Speak with Presence

In this episode 77, Lead with Love, we spoke with Christine Kemper, Marketing Professional, Board Member, and Founder of Kansas City Girls Preparatory Academy, a school that teaches young women to use their voices, succeed in college and lead impactful, meaningful lives.

It's giving Tuesday! This is where to give: Education - KCGPA Arts - Heartland Arts

In Christine's inspiring story, she sees a need in her community and takes matters into her own hands to meet the need. Find out how the students in her school are encouraged to put their own presence into the world.

Following a fifteen-year career that began in the U.S. Department of Justice and evolved to include roles in business communications, politics and higher education, Christine founded a marketing and research consultancy that has advised local, national and global brands since 2002. She is co-founder of The Collectors Fund and The Kansas City Collection, two enterprises that invest in art and build markets for artists, as well as YEP, an internship and scholarship organization focused on nurturing entrepreneurship among high school students. She has served in leadership roles for dozens of regional nonprofit organizations, including the Women's Foundation, Women's Employment Network, WIN for KC, the WWI Museum and Memorial, DeLaSalle Education Center, the Symphony Foundation and University Academy Charter School. Her current passion is in her role as a founder and board chair of Kansas City Girls Preparatory Academy.

Jen Vellenga and Jennifer Rettele-Thomas are the co-founders of Voice First World®, a communication and leadership coaching company. They train executives and leaders on the Presence Paradigm™, a communication technique created from Jen V's decades of training actors to perform authentically with stage presence. If you want to learn more about how to speak confidently, book a discovery call at www.voicefirstworld.com/chat.

In this episode 75, Spectrum of Authenticity, we interviewed Lindsey Rood-Clifford, President and CEO of Starlight Theatre in Kansas City, MO. We met with her on location at Starlight in her office overlooking the audience seating.

Lindsey shares her experience being unanimously voted to be the new—and first female—CEO at Starlight, and how she creates change authentically in her role. Hear her philosophy on inspiring teams and constantly connecting with community.

Jen Vellenga and Jennifer Rettele-Thomas are the co-founders of Voice First World®, a communication and leadership coaching company. They train executives and leaders on the Presence Paradigm™, a communication technique created from Jen V's decades of training actors to perform authentically with stage presence. If you want to learn more about how to speak confidently, book a discovery call at www.voicefirstworld.com/chat.

Talk Nicely to Yourself features actor/singer, Shon Ruffin, a Kansas City-based performer. Jen V. & JRT spoke with Shon on location at the New Theatre and Restaurant in Overland Park, KS before she prepared for her nightly performance of Effie in the musical DREAMGIRLS. The show closed on Sept, 10, 2023 after a sold out run.

You can find Shon singing with the bands Freedom Affair and Lost Wax.

Jen Vellenga and Jennifer Rettele-Thomas are the co-founders of Voice First World, a communication and executive coaching company. If you want to learn more, book a discovery call at www.voicefirstworld.com/chat.

Dani Welniak is the Vice President of Communications for the KC Current, the Kansas City soccer team for the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). Dani has an impressive career as an on-air reporter for the Kansas City Chiefs and as a superbowl champion with the Dallas Diamondz - Women's Professional Full-Contact NFL Rules Football.

Dani is a confident speaker and shares her stories of overcoming failures and being supported by allies in a male-dominated industry.

Jen Vellenga and Jennifer Rettele-Thomas are the co-founders of Voice First World, a communication and executive coaching company. If you want to learn more, book a call at www.voicefirstworld.com/chat.

Episode 17: Mary H. Guindon, PhD (Dr. Mary) is former chair and associate professor in the Department of Counseling and Human Services at Johns Hopkins University where she created programs in organizational counseling, counselor clinical supervision, and contemporary trauma response. Her over 30 years of clinical practice, consulting, and teaching experience include counselor training and supervision, mental health and career development, adult transitions, grief and loss, and global counseling issues. She has authored several books, including Self-Esteem Across the Lifespan: Issues and Interventions. She is also Jen V.'s mom!