The Connector Next Door with Lisa Gareau

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Nita Knapp has lived – and invested her ability to connect – in small rural communities all her life.

She grew up in Evansburg, Alberta – a community of 700 people and then “moved up in the world” to a community 1500 people when she moved at 17 to Mayerthorpe, Alberta.

In spring of 2021 I met Nita – and fell in love with her heart for people – as we both participated in a community for coaches that were learning to change the story in their minds and embracing new ways of creating connections and opportunities in their lives and businesses. 

Now, in her work as a Mind Renewal Coach, Nita serves clients and kindly guides them to live in alignment with their unique purpose. It’s her passion to see women gain clarity on what is holding them back and start living their lives with purpose.

Nita’s goals this year are to create events, workshops, and talks that will resonate deeply with women globally.

She knows from experience, when women are ignited and in alignment with their purpose, they become alive in their uniqueness and this bright light is “sprinkled” on those around them. 

But how do we “renew our minds”? In our conversation today Nita encourages us to become aware of our toxic thoughts, to tear about what’s not working, and reconstructing our mind with purpose.

You can link through here to find Nita and connect on Facebook and Instagram. 

Meaningful connections matter now more than ever!

Your community, clients, or customers are ready to connect. Are you ready to be their connector? Events can grow your business, create an impact in your community, or motivate a group around your ideas. The Connection Architect Course and Community is for the everyday event planner that is ready to create connections that matter.

Sound like you? Start building at www.TheConnectionArchitect.ca

The Connector Next Door is produced by Candy Event Consulting : Making Your Team Stronger

Are you planning or promoting events for your business, organization, or group? Reach out and book a 30-Minute Hello with podcast host, Candy Event Consulting Founder, and Connection Strategy Coach Lisa Gareau to share how you are creating connections through events!

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Vanisha Breault is a fighter.

We all have our battles in life but Vanisha’s “war on addiction” has come from her fight for survival – for herself, her children, her family and their future.

Over the last decade, her fight has gone beyond her own family as now she is on a “tour of duty” in the war on addiction and says, “we can NEVER give up on HOPE! If our kids are above ground, there is HOPE!”

Vanisha’s fight and passion led her to start the Terminator Foundation which tackles the mental health, opioid, and addition crisis in Canada by offering triathlon training for youth and young adults.

Vanisha has come to her work through a lifetime of challenges and has bravely shared some of those challenges in her recently released her book “Ordinary Courage”. 

She shows up on the pages in a real and raw way. The same way she shows up everywhere in her life. She’s not shy to share about the hardest – but most rewarding – job she’s ever had – being a Mom. 

She is a passionate single parent and openly shares that 3 out of her 4 children have struggled with addiction issues - nearly costing each one of them their lives.

In our conversation today Vanisha shares what it has meant to her to show up authentically in every situation. To her that is the meaning of connection – to first get in touch with ourselves and then to pour our lives into the lives of others knowing there is hope for anyone that is ready to see it. 

You can find Vanisha and continue the conversation on LinkedIn HERE or learn more about Terminator Foundation at www.TerminatorFoundation.com and you can find - and link to purchase - Vanisha’s new book “Ordinary Courage” at www.VanishaBreault.com. 

Meaningful connections matter now more than ever!

Your community, clients, or customers are ready to connect. Are you ready to be their connector? Events can grow your business, create an impact in your community, or motivate a group around your ideas. The Connection Architect Course and Community is for the everyday event planner that is ready to create connections that matter.

Sound like you? Start building at www.TheConnectionArchitect.ca

The Connector Next Door is produced by www.CandyConsulting.ca  

Are you planning or promoting events for your business, organization, or group? Reach out and book a 30-Minute Hello with podcast host, Candy Event Consulting Founder, and Connection Strategy Coach Lisa Gareau to share how you are creating connections through events!

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Dawn O’Connor is the founder of Focus Bubbles and the facilitator of connection, community, and productivity!

Focus Bubbles is a membership-based virtual coworking platform, supporting knowledge workers to be productive from home or wherever they chose to work.

Dawn says, “Hosting Bubbles, and supporting our team of facilitators, is the most gratifying job of my entire career. Every day I am curious and excited to learn what people are working on.”

She sees the enthusiasm, wisdom, and support that members share with each other and how – thanks to the Focus Bubbles format – they get through some tough tasks on some tough days.

Dawn has been learning – and teaching what she has learned – about productivity best practices and process improvement for 30 years.

Whether she is hosting micro-events like the Focus Bubbles with a dozen or more participants or coordinating larger retreats and conferences for groups like the Women Presidents'​ Organization, Dawn’s goal is to foster a feeling of community. 

In our conversation, Dawn stressed that – to be a connector – it comes down to really listening to others, recording points of interest, and recalling that information when it matters. 

Connecting well is part magic and part mastery … and Dawn has it all! 

You can find Dawn and continue the conversation on LinkedIn or learn more about Focus Bubbles at www.FocusBubbles.com 

Meaningful connections matter now more than ever!

Your community, clients, or customers are ready to connect. Are you ready to be their connector? Events can grow your business, create an impact in your community, or motivate a group around your ideas. The Connection Architect Course and Community is for the everyday event planner that is ready to create connections that matter.

Sound like you? Start building at www.TheConnectionArchitect.ca

 
The Connector Next Door is produced by www.CandyConsulting.ca  

Are you planning or promoting events for your business, organization, or group? Reach out and book a 30-Minute Hello with podcast host, Candy Event Consulting Founder, and Connection Strategy Coach Lisa Gareau to share how you are creating connections through events!

Send us Fan Mail

My Life Lessons Part Four & What Inspired Level Four of The Connection Architect Program by Lisa Gareau • Event Marketing

Lisa Gareau has lived a life that has both informed and inspired her work as a Connection Strategy Coach.

Since founding Candy Event Consulting in 2008, she has helped guide 1000’s of planners and their teams to build more meaningful connections with their customers, clients, and community members.

In this 4-part storytelling series, Lisa shares some of her life lessons and how those lessons have set the foundation for her new "connection-first" course and community, The Connection Architect Certificate Program.

Lisa has come to believe meaningful connections start when event planners learn to Master the Four Levels of Event Planning & Promotion with Candy's Event Building Blueprint.

Level One  •  EVENT STRATEGY

Level Two  •  EVENT PLANNING  

Level Three  •  EVENT STAKEHOLDERS

Level Four  •  EVENT MARKETING

If you are planning and promoting events for your business, organization, or group, you already know events can be used to grow your business, create a positive impact in your community, or motivate a group around your ideas.

After the sharp, connection-severing impact of the global pandemic the world needs the natural, bold, creative connectors to step up. Your customers, clients, and community members need you to step up too!  

The Connection Architect Course & Community is for the impact-driven event planner who is ready to build more meaningful connections through the  events they plan.

Contact Us to Learn More! 

Are you planning or promoting events for your business, organization, or group? Reach out and book a 30-Minute Hello with podcast host, Candy Event Consulting Founder, and Connection Strategy Coach Lisa Gareau to share how you are creating connections through events!

Send us Fan Mail

My Life Lessons Part Three & What Inspired Level Three of The Connection Architect Program by Lisa Gareau • Event Stakeholders

Lisa Gareau has lived a life that has both informed and inspired her work as a Connection Strategy Coach.

Since founding Candy Event Consulting in 2008, she has helped guide 1000’s of planners and their teams to build more meaningful connections with their customers, clients, and community members.

In this 4-part storytelling series, Lisa shares some of her life lessons and how those lessons have set the foundation for her new "connection-first" course and community, The Connection Architect Certificate Program.

Lisa has come to believe meaningful connections start when event planners learn to Master the Four Levels of Event Planning & Promotion with Candy's Event Building Blueprint.

Level One  •  EVENT STRATEGY

Level Two  •  EVENT PLANNING  

Level Three  •  EVENT STAKEHOLDERS

Level Four  •  EVENT MARKETING

If you are planning and promoting events for your business, organization, or group, you already know events can be used to grow your business, create a positive impact in your community, or motivate a group around your ideas.

After the sharp, connection-severing impact of the global pandemic the world needs the natural, bold, creative connectors to step up. Your customers, clients, and community members need you to step up too!  

The Connection Architect Course & Community is for the impact-driven event planner who is ready to build more meaningful connections through the  events they plan.

Contact Us to Learn More! 

Are you planning or promoting events for your business, organization, or group? Reach out and book a 30-Minute Hello with podcast host, Candy Event Consulting Founder, and Connection Strategy Coach Lisa Gareau to share how you are creating connections through events!

Send us Fan Mail

My Life Lessons Part Two & What Inspired Level Two of The Connection Architect Program by Lisa Gareau • Event Planning

 Lisa Gareau has lived a life that has both informed and inspired her work as a Connection Strategy Coach.

Since founding Candy Event Consulting in 2008, she has helped guide 1000’s of planners and their teams to build more meaningful connections with their customers, clients, and community members.

In this 4-part storytelling series, Lisa shares some of her life lessons and how those lessons have set the foundation for her new "connection-first" course and community, The Connection Architect Certificate Program.

Lisa has come to believe meaningful connections start when event planners learn to Master the Four Levels of Event Planning & Promotion with Candy's Event Building Blueprint.

Level One  •  EVENT STRATEGY

Level Two  •  EVENT PLANNING  

Level Three  •  EVENT STAKEHOLDERS

Level Four  •  EVENT MARKETING

If you are planning and promoting events for your business, organization, or group, you already know events can be used to grow your business, create a positive impact in your community, or motivate a group around your ideas.

After the sharp, connection-severing impact of the global pandemic the world needs the natural, bold, creative connectors to step up. Your customers, clients, and community members need you to step up too!  

The Connection Architect Course & Community is for the impact-driven event planner who is ready to build more meaningful connections through the  events they plan.

Contact Us to Learn More! 

Are you planning or promoting events for your business, organization, or group? Reach out and book a 30-Minute Hello with podcast host, Candy Event Consulting Founder, and Connection Strategy Coach Lisa Gareau to share how you are creating connections through events!

Send us Fan Mail

Lisa's Life Lessons and What Inspired Level One of The Connection Architect Certificate Program

 Lisa Gareau has lived a life that has both informed and inspired her work as a Connection Strategy Coach.

Since founding Candy Event Consulting in 2008, she has helped guide 1000’s of planners and their teams to build more meaningful connections with their customers, clients, and community members.   

In this 4-part storytelling series, Lisa shares some of her life lessons and how those lessons have set the foundation for her new "connection-first" course and community, The Connection Architect Certificate Program.

Lisa has come to believe meaningful connections start when event planners learn to Master the Four Levels of Event Planning & Promotions with Candy's Event Building Blueprint.

Level One  •  EVENT STRATEGY

Level Two  •  EVENT PLANNING  

Level Three  •  EVENT STAKEHOLDERS

Level Four  •  EVENT MARKETING

If you are planning and promoting events for your business, organization, or group, you already know events can be used to grow your business, create a positive impact in your community, or motivate a group around your ideas.

After the sharp, connection-severing impact of the global pandemic the world needs the natural, bold, creative connectors to step up. Your customers, clients, and community members need you to step up too!  

The Connection Architect Course & Community is for the impact-driven event planner who is ready to build more meaningful connections through the  events they plan.

Contact Us to Learn More! 

Are you planning or promoting events for your business, organization, or group? Reach out and book a 30-Minute Hello with podcast host, Candy Event Consulting Founder, and Connection Strategy Coach Lisa Gareau to share how you are creating connections through events!

Send us Fan Mail

Kim Westlund is an Entrepreneur, Speaker, Moderator and Podcast Host who is focused on connecting people with their purpose and helping them tell their unique life and business story.

2021 was a big year for her as she took the leap and launched her new entrepreneurial journey with Channel One Productions along with The Business B-side Podcast! 

Kim and I have been good friends for many years and our time together always consists of expansive conversations about life, relationships, and purposeful work.

One reason I love chatting with Kim is her ability to bring meaningful insights to tough challenges thanks to her diverse career and leadership roles that have spanned over 30 years – including the arts, theatre, and even banking! 

Kim gained recognition as a leader in business communities throughout Alberta, facilitating in-depth panel discussions with entrepreneurs to better understand their roadmap through struggle to find success.

She has faced challenging years and hard circumstances in her life, but she is using her story to fuel inspiration for others to also find their voice and share their unique story. 

Our conversation in this episode centred around the value of a good story and the impact it has on those listening in. 

But Kim – being Kim – took it a layer deeper by sharing a bit of her own story and her insatiable drive to help others articulate their own story and find the courage to share it! 

You can find Kim and continue the conversation on LinkedIn or learn more about Channel One Productions HERE and listen in to The Business B-Side Podcast by linking through HERE.

 
PS ... I even had the chance to share my story and my passion for building meaningful connections through events on Kim’s podcast ... you can listen in here HERE! 

Meaningful connections matter now more than ever! 

 Your community, clients, or customers are ready to connect. Are you ready to be their connector? Events can grow your business, create an impact in your community, or motivate a group around your ideas. The Connection Architect Course and Community is for the everyday event planner that is ready to create connections that matter.

Sound like you? Start building at www.TheConnectionArchitect.ca

The Connector Next Door is produced by www.CandyConsulting.ca  

Are you planning or promoting events for your business, organization, or group? Reach out and book a 30-Minute Hello with podcast host, Candy Event Consulting Founder, and Connection Strategy Coach Lisa Gareau to share how you are creating connections through events!

Send us Fan Mail

On December 24, 2021 my Mom, Mary Bartel, turns 89. Her legacy of connection inspired and influenced my life and work like no other.

Mary was the 10th child in a family of 11 kids. Her mom, my Grandma, loved to have guests in their home – no matter if there was food to feed them or a clean couch to sit on. Grandpa was always ready to feed the horses even if surprise guests would visit their farm.

I have come to know this as “radical hospitality” and this is something I talk about a lot as a Connection Strategy Coach!

Even though my Mom was raised in a humble home, it was filled with constant conversation, big dreams, … and lot of music! Her love for music brought her out of her shell and started her on the road to becoming a connector and community builder she is, even today.

As she grew older, her drive to connect others together through music matched perfectly with my Dad’s natural way of encouraging others as a teacher and eventually a pastor. 

They married young and started their life of travel, adventure, and investing deeply in every community they called home.

It was a gift to be able to travel from Calgary to Abbotsford to celebrate our family Christmas early. Even my sisters were able to fly in from Winnipeg and Armstrong to join in.

The icing on the Christmas cake for me was to get the chance to interview my mom and hear more of her story, record it, and now share it with you.

I have experienced firsthand how important it is to her to build a legacy of lasting connections. I hope through this conversation you’ll be inspired to build and leave a legacy of your own.

Happy Birthday Mom! 

Meaningful connections matter now more than ever!

Your community, clients, or customers are ready to connect. Are you ready to be their connector? Events can grow your business, create an impact in your community, or motivate a group around your ideas. The Connection Architect Course and Community is for the everyday event planner that is ready to create connections that matter.

Sound like you? Start building at www.TheConnectionArchitect.ca

 
The Connector Next Door is produced by www.CandyConsulting.ca  

Are you planning or promoting events for your business, organization, or group? Reach out and book a 30-Minute Hello with podcast host, Candy Event Consulting Founder, and Connection Strategy Coach Lisa Gareau to share how you are creating connections through events!

Send us Fan Mail

On her Linkedin ProfileCandace Giesbrecht, CPHR, ACC describes herself as a Remote Performance Coach, Strategic HR Consultant, Mentally Healthy Workplaces Champion, Word Lover, and Community Builder.

Candace is the Director of the Remote Performance Academy with Teamit.com, Teamit is the leader in modern talent strategy, helping growth-focused companies recruit, cultivate, and sustain high-performing remote teams.

She is a Strategic HR coach and consultant with over 25 years of senior leadership experience in both the not-for-profit and private sectors.

With expertise in social work, human resources, and organizational leadership, she has a broad and deep toolbox to draw from.

Her passion is helping leaders and organizations of all sizes to find the sweet spot between excellence in employee experience and business success.

It was interesting to hear Candace describe connection as survival as she, her husband (my cousin Brent!), and teenage son live in the beautiful Okanagan Valley which has been hard hit by fires, floods, and landslides. 

Her perspective is a valuable one as she has learned to not only connect to survive throughout her life but has adapted this concept to her work with leaders and teams. 

We’re all about “connection first” here at Candy, and I’m confident Candace will give you some new – and inspiring – insight on why connections really are at the heart of great teams.

You can find Candace and continue the conversation on LinkedIn or learn more about Teamit at https://teamit.com/

Meaningful connections matter now more than ever!

Your community, clients, or customers are ready to connect. Are you ready to be their connector? Events can grow your business, create an impact in your community, or motivate a group around your ideas. The Connection Architect Course and Community is for the everyday event planner that is ready to create connections that matter.

Sound like you? Start building at www.TheConnectionArchitect.ca

The Connector Next Door is produced by www.CandyConsulting.ca  

Are you planning or promoting events for your business, organization, or group? Reach out and book a 30-Minute Hello with podcast host, Candy Event Consulting Founder, and Connection Strategy Coach Lisa Gareau to share how you are creating connections through events!