Awaken Hope

Elena Sophia Ruiz is an entrepreneur, businesswoman, negotiator, human resources consultant and a curious conversationalist with more than 35 years of experience supporting individuals and organizations through complex professional and personal challenges. Her background includes payroll, human resources, compliance, conflict resolution, negotiation, leadership development, and human behavior, giving her a unique, well-rounded perspective on problem solving, decision-making and relationships. 

She is the founder of United Payroll & HR Services, Elena Sophia Life Balance, and The Alternative HR Solution—organizations created to support leaders through practical strategy, communication, and clarity in both business and life. Her work in employer-employee relations led her to advanced studies in negotiation and human behavior, including extensive training with Dr. John Demartini, former FBI negotiator Chris Voss and now former CIA Andrew Bustamantes. 

Elena is also the host of the podcast Intimate Conversations with Men, where she facilitates thoughtful and authentic dialogue around relationships, communication, leadership, emotional awareness, health, intimacy, personal growth and the psychology behind building wealth —primarily from the male perspective. Through these conversations, Elena creates a space for reflection, learning, and open discussion about navigating the complexities of modern life and deepening relationships. 

Through both her professional work and her podcast, Elena’s focus is on cultivating clarity, balance, and efficient leadership, supporting meaningful conversations that empower individuals to navigate life and business with greater understanding, objectivity, and purpose. 

Website: https://www.intimateconversationswithmen.com/ 

Email: [email protected] 

Meet Lori M. Kendall

Lori M. Kendall is a writer, grief navigator, and advocate for healing through reflection and creative expression. Drawing on her experiences in military life and the loss of her son, she helps individuals and couples navigate grief with honesty, courage, and compassion. As the founder of Reflective Roots Coaching, Lori blends lived wisdom with reflective practices to support others in finding strength, meaning, and hope after loss.

• Gold Star mother
• IOPGC “From Grief to Gratitude” coach
• Master’s in Strategic Communication
• Education background + Lifelong Learner
• Nonprofit Leadership + Mental Health Advocacy

“It wasn’t me leading Kole to his future… it was Kole leading me to mine.”

Website: https://missingpiecesbook.com

About David

David was in the first generation within his family to attend college. Prior to this, his father and uncles worked in semi-skilled occupations. His father retired from the same position after holding it for more than 25 years. Therefore, he knew very little about how to choose a professional career path. he learned through trial and error that he had a fascination with psychology, which led him to the field he's in today. 

David holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Special Education from the University of Pittsburgh, a Master’s degree in Counseling and Guidance, as well as a Doctor of Philosophy in Education from the University of Arizona. He has worked in schools, nonprofits, career one-stops, and private practice. He presents on career-related topics to universities, community organizations, and employment centers. Every setting he worked in has given him valuable experience that can be applied to his clients.

He is a member of the Career One Stop national advisory board and the Phase2Careers advisory board and has also had the opportunity to write three books about his field.

Website: https://www.davidpetrovaycoaching.com

Samuel G. Abrams, Experienced Spiritual Teacher, Tarot and Pendulum Reader and Energy Healer since 1977

Favorite offerings- Everyone is Psychic-a simple, straight forward intro, Tarot Demystified- How and Why it Works and Spotting Scammers, Psychic Protection- all aspects including Cleansing, Wards, Shields, Curses, …., Manifestation- Positive Thinking is Not Enough. I am an Energy Healer, a Wiccan (from 1989) and Buddhist (since 1974) and can also offer classes in these areas. Multiple posts on this site.

I have done over 4000 readings on relationships, career, health, etc.

Teaching and readings can be done in person or online BY DONATION via Zelle

E Mail [email protected]

Website: Samuelabrams.setmore.com

Website: SoulSyncCircle.com

Jason Hallenborg is an award-winning author, pilot, and content creator focused on grief, healing, and personal growth. After losing his father nearly eight years ago, Jason began writing as a way to process loss and preserve the legacy they shared together. That journey eventually led to the publication of his memoir.

Today, Jason shares messages about grief, purpose, storytelling, and moving forward after loss through writing, interviews, and online content.

Website:

https://jasonhallenborg.com

Christina Tracy Stein is an international speaker and coach who specializes in  teaching people how to unlock their potential, establish work-life balance, and  cultivate meaningful relationships. She is dedicated to empowering men and  women to lead passionate, authentic lives and knows that achieving success in  life is not just about financial wealth and security, but that people at their core  also want to have meaningful relationships from the boardroom to the bedroom. 

Her work focuses on teaching practical steps that show people how to transform  their potential into a successful career. She teaches techniques to create and  maintain an effective work life balance enabling individuals to shift between  being focused and highly productive while working and connected and present  at home.  

Website: https://www.drchristinatracystein.com

Meet Edwina

Edwina Perkins is an advocate for inclusive storytelling and a champion of diverse voices in Christian publishing. She serves as Co-Director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, where she also coordinates Mentoring Moments and manages Sensitivity Between the Lines.

A long-term member of Word Weavers International, Edwina now serves on its advisory board, as well as on the Evangelical Christian Publishing Association (ECPA) advisory board, where she previously served as Emerging Leader Coordinator.

An award-winning writer and experienced educator, Edwina is also a speaker, freelance editor, mentor, coach, and sensitivity consultant. She teaches at conferences throughout the year, championing honest, inclusive storytelling in Christian fiction. Her work has been published in numerous magazines and anthologies.

Edwina lives in Cary, NC. When she's not writing, you can find her being Nona to her two grandkids.

Website: https://www.edwinaperkins.com

Milly Gonzalez

Visionary CEO at JC Contractors Group | Business Growth & Leadership Consultant | Speaker | Host of The Miracle in You | Helping Founders Build Structure, Accountability and Sustainable Growth.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/milly-gonzalez-4a139928/

Jeffrey Allen: My Purpose, Passion, and Mission

“It isn't what we do that makes us great, it's how we do it.”

 Over the years, I've tried on many philosophies, and I've played many roles — father, son, husband... outdoor enthusiast, intuitive, engineer... healer, student, teacher... speaker, author, employee and entrepreneur.

My pursuit has always been to become a better person, to do positive things in the world, to have great achievements, and to help others. I've chased these dreams with all my heart.

Yet, looking back, I can see that I sometimes missed one important point — a simple truth my wife Hisami has repeated many times to me — it isn't what we do that makes us great, it's how we do it. 

For what we do always fades with time, but how we do it echoes on and on. Kindness leads to kindness. Anger leads to anger. Judgment leads to judgment. Love leads to love.

Our true greatness comes from inside, and we can express it anytime. 

“Today is the perfect day to be a shining example of you!”

 My Purpose

I believe our purpose in life is simple — to become deeply aware of ourselves, of those around us, and of our environment.

With this awareness, we can choose to dance gracefully with life — to take daily actions that bring us joy & happiness, that honor & respect others, and that bring greater clarity & light to the world around us.

In this way, we each act as beacons of light & joy — sharing our unique talents & gifts in ways that bring us personal fulfillment and positively impacts others. We can make an enormous impact in the world, simply by being our brightest selves.

For myself, this means combining everything I love to do into a circle of creative endeavors. I observe, learn, meditate — organize, simplify, optimize — create, polish, and share. As my creative results are used by others, the cycle repeats as I observe & learn from the experience of others. 

“For true change to occur, we must shift our awareness.”

 My Passion

My current passion is making energy work and higher awareness easily accessible to everyone. I believe this is the highest service I can provide to the world and to you. (And I love doing it too!)

For when I look at the problems we are facing — on a personal and global scale — new awareness is the only lasting cure I see. 

I love new technology, for the increased leverage it gives us — yet without new awareness, we tend to waste that leverage on the same old pursuits.

For true change to occur, we must shift our awareness. Yet shifting awareness is a tricky game.

“To grow, we must see past our own limits and beliefs.”

 My Personal Growth

So much great information is available on personal awareness, yet much of it is wrapped in layers of confusing and needless nonsense. I say this without judgment because I've been as guilty as any teacher of wrapping well-intended nonsense around things I didn't fully understand.

When I met my wife Hisami that began to change. She's the clearest person I know —no BS, no pretense, no judgment — she just sees the world as it is. Thankfully, her example of clarity & purity has been rubbing off on me. 

In our years together, I've observed my biases, my insecurities, and my excessive creativity (the well-intended nonsense I mentioned), and I've changed. Hisami has cultivated a humility & patience in me that I didn't know was possible.

 My Mission

To help as many people as possible, my mission is to...

• Learn and embody amazing teachings to raise awareness,
• Strip away needless nonsense — within myself and the teaching,
• Deliver the message in as clear & helpful manner as I can,
• Make Energy Work & Higher Awareness easily accessible to

Website: https://www.iamjeffreyallen.com

CRISTIN KAMPSNIDER

Senior Vice President of Marketing & Communications

Cristin joined the Gary Sinise Foundation in May 2014, bringing with her a profound dedication to service, deeply rooted in her upbringing in a military family—her father proudly served 22 years in the Air Force. Her call to serve was magnified following the September 11 attacks, leading her to an unexpected turn from a college path with an Air Force ROTC scholarship to enlisting in the United States Marine Corps as a Combat Correspondent. Her military journey took her from boot camp at Parris Island to Marine Combat Training and MOS School, eventually leading to her role at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, where she excelled as a Combat Correspondent and eventually took on the role of Community Relations Manager and, later, the Commanding Officer’s aide.

Cristin's career advanced as she was selected for the coveted position of Crew Chief, participating in critical missions in combat zones during Operation Enduring Freedom, with numerous deployments extending across Japan, Korea, the Philippines, and Thailand. After her service, she pursued higher education at Belmont University, earning a bachelor's degree in corporate communications with a minor in biology. Her transition to the Gary Sinise Foundation is a continuation of her commitment to supporting her fellow servicemen and women, inspired by her lifelong friend and Vietnam veteran, Robert “Harry” Harrison, whose final words to her, “Do great things,” resonate through her work every day. At the Foundation, Cristin feels she is fulfilling this promise, serving those who sacrifice so much for our freedom, guided by the Marine Corps motto, Semper Fidelis!

Cristin shares with us about Bob (BK) Kilduff that she knew very well. He was a GSF volunteer with the families of fallen first responders at the annual healing retreat at Disney.

Kilduff worked closely with the foundation's Snowball Express program, which honors and supports the children and families of fallen military heroes and first responders. He notably created and maintained the First Responder Patch Wall at the retreats, gathering patches from across the country to honor fallen heroes, often purchasing them out of his own pocket.

He was sadly killed in the line of duty responding to a fire in Boston.

https://www.masslive.com/boston/2026/05/fallen-boston-firefighter-devoted-his-life-to-saving-comforting-others.html

Website: https://www.garysinisefoundation.org