2010 Journey Conference Sessions and Speakers

 Schedule for February 23! 

Keynote Presentation

Dawn Duncan, Owner of Broadreach Recruiting and Consulting

Create Your Place in the World!

No matter what it is you want from life--you can get it. You can create your world by following your own dreams and doing things your way. In this fun and interactive session, Dawn will help you understand that having confidence and being your own unique person is the key to getting what you want and becoming who you want to be. YOUR wildest dreams are worth going after!

Dawn Duncan is the founder and owner of Broadreach Recruiting & Consulting, a firm specializing in identifying and selecting professional and executive hires for companies. She is also a career coach, trainer, and frequent public speaker in various forums as well as a trusted advisor to many new and well-established entrepreneurs.  Dawn is a native of Minnesota and has lived in Fort Collins since graduating from the University of North Dakota with a Bachelor of Arts degree in literature and French in 1994. She is a monthly newspaper columnist for the Northern Colorado Business Report; her column, The Authentic Entrepreneur, has been published since August of 2008. Throughout her 15-year career in the recruiting and employment industry, Dawn has assisted myriad companies and individuals with regard to hiring, promotion, and transition. She is the co-founder of Emerge Colorado Young Professionals Networking Club and one of the “faces” of the young pro demographic in our region. Currently, Dawn is at work on her first book, a memoir, in addition to expanding her business beyond Colorado and serving on numerous boards & committees in the non-profit community.  Dawn lives in Fort Collins with her husband of nine years, Michael, and their pets Bergen and Sonja.

Lunchtime Entertainment

Grupo Florflorico Flor Antigua has resided in the Fort Collins area for over 25 years. Directors Christy and Johnny Valdez have made this group a family affair. Both of their children dance along with many other family members. All the dresses are hand made by Grandma Sailor (Christy’s mother), allowing for the group's collection of dresses to range over four different dance regions from historic Mexico. Practicing once a week has made the group members, ages from 6 to 65, a very tight knit family.

Capstone Presentation 

Sara and Pam perform a series of improvised scenes that explore topics unique to Journey participants.  After a lively question and answer session with audience members, Sara and Pam weave together scenes and stories based on audience input to create a fun, interactive, customized improvised show.  Participants will experience both laughter and insight into issues affecting today’s teen.

Sara Alan and Pam Farone have been performing improv comedy for over fifteen years.  Sara trained at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in New York City and has studied with improv legends including Amy Poehler, Martin de Maat, and Mick Napier.  She currently performs weekly at Impulse Theatre in downtown Denver.  Pam studied at IOWest in Los Angeles where she performed on a team with Kate Flannery from NBC’s ‘The Office’.  Together Pam and Sara have performed in the “Gypsy Cab Co.” at The Avenue Theater and “The Elements” at the Bovine Metropolis Theater and have co-written a show “A Night of Tumorous Comedy.”  They have combined teaching forces to offer several improv-based courses that utilize improv as a tool for transformation.

Announcer-Journey Guide

Lisa will provide mini-energizers and stories throughout the day in the main ballroom, serving as our MC! She will help us tie our experiences together when we gather in the main ballroom at various points throughout the conference.

A dynamic, energetic presenter, Lisa Scott has ten years of experience working with non-profit organizations to empower girls and women.  An alumnus of CSU-Pueblo and the University of Tennessee, she has created a nationally recognized bullying prevention curriculum which she has presented for children and adults in Los Angeles, Indianapolis, New York and Colorado.  She volunteers on the leadership team of PeaceJam, an organization whose mission is to create young leaders committed to positive change in themselves, their communities, and the world through the inspiration of Nobel Peace Laureates.  In her free time, Lisa enjoys reading, singing loudly in her car,  hanging around her fire pit with friends, and going to the drive-in with her son, Xander.

Breakout Sessions

Yoga—Ena Burrud Yoga  teaches us how to slow down a racing mind, how to breathe in ways that change our moods, and how to move our bodies to express our deepest feelings.  Come practice a few techniques that are bound to make you giggle at first, and then completely relax you by the end of class.  For all body types, abilities and fitness levels.

Ena came to Colorado from California where she spent 15 years in the acting industry.  She is a nationally registered experienced yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance, International Association of Yoga Therapists, as well as Yoga Teachers of Colorado and Namasta.  She has been teaching for10 years and practicing for 13.  In 2007, Ena opened the Treetop Studio in Old Town. She believes that the ancient science of yoga can be easily adapted into anybody’s life.  She  has taught many teens throughout the years who have said that yoga is the most relaxing, mind-soothing thing they have ever done. The parents have noticed a difference in mood test-taking and general outlook on life.

Zumba-Yvette Stahr Zumba combines high energy and motivating music with unique moves and combinations that allow the Zumba participants to dance away their worries. Add some spice and flair to exercise!  This Latin based group exercise class is fun and easy to do.  No dance experience required.

Yvette Stahr was born and raised in a small town in Nebraska and moved to Ft. Collins during high school, attending Rocky Mountain High for her junior and senior years. She  has studied dance almost her entire life, including during college. Yvette currently teaches modern dance, ballet, Zumba and theater jazz at Styles Dance Studio.  She also teaches Zumba at the Raintree Athletic Club in Fort Collins and the Orchards Athletic Club in Loveland. Teaching dance, especially to teens, is something she truly enjoys.  She is currently studying acting and would love to be in films, study in New York, and dance on Broadway.

 Express Yourself: The Art Journal Experience –Christine Christman and Jennifer Davey  This session introduces the concept of art journaling, briefly touching on the vehicles through which we express and understand ourselves.  We’ll show examples of creative art journal pages and then provide workshop time for the women to create their own art journal page. 

Christine has 25 years of experience in business marketing as an author and educator, having published three book and hundreds of magazine articles on the topic.  She recently took time off to return to school and earn a Masters of English with an emphasis in Literature.  She is currently developing her new project, “Good Words, Literature Enriching Life” a program for encouraging self-awareness through reading and journaling.  She now volunteers at the Matthew’s House, leading writing workshops with young women in transition. 

Jennifer is a practicing artist.  She uses painting as a form of visual mediation and as a vehicle for investigating and understanding archetypes and patterns in human thinking.  She received a B.F.A. in sculpture and K-12 art teaching certificate from CSU.  She taught teens in the public school setting for three years and has also continued to work with young people through volunteering and private classes.  She is currently volunteering at the Matthew’s House leading art journaling workshops to help youth in transition.

Healthy Cooking-Lynda Lacher  This session will provide easy techniques for cooking. Learn important techniques for preparing healthy and delicious food.  Samples are included in this yummy session.

Chef Lynda was a Chef Instructor at Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Program in Minnesota before moving to Denver in 2005.  She is the Chef Instructor for the Certified Natural Chef Program at the Nutrition Therapy Institute in Denver.  She teaches therapeutic cooking for health and reconnecting with the nurturing qualities of whole food.  In addition to teaching at NTI, Chef Lynda currently operates two businesses-a personal chef business,  “The Joy of Not Cooking” and “Food Fairy Productions”-demonstration style culinary classes in her home.

It's Your Body…Decorate it! (or not!)—Ryan Corley Ryan is once again back by popular demand. She will begin this session with a brief history of tattooing and piercing before moving into a discussion of modern day body art. She will discuss safety and sterilization procedures as well as making good choices when pursuing getting tattoos or piercings. In this session, the emphasis will be on ownership of your own body and respecting yourself.

Ryan is the manager, as well as a body piercer and tattooist from Millennium Gallery of Living Art. She has ten years of experience in this field and has presented at many Journey Conferences.  She loves educating young women about the industry, while equipping them with the information they need to make safe and smart choices about body art and body modification.

Feel Confident and Empowered-Rachael Jayne Groover  There are women who walk into a room and are noticed by many.  They have an air ofconfidence about them that is attractive. There are others who frequently comment that “no one remembers I was even there.”  One has ‘personal presence,’ one does not. In this session you will discover: How to look and feel more confident, healthy, and radiant when you walk into a room. Exercises to develop a physical and energetic presence that attracts the attention you want: personally and professionally and how to feel more comfortable with receiving positive attention.

Rachael Jayne is from Australia.  She is the founder of the YIN Project, an organization that helps women and girls connect to their authentic feminine power.  She has worked in the field of education and training for ten years, as a teacher and workshop leader, in the area of Performance/Presentation skills and Women’s Personal Growth.  In this session she will use her experience as a professional singer and speaker to help young women feel confident and empowered by any situation.

International Women’s Panel  In this session, you will meet women from countries around the world.  They will explain what it was like growing up outside the United States—what they loved most about their country and what things bothered them as well.  They will also answer questions regarding their adjustment to living in the USA-the trials, tribulations, and joys of moving to a new place.  A question and answer session format will also allow you to ask other questions.

Heathers, Queen Bees, and Mean Girls- Joslyn McGriff  In this session, Joslyn will explore with you the dark side of female friendship rivalry-when competition is healthy and when it isn’t.  This session will expand on the concept behind the “Mean Girls” theory and provide useful strategies for girls and women to stop their unhealthy competition and forge a new kind of relationship with female peers.

Joslyn McGriff is a Residence Director at Colorado State University. Joslyn holds a Bachelors Degree in Sociology and African American Studies from the University of Wyoming University and a Masters in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Colorado State University. Prior to working at CSU she was the Greek Life Area Coordinator at the University of New Mexico.

Look Good= Feel Good-Renee Jelinek 

What you wear says a lot about who you are, and how you feel about yourself. What are you saying? Learn how to dress for any occasion so that you have confidence and portray a positive self image. You’ll learn how small details can make a big difference in what you’re saying to the world.

Renee Jelinek opened up her first business at the age of 27.  After years of working in retail, from flower shops to department stores, she took a risk in opening up her first store, Once Upon a Child in Cheyenne. A year later, she opened up her first Plato’s Closet in Ft. Collins, with others to follow in Littleton, Colorado Springs and Cheyenne. She now owns a total of 5 stores. With a love for fashion, she enjoys sharing her passion with teens and young adults by providing an alternative to high priced brands at the mall through her resale stores. 

Jewelry Making-Jeanette Trytek  and Angela Wasserman

Ever wish you could have a perfect piece of jewelry but can't find anything that matches all of your tastes? As you work with metals, clay, and even little pieces of random stuff, this session will teach you how to make jewelry that truly reflects who you are.

Jeanette Trytek has been working with jewelry and clay ever since she was 5, she then took some jewelry and fashion classes during her high school education. She is into many different arts and crafts and is majoring in design as well as computer graphics. She also works at the Colorado Renaissance Festival as a faerie with a few friends and makes her own clothing and accessories.

Angela Wasserman has been designing and creating jewelry for almost twenty years. When she was nineteen years old, Angela moved from New York to Fort Collins to experience 300 days of sunshine.   Angela is inspired by nature and her jewelry reflects this.  Sterling silver, natural gemstones, wood, and other fair trade materials are put together to form unique pieces of wearable art.  Angela currently lives in Fort Collins, CO with her 10 year old son, and is enjoying her latest journey of going back to school to become a teacher. 

Sexuality and Gender Issues-Lindsay Melsen and D. Allen 

Most people grow up thinking about themselves as a boy or a girl. Some people don't want to be either and some people want to be both. Another component of a person's identity is their orientation or attraction towards boys or girls. Talking about sexual orientation and gender can be scary and it's hard to know who to ask. This session offers an open discussion in a supportive environment about the broad spectrum of human sexuality and gender identity. All of the GLBTIQ (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, interesex, queer) identities are covered and there will be plenty of time to ask any questions you are curious about.  This session offers an open discussion in a supportive environment about the broad spectrum of human sexuality and gender identity.

Lindsay Melson is the Director of Adult Programming and Community Education at Lambda Community Center, a resource center and advocate for the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, questioning and allied community. She received her BLA in Anthropology from Colorado State University with an interest in language, power and oppression, and ways in which different cultural groups can collaborate with each other.

D Allen is currently the Outreach and Advocacy Coordinator at Lambda Community Center.  Her work revolves around reaching out to the community in order to connect others through civic engagement and community organizing.  D is hoping to pull organizations together, as well as community members, and help foster more progressive change for those members who are marginalized.  D received her degree in Psychology from CU Boulder and is working to eventually become a therapist and work with youth, families, and marginalized communities. 

Health: For Girls Only! (Presented in Spanish with English interpretation)This is your chance to sit down with women experts and get the information you need! Learn about girl-specific issues and topics that you might be too embarrassed to ask anyone else! Get ready to go way beyond what you’ve learned in health class.

Deborah Archer, MD is a pediatrician at Salud Family Health Centers. She grew up overseas in Chile, Finland and Sweden. She has always had a love for education and children, majoring in Education at Brown University in Rhode Island. She is the founder of the community education program now housed at Brown University Alpert School of Medicine. She is the recipient of a National Health Service Corp Scholarship and a member of the Larimer County Department of Health and Environment’s Family Planning Advisory Board. Dr. Archer is also a wife and the mother of 3 wonderful children.

Claudia Nichols provides interpretation and support to mono-lingual Spanish speaking families through her position at the Larimer County Department of Health and Environment. She is passionate about improving the health of women and families!