TEAM empowerED
Jessica Mickey, BA
LEARNING SPECIALIST
"Why fit in when you were born to stand out?"
Growing up in a family of educators, Jessica has always loved kids and learning. Struggling with being a “different” learner, her parents were incredible advocates, helping ensure she had every ability to thrive.
Jessica received her Bachelor’s degree in Child Development from California State University Northridge, where she began her 15+ year career as an educator. Whether coaching, mentoring, tutoring, teaching, or just raising her 2 daughters, Jessica utilizes her understanding of children to spark their love and curiosity for learning through a fun and practical experience.
Jessica utilizes her calm and compassionate disposition when working with students. She creates lasting connections with emerging young students who enjoy their time with her.
In Jessica’s free time, she likes to be adventurous and try new things. She loves to spend time with family and friends, Travel, cook, sing, dance and really anything outdoors.
Molly Russell, M. Ed.
504 + IEP ADVOCATE
“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.”
Molly received her undergraduate comprehensive degree from the Univeristy of Wisconsin – Eau Claire in Elementary Education and Learning Disabilities in 2001. In 2006, she received her Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from Saint Mary’s of Minnesota.
Molly has been teaching for 19 years with her first three years teaching 5th grade in Hawthorne, CA, the next 16 years teaching 7th-9th grade special education in Shakopee, MN, and currently virtually teaches grades 6-12+ special education at a public charter district in Minneapolis, MN.
When Molly was in first grade, she decided she was going to be a teacher. From a young age, Molly enjoyed helping others, listening to their stories, and asking questions. Everyone has a story, and everyone deserves to be heard. That is why Molly’s biggest emphasis with both her students and her own two children is self-advocacy. Molly believes this is an essential skill that directly effects self-confidence and success in life; furthermore, involving students and families in the learning process and being their partner, coach, and advocate is necessary so that they can feel empowered and encouraged along the way.
Molly lives in Shakopee, MN with her daughter, son, cat, and dog. During her free time, she enjoys yoga, hiking, relaxing, and spending time with friends and family.
Michelle Salater
PERSONAL FINANCE EXPERT
“There is no failure except in no longer trying.”
Michelle has over 13+ years writing educational content for hundreds of companies. Whether it’s about maximizing retirement savings or purchasing insurance, Michelle’s ability lies in taking financial jargon and complex strategies and communicating in a way that everyone can understand.
However, her true passion is financial education and taking the shame out of money.
Michelle is co-owner of Stop Being Sold®, a community on a mission to show consumers how to stop being sold financial products they don’t need or don’t understand and stop being a transaction…forever.
Michelle holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Queens University of Charlotte and a Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Certificate of Entrepreneurship. In her free time, she studies blockchain technology, trades crypto assets, and spends time with her dog, Queen Noor.
Nicolette Hoffman
Holistic Nutrionist
“The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.”
Nicolette Hoffman was born with a mind outside the conventional mold.
She was a gifted child that needed to be challenged, so being brought up in the public school system presented its limitations: frustrations in learning, poor communication with teachers, and constantly misunderstood.
It became apparent in high school that she needed more support, and was given an ADD diagnosis and stimulant medication.
The stimulants helped short term, but after 8 years along with 2 years of antibiotic treatment, took a massive toll on her health.
She hit rock bottom with ADD, chronic strep throat, chronic fatigue, and Crohn’s disease and swapped all drugs for a fully plant based diet which changed her life forever. The impact the shift in diet had on her life sent her on a quest of knowledge and learning.
She left her job as a chef and began working for LA based raw food, supplement and wellness company Moon Juice and began her herbal education. Now, she is a private wellness chef and nutritionist and continues her learning in San Miguel de Allende with midwives, herbalists, and wise women.
For 6 years, she has been successfully helping others to change their lives with food and supplements alone, and believes whole heartedly that plants and a connection to Earth are the key to healing. She has helped patients with kidney disease, cancer, infertility, PCOS, ADHD, depression, shingles, auto immune disorders, chronic disease, IBS, chronic constipation, and beyond.
Nicolette takes an intuitive, wholistic approach to healing, focusing on nutrition, detoxing, trauma removal, energy balancing, solfeggio sound healing, home life, ritual developing, and self love.
In her spare time, Nicolette is able to stay focused naturally and loves reading inspiring books, recipe testing, swimming in thermal waters, and filming cooking videos to share with her community.
Allison Folks, JD
College Essay Writing Specialist
“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside of you.”
Allison received her bachelor’s degree in Child and Family Studies from Portland State University. She then went on to receive her law degree from the University of Oregon School of Law. Allison is passionate about writing. She finds it to be her most valuable way of expressing and conveying her thoughts and emotions. She has years of experience tutoring and working with students developing writing skills, helping them to communicate their experiences, ideas, thoughts and stories.
Allison believes all students, with various methods, are capable of expressing themselves through writing and inspires this belief in her students. She enjoys supporting others in their creative process and helping them to find their voice.
Allison lives in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. She is bilingual in Spanish and English and loves Mexican culture. She practices immigration law and has a business selling fresh homemade dog food. In her free time, she loves to cook, travel, and exercise.
We all have a story to tell, and Allison can help you tell yours.
Lori Gugliemo
empowered coordinator
“Success isn’t always about ‘Greatness’, it’s about consistency. Consistent, hard work gains success. Greatness will come.
With over 15 years of management experience, Lori Guglielmo has been a key player in the development of multiple corporations. She specializes in office management for small businesses. Lori has worked for corporations such as Simpson Construction Services, BKB Design, and Wm. Keith Scannell, Scannell Corp. Lori specializes in creating unique management systems and strategies integrating the latest in-depth connectivity technology ensuring office operations run smoothly and efficiently. Lori firmly believes in accountability and transparency throughout the organization and utilizes these skills to ensure company expansion and growth.
Lori loves working with small businesses. Her colleagues become extended family and who doesn’t want their family to succeed? Helping businesses remain successful and grow brings Lori joy.
Lori lives in Pittsburgh, PA with her husband, 10-year-old twins, and 2 dogs. They enjoy spending time together traveling to warmer destinations and spending time at their cabin in mountains.
In her free time, Lori enjoys trying new restaurants with her husband, watching her son wrestle, and shopping with her daughter. Cuddling with her dogs while binge-watching new shows are high on her list as well.
