CINspirational People
CINspirational People: Katie Walters
CINspirational People is a new feature of Good Things Going Around profiling diverse people of Greater Cincinnati, what inspires them, and what is inspiring about them.
Today we are featuring Katie Walters, promotions coordinator for Q102.
GTGA: What is an accomplishment you achieved that you are proud of?
Katie: I have two accomplishments that I’m proud of. First and foremost, being a mother and raising my children right. I have 13 and 12 year old boys, and I work very diligently in teaching them respect, hard work, and character. Secondly, I am proud of my position at Q102 radio. I first started working at Q when I was 18 years old, and always had a goal of being hired into my current position. I am very lucky and very fulfilled with both my children and career.
GTGA: Tell us about someone who has been a positive influence in your life.
Katie: Two people, no question. My mother, Sally Walters, has instilled values that I live by and she led by example. My mom represents and is the epitome of strength, courage, and unconditional love and is the best role model any daughter could have. Secondly, my boss, Patti Marshall. She has taught me the ins and outs of my career and set an example of a being a successful woman in the music industry. Patti is not only my boss and mentor, but she is also my friend. I would not be where I am today without the guidance, love, support, and encouragement from Patti.
GTGA: What is a motto you live by and why or how has it impact you?
Katie: Always, always be yourself and believe in yourself. Confidence is very empowering and only you can blaze your own path in life. Also, always be kind….you never know what someone else is going through.
GTGA: What is your biggest motivator?
Katie: Happiness. If you are happy with your job, family, and life in general, then waking up every day with a smile on your face is a gift.
GTGA: Tell us about an act of kindness you have done, witnessed or been the recipient of and how that made you feel.
Katie: I am a Board Member at the Brighton Center and I throw an 80s Party every February to benefit Brighton’s Recovery Center for Women (80% are recovering heroin addicts). The recovery ladies volunteer and help me set up the party. This year, I was able to have the Highland Country Club (party venue) donate a fancy lunch to the ladies. We all sat together and ate a served lunch on white tablecloths in the club’s dining room. The conversation consisted of past stories and choices made by everyone in the room. It really broke down a barrier and showed the women that people do care and they are of value. Just to see them treated nicely, eating a delicious lunch, and laughing made me almost cry from happiness. Each of those ladies matters and it reinforced why I throw the 80’s benefit party….because of them, not me.
GTGA: Tell us about what you do and what are some of the reasons why you enjoy it.
Katie: I am the promotions coordinator for Q102 radio. Essentially that means that I run “front of house” for Q102 and execute all events. Patti refers to me as “the station’s cheerleader.” I love my job because it’s different every day and I get to work incredible events and meet amazing people. The Q102 staff is family to me and I am very, very blessed in my career.
CINspirational People: Nick Beiler
CINspirational People is a new feature of Good Things Going Around profiling diverse people of Greater Cincinnati, what inspires them, and what is inspiring about them.
Today we are featuring Nick Beiler. He was interviewed by GTGA Intern Liza Hartke.
GTGA Intern Liza: Tell me a little about yourself. (Where you grew up, how old you are, where you went to high school, what your degree is in, any hobbies, 
basically, anything you would like to say!)
Nick: I’m 22 years old and I am a fashion design student at the University of Cincinnati. Growing up on the west side of Cincinnati, I always knew I was different from most of the people around me, and I eventually discovered it was because of my sexuality. For me, I was almost ashamed that I was gay and didn’t want anyone to know for fear of how people would react, especially since I attended Catholic school for 12 years and went to Elder High School. I think I channeled a lot of my emotions into art to express myself. I was always drawing something growing up, and it wasn’t until recently that I discovered I have a passion for makeup. I do drag as a hobby to use it as an outlet to show my creativity to the world. For me, it’s not about dressing up like a girl just for the heck of it. I see it as an art form. There is such a drastic transformation behind it all and I love it.
Liza: What is a motto you live by and why?
Nick: Live your life authentically regardless of what other people think. Live a life that you are proud of. So many of us get so caught up on what other people are going to think of our actions, that we don’t always do what will really make us happy. I think it’s so important to be you and have no fears. If you are enjoying what you are doing, who really cares what other people think. It’s your life, so make the most of it!
Liza: Tell us about what you do and what are some of the reasons why you enjoy it.
Nick: Right now, a lot of my life is devoted to improving my craft when it comes to drag and elevating it so that I could potentially make more of a career out of it. Right now, it is just a hobby, but I see so much room for growth, because I am constantly looking for ways to improve myself. I love doing drag because it makes me happy. It’s fun and so freeing to be able to take a break from all the stress in your life, go out with an entirely different persona, dance, and make friends. Ideally, I’d like to be able to showcase my art to a wider audience, but until then, I’m just trying to make sure I can have fun with it while still focusing on school.
Liza: When did you first start taking interest in drag and what inspired you?
Nick: I think it was 5 or 6 years ago that I really started to become interested in drag. I remember seeing RuPaul’s Drag Race on TV and being amazed at the art and transformation from the men to their drag persona. Not only that, but I was so inspired by their ability to be so open with who they were and what they loved. At this point in my life, I wasn’t openly 
gay, so it was so amazing to see people who were out and proud be celebrated on a television show.
(Note – Drag is the use of appearance (clothing, make-up, etc.) to perform a gender identity, often separate from one’s own, but not always. It involves taking stereotypical notions of gender to the extreme for the sake of entertaining an audience. Drag is an exploration and performance of the ways in which we perform gender in our everyday lives, taken to the extreme, and for entertainment purposes.”
Liza: What is an accomplishment that you are proud of within the last year and how did you get there?
Nick: I think my biggest accomplishment in the last year was being able to take my drag to New York City and Los Angeles and perform as my drag persona, Noodles. I’m in DAAP at UC, so I get to do various internships, and I was fortunate enough to go to New York and Los Angeles for a couple of them. When I was in New York, I would go out in drag, and I actually had my photo published in a Brooklyn new artist magazine. While I was in Los Angeles, I had the opportunity to perform at a very well respected gay bar, which was awesome!
Liza: What advice would you give to people who are in need or some inspiration and motivation in their lives? /// What advice would you like to tell young men and women interested in doing what you do?
Nick: I would tell them that they could be inspired by almost anything in life. Whether it is something they love or something they hate, they can channel the emotion into creating something amazing.
Liza: Tell us about someone who has inspired you.
Nick: I think one of my biggest inspirations is RuPaul. He has done so much for the LGBTQ community that I can’t even think of where to begin. He has so many quotes that inspire me daily, but one of my favorites would have to be “What other people think of me is not my business.” This has inspired me to think how I do today, honestly.
Liza: What and/or who is your biggest motivator?
Nick: My biggest motivator is definitely the idea that there might be younger gay boys (heck, any LGBTQ youth in general) that might look up to me some day in the same way that I look up to my idols. Knowing that makes me want to try so much harder to achieve all my dreams and to be a role model to others.
Liza: Where do you see yourself within the next few years?
Nick: I see myself on the same path I’m on right now – one towards happiness. I don’t know where life will take me, but at the end of the day, all I want is to be happy. And I hope that I will be.
Liza: Any other information or quotes you would like for us to feature in your post.
Nick: The quotes I really want to focus on are when I said, “Live your life authentically regardless of what other people think. Live a life that you are proud of.
CINspirational People: Brian Gregg
CINspirational People is a new feature of Good Things Going Around profiling diverse people of Greater Cincinnati, what inspires them, and what is inspiring about them. Today we are featuring Brian Gregg.
Know someone for us to consider? Please submit your idea.
GTGA: What is an accomplishment you achieved that you are proud of?
Brian Gregg: I don’t know that there is one single accomplishment I dwell on. Overall, I’m proud of beating the odds. I was born to a 17-year-old mother in a depressed steel town. She raised three children essentially on her own, at times making as little as $2.40 an hour. I worked as many as three jobs at a time to get through college. I’ve been blessed with a wonderful life and that foundation taught me anything is possible through hard work and determination.
GTGA: Tell us about someone who has been a positive influence in your life.
Brian: Everything I have today is because of my mother. She raised three kids, essentially as a single mom. We came from poverty. Not only was she a tremendous role model in how hard she worked and how great she was in caring for our family, but she put effort into keeping us on the straight and narrow. When I was a senior in high school and told her I had decided not to go to college, she absolutely put her foot down and insisted I go. If I hadn’t gone to college, my life would be completely different today, and not in a good way.
GTGA: What is a motto you live by and why or how has it impacted you?
Brian: “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” I’m a fighter. When life knocks you on your arse, get up, learn from the experience and get right back into something positive. If we are not moving forward, we are dying. Every negative experience we have is a learning experience that makes us better.
GTGA: What is your biggest motivator?
Brian: My children: Sydney, 3, and Tyson, 2. I waited until I was in my 40s to get married and had my first child at 45. I never really strongly desired children, but they now absolutely hold my heart. I’m motivated to provide them with a great life and tremendous experiences. I am motivated to teach them the importance of being a good person and having a positive influence on the world. I am motivated to prepare them for adulthood and whatever it throws their way.
GTGA: Tell us about an act of kindness you have done, witnessed or been the recipient of and how that made you feel.
Brian: My son had open-heart surgery at the age of two months. It was a life-or-death matter. The outpouring of support and love we received from family and friends during this time was genuine and comforting. The commitment Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center had to his care was reassuring. We were extremely grateful to live so close to one of the best children’s hospitals in the world. The whole ordeal made us much more appreciative of family, friends, our community and life.
GTGA: Tell us about what you do and what are some of the reasons why you enjoy it.
Brian: I am the chief communications officer at Hamilton County Job and Family Services. I spent a decade as a newspaper reporter and then a few years in corporate public relations. This job marries the desire I had as a newspaper reporter to “change the world” with my move to public relations. It is much easier to get excited about work that changes lives than it is about selling a product or peddling market research. JFS helps about half a million people in this community each year and there are many great stories for me to tell. I am frequently amazed at the work performed by the 800 employees who work at JFS. From Director Moira Weir on down, I am working with folks who really care deeply about the people they serve.
#CINspirational #CINspiration
CINspirational People: Lauren Ulmer
CINspirational People is a new feature of Good Things Going Around profiling diverse people of Greater Cincinnati, what inspires them, and what is inspiring about them. Know someone for us to consider? Please submit your idea.
GTGA Intern Liza Hartke interviewed Lauren Ulmer as this CINspirational People feature.
GTGA Intern Liza: What is a motto you live by and why?
Lauren: Be somebody who makes everybody feel like a somebody. I strongly believe in the first and foremost fundamental truth that every person you cross paths with has dignity and worth – and they should be treated that way! I like to make people happy and show people they are important, simply because they are. People are special, they are gifts, so I try to always remember that in my day to day life. If everyone lived with a little more love and kindness towards others, just think what our world would look like!
GTGA Intern Liza: What are you looking forward to this summer?
Lauren: Very soon I am leaving for a mission trip in Chimaltenango, Guatemala to do service work at Agua Viva Children’s Home, an orphanage of dozens of children. This will be my second year going and I couldn’t be more excited! Working at Agua Viva has impacted my life more than I could have ever imagined. The work we do is important and appreciated, such as building roads and chicken coups, painting, and landscaping, but the time we have to spend with the kids is so much more valuable to me. Despite what they’ve been through, these kids are the happiest, most loving children I’ve ever laid eyes on. Spending time with them playing on recess, eating meals, and doing crafts together are the simple things that mean so much to these kids, and in turn, me. The little things are the most valuable and are often the things we take for granted every day. They have taught me more appreciation, humility, friendship, and love in the short span of a mission trip than I have learned during most of my life. A few of the girls and I write letters back and forth, and it’s an amazing feeling knowing they remember me and can’t wait to see me again – Agua Viva has groups come consistently throughout the year to do service work. My heart is absolutely full when I am at Agua Viva and I can’t help but count down the days until I am in that beautiful country with the most beautiful kids ever!
GTGA Intern Liza: How can others get more information about Agua Viva?
Lauren: For anyone who is interested in Agua Viva, sponsoring a child, or donating, please visit http://www.aguavivahome.org/
GTGA Intern Liza: Where do you see yourself within the next few years?
Lauren: In the next year, I plan to graduate from Xavier University in the Spring of 2016 with a double major in Communication Studies and Public Relations and a double minor in Advertising and Theology. I will definitely celebrate and enjoy my accomplishments by going on some sort of traveling vacation, and hopefully my third trip to Agua Viva. I also hope to settle into a full time job and begin my career in anything along the lines of event planning, nonprofit work, or communications/public relations. The best is yet to come!
GTGA Intern Liza: What advice would you give to people who are in need or some inspiration and motivation in their lives?
Lauren: First, I would challenge others to choose to see the good. Often, I think our minds are so clouded with negativity towards others and the world because of all the bad that is thrown in our faces. But if you make the conscience choice to see the good in people and in every situation, I think you’ll be much more likely to fill the world with more good yourselves. I would also say it’s important to step out of your comfort zone. Normally I get very homesick, which is why a mission trip to Guatemala didn’t seem very realistic to me at first. But once I threw myself out there, I didn’t want to come home. I think if you step outside your own box of comfort, you will surprise yourself with opportunities and experiences you might never have imagined for yourself. If you never try, you’ll never know. So take a chance. Life’s too short to sit back and watch it go by!
GTGA Intern Liza: Who has been a positive influence in your life?
Lauren: I am very lucky to say my mom is one of my best friends. She is the definition of a hardworking, caring, and loving mother. She is involved in the community, her work, and at home, and sometimes I wonder how she balances it all! She has a zest for fun in life while walking humbly, doing whatever needs to be done without a second guess. This has rubbed off on me and I have my mom to thank for being such a good example to my brothers and I. For all you do, for all you say, for all you are – I lov
e you mom!!
GTGA Intern Liza: What is your biggest motivator?
Lauren: I have this mindset that “good enough” is not okay with me. I want my life, the people in it, and the experiences shaping it to be above and beyond amazing. Living an “okay” life is not appealing to me. This motivates me to live a life both myself and God are proud of. I try to go the extra mile, talk to more people, take chances, and experience every opportunity possible in life while I am able, and I hope in the process I can lift others up and glorify God.
GTGA Intern Liza: Thank you, Lauren! Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Lauren: I’ll leave you with Colossians 3:14: “Most of all, let love guide your life. “
CINspirational People: Christina DeVine
CINspirational People is a new feature of Good Things Going Around profiling diverse people of Greater Cincinnati, what inspires them, and what is inspiring about them. Know someone for us to consider? Please submit your idea.
GTGA Liza: What is a motto you live by and why?
Christina: “Change your mindset, change your life!”
GTGA Liza: What is an accomplishment that you are proud of?
Christina: An accomplishment I’m proud of is following my heart and passion. I was told so many times I wouldn’t make it, or people would say, “well at least you have your hair and make up job to fall back on!”
GTGA Liza: Tell us about what you do and what are some reasons why you enjoy it.
Christina: I love everything thing that Epic stands for healthy, active, lifestyle. People come in for a healthy meal replacement shake, which replaces most peoples’ “fast food diet.” We also run free exercise classes to help people to save money. Over time, we have become a family supporting and encouraging each other and not letting anyone give up! Not only do we provide a positive atmosphere where people can come hang out with us while they drink there shake, we really care about people. Everyone who walks in the door we greet by name and anyone who comes in is always treated like family! We are here to help support the community in getting healthy.
GTGA Liza: How did you get involved with Herbalife?
Christina: I got started in HERBALIFE when I turned 23. I was an overweight, low energy, and self-conscious hairstylist. I was having what I call my “mid life 20’s crisis.” My friend told me about a place that served these meal replacement shakes. I stopped in twice a day for breakfast and lunch. By replacing my “fast food diet” with vitamins, minerals and nutrients the side effect just so happens to be happiness, more energy and weight loss. People started to notice, which started my business journey.
GTGA Liza: So, what is your favorite shake?
Christina: Lemon cream cake! It’s delicious!
GTGA Liza: What advice would you give to people who are in need of some inspiration and motivation in their lives?
Christina: My favorite quote is: “Don’t ask for life to be easier, ask how to get better!” Jim Rohn
