The Facilitators
Marlieses Colantuno
Spiritually inclined, innately curious, and an innovative thinker, Marliese discovered her own pathway to making a meaningful contribution early on. Having changed schools frequently as a child, she acquired the habit of observing and analyzing each new system in which she found herself. She began noticing what was and wasn't effective in education and taking an active interest in how people learn. Today, she is an expert in experiential learning and a Montessori teacher trainer.
Tracy Curran
Tracey Curran-Herman is a graphic and freelance artist and owner of Creative
Graphics, Inc. Her professional experience encompasses work for educational institutions at all levels as well as small to international companies. Several of her
collections and her work has been displayed throughout the United States, including galleries in New York and, most recently, in San Antonio.
Melissa Bauer
Melissa is a creative change advocate, servant leader, coach and multifaceted solution finder who has facilitated and
integrated systems in multiple environments.
She is quite adept at working with all business stakeholders from upper to middle management levels both independently as well as in team structures. She sees the micro in the macro and helps others integrate "right and left hemispheres" to see the "forest in the trees." She develops materials and facilitates training for standard work and software applications in one on one and team
Debbie Leightner
Debbie Leightner founded Be Your Why LLC to share her 33 years of self-directed learning through trials and triumphs to make a positive impact and leave a legacy. She is a mentor and coach who is passionate about helping others discover what's important to them and create customized plans of action that support discovery and advancement.
Don White
Don White is a seasoned business leader with expertise in business development, alliance management, sales, and strategy. He’s known for building strong teams and connecting people across startups and Fortune 100 companies.
A lifelong advocate for youth, Don has coached sports, officiated swim meets, and taught children’s skiing—experiences that reflect his belief in the power of play in learning and leadership.
He is currently writing Little Eyes, Little Ears, a book series inspired by fatherhood and the belief that children thrive when we truly listen and support their passions.
Lynn Bensing
Lynn is an educator who had a thirty-three-year career in one of the largust public school systems in the United States. With a B.S. in Special Education and an M.A. in Administration and Supervision, her depth of knowledge comes from her experience working with special education and general education students, K-12, as a teacher, school-based administrator, and central office.
Julie Diaz
Julie is an educator and leader in connecting people to their food. She has spent more than 10 years teaching kids and adults how to Eat Your Veggies. She is inspiring A Cooking Revolution by sharing and creating simple meals using fresh local produce that she buys directly from the farmers at her nearby farmers market. Her vision is simple: When we share meals and stories around the table, we can Cook for Peace.
Joy Belonga
Joy Belonga is a mentor, guide, and founder of Joy of Well Being, helping individuals reconnect with their innate health, wisdom, and true essence. Her work is grounded in the Three Principles—Mind, Thought, and Consciousness.
A certified LTPN® Facilitator, she also holds certifications in Life Coaching, Hypnotherapy, Heal Your Life, Eden Energy, Rewilding, and Sistership Circle Facilitation.
With a master’s in education, Joy has served as an educator and assistant professor with Michigan State University Extension and the University of Nevada, focusing on youth, leadership, and community development.
Linda Rasch
Linda is the go-to guide for visionary entrepreneurs on a mission. You deserve clarity and a deeper understanding of your purpose—discover why it matters and how to trust the process from within.
For over 30 years, Linda has honed a methodology that evokes the brand essence of visionaries, helping them articulate their mission with passion and power. She also creates inspired paintings that reflect the heart and magnetism of their vision.
With her latest endeavor—The Linda Rasch Method—she offers a 5-step practice to unlock intuitive artistry and rediscover purpose through joyful, impactful expression.
Jody Birnberg
Jody Birnberg is a LifeMaven Story Strategist and a Certified Life Coach with over five years of experience in personal development and leadership. She works with individuals, especially baby boomers, who want to live in the energy of their legacy, starting from the inside out. Through her LifeMaven Podcast, she interviews inspiring guests who share their struggles, joys, and solutions and motivates listeners to be seen and heard in mid-life and beyond. She is passionate about empowering others to discover and share their stories, passions, and purpose.
Ana Marcos
Ana Marcos is a mother, wife, healer, small business owner, former corporate professional, and lifelong student with a gift for healing. She offers virtual Integrative Functional Nutrition and Lifestyle coaching with personalized assessments, food plans, and guidance in movement, yoga, meditation, sleep, and relationships.
She facilitates a mentorship circle for girls ages 12–14, creating a multicultural space to explore womanhood through self-awareness, menstrual health, and self-care.
As a community builder, Ana fosters intergenerational connections, engaging mothers, sisters, aunties, and grandmothers in growing feminine communities with youth at the center.