Meet Abby Porter, an 18-year-old mental health supporter. She began her journey as an advocate at the age of 14 and has only grown since. Due to her advocacy, she has won awards, has had news articles published about her, has been featured in national podcasts, and has been able to speak regionally. She helps lead suicide prevention training in her school. She works very closely with the well-known mental health organization, NAMI. Abby loves taking her knowledge into her job taking care of children at local elementary schools before and after school. She loves encouraging the younger generations to advocate for their struggles and needs. She hopes to help normalize any struggles for youth with her work. She is planning on attending college next year and will be majoring in social work.
After completing her MBA from Syracuse University, Barb Stone embarked on a successful career as a senior female leader in manufacturing. Although she had lead different functions in manufacturing from customer service, planning, finance, and IT to reaching levels of Executive Vice President/CFO status, she realized that there was something more to life than climbing ladders. Prior to leaving her 25-year career in manufacturing, she started studying resiliency, and positive psychology which eventually led her to become a leadership development coach. Throughout this career, Barb has been involved in many non-profit organizations supporting their cause in the community. Barb completed her Co-active
Coaching program (CPCC); obtained a PCC level in the International Coaching Federation; completed her ORSCC training (Organizational Relational System Certified Coach) among other coaching supportive tools to help her clients, individuals, and organizations move their lives and missions forward. Barb is passionate about helping people make an impact in their world.
Introducing Brielle Pearl, a vivacious 17 year-old with a lot to say. She advocates for herself and others and is always up for a challenge. She is excited to share her talk and spread awareness of her topic. She is passionate about the mindset of being who you are no matter who is around.
Jennifer L. Bashant, Ph.D., LMSW, MA, founder of Building Better Futures, LLC, is a motivational speaker, educational consultant, and author, with the mission to increase capacity, improve outcomes, and promote wellness in both the personal and professional arenas. She is passionate about her work, which is evident in her engaging, high-energy trainings and in her ability to connect with educators and families in a compassionate and authentic way. Her approach is trauma-sensitive and strengths-based, and she seeks to foster collaborative relationships between educators and students as they work together as partners in learning. As a doctorate-level licensed social worker with over 20 years of experience, she shares her knowledge and expertise in a way that is heart-centered, practical, and relevant. Jennifer published her first book, “Building a Trauma-Informed Compassionate Classroom,” in 2020, and her “Positive Mindset Journal” in 2021.
She is a certified DiSC Work and Communication Styles trainer, and EQ-iEmotional Intelligence trainer, and she has received training from Mindful Schools, the International Institute for Restorative Practices, and Think Kids on Collaborative Problem Solving.
Jackson Bean is a 14-year-old student from Clinton High School. In his free time, Jackson enjoys art, theater, writing, and Model UN. Outside of school, he is a fan of film, animation, and music content, and likes listening to music while working on personal projects. He hopes to one day have a job that allows him to creatively express himself.
John Petrelli has been a professional fitness coach for over 30 years, having worked alongside some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry, from Grammy-Award-winning recording artists to A-list Hollywood actors. Not bad when you consider at eighteen John seemed bound for jail or the morgue.
In 2021, John's life took an unexpected turn when he became paralyzed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), a rare autoimmune disease that landed him in the ICU.
With a lifestyle so heavily dependent on physical health and well-being, John needed to rely on his mental strength to overcome this disease. Through this experience, John penned his first book "Confessions of a Hollywood Trainer". An instant Amazon #1 New release.
In 2024 John released the second book in the "Confessions of a Hollywood Trainer series - "Teen Edition”
John, inspired by the challenges he has faced, has dedicated his new lease on life, to helping others discover their inner strength and overcome obstacles in their lives.
Josey Bauer is a 7th grader at Clinton Middle School and is passionate about convincing others to put effort and pride into what they do. She is on her school's Cross Country and Track team and studies Martial Arts as her favorite sport. In her free time she likes to listen to music and binge-watch TV shows. She is optimistic and has won the Student of the Month award for humility this year. Josey believes that if others are passionate about something, no matter who they are, they should pursue it and put in their all.
Nithya Gopika Tammana is a 9-year-old environmental enthusiast dedicated to advocating for sustainable practices and community involvement. She is the founder of the Save Drop water conservation project, where her primary objective is to raise awareness about the environmental impact of wasting water while waiting for hot water to come during showers. Additionally, she actively promotes water conservation in general. Nithya's passion for sustainability extends to her involvement in Recycle My Battery, her brother's initiative, where she has facilitated the responsible recycling of over 10,000 batteries. Her proactive approach and commitment to making a difference have made her an inspiration for many, encouraging others to join the movement toward a more eco-friendly future.
Scott Grates is a national best-selling author, podcast host, entrepreneur, and sought-after coach for small business owners. As the leader of multiple thriving businesses that started from zero—and now generate millions of dollars annually, Scott understands the challenges faced by small business owners in their relentless pursuit of success against corporate behemoths. Scott is on a mission to empower entrepreneurs to harness the transformative power of relationship optimization in their communities. Scott teaches his Infinite Referral Advantage system which connects entrepreneurs with fellow small business owners, local schools, community service organizations, and star customers. As a father of three children, his lifelong passion is bringing real-world knowledge to students prior to graduation. He penned the book Essential F-Words for Teens in 2023 for his oldest son prior to his High School graduation. That book quickly became a best seller and now offers students coast-to-coast insight into the 117 things they need to know before graduation.