The Larsen Group

Becca Franks started dancing ballet at a very young age, and who due to chronic injuries shifted from performing to choreography, being artistic director for theatres, and a ballet mistress for several schools.  Becca discovered Pilates ten years ago to self-heal, a practice that opened other doors wider for natural wellness.  Her new, innovative Animas Dance Center offers many forms of dance, yoga, Pilates, life and wellness coaching to clients currently from ages 2 to 72.  The entrepreneurial journey is on!

Marcy Alstott has worked coast-to-coast and on four continents.  She is currently VP of Operations for Hewlett Packard’s $13b laser jet printer business, a global supply chain role demanding leadership flexibility amidst very competitive business growth.  In 2010, Marcy circled back to her first fulltime career home of 15 years, after 15 years with other companies in the diverse high technology computer industry.  Her career decisions always center on leading change, a “sport” she contends is very messy, but one that drives new learning and personal growth in the process.  Like Dr. Larsen, she espouses how “leading change changes leaders.”
www.hp.com                                             June 25, 2011                20 minutes

Terry Baugh is co-founder of Kidsave International, a nonprofit focused on finding families for children the world has forgotten.  Since 1999, Kidsave’s programs have impacted over 3,000 foster and orphaned youth, transforming child welfare practices worldwide.  Victor Gagliardi and 11- year old Jose David became father and son just a few weeks ago through their help.  Jose is one of five children abandoned by their mother in Bogotá, Columbia, when escaping an abusive father.  Victor is an acclaimed photographer and author, and has been on “Circles of Change” twice.   He often espouses relentlessly pursuing and sticking with your career passion.  At the top of Victor's list of life passions is now being Jose’s Dad.

www.kidsave.com                                      June 18, 2011                20 minutes
www.gagliardiphoto.com

Dr. David Reuter is co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of Cardiac Dimensions, a bioengineering startup company developing a catheter-based implant for patients with heart disease.  David has a passion for research, in addition to serving children and their families as a pediatrician at Seattle Childrens Hospital in the emergency department.  Also author of over 30 published journal articles, recipient of 14 patents, and instructor at the University of Washington, David has found medicine as the great social equalizer, often the non-clinical elements being the most challenging.  Most important in his life is being very involved in the lives of his two young children, with his wife, Amy.

Rachel Dery is a 17-year old rising high school senior who has a passion for writing, competitive swimming and history.  She is following in her father’s footsteps as a precious gem stone cutter, a journey that began when she cut her first stone at age 7, an 8-millimeter round white quartz.  Spectral Gems is a wholesale supplier of award-winning faceted gemstones to the jewelry trade and “Rachel’s Rarities”, 32 unique pieces to date, have been incorporated in custom jewelry designs around the US.  Her father travels the world to acquire unique rough pieces, and Rachel attests now is “teaching me more and more, but showing me less and less” to enable her independent developing art and craft.

www.spectralgems.net                                June 18, 2011                20 minutes
www.rockngem.com

Gina Murphy-Darling’s commitment to educating mainstream people like herself about the often complex and confusing global sustainability issues motivated her to start “Mrs. Green Goes Mainstream” radio in 2008.  Gina and her guests focus on how people can make simple changes every day that are good for them and good for the planet. Everyone from retired chemical engineers to design school millennials appreciate her authentic, straight forward communications, which include blogging, enewsletters and speaking engagements.  Her show is moving to internet radio July 1^st.

Michael Gonzalez-Matsuda is an internationally recognized Chinese Monkey Kung Fu master black belt, and founder and president of the Martial Arts Museum in Burbank, California.   Coupled with a career in journalism, film and media productions, he has been involved in martial arts for over 40 years, and has written and published the biographies of over three dozen martial arts pioneers.  From his Hispanic lineage, Michael is a direct descendent of one of the founding families of Los Angeles, a governor of California, and the man responsible for bringing the printing press to California.

Mike and Laurel Parvis are a dual career couple who offer inside and outside perspectives on the diversified insurance industry.  A former career manufacturing professional, Mike has owned a full service State Farm Insurance agency since 2008.  Laurel has worked for the corporate headquarters for over 25 years, shifting from automobile claims to bringing customized product, infrastructure and business leadership training to State Farm’s independent southern Arizona agencies. 

www.mikeparvis.com                               June 11, 2011                20 minutes

Michael Pantalon is a psychologist and medical researcher from Yale University School of Medicine.  Michael’s first book, Instant Influence: How to get anyone to do anything – FAST, is a result of over 15 years of his work with people suffering from substance addiction.  Whether you are a parent, spouse, manager or mental health professional, anyone who wants to help someone move from point A to B will benefit from his approach to empowering personal change.

Bob Heslinga has served non-profit organizations his entire career, and is currently Executive Director for Aviva Children’s Services – where every child matters.  Aviva’s mission is to help the littlest, least and most vulnerable in Pima County, from infants to 18 year olds under Child Protective Services care.  In April Aviva opened a new family center, a sanctuary which showcases the volunteer work of student and professional members of the American Society of Interior Designers.

Patricia Mooney is founder and president of Designlines, an interior design firm.  For over 20-years her team has focused on custom homes to commercial clients with contemporary and best-value services, partnered with other businesses in the new building construction, restoration and renovation industry.  Pat is passionate about mentoring future designers and young business professionals, and giving back to the Tucson community such as through her role with the new center for Aviva Children’s Services.

Dori Mintzer and Roberta Taylor are two very seasoned professionals from the psychiatry, community mental health, individual and family therapy sectors who transitioned their careers to life and couples coaching – plus became first time authors of the newly released book The Couple’s Retirement Puzzle: 10 Must Have Conversations for Transitioning to the Second Half of Life.  They encourage couples to plan for their futures with a “retiring to”, not “retiring from” mindset.

www.couplesretirementpuzzle.com                  May 28, 2011                  20 minutes

Lee Kravitz is on mission parallel to “Circles of Change” as he encourages people to look back in order to move ahead in their lives.  His book, Unfinished Business: One Man’s Extraordinary Year of Trying to Do the Right Things chronicles Lee’s ten journeys to reconcile and reconnect with estranged relatives and friends, reclaiming his life after he lost his job in 2007 as editor-in-chief of Parade, the most widely read publication in the US.  Lee confronted underlying fears to clear up complicated mistakes in his past – unfinished business – that were holding him back from becoming a more complete and compassionate person. 

Karen Fisher is an experienced senior mortgage loan officer with Nova Home Loans, a firm servicing real estate financing needs for clients in 18 states.  A former 17-year real estate broker, Karen is an experienced instructor, lecturer and writer on contemporary issues facing home buyers. She knows how to best navigate the changes in credit score determination and the mortgage approval process during this time of significant restructuring of the US mortgage business.  She recommends: annualcreditreport.com, nmlsconsumeraccess.org and dbtaz.org. 

www.homeloansfortucson.com                          May 21, 2011                 20 minutes

David Archambault is a professor of photography at Tunxis community College in Connecticut, and director of CTPhoto Workshops, which includes interactive webinar programs to advance participants’ expertise. David helps students of all ages and abilities realize how regardless of the technology we now have at our fingertips, the art of photography is NOT in the camera but in developing an eye for seeing light.  To David photography is all about the creative process, catching a photo between the false images.  He teaches how to lead the eye of the viewer to the full story within an image.

Clark Aldrich is a global education thought leader, labeled as a guru by Fortune Magazine.  He is one of the top educational game designers in the world, games which use custom artificial intelligence and personality systems to drive long term desired behavior change.  Clark’s fifth book, Unschooling Rules: 55 Ways to unlearn what we know about schools and rediscover education, identifies compelling, commonsense goals and methods to transform childhood education.  Learn to be; learn to do; learn to know.

www.unschoolingrules.com                        May 14, 2011                  20 minutes

Colleen Concannon, President and CEO of The Manning House, is working for a new way to make history by turning her renovated downtown Tucson landmark mansion on the National Registry of Historic Places into a 501c3 non-profit dedicated to the arts.  The special-event, 5-acre property is up for sale and petitions have been circulated to inspire funding a collaboration between public and private community leaders with several noted art museums to create The National Museum of Western Art. 

George White, Janet Hare and Christine Baker-Perry represent the Four-Diamond AAA, The Lodge at Ventana Canyon Golf and Racquet Club.  Eight years ago the membership created an alliance to purchase the property from Wyndham International Hotels and create a unique, independent country club.  Located in northeast Tucson, they manage two internationally recognized golf courses, tennis facilities, complete dining/catering services, and 50 fully furnished guest suites and conference facilities open to the public.  Their motto – You can become a member for a day or for a lifetime!

Terry Etherton was part of a movement in the 1980’s to influence museums around the US to recognize photography as a fine art appropriate for collection and exhibition.  The Etherton Gallery, a destination for photography collectors, photographers and curators alike, is located in the historic Odd Fellows Building downtown Tucson.  Celebrating its 30^th year, it has local roots and a global reputation, with Terry being passionate about the economic development of the SoCo (South of Congress) cultural district.

www.ethertongallery.com                           May 14, 2011               20 minutes

Monica Negri is a serial entrepreneur and founder of Ten Outfits, a wardrobe consultancy based in Tucson.  A former owner of a designer vintage consignment store and a catering/private cooking business emphasizing healthy meals, Monica helps clients make the ultimate in first impressions based on feeling “put together” and great about themselves from the inside out and outside in.   Through wardrobe editing, value shopping and styling, Monica finds this the most rewarding job she has ever had.

Bill and Steve Barulich lead BiRite Foodservice Distributors, a company their father founded over 45 years ago.  Now the largest independent distributor of food related products and services to restaurants, stores and educational institutions in northern California, the 300 employees of BiRite are dedicated to a brand that embodies service, quality and innovation.  This is an extended family story of perseverance in the front and back business rooms to compete in changing times.

Don Hurzeler is an author, photographer, speechwriter and retired fourty-year corporate financial services and insurance executive based in Hawaii. His new book The Way Up: How to Keep Your Career Moving in the Right Direction helps readers become unique and valuable in the workplace, whether they are just starting their career, or looking to shift inside or outside their current organization.  Don believes success is built upon a reputation for reliability, consistency, and accountability, plus “suspecting yourself” to pursue the resolution of problems through addressing the root cause. 

Alex Frankel and Nick Millhiser are from New York City and have played music together since they were seven years old.  A piano player and a drummer with a knack for leveraging the music synthesizers of the ‘70’s and ‘80’s, these hard working young professionals lead the rock band Holy Ghost! Their first 10-song album debuted in early April amidst media buzz across the internet, as well as traditional rock and pop networks like Rolling Stone Magazine.  The video for their new song “Wait and See” in on uTube and features their fathers playing them.  Dad Bruce Frankel authored the popular book What Should I do with the Rest of My Life and is a “Circles of Change” broadcast partner.

 http://www.holyghostnyc.com/                  April 30, 2011              20 minutes

Ken Baker is an experienced consultant in the automotive and alternative energy sector.  A true “car guy”, Ken was program manager for the first mass-produced electric vehicle before leading several large, diverse research and development organizations that spanned transportation to healthcare to information security industries.  As a technology broker passionate about innovation being the key for change, Ken helps strategically connect the dots between emerging customer demands and companies’ capabilities. 

 greybeard dot bake at gmail.com        April 30, 2011                     20 minutes

Dr. Kristin Neff is an assistant professor in human development and culture at University of Texas at Austin. She is recognized in scholarly and psychology circles as a pioneer in the field of self-compassion.  Her recently released first book, Self-Compassion: Stop Beating Yourself Up and Leave Insecurity Behind, shows readers how to let go of their constant, debilitating self-judgment and finally learn to be kind to themselves – heal the wounds of the past to be healthier, happier and more effective.

Dr. Jeffrey Jahn and Anthony Constantino respresent the Arizona Repertory Singers.  Dr. Jahn has been musical director of the 55-voice choral ensemble since 1990, a community of performers regarded as “Tucson’s crown jewel of choral groups.”  Upcoming concerts will include the premier of a new piece written by Anthony, their young prodigy composer, vocalist, multiple instrument player and sophomore from University High School.  Dr. Jahn challenged Anthony to compose the composition based on the poem “Beauty has the Coldest Heart” in just three weeks.

Rebecca and Kevin McMahon are the owners and chief ranch hands of the 100 year old Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming, the ultimate in Western dude ranch experiences.  From horseback riding to fishing to nearby white water rafting, visiting Yellowstone National Park or historic towns of the ole West, they have something for everyone – including just doing nothing in pure, unadulterated nature with family and friends, those you bring with you, or those you adopt/they adopt you. Fun for all!

Marc Oliver is a graphic designer by academic training and early career experiences.  He took a leap of faith 25 years ago to start his own business, collaborating with equestrian clients from around the world to design and craft custom saddles and other riding products.  Marc’s “working sculptures” are made of heirloom quality materials, demonstrating unsurpassed artistry and craftsmanship.  He attributes perseverance, working in clear view of the public eye, and a willingness to reinvent oneself as the keys to success in turning his art into a sustainable business venture.

Stephan Liozu is President and CEO of Ardex America, a global producer of high performance specialty building materials serving commercial, retail and residential applications for floor coverings, tile and stone.  Stephan is an industrialist who truly believes in revolutions for transformational change, triggering organizational change before it is needed.  He is a new American citizen, a Frenchman running a German-owned company in Pittsburgh, having lived in six countries in the process, and enjoying a career working on three continents.

Martin Keogh is a world renowned contact improvisation dancer, Fulbright Senior Specialist, author and editor of the widely acclaimed 2010 book Hope Beneath Our Feet: Restoring Our Place in the Natural World.  In answer to the question “In a time of environmental crisis, how can we live right now?” Martin selected over 50 essays from 250 submitted by people from all walks of life.  The book is a pragmatic and poetic call to action for the environmental predicament that we’ve all authored, calling for engagement and participation on deep personal terms.

www.martinkeogh.com                       April 16, 2011                20 minutes

Lea Marquez-Peterson leads the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce as President and CEO since 2009.  Membership has grown from 380 to 700 businesses under her leadership and expanded team of professionals, focusing on relationship building, advocacy and value-added educational services.  Su Oportunidad para Mayor Exito!  As owner and designated broker for TucsonBixForSale.com and former executive director for Greater Tucson Leadership, Lea is deeply connected throughout Tucson, plus active at state and national levels to advance economic development.

Donna Bayliss leads the Bayliss Ranch, a rice producer north of Sacramento.  Donna was determined to continue the legacy of the five brothers who founded the ranch in 1865, shifting from being a kindergarten teacher after the sudden death of her husband during one of the nation’s toughest agricultural depressions in the 1970’s. In addition to rice, the Bayliss Ranch is known for its lavender distilled on site for essential oils. Today Donna is recognized as a renaissance entrepreneur, the international matriarch of certified organic botanicals for personal care and cosmetic products.

Kathleen Brezina leads The Alchemy of Change, a unique personal wellness practice that is based on the idea of simplicity.  A 20-year plus professional dedicated to health and healing, Kathleen is a certified five element acupuncturist and teacher of shen zhen quigong, an Eastern practice that connects mind, body, spirit and nature.  For one who loved to move, but not “work out”, Kathleen studied dance in graduate school, as well as t’ai chi, pakua and hsing’I under internationally famous martial arts instructors.  www.thealchemyofchange.com           April 9, 2011                  20 minutes

Carol Saunders is the founding minister of Abundant Life Unity Church near Chicago.  She worked over 25 years in the energy business as a chemical engineering, human resources and operations manager before following her faith and heart to seminary.  In 2010, Carol took a leap into the business of consciousness and started a new church.  Also a wife, mother of three, and advocate for humanitarian, animal and environmental causes, Carol is helping advance a community of leaders on an organic, grass roots mission to help others lead a more abundant life.

Dr. Pavel Somov is a licensed psychologist from Pittsburgh.  An emigrant from Russia at age 21, Pavel has successfully leveraged mindfulness-based interventions to help substance abusers – from drugs to food – recover and move forward.  He is author of the books Eating the Moment and Present Perfect. His new work, The Lotus Effect: Shedding Suffering and Rediscovering Your Essential Self, introduces the metaphor of the lotus flower as strength – a plant with beautiful petals and resilient leaves that grows and flourishes from roots based at the bottom of ponds.

Diane Dolinsky-Pickar and Susan Marie Kim are co-founders of the popular blog site www.mojo40.com.  As contemporary digital marketing and social media experts, they are committed to helping individuals in the midst of a career transition uncover and rekindle lifelong passions, and leverage the right technology hooks to get the best fit job to find them, or create “the big next” as entrepreneurs.  Diane’s and Susan’s advice is pragmatic and actionable, particularly targeted for those over age 40 who may feel they have become invisible in the fast changing business world.

Dr. Marlene Caroselli is a prolific author and retired international management consultant from Pittsford, New York.  A former adjunct professor at National University and UCLA, Marlene has written over 60 management books and is a platinum author of over 100 articles since 2009 hosted on the internet site Ezine.com.  In her latest book, Jesus, Jonas and Janus: The Leadership Triumvirate, Marlene connects leadership philosophies and timeless wisdom from these three religious, scientific and Greek mythological legends.

www.ezinearticles.com                    April 2, 2011                  20 minutes