Month: April 2024

Shelly spent a lifetime being captured on film as a model. But now she found herself on the other side of the camera as a professional photographer and rediscovered herself
It’s easy to forget details with just about anything when you’ve been doing the same thing for years.
Whether it’s running the same business for years, performing the same workout routine, or simply being married to the same person for so long, you often forget what it takes to keep everything running smoothly.
And that is what happened to Shelly Legler.
She was a model for so long that it became a routine part of her life.
But it wasn’t until she grabbed a professional camera and began learning photography that she felt reborn and discovered a whole new world to explore.
“I’ve been in front of the camera for many years and have always been interested in photography. It’s just been in recent years that I’ve returned to photography and being behind the lens,” Shelly said.
She found passion in photography but learned where her heart lies when choosing what to photograph – nature.
“I see beauty in all different forms. I tend to look through the lens, not so much even through my eyes, but looking through your soul for the beauty in things,” Shelly said.
She continued, “I’m just drawn to nature, to flowers, to things that are blooming or emerging. I know it’s different than shooting people, but that’s what brings me joy is more of the nature.”
“My hope is that my photography provides a sense of beauty, hope, strength, courage, even grace and a healing kind of feeling when you see it on your wall,” she said.
Shelly is further fine-tuning her craft by always keeping an eye out during her everyday life. It is when she least expects it that she finds something beautiful to capture.
“I saw this shattered glass that was held together with duct tape. And I immediately knew that’s just super cool! I’ve got to get a shot of that,” she said.
But it went deeper than that.
“In this particular shot of the shattered glass with duct tape, I was asked what I would name this photo. So, the assumption was that it would be appropriately named ‘Shattered’ or ‘Broken’,” she said. “But I’ve lived enough life that I’ve experienced disappointments and I understand when you feel broken and held together with duct tape. But I chose to name it Tenacious’ because it takes tenacity and resilience in life. I’d rather look at it as, instead of broken, it’s a strength, you’re still held together,” Shelly said.
Shelly recalls the feelings she experienced when she decided to get into photography professionally and merge with her son’s jewelry business.
Although it was a challenge, she is glad she did it. And if you are thinking about making a big life change, Shelly offers words of wisdom for you.
“I did not hesitate to take a leap of faith. I think once you make a decision, you don’t need to have all the details worked out. You just need to go with it and move forward. Just take one step at a time. Then things will unfold as they are supposed to,” Shelly said.
She continued, “You do have to put in the hard work, but just trust and assume success in yourself.”
To learn more about Shelly and her photography visit ShellyLegler.com and follow her on Instagram @shellylegler

A Message from Trudy
Shelly has found a special place in her life and is doing what makes her happy and successful! Sometimes we get so caught up in pursuing professional success, we forget about personal happiness. But not with Shelly and I’m very proud of her for that.
– Trudy Jacobson

Who is Trudy Jacobson?
Trudy is an entrepreneur and leader. Her path to success and entrepreneurialism started in the trucking industry decades ago. She encountered numerous obstacles in the male-dominated industry- like discrimination. She was even conned out of a lot of money in a fraudulent scheme. Despite all that, Trudy always fought hard and pushed forward. Once she realized she was capable of anything, she went on to start her own company and excelled. Now she empowers other women to do the same and to learn from her experience. Trudy now highlights their stories for the world to see in the Great American Women Series. Trudy wants women everywhere to know they can achieve their goals.

References

ShellyLegler.com

@shellylegler

Dasha has been working ferociously towards her Ph.D. to fulfill her destiny of helping the veteran community improve their mental health and prevent suicide.
America is filled with people who support the veteran community. Whether volunteering to lend a hand at a veteran event, donating to a nonprofit, or mailing packages to troops overseas, it is always honorable and welcomed.
But then, some people want to go the extra mile to dedicate their lives to helping the veteran community.
And that’s Dasha Bunks. Dasha is only one small step away from completing her clinical psychology program for her Ph.D. And she has zeroed in on one specialty – helping veterans with their mental health.
“From an early age, I was always fascinated with human behavior and psychology. But as I grew older, I started paying closer attention to how mental health is affected by combat within the veteran community,” Dasha said. “As I started to dig deeper, I was alarmed to learn that 22 veterans take their own lives every day… and that needs to change!”

Trudy’s Message
Trudy also has direct experience with veterans. As CEO of a large company, many of her employees were Vietnam veterans. That was one way she learned about post-traumatic stress.
“I spoke with countless employees who were in Vietnam. Many of them opened up about their experiences. But with others, I saw in their eyes that they didn’t want to talk about it. But all were affected in some way,” Trudy said. “That’s why I love Dasha, she is dedicated to helping veterans here at home.”
Dasha’s passion for helping veterans didn’t come out of nowhere. She has always had a soft spot for them and wants to do something about it.
“Over the years, I’ve had many friends and family serve in the military. And each one who has served overseas in a combat role comes back a different person. Some worse than others, and I want to do my part to help those struggling with their mental health,” Dasha said.
Service members who deploy to active combat zones are often faced with extreme situations. The constant threat of danger, watching your peers get injured or, worse, killed, seeing atrocities most people will never understand – all of that can wreak havoc on one’s mental health. It often leads to developing post-traumatic stress disorder.
“PTSD is common among veterans, and even first responders for that matter. But I also know that it is treatable. It can be improved, and suicide can be prevented. And that’s what I hope to accomplish,” Dasha said.
She understood this was going to be a long and arduous journey – but it was all worth it. Now she is picking up momentum with her Ph.D. program and hopes to not only help veterans but revolutionize treatment. “I completed my clinical hours at the VA in Lyons, New Jersey where I specialized in hospice patients. That was really tough. However, I received an award for my work with one of the veterans using music and art therapy to stimulate certain brain regions in hospice patients and they responded really well. I hope to build on that in the near future,” Dasha said, who also extended her gratitude to the veteran community. “They have sacrificed so much for our freedom and our country already; it is only expected that I serve them now.”
Lasting Advice
Pursuing and completing a doctorate program is no simple feat. Dasha has been studying for many years now and has learned a very valuable lesson when it comes to working towards a doctorate degree.
“Find a specialty or field you are passionate about. As the saying goes, ‘If you love what you do, you never have to work a day in your life’. And I love the thought that I can help veterans with their mental health. It will be more than my career; it will be my duty,” Dasha said.
To learn more about PTSD and how it can affect people, visit https://www.ptsd.va.gov/

Who is Trudy Jacobson?
Trudy is an entrepreneur and leader. Her path to success and entrepreneurialism started in the trucking industry decades ago. She encountered numerous obstacles in the male-dominated industry- like discrimination. She was even conned out of a lot of money in a fraudulent scheme. Despite all that, Trudy always fought hard and pushed forward. Once she realized she was capable of anything, she went on to start her own company and excelled. Now she empowers other women to do the same and to learn from her experience. Trudy now highlights their stories for the world to see in the Great American Women Series. Trudy wants women everywhere to know they can achieve their goals.

Lynn has loved jewelry since early childhood, so she pursued jewelry making as a career; then Hollywood knocked on her door.
Many people’s passions are often attributed to experiences they’ve had as children. It could be a love for camping because of family trips to the mountains or a love for music tied to great memories of going to concerts with Mom and Dad. Many of life’s pleasures are born from great memories.
And Lynn is a perfect example of that.
Lynn loves jewelry so much that she has dedicated her life to creating and selling unique, hand-made jewelry. And this love was born years ago.
“My mom would go to India like she was going on a trip to Catalina. She’d go, ‘We’re flying to India today!’ and I was like, ‘Oh cool.’ And then she would bring back all of this jewelry to each of us [kids]. She would bring us back these princess rings; they had star sapphire, emerald, diamond, ruby – every single kind of stone on it,” Lynn said.
Because of such experiences, Lynn learned how to make her own custom jewelry to sell.
“Since 2006, it has been constant. Like trunk shows and going to events. I have my jewelry in the mall now!” Lynn said.
But she wanted more out of life and pursued another passion – acting.
After taking acting lessons and attending various auditions, she finally had a big break when the Real Housewives of Orange County came up.
“I said, ‘Sure, I would be happy to do the interview.’ They came to my house and interviewed me and my family like three times,” Lynn said.
However, Lynn didn’t hear back from them and heard that they selected another person. Then she got the call.

“I was down in my studio doing my jewelry, and I was like, ‘I guess they don’t want me,’ and feeling all sad. But they ended up calling and saying, ‘We want to take it to the next level,’” Lynn said.
Lynn initially thought that cameras would follow her all day and night. But that was not the case.
“Once a week, they would come by and do a sit-down interview with you. Sometimes you’d have a bottle of tequila underneath the chair just to kind of get you all warmed up here,” Lynn said.
Lynn knew the key to a successful experience on The Real Housewives was simply to be herself.
“I tried to be as authentic as I could because I studied film and television. You just have to keep it real because the camera picks up every nuance. They can tell if you’re fake crying,” Lynn said. “I can call some people out right now that I’m like, ‘Oh my God, that is not legit.’”
She also recalls how the camera crew would chime in during filming to stimulate the interactions between the Real Housewives.
“They kind of get you a little stirred up, to stir up the emotions. They might be like, ‘Have another glass of wine,’ so you get what they call ‘camera balls,’” Lynn said jokingly.
After her incredibly successful experience with The Real Housewives of Orange County, Lynn returned to her original passion, which continues to this day, creating original jewelry masterpieces.
You can see her creative pieces on her business website at lynnecurtin.com and email her at [email protected]. Also, follow her jewelry IG @lynnecurtincollection and her personal IG @lynneanncurtin

Who is Trudy Jacobson?
Trudy is an entrepreneur and leader. Her path to success and entrepreneurialism started in the trucking industry decades ago. She encountered numerous obstacles in the male-dominated industry- like discrimination. She was even conned out of a lot of money in a fraudulent scheme. Despite all that, Trudy always fought hard and pushed forward. Once she realized she was capable of anything, she went on to start her own company and excelled. Now she empowers other women to do the same and to learn from her experience. Trudy now highlights their stories for the world to see in the Great American Women Series. Trudy wants women everywhere to know they can achieve their goals.

Danielle pursued a career in law enforcement and entrepreneurship. But everything changed after her father passed away.
Danielle Delgado always admired her father. He spent an incredible 43 years in the law enforcement profession. Her father’s decision to spend a lifetime serving the community resonated with Danielle who then became a law enforcement officer herself.
“There was a picture of him with some of his SWAT guys, SWAT friends, and this was back in ’94. We had a picture of him [and his SWAT guys] with this great big smile and me seeing that smile when I was younger made me want to get into law enforcement,” she said.
Following the path of a parent is a road many people take. Danielle knew she made the right decision and enjoyed serving the community.
But everything took a major turn after her father passed away in 2021.
Since then, Danielle has struggled personally, and the passing of her father still impacts her today. However, she found relief and is in a far better place.
Going through that experience, she knows how difficult it can be for anyone in a similar position.
“I don’t know if there’s a right answer for anyone that is struggling. You have to find your own way with how you’re going to deal with the grief process or any type of trauma that people are going through,” Danielle said.
Part of her process of healing was to focus on her son. It gave her hope, although her son could still see through the pain.
“I got tired of him asking me ‘Mom, are you mad?’ and I wasn’t mad. I was just trying to figure out how to deal with my grief from losing my dad. And I wasn’t mad, I was just sad and I didn’t know how to deal with it,” she said.
Trudy chose Danielle to be featured as a Great American Woman because her story was real. “Admitting that you don’t know how to deal with something is not a sign of incompetence, it’s a sign of strength, and that’s what I love about Danielle,” Trudy said.

Relentless Defender and C.O.P.S
Danielle is more than just a law enforcement officer. She is an entrepreneur and one of the owners of the most widely known apparel companies in the law enforcement, first responder, and military community – Relentless Defender.
Her company is known for charitable contributions to organizations such as C.O.P.S, or Concerns of Police Survivors. But she never thought she was going to need C.O.P.S.
“I never thought that I was going to become a survivor. That was never in the back of my head like ‘you’re going to be one of these people’. They were very supportive throughout the whole process and without them, I don’t necessarily think that I would’ve been able to make it through that whole process because it’s actually people that have gone through the same type of grief, same type of trauma,” Danielle said. “They knew exactly what to say… when to say it, and what I needed to hear at that time. They’re a great organization and I stand by them [C.O.P.S] wholeheartedly.”
Trudy added, “Too many people avoid their pain and cope with it in destructive ways. But not Danielle. She found a way that made her into a much better person. And that’s truly inspiring. Let this be a reminder to women everywhere that there are always better days ahead – if you pursue them.”
Philanthropic Work
Danielle can be seen spending her time at the police station with local children suffering from various illnesses like cancer. Her department invites children to the police headquarters so they can get a firsthand look at what it takes to properly run a police department.
The experience helps these children – but it also helps Danielle put things into perspective.
“Just seeing the smiles on their faces, seeing how positive, even going through s*** that they’re going through, they’re such an inspiration to me. How can I complain about my situation when they’re dealing with something that I couldn’t even imagine at this point,” Danielle said.
She now has the attitude of never giving up and always continuing to fight no matter what the circumstances are.
Advice fit for anyone.
To learn more about Concerns of Police Survivors visit www.concernsofpolicesurvivors.org
To check out Danielle’s apparel company ReLEntless Defender go to https://relentlessdefender.com

Who is Trudy Jacobson?
Trudy is an entrepreneur and leader. Her path to success and entrepreneurialism started in the trucking industry decades ago. She encountered numerous obstacles in the male-dominated industry- like discrimination. She was even conned out of a lot of money in a fraudulent scheme. Despite all that, Trudy always fought hard and pushed forward. Once she realized she was capable of anything, she went on to start her own company and excelled. Now she empowers other women to do the same and to learn from her experience. Trudy now highlights their stories for the world to see in the Great American Women Series. Trudy wants women everywhere to know they can achieve their goals.

Cara found professional success in the media industry while still in college and eventually found a way to get her other passion in the mix – cooking.
When people think about Italy and the Italian heritage – food and family is often the first thing that comes to mind.
And Cara DiFalco is no exception.
However, she only embraced cooking as a profession long after being in the media industry. She entered the media field during her days as a student at Rutgers University. The next natural move was to find a career with her degree in broadcast journalism.
“Had you asked me my freshman year what I wanted to do, I was going to be a DJ on the Z100 morning show,” Cara said.
As a sophomore, Cara was asked to support a friend while he auditioned for a role with RUTV, Rutgers University’s official TV channel. However, she ended up auditioning with him for the role and got it.
“We both wound up getting the position with the station, so that was kind of where I started in TV. By the time I was a senior, I was executive producing what was their flagship show, Inside Rutgers, and was interning at WNBC in New York City,” Cara said.
She was a natural.
After graduating college, she wound up in several roles within the media industry and loved the work. But like many other people, she was sidelined during the Covid pandemic, and that’s when everything changed for her.
“When the pandemic hit, I was furloughed from my job in radio. A friend of mine in town who used to run the local gelateria found this ad that was looking for someone to represent their cookware lines. So I went through the auditioning process, which took months, and they loved me. They called me up and said, ‘We’ll pass you on to
our sister station, QVC,’” Cara said. “So I’m the brand ambassador for Cooks Essentials, and it’s a great gig because I get to go on air and share recipes and talk about new products.”
Cara has found that combining her passion for working in the media industry with her love of cooking is possible.

Cara’s Cuchina
Her YouTube channel, Cara’s Cuchina, is so well-produced and widespread that it is the only YouTube series nominated for an Emmy. Her channel features mostly recipes and dishes from her Italian heritage. Pastas, cheeses, meats – you name it.
And it is a miracle that she has never had formal chef training.
“When people ask, ‘Did you ever go to culinary school?’ I say, ‘No, I’m a graduate of Nonna’s [grandmother’s] kitchen,” Cara said.
She loves to cook and has embraced her Italian heritage. She often takes people to Italy on a food voyage to help them learn and understand the history of local Italian food.
“That’s the kind of thing I love to take people on because I think we have this one idea of what Italian food is, and it’s really probably more Italian-American food,” Cara said.
She continues to master her craft and will never be satisfied with her level of cooking and media knowledge. She’s too competitive to settle on average.
And if you want to see her passion in real time, visit her YouTube channel, Cara’s Cuchina, and follow her on Instagram and Facebook.

Who is Trudy Jacobson?
Trudy is an entrepreneur and leader. Her path to success and entrepreneurialism started in the trucking industry decades ago. She encountered numerous obstacles in the male-dominated industry- like discrimination. She was even conned out of a lot of money in a fraudulent scheme. Despite all that, Trudy always fought hard and pushed forward. Once she realized she was capable of anything, she went on to start her own company and excelled. Now she empowers other women to do the same and to learn from her experience. Trudy now highlights their stories for the world to see in the Great American Women Series. Trudy wants women everywhere to know they can achieve their goals.

Kellie has proved time and again that she can manage fear and handle anything. But life was truly elevated when she embraced faith and made it a foundation for life.
Many people worldwide, if not a majority, are satisfied with mediocrity. They find a comfortable place, literally and figuratively, and settle in for the long haul. They meet their basic needs, find relative happiness, and go about their business daily.
But then there are those select few who are not satisfied with mediocrity. Instead, they seek challenges, seemingly impossible feats, and bigger and better opportunities. And they won’t rest until they find it. And when they do find it, they go on to look for the next challenge.
And that person is Kellie Clark.
Kellie has experienced a lot in her lifetime, both successes and failures. But everything changed for her just a few years ago.
“I can tell you that since November 18th, 2018, I gave my life to Christ, and that day, I never looked back,” Kellie said. “When we know that we have God in our hearts and in our families, that guides the decisions that we make. And that helps us in the times that we do have some fear.”
Fear has been a constant theme in Kellie’s life because she was never satisfied with her routine. But she has learned to control and manage that fear – with Jiu-Jitsu.
“I’ve learned a lot from that sport [Jiu-Jitsu] because it’s so uncomfortable. Especially for women, to have somebody in your space, on top of you, feeling like you can’t breathe, like you’re constantly panicking. To be able to work through those situations is so important,” Kellie said.
She continued, “You learn to conquer a lot of those fears. We have them in our personal lives, in relationships, in business. You have them as a parent. If you can show your kids that you can go do something head-on, something that is scary and intimidating, and you can fight through that and come out okay, what else can you conquer that day?”

A significant source of inspiration for Kellie is her children. She wants to ensure she is doing everything she can to provide for them now and in the future. She wants them equipped to handle life’s challenges by being the example she wants them to follow.
But she admits it’s not always easy.
“I got up at 4:30 this morning because I had shit to do. It’s just what you have to do to get it done, and it’s not always great,” Kellie said. “When you train yourself every single day, ‘I’m going to get up when it’s difficult’ and, ‘I’m going to do the hard things whether I like it or not,’ those uncomfortable things are just normal. You become comfortable being uncomfortable.”
Another part of Kellie’s success and philosophy is to continue improving daily because it helps her stay positive and focused. And it’s advice every woman in America could use.
“For me, it’s just a conscious choice to try to make myself better 1% every single day in something. I have to learn something; I have to get better at something every single day,” she said. “When I have those wins, I think that’s what reprograms your mind and keeps the negative thoughts out and keeps you thinking, ‘I can accomplish more.’”
Kellie continues to elevate her company, American Threat Assessment Consulting, as the VP and CFO. You can connect with her on Linked In.

Who is Trudy Jacobson?
Trudy is an entrepreneur and leader. Her path to success and entrepreneurialism started in the trucking industry decades ago. She encountered numerous obstacles in the male-dominated industry- like discrimination. She was even conned out of a lot of money in a fraudulent scheme. Despite all that, Trudy always fought hard and pushed forward. Once she realized she was capable of anything, she went on to start her own company and excelled. Now she empowers other women to do the same and to learn from her experience. Trudy now highlights their stories for the world to see in the Great American Women Series. Trudy wants women everywhere to know they can achieve their goals.

Samantha experienced severe depression after her father passed away but dug herself out of a deep hole. Now, she advocates for mental health.
Having a close family member pass away is inevitable. No one knows how they will emotionally respond to it until it happens – and it is usually difficult.
And after Samantha’s father passed away, it was debilitating and mentally crippling. She experienced a level of depression that few people on Earth will understand.
But that wasn’t the end for her.
She managed to bounce back and recover from it – but it wasn’t an easy journey. Several years ago, Samantha’s father developed a progressive brain disease. It was a strain on the entire family.
“I watched my father dying slowly over the years as his brain got worse. So it was a very difficult time in life,” Samantha said. “After my father’s death, I bottled a lot of feelings up inside of me. I didn’t want to mentally process the things I’d seen during that time or things I experienced. I just tried to push forward, and I never wanted to take time for myself and process my grief.”
The experience was made even more difficult to endure because Samantha deals with health issues of her own. She, too, was diagnosed with a degenerative disease that causes her to have chronic pain. Although Samantha has a youthful appearance, she has been dealing with physical pain for over 15 years.
After the death of her father, it was just too much to handle.
“I fell into what is called a major depressive episode, and then I developed Major Depressive Disorder. I actually had to go live in a clinic for a week,” she said. “I never in my entire life imagined that I would ever be in that situation, ever. It was apparently an accumulation of the grief over the last couple of years after my father passed that I didn’t want to deal with mixed with dealing with a chronic health issue.”

Samantha struggled with depression back and forth for years but fought her way out of it. She eventually realized she could not live like that and wanted change – and found it. After climbing out of the depths of depression, she now advocates for mental health to help other people.
“There is so much stigma around mental health. So when people experience it, they’re afraid to talk about it. It really makes it worse and prevents people from seeking help,” Samantha said.
Now that she is in a much better place internally, she has advice for anyone going down the path she was once in. And it starts with taking care of yourself physically.
“If your mental health is starting to suffer, you address it. You start doing the actions; your body starts going through the motions of getting better with the faith that your brain will one day catch up to you. That’s the way out,” Samantha said.
She still deals with chronic pain but also acknowledges that she will continue to move forward despite it. It’s a classic life isn’t fair concept, but one she made peace with.
“I’ve learned that nothing in life is perfect. You have to live with the hand that you are dealt and make the best of it,” she said. “Change it if you can. If you can’t, you just have to keep pushing forward.”
About Samantha
Samantha is the COO of Liberty Staffing Services LLC, which provides recruitment, employment, and payroll infrastructure for pro-free market and proliberty political and legislative campaigns and organizations across the United States. For more information, visit www.libertystaffinghq.com

Who is Trudy Jacobson?
Trudy is an entrepreneur and leader. Her path to success and entrepreneurialism started in the trucking industry decades ago. She encountered numerous obstacles in the male-dominated industry- like discrimination. She was even conned out of a lot of money in a fraudulent scheme. Despite all that, Trudy always fought hard and pushed forward. Once she realized she was capable of anything, she went on to start her own company and excelled. Now she empowers other women to do the same and to learn from her experience. Trudy now highlights their stories for the world to see in the Great American Women Series. Trudy wants women everywhere to know they can achieve their goals.

Trudy Jacobson Presents: Sara Betz, A Rising Musician With A Love For The Veteran Community
Sara has been steadily working towards a successful music career and has promised the world she will always support the veteran community.
There are few professions in the world that 95% of Americans would agree to do for a living.
And being a professional rock and roll musician is one of them.
But those same people are probably only thinking about the fame and fortune of performing in front of thousands of people. Most will overlook the hard work, dedication, and commitment it takes to succeed in the music industry. It takes a special person to “make it in the music biz.”
And those who do “make it” often forget their roots and where they came from. They may leave everything behind and forget about the little people who were once in their lives.
But not Sara Betz.
Sara is an up-and-coming musician who promised to always support the veteran community and advocate for mental health. And so far, she is sticking to that promise.

Music Career
Sara has been building her music career and is making steady progress. She has a passion for singing, whether in front of a large crowd or a single person.
“I recently co-wrote a song for the front-line workers during the shutdown, and it later got picked up and aired on a reality show in Germany,” Sara said. “I’ve also performed at corner pubs where the old guy was the only person on a bar stool sipping his beer unenthusiastically listening to me to the amphitheater side stages with hundreds of people singing along to what I was projecting. That feeling was just magical.”

As she continues to grow and expand within the music industry, she reminds her fans how important it is to support the veteran community. And her reasons are profound.
“I recently met a veteran named Blackie at a VFW in South Jersey, and I just remember the passion in his voice while sharing his story about his crew celebrating the 60th anniversary of ‘raising the flag again celebration’ in remembrance of the Battle of Iwo Jima. He talked about his brothers while pouring his heart out – and it was so moving to witness,” Sara said.
Her desire to help veterans was solidified after she started dating a Marine who brought her closer to the veteran community.
“After we started dating, I got the opportunity to meet a lot more younger veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. And for each one I spoke with, they each had their stories of those lost both on the battlefield and back here at home to suicide. It was an eye-opening experience. That is why I will always support veterans,” she said.
Over the summer, Sara had the opportunity to perform in front of hundreds of veterans at a VFW event. She had another opportunity not only to perform but also to speak to the veterans and see how they benefitted from the concert.
“Hearing the success stories of those who have survived suicidal thoughts. Watching veterans regain a sense of purpose through different avenues was just a total honor,” Sara said.
Although she is still building her music career, she wants to give every woman lasting advice that has helped her thus far.
“There is only one of you, and there will only ever be one of you, so remember you’re worth all of it. Learn from every experience, good or bad, because life will happen for you, not to you, and only you are the master creator of your life. Diamonds are created under a massive amount of pressure, and you are a gem, so keep on going!”
Follow Sara on Instagram at www.instagram.com/sarabetz and Facebook at www.facebook.com/SBetz22

Who is Trudy Jacobson?
Trudy is an entrepreneur and leader. Her path to success and entrepreneurialism started in the trucking industry decades ago. She encountered numerous obstacles in the male-dominated industry- like discrimination. She was even conned out of a lot of money in a fraudulent scheme. Despite all that, Trudy always fought hard and pushed forward. Once she realized she was capable of anything, she went on to start her own company and excelled. Now she empowers other women to do the same and to learn from her experience. Trudy now highlights their stories for the world to see in the Great American Women Series. Trudy wants women everywhere to know they can achieve their goals.

Gabrielle Stone thought she found love and happiness but then had her heart broken – twice. But that made her into the great American woman she is today.
When couples get married, it’s a joyous celebration for them and their entire family. Every newly married couple believes things are going to stay perfect forever.
And things usually do, at least for a while. And Gabrielle’s marriage was no different.
“I was married for almost two years, and I found out my husband was having an affair with a 19-year-old for six months. At the time, it felt like it had been a blessing like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders,” Gabrielle said.
She continued, “It was like, ‘this is going to be my second chance at a do-over’. He made it very easy for me to wipe my hands clean, walk away, and choose me. And I was and still am very grateful for that.”
After that experience, Gabrielle was determined to stay single for the rest of her life.
Easier said than done.
“I met a man, and we fell madly in love with each other. He invited me on a month-long trip to Italy with him,” Gabrielle said.
After she was given the details, she realized the trip dates coincided with memorable moments from her past. She took that as a sign that it was meant to be and made all the arrangements for the European trip.
Not So Fast
But fate had other plans.
“48 hours before we were getting on the plane, he told me he needed to go by himself and broke up with me. I was absolutely devastated. This man broke my heart like my ex-husband never could have done,” Gabrielle said.
Gabrielle then had some time to herself, and after some personal reflection, she chose to do something unique.
“I was like, I can either stay at home heartbroken, or I can go take a month-long European trip by myself. I took my backpack and did six countries over the span of a month. And on that trip, I wrote the book Eat Pray FML,” Gabrielle said.
She spent time every day of the trip writing the book and putting her relationship experiences on paper. The writing experience had a positive impact on her.
“It became therapeutic for me to feel the emotions and then actually physically write it out onto a piece of paper. It became my form of therapy that now has become everyone else’s therapy,” Gabrielle said.
Gabrielle freely admits that she fears abandonment issues that are likely due to losing her father to a heart attack when she was only six years old. She then tragically lost her high school boyfriend years later.
“All the men in my life that were these prominent first loves were being taken away in this very traumatic way,” she said.
She now believes that she is drawn to men who will be a part of her life but will then abandon her. But her solo trip gave her a renewed sense of purpose.
“The biggest lesson I learned from the trip was because of the solo travel and that I was never truly abandoned because I will never abandon myself,” Gabrielle said.

Her Next Bestseller
Two years after her first book was published, she wrote a second book, which was even more of a challenge than the first one.
“Writing the second book was a lot more difficult for me because when I wrote it, I was in a very happy, healthy relationship. I had to go back to a time when we weren’t necessarily happy and healthy, and it was difficult for me. I had to write about things I wasn’t necessarily proud of,” she said. “The core of the books is healing from heartbreak and grief, and that’s universal.”
She understood that the only way to connect with her readers is through raw and real stories, a don’t hold back approach.
And it worked.
Gabrielle’s books Eat, Pray, #FML, and The Ridiculous Misadventures of a Single Girl are best-sellers with millions of copies sold worldwide. She has since expanded to creating the FML Podcast, an extension of her life and experiences that help women everywhere.
“To anyone that’s struggling, fear is in your mind. Don’t ever allow fear to make you feel like you can’t do something,” Gabrielle said.
Great last words.
To learn more about Gabrielle Stone, follow her on Instagram at @gabriellestone and check out her podcast on YouTube. And her books are exclusively available on Amazon.

Who is Trudy Jacobson?
Trudy is an entrepreneur and leader. Her path to success and entrepreneurialism started in the trucking industry decades ago. She encountered numerous obstacles in the male-dominated industry- like discrimination. She was even conned out of a lot of money in a fraudulent scheme. Despite all that, Trudy always fought hard and pushed forward. Once she realized she was capable of anything, she went on to start her own company and excelled. Now she empowers other women to do the same and to learn from her experience. Trudy now highlights their stories for the world to see in the Great American Women Series. Trudy wants women everywhere to know they can achieve their goals.

When a young military recruit raises their right hand to take the oath to serve their country from enemies, foreign and domestic, they have preconceived notions of what that enemy looks like.
But no recruit would ever think that enemy would come from her own unit.
But that is part of Ashley Rodriguez’s story. She enlisted in the military at the young age of 21. It wasn’t long before she went through an experience no woman ever should have to go through – sexual assault. Being so young, she didn’t know what to do.

“I did not make the initial report because I was brand new to my unit at the time and did not want to cause a scene,” Ashley said.
As fate would have it, Ashley ran into the same assailant years later at another unit. She reported it, but due to the time between the assault and the report, the case was not pursued.
Ashley sought and found help. But the traumatic experience will stay with her for the rest of her life.
Financial Struggles
After she left the military to raise a family, she pursued another life-long dream – start a business.
“I decided to open an indoor play facility for families in 2021 in my city. It was quite expensive. I was on the line for about $100,000, not including our lease. But the business was booming,” Ashley said.
However, her landlord had a change of strategy that severely impacted her business.
“They originally wanted us in the space because our business plan was extensive and proved to be a strong model. However, the corporate landlord relied on national brands for recognition to bring in more investments to the plaza. They ultimately decided not to reimburse us for our renovations,” Ashley said. “I had to accept a personal bankruptcy at the age of 28.”
But that didn’t stop her; it only fueled her passion to succeed. Ashley now runs a marketing firm, is in the process of writing her biography, and is working towards becoming a keynote speaker.
Going through these life challenges has taught her a lot; they are lessons she wants to tell other women.
“Persevere. It never is as bad as it seems at the time – and even if it is, it’s a learning opportunity. It’s a growing opportunity. Eventually, it becomes a sharing opportunity to encourage others. I have learned through my experience to turn pain points into talking points and keep going,” Ashley said.
Connect with Ashley on Linked In and visit her marketing website at https://Alchemimarketing.com

Who is Trudy Jacobson?
Trudy is an entrepreneur and leader. Her path to success and entrepreneurialism started in the trucking industry decades ago. She encountered numerous obstacles in the male-dominated industry- like discrimination. She was even conned out of a lot of money in a fraudulent scheme. Despite all that, Trudy always fought hard and pushed forward. Once she realized she was capable of anything, she went on to start her own company and excelled. Now she empowers other women to do the same and to learn from her experience. Trudy now highlights their stories for the world to see in the Great American Women Series. Trudy wants women everywhere to know they can achieve their goals.