Meet our Mentors for Moms!

Peg Cramer is passionate about helping all children reach their full potential. She has been an Early Childhood educator since 1978, earning her Master in the Art of Teaching. Through her experiences Peg has seen proof of the developmental differences in children who’s parents have read, talked, and played with their child compared to the child who’s parent has not engaged their child’s brain during the most important years 0-5. Peg also believes that touching the hearts of students, creating a safe and trusting school environment, and building relationships with children, youth, and families, are keys to educational success.

In addition to her teaching and program coordination responsibilities, Peg also currently serves on the Governor’s Mentor Michigan Providers Council. She is a consultant for Children In Full Bloom, LLC and has published numerous educational materials. Peg also facilitates workshops, and writes articles for educators and parents. Peg enjoys the out-of-doors and loves family activities with her very supportive husband Doug and wonderful teenagers Molly and Nick.

Zonya Foco, R.D. is an expert on nutrition and wellness.She is the only Registered Dietitian (American Dietetic Association) and Certified Health and Fitness Instructor (American College of Sports Medicine) that is also a Certified Speaking Professional (National Speakers Association).

In addition to her full-time schedule of speaking for companies like Boeing, NASA, and Pfizer, and numerous radio and television shows, including those on HGTV, Knowledge TV, Discovery Health, and the home shopping channel, QVC, Zonya stars in her own national TV series, Zonya’s Health Bites, on PBS. To see her show about food, fun, and fitness, contact your Public Television Station for airtimes.

Zonya is the author of Lickety-Split Meals for Health Conscious People on the Go! (2004, ZHI Publishing, $23.95). This 400-page lifestyle book includes recipes, a complete grocery guide, and motivating health and fitness tips. She’s calculated that those who use the book to its capacity can save 5 hours a week, lose 1 to 2 pounds a week, and lower blood pressure and cholesterol, while the family enjoys delicious dinners at home! (Visit www.zonya.com for free Lickety-Split recipes and tips.)

Zonya and her husband Scott are the proud parents of 5-year-old Ridge. Parents and son regularly enjoy power walks together, waterskiing, snow skiing, mountain biking, and roller-blading, not to mention plenty of peek-a-boo and hide-n-seek.

Find out more about Zonya

Ruth Gordon Howard is an expert at improving the lives of women. She is the creator of Energy for Working Women: Never Be Tired Again!™ A revolutionary program that will restore your energy and bring back the balance in your life. Having been a TV and Radio Health Commentator and featured on the PBS series Taking Shape, Ruth is also a two time Health Promotion National Award-Winner. She has been published in the American Business Journals, Life Balance, and is quoted in such magazines as the Wall Street Journal's, Smart Money. She writes and speaks for women who live busy lives and need more energy.

Ruth is certified by the Institute for Aerobics Research, the American College of Sports Medicine, and she holds a masters degree in health promotion. She is an active member of the National Speakers Association and past Director on the Board of the Carolinas Speakers Association. Audiences love her energy, humor, and relevant message, all delivered with enthusiasm and practical skill. Ruth’s mission is to, “Inspire and Encourage Women to Restore the Energy, Joy and Balance in Their Lives.”

Find out more about Ruth

Maria Gracia, founder of Get Organized Now!, specializes in helping people get better organized to live the kind of stress-free life they've always dreamed of.

During Maria’s ten years with Dun and Bradstreet’s Nielsen Media Research in New York, Maria worked as a marketing, organizing and management specialist. Throughout her tenure, she managed the data analysis department, worked with hundreds of television stations and advertising agencies, and developed effective, productive systems for her clients and staff.

Today, Maria, Joe (her husband), and their beautiful daughter Amanda, live in Watertown, Wisconsin. Joe and Maria own and operate their company, Effective Business Systems. Maria founded the Get Organized Now! division in 1996.

Specializing in peak time and space management, Maria has over 15 years of organizational experience. Her broad range of skills covers clutter control, planning, scheduling, peak productivity, records management, space planning, time and paper management, filing systems and computer oriented organizational systems and more.

Maria is the author of Finally Organized, Finally Free for the Home and Finally Organized, and Finally Free for the Office. Both have been read by thousands of people all over the world. In addition, she has created a variety of other helpful organizing products, sold worldwide.

Find out more about Maria

An experienced speaker, Patricia honed her presentation skills through University Extension work in leadership, volunteer and staff development. She launched her own training and consulting business in 1986, and delivers an average of 65 programs a year. Patricia publishes the weekly e-zine, Pause, which is read by some 2000 subscribers. She has authored four books and published over 350 newspaper columns. She is a frequent contributor to trade journals and newsletters — and a lively guest expert in other media on issues of productivity and balance. Patricia has participated as a Director on the National Board of CAPS (the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers), serving as President in 2000. She is a CHRP (Certified Human Resource Professional) and a Past President of the Saskatchewan Training & Development Association.

Find out more about Patricia

Christine Martinello, President of Training Solutions International since 1993, is a recognized authority on leadership, teambuilding, and communications. She presents keynote speeches, seminars and consults both nationally and internationally. She is author of The Momager Guide: Empowering Moms To Leave A Loving Legacy.

She is a highly motivating speaker with corporate and non-profit clients including Merrill Lynch, Iams Corp, Girl Scouts of America and the US Dept. of Energy among others. Christine is a media-featured speaker and appeared on the European Business News with more than 40 million viewers, and many radio stations.

She lives in Dayton, Ohio, has been married to Bob for 12 years and is a Momager of three school-aged children. She is a community leader, served on the board of Caring Families and Ministry of Mothers Sharing and is the founder of Cheltenham Women's Group. As "The Legacy Leader" Christine shows women how they can leave a loving legacy with their families and lead in all areas of their life.

Find out more about Christine

Dr. Elisa Medhus is a family physician with thirteen years experience dealing with the issues that today’s families face. Although she retired from medicine to homeschool and be a full time mother to her children, she still has a large following of former patients who frequently call or drop by her home for medical advice, comfort or help. She has a gift for communicating with others, making them feel comfortable and sensing their emotional, physical and spiritual needs.

Being a mother of five children, (Kristina, age 19, Michelle, 17, Erik, 14, Lukas, 11, and Annika, 9) Dr. Medhus is uniquely suited to discuss issues concerning parents. In Raising Children Who Think for Themselves, her passion to change the world for the better by teaching children how to make self-directed choices is palpable, sincere and deep. Her work has been featured on national broadcast and print outlets including Good Morning America, The Houston Chronicle, a Seattle morning show, The Houston Post. She resides in Houston, Texas with her husband, her five children, their three dogs, and other transients from the plant and animal worlds.

Find out more about Dr. Medhus

Eileen Roth is a national speaker, trainer, and consultant in the areas of office organization, time management and home organization. She is also the author of the book Organizing For Dummies® which incorporates all three major areas of organization.

Eileen named her company Everything in its Place® because she truly believes that you can find a P-L-A-C-E™ for everything. Applying her principles reduces your stress, save you time and money, and most importantly, you can find things WHEN you need them. Eileen’s organizing principles are simple to remember, easy to implement, and maintenance is minutes a day to stay that way.

Eileen Roth has been featured on the Today Show, Oprah, and in various media including the Chicago Tribune, LA Times, Woman’s Day, Reader’s Digest, and even Men’s Health!

On a personal note, Eileen has raised two daughters, and always will be “Mom” to them. She also has children and grandchildren through her second marriage

Find out more about Eileen

A best-selling author and parent educator, she is the founder and director of PARENT GUIDANCE WORKSHOPS in New York City, and the writer of four highly acclaimed books:

Loving Your Child Is Not Enough: Positive Discipline That Works

Love & Anger: The Parental Dilemma chosen by CHILD Magazine as The Best Parenting Book of 1991!

Loving Each One Best: A Caring and Practical Approach to Raising Siblings

Loving Without Spoiling & 100 Other Timeless Tips for Raising Terrific Kids, designed for busy parents and filled with practical and accessible solutions for any problem parents may face.

She is a frequent guest on TV and radio throughout the United States and Canada and has appeared on the Today Show (April 28, 2005 click for video), 20/20, CNN, Good Morning America, Dateline NBC and many others. For more than two decades, Nancy has conducted ongoing workshops for parents of toddlers through teens. She has been the keynote speaker and lecturer at countless schools, institutions, and corporations in the United States and overseas.

Find out more about Nancy

When it comes to helping parents create happier families, there is nothing Suttle about Marilyn Suttle. For over a decade she has been providing programs packed with practical information you can use. Marilyn shows you how to create satisfying relationships, reduce sibling rivalry, increase self esteem and responsible behavior. A graduate of the University of Michigan, she has trained under world-renowned experts and has presented uplifting programs around the country to Fortune 500 companies, such as Ford Motor and Pfizer Corporation; to Associations, such as The Alliance for Work/Life Progress and The Association for Child Abuse Prevention.

Her e-newsletter: Life in Balance: Thriving Kids/Thriving Parents, gives parents tips and tools to build balanced lives and happier, more effective relationships at home and at work with practical human-potential skills. Marilyn is a parenting columnist for the Observer-Eccentric newspapers, creator of the CD "Problem Solving Strategies for Parents," and is co-author of the forthcoming book, "The Better Bottom Line, Strategies for Developing Your Business" She shares delightful stories filled with useful skills and principles.

Find out more about Marilyn