The Answers Are In The Room

 Community leader, Paola Mendivil, shares her personal stories of struggle, hard choices and ultimately, success. 

Jaime Counterman has always wanted to help as many people as she could. Her passion has always been to be a voice for others that didn’t feel they had one. In our latest episode of The Answers are in the Room, Jaime and Barbara reflect on Jaime’s career choices and her early navigation of leadership and mentorship.  Our hope is that young professionals, and ALL professionals, can learn from her ex...

In today’s episode, Barbara and guest, Erin Fisk, discuss how reciprocity is an important part of all relationships. It empowers human beings to be human. You do not have to be two, three or four different personas in different rooms. It’s important work to be done so we can reflect our most authentic selves in our relationships. Listen in on this deep dive!

Our guest today is our friend and colleague, Laura Traxler, Director of Admissions at Douglas J Aveda Institutes and Salons. In today’s episode, we dive deeper into a topic we hear managers and colleagues struggle with on a regular basis: maintaining trust within professional teams and holding people accountable in healthy ways that deliver both company success and a great team culture. Barbara an...

In an interview format, Barbara shares what she learned about the importance of speaking up while writing her memoir, Reimagined.

In today’s episode, WMCAT’s President and CEO, Jamon Alexander discusses human connection and the importance of how our lived experiences and stories shape who we are, who we are in community with, and where we are going.  

Today’s guest is Miriam Andrade Cuevas, Language Access Expert at Spectrum Health. An American by choice, Miriam moved here from Honduras at the age of 21. Listen in as Miriam shares some of her unique experiences that shaped her and brought her to where she is today. 

In this episode, Barbara welcomes Andy Johnston, Vice President of Government Affairs at the Grand Rapids Chamber. Listen in as Barbara and Andy tackle the struggle of balancing “Busy work” vs. “Working on Your Business.” How do you get through that daily To Do list to make room for “clarity breaks?” Are we finding time to think big enough? Bold enough? What’s holding me back? Am I asking the righ...

For well over a year now, West Michigan professional, Tom Blower, and some friends within his network (Michael TerHorst, Drew Wessell, and Nicholas Wallis) have intentionally gathered with Barbara for guided conversations surrounding whatever the topic of the day may be. Self-named, The Dudes, this group of diverse guys dive deep into issues or situations effecting their lives each month. What do...

As a talented Marketing Executive and busy mom of three very small children, Shannon Cunningham often asks herself: “what’s next?” And…how do you even begin thinking about what’s next?  It’s a common conversation among friends , family and colleagues.  Shannon and Barbara talk about what might get her to a “sense of peace” and what is at the bottom of that gnawing anxiety on her quest for balance....

Today’s episode focuses on the subject of Crisis Management, something many of our listeners have top of mind during this pandemic. Our guest is a communications marketing executive with over 30 years of experience and a proven track record of finding innovative solutions to complex business problems.  She is the co-founder and CEO of BravoEcho, a brand strategy and communications consultancy. We...

Our guest, Zach Verhulst, is an experienced architect here in West Michigan.  He is passionate about community and people. Zach has very recently taken on a new positive at Metric Structures. We couldn’t be more thrilled to have Zach here with us today on The Answers are in the Room. 

Alex and Kayla Benda are go-getters, to say the least. They took their big ideas and grew multiple businesses over the past six years. Managing this, along with trying to have a personal life and survive Covid 19 is a LOT.  Today we talk to them about the challenges they’ve been facing, constantly overcoming turmoil, and the pleasant surprises they’ve discovered in 2020.

Mel Trombley, Director of Leadership Programs at the Grand Rapids Chamber, is a very successful business woman & a community cheerleader. A self-described “Woot! Woot! personality,” she sometimes struggles (or subdues) her friendly, “nice,” cheerful self in certain business settings. In fact, some of her professional experiences have reinforced her concern that she won’t be taken seriously. 

Our guest is an amazing connector, strategist and cheerleader to so many here in West Michigan.  She is the Principal of Greater Good Partners, LLC. We couldn’t be more thrilled to have Meg Derrer with us today.