Christie Ruffino

Christie Ruffino is the President and Founder of the Dynamic Professional Women’s Network, Inc., which is an industry exclusive networking organization designed to help women create partnerships with each other to generate ideas, alliances, and revenues within a structured referral generating format.

Five years since its conception, more than 1200 members have joined DPWN in Illinois and Wisconsin, recognizing it as a driving force behind the success and profitability for many of its members’ businesses. This accomplishment along with other philanthropic efforts inspired a nomination and following honor as one of the most Influential Women in Business of 2009 by the Business Ledger and the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) and in 2010 with an Entrepreneurial Excellence Award by the Business Ledger.

Today Christie is looking to expand her impact by working more closely with business professionals who want to build more business, provide more value and manifest a more prosperous life as a John Maxwell Certified Coach.

Christie L. Ruffino
Dynamic Professional Women’s Network, Inc.
[email protected]
www.dpwomen.com
630-336-3773 Cell

My Blessings in Disguise

The story of one woman’s journey to create a future that provides financial independence and joy for herself and her children while also providing a valuable networking resource for other women called the Dynamic Professional Women’s Network, Inc.

Edie Gibson

Edie Gibson, BSDH, MSc, is, above all, an unapologetic believer in Jesus Christ, a wife, and mother to her greatest blessing Makaila. She is a charismatic, knowledge-wealthy trainer with a mission and passion to affect CHANGE by empowering women to “put on Christ” and wear their faith with passion! She incorporates real world experiences and humor into all her programs, making difficult subjects fun, empowering, and thought provoking. She owned an independent dental hygiene practice, called About Face Dental Hygiene, in Crested Butte, CO until spinal surgery ended her clinical career.

Currently, Edie is a Clinical Trainer/Advisor for The Implant Consortium, a Corporate Trainer for Balancing Life’s Issues, Inc. and an independent speaking professional. She is a Regional Assimilation Coach for Celebrate Recovery. Edie is pursuing her MS in Psychology and training to be a Licensed Addictions Counselor. She is the Volunteer Coordinator for CASA, Voices for Children and, along with her husband Chris, runs a Christ-centered transitional living facility for men recovering from addictions called The New Adams House. Edie also served on the Editorial Review Board for the Journal of Practical Hygiene, is a Thought Leader for Hu-Friedy, a Key Opinion Leader for Crown Seating and PDT Inc. and published author.

Edie Gibson
Casual Christian No More-IHS, LLC
[email protected]
www.EdieGibson.com
www.IHSEmpowermentGroup.com
970-596-4458

Overcoming Spiritual Mediocrity

Mediocrity has many faces. I was a Casual Christian for many years, living a mediocre spiritual life. This is the story of my walk with God that led me to a spiritually full and abundant life! If you are a Casual Christian, my prayer for you is that you too embrace your faith, step out and overcome spiritual mediocrity, and walk proudly with God!

Tiffany Hinton

Tiffany Hinton is a Super Mom, Business Owner, Published Author, and Crafting Extraordinaire!

Tiffany started blogging in June 2010, while going through treatments for infertility. Like many others needing to talk about struggles and at the time not having a friend she wanted to share with, instead choosing a different path. Choosing to blog to an online journal, sharing emotions and heart.

Tiffany has written 3 books:
1. Winter Thyme
2. Spring Thyme
3. Gluten Free Mom Certified Cookbook

Tiffany learned in 2009 she was gluten intolerant along with being lactose intolerance, turning life upside down. Not knowing where to start and pre-made gluten free items being too pricey. She started to experiment and explore cooking and baking; still wanted family favorites to eat. With research and practice Tiffany can now turn any recipe into gluten and dairy free, without sacrificing the taste.
Join Tiffany as she creates and shares easy to follow projects in the Bittersweet Walnut Grove Book Series and Vphonegirl Blog – inspiring YOU to be the best woman you can be!

Tiffany Hinton
Vphone Girl LLC
[email protected]
http://www.vphonegirl.com
773-234-6636

Living Miracles
Imagine at the age of 16 being told you will never have children, from a small time doctor in a backwoods town in rural America. Deep down you dreamed of a family in the country and little girls with blue eyes and blond hair. But somehow you convince yourself “You never want children”.

Dr. Christine Cosgrove

Dr. Cosgrove graduated from National University of Health Sciences (formally National College of Chiropractic). She recently completed a three year post-doctorial degree to become a Board Certified Chiropractic Internist, specializing in the diagnosis, conservative treatment and management of acute and chronic internal disorders as well as musculoskeletal conditions. Having the status of a D.A.B.C.I (Diplomate, American Board Chiopractic Internists), will provide Dr. Cosgrove advanced training and knowledge allowing her to offer patients a comprehensive, integrative approach to their health care needs and concerns.

Patients will receive individualized treatment plans with a strong emphasis on active patient participation. Dr. Cosgrove feels that when a patient is active in his/her care they are more likely to be compliant which leads patients to shorter recovery periods and the ability to return to their activities and daily lives in a more reasonable amount of time.

Dr. Christine Cosgrove
Center for Alternative Primary Care
[email protected]
www.alternativeprimarycare.com
630-351-4362

Can’t Hold a Good Woman Down

Despite being told I was not good enough, despite my struggles in school, I had great parents who made me believe otherwise and encouraged me to pursue my career as a Chiropractic Physician. Now my passion and goal is to help others and give them the tools to achieve optimal health. It’s our personal responsibility to take care of ourselves: not the drug companies and not the “sick” care insurance companies (aka health care insurance).

Carrie Steuer

Carrie Steuer is a former Federal Agent with the EPA, with her environmental skills hardly at work as a stay-at-home mom, wife, professional bra fitter, author, one-time songwriter and occasional recycler. She is Essential Bodywear’s first Two Star Director.

Featured as one of six “Moms who made money from Direct Sales” in Family Circle’s October, 2011 issue, Carrie’s career sales of $750,000+ is the company’s top producer and is on track to exceed her personal sales goal of $1 million. An annual top performer in personal sales, recruiting and team building, she has expanded her horizons to include sales coaching and mentoring. As result, she manages the largest, highest producing, award winning team in the company 8 years in a row.

Carrie is passionate about women’s health and making a difference in their lives in both product and opportunity. She has participated in a variety of fundraisers and has been invited as a guest speaker at various hospitals, health care events, career conferences, team meetings, training calls and image consulting. She is also ELITE Leadership Certified with the DSWA.

Carrie enjoys spending time with her family and is a music and art enthusiast. Her other hobbies include nocturnal bike riding, competitive “rock, paper, scissors” tournaments, dialing for dinner reservations and secretly dancing to techno music in her Hello Kitty pajamas.

Carrie Steuer
[email protected]
www.carriesteuer.com
312-515-5819

My “lopsided” blueprint of balancing motherhood and career.

A career woman’s journey and her unexpected decision to be a stay-at-home mom. Forgoing her corporate career and transition to motherhood, and finding a way of re-inventing herself in the process. Her path to understanding the age-old adage of “motherhood is the hardest job in the world” and discovering a loophole that lets her balance both her need for a rewarding career and the desire to be a stay-at-home mom.

Alaire S. Merritt

Alaire was born on July 7th in a small town north of Jackson Tennessee and is an only child.  Growing up, her mother’s parents and family were very important to her and lived out two lessons she has carries with her as she walks through life.  First, everyone is precious so we should treat them as we would like to be treated.  Second, God allows things in our life for a purpose, gratefully accept them, and learn from them.

She has lived in Glen Ellyn for 25 years and feels blessed to be a soccer mom of 4 precious children.  One of them, Danielle, married Justin in March 2013.  Alaire’s focus in raising her children was to create a team spirit, encourage them to follow their passions, live with a grateful attitude, always show respect to others and to have fun in life.   She believes it is crucial to stay active and take care of your body since it allows you to do everything else in your life.  She loves walking, biking, golfing, skiing, music and anytime she gets to dance…that’s the best!!

For her, leadership starts with integrity and a servant’s heart.  She carried this into her role as a Girl Scout leader, as a discussion group leader for MOPS and Friday Morning Moms at her church, Glen Ellyn Bible Church and as a mom.  As a leader, she understands the importance of continuing to learn from others who have been successful at developing themselves with business skills and relationships skills beyond her experience.

She and her husband, Randy, have co-owned ArborVIEW Sunrooms since 1999.  ArborVIEW specializes in sunrooms, room additions, screen porches, porch conversions, decks, patios and replacement windows for the home and business.  They carry an incredible 3 season window that out performs any single pane glass window for a 3 season room(not heated or cooled regularly). Their clients love this window so much that they will invest the extra expense of a full trench foundation(required by some villages) to have them in their new 3 season room. ArborVIEW featured these incredible windows in the sunrooms of several  Premium Homes during the Luxury Home Tours.

Alaire has partnered with other real estate investors on two multi-family properties.  She plans to use the skills she has learned as an investor, as well as the network of investors she has created, to locate and offer housing to those who have so faithfully served our country and their families.

Volunteering to serve others, especially military families, is very important to her.  She feels it is an honor to serve our military heroes and their families by showing gratitude, providing comfort, resources and education through Operation Welcome You Home (WelcomeYouHome.org) and Operation Support Our Troops (OSOTAmerica.org).  We can never say thank you enough!!

As this book is being assembled, she is starting a new venture called You Are Precious which gives people the opportunity to ‘give from the heart’. They will provide products to communicate appreciation to others when they are given as gifts or are donated to those who deserve to be told how precious they are.  The items will be a reminder to the recipient that someone believes they are precious.

Alaire S. Merritt
ArborVIEW Sunrooms
You Are Precious
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
www.YouArePrecious.net
www.Arbor-VIEW.com
www.WomenContractorsConnection.com
630-557-9737

Always remember, to someone…….YOU mean the world

You know the saying “you never know who’s gonna’ be behind that door”?  Well, for me, walking thru that door changed my life!  My story is how one man and his vision of how we can lead effective and purposeful lives did just that for me.

Many of us have experienced hardships, disappointments, pain, broken hearts and I am no different.   It is what we choose to do with those feelings and experiences that define us.  There is a light at the end of the tunnel for the heart that holds on and my story invites you into that tunnel and how I came to find the light!