Shelby's Top 5 CliftonStrengths are: Empahty, Harmony, Relator, Developer and Positivity 

Shelby and her husband Erik live in Boston with their two year old Mila and precious golden retriever, Lou. Shelby is a pediatric physical therapist, but right now she stays at home with Mila as she continues to recover from her stem cell transplant and embrace her new life while navigating cancer remission. Erik just transitioned from being a military pilot to the reserves and he currently attends Harvard Business School where he is about to finish his first year. Shelby and Erik are so grateful to almost be out of the Boston winter and ready for some spring weather so they can get back to what they enjoy doing: being outside in the sunshine

You can follow her CaringBridge about her Cancer Journey here.. 

You can Join the Donor Registry here. 

Link to take the CliftonStrengths Assessment

Coaching and Workshops with Barbara Culwell

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Michelle's Top 5 CliftonStrengths are:  Restorative, Empathy, Belief, Developer and Responsibility   

Michelle lives in Natick (heavy a sound) Ma, a suburb of Boston where she currently serves on the People & Culture team with Cru. Caring for the ~50 campus and capacity staff in the New England states is her main focus, while also providing support in various ways to staff throughout the Northeast Geography.  

She’s been on staff with Cru for almost 35 years and has ministered to college students in St. Petersburg, Russia and Tallinn Estonia, at the University of Arkansas and on campuses in the Boston area.   In 2021 she made the switch full-time to staff care. 

She loves visiting National Parks and other beautiful locations with her husband and four adult kids and treasures any time when they are all together since they currently occupy 3 different time zones. An avid lover and sunshine and people-anytime those two things are combined she’s happy. 

ink to take the CliftonStrengths Assessment

Coaching and Workshops with Barbara Culwell

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Erica's Top 5 CliftonStrengths are:  Belief, Communication, Context, Responsibility and Restorative 

Erica brings a unique blend of life experience, faith, and heart to every stage of life. Transitioning from actuarial analyst to missionary wife, then 16 years homeschooling, and now a mom of amazing UT Austin College kiddos, she has learned to navigate life’s changes with confidence and grace. Guided by Belief, Responsibility, and a Restorative mindset, her love for God, people, and cats shapes how she approaches every challenge and opportunity.

Link to take the CliftonStrengths Assessment

Coaching and Workshops with Barbara Culwell

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Karina's Top 5 CliftonStrengths are:  Relator, Harmony, Empathy, Belief and Responsibility 

Karina Venable lives in Austin, Texas with her husband David and their three beautiful children, who are each gifts, given from the Father through adoption. Karina has been a teacher in various capacities throughout the years, including homeschooling her children for seven years. She loves to study scripture and write about what the Lord is teaching her, and she recently had the honor of co-authoring a Bible study on 1 Peter for Providence Church. Karina loves to read aloud good stories with her family and friends. Even more so, she loves to listen to the stories of loved ones, especially over delicious coffee. 

Link to take the CliftonStrengths Assessment

Coaching and Workshops with Barbara Culwell

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Texas A&M's Bridge's Staff Team Top 5 CliftonStrengths are: Learner, Connectedness, Includer, Communication & Woo

Barbara shares insights about a recent workshop for the Bridges Staff Team at Texas A&M.   Each person brings their unique strengths.  She talks about some of the insights she observed with the group of five .  

Link to take the CliftonStrengths Assessment

Coaching and Workshops with Barbara Culwell

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James" Top 5 CliftonStrengths are:  Learner, Intellection, Developer, Context, & Input

Julie's Top 5 Cliftonstrengths are: Strategic, Input, Relator, Belief & Arranger 

James and Julie are both native Texans and have been married 35 years. They have been on staff with ReachGlobal (mission agency of the Evangelical Free Church of America) for 31 years. They lived and served in Kyiv, Ukraine for 15 years and Budapest, Hungary for 15 years. In August 2025 they relocated back to the USA and live in Austin, Texas. They have two wonderful children, Will (married to Courtney and father of our first grandchild) has lived in Warsaw, Poland for three years serving with International Justice Mission; and Katia (married to Luke) lives in Chicago, Illinois and is in her second year of nursing school. Julie and James both love serving in their local church (wherever they are) and are especially drawn to developing the younger generations in their walks with Jesus.

Link to take the CliftonStrengths Assessment

Coaching and Workshops with Barbara Culwell

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Interested in Barbara's Cookbook

Barbara's Top 5 CliftonStrengths are HARMONY, ADAPTABILITY, EMPATHY, CONNECTEDNESS & MAXIMIZER

In this episode Barbara tells about a creative group that she is a part of and how fueling her creativity overflows in to her  love for hospitality.  Knowing and using her strengths are integral in what happens at home around her table with friends and family.  

Link to take the CliftonStrengths Assessment

Coaching and Workshops with Barbara Culwell

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Interested in Barbara's Cookbook

Dawn's Top 5 CliftonStrengths are: Activator, Woo, Empathy, Connecetness and Restorative 

Dawn lives in Dallas. TX. She recently made the move to East-West ministries from Cru where she helps mobilize the next generation to go to the spiritual darkest places of the world. She enjoys all things outdoors, a good cup of coffee with good conversation. 

Prayer in the Night: For those who Work, or Watch or Weep by Tish Harrison Warren is one of the books that has ministered to her in her journey. 

Find out your strengths by taking the CliftonStrengths Top 5 Assessment 

Workshops and Coaching with Barbara Culwell

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Barbara's Top 5 CliftonStrengths are:  Harmony, Adaptabilty, Empathy, Connectedness and Maximizer 

Maximizer is one of Barbara's top strengths and as she thinks about 2026 it gives her some intentionality in areas of her life that she wants to maximize! 

Find out your strengths by taking the CliftonStrengths Top 5 Assessment 

Workshops and Coaching with Barbara Culwell

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Barbara and Gerry celebrate 200 episodes of Embrace Your Strengths!   Gerry is EYS's biggest fan!  She shares a bit about how knowing her strengths "saved her marriage" and also living out her strengths daily gives her joy and passion as she meets with folks  and loves to share the life giving hope of knowing Jesus!   

You can hear more about her story on Episode 61.

Barbara talks about the history of EYS and the joy she gets from connecting with people and encouraging them  to live wholeheartedly in their strength areas. 

Find out your strengths by taking the CliftonStrengths Top 5 Assessment 

Workshops and Coaching with Barbara Culwell

Subscribe & Leave a Review on Embrace Your Strengths