Inspired Photos

A picture is worth a thousand words... 

March 2010 theme:

"Success means..."

We were sure this month would be all about the "green stuff" a.k.a. money,

but apparently there is much more to life...

A Day at Sea and Baby Makes Three 

Frank Strasser - Venice, CA:

Frank says "Success means having a wealth of time to enjoy simple pleasures with special people."

We totally agree!  To see more of Frank Strasser's work click here >>> TAKE ME THERE! 

Accepting Handshakes

Nick Owen, San Diego, CA

Success to me means being the icon or representation of the ideal person people want to see when they talk to you. For me, I love to impress and inspire. I like to shock people but in a way that conveys success, confidence and a positive overall image.

“Accepting Handshakes” is from my BMW Service Technician Education Program Graduation. BMW has a special training program that is 7 months long and only 17 students are allowed enroll in. You have to qualify via entrance test and pass 2 interviews. Then you sign a contract with BMW North America. The dealership you end up working for picks up your training costs. By signing the contract, you are then committed to the program and will not fail, quit or drop out because if you do, you will be billed for your training!  As the class speaker, I received a very sincere handshake from the President of my school and my speech got a standing ovation.

Great Job Nick! Very inspiring!  Nick is also Vice President of SDBMWCCA check it out >>>TAKE ME THERE!

Allyson Thompson,  Mundelein, IL.:

Caught on camera play by play, here's a humorus depiction of the one of the many "baby's firsts".  Once we achieve our goal, there are times the outcome is not quite what we expected it to be.

Enjoy the journey ;)

"I'm Flying!", Our Success can be BIG and small...

Dona Blunt, Long Grove, IL:

SUCCESS: Often a child's definition of success is overcoming somehing that previously seemed scary to them, like sitting on a really tall and moving carousel horse.  Is there something that you fear that is holding back your success?

A thougt to ponder...  Thanks Dona! To see more of Dona Blunt's work click here >>> TAKE ME THERE!

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Featured Flight

March 2010

LaToya M. Robbins-Racine,WI

LaToya Robbins a native of Freeport, IL is the recent 2009 SBA Young Entrepreneur of the year for both the Midwest Region along with the Soutwest Region of Wisconsin.  LaToya, who is the mother of two girls 11 and 2, is entering into her fifth year of owning LaPre Enterprise, Inc. d/b/a X-cite Childcare located in both Racine and Kenosha Wisconsin.  Along with the purchase of her first commercial building in 1997 at the young age of twenty-seven under her direction X-cite Childcare has moved from 10 employees to 35 employees.

LaToya who was able to overcome the challenges of teen pregnancy has earned a Bachelors Degree in business along with a Master’s in Adult Education. LaToya who displays a great passion for giving back to the community through empowering and motivating teen moms uses her story as a motivational tool to many girls facing the same challenge of being a teen mom.   LaToya offers a scholarship the Arion Marie Scholarship named after her daughter for teen moms who cannot afford the cost of childcare and cannot receive state aid. This scholarship offers free childcare for the purpose of attending school and is granted to one teen mom per year.  Each recipient must receive a consistent grade of a C average and must provide five volunteer hours to Xcite childcare center per week.  Along with scholarship opportunities LaToya has also built a relationship with various organizations including Racine Unified to work with at risk teenagers and teen moms to provide childcare training modules and volunteer opportunities which will assist them in becoming more marketable after high school.  Within this program LaToya has trained a total of 12 girls and has given 3 of the girls opportunities for employment within her facility and recommended 3 other girls to local childcare facilities including the YMCA of Racine.

LaToya’s passion for working with at-risk young “particularly” teen moms has now motivated her to create a non-profit organization A&S Unlimited Solutions.  A&S Unlimited Solutions is committed to providing quality services and programs that will encourage, motivate and create positive change within the challenging lives of children and youth throughout their adulthood.  A&S and its staff give 100% effort in towards ensuring that all clients are empowered to not only serve as individuals of strength but as leaders within their communities. 

A&S currently provides two programs. The first program that recently was launched in the summer of 2009 is Project Charm.  The mission of Project Charm is to present a self-assuring, structured program encouraging leadership abilities for today’s youth in an ever so changing society. Project charm is a hands-on preparation program for female adolescents age 14-19.  This program is generally dedicated for the young ladies who want to improve their self-image and polish their skills through self-examination, problem solving skills and self monitoring.  Messages are presented in a laid-back style that cuts to the core of today’s societies and concerns.  Mentors use hand on activities to strengthen learning elements.  Young ladies have recently volunteered at the 2009 Taste of Racine, Volunteered at HALO (Homeless Shelter) and have recently submitted a grant to YAR (Youth as Resource- United Way Affiliates) in which they presented to a board and was able to retrieve funds to host an event for children in low-income families this past December.

The second program offered through A&S Unlimited Solutions is “Access to Success”.  This program is a school to work program which will link high school students, high school graduates and young adults who are continuing their education to local employment and career opportunities.  This program provides the youth with basic knowledge of the world of work and available work options; and provides them with information and skills needed to begin making job/career choices. This program services youth 16-24. 

Along with running both LaPre Enterprise & A&S Unlimited Solutions LaToya is a board member of HALO (Homeless Assistance Leadership Organization) in which she serves as the programs and services committee chairman.  LaToya is also an active board member of AABPA (African American Business Professional Association).  As the President of the newly developed non-profit organization A&S Unlimited Solutions LaToya is truly excited about the growth of the organization, but most importantly the people it serves.  In support of this new organization A&S Unlimited Solutions will be hosting its first annual women’s conference. The 2010 theme is “A Day of Transformation” This event is being held in support of A&S Unlimited Solutions programs. A Day of Transformation which is a day of renewal and rejuvenation will be held in Racine, WI at Gateway Technical College.

If you would like to support this event through sponsorships, donations or would like additional information on how to be a part of this event, Please contact LaToya at (262) 939-7159 or e-mail: latoyarobbins@att.net 

   More Conference Details..The Secret Edge

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A View From the Office...

 "Holding on too tight or  

jumping the gun?"

Pike St. Market Fish - Photo by DM Thompson with thoughts by an Indian Proverb

Sometimes, doesn't letting go make us feel like something is missing? Well you are right! However, what is missing may be something that was holding us down or back and better left behind.

Dawne-Marie Thompson

President, GoldenMark, Ltd.

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