A Brighter Day in the Neighborhood with Angela Jones - Episode 52 Wende Rutherford

Originally Aired: April 24, 2022
Guest: Wende Rutherford
Wende was born in Florence, South Carolina and lived in Europe and Ohio before moving to Tennessee in 1970 at the age of 7.  She grew up in the suburbs outside Nashville with her parents, two younger sisters and a menagerie of pets including horses, a dog, cat, goat, ducks, and various hamsters and guinea pigs.  As a kid, Wende was a competitive swimmer and an avid horseback rider.  She met her husband, Paul, when she was 15 and a Junior in High School.   Paul was a Senior at the same High School, and they became friends immediately.  They began dating after she graduated from High School in 1980 and would go on to attend college together.  After graduation from college, both went to work for an adolescent psychiatric hospital and then for the State of Tennessee Department of Human Services as social workers.  In 1986, they married, and Paul began Law School later that Fall.  Wende would follow him and start Law School the following year.  They attended school together at night while working together during the day for the State of Tennessee in Child Protective Services and Foster Care.  Paul graduated and passed the Bar in Tennessee in 1990 and Wende in 1991.  In August of 1991, they became Foster parents for a 10-year-old boy who would later become their oldest son, Thomas.  They would go on to have three more children, Samuel, born in 1996, Noah born in 1999 and Lucy born in 2002.
 
Before joining Brighter Day Law, Wende and Paul practiced family law together in Tennessee, with several of Paul’s relatives, for over thirty years.  During that time, Wende also served as the chair of the Adoption section of the Davidson County Foster Care Review Board, worked as a trainer with the Court Improvement Program of the Administrative Offices of the Court and provided services to several non-profit organizations that work with children.  Child welfare and adoption are her passion.
 
When she is not working, you can usually find Wende traveling across the country to watch her youngest, a D-1 athlete at Western Kentucky University, run cross country or track.  She also enjoys cooking, fine dining, entertaining friends, and spending time with her family.  She is excited and looking forward to becoming licensed to practice law in Colorado and being a part of the Brighter Day team.

A Brighter Day in the Neighborhood with Angela Jones - Episode 51 Sarah Malone

Originally Aired: April 17, 2022
Guest: Sarah Malone
My name is Sarah Malone, but I go by SJ at work. I started with Brighter Day in September of 2021 as an Administrative Assistant and have grown into a Billing Specialist/Administrative Assistant. I was born and raised in the Nashville Tennessee area and am currently engaged to Sam Rutherford. I spend most of my time outside of work planning our wedding, but also watch a little true crime TV on the side. When I am not doing one of those; I love spending time outside with friends and doing different activities such as hiking, kayaking, or sitting around a campfire.

A Brighter Day in the Neighborhood with Angela Jones - Episode 50 Paul Rutherford

Originally Aired: April 10, 2022
Guest: Paul Rutherford
Paul Rutherford is a Nashville native, and yes, he plays guitar. Paul grew up in a musical home - his sister was a talented keyboardist, having played with Jimi Hendrix. His brother taught him the basic chords on guitar as a teenager. Paul played guitar and led worship in church for many years and used his skills to woo his wife of 36 years. Paul has been practicing law in Nashville for 32 years and has a rich heritage in the legal community. His grandfather, great uncle, several uncles, numerous cousins, and older brother were lawyers and judges. He concentrates in the areas of family law and probate. He currently lives in Nashville with his wife and 4 children.

A Brighter Day in the Neighborhood with Angela Jones - Episode 49 Doctor Steven Motarjeme

Originally Aired: April 3, 2022
Guest: Doctor Steven Motarjeme
Medical Man Cave of Colorado
Dr. Steven Motarjeme, Founder and CMO of Medical Man Cave, is a highly skilled physician with exemplary training and over 25 years of experience providing outstanding patient care. A Chicago native, “Dr. M” received his medical degree from Loyola Stritch School of Medicine and went on to complete 3 residencies at the prestigious Ohio State University.
He is an innovator and has always been on the forefront of medicine, from opening multiple laser and aesthetic centers in the infancy of the aesthetic boom to start cutting edge Cardiovascular Hospitals and Hospitalist/Emergency Trauma programs across the country. He also co-founder the second largest Telemedicine company in the world.
It all started when Dr. M and his wife, who is in dermatology, realized there was nothing like Medical Man Cave for men, though there were plenty of places similar for women to visit.
Dr. Motarjeme and his wife have 5 children and one grandchild. In their free time they make the most of being in the mountains and love winter sports like skiing and snowmobiling.

A Brighter Day in the Neighborhood with Angela Jones - Episode 48 Shane Sherman

Originally Aired: March 27, 2022
Guest: Shane Sherman
18 Sierra Financial
 
Shane Sherman is the President of 18 Sierra Financial, a private business lending firm based in Colorado Springs. His Military background brought him to Colorado where he served as a Green Beret with 10th Special Forces conducting multiple deployments around the globe. He met his wife, Meredith, in Colorado Springs, the first place he lived for more than 4 years. His twin boys were born at Memorial Hospital and his wife works at Centura Hospitals, running construction across the state. His family enjoys skiing, archery, and travelling across the country. 
Shane spends his free time serving on local non-profit boards and teaching at UCCS. He is passionate about helping veterans, engaging in Political activities around the city, and helping business achieve their goals.

A Brighter Day in the Neighborhood with Angela Jones - Episode 47 Florian de Castro Part 2

Originally Aired: March 20, 2022
Guest: Florian de Castro
Power Talk 1040 Website
Golden Lotus Foundation
Asian Heritage Center
Florian or what he is more commonly known as "FLO" is an Asian Immigrant,  Veteran, Entrepreneur and Business Mentor.  Flo immigrated from the Philippines when he was around 10 years old.  He's from a single-mother household that struggled financially.  Flo did not have the means to attend college so he enlisted in the Air Force right out of high school.  He later attended the US Air Force Academy and served 21 years in the Air Force's Nuclear, Space, and Cyber Warfare operations.  After his military retirement, he had a short 3-year stint as a defense contractor for NORAD/USNORTHCOM and US Space Force before becoming a full time business owner and entrepreneur.  
Flo has multiple businesses ranging from real estate investing, IT/telecommunications services, educational tutoring franchise called Huntington Learning Center, and his latest acquisition, Power Media Group which owns KPPF radio station and the Power Talk 1040 news/talk format.  His goal is to provide the local community the best value / lower cost access to traditional media platforms for branding, advertising, and promotions of their causes.           
Flo is on the board of several nonprofits ranging from the Rampart Chapter of the US Air Force Academy Association of Graduates, Vice President of the board for Eastlake High School, and board member for the Golden Lotus Foundation. 
The Golden Lotus Foundation has recently partnered with Colorado Springs to build an Asian Heritage Center, Chinese Tea House, and Asian botanical gardens on one of its parks (1819 W Cheyenne Rd, Broadmoor area, 80906).  Flo is heading the planning and development of the entire project with Golden Lotus Foundation's founder Cynthia Aki and fellow board member Boni Jiang.   

A Brighter Day in the Neighborhood with Angela Jones - Episode 46 Claire Swinford

Originally Aired: March 13, 2022
Guest: Claire Swinford
Claire Swinford is the Executive Director of Bee Vradenburg Foundation, a privately endowed grantmaker advancing the relevance, resilience, and greatness of the arts in the Pikes Peak Region. She is responsible for strategic leadership, social justice work, community partnerships and capacity-building initiatives for the region’s cultural sector. She is the 2016 recipient of the Mayor’s Young Leader Award in Creative Industries, and was named a Rising Star by the Pikes Peak Arts Council for her cultural advocacy as well as her work as a painter. Swinford points to the Pikes Peak Region’s robust creative economy as one of the top reasons for a young professional to live in southern Colorado, and she enjoys exploring local galleries, museums, breweries and performance venues with her husband, also a working artist. A proud member of the advisory board for the UCCS Galleries of Contemporary Art (GOCA), she is also an avid skier, cyclist and proud “parent” of two rescue pets.

A Brighter Day in the Neighborhood with Angela Jones - Episode 45 Anica Midthun

Originally Aired: March 6, 2022
Guest: Anica Midthun
Hi my name is Anica Midthun (Ma-Toon) and I am one of the attorneys at Brighter Day Law. I moved to Colorado three years ago and attended the University of Denver – Sturm College of Law. I wish there was something I could say “drew me” to Colorado, but I didn’t put a lot more thought into my move than considering the sunshine, sports teams, and as many outdoor activities as you could imagine. But that’s par for the course for me since I am from a military family. I grew up moving all around the world, living on four continents by the time I turned 20. I even graduated high school in England though I am disappointed I won’t be bringing a British accent to the show, I never picked one up. Growing up, most weekends I would be in a different country, competitively swimming or trying as many foods as I could get my hands on.
Now a days, my life is less flying and more filing, attorney life fills up my weekdays. On the weekends you can find me hiking 14ers, skiing double black diamonds, or hanging out with my dog Ginsburg and my fiancé. I love to cook and try new recipes weekly though my go-to is jalapeno popcorn, I could eat it for every meal. I have been at Brighter Day Law since September 1, 2021 and am loving every minute of it. I am thrilled to be on the show.

A Brighter Day in the Neighborhood with Angela Jones - Episode 44 Lenie de Castro

Originally Aired: February 27, 2022
Guest: Lenie de Castro
Huntington Learning Center Colorado Springs
Huntington Learning Center on Facebook
Huntington Learning Center on YouTube
Lenie was born and raised in the Philippines. She got her degree in Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from The National Teacher’s College, Manila Philippines. She taught elementary students from Kindergarten to 6th Grade for 12 years until she immigrated to USA sponsored by her husband “Florian De Castro”. Florian and Lenie knew each other since childhood. When Florian immigrated at the age of 10 years old, they became penpals and on the year of 2000 they got married. She supported her husband while doing his military career until he retired. When Florian and Lenie decided to retire here in Colorado Springs, she and her husband started a tutoring center franchise (Huntington Learning Center) in February 17, 2017. Lenie is the main person who makes sure to find a good location for the center. Florian helped in planning and strategizing the market in the area. The center opened in December of 2018 and as of today, this year is the 5th year of Huntington. They have helped a lot of students and their families from K-12 in building academic skills, subject tutoring and exam prep.
 
Lenie is the CEO and the Center Director of Huntington Learning Center here in Colorado Springs. She manage the day to day operation of the center, marketing, networking and everything about the business. She just recently hired a managing director who can help her with day to day activities. She wants to focus her time to bringing more business in and mentoring students which is very dear to her heart.
Since Lenie works with families and students. She make sure that the students are caught up especially this time where COVID made a tremendous loss on children’s education. She also mentor students that they are capable of doing more and become successful in life. She mentored high school students who are enrolled in the Exam Prep program. She instill with them, that what they are learning at the center is not only for taking exam but a skill that they can use in life to become successful. Lenie and her team of teachers help the students to accomplish the goal and made sure that they can reach their potentials that they thought they are not capable of. Lenie’s treasures are the student’s accomplishments. Her center were able to help students gain up to +2 Grade levels while doing the academic skills program, up to +229 points for SAT and 5.4+ for ACT.
Lastly, Lenie wants other women, housewife, immigrant learned from her experience on how she started her business even though she doesn’t have a degree on that realm, that everything is possible if you put your hearts and efforts to what you love.

A Brighter Day in the Neighborhood with Angela Jones - Episode 43 Fred Ramirez

Originally Aired: February 20, 2022
Guest: Fred Ramirez
Fred was born in Denver and raised in Alamosa, making him a Colorado native. He has been in Colorado Springs now for 33 years and an electrician for 32 of those years. Fred is trained as a master electrician, which takes about as much study time as it does to get your doctorate. He began in the trade in 1988 and opened up his business, Apache Electric, in September of 2020 after the passing of Earl Micek, who he had worked with for 7 years.
When he isn’t busy running his business, Fred enjoys getting to spend quality time with his wife and children. He also loves getting out to go camping, fishing, and riding his Harley.

A Brighter Day in the Neighborhood with Angela Jones - Episode 42 Shawn D. Collins

Originally Aired: February 13, 2022
Guest: Shawn D. Collins
Shawn Collins is the CEO of a company called Parrot, a Digital Marketing company in Colorado Spring. Parrot has been here for the past 3 years. Shawn is originally from Manhattan, New York and originally came to Colorado Springs for a marketing consultant job. After the job was done, he decided to stay and ultimately start Parrot. The company’s mission statement is to bring order and accountability to the digital marketing experience.

A Brighter Day in the Neighborhood with Angela Jones - Episode 41 Florian de Castro

Originally Aired: February 6, 2022
Guest: Florian de Castro
Florian or what he is more commonly known as "FLO" is an Asian Immigrant,  Veteran, Entrepreneur and Business Mentor.  Flo immigrated from the Philippines when he was around 10 years old.  He's from a single-mother household that struggled financially.  Flo did not have the means to attend college so he enlisted in the Air Force right out of high school.  He later attended the US Air Force Academy and served 21 years in the Air Force's Nuclear, Space, and Cyber Warfare operations.  After his military retirement, he had a short 3-year stint as a defense contractor for NORAD/USNORTHCOM and US Space Force before becoming a full time business owner and entrepreneur.  
Flo has multiple businesses ranging from real estate investing, IT/telecommunications services, educational tutoring franchise called Huntington Learning Center, and his latest acquisition, Power Media Group which owns KPPF radio station and the Power Talk 1040 news/talk format.  His goal is to provide the local community the best value / lower cost access to traditional media platforms for branding, advertising, and promotions of their causes.           
Flo is on the board of several nonprofits ranging from the Rampart Chapter of the US Air Force Academy Association of Graduates, Vice President of the board for Eastlake High School, and board member for the Golden Lotus Foundation.  The Golden Lotus Foundation has recently partnered with Colorado Springs to build an Asian Heritage Center, Chinese Tea House, and Asian botanical gardens on one of its parks (1819 W Cheyenne Rd, Broadmoor area, 80906).  Flo is heading the planning and development of the entire project with Golden Lotus Foundation's founder Cynthia Aki and fellow board member Boni Jiang.   

A Brighter Day in the Neighborhood with Angela Jones - Episode 40 Shelli Brunswick Part2

Originally Aired: January 30, 2022
Guest: Shelli Brunswick
 
Shelli Brunswick, COO of Space Foundation, brings a broad perspective and deep vision of the global space ecosystem — from a distinguished career as a space acquisition and program management leader and congressional liaison for the U.S. Air Force to her current role overseeing Space Foundation's three primary divisions: Center for Innovation and Education, Symposium 365, and Global Alliance.
 
Advocating for space technology innovation, entrepreneurship, diversity and inclusion, Shelli collaborates with organizations around the world to connect commercial, government and educational sectors. Shelli was named the 2020 Diversity & Inclusion Officer and Role Model of the Year by WomenTech Network. 
 
Shelli plays an active leadership role with United Nations Space4Women, WomenTech Network, Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), World Business Angels Investment Forum (WBAF) Global Women Leaders Committee (GWLC), New York University, Global Policy Insights – Global Policy, Diplomacy and Sustainability (GPODS) Fellowship program, Global Policy Insights -- Quad Forum, Space Tourism Society Africa, Tod'Aérs, Lifeboat Foundation, Women in Aerospace Foundation, Women’s Global Gathering, Manufacturer’s Edge, and Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC.

A Brighter Day in the Neighborhood with Angela Jones - Episode 39 Shelli Brunswick Part 1

Originally Aired: January 23, 2022
Guest: Shelli Brunswick
Shelli Brunswick, COO of Space Foundation, brings a broad perspective and deep vision of the global space ecosystem — from a distinguished career as a space acquisition and program management leader and congressional liaison for the U.S. Air Force to her current role overseeing Space Foundation's three primary divisions: Center for Innovation and Education, Symposium 365, and Global Alliance.
 
Advocating for space technology innovation, entrepreneurship, diversity and inclusion, Shelli collaborates with organizations around the world to connect commercial, government and educational sectors. Shelli was named the 2020 Diversity & Inclusion Officer and Role Model of the Year by WomenTech Network. 
 
Shelli plays an active leadership role with United Nations Space4Women, WomenTech Network, Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), World Business Angels Investment Forum (WBAF) Global Women Leaders Committee (GWLC), New York University, Global Policy Insights – Global Policy, Diplomacy and Sustainability (GPODS) Fellowship program, Global Policy Insights -- Quad Forum, Space Tourism Society Africa, Tod'Aérs, Lifeboat Foundation, Women in Aerospace Foundation, Women’s Global Gathering, Manufacturer’s Edge, and Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC.

A Brighter Day in the Neighborhood with Angela Jones - Episode 38 Jayme Holligan

Originally Aired: January 16, 2021
Guest: Jayme Holligan
Jayme Holligan, MSM-PM
Title: Director of Volunteer Engagement and Community Relations
Jayme H. Brown serves as the Silver Key Senior Services Director of Volunteer Engagement and Community Relations. Jayme manages the Volunteer Engagement team that includes V.I.P. (Volunteer Impact Program) volunteers.
In 1999, she was a Walt Disney World College Program intern in Orlando. Jayme obtained Disney customer service training that she utilizes within her everyday interactions. She launched her career path working for at advertising agency called Cramer-Krasselt in Orlando, obtained seven years of experience in Human Resources from staffing at ADD STAFF, and ten years of combined leadership and director-level experience from higher education in Admissions and Career Services at Colorado Technical University.
She earned a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a Master of Science in Management with a concentration in Project Management from Colorado Technical University. Jayme represents Silver Key in the community through her board involvement over the past twelve years with CommonWorks and four years on the (LPP) Leadership Pikes Peak alumni committee. She is a double star LPP graduate in 2008 and 2016 from this local civic leadership program.
Jayme is a Colorado Springs native who enjoys cooking, hiking, and quality time with loved ones. She can be reached at 719-884-2300 or jholligan@silverkey.org for more information regarding volunteering to serve our local seniors.

A Brighter Day in the Neighborhood with Angela Jones - Episode 37 Devin Christensen Part 2

Originally Aired: Jan 2, 2022
Guest: Devin Christensen
A 4th generation Colorado native, Devin was born and raised on his family’s farm in northeastern Colorado. Being from an entrepreneurial family he became involved in several different business ventures even at a young age. From raising chickens and selling the eggs at age 6, purchasing his own semi-truck at age 16, to running his own marketing business at 21, business seemed to come naturally. However, several profound spiritual encounters led him to walk away from his business and pursue full time ministry in a highly unusual way. 
Choosing to give everything away, he began living out a new vision. One of living by faith. He has now spent the last 10 years traveling and doing ministry based on the dreams he has at night. Having felt called to not fundraise or ask for money, he relies solely on God to send him what he needs and has an abundance of stories of miraculous provision. 
He now travels and speaks for various ministries and churches, doing seminars on how to practically live by faith, how to hear from God in dream and visions, and on spiritual authority and warfare. Having lived out the New Testament call of Jesus to “leave everything and follow Me…” his passion and joy is to help people hear from God for themselves.

A Brighter Day in the Neighborhood with Angela Jones - Episode 36 Devin Christensen Part 1

Originally Aired: Dec 25, 2021
Guest: Devin Christensen
A 4th generation Colorado native, Devin was born and raised on his family’s farm in northeastern Colorado. Being from an entrepreneurial family he became involved in several different business ventures even at a young age. From raising chickens and selling the eggs at age 6, purchasing his own semi-truck at age 16, to running his own marketing business at 21, business seemed to come naturally. However, several profound spiritual encounters led him to walk away from his business and pursue full time ministry in a highly unusual way. 
Choosing to give everything away, he began living out a new vision. One of living by faith. He has now spent the last 10 years traveling and doing ministry based on the dreams he has at night. Having felt called to not fundraise or ask for money, he relies solely on God to send him what he needs and has an abundance of stories of miraculous provision. 
He now travels and speaks for various ministries and churches, doing seminars on how to practically live by faith, how to hear from God in dream and visions, and on spiritual authority and warfare. Having lived out the New Testament call of Jesus to “leave everything and follow Me…” his passion and joy is to help people hear from God for themselves.

A Brighter Day in the Neighborhood with Angela Jones - Episode 35 Kyle & Kevin Dexter

Originally Aired: Dec 19, 2021
Guest: Kyle & Kevin Dexter 
Kyle and Kevin Dexter came from afar to meet within Shuga's walls in 2011. Kyle, a recent transplant from Cincinnati sitting at the bar (who later joined the crew); Kevin, of Miami, was bartending and had been a Shuga's-adoring employee since 2008. They are huge fans of classic film and literature, art and lighting, gardens, and, of course, delicious food and drink. Sometime later, they got married right inside Shuga's and then, after many years of loyal employment, they were passed the ownership torch in 2020 and have been running wildly with it since. Shuga's is their darling and collaborative canvas. 

A Brighter Day in the Neighborhood with Angela Jones - Episode 34 Emily Burrus

Originally Aired: Dec 12, 2021
Guest: Emily Burrus
Emily serves as personal assistant to Angela at Brighter Day Law firm. She comes from both ministry and business backgrounds, having worked for several ministries as well as having years of varied business world experience under her belt.
Born and raised in Tennessee, she still tries to get back to Nashville to visit friends and family as often as she can. In her spare time Emily loves investing in people. She is incredibly faith-focused and community oriented and she and her roommate co-host a weekly group meeting in their home. If she is not working towards her real estate license or trying out a new restaurant with friends, she is probably skiing or going on a hike.

A Brighter Day in the Neighborhood with Angela Jones - Episode 33 Meagan Thomas

Originally Aired: Dec 5, 2021
Guest: Meagan Thomas
Meagan Thomas is a 20-something Colorado Springs native with a passion for fitness, food and wine. With a bachelor’s degree from Baker University, a tiny liberal arts college located in Eastern Kansas, Meagan began working as a breaking news reporter for the Lawrence Journal-World newspaper. After a few short months of living in Lawrence, Kan., she knew her heart was in the Rocky Mountains and made the move back to Colorado.
It took only a few months of being back in the Springs for her to realize how much the city and state are growing and changing. Even though she’s called Colorado home for many years, she loves discovering the best local restaurants, bars, boutiques, fitness studios and events in Colorado Springs and throughout the state. She has a deep belief in supporting the businesses that help make Colorado Springs a unique place to live.
Springs Native is your source for tips on finding the best local restaurants, shops and businesses at 6,035 feet.
Along with managing Springs Native, Meagan owns her own marketing & PR company, Springs Native Creative. You can also listen to her chat about her dating woes or attend one of her many singles events with Single in the Springs.

A Brighter Day in the Neighborhood with Angela Jones - Episode 32 Tim Johnson

Originally Aired: Nov 28, 2021
Guest: Tim Johnson, Copperfox Coffee Roasters
 
Tim Johnson is native to Colorado Springs, CO. A couple fun facts about Tim: Music is part of his core and he is a guitarist at heart, leadership in the workplace is important to him, he is a visionary and always sees the potential in something, he is resourceful and works with a sense of urgency, and he is married to Laura (his best friend and business partner) and together they have two sons, Caleb and Ferris. 
 
Tim has worked in the coffee industry for over 15 years and has been roasting for over 10. He began working at a coffee shop while he was in college because he needed the money. At the time, he didn’t even like coffee. But the more he learned about it and tried it, the more he realized, geography has a flavor. 
 
In his over 10 years of roasting, Tim has realized that coffee tastes so much better when it’s a lighter or medium roast because you can taste more of the notes from the bean when it’s not smokey or burnt. Plus, the lighter the roast, the more caffeine. So that’s also a pleasant bonus. Coffee has so many different notes and flavors, it is easy to distinguish itself, as mentioned above. For example, Latin American coffee will have sweeter notes like caramel and chocolate, whereas African coffees tend to be fruitier. This can be anywhere on the spectrum between a grapefruit to a darker fruit, like a plum. So, as you can see, geography really does have a flavor. 
 
All that said, but Tim wanted to do more than just sell great coffee. What was the purpose? What was the heart behind it all? You can buy coffee anywhere, but Tim wanted to give back. Out of this, Copperfox Coffee Roasters was born. Copperfox Coffee Roasters is coffee with a purpose, coffee with a heart. Simply put, 10% of all proceeds go to fight human trafficking. Copperfox Coffee Roasters gives to an organization that risks their lives to investigate and set these children free. So, the bigger vision behind selling coffee is to help set children free from the sex industry.

A Brighter Day in the Neighborhood with Angela Jones - Episode 31 Julie Speetjens

Originally Aired: Nov 21, 2021
Guest: Julie Speetjens, LifeSpark
B.Sc / RMT Program Director, LifeSpark Cancer Resources
Usui Reiki Ryoho Registered Karuna Reiki® Master/Teacher
Julie@LifeSparkNow.com
719-660-7924
LifeSparkNow.org
 
Hi, I’m Julie Speetjens and my motto is “Worry Less, Reiki More”. I began my healing journey when corporate burnout had me feeling like a robot just going through the motions of my life, after working as the CFO and Project Manager for our IT Consulting company for a decade. Reiki has been a springboard to my spiritual awakening and has renewed my life-force energy!
I am honored to be serving as the Program Director for LifeSpark Cancer Resources, a leading-edge nonprofit organization that provides Reiki and Healing Touch treatments free of charge to individuals with cancer and their primary caregivers. Few lives are wholly untouched by cancer, and it is a privilege to be able to share the amazing healing power of energy medicine with our Participants. Our therapies are complementary and integrative with traditional medical care, and bring a holistic approach to healing. Everyone deserves peace while going through cancer, and our treatments reduce the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation while promoting a deep sense of well-being.
LifeSpark’s unique program of Reiki and Healing Touch treatments are gentle and supportive. Nearly 80% of those receiving sessions in our program report feeling significantly better both physically and emotionally, and 95% of participants say the sessions were valuable and they would refer others to our program. It is quite normal for Participants to fall asleep during a session, and nearly all of them report feeling lighter and more relaxed afterward. Over 100 LifeSpark Reiki and Healing Touch volunteers deliver thousands of sessions annually. LifeSpark is dedicated to serving individuals and the oncology medical community through education, training, advocacy, and delivery of hands-on and distant healing sessions.
Energy medicine administers a transformative force that truly can heal our mind, body, and Spirit if we allow it. In 2019, Reiki helped me recover from hip surgery by alleviating my pain, promoting sound sleep, and empowering me to stop taking pain medicine and abandon my crutches weeks ahead of schedule. In 2021, I was able to provide hands-on Reiki during my son’s wisdom teeth removal. Not only was there minimal swelling and pain medication in the days following his surgery, but also he was rock climbing within days and eating almonds within the week! I believe the healing power of Reiki is limitless and we are just beginning to understand its potential and the Quantum Mechanics behind it.
I am Registered Karuna Reiki® Master/Teacher through the International Center for Reiki Training, as well as an Affiliate Member of the Reiki Membership Association. I have created and hosted several online events, including “Zen Wednesdays” and “Soul Journey Sundays”, and I have been featured on several holistic wellness podcasts. I am also a Coordinator and Speaker with Healing Wheel Wellness Retreats. I have a Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Science from the University of Alabama as well as Certificates in Energy Medicine, Music Therapy, and Sound Healing from the University of Colorado.

A Brighter Day in the Neighborhood with Angela Jones - Episode 30 Mya Delagarza

Originally aired 14 Nov 2021
Mya Delagarza Bio 
I am a paralegal at Brighter Day Law. Before I entered my legal journey, I was a paraprofessional at Academy School District 20 while attending UCCS undeclared. I knew I wanted to either be a teacher or a professional in some legal field, just wasn’t completely sure. After having my daughter and being a stay at home mother for a year, I decided it was time for a career change and becoming a teacher wasn’t in the cards for me. So, I decided to look into entry level positions at Law Firms and landed a job as a receptionist at Torbet Tuft & McConkie; where I met Angela Jones who helped guide me into the paralegal role I am in today. After several years of being a Family Law Paralegal with all the good and bad that comes with this career, it is an accomplishment every-day. Helping others when they are at their worst, striving to make their lives better in the now and future, helping them overcome the hardest decision they either must make or accept, and encouraging them to do what’s best for not only themselves but their children. That is why I do what I do as a Family Law Paralegal.
Outside of work, I am a full-time single mother who doesn’t get a lot of free time, between a 7 year old diva and being the oldest of 9 siblings, there isn’t much time left. I like to decompress at the gym either lifting or spending an unreal amount of time switching in between the sauna and steam room. I enjoy the free time I get with my friends, when they are in town or if I get the luxury of visiting my besties in NY. I absolutely adore the times I get to be lazy and binge watch shows on Netflix while stuffing my face with mint chocolate chip ice cream. Other than that, I am your typical Colorado girl who also loves time in the mountains, but only when it is 65 degrees or higher, anything below, count me out.

A Brighter Day in the Neighborhood with Angela Jones - Episode 29 Jeremy Gomez

Originally aired Nov 7, 2021
Jeremy Gomez, Man Cave Meat Co specializing in exotic meats.

A Brighter Day in the Neighborhood with Angela Jones - Episode 28 Melissa Bannerot Part 2

Originally aired Oct 31, 2021
Bio - Melissa Bannerot
Melissa, owner and practitioner, founded Bannerot Counseling and Consulting -PLLC in 2011. Melissa, a licensed clinical social worker, is a therapist as well as a supervisor and trainer of therapists. Melissa enjoys helping clients and therapists become more comfortable and connected with their emotions and the emotions of others. Melissa started helping people heal from trauma, back in 2011 using EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing).
 
Melissa has since found even more effective ways to help people process traumas from their past as well as learn how to bypass debilitating emotions such as anxiety, guilt, shame and depression in order to feel relieving emotions such as joy, anger and sadness. This therapy is called AEDP (Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy).
 
Melissa’s clients have often said that before counseling, they were living day to day, just getting by. Now, they can strive to achieve the next level with such a better understanding and awareness of who they are and how capable they are. They feel more grounded as well as connected to themselves and others.
 
She is the mother of four children, ages 15, 17, 22 and 24, and has been married to her husband, Gregory for 28 years. Melissa was born in Michigan (lived in Detroit and Dearborn) and grew up mostly in Houston, Texas.
 
Melissa enjoys time with her four kids and husband, and recharges through yoga and hiking. She also loves just hanging out and connecting with her friends.