CINspirational People: Elaine Suess
CINspirational People is a feature of Good Things Going Around profiling diverse people of Greater Cincinnati, what inspires them, and what is inspiring about them. You can read more profiles by clicking on the link at the top of the blog. Do you know someone to suggest? Please reach out. Thanks!
Today, we are profiling Elaine Suess, a leadership coach and an organizational development consultant.
GTGA: What is an accomplishment you achieved that you are proud of?
Elaine: Starting my own business in 2006 after 20 years in corporate life is what comes to mind. I joke that if you live long enough, you might be able to do what you were “born for.” I feel like that’s where I am at this point. It’s beyond exciting to help my clients move actively toward positive change and what they feel is their potential, and then even move beyond it!
GTGA: Tell us about someone who has been a positive influence in your life.
Elaine: I’ll have to go beyond the singular here and turn this into “someones.” My parents have been the most positive influence. Hands down. They are so amazing I’m getting teary eyed just writing this!
GTGA: What is a motto you live by and why or how has it impact you?
Elaine: I don’t have just one motto, but a few that I love are: “The only way to predict the future is to create it” Peter Drucker. This aligns with one of my top strengths – Activator. Another is from Greg Boyle who works with “returning citizens,” who says, “Sometimes resilience arrives in the moment you discover your own unshakable goodness.” My belief in people’s innate goodness drive many of my choices and actions.
GTGA: What is your biggest motivator?
Activating the positive changes, growth and joy I see in the people I work with.
GTGA: Tell us about an act of kindness you have done, witnessed or been the recipient of and how that made you feel.
I am fortunate to mentor a number of individuals who have many challenges I’ve never had. I’m the lucky one here – I learn much from them and they regularly inspire me.
Celebrate The New Kennedy Heights Cultural Campus!
There is exciting news ahead for the racially and economically diverse Kennedy Heights neighborhood. After nearly six years of planning and construction, it is about time for the official ribbon cutting and grand opening of the all new Kennedy Heights Cultural Campus. Not only is it going to be an incredible asset to its surrounding community, but also to our region. The Campus will be a place where people of all ages can come for arts performances, classes, studios, and even an art gallery. And children will have an opportunity for education in the award winning Kennedy Heights Montessori.
I’m helping them to promote the festivities – August 28 and 29 – and can hardly wait. These organizers sure do know how to throw an incredible time!
On Friday morning, August 28, at 10:00 am, friends and supporters will help celebrate with an official ribbon cutting followed by refreshments and a tour of first look at inside the building. Then, on Saturday, beginning at 11:00 am will be the Raise the Heights Art Parade followed by a family festival.
Have A Creative Side? Be Part Of The Parade!
The Raise the Heights Art Parade promises to be filled with vibrant colors and sounds and will travel from Ridge Road, up Montgomery Rd to the Campus site (at the corner of Kennedy Ave and Montgomery Rd). Ten of the region’s very talented artists received small grants to create incredible entrees depicting their own very personal interpretation of the Campus’ meaning to our community.
Just some of what you will see…Pam Kravetz is designing and building five incredible replicas of hot air balloons that will include in their baskets, children dressed to resemble various performing arts; and each one to be pulled by dancers and actors masked with body paint. Jesse Mooney-Bulluck is creating a visually striking 16 ft tall totem pole puppet with engaging moving parts to celebrate diversity.
from a past Kennedy Heights art parade
You can be in the parade too!
We are inviting visual artists, dancers, musicians, street performers, civic groups, schools, organizations and neighbors to participate. With the theme of art, we are asking that groups and individuals either create a portable sculpture, moveable artwork, decorate a car, wear costumes or puppets, hold creative flags/banners/signs, or perform their way down the road.
There is NO fee to participate.
DATE: Saturday, August 29, 2015
TIME: 11:00AM
ROUTE: Montgomery Rd. from Ridge Ave. to Kennedy Ave.
DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES: August 14
Please click here to download an Entry Form.
Raise the Heights Festival
Following the parade, there will be a free festival on the grounds of the Kennedy Heights Cultural Campus, 6620 Montgomery Rd., from 12-5pm with live music, performances, interactive art installations, food trucks, activities for kids, and more. Grammy nominated children’s entertainer Zak Morgan will perform at about 3:30 pm.
Funding is provided in part by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and Nellie Leaman Taft Foundation.
About the Kennedy Heights Cultural Campus
The Raise the Heights event will mark one of Greater Cincinnati’s most dramatic revitalizations as the once derelict building (on the corner of Kennedy Ave and Montgomery Rd) which once housed a Kroger will open its doors as a destination for exploring and experiencing creative expression. Among its occupants will be the Kennedy Heights Arts Center’s Carl, Robert, Richard, and Dorothy Lindner Annex and the Kennedy Heights Montessori Center. The building was purchased with a $675,000 grant from the City of Cincinnati.
The Kennedy Heights Arts Center new second location will quadruple its size and double the number of people served. The Annex will include a 3,000 sq ft 
multi-purpose event center for theatre, dance and music classes and performances; a state-of-the-art Scripps Howard Media Center that will offer arts education programs for all ages in video, photography, animation, website design and graphic design; and ten individual artist studios. The Ohio Valley Woodturners Guild will be among the groups offering workshops for people of all ages. A gallery in the lobby will be a venue for resident artist exhibits.
A $250,000 leadership gift from Robert D. and Betty Lindner paved the way for Kennedy Heights Arts Center’s Satellite Expansion $700,000 project. Other major contributors include: Greater Cincinnati Foundation, Scripps Howard Foundation, George and Margaret McLane Foundation, The Kroger Co., John A. Schroth Charitable Trust/PNC Bank Trustee, Louise Taft Semple Foundation, Thomas Emery Memorial, Ruth and Robert Conway Foundation and gift from many individual donors. Website: www.kennedyarts.org
The Kennedy Heights Montessori Center is an award-winning, not-for-profit parent cooperative school that has been educating neighborhood children, ages 2 to 6, for fifty years. Its presence strengthens the community by providing high quality superior educational opportunities to a racially and economically 
diverse student body of toddlers, preschoolers and kindergarten children. Its sliding scale tuition means families who otherwise would not be able to afford it are assured their children are well prepared. KHMC is a United Way Agency providing half-day and full day programs.
The Center opened its first school in Kennedy Heights in 1965 and with the completion of the new Campus, will be returning to this neighborhood. Its new 12,000 sq ft location will include 4 large classrooms, an extended day care area, a muscle room with indoor play equipment and two outdoor playgrounds. It will be introducing a toddler program for 2 year olds which will be taught by a highly qualified Montessori teacher. Openings are available for both programs. Website: kennedyheightsmontessori.org
Voices Of Giving Awards Honor Greater Cincinnati Philanthropists
In our region, we are fortunate to have so very many diverse causes that are each enriching neighborhoods and lives in unique ways. Their important work would not be possible without a team of dedicated staff, volunteers, and donors.
For the past five years, it has been such a privilege to work with the Greater Cincinnati Planned Giving Council committee helping to spread awareness of very generous people who are helping to ensure our community’s valuable nonprofit organizations can be sustainable in the future. They recently honored 27 philanthropists including Jim Huizenga, as a professional advisor, with Voices of Giving Awards. (You’ll be seeing more information in local news print over the next few months.) All philanthropists honored have made a bequest or planned gift to their favorite charity.
Mike and Marilyn Kremzar are examples of our humanitarian leaders who have committed years to empowering people who have been down on their luck
Mike Van Oflen, Tony Lavatori, Tonya Lavatori, Mike Kremzar, Marilyn Kremzar, Kurt Reiber and Mindy Hammer photo credit: Paula Norton
through the Freestore Foodbank. Since joining its Board in 1984, Mike helped create the hugely successful Cincinnati COOKS!, a culinary job training program that not only provides nutritious afterschool meals to children at risk of hunger but also has seen more than 1,200 adult graduates move on to gainful employment. The Kremzars named the Freestore Foodbank as a beneficiary of their IRA.
There are so many wonderful stories like theirs of why charitable giving is such an important part of their lives. Please click the link to read more about all of the honorees. 2015 Voices of Giving Honoree backgrounds
Other honorees include:
Deacon David A. Klingshirn on behalf of The Athenaeum of Ohio;
Alan and Dianne Thomas on behalf of the Brighton Center;
Marjorie and Roger Santor (posthumously) on behalf of CET – Greater Cincinnati Television Educational Foundation;
Robert Buechner on behalf of The Children’s Home of Cincinnati;
John H. White, Jr. on behalf of Cincinnati Museum Center;
Albert W. Vontz III on behalf of Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park;
Barb and Mort Nicholson on behalf of Cincinnati Public Radio;
Norita Aplin and Stanley Ragle on behalf of Cincinnati Symphony and Pops Orchestra;
Jack Kirby on behalf of Episcopal Retirement Homes;
Mike and Marilyn Kremzar on behalf of Freestore Foodbank;
John Isidor and Sandy Kaltman on behalf of the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati;
Burke Neville on behalf of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation;
Peggy Kite on behalf of Life Enriching Communities Foundation – Twin Lakes;
Dr. George Rieveschl, Jr. (posthumously) on behalf of the Lloyd Library and Museum;
Mona Morrow on behalf of The Salvation Army;
Emily Pan on behalf of Saint Joseph Home;
Mary Kay Pastura Hauser on behalf of St. Ursula Academy;
The Calonge Family on behalf of the United Way of Greater Cincinnati.
Note: one of the honorees did not want to be recognized in Event promotion.
Jim Huizenga, senior program officer at The Greater Cincinnati Foundation,
honored as a professional advisor, was nominated by Saint Joseph Home
Platinum Presenting Sponsors of the 17th annual Voices of Giving Awards are The John A. Schroth Family Charitable Trust, PNC Bank Trustee, and The Salvation Army. Silver Sponsors include Graydon, Head and Ritchey LLP, the Johnson Charitable Gift Fund, Life Enriching Communities, Smith Beers Yunker & Company, Inc., and Xavier University. The Event was hosted by CET and emceed by Local 12’s John Lomax.
“Our Voices of Giving honorees represent the true spirit of philanthropy and their gifts are enhancing the quality of life for our community, now and in the future,” said Sue Ellen Stuebing, vice president of the board of The Greater Cincinnati Planned Giving Council. “We thank them not only for their generosity but also for allowing us to recognize them. By doing so, they are inspiring others in our community to demonstrate that everyone can make a lasting impact by leaving a legacy.
Voices of Giving honorees
photo credit: Paula Norton
The 2015 event was co-chaired by Telly McGaha and Molly Talbot. Committee members included Lori Asmus, Carol Derkson, Bruce Favret, Misty Griesinger, Doug Heeston, Anna Hehman, Bill Hitch, Mary Alice Koch, Michelle Mancini, Tracy Monroe, Carol Serrone, Carol Stevie, Sue Ellen Stuebing and Dan Virzi.
The Greater Cincinnati Planned Giving Council is a professional association for people whose work includes developing, marketing, and administering charitable planned gifts for non-profit institutions and a variety of other legal and financial settings.
Life Is About Choices
CINspirational People: Shawna O’Shea
CINspirational People is a feature of Good Things Going Around profiling diverse people of Greater Cincinnati, what inspires them, and what is inspiring about them. You can read more profiles by clicking on the link at the top of the blog. Do you know someone to suggest? Please reach out. Thanks!
GTGA Intern Liza Hartke spoke with Shawna O’Shea for today’s profile.
GTGA Intern Liza: What motto do you live by day to day?
Shawna: I really do not have a motto. Everyday is a gift from God. He is the most important thing in my life. There is a scripture I live by everyday. “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not to thy own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths.” Maybe that is my motto?
GTGA Intern Liza: Is there an experience that changed your life?
Shawna: Being diagnosed with cancer was definitely a life changer. I am a two time breast cancer survivor. The first diagnosis was January 2010. The doctor recommended lumpectomy and chemotherapy. I did lumpectomy and no chemotherapy. The second came in January of 2011. More aggressive. I had bilateral mastectomy, chemo, radiation, and finally reconstruction from February to August of 2012. A very busy year and a half. But I was blessed every step of the way. Blood counts stayed normal, I gained 10 pounds, no sickness with chemo, and all surgeries went great. I now am cancer free!
GTGA Intern Liza: What do you do as a volunteer for Oncology Hematology Care?
Shawna: I go on Fridays to help the nurses take care of the patients. I make sure the food and drinks are stocked. I personally go and try to spend time talking and meeting with each person. When you are in that situation, you feel more like a group than a single person. All of their sitting, waiting, and hurting. Some physically, some emotionally, some financially, some mentally, and some spiritually. I know I have been there and felt exactly what they are going through. If in that 4 hour window I can do something, that can help, I want to do it with all my might and strength.
GTGA Intern Liza: How can others volunteer?
Shawna: You can contact any OHC office and ask about their volunteer program.
GTGA Intern Liza: If you had three wishes, what would they be?
Shawna: I wish we could find a cure for all diseases. I wish that I could help every child in need no matter what the need would be. I wish I had enough money to take care of my loved ones so that they didn’t have to work or worry about finances ever. I want them to have fun and enjoy life.
GTGA Intern Liza: Who or what is your biggest motivator?
Shawna: My biggest motivator while I was in cancer treatment was the cancer itself. I was not going to be defeated. It was not going to take my life, my joy, or my peace. The bible says I am an overcomer. It was not going to steal away my dreams of seeing my children or grandchildren growing older. My husband was my rock. He lived our wedding vows over and over again. For richer or poorer, in sickness and in health. Even when I felt unattractive with no hair and multiple scars he always made me feel beautiful.
