Q102
Amy Tobin Dwells In Possibility
I love this quote by Howard Thurman, “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”
It reminds me a lot of Amy Tobin. When I think about Amy, I smile. She just has that effect on people. I’m not really even sure how we first met but each time our paths cross, what stands out to me most is her energy and enthusiasm. It is infectious.
The header on her website says it all…’Inspired Ideas’.
“I love sharing ideas, inspiration and advice with people that make our everyday life just a little more celebratory, beautiful and delicious,” she told me. “I’ll never forget, one Thanksgiving years ago, looking around the table and taking such pride and pleasure in the mood, the food and the experience I had created for my family. I was also struck by the fact that creating a holiday meal, dinner party or even a weeknight dinner, didn’t come easily to everyone. That fueled my focus on creating easy, approachable “food for family and friends” and my cookbook by the same name. From time saving ideas to presentation tips to products I love, I especially love when people let me know that something I’ve shared with them has made a difference in their life.”
Amy has come a long way since throwing her first dinner parties in high school. These days she divides her time between being director of the Event Center at New Riff Distillery, owner of Amy Tobin & Company (a lifestyle consulting company) and host of Amy’s Table on WKRQ/Q102 (and spending quality time with her family and friends).
“My passions are found in my work, from creating great food to interviewing interesting guests to encouraging my team to expand and grow, I love how I spend my time. These same channels allow me to give back to the community, too. From raising awareness on-air to MC-ing events to my team and I working with Northern Kentucky youth, I try to share my resources with the community,” she told me.
Lisa: What are some of your simple pleasures; why are they simple pleasures, and how do they make you feel?
Amy: My morning ritual is a simple pleasure that I couldn’t live without! My husband brings me coffee in bed every morning and I honestly savor it as I wake up and think about my day. I do a bit of reading, journaling and meditation before my feet even hit the floor. I know this practice puts me in a great position to seize the day.
Lisa: Do you have a favorite saying or words you live by? If so, what and why?
Amy: My favorite saying comes from Emily Dickinson who said “I dwell in possibility”.
I dwell there, too. I frequently put the “what” I’m trying to do before the “how” which creates endless possibilities in the way I work and play. I don’t focus on obstacles- instead I spend my time thinking about life’s potential.
CINspirational People: Tim Timmerman
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, let’s go behind-the-scenes with radio personality Tim Timmerman, currently a co-host with the very popular Jeff & Jenn Morning Show on Q102 (WKRQ) in Cincinnati. I have known Tim for many years and recently ran into him again at an event downtown. Tim came up to me and wanted to know how I was doing, and if there was anything he could do to help. That meant so much to me. It is who Tim is, an all around generous person who enjoys learning about and helping others. I’m glad to have this opportunity to share a little more about him.
Lisa: How did you get started in radio?
Tim: I grew up in Detroit and my dad worked for Pontiac. I remember him taking me with him on a Take Your Kids To Work Day, and thinking, ‘that looked really boring.’ I thought, ‘I’ve got to do something really fun with my life.’ I’ve been in radio now for about 18 years. After high school, I got a job at a station and have been in the business ever since.
Lisa: What do you enjoy the most about your profession?
Tim: I like that there really are not two days the same and I get to meet so many different people. What I also get a lot of fulfillment from is how we get to help people tell their story whether it is a charity event or a caller wanting to share part of a day. I use my job to do some really cool things for people.
Lisa: Can you give us some examples?
Tim: Sure. One time a listener called in to share a story of his coach who needed a kidney. By our talking about it on air, other people started calling in and we found a kidney donor. That was really a neat moment. I never thought when I came in to work that day, that something like that was about to happen.
And one year, after the Flying Pig Marathon, a man called in to share his story. He was making good time until at the very last mile his ankle snapped. A young woman who was also in the race carried him to the finish line, and once they crossed the line, she made sure he got help before leaving without giving him her name. He wanted to find out who she was. One of her friends heard the story, reached out to her, and we did a conference call for the two of them to meet. We then coordinated with the Marathon organizers to re-
Cincinnati radio personality Tim Timmerman worked with the Flying Pig Marathon to help this runner finish the race
create his finish. We went to the exact spot, had the finish line up and when he crossed the line, gave him a medal. That woman was there too. That was really neat.
Lisa: Who is someone who has been an influence on you?
Tim: There have been a few folks who have taken me under their wing like Jim Scott and Patty Marshall, who is my current boss.
Lisa: What are some things that they taught you?
Tim: They really encouraged me to think outside of the box and push myself into areas I was afraid to go. Getting a real estate license is something that I have been wanting to do for a long time, and with their encouragement, I signed up at Honduras College, studied and did it. I’ve had my license since April and I have sold six homes since then.
Lisa: Do you have a motto that you try to follow?
Tim: Well, one thing is that it is better to beg for forgivessness than ask for permission. The more I am on air the more I believe that. If you ask for permission, you may knit pick why you shouldn’t do something and then you may not do it and you may regret it. If you just say, ‘I’m not worried about being stupid, making mistakes or falling down. I’m just going to do it,’ then you will do great things.
You need to make things happen yourself. I taught radio at the Ohio Center for Broadcasting and Ie always told the students, ‘no one will hold your hand and make things happen. You’ve just got to hustle and make stuff happen.’
Lisa: What are some of your simple pleasures in life?
Tim: I enjoy being with friends whether we are just hanging out or going to the University of Cincinnati football game or cooking. I love making a meal for people and watching them enjoy it; and talking about the day and life and people in their world. I have a group of friends with whom we have dinner together each week. I also like to take my dog, Steve, for walks.
#GoodThingsCincy #CINspiration
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.
Celebrating Differences Is What ReelAbilities Is About
I was reminded the other day of how great it has been knowing that my public relations career has been focused on bringing awareness and relationships to some truly impactful causes and organization.
And a client about which I was so passionate and miss the most was an organization called the Inclusion Network. For eight years I worked with them year round promoting the message that everyone has gifts and abilities, and that bringing those unique gifts together we strengthen each other. We strengthen our community.
I was one of the lead producers of the Inclusion Leadership Awards Event responsible for the strategic messaging including hiring and working with speakers to keep their speech on target, writing the script and the videos, working on all facets of the program portion, coordinating the media relations and more. And I saw that event grow to where it was hosting more than 900 people at the end.
Business and community leaders, professionals, housewives, students, volunteers, people who walk and people who use wheelchairs, people who benefit from large print programs and open captioned video screens, sign language interpreters or cups with handles instead of glassware all came together for a two and a half hour event that was designed to somehow change the world as they knew it. They heard about stories of organizations that instinctively know how to uncover talent, and of people, whose abilities are no longer obscurities. Acceptance was no longer an abstract. Inclusion, they learned, was not about THEM, but about ME.
Actor Danny Woodburn continues to stand out to me as the speaker whose message I will always remember. Danny shared his story of an actor, comedian and activist whose talents were born in the hardships of a world unaccepting of a medical condition known as dwarfism. All too well, he knows the sting of rejection and ridicule because he has lived it his entire life. But Danny told our vast audience that through his work, he has had the ability to influence attitudes. Offensive words, he has found, are generally rooted in 
misunderstanding and he openly corrects producers, directors and other actors.
At the end of Danny’s speech I remember he told us, “Even though every script is a battle to see how much I will comprise, it is worth it as long as there is dialogue.” Then he looked into the audience and added, “It is inspiring to me as I look out at all of your faces and see that there are comrades in this battlefield.”
To this day, Danny’s words and character continue to impact me. Sure, I love the fact that every time we talk he can always make me laugh but what I love even more is Danny’s true depth of humanity. He is truly one of those unique gifts and someone who I feel so blessed to be able to call a friend.
And the reason I am bringing this all up is because it is all leading up to a new client that is allowing me to continue this path of bringing communities together through the differences that make people uniquely great.
Organized by Cincinnati nonprofit LADD (Living Arrangements for the Developmentally Disabled), the Cincinnati ReelAbilities Film Festival is our region’s largest film festival that explores the world as experienced by people with disabilities. It will include a a star studded awards premiere luncheon, gala, and 30 film and speaking events throughout Greater Cincinnati. All of the film screenings benefit local nonprofit organizations that enhance the lives of people with disabilities.
The Festival will be February 27 to March 7, 2015 and next week I invite you to join us at our big red carpet unveiling party at the eloquent Obscura cocktail lounge in downtown Cincinnati from 7 to 9 pm. The films and venues will be announced before hundreds 
of guests by actor John Lawson and Q102’s Jenn Jordan.
Here is a link to register for the free event.
The ReelAbilities Film Festival was founded in 2007 in New York City by the Manhattan JCC and has grown to become the largest film festival in the country dedicated to sharing the stories, lives and art of people who experience disability. It is now headquartered in Cincinnati and is a division of LADD. It includes a total of 13 Festivals across the country. Cincinnati holds the second largest one.
Danny, who most recently plays the voice of Splinter in the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie, was recently interviewed in Soapbox Media about ReelAbilities.
“Actors with disabilities are 90 percent less likely to be seen, and many characters with disabilities aren’t actually played by actors with disabilities,” he said. “It’s important for work like this to be done, and if I have the chance to speak out and be heard because I’m recognizable from being in the public eye, then I feel it’s my responsibility to do so.”
“But this isn’t just about actors getting work,” Woodburn continues. “Two-thirds of people with disabilities are unemployed; we need to raise awareness of that fact. If we want that to change, we as a society have to create an environment for change.”
