LeadForward Vol.1 No. 1

SPECIAL GUEST

That desire fueled a lifetime of achievement. I became a FEMA inspector and trainer, co-founded two national companies, and eventually became an 8-time international bestselling author and speaker. But it wasn’t until I lost my beloved husband Tom that I truly began to understand my calling. His passing gave me the greatest gift of our marriage: the freedom to become who I was always meant to be. From Crisis to Calling My work with FEMA showed me the devastating impact disasters have on families, especially children. I saw firsthand how unprepared most people were, and how deeply kids were affected by fear, anxiety, and trauma.

That experience, combined with my passion for leadership and personal growth, led me to create BePreparedBeReady.org. Our flagship program, Kits4Kids, is a grassroots campaign that equips children with safety go-kits and empowers them to become leaders in their communities. Each safety go-kit fits into a child’s everyday backpack and includes essentials like the RescAlert tracker, BleedStop, a powder that stops bleeding from small cuts to large wounds, emergency contacts, , a light, an N95 mask, hand sanitizer, and even a fidget toy. But more than that, it gives them a sense of control—something many kids feel they’ve lost in today’s world. Giving Kids a Voice What makes Kits4Kids truly special is our Ambassadors Campaign. Children ages 13-17 submit a one-minute video explaining why they want to represent their community. Local ambassadors are chosen, with opportunities to rise to state and national levels.

58