The Mom Shuffle: Recent Episodes
Dr. Colleen Kendrick
Sharing the stories of entrepreneur and executive moms balancing business, parenting, and personal aspirations.
Natalie Illiano is partying with a purpose! With decades of experience in event planning, the now founder and managing director of Illiano Events in Voorhees, NJ, operates a balloon decoration specialty service targeted at special events, such as bridal and baby showers, birthdays, holidays, and community events. A busy mother of two who also serves as the Chair of the Voorhees Art Commission, President of the Voorhees Business Association, and on the Board of Directors for the Maryville Addiction Treatment Center, Natalie is also a committed community leader who shifted her direction in business and her personal passions after experiencing loss.
Dawn Kaplan and Amy Smith, two attorneys, firm founders, and entrepreneurial moms join us to discuss joining forces and building a better business together at Weinberg, Kaplan & Smith, P.A., a South Jersey law firm focused on Family Law. We're digging into the importance of trust, shared values, and mutual respect in both their personal and professional relationship and talking about what it takes to build a business while balancing motherhood and life transitions. If you've ever built a business with a friend, or have been thinking about whether that's possible, you don't want to miss the advice these two have you share!
Alicia Duque is a powerhouse with over two decades of expertise in communication development, certified life coaching, and instruction in dance, yoga, and meditation. But this multipassionate entrepreneur doesn't stop there! She's also the force behind her own digital talk show and popular podcast, The Alicia Show, an actress, seasoned speaker, and straight-up goal chaser, with her newest venture, a streaming show called DoIIntimiDATEYou.com, where she showcases her skills as a dating coach. If you are aiming to be an entrepreneur but feel like you have to fit your skills and passions into just one bucket, Alicia is about to prove otherwise!
When we talk about shopping local, we often think we either do that OR shop on Amazon. But maybe it's not an either/or! I asked fellow Amazon-lover and Boss Mom Founder, Dana Malstaff, what she has Saved for Later in her cart and if Amazon is an opportunity for small businesses.
Dana Malstaff, Founder of Boss Mom and creator of Nurture to Convert, has been both an advocate of, and movement maker for, entrepreneurial moms. She has long believed that too many brilliant moms are struggling to figure out how to grow their business while balancing all that is required to be a good mom, partner, and woman. We can't help but agree. Listen in to hear about Dana's journey, how she built a mega Boss Mom group on social media, and is currently braving the waters of a big pivot to level up her community and offerings with BossMom+.
Have you considered what philanthropy means to your family? Meg George, Co-Founder & President of George Philanthropy Group asked that same question and turned it into a children's book titled, What’s Philanthropy to Philomena? Today, she joins us for a wide-ranging episode about making philanthropy a family affair, from teaching your young children about the impact of giving and assessing today's giving opportunities, to navigating family trusts and giving priorities with older and adult children. This episode is sure to leave you considering how you have engaged your family in philanthropic giving or can get started.
Meg George, Co-Founder & President of George Philanthropy Group joins us for a bonus episode to discuss a critical concern for many families, navigating food allergies. When Meg's family experienced a life-threatening emergency brought on by an unknown food allergy and a stranger saved her daughter's life, everything changed. She's sharing their experience, strategies for staying safe, and ways that we can all advocate for those with food allergies in this special segment.
Learn more about Meg's family story here and here.
Engage with the advocacy organization that Meg mentions at Red Sneakers for Oakley.
Cassidy Hartman of Bubbles and Brews ND knows the Shuffle! Juggling a 9-5, two entrepreneurial endeavors, a toddler and a marriage, Cassidy's story shows us that we really don't have to choose one path. She also gets candid with us on navigating the challenges of embarking on her journey into motherhood.
In this episode we got to visit (in-person!) with the fabulous Shannon Marcussen of Annie's Cranny, a body-positive boutique on Main Street in Mullica Hill, NJ. Shannon has been an entrepreneur for over 15 years and opened Annie's Cranny in 2021 because she wanted to provide a judgement-free shopping space for women, a place where shoppers can experience exceptional service while being able to find something that they feel beautiful in! Listen in to learn about Shannon's journey and learn how she's making a difference by pumping out all the positivity!
Despite a nagging calling to pursue interior design in college, Lisa Palmer of Lisa Palmer Designs stayed committed to business school and pursued a successful career in business development after graduation. But her love for design never waivered and she was soon taking on home staging and interior design projects as a side gig part-time. After leaving her last development job, staying home for a few years with her girls, and serving in a super cool hosting role with QVC, Lisa was ready to return to the workforce full-time. This time she didn't miss a chance to design a career she loved as she went all-in on entrepreneurship.
What does it take to build a successful book of clients and then open your own law firm? To navigate the delicate balance between starting a new firm and thriving in family life? To be intentional about your career development, education, and community efforts? To be delightfully surprised by becoming a mom later in life and making big decisions for the benefit of your family? We asked Michelle Douglass of Burnham Douglass, and did this conversation ever deliver! Come along for the ride - you're sure to learn something and to enjoy Michelle's sense of humor as much as we did.
As entrepreneurs and executives, we are always thinking about our customers! But are we truly considering each customer's journey to us? Are we mapping out our interactions with our key market segments and being intentional about our touchpoints? Amanda Read is back with us to talk about how she leverages the marketing staircase and how you can too!
Andrea Merrill of Virtually Adventurous joins us for this month's business theme of Marketing Channels. Managing your customer POS can be overwhelming, but if you begin to understand human psychology behind buying behaviors, you can start to determine which channels are important for your business and deserve your time, effort and investment.
How can understanding your audience and narrowing in on key segments help you market and build your business? Holly Haynes of Crush the Rush joins us to talk about the benefits that refining your customer strategy can have on your productivity and ROI.
Branding expert Kelly Wittman is back to help us kickoff season 3! Listen in on our discussion about being intentional when building your personal brand.
Vicki Dunn Marshall started working as a crew member in a Little Caesars restaurant at the age of 15, working her way up to become one of the first female supervisors for Little Caesars’ corporate office, and the first female in franchise sales. Today she is the CEO of her own VDM Management Group, which operates 24 Little Caesars restaurants and 1 Dog Haus Biergarten throughout West Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio. She provides jobs for more than 500 people in her stores and has even helped five of her former employees open their own stores, either by selling them a store or by sponsoring them through their application process with the brand. It's fair to say that she's built a big business, but her impact has been even bigger when you hear others share how committed she has been to making a charitable impact on her community,
One very direct impact has been on her own daughter, Carissa. Carissa and her siblings grew up with an enterprising mom, and a knowledge that hard work made all things possible. In considering the next steps in her career, she knew she wanted to build something that felt uniquely her own, while still benefitting from her mom's mentorship, so the two launched into partnership with another franchise brand, Dog Haus Biergarten. Signing a commitment to open three locations in the West Virginia market, the pair is introducing a new brand into a state that apparently has a long history of loving hot dogs! Listen in to hear our first mother-daughter pair on The Mom Shuffle podcast talk about how they do it all.
Chelsey Strand has made it her life's mission to make a positive impact. As a social worker, she supports children as they navigate their diagnoses, anxiety, and depression; as a co-founder of the nonprofit Box of Balloons in Fargo, North Dakota, she is fortunate to give back by helping children in need feel seen and loved on their birthday. Listen in to learn how Chelsey and her team make sure that every child they encounter feels supported and celebrated, and learn how you can take up the effort in your area.
Emily Jaime's passion for travel and discovering other cultures took her around the world before founding YIREH, an ethically sourced, socially conscious boutique, in Hawai'i. Today, Emily and her team of artisans aim to change the narrative of the industry and showcase that fashion can be a positive force for change. This is no fast fashion, this is "slow fashion" focused on thoughtful designs, and a commitment to responsible business practices like safe working conditions, fair wages, and more. Listen in to learn more in this week's episode of the podcast.
Have you ever worked a really long day and arrived home dreading the dinnertime to-dos? Yep, us too. Well, Kyla Hanaway-Quinlan and her team at Feast & Fettle are on a mission to make sure that you can unwind, relax and enjoy the dinnertime you deserve. Recognizing an opportunity to fill the gap and restore some fun to mealtime, they're hand-delivering high-quality meals that are locally prepared, nourishing families throughout New England each day.
An early adopter of Etsy before pivoting into a brick-and-mortar business and opening KIN, a modern mystical shop to Des Moines, Heather Ann Roe has followed her dreams, taken some risks, and encountered her fair share of challenges on her entrepreneurship journey. Listen in to learn how she built a business that invites people into the experiential and sets her shop apart through sourcing, pop-up partnerships, and more!
Susan Wos has spent nearly three decades working in various capacities in the salon world. From senior hair stylist, salon owner and manager, to independent stylist and consultant— her personal experiences, challenges and successes fueled her passion for revolutionizing employment for businesses in the industry with the launch of Enlightened Hire. Founded with a connective spirit and a lofty goal: to offer tremendous value to owners and licensed professionals in the salon, spa and barber industry by providing insight into what works best for them on a personal level when considering workplace opportunities, Enlightened Hire is taking it to the next level as the matchmaker of salon, spa and barber industry hiring.
How is Dr. Miranda Lawrence leaning into her medical training and her personal health experiences to build the future of functional medicine? Listen in on this week's episode to learn how she has expanded her Flourish Hormone Replacement & Wellness Centers practice to three locations across the Eastern US, focusing on bio-identical hormone replacement and vitamin supplementation to aid in prevention and addressing the root cause of illness.
Single mothers and their children experience the highest rates of poverty among families in Wyoming. That's why Molly Kruger and her team spend their days helping single mothers with low income achieve self-sufficiency through career training and placement. As the COO at Climb Wyoming, a nonprofit founded in 1986 which operates in six locations across the state today, Molly operationalizes a comprehensive program model that is driven by relationship-based direct services to move struggling families to self-sufficiency. Listen in to learn how investing in moms makes a impact on everyone from their own household to the state economy.
Heather and Brian Byers started Great Plains Nursery in Weston, NE with a passion for growing and planting native trees and shrubs and educating others on the importance of native plants for the ecosystem. Fifteen years later, they feel a stronger sense of stewardship than ever and take pride in being ecologically responsible in their contributions to the environment. Today their nursery serves both landowners and municipalities with everything from retail trees and shrubs, to planting and maintenance contracts, to consultations on conservation efforts. Learn more about Heather's expertise and their ecological approach to horticulture in this week's episode.
When Nikki Guerrero moved from the dry southwest desert to the rich green soils of the Pacific Northwest, she searched everywhere for the flavors of home and realized that there was a real need for the fresh Mexican flavors that she grew up with. Leaning into her grandmother's recipes, an opportunity to score shelf space in a local market, and a partnership for production space, Hot Mama Salsa was born. Twenty-three years later, Nikki and her team remain hands-on, working with local farms to craft the best ingredients to bring farm fresh flavors without any preservatives, fillers, or artificial ingredients to tables in Portland and beyond. Deliciosa!
Remember when you were a new mom and you were tired, and overwhelmed, and searching for your village to give you a break, to lift you up, to remind you that someday everyone will sleep again? Those early days are hard, but the days following can be too. To support new moms and empower them with skills to strengthen themselves and their families, Kai Forsley and her team at Many Mothers in Santa Fe, New Mexico are surrounding them with access to programs and resources in a model I think we can all agree, is needed nationwide!
Born and raised in Mumbai, India before spending time in Canada and eventually making her home in the US, Cherie Scott has experienced a variety of cuisine, but could never find a simmer sauce that replicated the flavors of her early years. Reflecting back on the scent of the sauce, the combination of herbs and spices, the nostalgia of cooking with family, Cherie saw an opportunity to honor her familiy's immigrant journey and to create an absolutely delicious offering that introduced a whole new market, and new generations, to the flavors of India. Join us for a journey from Mumbai to Maine.
In this week's episode, Maria Gus of Visit Bartlesville is serving up tips for building local tourism and sharing ideas for fun family adventures. She's also filling us in on her career journey, talking about her favorite side gigs, and spilling the tea on what happens when Hollywood comes to town to make movies! Join us for a lighthearted adventure, Oklahoma style.
It takes someone special to have the guts and grit to open a juice bar in a region plagued with chronic health issues, especially as a 24-year-old brand new to entrepreneurship, but T'Keyah Williams is absolutely someone special! She's even earned an Entrepreneur of the Year award celebrating her achievements at Mama Nature's Juice Bar, but as grateful as T'Keyah is for the recognition, you'll quickly learn by listening in on our conversation that her passion for entrepreneurship goes way beyond accolades. It's about building a life for her family, educating and nourishing her community, and impacting the entrepreneurs following in her footsteps. I think you'll agree by the end of our chat that T'Keyah Williams is a woman to watch!
Dr. Samantha Cavender developed a love for animals as a child. Participating with 4-H and Future Farmers of America, she learned to love more than just family pets, but farm animals, and all sorts of species! She followed her passion through veterinary school and today is not only a doctor of veterinary medicine, but a co-owner of Idaho Veterinary Hospital. She joins us to share her stories of cultivating cross-species connection by supporting the human-animal bond and tells us how her family gets into the mix. I think you'll agree that any of us would be lucky to have Dr. Cavender and her tribe caring for our furry, scaly, or feathery friends!
Come along for a conversation about Sarah Vedeler's journey as an accidental entrepreneur. Leveraging some skills learned early in life, easing into teaching, and putting herself in the right place at the right time opened doors to opportunity as life was presenting it own serious challenges. Through it all, Sarah built Meaning of Life Designs and while she has built a passionate community and has become an incredibly talented, and widely respected sewer and embroider, she's on a mission to craft something even bigger!
Emily Cook is a painter, jeweler and physician whose passion for art and science fuels her work, no matter the discipline. Merging left brain and right brain activities to bring a new unique blend to addressing whole health, Emily unites her interests in both art and medicine for benefits that go beyond the bounds of each realm alone. You can see her latest creations on her website at Emily Cook Art.
Melanie Staley grew up working in her family's amusement park, Santa's Village in Jefferson, New Hampshire, a vision brought to life by her grandfather. Today, she is part of the third generation of family leadership, building on her family legacy, improving and innovating, and delivering pure joy, family style.
Adrienne Paolini believes that we can raise good humans and be productive members of society, but she knows it takes a village. When she found herself far from her go-to crew and in need of support to manage her career and her family, she saw an opportunity to bring a new model to market and thus was born Child & Co. - a coworking space with childcare. Today she offers services and support to working parents who want to craft a balance and build their village. With the increasing volume of remote work and interest in maintaining connection, coworking spaces are on the rise and Adrienne and her team are innovating a new model to lead the way.
After achieving success in a leadership role at a Fortune 25 company, Amy Birks was trying to convince herself that she was doing the work she wanted to be doing and making the impact she desired. But, the rationalizing just wasn't enough. Revisiting her priorities and setting out on a new course, Amy identified an opportunity to help others and herself, but it wasn't always easy. A difficult divorce, a struggle to find the right revenue streams, and learnings all along the way, Amy has come out the other side absolutely on fire. Today she focuses on staying caring, curious, and connected in her work to help purpose-driven founders scale without sacrifice.
Julia Nepini is a therapist and the owner of Compassionate Counseling Company, a private mental health practice. Today, in addition to serving patients, she shares her experience through her latest venture, Compassionate Consulting Company. In a time when mental health services are in higher demand than ever, Julia's insight and experience has helped her clients achieve better balance and more financial security and freedom. Are you thinking about starting your own practice? Expanding your current team? Diversifying your income streams? Listen in and learn on today's episode!
After years as a paralegal in large firms, Amanda Russell planned a pivot. Launching initially as a virtual assistant (VA) before moving into content development for newsletters, social media, and more, she founded Chaos Coordination, LLC, a small business that has made a bigger impact on her work and family life than she could have imagined. Today, Amanda writes the words that build and connect communities. She takes great joy in learning each client's backstory, finding their voice, and weaving the web to amplify their audience reach. And she does it all with an eye to conscious marketing. Follow along with her journey in today's episode.
After years as a paralegal in large firms, Amanda Russell planned a pivot. Launching initially as a virtual assistant (VA) before moving into content development for newsletters, social media, and more, she founded Chaos Coordination, LLC, a small business that has made a bigger impact on her work and family life than she could have imagined. Today, Amanda writes the words that build and connect communities. She takes great joy in learning each client's backstory, finding their voice, and weaving the web to amplify their audience reach. And she does it all with an eye to conscious marketing. Follow along with her journey in today's episode.
If only all new moms had a Jill Urbane! Known as The Mentor Mom, Jill has been working with families to demystify early childhood development for decades. She's helping families finding solutions that work for them and she's dropping tons of tips in this episode, so have a notebook handy!
If only all new moms had a Jill Urbane! Known as The Mentor Mom, Jill has been working with families to demystify early childhood development for decades. She's helping families finding solutions that work for them and she's dropping tons of tips in this episode, so have a notebook handy!
Fourteen years ago, when Amanda Read of Read Mobile Marketing was pitching the idea of mobile marketing to businesses, the environment was not what it is today! The idea that a business would text its customers seemed intrusive and too personal. It took her some time to get traction and a lot of proving her concept. Today, customers are opting into mobile marketing all the time - for text notifications, sale alerts, contests, appointment reminders, ordering, and more. Amanda was on the cusp of a burgeoning industry and businesses just needed to get comfortable and catch up. Suffice it to say, her business has grown, and the sales pitch isn't quite as challenging - text messages have a much higher open rate than email messages and businesses have taken notice.
From corporate to consulting and back, Laura Crossley has been committed to leveraging communication to move projects from concept to completion. Along the way, she's taken on Mount Everest and had two children, one on each side of the pandemic. The values she has formed throughout her personal and professional journeys have shaped her work today as the VP of Experience & Marketing at AdPredictive and the host of the Maven Minds podcast, where she speaks with trailblazers of modern business.
Behak and Brook built a friendship as colleagues and care providers throughout their careers before founding In This Moment, a subscription box service born during the pandemic. Consistently coming back to how meaningful mindfulness had become in their caregiving efforts, the two friends committed to bringing the tools for meaningful and mindful engagement right to the front door of families across the country.
After working as a certified massage therapist for years, the COVID-19 pandemic brought Julie Deem's practice to a halt. Being in the business of physical contact when distancing was encouraged wasn't exactly a good situation. Julie knew she needed to pivot and she got to work considering her next move. Hear how her own podcasting experience led her to pursue a new opportunity and to build a business that raises the voices of other women as The Business Podcast Editor.
Twenty-five years ago, Fran Pastore turned a transition in her career into an opportunity for thousands of other women, their communities, and the State of Connecticut. Since then, she and her team at the Women's Business Development Council have changed the game for women who are entrepreneurs working to launch or scale their businesses. But Fran didn't stop at business development, she has become an absolute force in the broader economic ecosystem and a passionate advocate for women's economic equality. From her time advising the President, Congress, and the U.S. Small Business Administration on the National Women's Business Council, to collaborating with the governor on COVID recovery, and being tapped to oversee the organization that administers Connecticut's paid family and medical leave program, Fran is talking the talk and walking the walk for the benefit of us all. This is an episode you just can't miss!
Yoky Matsuoka has done it all, but she realizes that you can't do it all on your own. Pausing to ask herself if every mom felt as overloaded as she did, she had a revelation. There had to be a way to lean into innovation to build a village and bridge the gap. Today, she is the Founder & CEO of Yohana, an independently led subsidiary of Panasonic that focuses on building consumer technology products and services to help people live healthier and happier lives. She is leveraging the digital environment to make real world connections that help take tasks off a mama's plate to make more space for what matters most.
Take a lifelong interest in history, add a dose of inspiration from an influential teacher, and Dr. Erica Moore was off and running. Staying curious, asking questions, acquiring education, and taking risks to claim broader roles where she could make a bigger impact led her to her work today as the Executive Director of Native Student Success with the American Indian Higher Education Consortium.
Dani Lebovitz, Registered Dietician and Founder of experience delicious is helping parents give their kids permission to play with their food! Using smart strategies from interactive play to STEAM activities, she helps parents get their kids to engage with food both inside and outside the kitchen to build confident, competent, adventurous eaters. She's supporting families with resources you can access online and a beautiful suite of self-published books that look good enough to eat! Time to start thinking about your family's food exploration...
Former public relations executive turned owner of multiple six-figure businesses; Michelle Vroom joins us for a deep dive into building organic relationships online. She's filling us in on refining your market and consistently finding your dream clients, and you can't miss our discussion on her GPS Method. Get your notebooks ready...
A life-long people person, Jen Dary founded Plucky in 2013 in response to some serious soul-searching. She’s spent the past decade helping companies work better, realizing that it’s the relationships we have with our co-workers that make or break retention and organizational success. Jen's commitment to moving people forward in their careers and helping them find their way has held fast, despite some serious challenges to her own health that could have derailed her. This is a story you just can't miss.
Kristen Denzer has made her impact as a serial entrepreneur, and she isn't close to slowing down. Seeing a need and filling that need has led Kristen to founding a party rental company, a doggy daycare, and most recently the Spanish immersion daycare and preschool, Tierra Encantada. Tierra was named among the Top 100 of the Financial Times Fastest Growing Companies of 2021, with 15 locations already open or underway across 6 states, her unique franchise model is taking off. Listen in to see what Kristen is working on today and what she's learned from leveraging risk and going all in with each venture!
After working as an employed physician early in her career, Dr. Noha Polack launched her own medical practice in 1999. Since then, she and her team at Progressive Pediatrics have been caring for pediatric patients and their families. Today, they have two offices, in Union City and Bayonne, NJ, where Dr. Polack aims to set a healthy foundation for patients to build a lifetime of wellness. We are talking about her passion for working with teens and pre-teens navigating challenging physical, emotional, and social issues like weight, and acknowledging that pediatrics is truly a team sport that involves partnering with families and other clinicians. We also dig into what it took to get her practice up and running, what has changed in the decades she has been providing care, and what it took to get through the height of the pandemic period.
In 2009, Danielle Meadows-Stinnett launched her business from a 500 sq. ft. apartment with a toddler and a baby on the way. Since then, Octane Design Studios in Lexington, Kentucky has worked on more than 100 brands and Danielle has become a force in both marketing and community connection. Her popular podcast and frequent hashtag, #MoreThanGraphics has become an operating principle in both her life and business, and her advocacy for leveraging education to meet people where they are and empower them with the tools to take on DIY marketing broadens access for everyone. We're talking about how she's doing it all today as a gamified mom of four boys!
Seeking industry experience and saying yes to new opportunities led Suzanne Price to a corporate role researching the toxic chemicals used in consumer products. When her social circle started moving into a new season of life, Suzanne saw an opportunity to leverage her industry knowledge for the greater good and decided to open Sprout San Francisco, a boutique that specializes in baby products that are natural, organic, and free from toxins. Today, Suzanne and her team research every offering so you can be assured that the products being sourced and sold will help you build a healthier home. With non-toxic products more in-demand than ever, Suzanne has scaled her business to four Bay Area locations, a Salt Lake City showroom, and a fulfillment center for the Sprout web store, and she isn't close to done. She's on a mission to make it easier for parents to shop for healthy products for their children, and she's doing all the legwork, so we don't have to. Listen in and learn along!
With a dream of becoming Lois Lane, Christina Crews set off to study journalism before accepting her first press role in her hometown of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. From her early days working the beat, to decades building a book of go-to sources and schedulers, and a corporate communications pivot that left her navigating challenging content with broad community impact, millions of people have had the chance to hear the stories Christina has crafted. Today she volunteers her expertise as the VP of External Affairs for the Philadelphia Public Relations Association alongside her professional role in the city she loves.
From handling key functions involving pay and benefits, to bringing the fun, and crafting the culture of an organization, experts like Michelle Donohue, Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Administrative Operations at HMEA, have an opportunity to make an impact on every employee. As we move towards a post-pandemic world and navigate new work models and changing colleague values, how does it all come together both professionally and personally?
Kamille McCollum has always been invested in meeting people where they are and helping push them to be the best version of themselves. From her background in social work, to her eye for opportunity and desire to turn her passion for fitness into her career, Kamille went all-in on her family's first BODYBAR Pilates franchise in Fort Worth, TX with a newborn, toddler, and teen! Since then, she and her husband, Matt have opened two more locations of their own and have taken over the franchising organization to help others build businesses with BODYBAR. Listen in to hear how she's balancing franchising and family.
Merridith Crowe of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lowcountry in North Charleston, SC joins us to talk about the power of mentoring and so much more. From finding her purpose in serving others, connecting community, advocating for social justice, and holding space for the things and people that are important, Merridith is an ambitious single mom bringing her personal mission statement to life.
What exactly is an authority brand? What does one look like? And how can you leverage your own brand as you scale your business? Steph Weber of The Weber Co. joins us on this special deep dive episode of the podcast to break it all down on how you can build your brand up!
When Rebecca Williamson suffered two devastating losses back-to-back, she made a move to preserve a property that had been meaningful to those she lost. Buying the historic Cambre House & Farm gave Rebecca the opportunity to honor her family legacy and to invite the community to engage with the house and grounds in new ways. Today, a combination of private events and an eclectic mix of public craft shows, ghost tours, and more invite others to make the Cambre House & Farm part of their story too.
Kim Smith of A Chance to Dance believes that "shifting perspective doesn't always require you to use words to tell the most beautiful stories", and we couldn't agree more! Kim is leveraging the power of dance, in Charlotte and beyond, to build programs that break down barriers to allow everyone an opportunity to express themselves and share their artistic gifts. From the foundation she launched to pay forward a gift given to her daughter, to identifying the need for dance programs that welcomed students of all special talents, Kim continues to be a force for good.
From her time as a college student trying to select a major, to working in communications and public relations for huge organizations like the Smithsonian, to launching her own firm, Amy Kehs of Kehs Communications is telling the tales. We're talking about how she builds the brand love and balances it all with an active family life.
From working in property management to launching her own real estate business in Plymouth, Minnesota, and investing in properties of her own, Jessica Milkes-Bennerotte has proven herself a force, but she is far from finished. She's talking about her big, bold goals and what she has gained by building a business. We also dive into what we all need to know about this wild housing market, how she leverages her Airbnb to gain quality family time, and how she makes it all work as a wife and mom of busy teen and pre-teen boys.
In this special bonus episode, we take a deep dive into the world of conversation with Dr. Julie Crenshaw of YourConversationExpert.com. If you need support navigating awkward or difficult conversations, this episode is for you!
With some on-the-job training and guidance from a few key mentors, Megan Wagner was built to be a pastry chef. When a life-changing opportunity arose as the result of a friend's illness, Megan's purpose gained new direction and led her to pursue entrepreneurship. Running on passion and the excitement of those early days of building a new operation, she was striding into a sweet spot until the pandemic changed it all. This week, we visit Dream Maker Bakers in Killington, Vermont, Megan's bakery and cafe where she and her team churn out delicious daily treats, incredible cakes, and dessert buffets. We're talking about the sacrifices she has made building the business and the challenges she, and many other business owners, still face in today's unique environment. And we drop the mom filter on to talk about the impacts on her family, the commitment she has made to aim for better balance this year, and what it has taken to persist through it all.
We're off to join the executive ranks today as we visit with Valerie Hillow Gates, Executive Director of the American Heart Association for the Greater Cleveland Region. Valerie tells us about the important work her team is doing and how the nearly 100-year-old organization is making inroads in addressing health equity. She shares her personal passion for the mission of the AHA and the story of her journey with the organization from a new college grad to a seasoned leader. She offers an insightful take on pandemic-era response and company culture and shares some guidance for those seeking jobs today. Of course, we also talk about mom life, get an adorable airport story, and think about what it feels like to pause to simmer in the sweet spots.
For sisters Farrah Haidar and Hala Yassine, building a family business comes with clear parameters that keep both the business and their sibling relationship at their best. From their cafe in Johns Creek, Georgia, these savvy sisters whip up sweet, savory, and seasonal treats to ship from Seven Sisters Scones. We're unpacking the journey from testing the product concept to persisting through the pandemic, and discussing how they engage the rest of the family, seven sisters and beyond!
We are off to Springdale, Arkansas where Judith Yáñez is elevating parent power at her nonprofit organization, RootED Northwest Arkansas. Aiming to raise every parent's voice in their child's education, RootED draws on Judith's lived experience and honors her family legacy by walking alongside families navigating vulnerability and advocating for the best for their students. She'll get you thinking about what it takes to maximize the potential of your student as we discuss the complexities of education.
We venture to Denver, Colorado to speak with Marisol Solarte-Erlacher of Marisol Solarte-Erlacher & Associates about overcoming trauma and building resilience. We're talking about everything from the challenges and misconceptions surrounding high-achievers to how we can address trauma and work to build resilience. We learn about EMDR, a therapy we are hearing much more about in the last few years, and consider some of the challenges the industry is facing in increasing access to culturally-competent care.
We kickoff Season 2 of the podcast by venturing to North Pole, Alaska to visit with Heather Campbell of Glory Nutrition on the first stop our 50 States of Shuffle! We're talking about managing family mealtime and kicking frustration to the curb. Heather also educates us about the current challenges with food insecurity facing military families and how those can be exacerbated by their unique circumstances.
From hobby writer to self-taught email marketing expert, Ashley DeLuca of Ashley K DeLuca Consulting joins up for Episode 22 of the podcast. We are talking about leverage our natural talents, relentlessly pursuing knowledge - shout out to our local libraries! - and building authentic and engaging customer relationships using a medium where business owners don't have to constantly battle the algorithm. We're going to get you thinking about the way you're working your email strategy.
Becky Warriner of The Alchemy Salon joins us on Episode 21 of the podcast to talk about her years of experience working in the salon industry and what it has been like to make the leap and venture out on her own. We’re talking about putting in the work, paying your dues, committing to ongoing training, navigating the challenges of being the boss, and her vision for an abundant future.
We’re excited to take a breather with Jessica Gershman, The Zen Mommy! Jess is sharing how focusing on her breath, utilizing momentary pause, and incorporating different forms of self-care has helped her overcome big trauma and everyday challenges. This isn’t a snap your fingers and you magically manage self-care discussion, this is about finding the tools that help you, and putting in the work while you navigate the world and your own inner critic. Now take a deep breathe, and come along for a little relaxation and a lot of insight…
When the pandemic hit, the meeting industry was one that screeched to a halt. Maria Ramos, founder of Innovative Meetings joins us on Episode 19 of the podcast to talk about the initial signs that something big was about to change, how quickly her clients felt the impacts, and what it looked like inside the plan for a massive pivot. We also chat about how she navigated the biggest challenges of her professional career while caring for herself and her family, and how she couldn’t wait to get back to banquet chicken and mediocre coffee!
She’s “atomically authentic” and telling it like it is on Episode 18 of the podcast! Kimberly Pangaro, better know as Atomic Mommy, joins us to talk about her professional and personal journey, including her recovery from COVID-19 and resulting recommitment to her passion for writing. We also chat about how she built an engaged community of moms online who love that she tells it like it is.
On Episode 17, Alexis Ofchinick of Amici Mullica Hill tells us how she is making - or baking - the world a sweeter place! We talk about having the confidence in yourself to stop playing small, betting on and building your team, and pursing your dreams and giving back in the midst of personal challenges and community crisis.
Did you get a pandemic puppy? Have a dog who got used to you working from home only to suffer separation anxiety as you ease back to the office? We’re grabbing tips and talking about building a business that cares for our furry, four-legged family members on Episode 16 of the podcast with Kristine Bennett of The Pet Care Pros.
We venture across our northern border for Episode 15 to speak with Canadian founder, Corinne Boudreau of Online Legal Essentials. Corinne’s journey is a tale of working to serve others, saying yes to new opportunities, remaining steadfast to her needs and those of her family, and ultimately ending up where it seemed she was always destined to be. She also offers up some great advice, with a side of rock and roll and a healthy dose of hockey!
On Episode 14 of the podcast, Marjorie Jones of Marjorie Jones Photography joins us to talk about turning a hobby into a business, managing six schedules under one roof, and continuing to invest in building your skills. We also cover the advice she’d share with anyone considering starting their own skill-based business, and we snag some tips on coordinating for the best family photo outfits!
What exactly is the psychology of color? When should we start crafting our brand personality? How do we know when is a rebrand is in order? Branding expert, Kelly Wittman of Witt and Company joins us on Episode 13 of the podcast to talk about building a brand that reflects you and your business.
We also chat about how Kelly followed the breadcrumbs to build her business and how navigating The Mom Shuffle after welcoming her first little one this year impacted her approach to client work and project management.
Sooo much to unpack in episode 12 with Olivia Pelts of Sunshine City Counseling! We’re talking about the progress we are making in normalizing caring for our mental health, and the distance we still have to go. We also discuss the impacts of the last 18 months of pandemic life, the importance of processing our vulnerability before sharing it, and how we can work on leveling up to achieve of best selves. Of course we dig into mom life too, and talk about how Olivia built her practice, ramped it up to scale, and expanded to a new market all while managing a young, growing family!
This week, we are thrilled to be joined by Obi Ikeme of Ikeme Law. Obi is a Texas-based trademark and immigration attorney focused on protecting the legacies of businesses and families. We’re talking about when to protect the intellectual property in our business, as well as what as the risks and rewards are. We also discuss trying to maintain healthy boundaries and navigate self-care while working in spaces where we are really emotionally invested.
In this can’t miss episode with Jess Critchlow of Light Up Work, we’re talking about whether competence = confidence, sorting out the difference between feelings and behaviors, and assessing where imposter syndrome really comes from. Jess also shares tips from her client work and talks about what it is moms are seeking in their careers and social groups. You are sure to see things from a new perspective!
This week, Catherine Ashton of Giant Squid Group joins us to talk about finding a philanthropic home for donor dollars by focusing on core values that match mission and impact. We also gain insight on how she scales an engaged team in her own business by creating space for radical candor.
An upbeat and wide-ranging interview today with Jennifer Mary of Everyday Style. We talk about recognizing your greatness to build a business, effectively engaging with your customer base, and putting in the work. We also grab expert tips on fighting “frump slump”, and learning to appreciate our bodies and work with them through all stages of our lives.
Kirsten McGregor of SAGAX Associates, LLC joins Colleen to discuss her years of experience managing disruption and planning for economic recovery and resilience. She shares insights from building her own business, discusses the impacts she has seen so far in relation to COVID-19, and offers advice for building resilience to achieve sustainability for the future.
Is it possible to leverage years of international industry experience to build a business that meets family needs and offers ongoing intellectual engagement with clients? Diana Urbanchuk of Risiko Advisors tells us how she made it happen.
With a little fate and a lot of faith, Marilyn Hartman of Creations with Hart has built a woodworking business with a meaningful mission.
Mom of 5, ex-military officer, repeat entrepreneur, and B2B queen, Marcie Shoham of Midwest Air Filter talks planning, priorities, and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone.
Sharon Spatucci of Sugarplum Studio joins us for a chat about organic growth, business model evolution, and making artistic, and tasty, treats.
A few minutes of introduction and topic exploration with our host, Dr. Colleen Kendrick.
Dr. Colleen Kendrick introduces you to The Mom Shuffle and talks about what this podcast will cover.
Orchestrating special events for others is no small feat, but Jaclyn Fisher of Two Little Birds Planning knows just how to put the puzzle together to make it magical and memorable.
Operating a winery sure sounds like a blast, but we had no idea how much was involved behind-the-scenes. Julie DiBella of DiBella Winery fills us in!