Innovation Divaz

Featured New Inventor: Lina Nasr – Creator of the Hair Uppsy

Lina Nasr is a mom, wife, chemist, and inventor!

Lina, wife, mom to a handsome 18 yr. old son, and the inventor of a new hair accessory called “Hair Uppsy”. Her origins are from the Holy Land in Jerusalem, but grew up in Qatar, then got married and moved to Texas in 1996 where she studied chemistry, then business, pursued a career, and aspired to invent!

Hair Uppsy is Lina’s newest invention. It is a stylish, modern, and chic way of forming an up high, sleek, and fashionable ponytail that will not droop or sag over time. Not only that, but Hair Uppsy can be accessorized to match any outfit, season, time of day, or occasion in SECONDS!!!

Estelle Leisy, Publisher of Phonics for Latinos -

ABCs in Common

We are proud to be featuring Estelle Leisyon our radio show who is making an amazing impact within the Spanish speaking community one child at a time! Estelle is a retired LAUSD teacher and publisher who continues to deliver user-friendly ABCs to Latino Pre-Ks and kindergartners.

The problem with the way students are taught their ABCs, is that Latino Pre-Ks from Spanish speaking homes have to try and unravel the Spanish/English puzzle. To teach children their beginning letter sounds they are told that ‘A’ is for APPLE but in Spanish the word for apple is ‘manzana’. This creates confusion due to the conflicting beginning sounds. Estelle’s program instead uses user-friendly images (or cognates) that have the same beginning sound in English and Spanish. An example is ‘B’ is for BEAR/bicicleta.

Phonics for Latinos – ABCs in Common provides a phonics kit consisting of 8 components that teach 19 common Spanish/English letter sounds in a variety of ways; utilizing posters, flashcards, and games, to help Latino Pre-Ks learn their ABCs and expand their vocabulary. A Treasure chest product was recently added that has over 100 coloring pictures which helps vocabulary enrichment.

Learning the ABCs is the first step to reading. It used to be that just about all kindergartners spoke English but no more. Here in Los Angeles, California there are many kindergartners from Spanish speaking homes. Phonics for Latinos ABCs in common is a program just for them, so they don’t fall behind their classmates.

This program came about because of a kindergarten child in Estelle’s classroom who was learning English. As he left to go back to his class he confided in her that he was confused because his teacher thought that manzana (the word apple in Spanish) starts with an ‘A’.

Estelle was amazed because she had always thought that our English only signs were working just fine in teaching the ABCs. She didn’t realize that the children were not looking at the signs in English. They are presented with the image of an apple and told that ‘A’ is for APPLE, but in Spanish the word for apple is manzana so Latino Pre-Ks are presented with two different letter sounds, ‘A’ vs ‘M’.

Since Estelle spoke Spanich she knew that she could create different pictures that would align better with the letter shown. These were cognates, letter sounds that have the same beginning sound in English and Spanish. For example, instead of having a picture of a BEAR the ABC sign which conflicts with the Spanish word OSO you could instead have the image of a bicycle and make the ABC sign ‘B’ is for Bicycle/Bicicleta.

Phonics for Latinos – ABCs in Common helps children learn the ABCs because they can compare pictures that have the same beginning sounds. The important thing to remember about Phonics for Latinos ABCs in Common is the ABCs in common. Spanish and English are similar languages and share 19 letter sounds, so children from Spanish speaking homes can learn at home as well. Parents can use family names like David that have the same beginning sound in English to help them learn their ABCs. You can ask if Manual and Miguel have the same beginning sound to identify the letter ‘M’. Their success in phonics depends on comparing image names with names on a chart.

This life changing phonics kit consists of line components such as bingo, flashcards, charts, and games that all utilize user-friendly images with cognates in different ways to help catch the child’s attention. This makes learning the ABCs easy and fun.

Featured Inventor: Clare Kumar, Co-Creator of Pliio Clothing Filers

As Chief Organizer at Streamlife, an organizing company, Clare Kumar witnesses first-hand her clients' struggle to maintain order. Recognizing that an organizing tool would improve upon her own method of folding and ‘filing' clothes, Clare collaborated with an industrial designer to develop Pliio Clothing Filers to make it easy for everyone to have and maintain a beautifully organized wardrobe.

Pliio Clothing Filers fit T-shirts from youth size 8-10 through adult XL, and can also be used for scarves, dresses, long sleeve tops and light sweaters. The Pliio line includes clothing filers and storage boxes, and is expanding to include a variety of sizes, colours, sheet folders, travel accessories, and more.

About Pliio Clothing Filers

Introducing Pliio® Clothing FilersTM - the innovative organizing system that makes it easy to manage your wardrobe!

It is designed to:

• Help fold clothes perfectly, every time

• File garments so you can find items quickly

• Organize your wardrobe eliminating clutter

Facilitating fewer wrinkles and maximizing storage, Pliio Clothing Filers are a must-have at home and on the go.

Visit www.pliio.com for more information!

Featured Toginet Family Guest, Michelle McCullough

We we are so exicited and honored to have Michelle McCullough, speaker, strategist, success coach, serial entrepreneur, and fellow Toginet Host on the Innovation Divaz Show!

Michelle's entrepreneurial path has been an exciting one!

She started Doodads Promotional Products when she was 19. And has also spent the last 12 years working in marketing and advertising. She's worked in all aspects of the industry from production to creative and sales to management. On top of her full-time jobs, Michelle has cultivated her love for entrepreneurship by running Doodads Promotional Products as a successful side business. In 2008 when Michelle quit her full-time job to be home more with her newborn son, she moved Doodads to the front burner and doubled the income in 2008 and doubled it again in 2009. 75% of her business each year comes from repeat customers - a statistic she's proud of. It's easier to keep current customers happy than find new ones. She's also proud that she has been able to keep Doodads running in the black every year since it's inception, and despite the changes in the economy.

Michelle also became a partner in Startup Princess in 2008. Michelle has been the Business Development Director focusing on event planning, marketing, affiliates, sponsorships and partnerships. Over the past 3 years she has coached women entrepreneurs and helped them grow their businesses from "dream in development" to established thriving businesses. Though her online and social media efforts are quite impressive Michelle has also loved creating powerful live events and making connections with amazing people across the country.

Michelle has also been able to speak and "share the stage" with amazing other women entrepreneurs at Startup Princess and other events. Her ability to share her message with ease makes audiences fall in love with her. When you watch her speak on anything from marketing to motivation she captivates her audiences with her polished presentation and cheerful style.

Michelle started SpeakMichelle.com to more accurately express her current goals and mission to share her messages on stages across the country, write a book or two and will continue to strategize with small businesses and help them with marketing, business development and business processes.

Additionally, Michelle is the show host for Make It Happen Radio. A weekly show that talks about motivation and strategy for life and business. Michelle believes that you can grow a thriving career or business without sacrificing a meaningful personal life and this show shows you how. She's been praised by listeners as offering "business degree" type information and has also be told "it's the best hour I spend each week". Michelle has hosted guests such as Tiffany Peterson, Danielle LaPorte, Lisa Cash Hanson and Richie Norton, just to name a few. Upcoming guests include Peter Shankman and Ann Handley.

Michelle loves Disneyland, reading, bright colors, 80′s music, chocolate, traveling, watching movies at the movie theater, eating, scrapbooking, and spending time with family and friends. Michelle and her husband are the parents of two children 5 and 3, and live in Utah.

You can learn more about Michelle at http://www.speakmichelle.com/

SpeakingPhoto provides a quick, easy and fun way to add sound to any photo so you can turn pictures into stories and make memories last beyond the lifetimes of loved ones. This free app is on iTunes and Google Play and you can get more information at www.speakingphoto.com.

Meet Dawn Davis, the Creator of SpeakingPhoto

Dawn is a strategic business leader and entrepreneur. A twenty-year veteran of the retail industry, Dawn has a broad range of expertise spanning product development, merchandising, international business, communications, sourcing, efficiency solutions, and world-class team building. Dawn has held a number of senior strategy and business development positions within the worlds of luxury and fashion. Her excellent organizational, collaborative and communication skills have been the backbone of her success. In all of her professional roles, Dawn has built exceptional relationships with many of the world's leading brands and retailers, and is recognized for her strength in new business concept development, branding and innovation.

As Senior Director of International for Polo Ralph Lauren, Dawn developed a global merchandising strategy for both retail and wholesale channels that elevated the brand presence, throughout Asia and the Americas. This led to significant growth and an uncompromised brand image in nearly 2000 points of distribution. Before joining PRL, Dawn began her International business reach as the leader of the fashion merchandising team for DFS Group, the world's largest travel retailer and a division of LVMH. Dawn was instrumental in expanding the brand and category strategy to include luxury apparel and fashion accessories, setting a new bar in the global, travel retail experience.

Dawn also has a long commitment to adding her voice to non-profit and community organizations; Habitat for Humanity, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Glaucoma Research Foundation, Leadership Public Schools, Adopt a Family, Dress for Success, Toastmasters International, and Kiddo!

Dawn is based in San Francisco, California and while she still enjoys global travel, she is most passionate about her life journey with her husband, their two sons, and one furry, four legged, companion.

Chicago South Suburbs cubicle worker Teri Callahan, went from having an idea to having her dream come true.

"It felt like a strike of lightning hit me" said Teri Callahan, inventor of Hangabowls Hanging Cubicle Organizers. I had never invented anything before. But after not being able to find that red pen again and after much wasted time searching for my everyday office supplies, I knew there had to be an easier way. From the second the idea hit me, I never had a doubt that my cubicle organizer would be a great success. So I left my newspaper job to pursue my entire life to making it happen. I knew people would appreciate a stylish brand new organizer that would clear the tops of their desks, make it easier for them to find things and increase productivity. After coming up with the idea and after interviewing many people and asking their opinions, I received an overwhelming positive conclusion that "not only did they like Hangabowls Hanging Organizer but they wanted one". From that point I took it to a large trade show and I knew when investors were coming to me and buyers were making me offers to purchase my company, it was a sure thing. So I pursued my dream and I am glad I did because dreams do come true. Nothing is better then the satisfaction of knowing that Hangabowls Organizers is making peoples lives easier, is filling a want and is filling a need of people everywhere, is extremely rewarding.

For more information about purchasing Hangabowls for yourself visit www.hangabowls.com

We are so proud to be featuring Rachel D'Ascoli, the WINNER of the 2013 American Women Inventorz Award, which was held on April 25th, 2014. Among many wonderful prizes given to Rachel, she has a lifelong award that she can use to help promote her business. We are honored to be featuring Rachel on the Innovation Divaz Radio Show!

Meet Rachel D'Ascoli

Rachel D'Ascoli was a classroom teacher for 7 years but is most recently recognized as the mom inventor and CEO behind BurpGear, the only fashionable and functional burp cloth on the market. Rachel has three boys, ages 5, 3, and 18 months and is expecting her forth. She began BurpGear alongside her mother and sister in December 2012 and has taken her concept from idea to market. Since the launch of BurpGear, Rachel has sold both locally and internationally and has been featured in a newspapers, blogs and recently won the American Women Inventorz Award.

About BurpGear

BurpGear is the only fashionable and functional burp cloth on the market. This perfect shower gift is everything any caregiver would want in a burp cloth! It is leak resistant, dual panel- (providing full coverage), adjustable, 100% made in the USA, 100% washable and travel compact- making it easy to find in any diaper bag! BurpGear comes in 4 fashionable designs intended to give caregivers a functional burp cloth they deserve and enjoy wearing.

For more information about BurpGear visit: www.burpgear.com!

Bag Savr - Recycle bin and Trash container designed to perfectly fit and store your favorite store's grocery bags; or use it without bags

Up to 100 billion FREE plastic bags are given out every year in the USA. If you are like most people, you already have bags stuffed in a closet or a drawer in your kitchen. Now you can reuse those bags in every room of your house saving money and helping the environment through re-use.

BagSavr+ patent-pending design is the first ergonomically designed bag storage and re-use system made to perfectly fit your free plastic grocery bags and features a built-in pocket which stores up to 10 bags right where you need them. The locking system with tuck groves keep your bags in place and prevent bag gapping.

The BagSavr+TM can hang anywhere with it's handy Hanger Bracket, or serve stand-alone duty in any corner. The "take anywhere" handle makes it ideal for portable cleanups or use in the cabin, boat or camper. There are 100 Billion reasons to save money and save bags with BagSavr+TM

Meet Gabriel Beversluis

Gabriel Beversluis has been working as a pediatric Orthotist since 2004 where he specializes in custom bracing to help disabled children with standing and walking. In his hometown of Grand Rapids, MI., he has developed a reputation as an innovator of orthotics design and production processes. With a passion for designing creative solutions to common problems, Gabriel took on the challenge of designing a product to make good use of the billions of plastic grocery bags given out every year. His goal was to promote re-use and reduced waste by creating a container that everyone can use anywhere. He recognized that promoting widespread reuse will save consumers money, reduce litter, and reduce the quantities of trash bags that will need to be produced, just to throw them away. Gabriel partnered with Products That Work, LLC and together they launched BagSavr+ nationwide in 2013 with many other innovative products to follow.

To purchase your Bag Savr visit www.bagsavr.com

Keysocks - Knee High No Show Socks for Women Say good-bye to unsightly socks and footies that won't stay in place. These sleek no show socks will keep your feet warm and comfortable but won't show when you're wearing heels or flats.

Meet Shelby McKee

In 2009, Keysocks founder Shelby Mckee was getting ready to go to a Cincinnati Bengals football game on a brisk fall Sunday. Wanting to wear flats and with the temperature falling, she realized she needed "no show" socks. Traditional footies always fell off her feet or scrunched up and never provided warmth, so armed with scissors and sheer genius, she cut a hole in her husband's knee-high dress sock and the Keysock was born!

Shelby recruited her two sisters, Stefanie and Christy, and began working to build the first and only no show knee high sock. Keysocks have brought style and comfort to women and girls all over the world desiring to wear flats or heels with pants. Keysocks are the ultimate solutions for keeping your feet comfortable without showing you are wearing socks.

Listen to our interview with Shelby LIVE on Tuesday, May 13 at 11:30 AM CST, or download the recorded podcast at your convenience.

To purchase Keysocks visit www.keysocks.com

Owner, Jen Perry has worked closely with engineers to develop a stylish belt that is made of 100% recycled materials and is completely metal free. This lightweight, elastic belt is the perfect belt to wear when you need a subtle belt to pair with jeans, as the uniquely designed buckle is completely invisible under tight tops. The colors and design are a fun spin on the 70’s stretch belt, adding a vintage and retro touch to your wardrobe. The colors were also designed to be worn by both men and women. The comfortable elastic fabric forms to your waist and the signature “Jelt Gel” grips to the back of pants keeping everything secure no matter where you are going! Jen is a busy mom of two, which is a big motivation behind her invention of the Jelt. She is constantly on the move and needed a belt to support that. The Jelt Belt is also great to wear with your snow pants when you are out hitting the slopes or enjoying the outdoors during the summer! Being from Montana, Jen wanted her belt to be shared among the outdoor enthusiasts as well, which is another inspiration behind the lightweight, easy to put on design. And we can’t forget the fact that the Jelt is perfect for traveling! The metal free design will help you pass through security with ease! Each year, Jelt will feature a new charity and give 10% of total profits to support the efforts of these non-profits. The “Jelt” belt is a functional product that fills a need, but it is also fun, fashionable, and current!

Meet Jennifer Perry

Jennifer Perry is from Bozeman, Montana and is a mother of two boys. She is a very active member of the community sponsoring local non-profits and participation in charity work. She is also the manager of The Glacier Ridge Ranch, and guest ranch in Trego, Montana. She is a busy mom who is always on the go and loves to be active and outdoors. She wanted a belt that supported all that she does whether it be skiing or taking care of her family which was her inspiration behind the Jelt. She created the Jelt based on her need for a belt that really worked and she designed the Jelt with the goal of helping others who had the same need that she did.

Listen to Jennifer Perry's interview LIVE with the Innovation Divaz on the May 6th show! If you can't listen live come back and download the podcast directly from our show page.

To purchase a Jelt Belt for yourself visit www.jeltbelt.com

Natalie Robbins, the inventor ofLitter One, has always loved all animals. She would always bring animals home without telling her parents. One of the most common animals she would bring home was cats. Since her family always had cats and Natalie was usually the one bringing them home, her chore was cleaning out the litter box. It wasn't long until she formed a hatred for the chore. When she was about 18 she and her mom were walking through a pet store and saw pine pellets now being used as cat litter. Her dad had just started to work with the same pellets! It's like it was meant to be! She started putting the pellets in old cardboard boxes so she could just throw all of it away at once instead of cleaning all components with soap and water. 4 years and many prototypes later Litter One is born!

Litter One is the 100% biodegradable, completely self-contained, disposable litter system for cats. Each kit includes: litter box, pine pellet litter, scoop, and waste bags. The kit is delivered right to your door ready for use. All you need to do is open the box and set it out in the regular placement of the litter box. The pellets turn to sawdust when the cat urinates. The patented false floor allows for the sawdust to fall through and not worry the consumer about tracking and buildup. The pine pellets completely neutralize the cat urine odor and provide a natural pine scent. When 4-6 weeks has passed, all you do is close up the kit, place it in the recycle/trash bin, and open up the new one that has automatically been shipped to your door.

We are so excited to be interviewing Natalie on the April 22nd show. If you miss the show LIVE, you can download the podcast at your convenience!

http://www.toginet.com/shows/innovationdivaz

For more information about Litter One visit www.litterone.com!

"I'm lucky that I found my calling, something that I'm really passionate about. I get excited when I see new products. I get excited when I see something we produce and put on TV and then people respond to it. The key to our success is that everybody in this company gets excited about what we do every single day." ~ TeleBrands CEO & Founder, AJ Khubani

In 1983, fresh out of college (with a whole $20,000 dollars he earned working multiple jobs during school), New Jersey native AJ Khubani was clear that he wanted to take on the Sony corporation. He was hawking a $10 alternative version to the infamous Walkman radio and placed a $7,000 ad in the National Enquirer with hopes of making millions. While breaking even with the ad didn't exactly earn him a house in the Hamptons, it did fuel his curiosity to find more products, in hopes of becoming a massive business success.

After the first few years of slow and steady growth, 1987 would become the year to put TeleBrands on the map. Ambervision Sunglasses were introduced to the world, as the company's first television commercial hit the airwaves. While the spot was a success, the orange lensed glasses launched the company to new heights when in 1989, New York area based Herman's Sporting goods placed the eyewear on their shelves. Sales went thru the roof as TeleBrands not only had their first million dollar hit product, they brought their direct TV marketing success to the retail world.

Fueled by the accomplishments of their on-screen marketing, packaging was needed to house the Ambervision glasses, and a plain white box wasn't going to cut it on retail shelves. After several go rounds with some design ideas, the world renowned As Seen On TV name and logo were born. Yes, it was TeleBrands that was singlehandedly responsible for the branding of today's multi-billion dollar retail category.

Thirty years have passed since that first tabloid ad hit the newsstands and one thing is for certain, AJ Khubani is indeed a massive business success. His company, TeleBrands, is without question the world's leader in television infomercial marketing and their products have sold in the billions of dollars. The likes of famed pitchmen Billy Mays and Anthony Sullivan have been an important part of this journey, as are the members of the company's management staff who have stayed along for the ride for these many years.

Over these past three decades, TeleBrands has given the world some of the most exciting As Seen On TV devices and gadgets: OrGreenic Cookware, Stone Wave, Aluma Wallet, Windshield Wonder, Sticky Buddy, the Olde Brooklyn Lantern, Who Knew Books, and the Pocket Hose are just a few of the many hits in the company's prestigious portfolio. One of the most popular all time products, the Ped Egg (for softening hard calloused feet) was created internally, and after some 50 million units sold to date, there's just no stopping what this northern New Jersey company will come up with next.

To further their amazing growth, TeleBrands has a never-ending open call to would-be inventors, or anyone with a great idea that just might change the world. A countless number of products are submitted for review yearly, while hundreds are chosen for infomercial testing. While it is only a small percentage that make the grade as a hit retail product, a number of inventors have struck it big as their product became yet another legendary TeleBrands success story.

As TeleBrands celebrates its prestigious 30th anniversary in business, its products are now available in over 120 countries around the world. The growth potential seems almost limitless as everyday inventors continue to present their product ideas at a rapid pace. It's a good thing that the young AJ Khubani found his calling some three decades ago. As the need to develop products that solve every day common problems continues onward, his passion for this business remains greater than ever. I think we can speak for everyone at TeleBrands by saying, but wait, there's more - there's a whole lot more to come.

Listen to our interview with AJ Khubani LIVE on the April 15th show, or download the podcast at your convenience after the show has aired! http://www.toginet.com/shows/innovationdivaz

For more information about Telebrands visit: www.telebrands.com

Nancie Weston, CEO and Founder, The Grayl

Nancie is a 25-year veteran of the outdoor product industry. She has considerable experience with designing, branding, marketing, selling and introducing new products into the marketplace. She has held the position of Sales Director at McNett and Ultimate Survival Technologies. Her wide range of experiences in multiple product sectors and channels is complimented by an open-minded approach to problem solving, team building and leadership. She has shown a passion for inventing, with several patents to her name.

Nancie founded GRAYL because of concerns about the quality and taste of the tap water she drank on the go. She was also concerned about leaching from plastic bottles and the impact of bottled water on the environment. She set out to create a device that not only made water safe and taste great, but also that was beautifully designed and made with the highest quality materials. GRAYL's Water Filtration Cup was created for busy people who care deeply about both what they put in their bodies and their footprint on earth.

To purchase The Grayl for yourself visit: www.thegrayl.com

Samuel and Jennifer Shipp, Inventors of The Knife Glider

Samuel is a successful building maintenance business owner and Jennifer is a happy housewife. They've been married 12 years with two beautiful children.

Sam enjoys helping others and solving problems. Jennifer had a big problem when she sliced her hand open chopping food for dinner. Nine stitches later the idea for The Knife Glider was born.

"I couldn't find any product on the market that would protect without slowing me down. In fact, cooking with The Knife Glider saves time!"

Slip! Ouch! When's the last time you cut yourself in the kitchen?

Introducing The Knife Glider! The revolutionary new cooking device that virtually eliminates your chances of being cut in the kitchen.

The Knife Glider's Patent Pending Design:

-Protects and Shields your hand from the knife.

-Has specialty grooves to hold food securely in place while cutting and chopping.

-Glides off food stuck on the plate with its specialty slits.

- Peel food not your knuckles with the Pealing Attachment.

-Securely hold hot or raw meat with the meat attachment not your hand.

-Collapse for easy storage.

-BPA free and Dishwasher Safe.

The Knife Glider, the new way to feel safe while prepping food.

Cut, chopped, slice, peel, FOOD not FINGERS!

The Knife Glider Demo: http://youtu.be/oNjo0uypRv0

To purchase The Knife Glider visit: http://www.knifeglider.com