Session Two Speakers & Activites
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Speakers
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Ardeth Kapp
Ardeth is a native of Alberta, Canada and served as the General Young Women’s President from 1984-1992. She served with her husband, Heber, as he presided over the Canada Vancouver Mission, and as President and Matron of the Cardston Alberta Temple. Ardeth holds a Master’s Degree in Curriculum Development from Brigham Young University. She has been a member of the Church Curriculum Planning Committee, a Board Member of the Church Educational System, Deseret Book Company, and Deseret News Publishing Company, as well as a member of the Board of Trustees for Southern Virginia University. Ardeth has written numerous books and is a favorite speaker.
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John Bytheway
John uses humor, insight, and wit to entertain and inspire LDS youth around the world. He combines a level-headed approach to life with a contagious love of the scriptures and their ability to help us through life’s difficulties. John holds a Master’s Degree in Religious Education from Brigham Young University and is the bestselling author of A Crash Course in Teenage Survival, Heroes: Lessons from the Book of Mormon, Standards Night Live, Isaiah for Airheads, and several other books. After serving a mission in the Philippines, John met his wife, Kimberly, and they now have six children. John is the founder of a local chapter of The Andy Griffith Show Rerun-Watchers Club and does a mean impersonation of Deputy Sheriff Barney Fife.
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Mindy Gledhill
Mindy spent most of her youth in Eureka, California, where she was shaped by a wide range of music. Mindy’s family moved to Spain when she was 13, which gave her more of an opportunity to discover more types of music and learn a second language. Mindy’s family moved to Utah three years later. Mindy became a Media Music Major in college, got married, and had two very blonde boys. Her first album, The Sum of All Grace, resulted in two Pearl Awards for Best Inspirational Album and New Recording Artist in 2005, followed by Best Inspirational Song in 2006 for a compilation album. When she is not singing or touring, Mindy can be found perusing thrift stores for vintage dresses or scanning the classifieds for a potential new addition to her instrument collection.
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Hank Smith
Hank, a native of St. George, Utah, is known for his sense of humor and spiritual insight. He served a mission in California and is now a religion professor at Brigham Young University. He earned an MBA from Utah State University and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. Hank is well-known for his many “Talks on CD” like Do’s and Don’ts of Dating, Break Up With the World, and I Love My Friends!, all available through Deseret Book and Seagull Book. Hank is a favorite speaker at EFY and Education Week. He enjoys running marathons and eating lots of ice cream (which is why he runs marathons). Hank and his wife, Sara, live in Mapleton, Utah with their five children.
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Vivian Cline
Vivian, a native of Atlanta, Georgia, is a prominent speaker to both youth and adult groups around the world. Vivian has taught The Finishing Touch classes on personal grooming and social protocol and created a summer program at BYU called Polish With Pleasure. She copyrighted her own home management system and is currently the President and CEO of Executive Home Management Systems. She was the first female speaker and director of EFY, has taught at BYU Education Week, and was selected as the “Outstanding Speaker of the Year” for BYU Youth and Family Programs. Vivian is a former Mrs. Utah, has co-authored six books, and has authored her own book titled Dating, Dining, Dancing, and Other Teen Dilemmas. Vivian and her husband, Douglas, have raised five children.
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Debbie Forrest
Debbie is the co-founder and co-director of Time to Blossom. She grew up in California and attended Brigham Young University. In college, Debbie co-founded Women’s Conference, served as the ASBYU Women’s Vice President, and was Vice President of the Intercollegiate Association of Women College Students. Debbie and her husband, Bill, were blessed with seven children. Following Bill’s passing in 2000, Debbie was recognized as the Arizona Parent of the Year and named the 2004 National Parent of the Year in Washington, D.C. She was honored as a National Embrace Life Recipient and received the BYU Service to Family Award in 2010. She has served in her community as PTO President and has organized fundraisers to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for schools and non-profit organizations. Debbie has served as Stake Young Women’s President, Ward Young Women’s President, Seminary Teacher, and has organized many successful stake and ward Youth Conferences. Debbie founded an image consulting firm and has participated as a speaker at many conferences and events across the United States.
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Creg Ostler
Creg is a managing director at Stoker Ostler Wealth Advisors. Prior to founding Stoker Ostler in 1997 with Phil Stoker, Creg spent many years in senior positions with large national financial institutions, including Harris Bank. Creg has a Bachelor’s Degree in Financial Planning from Brigham Young University and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Chicago. Creg is a CFA and CFP. He is the co-founder of Inner City Youth Charitable Foundation in Chicago, a volunteer for Heifer International (an organization that provides livestock to needy families in developing countries), and serves actively in his church. He and his wife, Sondra, have seven children and 11 grandchildren.
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Heidi Swapp
Heidi is a blogger, crafter, and scrapbooker who just released a new craft line in Michaels craft stores. She runs Houseof3.com, a digital design website and store featuring Heidi’s stylish, creative work. Heidi used her talents to create the graphic design of Time to Blossom’s website and printed material. Heidi and her husband, Eric, have five adorable children.
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Julie Dainard-Lerch
As a high school drama teacher in Tucson, Arizona, Julie founded Creative Kids Piano Studio, a private business teaching drama and piano. Julie has been a teacher for over ten years and has also been actively involved as a speaker and director at several Girl’s Camps, Treks, Stake Road Shows, Young Women’s activities, and Stake Youth Conferences. While growing up in a small farming community in Alberta, Canada, Julie studied piano at the Royal Conservatory. She graduated from Brigham Young University in Theatre Arts Education and served a mission in Northern England. Julie now lives in Goodyear, Arizona where she raises her four children.
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Stephanie Eastman
Stephanie Eastman graduated from the University of Utah in Organizational Communications and served a mission at Temple Square. She is passionate about health and fitness and worked as a personal fitness trainer for three years prior to becoming a wife and mother. Her passion for health has led her to cultivate a love for healthy eating and exercise in her own family, and has inspired many others to want to live a healthier lifestyle. Stephanie and her husband, Paul, are the parents of three amazing children.
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Jef Rawls
Jef has been acting and performing in film, TV, video, commercials, and on stage for more than 20 years. Jef is the owner and producer of the Jester’Z Improv Comedy Troupe in Scottsdale, Arizona. He hosted ABC Channel 15′s Emmy Award-Winning kid’s educational program What’s Up. He can be seen in a number of commercials and has been featured on America’s Most Wanted, but not for reasons you might think. His acting career also includes educational videos, music videos, independent and feature films, and a variety of stage and theatrical performances. Jef serves as the Church Casting Liaison for Arizona where he assists in finding actors for church projects and can be found playing Ebenezer in the new video at the San Diego Mormon Battalion Visitors Center. He has been involved with the Mesa Easter Pageant as both an actor and Assistant Director. Jef enjoys music, long walks on the beach, and Rice-a-Roni. He is the proud father of four children.
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Angela Tahiliani
Angela Tahiliani graduated from the College of Natural Medicine and has hosted and produced a popular health radio show in Phoenix. She is the author of many books and columns regarding health, gives lectures throughout the country, and is an independent health consultant for professional athletes. Angela is currently serving as a scout leader in her ward and is working on a health and diet plan for the Mountain View High School Wrestling Team. She is on the board of the Anasazi Foundation, and funds many children’s shelters and battered women’s shelters with her husband Marc. Angela and Marc founded Awareness Life. Angela is a mother of three children and is very involved in their schools.
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Kiley Forrest
Kiley won a National Championship as a member of the BYU Cougarette dance team. In high school, Kiley led Mesa Mountain View’s Pom Team as Captain to a State Championship as well as to a Runner-Up finish at Nationals. A star dancer, Kiley has won many national and local dance titles. Kiley has used her dancing abilities to teach and choreograph dance. An active member of her community, Kiley earned her Young Womanhood recognition, participated in student government, and has helped raise money for local children’s charities. Kiley and her husband, Daniel, and live in Provo, Utah where they attend Brigham Young University.
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Krista Maurer
Krista grew up on a little island off the coast of South Carolina where she learned the importance of knowing who you are and standing strong in what you believe, even it it means standing alone sometimes. She studied Print Journalism at Brigham Young University and began her career in Public Relations at Deseret Book Company, where she oversaw media relations and marketing campaigns for recording artists including Gladys Knight, Alex Boye, Mindy Gledhill, Hilary Weeks, Kenneth Cope and many more. Krista now works as a private marketing consultant, owns Island Belle Photo, and is a regular contributor on Utah’s popular morning show Good Things Utah. But what really gets her excited is her current work launching Be Magazine, a new lifestyle magazine for teenage girls. The premier issue is set to release in 2013. Krista served a mission in Washington state and loves dictionaries, birthday parties, fresh flowers, Christmas lights, and good seafood.
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Cindy Spencer
Cindy Spencer is a cancer survivor of whose enthusiasm for life has always kept her involved in the community and local schools. A native of Salt Lake City, Cindy was head cheerleader at Skyline High School and later attended LDS Business College. After volunteering in the Emergency Room, Cindy decided to return to school to become a Registered Nurse. Cindy has been married for 16 years and has five children. She works as PTO President of Entz Elementary School and has served as a Young Women’s leader for 13 years.
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Carol Fawson
Carol graduated from Brigham Young University in Information Management and from Arizona State University with a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction. Carol is the curriculum and technology consultant for iKeepSafe. Her internet safety curriculum for elementary age students has been translated into several different languages and is used around the globe. Carol’s current project, Generation Safe, assists high school and middle school administrators to create healthy digital environments on campus and is currently being used in the United States, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, and Hong Kong. Carol loves technology and is passionate about helping youth find happy and healthy ways to use technology. She is a former Temple Square missionary and currently serves as Stake Girl’s Camp Director. Carol and her husband, Paul, have four wonderful children.
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Activities
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Jester’Z Improv Comedy Show
Jester’Z Improv Comedy specializes in clean improv comedy performances for all ages. They perform for local audiences every weekend in Scottsdale, Arizona, teach improv comedy classes, and perform for corporations all across Arizona, Utah, California and Idaho. Jester’Z has been coming to Time to Blossom since the beginning and they are always a crowd favorite!
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Mindy Gledhill Concert
Mindy will perform a concert for the young women on Thursday night. She has been working on a new album that will launch right after Time to Blossom. Her new song Anchor has been featured on television shows and commercials. The young women will love her vintage flair and catchy tunes.
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Craft Project
Heidi Swapp, a household name in the craft world, has been developing a special craft just for Time to Blossom. The young women have participated in projects like photo albums and inspirational wall hangings at past conferences. We can’t wait to see what Heidi has come up with for us this year!
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Dance Parties
After spending the days learning, serving, and making friends, the young women will get to dance the nights away. They get to release the last bit of energy they have before it’s time for bed. Time to Blossom dance parties are for young women only and are more fun than co-ed dances!
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Fashion Show
Time to Blossom features a fashion show where young women can dress up in their favorite outfit and walk the runway, showing the confidence and poise they have gained during the week. Participation is optional, but whether cheering from the audience or strutting down the walkway, the young women have a fabulous time.
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Service Project
Feeling better about yourself starts with helping others feel better about themselves. At Time to Blossom, young women will participate in a large scale service project for Fresh Start Women’s Foundation.