Attorney’s Office and Los Angeles County District Attorneys’ Office as well as working in private practice in civil litigation and criminal law matters. As an attorney, Ms. Valenzuela has and continues to represent hundreds of clients in and outside of court. She understands the need for honesty and clarity in attorney-client relationships and continuously strives to further educate herself and her community. Social Media and website: instagram: @jvlawoffices facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jvlawoffices website: jvlawoffices.com
Monserrat Garcia is a Sacramento based attorney. She is the owner of Better Future Legal Services. She was licensed as an attorney in 2019. Monserrat launched her law firm this year in 2020!
M. Viviana Oropeza was born in San Diego in 1984 to Mexican immigrants and was raised on both sides of the border here in various areas in California and in Teocaltiche, Jalisco, MX, her Dad’s birthplace and home. Her father was a first-generation immigrant worked various jobs, as a gardener, a laborer, a mechanic, and a bread maker, among many others that were needed to support her family for 8. Her mother was a stay at home mom and never held a job.
She lived with her parents until the age of 16 when she left her home in Teocaltiche Jalisco, MX in pursuit of continuing her education in the United States and seeking the American Dream. She enrolled in High School in Redlands, CA, worked hard to get into college and was subsequently given the opportunity to study at CSU San Bernardino where she earned a bachelor degree Political Science, the first in her family to earn a college a degree.
She eventually went on to earn an MBA in Finance, and Juris Doctorate, and become a licensed lawyer. She had her first child while she was working on her MBA, and her second child while in her second year of law school, something she claims helped her prove that outdating notions that seeking one’s dreams and building a family were not mutually exclusive.
Viviana’s path to becoming a lawyer was rocky, it was almost a decade of taking the LSATs (Law School Admissions Test) and failing to get into law school multiple times before it happened. Getting into law school is difficult, especially for Latinas. Only 2% of the all lawyers are female and Latina, even though approximately 18% of the population is Latinx in the U.S.
When Viviana finally go into law school started, her experience was not traditional. She had a husband and a 4-year old daughter when she started. A major balancing act had to be done to survive her first year. Further, she became pregnant with her son in her second year of law school and doctors put her on bed-rest but she didn’t give up. She took the medical leave recommended started back up as soon as her doctors gave her the ok. She went on to finish law school, take the California Bar Exam, pass it on her first try, and launch her own law practice as soon as she was sworn in as a license attorney in the state of California.
She launched her firm Oropeza Law, PC with the assistance of the “Access to Law Initiative” the California Western School of Law’s law firm incubator program. Her firm shortly evolved into what today is “Attorney in Heels” ™ her female-centered Business and Estate Planning law firm.
The legal emphases of her law firm, Viviana claims are her calling: “These two practice areas were natural for me to enter into right out of law school because I have a business background (my MBA), and having worked as an investment advisor. In my prior career I had been exposed to working with business owners, and families helping them set up their wealth planning, business buy-sells, and family estate plans, all I was doing now was working on the legal side instead of the Financial side, which I know also gives me more insight when I’m planning for and counseling my clients.”
Further Viviana explains why her law firm is important to her and her clients: “Attorney in Heels ™ is dear to my heart because my practice is reflective of who I am and who I serve. I serve my clients “in my heels” which means more when you read between the lines. It means it’s a practice focuses on women who were previously overlooked and underestimated in business, and that I will guide and lead them while empowering them with the right information, guidance, and tools to go out and crush it in their respective industries.
And although Attorney in Heels does have male clients, the ultimate focus is helping female entrepreneurs, and their families feel comfortable making important decisions about their family and business future. Where the traditional law firms are often intimidating and rough around the edges, which often lead women not to inquire, ask questions, or learn more about important legal decisions they need to make to protect their families and businesses; Attorney in Heels ™ aims to make these decisions easier to navigate so that important legal steps don’t go ignored and become too costly to families and businesses.
My recommendation for young women who are starting out, in any field, is not to give up (ever), visualize where you want to go and play it in your head over and over and let it fuel you. Then plan and takes necessary steps to get you there. It's ok if it takes longer than expected. Also, seek mentorship; especially in law that could make all the difference. Getting guidance, tips and tricks of the trade can prevent some of the hassles and struggles.”
Attorney in Heels ™ is based in San Diego, CA but also serves other southern California regions such as the Inland Empire. Viviana is also highly involved in her community as she serves on the Boards of San Diego County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the National Latina Business Women’s Association of San Diego, and sits on the Committee on Diversity and Inclusion for the San Diego County Bar Association. Viviana also goes out to speak to her communities about the importance of business, and estate planning and provides mentorship to at risk youth through the Dream Bigger Foundation.
Nadya Maldonado is a personal injury attorney and the Principal Attorney at the Maldonado Law Firm, PLLC that she founded in 2015 in Washington, D.C. She is licensed to practice law in D.C. and Maryland and her practice area is focused on protecting the rights of those who have been injured in accidents such as Uber or Lyft accidents, pedestrian, bike, scooter, moped accidents or similar scenarios. She is known as the Rideshare Attorney and has the Instagram and TikTok handle (@rideshare_attorney) to prove it!
In the past she has represented small businesses, many which had Spanish-speaking Latino owners, who were in need of legal services. She has also dedicated her time to representing immigrants that were facing the ever-growing abuses and obstacles from our broken immigration system.
Ms. Maldonado is Mexican-America and she grew up along the border of Texas and Mexico. She stems from parents who were child migrant farm workers, who instilled her with a mighty work ethic. It was this work ethic that propelled her to be part of the less than 2% of Latinas practicing law in the U.S. and she will continue to work hard to strengthen her community.
When asked what kind of advice she would give to her younger self she stated, "I would tell my younger self to ask for help, more often", and went on to explain, "I entered law school at the young age of 23 and was intimidated by all the new experiences associated with being a law student in our nation’s capital." She continued, "for instance, the immense pressure to get good grades, the culture-shock, the competitive nature of the students, the difficulty of the legal subject matter I was asked to learn, were all unfamiliar experiences that stressed me out, made me fearful of failure, and less apt to ask for help." She explained, "I didn't realize that I was no different, no less able than my colleagues to tackle the tasks in front of me and to take the unfamiliar experiences in stride. Having a sense of belonging versus viewing myself as an outsider, I believe, would have made it easier and less shameful for me to ask for help sooner." She explained that, "to depend on your colleagues and community can provide an added quality and comfort through a tough up-hill battle such as law school or any type of higher educational experience." She stated, "This realization has heightened my experience in practicing law in the D.C. area and has taken me further than if I had tried to do it completely alone. For instance, in 2019 I was awarded Prospanica DC's 40 Under 40 for my commitment to professional excellence and contributions to the Latino community. I was so honored to be recognized by my colleagues, which is something that is not likely to happen if you do not speak up and form relationships with your community, including asking them for help if necessary."
If you live in the D.C. or Maryland area and have been involved in an accident please reach out to Maldonado Law Firm, PLLC at 202-643-0837 for a free legal consultation.
Follow:
https://www.facebook.com/mlawdc
https://www.instagram.com/rideshare_attorney/
https://www.tiktok.com/@rideshare_attorney/
Or visit:
https://www.mlawdc.com
Ambar Maceo is a Dominican attorney and the founder of Maceo Law, PC, a Massachusetts-based law firm specializing in criminal defense. She’s made it her personal mission to help bridge the gap between the criminal justice system and the people it serves, and to elevate the voices of underrepresented communities. Prior to immigrating to the United States, almost 10 years ago, Ambar’s experience ranged from civil litigation, employment and labor claims, to criminal fraud & abuse claims and white-collar crimes. Once in the U.S., she represented Latinx clients who had been injured on the job while also helping them connect with community services and resources. Her current practice is focused primarily on criminal defense to include generally violent crimes, drug crimes, theft and/or property crimes, OUI/drunk driving and motor vehicle offenses, and public order offenses. She remains passionate and committed to represent the Latinx community and to help them thrive in all aspects of their lives. She speaks Spanish, English, Portuguese and French (though might need a refresher on the latter).
Education: LL.M., American Law, Boston University (2014) LL.M, Criminal Law, Universidad de Buenos Aires (2009) LL.B., Universidad Iberoamericana, Summa Cum Laude (2005)
Bar Admissions: Commonwealth of Massachusetts (2015) Dominican Republic (2006)
The Law Office of Jessenia Rosales serves clients throughout Florida in the practice of family law and criminal defense. Jessenia's specific areas of experience include divorce, child custody and support, domestic violence, DUI, home invasion, robbery, and homicide. She is also fluent in English and Spanish.
Jessenia earned a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology with a Minor in Psychology from the University of South Florida. She then earned her law degree at Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Tampa, Florida, graduating with honors. Jessenia later re-enrolled at Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School to earn a Master of Laws in Intellectual Property.
While earning her degrees, Jessenia interned at the Public Defender's o!ce in Hillsborough County after working as a paralegal at a private law practice in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Jessenia has been practicing law in Florida since 2017. She started her own firm, the Law O!ce of Jessenia Rosales, in 2018 to handle criminal and family law cases. Shortly after, Jessenia received the Rising Professional Award from the Federal Bar Association Younger Lawyers Division. Jessenia is also on the Florida Justice Center's Legal All-Star Team.
Jessenia is an active member of the Federal Bar Association, American Bar Association, Florida State Bar Association, Pinellas Latin Bar Association, and Clearwater Bar Association. Her volunteer service includes being chairperson of the Clearwater Bar Association's Diversity Symposium Committee and serving as community outreach for the Pinellas Latin Bar Association. Jessenia has also worked pro bono for Bay Area Legal Services and the Florida Justice Center.
Jessenia currently lives in the Tampa Bay area with her two daughters. They enjoy spending time outdoors with family and friends.
Connect with her on Instagram @senia.esq
Connect with her on Facebook @jesseniarosaleslaw
From Ayeshinaye:
I am a Tar Heel born and bred. I currently reside in Wendell with my husband, Jerel. Most of my free time involves reading, movies, or spending time with my family. If I'm not doing one of those things, you can catch me on a flight and posting pictures on social media. I love to explore new places and interact with different cultures.
One of my favorite people is my brother Darien. He is one of the reasons that I've always wanted to advocate for others. He has down syndrome and autism and we've learned so much together over the years. Being part of his navigation in life fueled a passion in the rights and education of disabled people. I wrote my dissertation for my Master of Laws degree on the topic of special education reform.
At Smith Dominguez, I put my experiences to good use. Before law school, I worked in the financial industry. That motivated me to pursue a Master's degree in Trust and Wealth Management to help people with their broader needs. Working for a financial institution taught me the very real ways that your personal life and finances are intertwined. If something goes wrong in one, the other usually takes a hit too.
I want to support you at your beginnings, ends, and everywhere between.
Education: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill --- B.A. in Sociology and B.A. in Political Science Campbell University School of Law --- J.D. Campbell University School of Business --- M.A. Trust and Wealth Management
Nottingham Trent University School of Law --- LL.M
Social Media: IG: @ayeshinaye @smithdominguezlaw
FB: @smithdominguezpllc
At Smith Dominguez, Alexia advises entrepreneurs, businesses and nonprofits on how to best achieve their goals. She provides counsel on multiple areas of business law transactions including business formation, contract drafting and negotiation, and corporate compliance. She also provides outside general counsel services to businesses at all stages, from business formation to dissolution. In addition, Alexia focuses her practice on real estate and divorce matters. She is licensed to practice law in North Carolina.
Alexia is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Campbell University School of Law. While not working, she loves going on walks with her dog, doing yoga and is an avid traveler and bookworm. People can connect with me personally on Instagram @alexiavdominguez Our firm social media handles are @smithdominguezlaw on Instagram, Smith Dominguez PLLC on Facebook and @sdlawfirm on Twitter.
Attorney Raissa Rivas-Solis is the owner of the Law Offices of Raissa D Rivas. Her law office is primarily based out of Las Vegas, yet she also has a secondary office in Orange County in California. Raissa was born in Los Angeles and raised in Las Vegas. She graduated from UNLV and attended the las school of Western State College of Law.
Connect with Raissa:
Business Instagram: @rdrivaslawoffices
Personal Instagram: @life_of_raissa
Facebook: Law Offices of Raissa D Rivas
Attorney Luz Tijerina-Garduño graduated law school in 2013. After passing the bar exam and being admitted into the California Bar in December of same year, Ms. Tijerina-Garduño began her practice in law.
Ms. Tijerina-Garduño’s passion for law began as a child, as she saw her own family (and herself) fall through the cracks of the immigration system, having immigrated from Mexico City to the United States as a young child. She attended college and part of law school as an undocumented student until she was able to gain her residency and eventually citizenship. Ms. Tijerina-Garduño knows first hand how difficult it is to be an immigrant in this country and goes above and beyond to help others achieve their American dream.
Abogada Luz attended California State University, Dominguez Hills where she earned a bachelor of arts in Psychology and Political Science. Obtaining honors in both majors. She continued her education at Whittier Law School, obtaining a merit-based scholarship.
While in law school, the attorney received various awards for obtaining the highest marks in her classes and was active in the law school community. She participated in organizations such as the Public Interest Law Foundation, the Mexican American Bar Association, and the Student Bar Association amongst others.
As a law student, Ms. Tijerina-Garduño worked in various immigration law firms and volunteered for non profit organizations such as The Public Law Center, of which she is a volunteer up to this day. She also interned with the Orange County Public Defender's Office shadowing the now Honorable Judge Mary Kreber Varipapa. The attorney also served as a judicial extern for the Honorable Kimberly Menninger at the Orange County Superior Court.
Ms. Tijerina-Garduño also had the opportunity to further her law studies in the prestigious Spanish universities, Universitat de Barcelona and Universidad de Cantabria.
As an attorney, Ms. Tijerina-Garduño has represented hundreds of clients in the immigration and criminal courts throughout the United States. Ms. Tijerina-Garduño has acquired great expertise in the areas of immigration and criminal law which she now provides for her own clients. She is understanding, passionate, and fearless when it comes to representing her clients.
Connect with Luz on Instagram @abogadaluz
Her website: www.abogadaluz.com
From Valerie:
When I became a single mom, I searched for an attorney who was both a strong advocate and a trustworthy counselor. While there were plenty of attorneys who offered legal services, I found only one who also offered support, compassion, and encouragement for my future. The attorney I found was a single mother who went to law school later in life. When I entered her office, I was fearful and discouraged. When I left, I was hopeful and at peace because of the strength she lent and the confidence she offered. Years later, when I myself entered law school as a single mom, her compassion during my most vulnerable time continued to influence my life and motivate me to provide the same for others. Now, as an attorney, I have the same opportunity to be a strong and compassionate advocate for my clients which is central to my practice. At San Gabriel Valley Law, our goal is to offer competent legal services with ENCOURAGEMENT, CONFIDENCE, and HOPE to each client. Follow her journey on Instagram @sgvlaw and her website at www.sangabrielvalleylaw.com
Lisbette serves as a trial attorney at jD LAW focusing on criminal law and personal injury. She graduated from California State University San Marcos where she majored in Political Science.
The first in her family to obtain a Juris Doctorate degree, she graduated from California Western School of Law in December of 2017.
While in law school, she interned for UURISE, a non-profit organization for immigration law where she helped people apply to become U.S. citizens. She also volunteered at California Rural Legal Assistance, an organization that provides legal assistance to migrant workers in the areas of employment and labor, housing and eviction. Lastly, she interned for a private personal injury firm in downtown San Diego where she assisted in preparing a slip and fall case for trial. While she gained essential skills in various areas of the law, Lisbette’s passion is helping people who have been charged with a crime or have been injured. She has done trials as both lead and assisting counsel, most notably achieving a “not guilty” verdict on a vehicular manslaughter case involving prescription drugs.
She looks forward to a long career in the law.
From Alexandra:
Get to Know Me Better As an Attorney at Law, member of the Washington D.C. Bar, I am licensed and admitted to practice law in the United States, in Europe, and internationally. Because of my own experiences of marrying a foreign national, and moving abroad, I fully understand how the international treaties work between the United States and foreign countries in both branches of the law: International Tax and Immigration Law. All of my legal services, communications, and legal translations are offered in English and in Spanish, and fully online.
Where Am I From? I was born in Puerto Rico, studied my Bachelor's Degree at Florida International University in the city of Miami, and graduated with a double Bachelor's Degree in Communications and Criminal Law. After completing my Bachelor's Degree, I continued my studies and acquired a Juris Doctor's Degree (Law Degree of the United States) at the Inter-American University School of Law, and furthered my legal studies at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.
What Is My Professional Legal Background? During my law school years, I worked in law firms in the United States, Puerto Rico, and Spain, thereby deepening my knowledge in International Law, and expanding my professional network in the international legal field. I advanced my legal studies acquiring a certification in Litigation from the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. And I completed my professional legal studies graduating from Law School with a Juris Doctor's Degree in the Honors Roll with the recognition of Magna Cum Laude.
What Do I Specialize In? I specialize in assisting American Citizens who live abroad, and foreign nationals who have an interest in relocating to the United States. I work all aspects of tax law, and immigration: from filing your U.S. taxes as an American Expat living abroad, to managing the planning of your foreign assets and the legal procedures to ensure U.S. tax and international law compliance. Furthermore, in Immigration Law, I work in processing all U.S. visas, including spousal visas, professional visas, investors visas, work visas ,study visas, amongst many others.
I arrange all the immigration and tax procedures of my worldwide clients fully online, by E-Filing all Tax Forms, and all Immigration Petitions & Applications to the U.S. government. This online method ensures a speedy and safe submission of all your forms and information. As an Attorney at Law, I guarantee the protection and confidentiality of our communications, your information, and all your documentation submitted for all the procedures involved, under the Attorney- Client Privilege. This is a protection that no other professional can provide you.
What Do I Offer You? I take pride in vigorously representing my clients in an accessible, and online manner at an affordable cost. That is why I begin by offering you a COMPLETELY FREE INITIAL LEGAL CONSULTATION. Contact me today so that you can truly enjoy your expat life while I take care of solving your taxes, immigration and legal matters!
Connect with her on:
Website: www.sabalierlaw.com/
Instagram: @sabalierlaw
Facebook: www.facebook.com/sabalierlaw
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/sabalierlaw/
Yahima Morejon, Esq. is a foreign attorney. She has obtained her Licentiate in Law degree from Havana University in Cuba, and her Juris Doctor degree from St. Thomas University School of Law. While working at the ONBC, Ms. Morejon handled criminal, civil, probate, and family cases. As a resident of Miami, she worked for a law firm that specialized in bankruptcy, foreclosure, and immigration matters. Eventually, Ms. Morejon decided to open her own law office to help her community and to continue her passion of practicing law.
Connect with her on Instagram @ymorejonattorneypa
Connect with her on Facebook www.facebook.com/ymorejonattorneypa
Connect with her on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/yahima-morejon-fernandez-395b1710a/
Subscribe to her YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGZ1_sh-Qe4EQU4kUs6P3cw
Kiomeiry Csépes, Esq., is the owner and managing attorney at Csépes Law Offices in Trenton, New Jersey. Her practice focuses on assisting clients from various parts of the world with their immigration and family law matters. Kiomeiry began her legal career in 1999, as a family law paralegal where she assisted countless of families navigate the Court system and equitably resolve their legal issues. She is well versed in the area of family law and carries this invaluable experience and dedication to her family law clients today.
Her personal background has also given her great appreciation for the immigrant experience and perspective. She was born in Puerto Rico and only speaking Spanish migrated to New Jersey with her mother at a young age. Her father was born into impoverished circumstances and immigrated to the United States from Hungary. With such a foundation, Kiomeiry was raised to admire the immigrant experience and American dream. Her own family’s history and intimate experience with immigration exposed her to a wide range of migratory issues affecting families. While her background is unique to her, Kiomeiry has always found great similarities to her clients. She has created her own immigrant stories, as she spends time abroad, meeting and speaking with people from all over the world.
In 2013, Kiomeiry spearheaded the creation of the Carmen M. Garcia Bright Futures Award, which is given to a Camden City college-bound high school student every year. As a law student at Rutgers School of Law-Camden, Kiomeiry served as President of Alianza, as a student teacher for the Street Law Program, and participated in the inaugural class of the Immigrant Justice Clinic.
Kiomeiry has made it a personal goal to dedicate much of her time to helping the immigrant community. She routinely participates in volunteer activities such as Citizenship Drives and Know Your Rights Workshops. She further provides pro-bono and low-bono representation to families and children of low-income circumstances. She also participates in panels at various schools encouraging students to become leaders and purse a career in law. Kiomeiry serves as a Mentor with Rutgers School of Law’s Minority Student Program.
Additionally, Kiomeiry currently serves as the Mercer County Liaison for the New Jersey State Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division, as a New Jersey Delegate and Chair of the Family Law Committee for the American Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division, and as a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. She is further an active member of the Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey, Mercer County Bar Association and on several committees for the Rutgers Alumni for Diversity, Inclusion and Community Building in the Law (RADICAL). She also participates with the Thomas S. Forkin Family Law American Inn of Court.
Most recently Kiomeiry was awarded the Service to the Community Award from the New Jersey State Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division; the Defender of Justice Award from the Rutgers School of Law’s Latino-Student Association; and the New Leaders of the Bar Award from the New Jersey Law Journal.
Kiomeiry is admitted to practice in New Jersey, U.S. District Court of New Jersey, and Federal Immigration Court. She received her undergraduate degree from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ and her law degree from Rutgers University School of Law in Camden, New Jersey. She is also the proud mother of two children, Tristan and Zuri.
Be sure to follow Kiomeiry on Instagram @csepeslaw
Also, sign up for her newsletter at www.csepeslaw.com
Claudia Galan is a San Antonio- and McAllen-based attorney and owner of the Galan Law Firm, PLLC. She specializes in immigration and family law. Her areas of focus are family-based permanent residency and citizenship petitions, deportation defense, divorce, custody rights, and adoption. She also works cases dealing with criminal defense, title transfers, property disputes and preparation of wills. She works primarily with immigrants that are victims of crime and Spanish-speaking residents of South Texas. Claudia approaches her clients’ cases with considerable care because she understands from her own life experience the pressures immigrants face every day. Born in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon and raised in Monclova, Coahuila, Claudia moved to the U.S. and lived as an undocumented immigrant for three years. At age 21, Claudia gained permanent legal residency and became a U.S. citizen in 2013. Claudia studied law at St. Mary’s School of Law and the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (formerly University of Texas Pan American). She was admitted to practice law in Texas in May 2019 by the State Bar of Texas. She is also admitted to practice in the U.S. Federal Southern District Court in Texas. As a college student, Claudia worked with asylum seekers at the Texas-Mexico border and with low-income residents in San Antonio to provide them with pro bono legal services. She also worked at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, where she learned much about the inner workings of the agency charged with processing petitions and appeals for green cards and other immigration benefits. In July 2019, just two months into her independent practice, Claudia represented Francisco Galicia, a then 18-year-old U.S. citizen who was unlawfully held by the U.S. Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement for nearly a month. Claudia secured his release after his case gained national media attention. In her spare time, Claudia enjoys spending time with family and friends, doing yoga, and going on walks with her dog, Frida.
Leave Claudia the five star review on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/galanfirm and connect with her on Instagram @clau.galan .
Ramiro Ponton Rivera interviews CEO of Strong Life Coach, Derek Daniel Guajardo, about the first chapter of ABCs of Thriving in Marriage. The chapter is titled - A | Anchor Above All Others. Available for purchase now on Amazon at www.abcsofthriving.com
Michelle Fonseca-Kamana is a California lemon law lawyer who is passionate about consumer advocacy, education, and an unparalleled client experience. She is the founder and principal attorney at West Coast Lemons, the law firm she began in February 2020 just weeks before the coronavirus pandemic spread across the globe. Determined not to let anything, not even a global pandemic, get in her way, she has persevered and built a lemon law brand that is quickly becoming recognized as one of the best in California. With over $4 million recovered since 2017, Mrs. Fonseca-Kamana has proven she is a force to be reckoned with. Handling lemon law cases involving everything from cars and trucks to motor homes and travel trailers, Mrs. Fonseca-Kamana has unmatched insight into the automobile and recreational vehicle industry, and actively shares her knowledge via informational videos with her followers on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. In September, Mrs. Fonseca-Kamana was one of only 60 Latina lawyers chosen from across the nation to participate in the Hispanic National Bar Association’s Latina Leadership Conference and in October she was accepted into the prestigious consumer advocate attorneys group Justice HQ where she serves as the group’s resident lemon law expert.
Amanda Mendez am an Assistant Public Defender at the Law Offices of Julianne M. Holt. She graduated from Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 2018 and was admitted to practice law in Florida later that same year. Amanda earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science at the University of South Florida.
Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois she benefited from city youth programs which led to her calling in advocating for those in need, especially for children that come from impoverished backgrounds.
Prior to being promoted, she advocated for children facing misdemeanor and felony charges in the Juvenile Division. When the courts closed due to the pandemic, she was one of the first attorneys to handle a virtual detention docket in Hillsborough County.
Currently, Amanda handles Domestic Violence, Misdemeanor Traffic, and Misdemeanor Crimes. This broad spectrum has allowed her to gain great knowledge of the vast criminal law arena. She never takes short-cuts and she takes great pride on ‘leaving no stone unturned’ in each and every case.
Kiara’s career in law began over six years ago when she started working at a large firm as a paralegal assistant. While in law school, she transitioned to a small law office that specialized in Estate Planning. Her externship at this law office really engrained in her the importance and great need to bring Estate Planning to minority communities, as well as young entrepreneurs and creatives. Prior to founding Santos Legal Group, she created her own business and provided legal consulting services to a number of other small companies. Kiara’s varying experience with Business, Trademark, and Estate Planning, makes her a well-rounded attorney who understands business needs as well as the need to preserve and plan for the future.
Websites: http://www.kayadejure.com http://www.santoslegalgroup.com
Socialmedia: IG@kayadejure @santos.legal.group
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kiarasantos/ Facebook: Santos Legal Group
CEO of Strong Life Coach Derek Daniel Guajardo shares The Seven Reasons I Cherish Affirmations:
1️⃣ Affirmations Energize People 🔋
2️⃣ Affirmations Fortify Wholesome Identity 🚀
3️⃣ Jesus Spoke Affirmations about Self 🍇
4️⃣ Jesus Spoke Affirmations to Others 💡
5️⃣ Affirmations Protect from Toxic Identity ☣️
6️⃣ Affirmations Activate Wholesome Actions 🎯
7️⃣ Affirmations Influence Standards 💎
Amanda I. Hernandez is a criminal defense lawyer based out of San Antonio, Texas. She currently works as an Associate at the Flanary Law Firm, PLLC, and has jury trial experience with misdemeanor, felony, and federal cases. Amanda has been practicing alongside Donald H. Flanary, III., since her time as a law clerk at Goldstein, Goldstein, & Hilley.
Amanda currently serves as a board member for the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer’s Association (TCDLA) and the San Antonio Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (SACDLA). She is also on the board of directors for the Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (TCADP).
Amanda is a zealous advocate and has been recognized by her peers as a “2018 Top Criminal Defense Lawyer” in SA Scene Magazine and was nominated SACDLA’s “2019 Young Lawyer of the Year.” She is also a 2017 graduate of the Tim Evans Trial College, an intensive program run by TCLDA in which new lawyers learn trial strategy from some of the best criminal attorneys in Texas.
Amanda earned her degree from the University of Texas at San Antonio in 2011 and went on to attend St. Mary’s University School of Law, graduating in May of 2016. After graduation, Don Flanary started the Flanary Law Firm, PLLC, and quickly promoted her from being his long-time law clerk to the first associate attorney in his practice, where she remains today.
To reach Amanda for your Criminal Defense needs in San Antonio and the surrounding areas:
Phone: 361-596-3494
Email: Amanda@flanarylawfirm.com
Derek Daniel Guajardo reads from the first chapter of his new book - ABCs of Thriving in Marriage! On sale now on Amazon!
Pick up your copy now at www.abcsofthriving.com
New Host - Ramiro Ponton Rivera - interview the founder of Strong Life Coach about his first book, ABCs of Thriving in Marriage! Ramiro asks questions related to the introduction of the book.
From Regina Vasquez: "I have been practicing exclusively in bankruptcy law since November 2011. I have designed my firm to be dedicated to assisting people in their time of financial need. I am also a counselor for my clients to guide them through a very stressful time. Filing for bankruptcy can be a very emotional decision, my job is to ease the stress and take the burden off of my clients. I attended St. Edwards University in Austin, Texas and graduated in 2007. While there I worked for the House of Representatives. This gave me an inside look in the legislative process and I still use those skills in reviewing the Bankruptcy Code today. I attended Thurgood Marshall School of Law and graduated, with honors, in 2011. During my time there I was a law clerk with Hewlett Packard. My last clerkship was with Mr. David Peake, who is a standing Chapter 13 trustee in our district. It was my time at Mr. Peake’s office that made me want to assist good hardworking people going through a difficult time. My goal with my law firm is to give every case the attention it deserves. This is why I limit the number of cases I take in. I want every client to feel relief that their case being handled with the most attention we can give." To be in contact with Regina: Instagram: @legallyvasquez Phone number: 713-344-0997 Website: www.vasquezlawgroup.net #attorney #lawyer #law #lawyerlife #attorneylife #attorneylifestyle #attorneys #attorneysofinstagram #attorneyatlaw #lawfirm #realestateattorney #attorneysoftiktok #personalinjuryattorney #lawyers #lawyersofinstagram #legal #ladylawyer #businesslawyer #businessattorney #bankruptcy #bankruptcyattorney
Maria Rodriguez, owner and fitness trainer at Girl Code: Fitness. Transforming one woman at a time.
What inspired you to start your business?
What unique challenge have you overcome as a business owner?
What is the most rewarding part of being a business owner?
Who motivated you to open your own business?
How have you continued to grow as a business owner?
How have you had to change in owning your business?
Tell me about your favorite people in the world.
Ed Bierschenk is the Chief Potential Officer at A-Team Coaching.
He has been a business coach for over 10 years working with the owners of various companies including professional, retail, logistics, and service companies. In addition, he has over twenty five years experience as a business executive for HEB food and drug stores. Ed says his most significant business and coaching skills were gained as an executive responsible to hire, train and coach thousands of key employees and managers to achieve the successful opening of 100 retail units in less in six years. Coach Ed uses this experience , plus his MBA to drive his passion for helping companies and individuals unleash untapped potential. Ed is active with non-profits , serving on the Board of Directors for "ONE" an organization whose mission is to promote faith-based leadership training and healing prayer to make a difference in communities and organizations.
What has helped you be most successful as a coach?
How has coaching shaped you?
There are a lot of coaches out there, life coaches, executive coaches and business coaches. What does a business coach do that's is different than the other two.
Who has been the most influential coach in your life? What specifically helped you most?
How does coaching influence other areas of your life?
What has helped you grow the most as a coach?
When did you first see yourself as an effective coach, unlocking the potential of others?
For a coach starting out in your business, what advice do you have for the beginning phases?
In the phase of your life in being a grandfather, what is most precious about this part of the journey?
Fernie Rizo joins the Strong Life Coach Podcast with a wealth of experience. He has attained a Masters Degree from New Mexico State, over 13 years of experience in education - as a teacher and assistant principal, decades of experience coaching and overseeing athletic programs, and now seven years of experience in the insurance industry. Fernie owns Rizo Insurance Group LLC and is the Program Director at Nike Proskills San Antonio.
How has your basketball program - Nike ProSkills - been affected by Covid-19?
What creative solution does Nike ProSkills offer to stay focused during the lockout?
What challenges have you faced as the program director during Covid-19?
What is the biggest benefit that Covid-19 provided to the athletes in your program?
What does communication look like between tournament organizers and the basketball programs?
As were many of the Alamo defenders, Alan Sisk is a Tennessee native but decided it was time to get his wife, Clara back to Texas. He earned his B.S. in Business Marketing from University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Prior to relocating to Texas, Alan was a partner of an independent insurance agency in Nashville, TN and has been in the insurance industry since 2007. While in Nashville, he was a board member of the Insurors of Tennessee and a past Young Agent of the Year award recipient. Being the sports enthusiast that he is, Alan was also on the board of directors for the Nashville Sports Council. He has also brought the Tennessee Titans/Houston Oilers fandom back to Texas and wants to remind all of us to “Titan Up!”
Young agent of the year! How did you become the young agent of the year?
How did you get your started in the insurance business?
What do you enjoy most about your profession?
What separates you from the competition in dealing with prospective clients?
What advice would you give someone entering the commercial industry?
What is the most odd experience you have had in your business?
What is your favorite quality about your wife Clara?
Joseph Warren is a co-owner and financial planner at Financial Planning HQ, where he works to inspire his clients to visualize and create the future they desire. He completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Biochemistry from Schreiner University. Joseph has served as the Treasurer, Vice President of Membership and Vice President of Education for his local Toastmasters club. During his down time, he enjoys playing the piano, running, and reading as well as discussing science fiction and personal development books. One of his passions in serving the community is displayed, Blinded Veterans and grant writing for Broken Warriors Angels.
You had a unique experience with graduate school; tell us about your time at UCLA.
Broke in your 20s is a three part series you published on Linked In, what motivated you to write the series?
What inspired you to get into Financial Planning?
In the Linked In series, you talked about receiving a $30,000 commission check. Tell me about that experience.
How did you get involved in Toastmasters?
What is the most memorable moment you have had in Toastmasters?
You are an avid reader of self-development books - you describe it as an addiction. Addiction to trying to get getter. When was your genesis moment in self-development books?
You have a drive to serve veterans in need, tell me about that.
Top 3 Self-Development Books of all time.
Erica Kirkwood was born and raised in the small town of Falfurrias, TX where she earned honors for being an exceptional student athlete. She completed her biomedical sciences bachelor's degree at Texas A&M University-Kingsville with an athletic scholarship to compete on the Javelina Cross Country and Track teams. She met her husband, Jonathan Kirkwood, while attending Loma Linda University in California where she graduated with a masters degree in occupational therapy. They have 2 daughters, Kaleila (age 5) and Adiella (age 3). After a 6 year hiatus from running, Erica put her running shoes back as an outlet in her busy life as a full time working mom. Within a few months of consistent running, her competitive side returned full throttle when she decided to train for a marathon with a goal to qualify for the Boston marathon. In Sept 2019, she crossed the finish line at 3:02:27 and realized how close she was to achieving the Olympic Trial Standard of sub 2:45:00. She put her Boston dream on hold to instead pursue a chance to run alongside the best of the best female marathoners in the country in the 2020 US Olympic Marathon trials. In June 2019 at Grandma's Marathon in Duluth, Minnesota, Erica achieved this goal with a time of 2:44:48. She represented south Texas in Atlanta, Georgia by running in the US Olympic Marathon Trials in Feb 2020.
Questions Covered:
You just finished running in the US Olympic Marathon Trials last month in February.
(1) What inspired you to get into running in the beginning?
(2) What stands out as a meaningful moment running on an athletic scholarship at Texas A&M University-Kingsville?
(3) When you stopped running for those 6 years, did you ever think you would be running in the US Olympic Marathon Trials?
(4) If you had to narrow down to one person who helped you become your best in training for the US Olympic Marathon Trials, who would you say and what did they do?
(5) Talk about your experience at the US Olympic Marathon Trials.
(6) What were the big lessons you learned from the US Olympic Marathon Trials?
(7) What is your favorite quality about the members of your family?
Fernando Rizo is the Program Director of the basketball organization Nike Proskills in San Antonio, Tx. This episode, Fernie answers the following questions:
Where did you start and where are you now?
When you consider tangible results, what stands out to you?
What kind of opposition did your program face?
How have you gone about building your staff?
How does you program separate itself from the competition?
How is your program bigger than basketball?
What do you appreciate most about being on the leadership team with Nike ProSkills?
Bailey Baker State Farm Agency Owner. 3 years going strong.
Newly engaged on New Year's Eve! Exciting! Congratulations to you and Branden.
Graduated from UT Austin with a degree in Business Marketing.
Favorite Hobbies: Shopping, Sewing, Sleeping, and Trying New Restaurants
Activities of Interest include Socializing, traveling, design, and marketing.
BNI President of Local Chapter in San Antonio.
How did you get your start in the insurance business?
What do you enjoy most about your profession?
What separates you and your organization from the competition?
What advice would you give someone just starting in the agency owner?
What one thing would you do with your business if you knew you were not going to fail?
What do you see as the coming trends in the insurance industry?
What ways have you found to be the most effective for promoting your business?
How has your Mom inspired you in your business journey?
Delilah D. Walter is a native of San Antonio, Texas and graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School, a product of its award-winning Army JROTC program. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology, minor in Sociology. While obtaining her degree Delilah was hired on by Dell, Inc. where she was a Technical Support Analyst and Data Analyst for 8 years.
To continue to expand on her analytical skills she returned home to San Antonio, Texas to obtain her Juris Doctorate from St. Mary’s University School of Law. Upon graduation, Delilah worked as a Supervising Attorney to a long-standing local law firm establishing processes, implementing quality improvements to productivity and legal work, and leading attorney teams in the practice of SSI/Disability and Personal Injury law. While doing so, Delilah provided Real Estate legal services to an in-house lender then established a Real Estate legal department that represented clients in residential Real Estate legal matters to include Foreclosure law, Real Estate closings, Mortgage Discrepancies, Homeowner Finance transactions, Title analysis, and Landlord Tenant Law. Delilah, then transitioned to Weisinger Law Firm, PLLC bringing her Real Estate practice with her and expanding her legal service to others into Estate Planning, Probate, and Guardianship law. Delilah launched her own law firm - Walter Law in October of 2019 - where she focuses primarily on Real Estate, but also includes work Probate, Estate Planning, and Guardianship.
Her family mottos rooted at childhood were Hernan Cortes’ “Burn the Boats!”, and “Grip Fast”, the motto engraved on her paternal Scottish clan’s shield. Raised to believe that hard work and persistence are the key to success Delilah provides support to all who need it with avid commitment.
Delilah is blessed to be married to a strong supportive husband, Craig, and has 2 beautiful children: Allura and Enrí. In her spare time, she loves travelling with her family, and spending quality time with them at unique cultural events and shows throughout the city, to expose them to what the world has to offer.
What inspired you to become an attorney?
What do you enjoy most about being an attorney?
What has helped you establish work life balance as an attorney?
One of your passions is being a shining light to people without knowledge of how the law works with estate planning and real estate; what would you like to do to help?
What advice would you offer someone considering law school?
What advice would you offer someone starting out as an attorney?
Being a woman, being a Hispanic woman, what has this meant to you in being an attorney?
What is your favorite quality of each of your family members?
Dana Rasier is an Israeli homeland expert and business owner. Born and raised in Israel, Dana served her country for two years at the Israeli Navy, and after a long trip of almost a year in South America she finished her BA and MA with honors in the field of Global Terrorism and Homeland security at the Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) and also volunteered for the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism (ICT).
While doing so, Dana at 2010 opened her first and current international business Dana Translators, which Specializes in five main services: Professional Translation (in over 30 languages), Transcription (for businesses, courts, and simultaneously in live events and webinars), Text Editing, (re-writing), Text Proofreading (grammar check, spelling, phrasing) and subtitles Assimilation (in clips and movies).
Dana Translators is operating for 10 years now in many different countries while hiring translators from across the world, which are holding some special advantages such as translating to their mother tongues, holding academic degrees in the field and others. The company gives unique services that upholds the values of the company, that includes credibility, integrity, perseverance, giving, service minded, honesty, investment, professionalism, friendship and ambition.
Dana is also donating 10% from all of the companies income to selected charities, while sharing the vision of the company – "Cross cultural accurate and professional message delivery for the benefit of international success, and good first impressions, while providing personal and professional services stemming from simply loving what we do".
In her spare time, Dana enjoys reading self-developments book, playing the guitar and being a part of the Israeli academia world. So far, she is not married, but is looking for the right guy.
Questions Covered:
What inspired you to work in the translation field?
Did you had doubts about continuing with it?
Who inspired you to grow the most as a professional woman? What did they do and why was it meaningful for you?
What is a unique challenge that you had to overcome?
How do you handle the changes of COVID-19 on your business?
What is a challenge in your line of work?
What advice would you give to someone that wants to start working in your industry?
One of the most powerful influences over your journey is that of your father; what do you most admire about his impact on your life?
Dr. Yirielis Sanguinetti is a pediatrician in San Antonio, Texas and is affiliated with University Health Systems. Born and raised in Guayama, Puerto Rico, Dr. Sanguinetti received her Bachelor's degree in Biology from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, MA in 2002 and her medical degree from the Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia, PA in 2006. She completed her Pediatric Medicine training at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio in 2009 where she currently lives and practice pediatrics.
Her love and passion for all children has taken her to use her medical knowledge and skills in the mission field with HOPE WORLDWIDE Community Service Brigades in Central America since the year 2012. She has truly become an international pediatrician.
Yirielis has a passion for personal, spiritual, and emotional growth and she finds herself reading books about these topics. Professionally she is working towards obtaining a certification with the Institute of Functional Medicine in order to learn how to better serve her patients in achieving health in a true holistic way. Personally, she is an active member of Mission Point Christian Church where she serves in the Kids Point Sunday Bible Program. She has the heart of a coach and teacher and she is committed to sharing her own healing story with the intention of inspiring others to embark on their own journey towards healing.
In her spare time she enjoys self-care activities like sleeping, getting massages, doing yoga at The Pearl, or taking walks in the park with her 4-legged companion Sunny Day. She also loves to travel, read, dance, and go to the beach.
Segment 1 00:00 - 04:38
When did you first know you wanted to be a doctor?
Segment 2 04:38 - 10:37
Did you have any doubts in the journey in becoming a doctor?
Segment 3 10:37 - 20:52
When you reflect on Medical School and Residency, what was the most difficult part of that experience?
Segment 4 20:52 - 35:20
When someone tells you: "I want to be a doctor." What advice do you have to offer?
Segment 5 35:20 - 39:26
What is the most rewarding part of being a Pediatrician?
Segment 6 39:26 - 45:11
What disadvantages did you experience in being Latina becoming a Doctor?
Segment 7 45:11 - 48:02
What misconceptions do people have about doctors?
Segment 8 48:02 - 52:18
Who influenced your growth the most in your professional and personal journey?
Segment 9: 52:18 - 55:33
Tell us about the favorite time together about your Mom and your Dad.
Suhavna Ramdeen is an Associate Attorney at Mac Naught and Company a firm of Attorneys that specialise in property and commercial law, in South Africa.
She is a highly skilled negotiator and excellent communicator which was developed through working in private practice with a vast array of individuals ,entities and trial matters , which refined her to be a litigator.
Suhavna heads the litigation department at Mc Naught and Company ,and contributes success by practicing being articulate and adept in communication with others and being a good listener with a developed sense of intuition and timing.
She constantly constructs a network of vast business liaisons which enables her to have skilled resources readily available .
Outside her illustrious legal career she aides as creative counsel to academics and published authors.
In the simpler life Suhavna ,enjoys a morning run along the ocean shore and is a wife and mother and believes this has been her greatest success and achievement in life.
Segment 1. What inspired you to become an attorney?
00:00 - 7:36
Segment 2. With your responsibilities as a litigation attorney, career focused woman, mum, and wife, how do you maintain a successful balance?
7:36 - 14:16
Segment 3. On top of all this, you are 30 years young. Wow! Talk about the journey of being this young with all these responsibilities.
14:16 - 20:30
Segment 4. With the example you set for people, women, and your family, what is the most important lesson you want people to obtain from your journey?
20:30 - 33:55
Segment 5. What unique challenge have you overcome in your journey as an attorney?
33:55 - 44:38
Segment 6. Who motivated you the most in becoming an attorney? What did they do?
44:38 - 49:46
Segment 7. What advice do you offer someone who wants to become an attorney?
49:46 - 56:52
Segment 8. Tell me your favorite quality of the members of your immediate family.
56:52 - end
Daniel Murray, DC graduated from Parker University in August of 2016. During his time at Parker, he served as a Research Assistant, Student Senator, IFCO President, and Student Senate President. As a student he also attended the BMTE Mission Trip in Peru, where he was able to gain valuable experience adjusting at a high volume.
A month after graduation Dr. Murray opened up his own clinic Murray Chiropractic Center in San Antonio, TX, where he focuses on the detection and correction of vertebral subluxation. His practice members range in age from newborns to seniors, and he has a special affinity for adjusting families. He has also adjusted professional athletes, including an ex-NFL player. Dr. Murray is a published author, his book Keeping Health Simple can be purchased on Amazon.
Dr. Murray is a father of three wonderful children, Jeffrey, Dani, and Davy. All three children play basketball and enjoy kayaking, fishing, and camping with their dad. Dr. Murray is also an avid gardener and spends most of his free time working on DIY projects around his house. One of his passions is real estate investing which purchases older homes, remodels them, then rents them out or sells them.
Future plans for his practice include hiring an associate and expanding to own multiple locations. His key to success is “using his clinic to build people, not people to build his clinic.” If you would like to connect with Dr. Murray or have questions about his practice model, please reach out via email: murraychirocenter@gmail.com
What inspired you to become a chiropractor?
What is most rewarding about being chiropractor?
For someone starting as a chiropractor, what advice would you offer them in the journey?
What do you to separate Murray Chiropractic Center from the competition?
One unique component of your practice is adjusting babies, tell me about that.
What ways have you found to be the most effective for promoting your business?
What have you found that surprises most people about chiropractic?
What is your favorite quality of each of your children?
Born to a Panamanian mother and American father in Bronx, NY. Amy graduated in 1988 from a vocational school as a practical nurse which spearheaded her nursing career and calling. She joined the Army branch of the armed forces in 1996 and landed in San Antonio, TX shortly after basic training. Several years later, she completed a bachelor’s in nursing (BSN) degree in 2003 at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. She has served as a nurse in several specialties to include: rehabilitation, medical-surgical, pediatrics, geriatrics, home health, hospice, health insurance, and case management. Her decades of nursing have exposed her to learn and observe the many preventable chronic illnesses which sparked her passion for preventative medicine. In her role as a health coach, she helps others reach their health goals with a balance of nutrition, fitness, community, and healthy habits. Her passion is helping people achieve a greater quality of life by helping them believe in their intrinsic ability for lifelong transformation, one healthy habit at a time.
Questions Covered on This Episode:
When did you first make health and fitness a priority?
What inspired you to prioritize health and fitness in your journey?
What inspired you to begin helping other people in their fitness journey?
When it comes to sleep, time management, diet, fitness? What helped you to blossom in these areas?
What diets have you experimented with in your health/fitness journey?
What types/brands of workouts have you tried? What was most successful? What was Least successful?
What baby steps would you recommend to others starting out?
What role does accountability have in health & fitness?
What are your favorite qualities?
Justin and Irene Renton Joined the Strong Life Coach Podcast from Cape Town, South Africa! They are the Authors of Healing of a Wounded Idealist and Their New Book The Humble Idealist: A Handbook to Healing of a Wounded Idealist. Currently, They Oversee Churches in 12 Countries of Southern Africa, which Includes 26 Different Churches numbering over 2600 members. They live in Johannesburg, Southern Africa. Currently in Cape Town in South Africa. They have Two Children: Elena who is 19-years-old and Luke who is 16.
What inspired the vision for your two books?
In the first book, you write about the Faithful Realist and the second book the Humble Idealist. Talk about the shift in focus.
Snippets From The Humble Idealist:
No one can go back and make a brand new start, but anyone can start now and have a brand new end.
Disappointed idealists aren't cowards as some may think; they are reeling from the pain of being unable to reconcile their reality with their idealistic expectations.
We can confuse expectations and faith. Whereas faith is actively trusting God, and leaving the outcome and our happiness in his hands, expectations are just mental creations.
The opposite of expectation is acceptance. While expectations are based in the imaginary, acceptance is grounded in reality.
Regardless of what an idealist imagines - we cannot be truly happy until we accept life on life's terms.
What has been the most rewarding about writing these first two books?
What unique challenges have appeared related to these two books?
What are your favorite qualities about your immediate family?
Michael Forde and I have been friends for over 15 years. He is doing incredible work in the community connecting as a coach. In addition, he works as a coach in the Mesquite Independent School District. For the last seven years, Michael has served in a volunteer capacity with youth basketball and youth soccer teams.
Questions We Covered on This Episode:
What motivated you to start volunteering as a basketball coach?
You not only do basketball but you also do soccer. How did you get into the soccer program?
What do you find most rewarding about coaching in the volunteer setting?
Who inspired you the most to step into this volunteer leadership role?
What unique challenge have you overcome in coaching?
As a coach, you are delivering pre-game speeches, mid-game speeches, post-game speeches.; what do you do to get prepared for the game?
You said you wanted to ask me a question: what is the most difficult challenge you have overcome?
Catherine Smith is a Dynamic Marketing Professional, Scholar Athlete at Texas Wesleyan University on the Women’s Soccer Team, and Vice President of Enactus which Showcases Social Entrepreneurship in the Community! She Strategically Elevates Brands Through Social Media and Business Networking. Her Expected Graduation Date is May 2020!
Questions Covered:
When did you first see yourself as a leader?
What is the most rewarding part of your leadership role in Enactus?
Who was the biggest influence in your leadership journey?
What unique challenge have you overcome in your leadership journey?
How have you continued to grow in your leadership journey?
What helps you with balancing your efforts as a scholar-athlete, community involvement, and your professional role Business Network International?
What are your favorite qualities about your family?
Eric Ruiz and I have known each other since we were 12-years-old! We played basketball together in middle school and high school. One characteristic about Eric that has always been present is his passion. In walking together now, he is one of the most intentional men in my circle, growing and positively influencing everyone he touches. I am blessed to know him and call him friend. Look for Eric's Podcast to Launch this year!
On this episode, we cover the below questions:
When did you realize you wanted to be a coach?
Why the name Strong Life Coach?
Why your logo?
What advice would you offer to yourself when you started the business looking back?
You offer Mastermind Training. Tell me about those.
What we're key take aways from doing Mastermind Groups?
How has your wife influenced the journey of business building?
What has been the best part of business building for you?
How have you seen your message spread?
Why is this important to you?
What is your favorite quality about your wife?
In 2017, Scott and his wife Carrie started Inspired Stewardship as a business to serve Christian men and couples that are struggling to live out their calling. They work to help align the way you use your time, your talent, and your treasures so that you can identify and live a fully authentic life that allows you to authentically live your calling, serve others, and provide for your family. As certified Human Behavior Consultants and members of the John Maxwell Team, they focus on helping you understand yourself, understand others, and through that understanding build the Kingdom. Scott and Carrie through Inspired Stewardship are living out their own calling that started with a call to coaching in 2011 and has slowly grown to a full-time business through one on one coaching, speaking, and workshops.
Questions Covered:
What inspired you to get into coaching, speaking, and training?
You are most passionate about helping people get out of their own way and align their time, talent, and treasures so they can live their true calling. How did you choose to focus on those areas?
How do you maximize productivity in your coaching business, networking?
When did you first see yourself as an effective coach?
For a coach who is starting out, what do you think is the biggest obstacle they will have to overcome in building their client base?
Who was the biggest influence in your professional coaching journey?
What is a unique challenge you have overcome in the professional coaching journey?
What has helped you to continue to grow in your coaching, training, speaking?
How are you using your speaking, coaching, training gift in the community?
What is your favorite quality about your wife, Carrie? What is your favorite quality about your son, David?
Rolonda Thrift Pierce is a dynamic leader. Her gifts of strategy, event coordinating, encouragement, connection, and communication build up countless people around the world.
Questions Covered:
What inspired you and Vince to move to Tulsa, Oklahoma?
What have you found the most rewarding in leading a small church?
How did God prepare you for this journey?
How do you gauge growth and impact?
William Marian Revel III was born and raised in Albany, GA. He attended the University of Tennessee. In 2005, Rev joined the Military, serving in the Army. Then, he transitioned from Active Duty to Reserve in 2009. Rev has extensive experience as a nurse: becoming a nurse in the army in 2008, home health nurse in 2009, began working on the management side of home health nursing in 2011. Grew the organization to a multi-million dollar company in 18 months. On top of this, Rev has grown several organizations into multi-million dollar companies. In 2017, Rev started his own home healthcare company: Super Hero Kids Home Health.
Questions Covered:
When did you first see yourself as a leader?
What is the most rewarding part of owning Super Hero Kids Home Health business?
Who was the biggest influence in your leadership journey?
What is a major lesson you have learned from a poor leader in your life?
What is a major challenge you have overcome in your leadership journey?
What unique challenge have you overcome in your leadership journey?
How have you had to change in your leadership journey?
How have you continued to grow in your leadership journey?
How are you using your leadership gift in the community?
Lucretia Bock is a Commercial Real Estate Advisor with NCG Commercial Real Estate. Two of Lucretia's virtues that she values most: integrity and passion. She is a woman of great faith; she excels in connecting with others.
Questions Covered:
What inspired you to become a Commercial Real Estate Advisor?
When did you first see yourself as a leader?
When did you first see yourself as an entrepreneur?
How are you using your gifts in the community?
What unique challenge have you overcome in your leadership journey?
How have you improved in owning your own business?
Matthew Ryan Brown has lived in Tulsa, Oklahoma for 22 years. We met in May of 2019 when I was speaking at an event and we discussed Podcasting. Since then, Matt launched his Podcast and aims to motivate and support other people with Autism and Aspergers. He is a massive inspiration.
Questions Covered:
What inspired you to become passionate about raising awareness for autism and aspergers?
What advice would you offer to people who meet people with autism and aspergers?
What challenges come with the autism and aspergers?
What’s a unique challenge that you’ve overcome in your journey?
Who has been an inspiration for you in your journey?
Recently, you performed your poetry for the first time, how was that?
You started a podcast, how did you get started?
Michael Luna graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from West Texas A&M. His leadership experience stems from a 9+ year insurance career with six years in operations/sales leadership. Currently, Michael leverages his expertise with Big Brothers Big Sisters in the nonprofit sector.
When you think of failure in a leadership position, what comes to mind?
What motivated you to want to discuss failure in leadership?
Tell me about stepping away from Nationwide after 9 years.
What provoked the leap from the service role to the sales role?
Did you ever consider going back to customer service from sales?
What advice would you give your younger self?
What’s the hardest lesson to learn in facing those failures?
Tell me about your role at Big Brothers Big Sisters.
What is the most rewarding part of your role as an Outcomes Manager?
Who was the biggest influence in your leadership journey?
What is your favorite quality about your son, Adam?
Derek Daniel Guajardo founded Strong Life Coach in March 2019. He launched this Leadership Podcast in July of 2019. One of his burning passions is to energize people and equip people in order to elevate people.
Kisha Pollard obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Leadership from Strayer University * Author of The Smile in My Voice which was Published in March of 2018 * 17 Years in Insurance Industry * Corporate Leadership: 11 Years * Podcast on YouTube Kisha Pollard * Vlog: Kisha Pollard on Instagram
Questions Covered:
What motivated you to launch Strong Life Coach?
What prepared you for this major life change?
What do you see as the difference between coaching and counseling?
What major obstacles have you overcome in business building?
What has surprised you?
Who are you targeting as your clientele?
What unique approach do you use as a Coaching Guide?
How much do you charge for your services?
Johnese Garcia graduated from New Mexico State University with a Degree in Government with an emphasis in Law and Society. Her experience includes four years as a Student Supervisor for University Hospitality Services, three years at Texas Roadhouse as a Local Sales Marketer and Catering Lead, three years as a Store Manager in a Retail Boutique Store focusing on marketing, branding, social media. In addition, Johnese has four years of as a Retail Operations Manager at the largest hospitality organization in the world for fine dining and Facilities Maintenance. On top of all this, Johnese has helped launch a catering company which specializes in weddings, youth banquets, non-profit events, and graduation parties. Also, she is a worship leader at her local church.
Questions Covered:
When did you know you wanted to be involved with catering?
When was the first time you catered an event?
What is the biggest event you catered?
What all went into that?
What was difficult about catering for a 1000 people?
Did you ever think it was crazy?
What is the most rewarding part of catering for you?
How do you use this gift in your personal life?
What has been the most surprising twist for an event you have planned or attended?
With your degree in government, do you have dreams for a government role or public office?
Who was the biggest influence in your journey to catering on your own?
What is your favorite quality about your husband Juan?
Fernie (Fernando) Rizo has a wealth of leadership experience throughout his lifetime. He obtained a Master's Degree from New Mexico State. In addition, he has over 13 years of experience in education - as a teacher and assistant principal, decades of experience coaching and overseeing athletic programs, and now seven years of experience in the insurance industry. Fernie owns Rizo Insurance Group LLC and Nike Proskills San Antonio.
When did you start your basketball journey?
What brought you back to basketball?
How did you become the coach?
What did you sacrifice to pursue coaching basketball?
What were the early challenges you faced as a varsity coach?
After moving to San Antonio, did you continue coaching?
What sets you apart as a coach?
What lessons do you give to your team after a loss?
What challenges do you face with the parents?
What sacrifices do you make as a coach that people don’t realize?
What’s next for your basketball program?
Why give up a brand you worked hard to build for Nike Pro Skills?
Kiel Carter rejoins the Podcast to discuss Men and Emotions.
Questions Covered:
When you hear the phrase, "A real man doesn't cry," what do you think of?
How have emotions helped you connect with people?
How have emotions disconnected you from people?
With your military experience, what do you think about the mass killings in America?
What makes you proud in parenting?
Robyn (Martell) Romero graduated from St. Mary’s University with a Psychology degree. Her leadership experience includes insurance operations, contact center management, training and development. At one point, she was my boss; I reported to her. She is married and has two wonderful children - Desirae and Nicolas.
When did you first see yourself as a leader?
What is the most rewarding part of being in a leadership role?
What unique challenge have you overcome in your leadership journey?
How have you had to change in your leadership journey?
How have you continued to grow in your leadership journey?
How are you using your leadership gift in the community?
How do you integrate your family in your leadership role?
What are your favorite qualities about your husband, son, and daughter?
Shanika Cochran completed an undergraduate program at Old Dominion University, Occupational Studies with Emphasis on Fashion and Marketing. Later, she completed a graduate program at Virginia Tech in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies. Four of her leadership positions include being the Director of Resident’s Life at the University, a Women’s Ministry Leader, Fitness Instructor (Zumba, Group Xercise & Tobata), and an EFT (Emotionally Focused Transformation) Practitioner - Coach.
Questions/Topics Covered:
Tell me about being a fitness instructor.
What inspired you to become certified as an EFT Practitioner?
When did you first make fitness a priority?
Were you passionate from the beginning or did something change?
What inspired you to help other people in their fitness journey?
What do you remember about doing your First Zumba class?
Who has been the most influential person in your fitness journey?
How has Rob encouraged you?
How have you experimented with nutrition in your journey?
What unique challenge have you overcome to excel in this lifestyle?
What baby steps fitness or nutritional would you recommend to others starting out?
Gabe Baker graduated from Rice University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Engineering. He was the captain of the Rice University Football Team. For his graduate work, he obtained a Master’s Degree in Theology from Houston Graduate School of Theology. As a stellar athlete, Gabe has competed as an American Ninja Warrior. In addition, the Netflix Show Ultimate Beastmaster featured him on Season 2 of the series. Gabe has performed at weddings as the officiant and as a cellist. He focused his professional career as an engineer for three years before shifting his efforts to Public Policy and Community Engagement with Harris County. One of Gabe's greatest passions is making an impact for international service trips to communities in need. As a man of faith, Gabe is a pillar difference maker.
When did you find out you were going to be Captain of the Rice University Football Team?
What was next for you?
American Ninja Warrior: What was it liked? What happened?
When do you find out if you were on the show?
You had experience with another Obstacle Race Show: Ultimate Beastmaster - Did you know you would be on?
What was your experience competing at Ultimate Beastmaster?
What inspired your change from engineer to Policy Advisor and Community Engagement Specialist?
Are you currently dating? How do you go about sharing or not sharing the accolades on your portfolio when interacting with women?
Given all of your achievements, what helps you stay grounded?
With all of your outstanding achievements, what is the most normal part of your life?
Violet Delgado graduated from Highlands High School in San Antonio, Tx. She continued her education to attain a Bachelor of Science Degree in Multidisciplinary Science from UTSA. Next, she completed a graduate program at Texas A&M College Station to attain a Master's Degree. In the time as a teacher, Violet has focused on physics, biology and AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination). Currently, Violet is the AVID Program coordinator at East Central High School which oversees 250 students. She has been married for 11 years to Donovan Delgado. Violet and Donovan have two children - Kalel and Amelia.
Questions Covered:
What inspired you to become a teacher?
What did you teach when you started?
Did you plan to teach Physics and Biology your whole career? What happened?
What is AVID?
What inspired you to take on AVID?
How have you been creative in your role?
As a leader and decision maker, how do you decide to have a guest speaker come in?
How do you build connection in the classroom?
How have you adjusted your teaching style with the changing times?
How has the loan crisis influenced your approach in the classroom?
What is a unique challenge you have overcome in the teacher role?
What keeps you motivated as a teacher?
What are your favorite qualities about the members of your immediate family?
Daniel Laugesen graduated from UTSA with a degree in history. He brings leadership expertise from the retail tax industry. As a district manager, Daniel oversees 30 different offices, providing coaching and effective leadership. In 2018, Daniel earned the Corporate Owned Operation Growth Award. Excelling in the district manager role, he become one of the top district managers in the country.
When did you first see yourself as a leader?
What inspired you to transition from Rental Car Industry to Retail Tax Industry?
What do you attribute to becoming one of the top district managers in the country?
Who was the biggest influence in your leadership journey?
How do you approach learning?
When you think of the phrase “best friend” who come to mind?
Hervé graduated from UMass Boston with a degree in International Relations. With 31 years of full time ministry experience, he has provided leadership in France, Egypt, Haite, Cotoiva, Kenya, the United States and South Africa. In addition, Hervé has been married for over 28 years. He speaks four languages - English, Spanish, French, and Hatian Creole. His expertise in international influence is demonstrated by his success building organizations into the thousands. Currently, he oversees and mentors the leadership teams of 50 organizations. How did you learn those languages? How did you decide to those International Relations in College? What inspired you to invest and build organizations internationally? How does local influence differ from international influence? What mistakes have you made internationally that shaped you as a leader? What mistakes have you seen others make that significantly hurt their influence? What are keys to success when influencing others remotely? What types of culture clashes did you witness in leading internationally? How did you navigate those areas? What are your favorite qualities of your family members?
Tomas graduated from UTSA with a focus on Interdisciplinary Studies. He continued with his education to attain a Master’s Degree in Administration from Texas A&M. After 11 years of teaching, he and his wife Christina became the owners of Luxury Home Magazine in San Antonio and Austin. One of Tomas’ unique gifts is his passionate communication demonstrated with TMIII Impact, which he leverages his John Maxwell Speaker, Coach, and Trainer certification. When did you first see yourself as a leader? What is the most rewarding with owning Luxury Home Magazine? Who was the biggest influence in your leadership journey? What unique challenge have you overcome in your leadership journey? How have you had to change in your leadership journey? How have you continued to grow in your leadership journey? What are your favorite qualities about your wife, son, and parents?
Jesus McDonald is the owner of JRM Web Marketing, a WordPress website design and development company in San Jose, California. As an owner, he enjoys helping businesses grow their online presence through web design, web development and SEO. He was born in San Antonio, TX and graduated at The University of Texas (UTSA). Outside of work, he loves being married, playing basketball, watching the San Antonio Spurs, and indulging in really good Bar-B-Que. Jesus' approach to life: "Take risks. You will absolutely fail many times but learn how to bounce back quickly. Do not believe your fears. The more risks you take, the quicker and more you learn."
- What inspired you to become an entrepreneur?
- So why website services? Why don't you provide social media marketing services or do everything in a bundle package like most digital marketing agencies?
- How do you keep up to date on your website design and development industry?
- What fears did you have to overcome when starting your business? And what fears do you have now?
- Is it true that you have more freedom as an entrepreneur?
- Do you have any advice for our listeners that may want to start a business or take their leadership position to the next level?
- What are your favorite qualities about your wife - Caroline - and your son - Dustin?
Rob Cochran is a dear friend and a respected Church leader. People who know Rob understand he is a man of impact; everywhere in all he does he makes a positive difference. He has invested in me generously and willingly over the last eight years. Currently, Rob leads a congregation in Canton-Akron, Ohio. In the Podcast, we discuss Rob's journey to include baseball relationship dynamics, how Rob raised $10,000 in one day, bringing in guest speakers, and leadership insight.
Therapist/Counselor Mark Tovar Joins the Strong Life Coach Podcast!
Owner and Operator of Real Counseling Incorporated: We Guide, You Thrive
Central Michigan University Bachelor of Arts and Broadcasting 1998
Master of Arts Professional Counseling Degree Central Michigan in 2001
PHD Work at UTSA in Counseling and Supervision Education
20 Years in Higher Education and Mental Health Agencies working with Ages 6-60
Why did you decide to start your own counseling practice?
What inspired you to become a therapist?
What happens in social situations when people find out you are a therapist?
What is the most rewarding part of becoming a counselor?
How do you take care of your own emotional and mental wellness as a counselor?
What is a challenge most people may not realize in being a counselor?
When did you first see yourself as an effective counselor?
What is one unique challenge you have overcome in becoming a counselor?
What should people who look for mental health clinicians know before choosing someone?
What are the biggest challenges in mental health today?
How did you know you wanted to marry Katherine?
Author - Julia Motycka - joins the Strong Life Coach Podcast. She has 40 Years of experience Walking with God in His word, 40 years of marriage, three grown children, seven grandchildren. Julia is a Style Coach and a representative for a line of jewelry. In addition, she has nearly four decades of leadership experience with small group leadership and Sunday school teaching.
When did you decide to become an author?
How have authors contributed to your growth as a person?
How did Max Lucado decide to endorse your book?
What unique internal challenge did you face in the journey to publish your book?
Did you receive any negative feedback for writing your book?
What has been the most rewarding part of writing your book?
What kind of opposition did you face in writing the book?
How powerful can a prayer life be?
What is your vision for the impact of your book?
Shirley Graduated from Our Lady of the Lake University with Business Degree Focusing on Accounting
In addition, she has seven years of insurance experience with Aetna and USAA.
Then, she attended Law School at St. Mary's University in San Antonio, Tx.
Altogether, Shirley has 39 Years of Expertise as an Attorney with 37 years of experience focusing on child custody litigation.
Questions Covered:
When you were growing up, did you see yourself as an attorney?
What inspired you to become an attorney?
What unique challenge did you face in attaining your law degree?
What led to you focusing on child custody litigation?
Being a woman often representing men in child custody litigation, what is that experience like?
What do you consider in your analysis of a quality parent?
When you are considering what is best for child's custody, how heavy of a burden is that to carry?
How do you unwind?
Southwest Independent School District Teacher of the Year 2018-2019 *
Top 19 Finalists For Best Teacher in Bexar County * Non-Profit Board Member * Overseeing Benevolent Distribution * Geography Teacher Team Leader * Coach for Academic World Quest
You're Included for a Special Invite for December 9th, 2020! Find Out What Is Happening!
What is a unique challenge that you have overcome as a teacher?
When did you first know you wanted to be a teacher?
Who inspired you the most to become a teacher?
What has been the most rewarding part of being a teacher?
How have you adjusted with the changing times of technology in the teacher role?
What challenges do teachers face today that they didn't have 10-15 years ago?
Kisha Pollard is a Dynamic Leader and Outstanding Development Coach! She's coached me into thousands of dollars of salary increase!
Undergraduate in Leadership from Strayer University * Author of The Smile in My Voice which was Published in March of 2018 * 17 Years in Insurance Industry * Corporate Leadership: 11 Years * Podcast on YouTube Kisha Pollard * Vlog: Kisha Pollard on Instagram
What inspired you to write your first book?
What advice would you offer to aspiring authors out there who are considering writing their first book?
How did Kisha publish her first book?
What has helped you be most successful as a coach?
How has coaching shaped you?
Who has been the most influential coach in your life? What specifically helped you most?
How does coaching influence other areas of your life?
When is the last time you’ve seen yourself as an effective coach, unlocking the potential of others?