Margaret Colwell is pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Human Factors Psychology with a minor in Aviation Safety at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. She aims to apply psychological principles to improve safety practices within aviation operations.
She is dedicated to enhancing operational efficiency and safety protocols by combining research experience with practical applications, particularly in air traffic control (ATC) and human factors.
Margaret actively seeks opportunities to utilize her academic background, practical skills, and genuine passion for aviation in a full-time role focused on Human Factors or Aviation Safety.
Sasha began her career as a professional dancer traveling the world dancing for major cruise lines and was represented by a top talent agency in Los Angeles. When she met her future husband, she decided to finish college and not only marry him, but also marry her passions that consumed her life: dance, fitness, and health. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Science in Health Education and a Minor in Dance. She is a registered 200hr yoga teacher and a personal trainer and has coached competitive dance for over 18 years. Together, Sasha and Ben envisioned a place that would allow their talents to flourish and their desire to impact as many people as possible while maintaining the balance of their little family (Lela & Eldon), so...The Movement Studio was born.
Learn more about The Movement Studio at https://www.themovementstudiopv.com/
Melea Banaszak is an AmeriCorps VISTA member serving as their Capacity Building Coordinator with the Wrapped In Love Diaper Bank (Prescott Valley). With a degree in Public Health, Psychology, and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from Augustana College (Rock Island, IL), she has sought to support communities from an intersectional viewpoint. Passionate about women’s health issues, Melea has been an advocate for gender equality for many years and has worked with the United Nations Foundation Organization, Girl Up, and her college’s Office of Sexual Assault Prevention Education. In her role with the diaper bank, she has initiated and continued to expand the period product campaign, providing schools and homeless liaisons with much-needed feminine hygiene products. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, exploring the outdoors, yoga, and curling up with a good book.
Connect with her on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/meleabanaszak or learn more about Wrapped In Love Diaper Bank at www.wrappedinlovediaperbank.org.
Nancy Roberts is a Lieutenant at the Prescott Valley Police Department in Northern Arizona. With over 18 years of experience, Nancy has held various positions, including patrol officer, crime prevention officer, Corporal, and Patrol Sergeant. She has received multiple life-saving awards, including the AZWIN Taking Time Award, and was vital in obtaining the agency's first-ever accreditation through ALEAPS. Nancy is an Accredited Command Executive through AACOP and has completed the FBI LEEDA Trilogy. She has a bachelor's degree in organizational leadership in Criminal Justice and is pursuing her master's in the same area. Nancy and her partner have a blended family of six children and enjoy coaching basketball, bowling, and camping.
Learn more at https://www.prescottvalley-az.gov/1337/Police-Department
Melyssa Munday is a busy mom of five and a mentor for virtual assistant moms. She is obsessed with helping moms work from home and build a successful business or side hustle as a virtual assistant. She creates content that is simple, actionable, and easy to consume. Melyssa loves smooth-writing purple pens and to-do lists. In her spare time, she drives her kids to sports and volunteers, raising money for Prescott High School.
Learn more at http://melyssamunday.com/
Amanda has over 15 years of education experience and a Master's of Education from Ohio State University. She is launching Yavapai Exploration and Science (YES!) in Prescott. YES! inspires curiosity and appreciation for science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) through programs, workshops, and events. Amanda aims to create opportunities for all ages to explore the natural world, unlock creativity, and embrace lifelong learning. Her background includes teaching at the primary level and various administrative roles. Her passion for education extends to her hobbies, such as mountain biking, traveling, and camping with her family. Through YES!, Amanda envisions making STEAM education accessible and inclusive for everyone through hands-on experiments, interactive exhibits, or community outreach initiatives.
Amanda is also the 2024 Prescott Woman STEAM Award Winner.
Learn more about YES! at https://www.instagram.com/yes_prescott/
Allison Lenocker, a Phoenix native, has dedicated her career to making a positive impact. She started at Fermi National Accelerator Lab in Illinois and later worked with adults with developmental disabilities in Peoria. After coaching Special Olympics for over a decade, she moved to Prescott Valley in 2011 to work with at-risk girls. In 2018, she became the assistant director of the Coalition for Compassion and Justice (CCJ) and now leads the organization. Under her leadership, CCJ has gained recognition for its innovative approaches to housing and played a pivotal role in battling homelessness. Allison is a leader and a compassionate advocate for change, contributing to the collective effort to end and prevent homelessness in the community. Her dedication to humanitarian causes showcases her unwavering commitment to advocate for those in need. She is also the 2024 Prescott Woman Social Impact Award recipient.
Learn more about CCJ at https://yavapaiccj.org/
Missy Sikora is the Director of the Yavapai Family Advocacy Center (YFAC). As Director of YFAC, she serves as the county Children’s Justice Coordinator. Previously, she was a Supervisor for the Arizona Department of Child Safety in Prescott. Prior experience includes 15 years as a school teacher in Phoenix, four years as an intake counselor for the Durango Juvenile Detention Center, and three years as an intake counselor for the Phoenix Children’s Crisis Nursery. Missy serves on the Board of Directors for the Yavapai CASA for Kids Foundation and is co-chair for the Yavapai County Multi-Disciplinary Task Force Responding to Human Trafficking. She is a Yavapai County Child Fatality Review Team member and the Yavapai County Overdose Fatality Review Team. Missy holds a Master’s in Education and a Bachelor’s in Counseling & Human Services and is also a Certified Public Management Program graduate from Arizona State University.
Learn more about YFAC at https://yfac.org/
Today, we are chatting with Carissa Maxwell. Carissa is the 2024 Prescott Woman "Adventurer" Award recipient. She is also a real estate broker with Glow Realty, a mom, and an entrepreneur, and she seeks adventure every day out in the world. Learn about her adventures in the real estate world and her proudest accomplishments to date.
Lori is a retired school nurse, and Barbara is a retired private practice Prescott psychologist. Both volunteer for Braver Angels, a non-profit, grassroots, non-partisan national organization promoting civil discourse.
Learn more about Braver Angels at braverangels.org
Take a Braver Angels workshop at OLLI at the Yavapai College Campus https://www.yc.edu/v6/lifelong-learning/olli.html
For more info reach out to Barbara at bswainestes@braverangels.org
Today, Leslie Zann and I are talking about being fearless through courage.
Leslie Zann is a sought-after keynote speaker with a unique talent for helping people overcome their “limiting beliefs” to create positive change in all areas of their lives.
She has presented live to over a hundred thousand people worldwide and helped thousands more through her online courses.
The National Speaker’s Association awarded her the highest honor of CSP (Certified Speaking Professional).
Leslie was a spokesperson for KPBS Public Television on air for a decade.
Her latest book is the Amazon #1 Bestseller Outrageous Achievement. She is s currently working on her next book, Inspired Retired. How To Live Your Best Life at Any Age.
Leslie moved to Prescott in 2022 to be closer to her mom. She loves living in Prescott and, when not working, enjoys skeet shooting, hiking, and the local music scene.
Learn more about Leslie at lesliezann.com
Carissa Maxwell is the owner/Designated Broker of Glow Realty, a boutique real estate brokerage focused on giving high-touch service and connecting/supporting our local communities.
The Glow brand reflects what draws people to Northern Arizona-
"They want to be outside and are seeking a lifestyle around that."
"This is the future of real estate. Building business relationships around the lifestyle that people move here to experience...that is what our community wants to get behind."
Learn more at https://www.facebook.com/GlowREAZ/
Dr. Emilie is a naturopathic doctor and acupuncturist in Prescott. Her healing journey has inspired her profession, where she’s focused on mental health, women's hormones, cardiometabolic health, and weight loss. Emilie is also a new mom, and in her postpartum year, she realized how underserved postpartum parents are, and how postpartum is the best time for us to get our best health and body, ever. She is also a published author and is about to release her first book called POST: The Essential Guide to Creating Your Postpartum Self-Care Plan in Pregnancy. Emilie’s goal is to get it into the hands of every pregnant and postpartum woman in the world, so they can be empowered to take control of their postpartum experience and focus on what matters: their health, and their relationship with their new little one.
Visit: https://www.sanoswellness.com/
The Six Essential Steps to Postpartum Self-Care: https://sanoswellness.lpages.co/postpartum-support/
Halle Ann Fernandez is a 22-year-old Prescott resident, born in Brooklyn, N.Y., who is a self-proclaimed "Arizona Transplant". Halle is an accelerated Master’s student at Prescott College studying Critical Psychology in the undergraduate program and Outdoor Education Leadership in the Graduate program. When she moved across the country to pursue higher education at Prescott College, she quickly fell in love with the community. She began to immerse herself in service work with local non-profits such as the Prescott Community Cupboard Food Bank and the Western Heritage Center.
Halle is an Education Specialist for GEM Environmental and a Challenge Course Facilitator at Camp Way. She has held the titles of Miss Prescott 2022, Miss Granite Mountain 2023, and Miss Peoria 2024 in the Miss America Organization. As Miss Peoria, Halle uses her platform to share her community service initiative, ‘LNT For You & Me,’ where she teaches young children through high schoolers socioemotional skills like empathy, compassion, and boundary setting through Leave No Trace practices. She also uses her platform in the Miss AZ Org. to encourage adolescents and young women to shine in their individuality and authenticity regardless of what others think.
Local mother of three young girls who went from management to opening a face painting business. Nuggy Bug Parties takes on the county fair, rodeo, and many other large events in Prescott including training and staffing other moms and women within the community.
Learn more at https://www.nuggybugfacepainting.com/
Leslie Jacobs was a single mom at rock bottom with no money when she started in real estate. At the lowest point in her life with no Christmas presents to give her kids, she determined through tears to go from victim to victor. With sheer determination and grit, and with the help of a steadfast mentor in her life, she climbed her way up to a multimillion-dollar realtor here in Prescott.
Leslie has four children and is now happily married. She is smart, authentic, and compassionate. She has an incredible story to tell that encourages and empowers the women in her life.
Learn more at http://www.lesliejacobsteam.com/
Katee Norris has been working at Prescott Area Shelter Services since 2012. She stepped into this role through the AmeriCorps Program as a VISTA, and after two years of service, she became the Director of Programs. Katee makes sure the shelter runs smoothly, and that the guests have a clean and safe environment, feel cared for, and are treated with kindness. She ensures we have volunteers to support the guests through meals, advocacy, and empowerment as the volunteer coordinator, and she dedicates endless amounts of time to writing grants, planning fundraisers, and creating new programs and expansions to better support the guests. Katee also became a Registered Nurse and works at a hospital in Flagstaff as an RN, BSN. Katee takes her experience at both the shelter and the hospital and learns from them to better serve and help people in need, no matter what situation they are in.
Learn more at https://prescottshelters.org/
The owners of Rockin Smiles are sisters, mothers, and entrepreneurs. Today they talked to us about finding balance and the art of finding your smile.
Rockin Smiles is proud to serve the beautiful communities of Prescott and Prescott Valley, AZ, specializing in professional teeth whitening services. Their team of experienced professionals is committed to enhancing your smile and boosting your self-confidence.
Utilizing advanced whitening techniques and top-of-the-line products, Rockin Smiles ensures that your smile shines brighter. Their in-office procedures are complemented by our specially designed take-home products, providing you with the tools to maintain that gleaming smile and achieve lasting results.
Learn more at: https://rockinsmilesprescott.com/
Today we chat with columnist, self-care guru, and podcaster Brittany Tatum-Flores about self-clarity.
Brittany Tatum-Flores (or Britt) is the owner of The Practice of Self-care and has been a contributing columnist for The Daily Courier for the last five years, her contributions primarily discuss self-care, the importance of self-care and generally, how to manifest more love and positivity into your life, to create a life you don't want to escape from with poor habits!
Shana Lujan, the mother of 5 children, has lived and been a teacher in Yavapai County for over 20 years. She has taught everything from 3rd grade to high school and subjects varying from theatre to English. She loves education and working with local youth. Currently, she works at PACE Preparatory Academy High School and is a founding board member/director for One Stage Family Theatre.
Read more about Shana in the Aug/Sept edition of Prescott Woman Magazine.