Our V.I.P. Featured Guest Kimberly Mitchell is a mental health advocate, veteran, and transformational leader dedicated to empowering individuals and small businesses. Growing up in a household where independence was a necessity, she excelled academically, earning numerous awards, including the Citizenship Medal from the Daughters of the American Revolution. Her resilience was tested when she lost her father at 16, but she channeled her determination into service, enlisting in the Air Force. As the only woman in her Vehicle Maintenance training class, she set a new standard by earning the highest test scores and later served in Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, achieving the rank of E-4 Sergeant.

Transitioning into civilian life, Kimberly pursued a career in training and leadership development, working across multiple industries, from technology rollouts to government initiatives. She played a pivotal role in the 2010 Census Project, leading the development of training materials for the first-ever digital data collection. Her work with the Rochester Schools Modernization Program led to the creation of an innovative small business training initiative, impacting local entrepreneurs and serving as a model for other municipalities. Simultaneously, she explored entrepreneurship, running event planning and photo booth businesses before pivoting to a thriving six-figure training business.

Despite professional success, Kimberly faced personal challenges that led to a transformative self-discovery journey. Seeking answers through the VA health system, she was diagnosed with mild depression, which became the catalyst for developing the Journey to Joy Personal Transformation System. This breakthrough allowed her to reclaim her happiness, reinforcing her belief that joy is a powerful force for change. Now, she dedicates her time to helping others break free from limiting beliefs and external dependencies, ensuring they recognize their own potential.

A founding member of the Greater Rochester Black Business Alliance and an active board member of ROCEDC, Kimberly is deeply committed to community development. She believes that self-sufficiency and joy are the keys to transformation, a message she amplifies through her training programs, mentorship, and advocacy. Living in a community once defined by industrial success and now marked by economic struggle, she is determined to inspire others to reclaim their power and create the life they desire. Her personal mission remains simple yet profound: to make a positive impact on people she may never meet.

Our V.I.P. Featured Guest Melissa Franks is a seasoned business strategist, Fractional COO, podcast host and speaker, and transformation leader with a track record of scaling businesses and driving operational excellence with a people-first approach that mobilizes teams for unprecedented results. A former Fortune 500 executive and OnCon Icon "Top 100 COO" Winner (2022-2024), she has led billion-dollar IT transformations, M&A initiatives, and revenue growth strategies, blending corporate expertise with small business agility. As the founder of On Call COO, she empowers female entrepreneurs by optimizing operations and increasing profitability with her knack for helping business owners break through growth plateaus, implement scalable strategies, and build profitable, sustainable companies. Passionate about women in leadership and business innovation, Melissa is also an advocate for high-performing women, helping them design lives they love while achieving balance and success. She is a strong voice for domestic violence awareness and family court reform. When not strategizing, she enjoys running, traveling, and cheering on her three sons at their sporting events.

Our V.I.P. Featured Guest is Brittney Lincoln, Franchise Connector, is the VP of Limitless Franchising and the CEO and Founder of Females in Franchising, a dynamic platform dedicated to empowering women in the franchising industry. With over 13 years of experience spanning home services, beauty, and medical franchises, Britney has built a reputation as a connector, educator, and strategist in the franchising world. She is passionate about providing a space for women to collaborate, learn from industry experts, and grow both personally and professionally. Her expertise lies in helping business owners understand franchising, scale their brands, and take their locations from one to 100.

As a seasoned business person, Britney brings firsthand experience to the table, having owned her own retail business before transitioning into a successful corporate sales career. She specializes in merging and launching brands, developing scalable franchise strategies, and ensuring responsible franchising that benefits both franchisees and the industry at large. With her extensive background, she is a sought-after expert on topics such as how to develop a franchise, scaling from five to 50 locations, and setting franchisees up for success.

Beyond her professional achievements, Britney holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) in Business and Management. She is a firm believer that teamwork makes the dream work. A competitive swimmer and avid skier, she thrives on an active, outdoor lifestyle. Most importantly, she is a dedicated mother to two children, ages 11 and 5, and cherishes time spent traveling and creating lasting memories with her family.

Britney's mission is to educate and support business owners looking to scale through franchising, ensuring they have the knowledge and resources to succeed. Whether guiding founders through the franchising process or advocating for responsible franchising, she continues to make a significant and unprecedented impact on the industry.

Our V.I.P. Featured Guest Michelle Taylor is the founder of the Women and Wealth Initiative, a transformative platform aimed at empowering women to take control of their financial futures. With over a decade of experience in financial services, Michelle is committed to closing the wealth gap by providing financial education and a supportive community for women from all walks of life. From business owners preparing for exit strategies to stay-at-home moms managing household budgets, Michelle's initiative helps women define and achieve their version of financial success with confidence and clarity. Having overcome personal adversity, including battling leukemia at 17 and launching a business at 27, Michelle's passion for financial empowerment stems from both professional expertise and personal experiences. She holds a Bachelor's in Business Administration and Marketing, and has been nationally recognized as a leader in financial planning, especially for female business owners. A member of the Millionaire Founders Club and Entreprenista League, Michelle continues to guide women through their financial journeys by equipping them with the tools to overcome limiting money beliefs and create long-term security. Known for her relatable and energetic storytelling, Michelle speaks frequently on topics such as closing the pay gap, financial freedom, and overcoming adversity. Whether through her initiative or as a sought-after speaker and consultant, Michelle's mission remains clear: to break down financial barriers for women and inspire confidence in every aspect of their financial lives. Married to her husband Jason for 11 years, and mother to Beckett, 9, and Sloane, 5. Michelle also cherishes travel, fashion, and spending quality time with her family.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-taylor-9b396139

IG: https://www.instagram.com/women_in_wealth/?hl=en

FB: https://www.facebook.com/michelle.mahler.9279/

Our V.I.P. Featured Guest is Michelle Rupp, EMMY Award winning broadcast journalist, is the Founder and CEO of Memorable Results Media, a boutique agency dedicated to helping small and medium-sized businesses gain earned media coverage on local and regional television. With a background in news production and a passion for empowering business owners, Michelle uses her 25 years of experience in broadcasting to deliver tangible results. Her clients frequently see increased revenue, sold-out events and elevated visibility in their communities, with many attributing significant business growth to her media strategies.

Michelle grew up in a family that owned a small hardware store, where she witnessed firsthand the challenges small businesses face when competing against larger corporations. This experience, coupled with her years as a journalist and corporate PR strategist, ignited her desire to help business owners maximize their potential through media exposure and crisis communication preparedness. Michelle has earned a reputation as a thought leader in the field of PR and Crisis Communications. Today, Michelle combines her unique insight and proven methods to guide her clients in leveraging local media, social media, and community connections to increase sales and create impact.

A heart disease survivor and accomplished marathon runner, Michelle's resilience shines through in all aspects of her life. Her belief in the power of television as an indispensable tool for making an impact led her to televise her heart surgery. With accolades including an EMMY and an Edward R. Murrow Award, she continues to inspire through her work and her story.

Links:

https://www.instagram.com/memorableresultsmedia/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-rupp-96ab588

https://www.memorableresultsmedia.com/home

Our V.I.P. Featured Guest, Ruchi Pinniger, International Speaker, Venture Capital Investor, Founder and CEO of Watch Her Prosper®, is dedicated to providing financial mentorship, support and services that women-led service-based businesses need to succeed. Ruchi takes a holistic approach to clients' needs by providing financial guidance, bookkeeping, tax-time readiness and heightening her clients' prosperity mindset. Ruchi brings nearly 20 years of experience in the Wall Street and corporate world to the Watch Her Prosper® team and was recently named one of the "Women Leading the Finance Industry." Watch Her Prosper® has helped hundreds of business owners to identify their spiritual connection to wealth and learned beliefs about money, while viewing their prosperity in a new way. Clients can then break free from shame and guilt surrounding wealth and see huge results in their profitability and economic growth. Ruchi connects the business to the person, understanding that individuals running small businesses have personal financial goals.

As a global speaker, Ruchi has spoken at Princeton University, NYU, Luminary and some of the world's most coveted stages about money and business related topics such as financial leadership, tax-readiness, budgeting, spirituality and well-being surrounding personal and business finances. Ruchi is an Executive Board member for Savvy Ladies, an organization that helps women improve their financial literacy and take control of their money. She also serves on the board for the Pajama Program, a nonprofit organization helping children improve their quality of sleep so they can thrive. Ruchi is the proud recipient of the Entrepreneur Champions Award 2024, as she is passionate about helping all entrepreneurs to live their most prosperous lives. As a thought-leader and industry expert, Ruchi is regularly featured in GOBankingRates, Millie Magazine, Best Self Magazine, BBC, SiriusXM and The Daily Refresh among others. While living in NYC, Ruchi enjoys taking time away from the city at her family's lakehouse. She values traveling with her loving husband and incredible teenage son. They are foodies and love to experience different world cultures together.

Our V.I.P. Featured Guest Celi Arias is the CEO and Founder of The Grown Ass Business, where she guides entrepreneurs through her proprietary methodology, Key Growth Systems, to build strong business foundations. Recognized as a top coach by The Upside in 2024, Celi helps clients break free from revenue plateaus and burnout by focusing on core business principles over quick fixes. Her approach emphasizes clarity and control, optimizing essential business departments to ensure solid foundations for scaling up to seven figures and beyond. With an impressive educational background, including two bachelor's degrees, an MBA, a Master of Divinity, and two additional certificates, Celi brings a wealth of knowledge to her coaching practice. Her diverse experiences, from professional tango dancing to working in the fashion industry, coupled with her immigrant background from Argentina, have shaped her into a dynamic and passionate coach dedicated to helping entrepreneurs achieve their business goals and realize their full potential.

Links:

https://grownassbusiness.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/celiarias

https://www.instagram.com/celigrowsbusiness

Our V.I.P. Featured Guest Jessica Baladad, six-year cancer survivor, is the creator of Feel For Your Life, a free mobile application that provides resources on how to perform self breast exams and when to get screenings, while allowing users to track and monitor their changes and set reminders. An unexpected breast cancer diagnosis at age 33 empowered Jessica to channel her experience into a mission that is changing the way women advocate for their medical care. She helped write legislation in the State of Tennessee to promote risk reducing measures against cancer and disease. Billed as the Feel For Your Life Act, it requires high school students to learn about self breast exams, testicular exams and skin exams. Additionally, Jessica has spoken out against insurance companies before members of Congress. Jessica has been featured on Good Morning America, Tank's Good News, USA Today, The Dave Ramsey Show, UpWorthy and several national and international media outlets.

Links:

https://www.feelforyourlife.com/meet-jessica

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicabaladad

https://www.instagram.com/jessica.baladad/?hl=en

https://twitter.com/jessica_baladad?lang=en

https://www.facebook.com/JessicaBaladad01/

LAURA NGUYEN is an experienced marketing executive and entrepreneur with an extensive background in data-driven marketing, digital marketing and communications for Fortune 500 companies. She is the founder of Solle Solutions, a marketing consultancy. Laura is also a certified executive coach, helping mid-career, high-achieving leaders go from burned out to balanced through her coaching program and online community.

Laura received her Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science at Truman State University, and her Master in Business Administration from Rochester Institute of Technology. She lives in Des Moines, Iowa, with her family.

Our V.I.P. Featured Guest Anika Pavel was born Jarmila Kocvarova in Czechoslovakia. What was intended as a one-year stay in England turned her into a refugee when the Soviet Union invaded her homeland, writing a bloody end to the Prague Spring. She received a crash course in life that took her from sleeping in a telephone booth at the Victoria railway station in London to waitressing, to the lights of the fashion runway, and on to magazine covers, even a James Bond appearance, under the more pronounceable moniker, Anika Pavel. When the lights had dimmed, she returned to her first love, writing. Her work has been published in print, online and nominated for a Pushcart Prize.