SUMMER 2014

Success

REDEFINING
Three women, three paths, one destination

Magazine

SUMMER 2014

THE SUCCESS ISSUE

Success is most often

achieved by those
who dont know that
failure is inevitable.

~ Coco Chanel

Thank you

to our sponsors, advertisers,

volunteers and supporters for
making this magazine possible.
A portion of each ad purchased
goes directly to Womens Impact.

SUMMER 2014

WOMENS IMPACT | 3

CONTENTS

Founders letter

Letter from the editor

10

Womens Impact:
Entrepreneur finds fresh
start during Empower Hour

12

Empower each other:

Mastermind groups provide
support for success

14

16

Impact your mind:

Learn to live by design, not
by default

18

34

20

36

Fearless events:
Global Impact: World
Womens Impact holds annual Vets founder shares how
International Womens Day her little idea grew into an
summit
international organization

Cover story:
Three women take three
different paths to
redefining their own success

28

Doing good: Good Girls

Womens Wisdom:
founder shares secrets to First woman to run Boston
successful events
Marathon, Go Far Woman
founder share passion

4 | WOMENS IMPACT

32

Community Impact:
8-year-old helps area
homeless by making
care packages

Upcoming events

38

Voices: Penpals with

an 84-year age difference
define what success means

SUMMER 2014

CONTRIBUTORS

Meredith Holt is

a full-time features
reporter for The Forum
of Fargo-Moorhead. She
also works part time
at the Crystal Corset
Bra Boutique, where
she helps women look
and feel better about
themselves. She lives in
Fargo with her fiance
and two cats.

Tracy Briggs, digital

content development
director for Forum
Communications, wrote
this issues cover stories
on Amy Thielen and
Angie Schulz (Page 20).
Briggs lives in Moorhead
with her husband, Mark,
their two daughters,
Laura and Jordan, and a
dog who acts like Kim
Kardashian.

Mary Jo Hotzler,

who wrote the story

about an 8-year-olds
mission to help area
homeless (Page 16),
is a wife, mom and
journalist living In West
Fargo, N.D. By day,
Hotzler is the director
of the Forum News
Service, a regional news
wire service provider
in Fargo.

Megan Havig works

with Womens Impact,
overseeing the website.
She also freelances as
a writer and marketing
specialist and loves
traveling, coffee and the
outdoors.

Jasmine Maki,
a writer living in
Minneapolis, wrote
this issues Global
Impact feature (page
34) on World Vets, a
Fargo-based animal aid
nonprofit.

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CONTRIBUTORS

Nicole J. Phillips is
an author, speaker and
mother of three kids. Shes
married to former Bison
Mens Head Basketball
Coach Saul Phillips. Her
column Kindness is
Contagious runs every
Saturday in The Forum of
Fargo-Moorhead.

Carrie Snyder,
Womens Impact
Magazines photo
editor, works as a
full-time photographer
for The Forum of
Fargo-Moohread. She
grew up in Fargo and
attended Minnesota
State University
Moorhead for print
and photojournalism.
She is passionate about
photography, sports, the
outdoors and baking.

Kirsten Stromsodt,

a journalist living in
Fargo, is the deputy
editor at The Forum of
Fargo-Moorhead. The
University of North
Dakota graduate grew
up in Mekinock, N.D.
When not working, she
enjoys watching her
friends cook, cheering on
the UND hockey teams,
traveling, and gardening
with her dad.

Merrie Sue Holtan

is a communication
studies instructor
at Minnesota State
University Moorhead.
She has over 300
published articles as a
freelance writer and is
the author of Power
and Stride, The Nancy
Burggraf Story. She
and her husband, the
Rev. Phil Holtan, live
on Big Pine Lake near
Perham, Minn., and have
three grown children.

Nicole Welle started

working with Womens
Impact over a year
ago. She works as a
freelance marketing and
branding expert and
is honing her skills as a
personal development
coach. Welle grew up
in small-town North
Dakota and lives in
Fargo with her husband,
Christopher, two sons
and a daughter.

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SUMMER 2014

FOUNDERS LETTER

Strong women band together

few months ago, someone introduced me for a

speech:
Cris at Womens Impact works with needy and
struggling women.
The expression didnt sit well with me. When I go to
WomensImpact.org and read the posts on our Empower
Each Other list, I dont see needy woman struggling to
survive. I see hope and desire to grow. I see courage to ask
for help and humility to give back. I see Fearless Women.
I see women like Lisa, who posted on our website for
support with professional clothes so she could go to
job interviews. In her search for support, she ended up
connecting with Krista, a kind woman who not only offered
Lisa clothes, but her friendship.
It was really inspiring to me to see both of them working
together March 8 at our annual Fearless Event in honor of
International Womens Day.
At Womens Impact, we believe that today you may need
a hand up so that tomorrow you can be the hand up for
someone else. The more we support each other, the more
equality we will see in the world. Banding together makes
dreams possible.
When I think about these amazing women, right here in
our community, my heart also feels inspired and grateful for
the two most empowering women in my life my mom and

my beloved grandmother.
My grandmother, who passed away a few months ago,
worked day and night sewing dresses to earn enough money
to send her three kids to college. Her effort helped my
mom break free from the cycle of poverty and become a
self-made woman, founding one of the best schools in the
country of Brazil.
As a child, I listened to these stories of my family, and I
never saw my grandma as a struggling woman; I always saw
her as a strong woman who tapped into her potential to lift
a family out of nothing and be a powerful force for good in
the world.
When I feel powerless, scared or insecure, I always
remember the women who came before me and the legacy
they gave me the power to know that I can overcome
anything or anyone in the way of my path of fulfilling my true
potential, including myself. It was their courage that still helps
me through the difficult moments of my life.
Years ago, when I moved from Brazil to Fargo, I felt trapped
by fear, insecure to speak in English, my second language, in
front of people I didnt know.
In my home country, as a clinical psychologist, best-selling
author and radio host, I ended up being invited to speak
everywhere about womens issues something that I was
always passionate about. When I moved to the U.S., I not
only lost my identity, but these fears robbed me of my lifes

mission and passion.

I was bombarded by the negative voice saying: What
if they wont understand you? What if you make a fool of
yourself?
What helped me overcome these voices wasnt finding
answers to overcome my fears, but learning from the fearless
women in my life to create a different question. Instead of
asking myself ,What if? I started asking myself, Why not?
As I am writing this letter to you in English, something that
is always a challenge for me, I can hear the voice of Grandma
saying:
Why not you? Why not now? Why not today?
Each one of us has an area in our lives where we can
challenge ourselves to take a leap of faith. It can be as simple
as entering the next race or as daunting as writing a novel.
Beyond each wish and journey, you will encounter the voice
asking, What if? giving you excuses to walk away.
Or, you can be inspired by the fearless women in your
life your mom, your grandma, your sister, your friend and
start asking yourself two simple words: Why not?

Cris Linnares is an international author, psychotherapist, founder of Womens

Impact and creator of Diva Dance. Originally from Brazil, she lives in Fargo with
her daughter and husband, Bill Marcil Jr., publisher of The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead.
SUMMER 2014

Cris Linnares
founder & president
with daughter Lulu
Readers can reach Cris at
cris@womensimpact.org.
WOMENS IMPACT | 7

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Find your own path

s I kid, I remember learning the mnemonic device

for how to spell success.
Double the C, double the S, and youll away
have success.
Turns out, its not quite that simple.
As adults, many of us are constantly striving toward this
goal weve determined will mean were successful, but
how do we know when were there?
For some people, its becoming the CEO of their own
company; for others, its sending smart, kind children off to
college.
But for all of us, our quest to success is likely ongoing,
evolving as we grow.
The women we feature on our cover and in these
pages have all achieved something special whether they
see it or not. They are all definitions of success.
Take Amy Thielen, the James Beard Award-winning
cookbook author and chef. She left a high-paced job in
some of Manhattans swankiest eateries to return to her
roots in Minnesota.
Now, shes found her calling as a Food Network host
who invites viewers into her Minnesota kitchen each
week for Midwestern cuisine.
We cant wait to see whats next for her.
Maddie Moen was just an 8-year-old going to Costco
with her mom on a frigid day when she saw a man with
no hat or gloves. His suffering sparked a call to action
from Maddie to get the rest of the community involved in
care packages for the homeless.
Maddie clearly is on the road to success early in life.
Some women face others who wish them to fail, making
their success that much sweeter.
In 1967, Katherine Switzer made history by being the
first woman to complete the Boston Marathon. Despite
opposition from officials who literally tried to hold her
back, she inspired a new generation of runners.
All of these women pursued their passion in their own
ways without giving in the doubters who questioned their
decisions.
So however you define success, go after it. Youre the
true judge of whether or not you achieve it.

Heidi Shaffer works as the features editor at The Forum of FargoMoorhead. She joined Womens Impact in 2012 because of a desire
to encourage and educate women to reach their full potential.
Shaffer lives in Fargo with her husband. Readers can reach her at
info@womensimpact.org.

8 | WOMENS IMPACT

Heidi Shaffer
Editor
SUMMER 2014

FEEDBACK

Dina Rae Geiszler

stands by the entrance
sign at Womens Impact
International Womens
Day Fearless event
held in March in Fargo.

hank you so
much for all
you do, this was an
amazing event and
has inspired me
in so many ways.
... Your speakers
were AMAZING
and inspiring. I
loved getting to
know the new
friends at my
table. Dina Rae
Geiszler, executive
director of The
Social Connextion

such a wonderful
concept. God
bless each of you
and all that you
do for others.
The magnitude
and depth of your
generosity will
have an impact
only a few can
truly appreciate.
Womens Impact

is a remarkable
organization.
Donna Wood

ove what you

ladies do! You
are an inspiration
to us all!
Linda Halstead
Birmingham,
Designing Women
2

love our
community! I
put out a request
for help with
business clothes
for job interviews
through Womens
Impact Foundation.
Krista Ulrich came
and donated a
bunch to me
bless her heart!
Feeling blessed and
humbled. There are
truly angels among
us. Lisa Miller

omens
Impact is

Tell us how Womens Impacts mission

has affected your life. Connect with us at:

info@womensimpact.org
twitter.com/WomensImpact

facebook.com/WomensImpact
SUMMER 2014

WOMENS IMPACT | 9

F R E S H S TA R T

WOMENS IMPACT

Starting a Soul Food

catering service
has always been
my dream. Now its
actually happening.
S
uriyah (Suga) Stone,
on North Dakota
Womens Startup
Weekend.
Courtesy of North
Dakota Womens
Startup

Suriyah Stone posted

her need for a
laptop to help build
her business on the
Womens Impact
website.

Entrepreneur starts business after Empower Hour

By Nicole J. Phillips Womens Impact contributor

FARGO Suriyah Stone needed

a fresh star t. After much prayer
and some sound advice, she
decided to leave Chicago and an
abusive relationship and begin
again in Fargo with her three
children.
She had no idea this change in
location would unleash the woman
she was destined to be.
Stone, affectionately known
as Suga (thats Sugar without
the r for those of us who
are Norwegian), walked into a
Womens Impact Empower Hour
after seeing an ad in the last
Womens Impact magazine.
While some people would have
felt intimidated, Stone says she
immediately felt welcomed and
knew she needed to surround
herself with positive women.
One of the first women she ran
into was Dr. Susan Mathison, who
told Stone about the Womens
Star t-Up Weekend for fearless
10 | WOMENS IMPACT

females who had a business dream

but needed the know-how to
make it happen.
That conversation led to Stone
revealing her longtime dream
of star ting a soul food catering
business. She left that night with a
scholarship to attend the weekend
event.
When Stone realized she needed
to borrow a laptop to use at the
event, she posted on the Womens
Impact website. Within five
minutes, she got a response saying
a laptop had just been donated.
She didnt need to borrow one;
she now had her own!
There was nothing for Stone to
do by cry with gratitude at the
turn of events her life had taken
in just a few shor t weeks. She says
she was overwhelmed with joy.
Now, only months later, Stone
has applied for her Nor th Dakota
business license and is anxiously
awaiting the launch of Sugas Soul

Food.
It is evident that Stone
epitomizes the fearlessness talked
about so frequently in Womens
Impact: I feel like a great burden
has been lifted off my shoulders.
I have a peace in my hear t that I
havent had in a long time. This is
my year!
Her advice to other women?
It can be done. With God and
positive women behind you,
nothing is impossible.
Nicole J. Phillips is a former television
anchor for Fox News in Fargo. She is
a proud Womens Impact volunteer as
well as a writer, speaker, and mother
of three kids. Nicoles Kindness is
Contagious column runs every
Saturday in The Forum. You can also get
a Daily Dose of Inspiration from Nicole
at www.nicolejphillips.com.

SUMMER 2014

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EMPOWER EACH OTHER

Gina Sandgren shares a thought

with her Master Mind group in Fargo.
Photos by Megan Havig / Womens Impact

M ASTERMIND GROUPS: S UPPORT FOR SUCCESS

By Nicole Welle Womens Impact contr ibutor

FARGO Lets join a book club!

Your friend might pull you along,
thinking this is a great excuse to get
together, drink some wine, maybe
even do some reading.
Kelly Meyer would say, Lets join a
mastermind.
Meyer, a facilitator of mastermind
groups in the Fargo-Moorhead
area since 2009, knows the power
a group of like-minded women can
create. Shes both witnessed and
reaped the benefits of this power
over the years.
Meyer joined her first mastermind
group in 2006. While she
was mostly looking for a new
experience and the opportunity to
connect with other women, what
she got was much more.
Having a group of individuals
who desire your success and
offer ways to help you succeed is
amazing, said Meyer.
After taking part in a few
masterminds, Meyer began
12 | WOMENS IMPACT

facilitating her own groups about

five years ago.
Carrie Brusven is the owner of
Rustic Trunk Vintage Rentals and
Event Design and is also a wife
and mother of two young boys.
She attributes much of the success
and happiness in her life to one of
Meyers mastermind groups.
I felt like it was time for a bold
move to invest some time and
energy into what I wanted my own
future to be, Brusven shared. My
goals were simply to allow myself
time to read each week, reflect,
keep an open mind and push myself
to grow.
What Brusven found was the
encouragement to make her hobby
job, Rustic Trunk, her full-time
endeavor in the spring of 2013. She
hasnt looked back.
What I ended up with was a
really terrific support group of
strong, courageous, successful
women walking beside me on

a journey I never would have

followed through on my own. Really,
I thought I was just going to read
an interesting book. Now, I am a
completely different version of
myself than I was a year ago. And I
like this version much better!
While Brusven is fairly new to
the concept of a mastermind,
Jodee Bock was one of the
first to organize the groups in
the area, through Bocks Office
Transformational Consulting.
Sylvia Lunski is one of Bocks
original mastermind group
members. Lunski, who for eight
years has owned Design Direction
Interior Design, was first contacted
by Bock to read the 1937 mindset
classic Think and Grow Rich by
Napoleon Hill. This book is often
the starting point for many groups
and gives the following definition of
a master mind:
The coordination of knowledge
and effort of two or more people,
SUMMER 2014

who work toward a definite purpose, in the spirit of

harmony. No two minds ever come together without,
thereby, creating a third, invisible, intangible force which
may be likened to a third mind.
Hills concept has staying power. Even Lunski, who
describes herself as not a reader, says she was
hooked. Since they started seven years ago, her core
group has gotten together every Saturday morning to
be each others third mind.
Since most of us were small-business owners, we
often referred to our mastermind group as each others
board of directors, explained Lunski. Our group
became mentors to each other.
Is a mastermind group right for you? Anita Hoffarth
thinks that anyone who is looking to grow and has
the time to commit should consider a mastermind for
making herself a priority. Hoffarth, a wife, mom and
owner of Reach Partners, joined her first mastermind
group last May.
Its not a selfish thing, said Hoffarth. As adult
women, its not always easy to find connections, so the
group offers a support she hasnt found anywhere else.
While Meyer still sees a need for better
communication to spread the news about mastermind
groups, those who want to join a group should reach
out to Jodee Bock or her, or talk to other successful
women who have participated in a mastermind. Not
only will they be a source of inspiration, they are often
willing to reach out and nurture other women on a
similar path.
It has become a vital resource for me, Brusven said.
Not only as a new entrepreneur, but for life in general
as a mom, a wife and a woman in business.

EMPOWER EACH OTHER

Top row (from left): Kathy Halgrimson Hanson, Gina Sandgren, Angela N. Schulz, Anita Hoffarth
Bottom row (from left): Marvita Busching, Sarah Nasello, Kelly Meyer, Carolyn Lillehaugen

SUMMER 2014

WOMENS IMPACT | 13

MAKING AN IMPACT

doing good

Good Girls Club founder shares 10 secrets to successful events

GRAND FORKS What is the
Good Girls Club?
Ive been asked that question
many times. To be honest, were still
figuring that out.
What I do know is that our club is
growing. It continues to grow with
each good deed.
Now, the Good Girls Club has
quadrupled in size, and the events
have sold out the Empire Theatre in
downtown Grand Forks twice! Its
all for local charities and all because
we are women who care about our
community.
In addition to a multiple small,
14 | WOMENS IMPACT

Mar y Fox Good Girls

Club founder

simple events, weve decided to

host one big event each year.
These events have been successful
because Grand Forks believes in
giving back.
So how did we go from small
gatherings to a huge show that sells
out the Empire? We tap into the
talents of our members, and we
do some good old-fashioned cold

calling.
The event highlights downtown
clothing stores, hair salons,
restaurants and anyone who is
willing to participate. We also ask
businesses for giveaway items.
Our big annual gala is our
exception to the rule about keeping
it simple. It takes work to put
together, but most people just need
to purchase a ticket and sit back
and enjoy the show.
The idea originated when
Truyu and GGC member Sadie
Gardner approached us about a
possible collaboration.The idea
SUMMER 2014

MAKING AN IMPACT
of a downtown fashion night was
born. It grew legs, and the response
from local vendors made the night
more than any of us could have
anticipated.
Our next step was to decide how
we should raise the money and
who would be the recipient of the
funds. Last year, we selected the
Altru Infant Bereavement Program,
and that program received 100
percent of the ticket sales. This year,
we selected Camp Good Morning,
a camp for children and teenagers
who have lost a loved one.
Because of the growth of the
event, we sold advertising space in
our program to offset the printing,
production and prize costs.
Once again, we had a long list
of worthy charities. As much as I
enjoy how giving back makes me
feel, I also hang on to the hope that

5. Get your friends together. Tell

them you know that the local food
shelf is in need of said items and ask
them to bring what they can. You
or a designated person will be in
charge of dropping off the items.
6. Make a reservation if needed at
your local meeting place.
7. Show up at designated location.
8. Marvel at how generous your
friends can be.
9. Bring the items to drop location
and feel the pride of helping
someone else.
10. Start thinking about next
event.
We hope you use our story as
an inspiration to grab your best gal
pals and do something good for
your community and good for you.
After all, wine has proven health
benefits.
Cheers!

all of the women in our group are

inspiring their friends and becoming
role models that encourage others
to give back, as well.
Finding free time for any event, no
matter how worthy, is often difficult
for busy women. We are career
gals, mothers, obligated to other
activities. Our group is different
because we try to keep it simple.
So how can you get started?
1. Create a guest list: Do you have
some friends you wish you got
together with more? Make a list
with those names on it.
2. Find a worthy cause. Once you
start looking, the list can get long.
Start with your local food shelf. Call
and ask what items they need most.
3. Keep it simple.
4. Find a spot. Do you have a
restaurant or local watering hole
you enjoy? Write that down.

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WOMENS IMPACT | 15

COMMUNITY IMPACT

ON

M I S S ION

By Mar y Jo Hotzler Womens Impact contr ibutor

8-year-old helps area homeless with care packages

8-year-old Maddie Moen shows off some of her care

packages shes made for area homeless.
David Samson / The Forum

16 | WOMENS IMPACT

SUMMER 2014

FARGO Maddie Moen is on a

mission.
At just 8 years old, this Fargo girl is
hoping to make the world a better
place and shes starting in her own
community. That mission? To help
the areas homeless population by
supplying them with cold-weather
survival items they might not have
otherwise.
The idea took shape one frigid
day in December just before
Christmas 2013 when Maddie and
her mom, Kandia Qual, were driving
to Costco and saw a man who
appeared to be homeless walking
outside with no hat or gloves.
I felt sad, recalls Maddie, who
attends Lewis and Clark Elementary
in Fargo. I just wanted to save him.
Maddie tried to convince her
mom to give the guy a ride. Kandia
suggested Maddie could help in
other ways. The ideas immediately
started swirling, and the two came
home from the store that day with
a large pack of hand warmers that
Maddie decided she would give out
to those in need.

But Maddie wanted to do more,

and her mom agreed to support
her in any way possible. Thats when
Maddies Mission was born.
What started out small quickly
grew as word got out about
Maddies Mission. Kandia created a
Facebook page for Maddie, and soon
the two were creating little bags
together filled with cold-weather
essentials such as hats, mittens,
chapstick, tissues and hot chocolate
that could be given to homeless
people and to the groups that serve
them. Maddie draws a picture and
writes a message on each Stay
Warm packet.
This past winter, Maddie delivered
packets to both Homeless Health
and the Gladys Ray Shelter.
Maddie and her mom purchased
some of the items for the bags, but
Maddie also approached a number
of local businesses and asked for
donations. Many obliged.
Kandia was a little surprised to
see how far Maddie was taking her
mission, but not surprised Maddie
had the heart for it.

COMMUNITY IMPACT
Kandias job as the program
director for Dacotah Foundation has
her working directly with homeless
people. Maddie has never been
sheltered from that reality and didnt
grow up thinking she was better
than any of them, Kandia explained.
In total, Maddie has created more
than 150 Stay Warm bags. But thats
just the beginning.
Sweatshirts, hats and mittens can
be found in plastic tubs throughout
the familys south Fargo home, and
now that spring is here, Maddie is
focused on building supplies so she
can be ready for when it turns cold
again.
Maddies wish is for everyone to
have the safety and warmth that
a home brings, but for as long as
homelessness exists, she plans to
pour her energy into Maddies
Mission and hopes to see it expand.
When asked how it feels to be
able to help her community at such
a young age, this energetic, articulate
second grader describes it best:
Happy and excited.

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SUMMER 2014

Cap with a digital timer

helps you remember.
WOMENS IMPACT | 17

FEARLESS EVENTS

Fearless
Photos by Hannah Sorensen

Tonya Stende, president

of Dale Carnegie Training
of ND, inspired women
to share their voice in the
workplace.

18 | WOMENS IMPACT

Ajit Berg, attendee, shared

how she would be fearless
to feel beautiful during
discussion time at Fearless.

Dr. Susan M. Mathison,

owner and president of
Catalyst Medical Center,
inspired women to be
fearless to feel beautiful.

Mariah Prussia, owner of

Xtreme Measures Womens
Health and Fitness Facility
and president and founder
of the NOW PROJECT
INC., inspired women
to fearlessly thrive in a
compelling speech about
supporting each other.

Womens Impact
hosted a Fearless
summit in March
at the Plains Art
Museum in Fargo
to celebrate
International
Womens Day.

Cris Linnares, founder of

Womens Impact, inspires
women to live a fearless life
by taking daily steps of faith.

SUMMER 2014

FEARLESS EVENTS

Womens Impact hosted its

inaugural International Womens
Day event March 8 at Plains Art
Museum.

SUMMER 2014

Volunteer Roz Randorf, right,

invites women to discuss
ways to live fearlessly after
each 15-minute speech.

WOMENS IMPACT | 19

COVER STORY

20 | WOMENS IMPACT

SUMMER 2014

COVER STORY

Success

REDEFINING

Three women follow different paths on road to achieving dreams

By Megan Havig Womens Impact contributor

heryl Sandberg, COO of

Facebook, was a catalyst in the
conversation of life for women
trying to balance family and
work. She released her book Lean
In, last year, saying, Fortune does
favor the bold, and youll never know
what youre capable of if you dont
try.
We wanted to celebrate three
local women who, in our eyes,
have made it, and ask them one
question:
How do you define success?
For a stay-at-home mom who felt
joy in raising her family but sensed
that something was missing, success
was the pride of founding a shirt
and gift business that swept the
nation with the precious nostalgia of
summer days.
Peggy Heglie Kilbane of Lake
Girl found success in the pride of
creating.
For a writer and artist who loved

to cook and took the leap into

New York Citys racing nightlife of
restaurants only to find herself back
in the peaceful woods of Minnesota,
success was taking the leap of faith
to publish her own book, which led
to a Food Network show filmed
right out of her home.
Amy Thielen of Heartland Table
found success in a leap of faith filled
with the happiness of raising her
family.
For a woman on the fast track
toward Broadway, who took a
detour into marriage and family and
now finds her fulfillment teaching
children the art of expression
through song and theater, Angie
Schulz of Moorhead found success in
teaching children the ways of theater
and giving back her gift of expression.
For these women, success was the
not the prize at the end, but every
open door along an uncertain path.
Let their answers inspire your own.

Author Amy Thielen, left, found success through a leap of faith.

Photo courtesy of Clarkson Photography / Random House
SUMMER 2014

WOMENS IMPACT | 21

COVER STORY

HO ME IS W H E RE T H E
By Tracy Briggs Womens Impact contr ibutor

food is

Amy Thielen achieved her dream of publishing recipes when she released her cookbook, The New Midwestern Table, in September 2013. Photos by Megan Havig

TWO INLETS, Minn. Getting

to Amy Thielens home isnt easy.
Winding country roads lined with
trees lead to the land on remote
Indian Creek in Two Inlets. When you
step inside her screened-in porch, the
earthy smell of firewood and homecooked food serves as a greeting.
Its a world away from the streets
of Manhattan and serving food to
millionaires and supermodels.
But this is Amy Thielens life today.
Shes as warm, comfortable and
down to earth as her surroundings,
and as we sit down for the interview,
she doesnt.
I have to stay busy. I dont sit still
well, she says.
Shes in the middle of making lunch.
Today its German potato salad with
kale a recipe not found in her
James Beard-nominated cookbook,
The New Midwestern Table.
No, its just lunch, she says.
She slices onions as we talk
Mason jars full of spices above
her shoulder and a wood-fire stove
off to the side. Its the homespun
kitchen where her (also James Beardnominated) Food Network show,
Heartland Table is shot. As she adds
22 | WOMENS IMPACT

the onions to a frying pan, Thielen

talks about growing up just 20 miles
from here and the unexpected
journey back.
I never thought Id be doing this.
I thought Id be a college professor,
she says.
And she could have done that,
graduating with an English degree in
1997 from Macalester College in St.
Paul. She landed a job in publishing
in the Twin Cities, but she and her
now husband, Aaron Spangler, found
themselves drawn back to Two Inlets
every summer where Spangler had
built a rustic log cabin on his familys
land.
In the early days, there was no
electricity or running water. The
couple lived simply. Thielen calls
them fertile years, when she felt
connected to the women in her
lineage who cooked out of their
garden instead of a can. She also
cooked at a diner in Park Rapids, but
it still wasnt a career.
I think my family thought, What
are you doing? You have school loans,
and youre working at a diner? But
I didnt worry about that. I took the
time to figure out what I wanted to

do with my life.
When she decided it was cooking
that she loved, she enrolled in
culinary school in New York City,
interning alongside famous chefs.
I was too naive to be intimidated
by that, she says.
Eventually, she landed jobs at some
of Manhattans finest restaurants,
working 80 hours a week as a chef to
the rich and famous.
I remember being told: Make it
nice! Its for Naomi Campbell.
But in her seven years there, she
kept thinking about the Midwest and
the food she grew up eating.
Id tuck these recipes away and
think, One day Id love to write a
cookbook.
Following the 2008 recession and
the birth of her son, Hank, Thielen
and Spangler, an artist, decided to
move back to Minnesota.
It seemed like the natural time. I
could never picture a childhood for
Hank in New York City. We grew
up here around the lakes, and it was
nice, she says.
She says she begged for a job at
the Park Rapids Enterprise writing a
column for $20 a week. Thats where
SUMMER 2014

she found her voice and her audience.

After that, her long-dreamed-about
cookbook began to take shape. It
was published in 2013. When her
publisher suggested the TV show, she
was floored.
I said, What?! A show?! I had to pull
over to the side of the road because I
couldnt get reception,she says.
Now a television crew from New
York City comes out to this remote
location a few times a year to shoot
the show, which in true Midwestern
fashion Thielen insists is about the
food, not my personality.
She puts the finishing touches
on the German potato salad and
dishes it up in vintage bowls she
found at a flea market. Its delicious,
uncomplicated and full of flavor. As we
eat, she seems almost uncomfortable
talking about success.
I dont know. I just know its not
about money. Its about figuring out
whats really important to you. I think
you have to tap into something you
love and pour your energy into it.
Today, thats German potato salad.
Its just too bad Naomi Campbell isnt
around to enjoy it.

SUMMER 2014

COVER STORY

Thielen cuts potatoes for a lunch recipe.

WOMENS IMPACT | 23

COVER STORY

I M LI VI N G

the Dream

By Tracy Briggs Womens Impact contr ibutor

Angie Schulz helps direct for the Fargo-Moorhead Community Theatre. Forum file photos

MOORHEAD Im living the

dream, my friend Angie Schulz
wrote on Facebook one seemingly
ordinary Wednesday afternoon.
I hadnt heard anything particularly
new and exciting was going on with
her.
When I asked her about the
post, she told me she was simply
having the best fall of her life. The
actress and singer was appearing
in Young Frankenstein for Music
Theatre Fargo-Moorhead and
volunteering for Moorhead High
Schools production of Jesus Christ
Superstar.
All three of my daughters were in
the show, so I didnt have any of that
mommy guilt from being away from
them to perform. I got to perform
and be with my kids!
For Angie, this theatrical perfect
storm came after years of feeling
pressured to define success in other
peoples terms.
She started on the stage in the
sixth grade, and by high school her
drama teacher told her she had
what it took to make it on Broadway.
Starring roles in high school and
24 | WOMENS IMPACT

on the mainstage of Trollwood

Performing Arts School brought
more praise and more pressure.
In this field, everyone defines
success as Broadway, so I got the
feeling thats what people wanted
me to do. I think I kind of wanted
to, as well. But in all honesty, I dont
think I could have handled it. You
have to be mentally tough to make
it, and something inside me just
knew it wouldnt be right for me. I
always felt that I disappointed people
because I didnt try, she says.
She ended up getting a degree at
Concordia College in Moorhead,
marrying Brian Schulz and eventually
having three daughters. She says she
always dreamed of being a wife and
mom. She threw herself into the role
of stay-at-home mom with gusto.
I decided that my performing days
were done. I was a mom. I figured Id
join all the moms groups, wear the
embroidered pumpkin sweatshirt
and mom hair, and Id support them!
she says with a laugh.
But she knew something was
missing. So, in 2000, when the
director of her daughters dance

school, Eddie Gasper (a man she had

worked with during her performing
days), asked her if shed like to be
a guest vocalist at their Christmas
show, she figured shed give it a shot.
A comment from someone after
the show changed her outlook.
A woman who had been working
as a Broadway dancer came up
to me after the show and said,
Youre doing exactly what Id love
to be doing. Having a family and
performing. I didnt believe her back
then. I thought she was just being
nice. But now I get it.
In the years following that return
to the stage, she rediscovered her
love of performing and realized she
could do it while still being a wife
and mother.
I think I realized that success is
creating what you love every day
and doing it as much as you can no
matter where you are, she says.
In theater terms, loving the process
of rehearsing as much as showtime.
I now know that success has
become less about what I am doing
and more about how I am feeling,
she says. And sometimes how you
SUMMER 2014

COVER STORY
make others feel.
Rebecca Meyer-Larson, the theater
director for Moorhead High School
and Act Up Theatre Company, says
she cast Angie in last summers
BARE: A Pop Opera because of
her amazing voice, but she soon
became the heart of the show, an
earth mama to the young actors
moved by the emotional show.
When our young actors would
leave the stage (often in tears), Angie
was the person backstage hugging
the actors. She reminded them
that the art they were creating was
important, and she reminded them
that they were loved, she says.
Instead of listening to what others
expected of her, Angie has managed
to take two passions: performing
and children, and combine them to
create her version of success. A lifes
path that gives her both peace and
purpose. And thats obviously reason
enough for a Facebook post.

SUMMER 2014

WOMENS IMPACT | 25

COVER STORY

CA LLI N G A L L

lake girls

By Megan Havig Womens Impact contributor

Peggy Heglie-Kilbane unpacks new merchandise for at the Lakegirl headquarters in Detroit Lakes. Photos by Megan Havig

DETROIT LAKES, Minn.

Golden images of laughing with
family on the deck or taking running
leaps into the water as the sun dips
behind the tree line.
Lakegirl was founded in the hub
of summer tradition in western
Minnesota, an area that drew Peggy
Heglie Kilbane back home after
years away. A Fargo native, Peggy had
reared her family in Scottsdale, Ariz.
But after 9/11, a job as a corporate
meeting planner faded away because
of company traveling policies and
corporate culture changes.
Restoring a condemned cottage
on Lake Melissa and returning to her
passion of crafting, Peggy and her
husband decided to open up a store
in 2003. They named it Peggary and
sold repurposed furniture, vintage
trinkets and new items, as well.
That first summer, she created
a T-shirt that read Lake Girl.
Underneath it was a graphic with
the names of the Seven Sisters lakes
Ida, Maud, Eunice, Sallie, Melissa,
Lizzie and Lida etched into sand.
The phrase was a hit, and many
customers asked for their lake
names to be represented. What
26 | WOMENS IMPACT

began as a fun family endeavor

became the beloved trademark of
summer and Peggys dreams tumbled
quickly into place.
Lakegirl clothing and gifts are now
sold in 485 stores and multiple
catalogs, including Sky Mall, a popular
publication on airplanes. In the
beginning, Peggy had no money and
little training in wholesale market,
but she had intuition.
Young girls who have an idea
and say, I want to do something
will be very curious and say, How
did you do it? Peggy said. I never
thought that I couldnt do it. I didnt
put a lot of planning into it with
business plans and charts; I never
thought it wouldnt work, so I just
kept getting up and going to work.
Her onfidence was tested at
her first gift show. Nervous, Peggy
couldnt stand in her own booth.
She asked her sister and daughters
to watch the booth as she hid in the
back.
The first thing I heard was a
woman saying, Lake girl! Oh, Im a
Lake Girl! Peggy said. I still get
goose bumps thinking about it,
thinking, Oh my gosh. This might

work.
The Lakegirl clothing and gifts
embody the feeling of warmth and
community that summers at the lake
evoke.
There are lakes all over this
country, and the way we feel about
our lake area is the same every
woman feels about their area. Some
have memories all the way since
they were little girls.
Peggy loves catching up with clients
summer after summer and says,
despite the advice of her husband to
do otherwise, she has hired mostly
friends to help with the success.
It has just happened that way that
I hire friends because I know what
they can do and it feels like a team,
Peggy said. Ive never had to create
that feeling of teamwork because
knowing these people, right out of
the blocks, we were a team.
Often, as Peggy is locking up the
store for the night, her daughter and
other lake girls can be found sitting
on the floor, giggling into the evening.
Family has always been a part of
Peggys life. She had her first baby
at 18 and spent much of her 20s
and 30s taking care of her children.
SUMMER 2014

COVER STORY

Nurturing Lakegirl for the past 13

years has been a dream come true
for the 63-year-old.
I think I was an accomplished kid,
and I know I was a good mom. But I
never felt proud of myself, she said.
I noticed a couple years ago, Ill
stand in that warehouse and think,
Wow, this is really great. I like the
feeling of being proud of something.
And thats a different thing for me,
because I went most of my life
without that feeling.
Finding a new kind of
independence gave Peggy a sense
of pride, but it is the support of her
family that brings fulfillment full circle.
I love that my family is proud of
me, Peggy said. Thats all I really
need. I feel good and happy.

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WOMENS IMPACT | 27

WOMENS WISDOM

W H AT A R E YO U R U N N I N G F O R ?
By Cris Linnares Womens Impact founder

Kathrine Switzer runs the Boston Marathon in 1967 despite spectators and
officials who didnt think a woman should compete. Photos courtesy of Switzer

First woman to run Boston Marathon,

Go Far Woman founder both share
passion for empowering women

Switzer is still an avid runner.

28 | WOMENS IMPACT

n May 10, thousands gathered for the

countdown to zero. The clock ran out and
a herd shook the ground for the Fargo
Marathon.
For many, this is not just a day to challenge their
physical bodies, but to challenge the limitations of their
minds. Its not just a day to run toward the finish line,
but to run toward new beginnings. Its not just a day to
run for oneself, but to run in honor of someone else.
Running in honor of someone else is what drives Sue
Knutson, an inspiring health advocate and one of the
forces behind this powerful event, not just to run the
marathon, but to create the first women-only races in
the area Go Far Woman Run.
What inspired Sue to create this empowering race
was her love for her sister, Dr. Renee Schwandt, a kind
and generous OB-GYN at Essential Health who died
at age 38. She dedicated her life to bringing healing to
many families in our community, and touched the lives
of many around the world through the mission trips.
In honor of her sisters life and service, Go Far Woman
Run donates a portion of the proceeds to the Essentia
neonatal intensive-care unit.
As women, we are all connected to the same strength
and ability to transform our pain into someone elses
gain. When I think about Knutsons power to use her
loss to create the first women-only run in this area, I
cant stop thinking of another empowering woman who
47 years ago made a brave decision that would pave
the way for women like Knutson.
SUMMER 2014

Her name is Kathrine Switzer,

and she was the first woman
to enter and run the Boston
Marathon, opening the
door for women all
over the world to
run marathons.
Against
the will of
running officials
who tried
to physically
hold her back
and bring her
down in 1967,
the picture of
Switzer running
became one
of Lifes 100
Photos that
Changed
the

Sue Knutson is the director

of Go Far Woman, a race
that donates funds to the
Essentia NiCU.
Carrie Snyder / Womens Impact
photo editor

SUMMER 2014

WOMENS WISDOM
World. The photo captured the
beginning of a revolution and shows
what happens when a fearless
woman decides to not allow
anyone including herself to get
in the way of a world of justice and
equality.
Today, Switzer shares her voice
of freedom and fearlessness all
over the world, helping create
opportunities for women to run
where there is no outlet.
I had the pleasure to meet and
be inspired by these two amazing
women, whose life stories inspire
us to transform the boulders in our
way into stepping stones toward
success.
Q. In the story of your life, what
was the most challenging moment
you needed to overcome?
Knutson: The most challenging
moment of my life was the night
that we lost my sister, Renee. I
always thought that she would be
healed and continue her mission
in life here on earth.
Ill never forget the moment I was
allowed to see her after she passed
away, and when I kissed her on her
forehead, telling her I loved her.
I was in disbelief that the world
could just keep going when my
world seemed to have ended.
Switzer: Deciding at age 20 to
finish the 1967 Boston Marathon
after the race director attacked me
and tried to throw me out of the
race. I was scared and humiliated,
but I knew I needed to finish no
matter what, to prove that women
could run and deserved to run.
Q. What empowered you to
overcome those challenging
moments?
Knutson: The grace of God and
Renees spirit gave me the strength
to go on. My younger sister, Amy,
and I went on Mission Jamaica, a
medical mission trip, after Renee
passed away, in her honor. There I
found how important it is to give
WOMENS IMPACT | 29

WOMENS WISDOM
and help others. This wasnt about
my sorrow for losing her, but about
the happiness and impact that she
brought while she was here on
Earth.
Switzer: Running itself. If you
run every day, longer and longer,
you feel fearless, like you can do
anything. Thousands of women (ran)
the Fargo Marathon, and they all
(felt) the same way empowered,
accomplished and fearless to try
much more than they ever imagined.
You see, its not just the running, its
undertaking the challenge to change
your lives.
Q. If you gave the book of your life
to your teenage self, what message
would you want her to take away?
Knutson: I was very shy,
introverted, and had a very low
self-esteem as a teenager. I would

want her to know that she is worth

more than what she thinks. That
she has the power to work hard,
endure pain, achieve success and
feel accomplished.
Switzer: That sometimes the worst
things in your life can become the
best if you just turn it around and
look for a solution. A solution is an
opportunity for change. You can
change the world this way.
Q. What would you say to women
who need to feel empowered?
Knutson: Everyone has a talent,
a gift, and a reason for living. They
need to find that gift, and use it to
help themselves and to help others.
It might sound clich, but you can
do it! Give yourself credit for the
accomplishments you have made.
Switzer: Well, Id tell them to take

up jogging (laughs)! It sounds corny,

but putting one foot in front of
the other gets you someplace. It
frees your mind and allows you to
become strong, feel strong and have
great ideas.
Q. How can women best impact
the world today?
Knutson: Women can best impact
the world by supporting each other,
being kind and helping others.
Women are great leaders, so we
need to help the young women
and girls achieve their success by
being mentors, role models and
supporters.
Switzer: By taking responsibility to
correct something in their own life
or neighborhood, to make it better.
You dont need to try to change
the world, just small things help to
create opportunities for women.

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WOMENS IMPACT | 31

Living by

IMPACT YOUR MIND

design
not
default

7 Mindsets provide
a blueprint for life
By Merrie Sue Holtan Womens Impact contr ibutor

HORACE, N.D. When Teresa Lewis sets her mind to

something, shes not afraid of risk.
She learned to have a passion for having a passion
and big ideas from her grandfather and father. Lewis
grew up in Rothsay, Minn., and her grandfather created
the giant prairie chicken thats become an iconic stop
along Interstate 94. He also engineered a trolley to go
up and down the hill from their cabin to the lake. Her
father was a coach, educator, insurance executive and
traveled the world.
I realized how influential my father was in my life,
says Teresa, who grew up with one older brother. My
dad died suddenly in an accident in 2005. I learned from
him how to have passion for what I do. If he lost his
passion, he would find something else.
Teresas journey has also turned and twisted as she
followed her passions, but she always excelled at guiding
and fostering strong relationships between people.
Since 2012, Teresa has owned Get Inspired, where
she coaches individuals, small groups and businesses
in personal effectiveness and leadership skills. Teresa,
who lives in Horace, also has become certified as a
7 Mindsets coach and trainer, which is working to
promote the mindset revolution throughout the FargoMoorhead area and beyond.
THE QUEST FOR DESIGN NOT DEFAULT
Teresa honed her skills in human resources at Butler
Machinery in Fargo for 10 years.
I really didnt know what I wanted to do with my life,
she says so I became a girl Friday of sorts and learned
about human resources on the job. It was fun.
From there she moved to Eide Bailly, where she led
human resources for nine years.

Teresa Lewis conducts a

workshop on what it means
to be an assertive woman in
the workplace.
Forum file photo

32 | WOMENS IMPACT

SUMMER 2014

I loved the Eide Bailly family,

Teresa says, but our two girls
(Alyssa and Tara) were young at that
time, and my husband, Steve, started
his own lawn-care business. Life was
crazy and a blur, plus my dad passed
away.
Teresa and Steve reassessed their
lives. Steve encouraged Teresa to
pursue her own business, so she
took the leap in 2007 to become
self-employed.
Teresa became a certified
business/life coach and purchased
a Growth Coach franchise in
2007. She says she became more
intentional and strategic about her
life and state of mind. Amazing
things started to happen as she
began to speak and facilitate
workshops for associations and
organizations of all sizes.
I decided to change my model
and put passion first, Teresa says.
I had been living by default for
years, simply reacting to what was
happening to me at the time. I
became much more strategic and
intentional and decided to live by
design.

The 7 Mindsets Revolution

In fall of 2012, Teresa and her
family had a chance to hear Scott
Shickler, one of the worlds leading
experts on youth empowerment,
speak in Fargo to introduce the 7
Mindset concepts to the community.
What Scott said resonated with
me, Teresa says. It was focused on
youth, but I thought that business
people really need a mindset
revolution, as well. I was all into this
approach.
Teresa attended a weeklong
mindset training with Scott and
partner Jeff Waller in Florida and
returned to teach and coach with
Mark Lindquist, co-founder of Breath
is Limited Motivational Speaking,
LLC.
The toolkit Teresa provides
to business leaders is priceless,
Lindquist says. She has an incredible
ability to convey life-changing
material to employers of all
backgrounds.
He adds that the authors of 7
Mindsets provided him a clear and
concise roadmap to follow to live a
successful and happy life.

IMPACT YOUR MIND

THE 7 MINDSET PILLARS

1. EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE. Dream big,

embrace creativity and expect great results.
Dont think outside the box, Teresa says,
because there is no box. Challenge your current
thinking.
2. PASSION FIRST. Play to your strengths and
focus, she says, not to safety and security. Seek
ways to use your uniqueness to connect with the
worlds needs.
3. WE ARE CONNECTED. Collaborate,
Teresa adds. Develop your own dream team and
tap into them for guidance and support.
4. 100 PERCENT ACCOUNTABLE. Avoid
entitlement, blaming others and being a victim,
she says. Be internally motivated, not by what
happens outside you. Accept ownership and
change what you can control.
5. ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE. There is
something to be learned in all situations, Teresa
says. Abundance is a state of mind. Thank the
people in your life for big and small things and
expect that good things will happen to you.
6. LIVE TO GIVE. Align your gifts and
passions and build on them, she says. Have the
mentality of service.
7. THE TIME IS NOW. Take action and move
forward one step at a time, Teresa concludes.
Embrace the moment and train your brain to
make all actions purposeful. Move toward your
dreams and eliminate as many non-value-added
activities from your life as possible.

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WOMENS IMPACT | 33

GLOBAL IMPACT

Rhonda Aliah,
a field service
veterinarian
from World
Vets, examines
a local dog
during a World
Vets community
outreach clinic in
Central America
in 2013.
Photos courtesy
of World Vets

T H EY

Love

THE I R PE T S J U S T T H E WAY WE DO

Fa r g o n o n p r o f i t m a k i n g a g l o b a l d i f f e r e n c e
By Jasmine Maki Womens Impact contr ibutor

FARGO It started with a small

donation jar on a veterinarians desk
and grew into a global nonprofit
organization. With a goal to save
animals, World Vets formed in Fargo
eight years ago and now helps 36
countries on six continents.
Its mission is to provide veterinary
aid in developing countries and
provide veterinary disaster relief
around the world. CEO and
founder Cathy King and her small
team work with more than 5,000
veterinarian and non-veterinarian
volunteers from around the world.
Together, they develop, implement
and manage international veterinary
programs that help animals and
educate more people about
veterinarian care.
The idea for the organization came
about after King volunteered at an
animal shelter in Mexico, where she
learned the challenges animals in
developing countries face. She said
some governments are willing to
poison dogs just to get rid of them,
34 | WOMENS IMPACT

and other countries have absolutely

no options for animal care.
The experience changed King, and
she set out to make a difference. She
wanted to get back and help more

Cathy King, CEO and founder of World Vets, poses with

Nicaraguan girls during a community outreach clinic for
veterinary care in 2012.

animals.
I told my friends that were vets,
and they said, We would love to go
with you and help, she said.
Once she got her own veterinary
practice, she set a donation jar on
her desk, and soon shed collected
enough money for a one-week
project to spay and neuter dogs.
From there, the organization has

only grown.
The first year, we had maybe a
half a dozen projects. The next year
it doubled, and the following year it
doubled again, she said. Now, we
send out a team of about 15 people
once every week of the year.
Those teams go everywhere from
Egypt and Uganda to Cambodia and
India. Their work ranges from herd
health to small-animal sterilization to
campaigns to end the poisoning of
animals.
King said the key to the success
of World Vets has been persistence
and hard work.
Its a lot of long hours, and theres
a lot of things that really arent
glamorous, she said.
But those long hours in the office
are worth it when she hears or
sees the success stories from the
organizations international projects.
Life-changing impact
People in developing countries
who dont have the resources to
care for their pets, they love their

SUMMER 2014

GLOBAL IMPACT
pets just the way we do, she said.
The reality is most the time
theyre struggling at the highest level
to maintain their own health, and
paying for veterinarian services is just
out of reach.
With World Vets, those people
have access to veterinary care, which
can sometimes be life-changing. King
said during one project, a woman
brought in a 10-year-old dog with a
World Vets disaster response veterinarians help local livestock owners with goats displaced by the devastating Typhoon Haiyan
tumor the size of a basketball.
in the Philippines in November 2013.
She came into our clinic, and
developing countries in need of veterinarian care.
they obviously saw the love and
Most of the projects we do come about from requests
attachment she had for that dog, King said. She was
that we get, King said. Every year, we get about 100
devastated.
requests around the world.
But, the veterinarian volunteers were able to remove
She said shed love to take on more projects, but shes
the tumor, and the dog made a full recovery.
limited by funding. With the high price of supplies, travel
During another project, a woman walked eight hours
costs, and import and export costs, King said a typical
with her cat zipped up in her jacket to get to the clinic
project runs about $25,000. And those projects can only
and receive care.
continue with the help of donations and committed
People really go to great lengths to take advantage of
volunteers.
the services were offering, King said.
Still, King is hopeful that World Vets will continue to be
Sometimes the health of their animals can make a huge
able to take on more and more projects where people
difference in their lives. During a project in Haiti, a woman
are in need of veterinary care.
brought a goat to the clinic whod been severely injured.
She had tears in her eyes, King said. That goat made
To donate to the World Vets or access
the difference in her kids going to school or not going to
volunteer information, visit WorldVets.org.
school.
Although schooling is free, King said the students
needed uniforms, and the family paid for those uniforms
with profits from the goats milk.
It was life-changing for this woman to get treatment
for her goat, she said.
King said there are endless success stories from World
Vets projects, but there are still plenty of animals in

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skin condition and parasites at the World Vets Latin America Veterinary Training Center and
was later adopted by a veterinary student from the US.
SUMMER 2014

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WOMENS IMPACT | 35

EVENTS

Upcoming Community Events

Open House & Silent Auction
4 to 7 p.m., May 15
Social Connextion, 2419 12th Ave. S., Moorhead, Minn.
The Social Connextions mission is to provide a safe, comfortable
and supportive environment for people with a serious and
persistent mental illness or symptoms of mental illness, who are
learning to manage their lives independently in the community by
means of voluntary recreational social choices.
TEDx Fargo On Purpose
All day July 24
Fargo Theatre, 314 N. Broadway, Fargo
TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to ideas worth spreading.
Started as a conference in California 26 years ago, TED has grown
to support those world-changing ideas with many initiatives. In the
spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, selforganized events that bring people together to share a TED-like
experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers
combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group.
Register at http://tedxfargo.com.
Red River Zoo
Doctor Doolittle Day
10 a.m. to 7 p.m. June 21
Red River Zoo, 4255 23rd Ave. S., Fargo
Learn how zoo vets keep animals healthy by participating in funfilled education activities. The day includes a blow-gun competition,
and try your hand at training and even a Teddy bear clinic. Kids who
bring their favorite stuffed animal get in free.
See info at www.redriverzoo.org/events.php.
Go Far Woman Run
Aug. 23
10K, half marathon and relay start at 7 a.m.
5K Run & Walk starts at 7:15 a.m.
Scheels Arena, 5225 31st Ave. S., Fargo, N.D.
Go Far Woman is a womens-only running event that raises money
for the Essentia NICU with Newt Running, an organization formed
in honor of the late Dr. Renee Schwandt.
Register at www.gofarwoman.com

36 | WOMENS IMPACT

SUMMER 2014

SUMMER 2014

WOMENS IMPACT | 37

VOICES

Voices
The Mark of Success
By Nicole J. Phillips Womens Impact contr ibutor

Penpals Jordan Phillips,

left, and LaVerne DeLores
Froysland Johnson look
through letters theyve
written each other.

have been given a precious gift. Ive

gotten to see what happens when
two people open their hearts to each
other in kindness.
On one side, we have Mrs. Johnson, a
92-year-old woman who began writing
to my daughter more than a year ago
when I mentioned in a newspaper
column that I was sad my children didnt
have any grandparents nearby.
On the other side, we have Jordan,
my 10-year-old daughter, who started
writing back to Mrs. Johnson because
she wanted to add some sunshine to an
elderly womans day.
The unlikely pen pals became fast
friends. Jordan shares fears with Mrs.
Johnson that she doesnt even share
with me. Mrs. Johnson, in return, tells
Jordan what it was like growing up in
rural North Dakota, going to a oneroom schoolhouse and how she used
faith to combat those same fears Jordan
is dealing with today.
I asked both of them to share what it
means to be a successful woman. While
separated by a lifetime of experiences,

38 | WOMENS IMPACT

Carrie Snyder / Womens

Impact photo editor

their definitions are more alike than

they are different.
What is success? We are each
endowed with various responses to this
question. Perhaps it is raising beautiful
children and each one turning out to be
as you planned. Is it your dream home?
Do you have modes of transportation?
Is there money in the bank for college
expenses?
Of course, this would be the utopia
we would choose for our lives.
A successful woman sends all out into
the world with clean clothes, finished
homework, enriched food, and hugs to
make them feel loved for the whole day.
She is there to hear the words, Mom,
Im home! And home is a safe and
predictable environment where one can
be without negative responses as she
listens intently to the wares of their day.
Yes, I have gained success as a
registered nurse, but I believe there is
not any greater opportunity for success
than to be a woman who loves, guides
and directs those under her care.
To you moms who get overwhelmed

with the mess, chaos and confusion, you

will not remember that 10 or 20 years
from now, but you will wear your crown
of success proudly as you see the fruits
of your labor.
LaVerne DeLores Froysland
Johnson, age 92
The key to being a successful woman
isnt how much makeup you wear or
how much jewelry you have. The key to
being a successful woman is letting your
spirit shine. Sure, times can be tough,
but if you hand your troubles to God,
it can go away before you say banana.
A lot of people think money is the only
thing that can make them happy. It is
always fun to get new things, but as
we all know, that new thing becomes
regular very quickly. If you have heard
the song Money Cant Buy Happiness,
you know that money cannot bring
success, and money cant buy happiness.
It doesnt matter what you do or what
you look like, a truly successful woman
is one who follows God.
Jordan Phillips, age 10
SUMMER 2014

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SUMMER 2014

WOMENS IMPACT | 39