Kimberly Kassner Kimberly attended accredited schools in Michigan. Year after year teachers
described her as a student that: “talked too much … short attention span…
easily bored.” She enjoyed school, but it seemed that only Kimberly understood
that she learned differently from HOW teachers were teaching! Fortunately,
she was determined enough not to give up and wise enough to discover how SHE
learned best! Kimberly tapped into her learning strengths and developed – DIFFERENT YET EFFECTIVE – study techniques. Her new methods proved
to be successful! Kimberly passed exams, earned good grades, and was accepted
into Central Michigan University (CMU). However, her first semester at CMU
presented an even greater challenge. Kim quickly realized that there weren’t
enough hours in a day/week to keep using her current methods of studying to
pass college exams. Her learning style needed to adapt to keep up with the
university’s work load and get good grades. Through a lot of trial and error,
by her senior year at CMU, she uncovered her first three secrets to effective
learning! With just a few new study strategies she was able to take 22 credit
hours and earn a 4.0! ALL this without studying past 5:00 p.m. on weekdays
or studying at all on the weekends! She graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor
of Science in Communications and Psychology! The most enlightening point of
this experience was Kimberly eventually realized that she was not a slow learner
– she just learned differently! Achieving phenomenal grades in less time than
ever by using her new study techniques proved she was a bright and intelligent
person! Without her consciously realizing it, some of her approaches to studying and learning were born! Read More About Kimberly...
Peter Earley Peter Earley is the Jack of All Trades and highly adaptable! He’s been a
successful salesman assigned to calling on two of the Fortune 1000 companies.
One year he traveled to 37 countries with his friends. He then segued into
education in 1999 by teaching science and ecology for two years in the San
Francisco Bay Area with “Alternative-At Risk” high schools. When he is around
children he is often referred to as the “Pied Piper,” because he attracts
children wherever he goes. He has a HUGE passion for the environment and is
on a lifelong journey to gain greater personal consciousness for himself and
to help give it back to the world. Peter is energized when he co-teaches EmpowerMind
and is given the chance to positively acknowledge others. He loves watching
their faces change, their body’s energy improve, and their rise in connection
with themselves when they are made to feel that they have value and are important.
He easily sees the greatness in others and acknowledges them for it! Peter
has a Bachelor’s Degree in Science from Michigan State University and has
been working on his Masters degree in Special Education/Learning Disabilities.
Ellen Chene Ellen Chene, owner of Ready, Set, Go Training, is a bilingual, (Spanish/English)
trainer in Southeast Michigan. She has a Master’s Degree in Training and a
Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology with extensive post-graduate work in counseling.
She has created and delivered over 30 training programs to diverse populations
throughout the state. Prior to becoming a trainer Ellen followed her dreams
and worked on a cruise ship for 7 years. She also worked as a travel director
and accompanied business groups to exotic destinations all over the world.
The EmpowerMind program is especially meaningful to her since her life reflects
and embodies the concepts, principles, and philosophies of the course. Ellen
inspires all those she comes in contact with through her life examples, energy,
and positive attitude.
Ce'Ann Yates Ce'Ann Yates is a native Detroiter and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology
from University of Michigan. Ce’Ann (pronounced SEE ANN) is a creative, energetic
and enthusiastic people person with a passion for developing “quality of life”
changes. Drawing from her unique background of being a psychology major, a
corporate software trainer, a “retired” stand-up comic and an improv actress,
Ce’Ann is a natural fit for living and training the EmpowerMind program.
Antonio Perez Antonio Perez loves the performing
arts. (Choir, acting, improv, mime...) He finds himself
having the most fun with people who are as quarky as he is. The reason he assists
workshops in EmpowerMind is to make a difference, to connect to the teenagers
and give them all a newfound sense of hope. He's even happy to just get someone
to smile after they come into the workshop with a negative attitude. It empowers
him! After going through the program twice himself AND attending the exclusive
EM II workshop, he is now even more confident in the direction he wants to take
in the future with a better attitude (not to mention better GRADES!) and an overall
improved outlook on life. "I simply want to take what I've learned and pay
it forward to others. EmpowerMind has shown me my true potential and the limitless
possibilities I never knew were there. I want to do the same for other kids
who start out in EmpowerMind like I did, with little confidence
and low self-esteem-not to mention BAD grades. My life has turned around.
Time to pass it on."
Benn Perry Benn Perry - Benn spent three decades in the corporate world as the national director of a renown credit counseling agency that helped consumers throughout America regain their personal financial footing.
During that tenure he had many opportunities as a public speaker, including making a popular guest appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show.
Benn is proud to have been chosen to participate in the 1996 Olympic Torch Relay as a "Community Hero" for the work he did to help families through his credit counseling business.
But it wasn't until he attended an EmpowerMind workshop that he realized his truest calling is teaching.
Combining his performing arts background with his love of our youth, Benn is determined to bring the tenets of EmpowerMind to everyone he comes in contact with - as he strives to raise his talents to a new and exciting level as a vital member of our troupe.
Gary Abud Gary Abud - An Innovative high school science teacher with a medical research background in kidney disease. Gary has extensively studied now the brain learns and currently incorporates the most modern educational approaches in his own classroom. This is what brought him to EmpowerMind. His belief that all students can learn if allowed to construct knowledge in their own way, has led him to bring his creativity and dynamic energy to the EmpowerMind workshops. Gary is also a fitness enthusiast who loves cycling and teaches Spinning in his spare time. He also plays piano and enjoys cooking ethnic and gourmet food.
Deborah Cymerint Deborah Cymerint is a music teacher for preschool children. Deborah is highly intuitive and has used this natural ability to work magically with special needs children, providing enriching experiences through music and movement. She is attending the Richards Institute of Education through Music. Deborah is devoted to helping people of all ages learn valuable life skills by teaching EmpowerMind workshops. She is passionate about EmpowerMind because it helps her in her daily life. Deborah credits EmpowerMind for many changes in her life and wants to share these gifts with others. Her high energy, positive attitude, and motivation will help students learn the wisdom that EmpowerMind teaches.
