Category Archives: Professional Profiles

Professional Profiles

Donald Leon Farrow: Understanding Rescue Animals

Donald Leon Farrow Donald Leon Farrow has worked with animal rescue for many years. As an architectural leader, Donald Leon Farrow believes that professional success should be balanced with community involvement. For many years, Donald Leon Farrow has served as an animal rescue volunteer for the National Animal Welfare Society, the ASPCA and several local shelters. Donald Leon Farrow recently talked to the Zrylw Blog staff about rescue animals.

Zrylw: What should I do if I see a dog at the side of the road?

Donald Leon Farrow: The important thing is to keep both the dog and yourself safe. Try to lure the dog away from the road – taking yourself off the road as well so neither of you get hit by a car. If the dog is skittish and starts to back off or run – don’t chase it as it may run into traffic. At some point in the process – and especially if you can see that the dog will not come to you, you should call your local dog rescue or animal shelter. If the dog is rabid or aggressive toward you – do not approach. Instead – phone the animal shelter or animal control immediately.

Zrylw: Animal rescue may not get there in time – what tools do you need?

Donald Leon Farrow: I recommend carrying items in the storage compartment of your car to include an old blanket, good quality dog treats, dog dish and container of water. Also carry a rope with an adjustable loop to act as a makeshift collar / leash. Have with you the number of your local animal rescue and dog shelter. If the animal runs off – phone them with the time of day and direction the dog was going.

Zrylw: What if I choose to adopt a rescued dog?

Donald Leon Farrow: The first thing you’ll need to do is have the dog thoroughly checked over by a vet, as well as spayed or neutered, and a good check and clean of the teeth as teeth health is a large component for dog health. Give the dog a very good bath an regular combings. Have a comfortable bed of old washable blankets in a peaceful area for the dog to rest on.

Zrylw: Is there a certain amount I should feed the dog?

Donald Leon Farrow: It’s usually best to start a feeding schedule slowly at first. If a dog’s belly is distended, overfeeding can actually kill him or her. You’ll want to start with small amounts of food and fresh water. Always ask your vet for advice on this, and use high-quality dog foods that contain protein as the first ingredients.

Zrylw: Can I expect the dog to be problematic?

Donald Leon Farrow: It depends on the animal’s history. Remember, dogs are pack animals. They search for a pack to bond with. Once you’ve established yourself as that dog’s pack, it will likely be very loving toward you.

Zrylw: I’ve heard once a dog has been rescued, that dog is more appreciative and loving.

Donald Leon Farrow: Yes, that has been my experience. Once a dog has been mistreated or neglected, having an owner who is loving and cares for it means a lot. That dog is likely to be extremely loyal and loving.

Zrylw: What if I want to help my local animal rescue office?

Donald Leon Farrow: Enthusiastic volunteers are always needed. Caring for strays can be extremely rewarding. Call your local animal rescue and set-up and appointment to visit and discuss opportunities.

Zrylw: What if I want to donate?

Donald Leon Farrow: Animal shelters are always looking for dog food and supplies, including food bowls, and toys.

Home and Family, Professional Profiles

Interview | Christian Rock Band, Circleslide Talks about Mercy Ministries

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(Jon) The song “Looking Up” really comes from a place where you have an unyielding spirit, a determination to continue on when you’re pressed down, a spirit of just continuing when everything’s been kinda taken away from you.  And I’ve never seen the Mercy Ministries girls come in so excited and they picked up real quick and I just remember getting chills down my spine.

(song lyrics) “It’s over my head, it’s out of my hands. I know the best I got is not enough…”

(Gabe) Here are my Mercy Ministries sisters and they’re in trouble and I was immediately put in this place of a reverent awe.  You see the Mercy Ministries girls, and they may look okay on the outside and they may look like they have it all together, but on the inside they may be dealing with some heavy, heavy things, stuff that I don’t know even as a guy if I could handle.

(Jon) All the proceeds of this single will go to support of Mercy Ministries.  Every cent will go to supporting this great cause, providing whatever is necessary monetarily for Mercy Ministries and so we’re just excited to be a part of that and excited to just see what God is going to do through this song.

(Jon) Just hearing that part in the song, I kinda wish we would have gone back and put that on the record.

(interviewer) Gabe, tell us your thoughts on Mercy Ministries and Circleslide’s involvement.

(Gabe) Well if you just listen to us talk about it, you can tell we’ll never be the same after visiting and meeting the Mercy Ministries girls.  It’s one of those things where people tell you how you have to experience this, and I can’t describe it.  It really is that.  But if you ever you’ve seen things on the news about tragedy of our youth today and how horrible things are for young people, here’s this ministry that free of charge allows young girls to come in and it saves lives.  These Mercy Ministries girls could be going to prison, these Mercy Ministries girls could be on suicide watches or whatever.  And instead they come out with a countenance of somebody who just is full of joy, hope.  They are excited about changing their friends’ lives.  It’s an amazing thing and so for us to partner with Mercy Ministries is a no brainer.  And I know that I’m going to be telling all my family and my friends that there’s so many ways to get involved.  You can go to the Mercy Ministries website, you can look at places where you can become a donor.  I’d encourage you to visit Mercy Ministries if you’re anywhere close to Nashville.  You should just come pay a visit and see what is being offered for these young women at Mercy Ministries.  And I’ll never forget how the Mercy Ministries girls, they made us this huge scrapbook of their experience.  It was this album cover that was meticulously drawn, all these great pictures.  And all we really did is we just met them for a few minutes in the studio.  Just reaching out and befriending and praying for these Mercy Ministries girls.  I think that’s something that we just want to take with us and share.  So look up “Looking Up” in iTunes.  Like John said, it will be available in November.  And thank you for just allowing us to be a part of this.

(interviewer) Can I ask you one more question as follow up? I’m curious as young guys looking at a home like this for young girls, how did it affect you as a guy, as a man, from that perspective? Because a lot of us who work there are women obviously.  So what was it like for you as men, was it different?

(Gabe) Mercy Ministries changed my life. Mercy Ministries changed my outlook and it made me more aware of my surroundings, made me realize that there’s hurting going on out there of people who may look like they got it all together.

(Eric) I think for me, the whole experience was that it just kinda shattered my thoughts.  Again, like Lee was sharing earlier, I didn’t know what to expect when we went into Mercy Ministries and the one thing I think that stood out in the stories that we were told was there were so many self-image issues going on.  And there was a moment when they were sharing photographs, each girl had made a photo collage of their time there and it was amazing to see the photographs of the girls right when they came into Mercy Ministries and then at their graduation.  And it’s like there are two people.  There is somebody who is broken down and hurting in the first photo, who is distrustful who is angry, that has any number of issues that are, you know, literally weighing on them.  And then the second photograph, the graduation photo, you are looking at this Mercy Ministries girl who is full of joy, who is happy, who has some self confidence.  And it was really bizarre to me to see that much change in such a short period of time.  It was literally like seeing a rebirth.  I think that was, for me, probably the most impactful thing, just seeing the contrast in pictures.

(Gabe) It’s almost like society and maybe like the popular culture tries to portray and send, guys at least, messages of what women are supposed to look like, what women are supposed to act like and I think that if we are bombarded with that it’s no wonder that we’re all confused about our roles as men and women and how we’re supposed to act, and how do you achieve a certain look or how do you achieve happiness or how do you achieve love.  And so it put everything in perspective being there at Mercy Ministries, like I said these are my sisters and they’re in need of help.  And you know we need to treat women with respect.  I know I try to treat my wife with respect.  But what about the other women around us?  How do we carry ourselves as men and how do we try to yeah just show respect and be brothers in Christ to the girls around us? So yeah it was a good little eye-opener.

(interviewer) Eric, you’re a father right? Do you have a little boy or a little girl?

(Eric) I have a little boy.

(interviewer) A little boy.  Did it make you think about your role as a father at all?

(Eric) Oh yeah. You know everyone told me that having a child would change my worldview, that you know you can never prepare yourself. And my wife and I have been married for 12 years and we kinda understand the works and we expect the changes.  And you know all the basic changes in life, yeah we were there for it.  But the spiritual change of becoming a dad, suddenly there was a change for me where all of a sudden I understood the way my connection with God was supposed to be because God the Father and being his son. And it’s my job to provide his needs.  And I began to realize through this situation that my connection with my father as in God is identical and I need to look to Him for my every need.  And I can tell anyone who is about to have children or whatever, that it’s gonna rock your world, it’s gonna change your life but you pretty much won’t understand until you’re there.  It’s beautiful.  It’s amazing.  It’s powerful.  Kids are a joy there’s no doubt about it.

(interviewer) Anybody else have anything they want to add in?

(Lee) The question you had said earlier about as a young guy what were the thoughts going through my mind.  I couldn’t help but just think, I mean one of the leaders at one point in time said that they’re bringing godly young men into Mercy Ministries to show these girls what that’s like. And the thought that went in my head, I have to make sure that I step up my game and that I am living what I say I am.  And I couldn’t help but have this disgust from the way pop culture has taught us what is the norm and all that stuff.  It just it left me with a really bad feeling.  But more importantly a conviction to change that and make sure I know that I am viewing all these situations, even these young girls at Mercy Ministries, the way God does.  That was definitely a big conviction of mine when I walked out of the doors at Mercy Ministries.

Learn more about Mercy Ministries at www.mercyministries.com

Professional Profiles, Youth Service

Psi Chi International Honor Societies

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Psi Chi International Honor Societies cover a wide range of medical expertise fields offering premedical students and medical students the help and aid that they need to facilitate and guide them through their learning process. The organization aims to equip students with the right support system so that they will become responsible medical practitioners within their respective chosen fields. With a wide array of medical fields included in this prestigious honor society and covering several countries around the globe, this organization provides plenty of medical students a chance for membership.

With this being a prestigious organization, applying to become a member is quite rigid and process is thorough. Aside from satisfying academic requirements, backgrounds, profiles, and academic status, are checked ensuring everyone that members who passed has gone through a rigid and thorough membership accreditation process.

A lot of premedical and medical students aim to be part of this organization. Those who want to join should be able to supply ample information of their medical endeavors and activities pertaining to the medical profession that can help aid their application.

Medical missions may play an integral role when applying. This will help gauge one’s experience and dedication to the field. Kyle Thomas Glasser, a premedical student, for example participated in medical missions outside of the country to help other who are in need and extend medical services. His efforts include serving the community and aiming to become a responsible member of society.

It was only recently that Kyle Thomas Glasser faced a very difficult part in his life. He was alleged of crimes due to his actions that played a very important role on how to move forward. There were incriminating photos and documents found in his laptop when he brought his laptop for servicing. With him not being aware that his files were made public, technical service agents were able to detect files as they did some back and up restoration procedures of his files which weer enough to incriminate him. A lot now are questioning on whether the procedures done were deemed in accordance, sine those files, were after all private in the first place. There was also a question on whether or not should simply turn its head and look the other way once they find something wrong?

This test or experience did not however stop him from moving forward with his life. Sometimes mistakes, especially ones were not meant o hurt anyone, happens. The best that one can do is acknowledge and move forward, and aim to become better.

Health and Beauty, Professional Profiles, Sports

Theodore Stroukoff Explains what Aspiring Figure Skaters Should Know

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Theodore Stroukoff saw many starry-eyed young figure skaters while working as a skating coach for twenty-seven years. While Theodore Stroukoff says many of those skaters simply enjoyed learning to gracefully glide across the ice, others had aspirations of becoming the next Michelle Kwan. But Theodore Stroukoff cautions parents that the road to Olympic gold is a long, bumpy one.

It’s a road that usually begins at a young age, Theodore Stroukoff states. If someone is sixteen or seventeen when he or she begins learning to figure skate, the chances are slim that that child will ever see the Olympics. While competing in national and international competitions is certainly not the only reason to pursue figure skating lessons, Theodore Stroukoff acknowledges that this usually justifies the large expense that goes into lessons.

The U.S. Figure Skating Association estimates that the average annual expense for figure skating is $9,000-$10,000 for children learning the sport. This is primarily due to the cost of private lessons, Theodore Stroukoff explains, which require the parent to pay for ice time and the coach’s time. By the time a child is competing at the novice level, the annual expense is estimated to be closer to $35,000 to $40,000 a year, according to Theodore Stroukoff.

Theodore Stroukoff also notes that the payoff isn’t greater than the payout. Even among champions, pay is lower than other sports, Theodore Stroukoff states. The prize for a singles skater in the 2011 World Championships was only $45,000. Olympic medalists can earn money through endorsements and shows, Theodore Stroukoff reports, but many figure skaters do it for love of the sport, not money.

Part of the cost for figure skating includes costumes and custom-fitted ice skates, which must be regularly replaced for avid skaters. But the true expense is in time and sweat, Theodore Stroukoff emphasizes. A dedicated figure skater books ice time daily, often getting up early in the morning to practice. Theodore Stroukoff saw many students who weren’t quite able to commit to that level of dedication long-term.

There are many other opportunities for figure skaters, Theodore Stroukoff describes, including local and regional competitions that have no age limit. Theodore Stroukoff has seen adults in their twenties, thirties, and beyond take up figure skating for the first time and compete locally as a hobby. Not only is figure skating great exercise, Theodore Stroukoff points out, it also gives the skater a sense of personal achievement to conquer such a challenging sport.

Professional Profiles, Religion

Dr. Pierre Bennett: Never Give Up

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Dr. Pierre Bennett began his career in military service, eventually opening up his own resort travel club business. After experiencing great success in the business world, Dr. Pierre Bennett was called to found God’s Luv International Ministries in 2008.

God, Dr. Pierre Bennett says, doesn’t want you to give up. Pointing to 2 Kings 13:19, Dr. Pierre Bennett quotes, “You should have struck five or six times.”

God doesn’t want you to give up. Sometimes we get stuck, Dr. Pierre Bennett reminds us, but those who truly love what they do never give up. Drummers keep drumming for as long as their bodies will let them, points out Dr. Pierre Bennett. Even carpenters keep working, says Dr. Pierre Bennett, recalling his uncle who worked as a bricklayer into his early 80s.

If artists can still create and bricklayers can still build, then warriors can still war, Dr. Pierre Bennett believes, especially warriors for God’s kingdom. Even though you have a choice at every level, you never give up, Dr. Pierre Bennett adds. You persevere.

According to Dr. Pierre Bennett, it’s also important to never become complacent. Even if you feel you’re next in line, never assume the good thing will come to you. Dr. Pierre Bennett adds that even though you always want to be open and honest with God, you still need to keep a repentant heart.

Wouldn’t it be sad to learn that if you’d only kept fighting a little while longer, you would have had it all? Dr. Pierre Bennett said God is trying to grant a blessing on your life. You can’t give up before you receive it.

In time, you’ll grow to love the fight, Dr. Pierre Bennett encourages. Once you’ve been a warrior for His kingdom long enough, it will become second nature to you. In fact, the more you fight, the more of a warrior you’ll become. You’ll fight until you think you can’t fight anymore, and with each fight you’ll become stronger in your faith. You’ll become a true warrior for God’s kingdom, promises Dr. Bennett.

Or you can stay stuck, Dr. Pierre Bennett states. You can stay in your safe place, refusing to fight the battle and miss the whole opportunity to grow. But Dr. Pierre Bennett points out that you’ll miss your inheritance, your mantle, like Gehazi, who was cursed. The mantle stayed with the one God gave it to, Elisha. No matter what, though, He will always get the glory.

Dr. Pierre Bennett can be contacted through God’s Luv International Ministries Church at 703-395-1430.

Professional Profiles, Real Estate, Sports

Gregory Leb Talks About the Beauty of Ponte Vedra

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Located just eighteen miles from downtown Jacksonville, Florida, Ponte Vedra Beach is miles of beautiful, sandy beach among the much-loved Jacksonville beaches. For Gregory Leb, Ponte Vedra provides a great escape from the hustle and bustle of downtown Jacksonville, where he has worked as national account manager for Sissine’s Office Systems for the past five years.

Known as the home of the ATP Tour, PGA Tour, and The Players Championship, Ponte Vedra Beach is reportedly the home of several professional golfers, including Bob Duval, David Duval, Fred Funk, and Jim Furyk, Gregory Leb says. PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem also calls Ponte Vedra home. The area is popular for golf, partly thanks to a high-quality plot of land called Sawgrass development, according to Gregory Leb. Gregory Leb remembers when the city offered half of the property to the commissioner of the PGA Tour at the time for only a dollar. Gregory Leb says the one-dollar deal brought all of these golf groups to Ponte Vedra, which in turn increased national interest in the touristy area.

Other famous Ponte Vedra residents, according to Gregory Leb, are Kim Alexis, football player Tony Boselli, and Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. Gregory Leb points out that the area is home to two highly rated resorts—Ponte Vedra Inn and Club and the Lodge and Club. Most of the beaches in Ponte Vedra have limited public access, Gregory Leb relates, allowing Ponte Vedra residents to enjoy privacy and exclusivity.

Gregory Leb’s home of Ponte Vedra has a population listed as 35,400 in 2005, the same year Ponte Vedra was a finalist for CNN’s and Money Magazine’s list of the best places to live. Gregory Leb says it was one of only four areas in the state of Florida to make the finalist list.

About Gregory Leb

Gregory Leb, Sissine’s Office Systems’ national account representative, is committed to a simple motto, “Live well, and serve well.” An avid car collector and longtime cross fitness enthusiast, Gregory Leb has lived his life with a focus toward appreciating common things and embracing his good fortune.

Every man needs a man. For Gregory Leb that man was his stepfather who was a boxer in the Navy.  Gregory Leb was naturally drawn to athletics as most young men are. For Gregory Leb athletics included the study of boxing. Encouraged by his parents, he started his boxing career with the Jacksonville, Florida police athletic league, working his way up to Super Middle Weight by his mid-teens. Gregory Leb continues a health oriented lifestyle that includes boxing which he says could add up to more than twenty-nine years physical fitness that has included boxing. Among his sports heroes he includes boxing greats such as Manny Pacquiao, Mohammed Ali, and Roy Jones, Jr. Gregory Leb continues to be active in a local Jacksonville gym specializing in martial arts, and self-defense; disciplines that benefit from Greg’s early passion for boxing.

Gregory Leb has been employed by Sissine’s Office Systems since 2006. As national account manager, he represents the Northwest Florida and South Georgia region’s top supplier of Lanier and Copystar brand copiers. Sissine’s has been in business for 25 years, with an emphasis on providing office automation solutions to businesses. Prior to his employment with Sissine’s Office Systems, Gregory Leb was a freelance marketing coordinator for Walt Disney World in Orlando Florida and marketing director for Lamborghini North America in Jacksonville Florida. During his time with Lamborghini, Leb was able to secure a deal with Universal for eight television shows with the Diablo Roadster. A life well lived indeed.

Gregory Leb’s interest in cars extends far beyond his employment with Lamborghini. He regularly participates in specialized auto racing around the country. He is a member of car clubs and has inherited a passion for collecting both vintage and new sports cars from his father who is also a car collector.

In addition to his love of cars, Gregory Leb also has a deep love for golden retrievers. He has a golden retriever named Molly who is two-and-a-half years old, which he bought from a breeder in Georgia. He and Molly live in Pointe Vedra Beach, right outside of Jacksonville.

As busy as he is, Gregory Leb puts a high priority on his charitable work. He is involved with the Mary Saulzbacher Homeless Shelter in Jacksonville, as well as Second Harvest Food Bank’s Lutheran Social Services. He supports both United Way and Cathedral Foundation Meals on Wheels.

Fitness, passion and charity have combined to shape a life that does embrace his simple motto; live well, serve well.

Lifestyle, Professional Profiles

Growing Up Mill Town: Joe Zanotti Remembers Life Before Superstores

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Joe Zanotti is a small-town boy at heart. Growing up near the tiny mill town of Braeburn, Pennsylvania, Joe Zanotti learned first hand the value of hard work. The self-sufficient town’s residents were hard-working immigrants, many of whom worked in the towns steel mill, that, at one point made what was considered to be some of the world’s best high alloy tool steel.

“No fancy computer stuff in that mill at the time,” Joe Zanotti said, “just hard working, loyal men who took tremendous pride in what they did.”

Joe Zanotti vividly recalls the time he spent at his grandparents’ house in Braeburn as a kid. A large flood on St. Patrick’s Day in 1936 was away the train station and created a pond that connected to the river, filling the pond with fish. Joe Zanotti has many stories from his week- to two-week routines visits to his grandparent’s houe.

One of Joe Zanotti’s memorable childhood experiences came when he would accompany his grandparents on Saturdays to buy a live chicken for dinner on Sunday. To get chickens, Joe Zanotti’s parents would take the grandparents to Pollock’s farm.  On one visit an ornery young Joe decided to throw rocks at a big, mean bull that was kept in a pen. Even though the bull was penned up, when the bull began scratching the ground and snorting, Joe ran away in fear and tears.

“I remember bringing the chicken home,” Joe Zanotti says. “Grandpap would chop its head off and it would still run round.” Anyone growing up during that time knows the full meaning of the term, ‘running around like a chicken with its head cut off.’

Joe Zanotti’s grandmother would pluck the feathers off the chicken. He still recalls one time watching his grandmother pull an egg out of one of those chickens. A very young Joe was frightened by this since he knew he thought eggs came from the grocery store!

“It was maybe a month before I ate an egg,” Joe Zanotti remembers with a laugh.

About Joe Zanotti

For Joe Zanotti, family heritage has always been important. Growing up in Lower Burrell, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh, Joe Zanotti was always aware of his Italian and Slovak heritage enjoying the culture, foods and curtoms. In fact, he spent many weekends and long summer weeks at his grandparents’ house in the nearby mill town of Braeburn.

Joe Zanotti has lived in Pennsylvania most of his life, mostly near Pittsburgh. After graduating from Burrell Senior High School, Joe Zanotti attended the Pennsylvania State University, where he majored in civil engineering. During college, he was an invited member of both the Chi Epsilon Honorary Society and Tau Beta Pi Honorary Society, both national engineering societies for honors students. Joe Zanotti attended graduate school at the University of Pittsburgh, where he studied structural engineering.

An experienced structural engineer with more than 31 years in the field, Joe Zanotti often travels throughout the USA and overseas for work. Joe Zanotti is currently employed by Camp, Dresser, & McKee, Inc., a worldwide engineering firm based in Pittsburgh. Joe Zanotti’s work often stations him in many Asian countries such as Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam and in Middle-East countries such as Israel.  He considers working overseas, such as when he helped rebuild a Catholic church in tsunami-damaged Banda Aceh, Indonesia, an experience that has been life changing.

Prior to Camp, Dresser, & McKee, Joe Zanotti was project design manager for MPS Corporation in Leetsdale. He worked as a structural engineer for Sargent & Lundy Engineers in Chicago, as well as Dravo Engineers in Pittsburgh. His professional associations include the American Society of Civil Engineers, International Concrete Repair Institute, for which he serves on the board of directors, and American Concrete Institute, for which he is a subcommittee member on the national level.

An avid golfer, Joe Zanotti has had the privilege of golfing everywhere from overseas in Asia to many top courses in the USA. Joe Zanotti began golfing at the age of fifteen, at a tiny 9-hole course near his house where greens fees were only $3-$4 a day.  For years, he was part of an annual golf retreat comprised mostly of former Pennsylvania State graduates. Joe Zanotti is an avid cook and would maybe enjoy attending chef school when retired. He is a lover of great wine and while he wouldn’t consider himself a connoisseur, Joe Zanotti keeps 40-50 bottles of wine in his basement at all times.

Born in 1958, Joe Zanotti currently resides in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area, where he has lived since 1988. Joe Zanotti is registered as a professional engineer in eleven states, including Pennsylvania, New York, Illinois, Indiana, and the District of Columbia. He is single, with no children, has a brother, sister, nieces and a nephew and both of his parents are still alive.

Professional Profiles

Anatesha Dunn Offers up More than Bread and Wine

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Ardent Christian and avid cook Anatesha Dunn offers up some delicious dining ideas with inspiration right out of the Bible.

According to Anatesha Dunn, everyone loves to eat – and few do it better than those from the South. States like Tennessee, Georgia, Mississippi and Florida all have cuisine unique to the Bible Belt. Anatesha Dunn is one who likes to cook, and some days she takes her inspiration straight out of the Good Book.

Anatesha Dunn says that for starters, a good rule of thumb for a homemade Biblical feast is to eat only “living foods”: grains, vegetables, meats, and fruits. God, explains Anatesha Dunn, wants His children healthy, and therefore provides a bountiful harvest from which to nourish the body.

Breakfast, insist Anatesha Dunn, starts the day off right when eaten with proper nutrients. A meal of bread and butter, honey and milk, says Anatesha Dunn, serves the body well, as God intended.

Snack time brings a chance to sample one of Anatesha Dunn’s favorite pop-able treats: nuts and dates. Pomegranates and figs also makes for a heart healthy, and God approved snack. Deuteronomy 8:8 cites these, among other foods as being found in prosperous lands, notes Anatesha Dunn.

Ready for lunch? How about a fish sandwich topped with dill and a side of fresh apples… Finish with grape juice, and you have another nourishing meal, says Anatesha Dunn. Anatesha Dunn also says the midday meal might consist of beans and onions with a glass of fresh milk.

The Bible brings many options to the dinner table, too, notes Anatesha Dunn. A hearty rosemary-garlic chicken drizzled with olive oil and served with diced cucumbers and a glass of wine, says Anatesha Dunn, not only follows with the Bible but is quite tasty. Goat, veal, lamb and even ox are also main courses noted in the Bible, remarks Anatesha Dunn.

For desert, says Anatesha Dunn, fresh fruit is key. Sliced apples with raisins or dates are a light and healthy sweet treat. Those looking for a heavier post-meal follow up are sure to find fig cake, topped with honey and chopped almonds, a pleasant offering.

All of these foods and more are found in the pages of the Bible. Anatesha Dunn claims that no one is better to say what is good for the body, than He who created it. She finds inspiration in the many foods mentioned in the Bible, and it shows in her passion for good food, family time, and post-service potlucks!

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About Anatesha Dunn

Anatesha Dunn believes in Joyce Meyer’s positive, uplifting messages. A fan of Meyer’s book, Battlefield of the Mind, Anatesha Dunn takes spiritual guidance from Meyer’s advice to gain control over one’s own mind and refuse to let negative thoughts intrude. It is an attitude that has served Anatesha Dunn throughout her life.

Anatesha Dunn has worked most recently for Financial Freedom in Longwood, Florida. At Financial Freedom, Anatesha Dunn assisted with taking inquiries from potential clients looking for financial advice. During her time assisting customers with their financial needs, Anatesha Dunn no doubt relied heavily on Meyer’s advice on dealing with different temperaments.

“Learn different personalities and how to live with them,” Anatesha Dunn paraphrases from Meyer’s advice. “Once you know what triggers a certain personality, you can learn how to move through certain situations to get the end results you’re looking for.”

A devout Christian, Anatesha Dunn also follows the wisdom of Bishop T.D. Jakes. Once the subject of a Time Magazine cover story titled, Is This Man the Next Billy Graham?, T.D. Jakes is highly respected among Christians, thanks to his positive, uplifting messages. Anatesha Dunn especially appreciates Jakes’ take on change.

“Jakes accepts the inevitability of change, teaching how to embrace and accept it rather than fear it,” Anatesha Dunn says. “Mixing both sacred and secular insights, he shares a unique mix of practical and pragmatic steps, coupled with the sage wisdom of scripture for which he is noted.”

Anatesha Dunn believes in giving back, having headed up and assisted with fundraisers as well as participating in volunteer work over the years. She is certified in both CPR and First Aid and, in the course of her career, Anatesha Dunn has often been trusted with matters that are confidential and of a sensitive nature.

Anatesha Dunn currently lives on the East Coast, where she is actively involved with her church. She believes in Meyer’s advice to arm yourself with God every day.

“Begin your day with prayer to get your day started,” is the advice Anatesha Dunn takes from Joyce Meyer. “End your day with prayer and reflection of what you did that day.”

Anatesha Dunn believes in following Meyer’s Battlefield of the Mind in positive thinking as well. Using the power of positive thinking, Anatesha Dunn finds specific ways to impact every aspect of her life. Anatesha Dunn has learned to count her blessings, thanks to a couple of great role models.

Anatesha Dunn also believes in balance. Anatesha Dunn tries to approach every day with a cool, calm, level and objective mind.

“Life is an experience of both good and bad,” Anatesha Dunn says, taking from Meyer’s advice. “In order to really enjoy life, try to find the positive in everything.”

Home and Family, Professional Profiles

Dave Ramsey supports Nancy Alcorn and Mercy Ministries – Nancy Alcorn and Dave Ramsey both in the business of transforming lives.

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Nancy Alcorn and Dave Ramsey have been friends for a long-time.  They share the love of helping people find freedom from bondage – bondage to money and debt or bondage to life-controlling issues.  Here are some highlights of the partnership between Dave Ramsey and Nancy Alcorn:

As long-time supporters of Mercy Ministries and Nancy Alcorn, Dave and his wife, Sharon, have generously donated their expertise and resources to our residents and graduates. The girls learn how to balance a checkbook, make a budget, save, eliminate debt, find bargains, build wealth and experience the joy of giving.   Nancy Alcorn is committed to building Mercy Ministries homes debt free and Nancy Alcorn also believes that operating debt free is key – a tone that resonates with Dave Ramsey and his teachings. Upon graduation, each resident is blessed with a Financial Peace University Lifetime Membership kit and receives all course materials. Graduates (along with their spouses if they are married) can also attend a FPU class in their area!

In 2009, Nancy Alcorn, Founder and President of Mercy Ministries, considered it a great privilege to be invited by her dear friend, Dave Ramsey, to speak to his nearly 300 staff during their weekly devotional time. Dave and Sharon Ramsey have been long-time supporters of Mercy Ministries and Nancy Alcorn, and Dave has had Nancy Alcorn lead devotions several times for his staff. Dave dedicates time each Wednesday morning for his staff to have an opportunity to begin their day in prayer and Bible study. Nancy Alcorn used this time to encourage his team that they are making a difference by helping people. Nancy Alcorn shared the stories of several Mercy girls and emphasized that each of them had to let go of the past in order to experience lasting change. Nancy Alcorn explained how Mercy Ministries and Dave Ramsey’s Lampo Group are similar because they teach people that their past does not have to determine their future.

Here is what Nancy Alcorn had to say about her time with Dave’s incredible team:

“I count it a great honor to call Dave and Sharon Ramsey my friends, and I was even more proud of them today as I saw the impact they are having on so many people in this country and beyond. Times are tough and Dave’s team continues to extend great wisdom to people about budgeting, planning and living debt free. I loved connecting with the truly wonderful people in this organization.”  – Nancy Alcorn
In October 2010, Dave and Sharon Ramsey hosted Nancy Alcorn and 100 guests of the ministry at their home in Franklin, TN.  Guests were blessed to hear Founder and President of Mercy Ministries, Nancy Alcorn, cast the vision of Mercy and encourage everyone to attend the Merry Mercy benefit coming up in December.  Here’s what Dave Ramsey had to say about his support of Nancy Alcorn and Mercy Ministries:

“Since the business and the ministry that we’re in is that of transforming lives, we want to see a broken and hopeless life completely transformed. There are a few ministries that do that very well and there are none that do it better than Mercy with Nancy Alcorn at the helm. I don’t know how much more of a personal endorsement I could give something, but after meeting Nancy Alcorn, Mercy became the first ministry we’ve ever given to, and it’s one of the few today that we still have on our list of ministries that we give to lavishly.” – Dave Ramsey

In December 2010, Dave and Sharon Ramsey hosted the Merry Mercy event at the Loews Vanderbilt plaza along with Nancy Alcorn and with musical guest Phil Keaggy!  The night was a great fundraiser for Mercy Ministries with both Dave Ramsey and Nancy Alcorn encouraging the crowd to get involved with transforming lives!

Nancy Alcorn and Mercy Ministries would like to thank the Ramsey’s for their overwhelming generosity and huge hearts! Their investment of time, expertise, materials, and financial resources into the graduates and staff of Mercy Ministries as well as Nancy Alcorn herself has literally been life-transforming for all involved! To learn more about Dave Ramsey and Financial Peace University, visit his website at www.daveramsey.com.

To learn more about Nancy Alcorn, visit www.nancyalcorn.com and order a copy of the book, “Echoes of Mercy” by Nancy Alcorn.

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About Nancy Alcorn

During her five years working for the state of Tennessee, at a correctional facility for juvenile delinquent girls, Nancy Alcorn developed a passion to impact the lives of hurting young women.  Time and time again, Nancy Alcorn watched as the young women she worked with at the juvenile facility passed the age of eighteen and ended up in the women’s prison system because they never got the real help they needed.

During the next three years, as Nancy Alcorn investigated child abuse cases for the state of Tennessee, she saw firsthand why so many of these young women were angry and hurting.  Working with juvenile delinquent girls and investigating alleged cases of child abuse gave Nancy Alcorn the opportunity to interact directly with secular rehabilitation programs and the girls impacted by those programs. It was during this time that Nancy Alcorn realized that these programs were not producing permanent results that exemplified changed lives.

Following her tenure with the state, Nancy Alcorn accepted an appointment as Director of Women for the Nashville Teen Challenge.  Through all of these experiences, Nancy Alcorn began to realize that true transformation would never come as the result of any government system.  Nancy Alcorn understood that only Jesus could bring restoration into the lives of girls who were desperately hurting and searching for something to fill the void they felt in their hearts.

Nancy Alcorn began to sense that God was unfolding a plan prompting her to step out in faith.  God called Nancy Alcorn to help hurting young women find freedom and have their lives transformed.  With her experience to assist her and God to guide her, Nancy Alcorn would prayerfully make a giant step of faith to help hurting young women.

In January of 1983, Nancy Alcorn relocated to Monroe, Louisiana and established Mercy Ministries of America.  Nancy Alcorn was determined that the Mercy Ministries program would bring about true-life change in the lives of young women.  With that in mind, Nancy Alcorn knew there were three guiding principles to which she must always remain faithful.  First, Nancy Alcorn committed that Mercy Ministries would accept girls free of charge.  Second, Nancy Alcorn committed that Mercy Ministries would donate ten percent of all donations to other organizations and ministries.  Third, Nancy Alcorn made the decision that Mercy Ministries would never accept any state or federal funding.  In no way did Nancy Alcorn want any money that might interfere with the freedom to share Christ.

Since 1983, Mercy Ministries, under the leadership of Nancy Alcorn, has seen exponential growth and impact.  Establishing locations in Louisiana, Tennessee, Missouri and California, Nancy Alcorn has seen her God-sized dream impact numerous women ages 13 to 28.  Nancy Alcorn has seen Mercy Ministries grow beyond the borders of the United States with home in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Canada.

Nancy Alcorn and Mercy Ministries help young women seeking freedom from physical and sexual abuse (including sex trafficking), eating disorders, self-harm, drug and alcohol addiction, depression and unplanned pregnancy.  Mercy Ministries, with Nancy Alcorn serving as Founder and President, assists young women through a non-conventional approach to healing that allows them to stop and break destructive cycles of behavior.  Nancy Alcorn continues her commitment to helping young women recognize their self-worth and reach their full potential.

For more information about the services offered by Nancy Alcorn and Mercy Ministries, visit the Mercy website online at http://www.mercyministries.com.

Professional Profiles

Mario Romano Reflects on the Value of Partners When Starting a Company

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Mario Romano believed that hard work, great products, dedication and execution were the necessary ingredients of success. According to Mario Romano, the team at Wealth Engineering identified the best products, they worked tirelessly to execute the mass marketing of those products and then, says Mario Romano, they used personal capital to launch the entire show. After four years, however, Mario Romano says that their capital was exhausted – even though success appeared imminent.

Mario Romano and his firm were in a dire situation in the worst economy of record. The question loomed for Mario Romano and his partners: What options existed? Mario Romano knew that in the midst of every great crisis there is an opportunity for those who have clear vision. Mario Romano and his team dedicated every moment of their time and all their efforts towards the goal, but they could not manufacture “cash.”

At this moment of decision, Mario Romano and his partner agreed to sell 20% of their company. Not an easy decision when so much of their own capital and time was invested to reach what Mario Romano believed was the last furlong. Nonetheless, Mario Romano hired a third party consultant to provide an independent valuation and quickly gained partners through the sale of 15% of the company equity. This brought Mario Romano the resources needed to secure Wealth Engineering’s largest contract to date, which included sales in nearly twelve territories in Asia.

Initially Mario Romano felt they could stop here. However, Mario Romano and his partners uncovered additional opportunities that will significantly benefit Mario Romano, Wealth Engineering and the new partners. Instead of keeping additional equity, Mario Romano and the company’s other stake holders continue to seek additional partners to further expand and stabilize Wealth Engineering.

Mario Romano’s resolve remains firm. He states, “I will not stop until we reach our objectives and this commitment knows no boundaries.”

Mario Romano began his Wall Street career at Lehman Brothers in 1982. From then until the beginning of the new millennium, Mario Romano held several executive positions with a select group of Wall Street institutions. Mario Romano also served as CEO of Romano Enterprises LLC from May 2000 through December 2004. In 2005, Mario Romano co-founded Wealth Engineering & Development and through their combined efforts, Mario Romano contributed to securing the largest contractual agreements for the InvestView platform of Global Investor Services Inc. Mario Romano has fine-tuned motivational skills that have allowed him to establish, grow and manage a group of over 100 retail stockbrokers. With over twenty-five years of Wall Street experience, Mario Romano believes the time has come for individuals to learn how to manage and grow their wealth. Mario Romano dedicates his professional life to these objectives and strives to solidify Wealth Engineering as a leader in providing financial education to the masses worldwide.