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Valerie René Sheppard, PhD
Founder, Executive Director & Board Chair Dr. Valerie René Sheppard is a catastrophic-stroke survivor, inspirational keynote speaker, workshop and retreat facilitator and CEO of The Heartly Center for Mindfulness and Self-Mastery™. Dr. Valerie uses the principles and practices in her multi award-winning, #1 international best-seller, "Living Happy to Be ME!©" as the centerpiece of her transformational coaching practice, which is helping young people and adults, executives and entrepreneurs experience more happiness, success and fulfillment. The book is the centerpiece of her much-loved personal development curriculum that was successfully piloted at the University of California, Irvine from 2015-2019.
Dr. Valerie is on the Board of the Evolutionary Business Council™. She is a certified Master Trainer, a certified Sacred Contracts coach, and has been trained in compassionate communication, spiritual direction and HeartMath. As a professional improv comedienne, Valerie’s specialty is finding ways to keep transformational work light, and she often incorporates improv tips and games, and Laughter Yoga into her workshops and keynote addresses. Dr. Valerie was featured on the August 2016 cover of My Authentic Life Magazine, has been published in award-winning 11:11™ Magazine, and is a Featured Luminary on InspireMeToday.com™. She has also been featured contributor to numerous leadership and heart-centered living radio shows, podcasts and tele-summits. Dr. Valerie received her PhD in Consciousness and Human Potential in 2021. She is a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success and a recipient of its Excellence in Service Award. Other recognition includes the 2021 Barbara Marx Hubbard Outstanding Evolutionary Leader Award and the 2020 Platinum Mentorship Award. |
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Sherri Richards
Chief Financial Officer Sherri Richards is a Business Consultant, leveraging experience working with best practices taking companies from worst to first as a “money therapist” and CFO. Sherri has held leadership positions at companies including DTNA. As Founder of Rise Consulting since 2009, she provides CFO services to small businesses to get started, find funding and/or helping them grow to the next level. In 2018 she launched Good Fat Life, a lifestyle magazine and health and wellness company. Sherri is an Adjunct Professor at Cleary University. She also gives back by serving in the world of non-profits.
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Tori Colby
Secretary & Torch Bearer Tori is an alum of Valerie’s Living 101 and Living 102 courses at UC Irvine. She started the courses with a vague understanding of what it meant to take care of herself, and ended them with a much deeper connection to herself and the Universe. Since then, Tori has worked with Valerie as a Student Assistant for the Living 101 and Living 102 courses, as well as the Operations Manager for The Heartly Center for Mindfulness and Self-Mastery™. Seeing how impactful this work can be firsthand, Tori intends to continue spreading this message of love and light across the globe.
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Gary Stuart
Board Member Gary Stuart is a four-time #1 International bestselling Author, Speaker and Personal Development expert for over 45 years. He’s a master Constellation healing facilitator of over 2 decades. He’s been featured on The Dr. Nandi Show globally for ABC TV also with Bryan Gallo at NBC Palm Springs.
Gary is a consummate social activist and humanitarian who supports making the world a better place. My involvement with Hearts Awakening is to support a brighter future for all who participate. |
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Jerry Rivas
Torch Bearer Jerry Rivas is a Living 101 and 102 alumni and has taken the courses a total of five times. He has been an enthusiastic student of Valerie’s work and has benefited deeply from the teachings, working through mental health, substance use, and self-esteem issues. He seeks to help other young people facing similar situations. He is starting a career in mental health and will be pursuing a masters program for study in Somatic Psychology at California Institute of Integral Studies. Jerry is a certified meditation and breathwork teacher (Art of Living), crisis counselor (Crisis Text Line), and group therapy facilitator with a BA in Public Health from UC Irvine. Jerry has worked as a residential counselor/assistant at foster group homes for at-risk youth (Wayfinder Family Services), and homeless shelters for LGBTQ youth (LA LGBT Center).
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Michael Lara
Torch Bearer Michael Lara is an operational mission-oriented individual empowering tomorrow’s leaders. Michael passionately works to help make the world a better place, motivating and inspiring others, globally and locally, to take the same challenge. As a leader, providing professional and personal development is a deliverable that he highly values. Michael aspires to be a positive role model and a helping hand to others in need. He strongly believes in Mister Rogers’s philosophy, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” Heart Awakening is important to him in being that transformational leader for the community to change lives.
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Athena Papasodero
Torch Bearer Athena Papasodero is a Scientist who is passionate about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. She earned her Maters in Biomedical Science at the University of California-Irvine and her Bachelors in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology at the University of California-Santa Cruz. Athena aims to enact meaningful change in the lives of underrepresented minority youth by contributing to and organizing outreach efforts. These efforts are designed to empower young people and their total well-being, including their physical, mental, emotional, and financial health. Thus allowing them to thrive and bring their unique background and ideas into the world to promote innovation.
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