Travel/Outdoors

Hicks, Melanie

Author Melanie Hicks
Pseudonym
Melanie Sue
Birth Year (-Died Year)
1978
Birth City
Gulf Breeze
Birth State
FL
Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Occupation(s)
Writer/speaker
Biography

Dr. Hicks is the author of Incongruent: Travel, Trauma, Transformation. Writing her first book at 10 years old, she has now been published in numerous magazines and websites including Forbes.com, Humanity Wine Co., The District, Doctor’s Life, Journal for Research Administration, and Moc Ideja (a grassroots policy manual for lawmakers in Bosnia funded by the US Department of State).

Dr. Hicks is an empathy-driven leader with more than two decades of experience in workforce, education, and nonprofits. Focused on the areas of human-centered leadership, strategic planning, employee engagement, and organizational culture, Dr. Hicks has worked with hundreds of clients over the course of her career including small to midsized companies, education institutions, and nonprofit organizations.

Dr. Hicks formerly served as the Vice President, Education Solutions Group at MGT Consulting where she leads business development for PK12, Higher Education and Education Transformation Practice areas. Prior to joining MGT, Dr. Hicks served as Assistant Provost at the University of Tampa where she created UT’s first Office of Sponsored Programs and oversaw the University’s 52 department budgets, and all grants and contracts. She also taught courses in Social Entrepreneurship, Environmental Policy, and Public-Private Partnerships, among others.

Prior to joining the University of Tampa team, she served as the Director of Research for the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida, an advocacy organization, and concurrently as the Managing Director of the Florida Independent College Fund, a 501c(3) foundation. While at ICUF/FICF, she implemented a four‐prong system for federal and state grant funding applications resulting in enhanced collaborative partnerships and led ICUF’s governmental affairs research for advocacy in Tallahassee and Washington, DC.

Dr. Hicks began her career as the Aide to Mayor of Tallahassee, a special projects coordinator with the Florida Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability, and as an adjunct professor of Public Administration for Florida State University and Barry University.

Outside of her professional activities, she is a Colorado girl at heart. Her hobbies include paddle boarding, biking, hiking, and is a certified yoga instructor. She also enjoys spending time with her husband Randy, stepdaughter Lauren, and her fur babies Eva and Molly.

Awards/Honors
The Florence Bayuk Scholarship for Academic Excellence
Joyce Keller Volunteer of the Year Award
Rod Rose Paper of the Year Award, Journal of Research Administration
The University of Miami Outstanding Scholastic and Public Service Achievement Award
Education/Training
* Bachelors in Organizational Communications, University of Central Florida
* Master’s in Public Administration, University of Miami
* PhD, Askew School of Public Administration and Policy, Florida State University
* SHRM Senior Certified Professional
* Two Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Certifications
* Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt, University of South Florida
* Business Analytics Certificate, Harvard Business School
Organizations
Pikes Peak Library Foundation, Board Member
Unsilenced Voices, Sierra Leone, Board Member
Leadership Pikes Peak Class of 2021, Board Vice President
Leadership Tampa Bay Class of 2013
Well Built Bikes, Social Enterprise Mentor
SEED SPOT, Social Entrepreneurship Pitch Weekend Facilitator
Humanity Del Sol, Argentina, Board Co-Chair
Humanity Wine Co., Argentina, Past Volunteer CFO
Institute for Economic Evolution, Founding Board Member
LEARN OPEN, Past Board Member
Eunoia Collective, South Africa, Past Board Member
Academy Prep Center of Tampa, Past Board Member
Knight Foundation Community Catalyst, Past Member
Florida Chamber Foundation Innovation Caucus, Past Member
United Way of the Big Bend, Past Board Member
Network of Young Professionals, Past Board Member
University of Tampa Committees: Sustainability Committee, IACUC Committee, Faculty Development Committee, Community Engagement Committee
National Council of Research, Board Member
National Science Foundation, Grant Reviewer
US Department of Education, Grant Reviewer
Digital Measures, University Advisory Committee
Citi Group, Education Advisory Committee Member
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
Human Centered Leadership
In this workshop we start with a look at today’s workplace and how it has evolved over the last decade. We then dive deep into leadership strategies that focus on building trust and making employees feel valued. This includes an exploration on the neuroscience of connection and the concept of psychological contract and its place in today’s workplace. We close with a specific roadmap and tips for building in more human-centered leadership into everyday workspace. This session is good for any level of employee but especially pertinent for young managers or seasoned executive managing young leaders.

Rising Above Toxic Workplaces
Those who have survived toxic workplaces share a kindred spirit. Gaslighting, under appreciation, over work, general negativity can all be warning lights for you to make a change. But what if it is not that easy? In this workshop we explore the signs you are in a toxic workplace, ways to attempt to make change within and close with strategies for leaving without losing your shirt. This workshop is specifically topical for those struggling with their workplace.

Storytelling 101
This workshop is the benefits of telling your story as well as practical tips on writing and publishing.

Building An Intentional Legacy
Taking lessons from Melanie’s newly released memoir Incongruent; Travel, Trauma, Transformation, this workshop uses her copyright 3E Method of Change method to dive into our personal journey of legacy building. We begin by excavating the attic of our minds to pull out the boxes and examine our life experiences and how they affect our daily lives. From there we look for obligations that no longer serve us and how we can eliminate them. Finally, we embolden our resolve to live in alignment with our personal values. This
workshop is for anyone looking to live more intentionally and authentically.

3E Method of Change
Melanie's customized 3E Method of Change can also be adapted to any organizational topic in need of innovative and intentional change management.

Britton, Tanja

Book cover of Places & People of the Pikes Peak Region
Birth City
Worms, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Occupation(s)
Writer
Biography

After growing up in Germany, Tanja Britton came to Colorado Springs thanks to her husband Mike, whose family, like many, was transplanted to the Pikes Peak region because of their affiliation with the military. Her interest in medicine led her to explore the fascinating history of tuberculosis in the area, which catalyzed wider historical studies. Increasingly fond of nature, photography, and writing, she was inspired to combine her interests by starting a blog in 2016 and by writing her first book.

Education/Training
Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
Published Works Book Jackets
Image
Places and People of the Pikes Peak Region
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
Colorado Springs parks - Colorado Springs history - Colorado's avifauna

Weilert, Benjamin

Birth City
Fort Collins
Birth State
CO
Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Occupation(s)
Missile Defense - Civil Service
Biography

14er Climber, Rocket Scientist, Published Novelist, Movie Connoisseur, and Amateur Photographer, Benjamin M. Weilert was born in Colorado in 1985. While he went to school for Mechanical Engineering (eventually earning a Master’s Degree), he has found science to be interesting enough to write fiction about it. He likes to classify his novels as “science fantasy,” wherein the science is real and (semi) accurate, but portrayed in a fantasy setting to make it accessible to non scientific readers. If you want stories that are surreptitiously educational, he’s your man. He currently lives in Colorado Springs and his most recent book is Fourteener Father, a memoir of climbing all of Colorado's 14,000-foot mountains with his dad.

Education/Training
"Creative Fiction Writing" course at the Colorado School of Mines
Published Works Book Jackets
Organizations
The Midnight Writers - National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), municipal liaison for the Colorado Springs region
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
Self-publishing (writing, editing, formatting, cover design, etc.) - National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) - Submitting to short story anthologies

Kimbrell, Judith

Kimbrell, Judith
Birth City
Princeton
Birth State
NJ
Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Occupation(s)
Photographer - Author
Biography

Judith has specialized in capturing breathtaking scenic and nature images for over 20 years. She shares her vast knowledge through private and group photo tours of Garden of the Gods as well as other Colorado locations. You can also join her for photographic seminars and workshops. Visit her website to view portfolio images, fine art prints and see free instructional videos at www.mothernaturephotography.com. Judith says, "Showing up at a location and photographing nature by literally recording the moment is different from capturing nature as an artist feels it should be viewed; using light, weather, equipment, and an artistic interpretation to show Mother Nature’s beauty and power. Both methods are useful in photography, but each has a distinct time and place. My goal is always to make each image intentional, represent my artistic vision, and create a piece of art that will be loved for a lifetime. I have spent the majority of my life in Colorado Springs, moving here as a child. I remember my joy while climbing on the rocks of Garden of the Gods early in my life. Though I moved to Michigan for ten years, Colorado always echoed in my heart. Now that I have returned to “The Springs,” I often frequent Garden of the Gods, spending much time hiking and photographing this breathtaking open space with my loving husband and children."

Education/Training
Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art, Hillsdale College - Addition studies in photography at Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI - Staff Photographer for R.J. Michael's, Inc. (an advertising agency in Jackson, MI) - Studio Manager and Second Shooter for Don Jones Photography (a commercial photography studio in Colorado Springs, CO) - Twelve years as both an art and photography faculty member and head of the Professional Photography department at Pikes Peak Community College.
Published Works Book Jackets
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
General landscape and nature photography tips and techniques - Best practices to learn and study photography, and start a photography business - Local landmarks and parks including: photography site favorite locations around the city and tips to make amazing photos in each place; the history of Garden of the Gods; issues pertaining to the preservation of the land and wildlife.

Walton, Vikki

Birth City
Colorado Springs
Birth State
CO
Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Occupation(s)
Author - Designer - Nonprofit Consultant - Speaker/Trainer - #workquilter
Biography

I have lived in Colorado Springs for the last seventeen years. I was born in Chicago, later moved to France (father in the military), returned and moved to Kansas before spending most of my time in Texas (San Antonio area). I have held myriad positions in my life. I like to undertake more than one thing at a time, thus I refer to myself as a #workquilter combining various avenues of income. These include: -Author of nonfiction and fiction. -Certified permaculture designer and previously worked as a registered interior designer. -Suburban Homesteader (have gardens, chickens, bees). -Speaker/trainer on myriad topics. -Global house- and pet-sitter. -Nonprofit consultant, certified grants specialist (proposal writer, donor communications, fundraising strategy)

Awards/Honors
Honor of Community Trustee (Leadership Pikes Peak)
Education/Training
Bachelor of Science, Organizational Management in Christian Leadership, GCU (magna cum laude) - Associate's degree, Registered Interior Designer, St. Philips College in San Antonio, TX - Certified Grants Specialist - Certified Grants Reviewer
Published Works Book Jackets
Organizations
Colorado Springs CDBG Board Member
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
Writing - Creative writing - Self-publishing - Backyard farming (permaculture principles, food forest, perennial gardening, lasagna gardening) - Travel - House/pet sitting - Getting what you really want in life - Work quilting - Nonprofit topics (e.g. Fundraising 101) - Entrepreneurship - Design (Interior Design, Landscape design using permaculture zones)

Gould, Peg

Birth City
Olean
Birth State
NY
Current Location
Manitou Springs, CO
Occupation(s)
Journalist, author, chaplain, massage therapist, spiritual advisor
Biography

Author Peg Gould, MBA, RScP, LMT, a career writer/editor from upstate New York, moved west to Colorado, then Alaska, where she renewed her love of nature and photography on the stunning Kenai Peninsula. She is licensed both as a massage therapist and a spiritual advisor. Peg and her husband Todd raised a family with a diversity of pets in Manitou Springs, CO; they also enjoy working on their log home near Homer, AK.  Her work appeared daily for decades in newspapers in New York and Colorado, and later for years in Alaska Business Monthly. She also has freelanced for Vocational Biographies, American News Service, Colorado Springs Health, Springs Magazine, Women’s Edition, Compassion International, Convergent Performance, and for other businesses and nonprofits.

Awards/Honors
Mark Hellinger Award, Journalism
Sigma Delta Chi Outstanding Graduate, Journalism
First HS Journalism Award
Well Dones, Colorado Springs Gazette
Education/Training
* MBA, University of Colorado
* BA Journalism, Cum Laude, St. Bonaventure University
* Alaska's oral history
Published Works Book Jackets
Organizations
Member, AMTA (Message Therapy)
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
* Grief
* Bereavement
* Interviewing
* Self-publishing
* Travel
* Parenting
* Nature and Animals
* Outdoors

Jones, Andrea

Occupation(s)
Writer - Owner of Jones Literary Services
Biography

Andrea M. Jones born and raised in Colorado. Andrea writes about people’s relationship to the land from a high grassy ridge southwest of Pikes Peak, where she lives with her husband and their two horses. Her nonfiction book, Between Urban and Wild, explores the beauties, contradictions, joys, and responsibilities of life outside the urban boundary. As the owner of Jones Literary Services, Andrea creates back-of-the-book indexes for publishers and authors. She blogs at www.BetweenUrbanAndWild.com.

Awards/Honors
2016 Colorado Authors' League Writing Award: Top prize for blogging
Published Works Book Jackets
Image
Book cover for Between Urban and Wild: Reflections from Colorado
Speaker Availability
No

Alleman, Arleen

Author Arleen Alleman
Birth City
Bolton
Birth State
UK
Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Occupation(s)
Retired - author
Biography

Arleen is a former senior analyst with the Government Accountability Office where she wrote extensively on many topics ranging from satellite systems to endangered species. She has a science education and loves nature and reality. She is a life-long avid reader and began writing fiction in 2009. She has completed the six-book Darcy Farthing adventure series, which are contemporary mysteries with travel and thought-provoking topical subjects.

Awards/Honors
First three books of Darcy Farthing series - Best Trilogy of 2012 by booksandauthors.net
Education/Training
Degree in Biology - Dozens of professional training courses in conjunction with GAO position - Many additional college level courses in varied subjects from robotics to religion
Local Authors Genres
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
Health - Exercise - Positive thinking - Public speaking - Path to becoming an author later in life

Petterson, Adrienne

Petterson, Adrienne
Current Location
Fountain, CO
Occupation(s)
Travel writer - Nature photographer - Artist
Biography

Adrienne has lived in Fountain since 2013 and is originally from South Africa. She adores nature and has been a photographer for more years than she cares to admit. Having discovered so much to photograph in her own backyard (she refers to everywhere as her "backyard"), a book of her work was the logical next step. Her Backyard Snapshots book is an eBook, with 150 full color photos! Her book is for all ages, and she is particularly keen for children to read and enjoy this book as the message inside is to stop and look. Her book is available from Amazon.com and readable on most devices, which is great, as you're not restricted to using a Kindle. Visit her website at www.pettprojects.com to see more wildlife photos, her art work and her travel stories.

Speaker Availability
Yes

Travis, Lisa

Travis, Lisa
Birth Year (-Died Year)
1968
Birth City
Springfield
Birth State
MA
Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Occupation(s)
Author, entrepreneur
Biography

Lisa Travis dreamed of faraway places ever since she was a little girl who explored National Geographic magazines every month. Looking for ways to discover the world, Lisa studied at the University of Freiburg in Germany, traveled the USA in a Volkswagon camper, and lived and worked in South Korea. She currently finds ways to pack and go by creating global executive leadership programs that take her to cool places like Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Brussels, Copenhagen, and Prague. Her experiences around the world inspired her to create Pack-n-Go Girls, an innovative book and toy company for girls that delivers positive messages around independence, adventure, and global awareness. Lisa brings an MA in Communication and 20 years of instructional design to her writing. She lives, bikes, and skis in Colorado with her husband, two kids, and two dogs.

Awards/Honors
2014 Moonbeam Award - Gold Medal, Children's Chapter Book Series
Published Works Book Jackets
Organizations
Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI)
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
Children's literature - Multicultural learning and literacy - Writing (grades K-5)