Claire Capek has filmed hundreds of auditions. She’s also memorized thousands of pages of scripts, wowed casting directors almost at every turn, and held her head up despite her fair share of no callbacks — all with the belief that her first major acting breakthrough was somewhere out there in the universe.

Well, her big break finally came. And now 17-year-old Marcus High School Senior is playing the waiting game again.

Only this time it’s for the world premiere date.

Capek will star alongside Candace Cameron Bure and Marc Blucas in “A Christmas…Present,” which is scheduled to air November 27 on the Great American Family channel. In the film, Maggie Larson (Bure) is a busy Type A mom and successful real estate agent who travels with her husband (Blucas) and children to spend Christmas with her widowed brother and daughter. Through a series of transformative events, Maggie learns to slow down and embrace the reason for the season.

Capek plays Bure’s daughter, Becca Larson. She hopes this will be the first significant domino to fall in her budding career.

“Hopefully. It’s exciting,” Capek said.[Filming a movie] honestly didn’t feel long enough; it passed quickly. But it’s exciting and I love everyone I work with. They were all so nice and welcoming. I’m happy every time I’m on set.”

“A Christmas…Present” is part of the Great American Family network’s Christmas programming, which began October 21 and will air Christmas movies every day through the end of the year. This particular film made headlines considering it’s Bures – most people know her as DJ Tanner from Full House – as the first original Christmas film since leaving Hallmark. She signed with Great American Media in April to develop, produce and star in films and television.

The opportunity to work with such a high-calibre cast is huge for Capek. The 5ft 10in strawberry blonde from Highland Village was first spotted at the age of 5 doing an impromptu runway walk for a children’s magazine. By the time she got to the front of the runway, the judges had already pulled her aside and were smitten with the pint-sized diva.

She was signed to the Kim Dawson Agency and graced the cover of North Texas Child magazine when she was 6 years old. This early success launched a fairly successful modeling career, during which Capek modeled for JC Penny, American Girl, Academy Sports catalogues, and various other opportunities. Two years ago, she added 42 Model Management to the modeling management list. But she stayed with Kim Dawson for acting and continues to train with Cathryn Sullivan’s Acting for Film to perfect her craft.

Until recently, she was always oh so close to a big break.

“She has regular acting auditions and has done several videos and short films. But the challenge was that during her 11 years of non-stop training on Cathryn Sullivan’s Acting for Film, she always came very close to a bigger opportunity, but never had that one big break,” said Claire’s mother, Shannon. “There just haven’t been many acting perfect fits for a 5-10 redhead.”

She added, “To be told no a hundred times and finally get this one means a lot.”

Claire agreed.

“It’s been a big roller coaster because I’ve always been working and doing something,” Claire said of her modeling and acting career. “I remember getting that script and treating it like another audition. I told myself, as always, I would do my best and let it go into the universe. I honestly didn’t think about it after that because I’ve learned after years of auditioning that it’s the best way not to stress about it. But then I got the email from my agent about a call back.”

Claire auditioned for “A Christmas…Present” on August 29 and received her first call back about a week later. Ironically, the Zoom video recall was scheduled for the same day the Capeks were scheduled for the annual St. Ann’s Carnival at their church in Coppell.

Claire and Shannon brought all their gear and settled into an empty room for the recall.

“We’ve always prayed for the right job at the right time and for the right people to surround her,” Shannon said. “The fact that the recall was for a Christian film – and it took place in our church – was an amazing sign.”

Claire was quickly offered the role of Becca Larson. Despite being 8 inches taller than Bure, her height perfectly suited her father on set, Marc Blucas. They began filming on September 22nd and Claire finished her last day on set at 2:15am on October 12th

From there it was back to reality to take her midterm exams and prepare for the homecoming dance.

And in a few days she’ll probably be throwing the biggest local premiere party ever.

“It’s going to be an exciting time to get it all wrapped up and on TV,” Claire said. “We will watch.”

Your New Jersey Devils have been in an uproar lately, winning 11 straight games! The most recent win was a 3-2 overtime thriller over the Toronto Maple Leafs.

It’s the Devils’ longest winning streak since they won 11 straight wins in 2005-06, falling two wins short of their 2000-01 record of 13. Jesper Bratt and Nico Hischier scored and Vitek Vanecek made 25 saves for the Devils (14-3-0).

According to the Devils, “The winning streak has been about the team as a whole, it’s not a single performance that they’ve wanted up to this point. You can see it just by dissecting the stats”.

Jack Hughes has 15 points over the stretch, Jesper Bratt has 12 and captain Nico Hischier has 11. Both Tomas Tatar and Dougie Hamilton are 10 points clear of the winning streak, with Miles Wood contributing eight points on the fourth row.

Jack Hughes is a rising star.

Jack Hughes is not only a rising star, he can also do interviews. When an unsuspecting reporter asked what the Devils could do for more consistency, he pointed out that they had a (then) 9-game winning streak that they were “doing well.”

The Devils lead the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference and have the second-most points in the entire NHL.

The Devils’ next game is Sat at 1 p.m. in Ottawa against the bottom-placed Senators in the Atlantic Division.

The opinions expressed in the post above are those of New Jersey 101.5 talk show host Bill Doyle only.

You can now listen to Deminski & Doyle — On demand! Listen to New Jersey’s most popular afternoon radio show any day of the week. Download or listen to Deminski & Doyle’s show anywhere podcasts are available on our free app.

Click here to contact an editor about feedback or a correction for this article.

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Early in his collegiate career, Skyler Denny was convinced that he would become an offensive lineman in the NFL. However, life had other plans and he was put back on the path to another longtime interest – financial planning.

From a young age, Denny became interested in financial planning, in large part because he heard his parents discuss the complexities of their own taxes as a small business owner. He began reading books on money management and financial planning in sixth grade.

Denny graduated from Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences in May 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics with a concentration in Finance and Real Estate and a minor in Financial Planning. After six years as a professional consultant and financial planner at two large companies, he and his wife Jordan opened Legacy Financial Designs in Spring, Texas in early 2021. The company provides financial planning services and portfolio management for individuals and small businesses.

Denny is part of an industry where demand has skyrocketed – and where companies are seeking talented, well-prepared people who can provide sound professional advice to those who need it. In fact, the demand for qualified certified financial planners made it necessary to limit the number of registered employers interviewing prospective Texas A&M students at the recent Texas A&M Financial Planning Career and Education Conference.

The Financial Planning program is currently offered as a minor for students with expansion plans. Students who successfully complete all course requirements are eligible to sit the Certified Financial Planner exam. For working professionals, an advanced learning certificate program is offered for those who wish to become a certified financial planner.

We asked Denny to share with us why he became a financial planner, what’s important about the job to him, what made him special during his college experience, and what it’s like to run your own business.

What made you decide to become a financial planner?

When I was growing up, my mother had a small photography shop. This complicated my parents’ financial situation. I remember every year they complained about their tax situation and were not sure what they needed to do to improve tax efficiency. Like many people, they did not have a professional to help them plan their finances and make decisions that could reduce their tax burden. Watching this fight sparked my interest in finance from an early age. I started learning about basic money management around the age of 11 and my interest in the subject continues to this day.

Also, I was convinced that I was going to be a professional soccer player and I wanted to know what to do with all the money I was going to make. I wanted to manage my own finances. However, during my freshman year as a football player at Sam Houston State, I realized that I would never be an offensive lineman in the NFL. But I was able to pursue my interest in financial planning, so I moved to Texas A&M. I had looked at their financial planning and found that it contained the courses I needed to take my education and career in that direction.

What is the best thing about financial planning?

Personal finances are one of the biggest stressors in life and the leading cause of divorce. As I help people make informed decisions about money, I have the opportunity to make their lives more rewarding by eliminating financial burdens. Most people have no idea what they can or cannot do in their current financial situation and I help my clients understand how to maximize their wealth and achieve their lifelong goals and dreams. I want to help people and that’s why I do what I do.

I think I want to help families create the life that really demands them. I help them identify and achieve their financial goals by helping them develop a financial plan and stick to it. I also help them to achieve certain goals, e.g. B. Ensuring their children can attend college without jeopardizing other longer-term financial goals. I named my company Legacy Financial Designs because our goal is to help people design a personalized financial plan that will help them not only secure their own financial independence, but also build a legacy for the future.

What was your favorite financial planning course at Texas A&M and why?

My favorite class would be Fundamentals of Financial Planning. This class should be a requirement for all students, regardless of major. Unfortunately, our public education system has almost no focus on teaching young people about money or finance, which I find absurd. Fundamentals of Financial Planning taught me to apply basic financial, economic, and institutional concepts and covered financial topics such as budgeting, credit management, investment strategies, income taxes, risk management, and retirement and estate planning.

I’ve learned that financial independence starts with the basics. Without adequate cash flow, the ability to build wealth is impossible. Financial independence comes from having a stable income, proper budgeting, cutting expenses wherever possible, and paying yourself first. When you pay yourself first, I mean putting money aside for savings and investment purposes.

Who was one of your favorite financial planning teachers—and why?

I honestly feel that Dr. Nathan Harness, a teaching professor at the Department of Agricultural Economics, is the best of the best in the country when it comes to teaching financial planning. He was a great professor and I now consider him a friend too. He takes the time to get to know his students and serve as a true mentor. As a student, he helped me see how economics applied to the real world. I can honestly say that I wouldn’t be where I am today without his guidance.

What is your most memorable experience while taking classes at Texas A&M?

In my senior year, I and two other students worked on a fictional financial plan for the National Financial Planning Association. Students from across the country have the opportunity to create a case study and submit it for review by industry experts, and our plan was accepted. After the evaluation, it was identified as one of the best submissions. Those with the top eight submissions were invited to present at the national conference, held in Boston that year. dr Harness accompanied us to the conference both as a companion and as a mentor.

How did the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences prepare you for the opportunity to own and run your own financial planning business?

The courses I took gave me the skills to be a financial planner. I particularly remember the entrepreneurship course, which gave me an understanding of what it takes to run my own business. It gave me a great picture of what it’s like to own a business. At Legacy Financial Design I am 100% responsible for everything. The mix of coursework gave me the skills I needed as well as the knowledge of how to conduct the research needed to find answers for me as a business owner – and for my clients.

You are newly married and work together with your wife in your company. How’s that for you?

Believe it or not, after almost four years of marriage and six months of working together every day, Jordan and I still feel like newlyweds, so we must be doing something right.

Before we started our own business, Jordan and I always worked late at our respective jobs and were like ships sailing by in the night. But now we work together and see each other all the time. We work well together, so it’s been a blessing for us.

Jordan has a background in nursing — she’s a registered nurse with experience in emergency and operating rooms — and many of the skills she developed as a nurse lend themselves well to financial planning. First of all, she has always had a passion for helping others improve their quality of life and now she can do that by helping people achieve financial independence.

As our Head of Customer Service, she is also the “face” of the company and is usually the first person a customer speaks to or sees. She uses her knowledge of human nature to get to know the customers and understand their needs. She also directs all of our marketing efforts and assists with the creative needs of the business.

I also learned that constantly telling Jo what to do just doesn’t work, so we developed workflows and processes that were a lifesaver. Now the computer tells her what to do – not me. This has really helped keep things running smoothly in the office.

-30-

“A new real estate professional wants to buy an apartment in Milwaukee that she can make her own. She is looking for a house to accommodate her sister who is moving in and with her current house being under contract she needs to find something fast.”

This is how HGTV describes this week’s episode 10 of season 223 of its long-running real estate show House Hunters.

This real estate professional is Ana Billings from Team Hoffmann and the sister is her older sister Kerry.

As part of the show, the sisters — Tosa natives who grew up on Milwaukee’s West Side — visited three boroughs for the episode, which first aired Friday night and repeated Saturday. They checked one home each in South Milwaukee, West Allis, and Milwaukee’s Cooper Park neighborhoods.

X

“I’m both the broker and the buyer,” says Billings of her role on the show. “It’s a super unique opportunity and a little different from the typical ‘House Hunters’ episode style. “I’ve been privileged to have my sister Kerry join me on hunts and my father Thomas also sometimes lends his expertise!

“(We) hail from the Cooper Park area, were born and raised just blocks from Cooper Park itself from middle school and beyond, and hope to stay in this neighborhood because (we) have the community, the familiarity, and all of that.” Feeling of “home” love “there is.”

The sisters attended Tosa Public Schools through the 12th grade and their father was an MPS teacher.

“At that point, being an MPS teacher also meant you had to live in the city of Milwaukee, so we ended up in Cooper Park,” recalls Billings. “It was close to our schools, close to my mother’s work as a dental hygienist, and part of the city of Milwaukee to meet my father’s work needs.

“My parents, Pam and Tom, continued to fall in love with our community after my father retired and even downsized into another Cooper Park home after they sold our childhood home.”

Billings, who studied interior design, came to the real estate industry through an internship while attending Fox Valley Technical College. She had hoped the experience would hone her skills in staging homes for sale.

“One thing led to another and I ended up falling in love with the actual real estate agent side of the industry more than I ever expected and secured my real estate license 6 months before graduating from college as I felt like I did Career destined for me,” she says.

“After graduating, I knew I wanted to be back in Milwaukee, so after speaking to my agent who was supervising my internship, she put me in touch with my current agent, Team Hoffmann Remax Realty Pros. They welcomed me with open arms and launched my career at projectile speed.”

Kerry, meanwhile, graduated from UW-Madison and earned her master’s degree before taking a position at the Mequon Library.

Billings had been living in Cooper Park when life changed.

“I was able to find a diamond in the rough just outside Cooper Park and with my interior design degree I set to work adding a lounge and bar and renovating as many cosmetics as I could myself,” she says. “I got divorced and now I live in a house full of emotions and the market screamed, ‘It’s time to sell’ and make some profit from the sweat capital I’d spent countless hours pouring into the house.”

Billings listed her home in 2021 and decided to share a space with her sister. At the same time, her team’s owner, Justin Hoffmann, was contacted by HGTV and passed the opportunity on to Billings.

X

“After countless discussions with the producers, they decided I was a perfect fit for the show and we went to work,” says Billings.

And so the sisters began their search, with a camera crew in tow.

“Kerry and I have a lot of different opinions,” says Billings. “We are polar opposites that make it a better match. Kerry loves charm, quirkiness, and sometimes puts those things ahead of functionality. I love things that feel clean, are aesthetically pleasing, look for little to no imperfections in terms of home structure, and can’t help but add my own touch to everything.”

The sisters were considering three properties, including a duplex.

“Given that Kerry was going to rent part of the house from me anyway, we thought, ‘What’s better than looking at a duplex?’ We liked that we had separate rooms, but having only owned single-family homes before, the loss of space was a mental hurdle for me.”

Next they looked at a Tudor that would take a little effort to work for Ana and Kerry.

“I’m used to and loving doing (renovations),” says Billings, “but a recreation room would need to be added to give Kerry her full space to herself, and lacked a full-fledged second bathroom, (and) neither of us want to share just the 1.5 bathrooms.”

Third, they toured a home that had been completely renovated.

“It was turnkey,” says Billings. “(It) gave Kerry and I our own separate floors and bathrooms and had everything on our wish list as far as space was concerned. It lacked some of the charm Kerry was hoping for and didn’t leave my creative mind room to do justice to it.”

I’m not going to spoil the episode and tell you what they wanted, but for a Westsider like me — who often walks, bikes, and drives through Cooper Park — I was pleased to hear the quiet, low-key neighborhood is maintained in a good way and way national attention.

“I cover all of southeastern Wisconsin and I think there are so many amazing ‘pocket neighborhoods’ throughout the area,” says Billings. “As someone who was born and raised here, I absolutely love having the ‘inside knowledge’ of these hidden gem communities, including Cooper Park, and love showing them off to homebuyers.

“I hope this episode highlights what an incredible city Milwaukee is. We are such a welcoming community and I hope this show really shows what an amazing place this is supposed to be. I feel truly blessed to have been a part of putting Milwaukee on the HGTV map and can’t wait to continue to be a part of welcoming newcomers to Milwaukee home.”

LJ Hooker in Canberra is not just another real estate company; it is a family. Full of leaders, talent and great people, LJ Hooker’s culture has ensured she has seen generations and helped them find, sell and manage their real estate dreams.

“We are first and foremost a people industry and our people are just as important as our Canberra community real estate clients,” said Rachael Thompson, a director of the group.

“In terms of the amazing women in our group, some have been with us for most of their careers. Many have had careers and families with us and we work with our entire team, men and women, to support a great career, a wonderful family and a great life.”

Tell us about your organization and your role in it.

Jane: “Our organization feels like an extension of my family; My wonderful employees care about each other and how they represent the brand. I am honored to work for such a strong, dynamic company that changes every day. I worked for the company for many years, took a short sabbatical and returned to become a director and franchise owner of the Woden/Weston offices. Being a woman in business has its challenges, but I can truly say that I have the support of my colleagues and co-workers in every decision I make.”

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

Lyn: “My role is rewarding as not only do I get to work with clients but I also have a team of talented property managers and emerging property managers to mentor and develop. Both roles allow me to help people achieve growth and work towards the fulfillment of their goals.

“I’m able to use a range of skills on a daily basis and to be able to provide solutions for my clients, whether they are looking to build an investment portfolio or we are looking after their family home while on an assignment is something that gives me great satisfaction.

“Over the past seven years I have watched with pride as my team has grown and developed its skills and it is very important to me to help them achieve the next steps in their career. I want to lead by example and set my team up for success so we can achieve the best outcome for all of our clients.”

What do you think are the greatest strengths of your organization?

Lisa: “Our organization is strengthened by the relationship between business owners and team members. Our Directors want us to achieve our career and life goals and provide endless support and training to help us achieve our potential. We are team-oriented and work together to help ourselves and our clients achieve successful outcomes.

How long have you worked here?

Kaylene: “I will be celebrating 21 years with LJ Hooker on November 21st. The corporate culture and close relationships within the group have definitely contributed to my longevity. Anything is possible when you feel respected, encouraged and supported. I have had the great privilege of helping many families buy and sell; It is so enriching to be part of a family journey.”

What made you decide to join this organization?

Stacie: “When I was 18, I went to an interview with Matthew Herbert at LJ Hooker Dickson. I was so excited when I got the call back that it was successful. I joined LJ Hooker Dickson in 2002, 22 years later I am the Head of our Property Management Division / Business Development Manager in our Canberra City office.

“In my 22 years, I have built and nurtured many meaningful and successful relationships that I am still close to today. I’ve been invited to clients’ daughters’ weddings and been a part of special achievements in their lives. I have to say that I love my job and it definitely gets better every year. I have such a great team.

“During my career with LJ Hooker, I had two children (Cooper, 9, and Emily, 7) and they are also part of the LJ Hooker family. My daughter walks around with my business cards, hands them out to people, and tells me that one day she will work at LJ Hooker.”

To find out how LJ Hooker’s team in Canberra can help you on your real estate journey, visit ljhooker.com.au

• Lynda Clingan – Executive Assistant | LJH project marketing
• Jane Macken – Director | Commercial Agents| LJH Woden/Weston
• Sandra Masters – Director LJH Kippax | Commercial Agents | auctioneer
• Stacie Sheldrick – Head of Property Management | LJ Hooker Canberra City
• Lyn Fairweather – Head of Property Management | LJH Gungahlin
• Corrine Cramer – Head of Accounting | LJH Dickson
• Jess Pirie – Strategy and Growth Manager | LJH layers
• Kaylene King – Sales Representative | Head of the auction center
• Jodie Cross – Head of Property Management | LJH Kippax
• Briege O’Brien – Head of Accounting | LJH Tuggeranong
• Melissa Hines – Head of Property Management | LJH Kaleen
• Sarah Miller – Head of Property Management | LJH Woden/Weston
• Natalie Munteanu – Head of Accounting | LJH Kale/Kippax
• Rachael Thompson – Director LJH Gungahlin/LJH Convey
• Karen Wiley – Accounts Manager LJH Canberra City/Project Marketing/Woden/Weston
• Carly Clough – Sales Representative | Auctioneer | Head of Training | LJH Gungahlin
• Sarah Lound – Head of Property Management | LJH Dickson
• Lisa Rock – Customer Experience | Marketing Director | LJH Dickson
• Alison Austen – Head of Accounting | LJH Gungahlin

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More information on sponsored partnerships can be found here.

WELLS — Edward Phillip Newell, 74, a longtime resident of Kennebunk, died Tuesday, November 1, 2022.

Phil was born on September 21, 1948 in Boston, Massachusetts to Dr. Edward and Geneva Brown Newell born. He attended Berwick Academy, Wagner College and the University of Maine.

He began his career at The Shawmut Inn in Kennebunkport for a number of years before entering the real estate industry. He was the real estate agent responsible in later years for the sale of The Shawmut Inn to owners Richard T. Hennessey and Raymond Mailhot. Phil began working for Robert Marier before founding Reagan, Smith and Newell, then Smith and Newell, which was later purchased by Prudential Prime Properties.

In the early 1990’s Phil founded the wine brokerage MM Newtin with his friend Ralph Austin. Through his friendships with Peter Emery, Stephen Cross and Paul D. Carr, MM Newtin acquired the rights to sell many wine labels in Maine.

During his long career in real estate and wine, Phil has made many friends in various business groups. He was a member of Arundel Masonic Lodge #76 in Kennebunkport for 50 years and loved to play golf with Dick Ackley and his buddies. A keen cyclist, he rode many miles with John Walker most days.

Phil was previously married to Joyce Lawrence and later in 2002 to Carol Chaisson, his beloved wife. She was his caregiver as he struggled with dementia and Parkinson’s disease in his final years.

He is survived by his loving wife Carol; his sister Jeanne; niece Ashley; Cousin, Terel; and Carol’s family.

Last year Phil made his home at Avita in Wells where he made the girls laugh and received loving care. We would like to thank Avita and Beacon Hospice for the excellent care he received on his recent trip.

A celebration of Phillip’s life will be held on Sunday, November 6 from 2pm to 4pm at the Rhumb Line Motor Lodge, 41 Turbats Creek Rd., Kennebunkport

He was always the person people made fun of. He lit up the room with his wit and humor. This is how Phil should be remembered.

To leave a message of condolence, please visit Phil’s Book of Memories page at http://www.bibberfuneral.com

Arrangements are entrusted to the Bibber Memorial Chapel, 67 Summer St. Kennebunk.

When Phil spent some of his happiest times spotting wildlife along the river at his Kennebunk home,

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the

Kennebunk Land Trust,

6 Brown St #2,

Kennebunk, ME 04043,

or the

Alzheimer’s Association Of America,

322 8th Avenue, 16th floor,

New York, New York 10001.

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Rancho Mirage will soon have some new faces on the city council, as all three members whose terms expired this year have decided not to run.

Six candidates are running for the trio of available seats on the five-member council, including Steve Downs, who was appointed late last year to fill the remainder of Dana Hobart’s term.

Hobart retired last year after nearly two decades on the council, while longtime council members Charles Townsend and Iris Smotrich decided earlier this year not to seek re-election. Councilors at Rancho Mirage are elected at-large for four-year terms.

Alongside Downs are five newcomers – Louisa Davis, Lynn Mallotto, Meg Marker, Kim Martos and Ken Ammann – on the ballot.

The biggest difference between the candidates is their assessment of the current city council’s performance. Half praised the incumbents and said they want to stay broadly on the same path, and the other half said they aim to make some changes, including by making the council more transparent.

“A wonderful job”

Downs, a local real estate agent who served on the city’s planning commission before his election to council, says he wants a full term to maintain the momentum of previous councils at Rancho Mirage.

“I’m here because I think the city is in great shape and I want it to stay in great shape,” Downs recently told The Desert Sun, adding that he wants to keep the “small town charm” which is likely to increase the population of Rancho Mirage.

Marker, who with her husband owns a local broadcasting company that controls several radio stations in the valley, praises the town, particularly its efforts to attract new business.

Marker praised the Cotino project – Disney’s masterfully planned community that will include a hotel, a lagoon and a mix of homes and condos – and Sensei Porcupine Creek, the ritzy resort being developed on billionaire Larry Ellison’s estate.

Marker was assisted by two current Council members – Richard Kite and Ted Weill – and by Hobart, the recently retired member.

Mallotto, a longtime Rancho Mirage resident who served as a Cathedral City community worker for several years before switching to a career in the real estate sector, has also widely praised the work of the current council, saying the city has done a “great job.” , by making resources available to her residents.

With about $70 million in reserves, Mallotto said the city should be prudent but open to proactive ideas. As an example, she hailed a pandemic-era program run by the city where restaurants are delivering meals to the homes of residents most vulnerable to COVID-19.

“I think the city has done a great job using its resources to the best of its citizens,” Mallotto said.

bring transparency

Compared to the other candidates, Davis, Martos and Ammann see more room for improvement on the city council.

Davis, one of the leaders of a lawsuit to overturn the city’s short-term rental ban, says the council, which she describes as “like a castle,” needs more transparency.

Davis says that if elected, she would work to make “controversial” decisions, such as the location of the In-N-Out burger on Highway 111, dependent on a direct vote from local residents, according to her site.

Davis, who ran a Seattle-based candy company before moving permanently to Rancho Mirage eight years ago, says she supports candidate Martos, who came to town from Encinitas in 2019.

Martos, who works in real estate and property management, believes her professional experience gives her useful insight into how the city can meet its affordable housing goals in the years to come.

Martos is also running because she says the council needs “new thinking” and could benefit from more debate among its members.

Ammann, a longtime Valley resident who used to work as a technology consultant for government agencies, says he wants to improve communication from City Hall to its residents. He pointed to the recently opened In-N-Out Burger as a project that could have benefited from more community involvement.

“It seems like there hasn’t been that transparency and accountability that everyone in the community feels, and that’s what I want to bring,” Ammann said.

This election also marks the first time that Rancho Mirage residents will elect their November councillors. It was previously the only Riverside County city to hold its election in April, but last year the council voted to move it to November to conform with state law.

If you are feeling stuck in your career, you are not alone as the majority of workers feel at a dead end when it comes to their career and their future job prospects.

In a survey by American multinational technology group Oracle, researchers found that more than 75% of employees surveyed feel stuck both personally and professionally.

Challenges faced in the early months of the pandemic saw millions quit their jobs in droves in what later became known as The Great Resignation. Fast forward a few years and we see a new workplace trend—quiet quitting—that has many employers unsure if employees are dissatisfied with their jobs or maybe they’ve hit a wall in their career path.

Two separate studies found that around 20% of American workers have already changed career paths, while a secondary survey found that 46% of respondents are considering a career change in the coming year.

Work-related challenges, ranging from financial well-being to leadership, career development and work-life balance, all contribute to the growing list of reasons employees feel they are entering or are already in a career .

In a tight job market, employers struggle to attract and retain staff as employees constantly leave jobs in hopes of finding a suitable job that offers them the perks and benefits they have been craving.

While these opportunities are there, albeit in the most difficult places, they do not solve the question of whether employees who feel stuck – personally or professionally – can successfully make a career change.

Coping with the challenges that come with changing career paths can be stressful, especially when you feel like you’ve gotten into a career rut. While the transition takes time to get used to, it’s important to consider a few things that can help make the process feel more comfortable and exciting at the same time.

Let’s jump in.

Consider your wants vs your needs

A good starting point is to consider your professional “wants” and your professional “needs”. Start thinking about the daily pain points you are currently experiencing in your job or career and start writing them down. Being able to identify the cause of why you’re feeling stuck or stuck in a routine can help clear the air.

The “wishes” consideration usually includes the things you would like to see change in the near future. It could be things like a raise, taking on more responsibility, or even leading team projects.

On the other hand, when you look at your “needs,” these are things that require immediate attention and, in some cases, can be viewed as non-negotiable for your career. Needs typically include things like receiving a previously promised promotion or a better work-life balance.

See how your job needs are being met and if your employer is willing to talk through some of the pain points to help you grow in your current role and career.

Examine your career values

There’s a big difference between being stuck in a job and being stuck in a career, and distinguishing between the two starts with examining your professional values.

As you begin the transition process, consider how your passion for something can lead you to a suitable career. There are various things that we value in life and this can directly impact our career and how successful it turns out to be.

For example, let’s say you enjoy working with people and finding solutions to their problems. Have you perhaps thought about starting a business, becoming a property manager, offering consultancy or becoming an affiliate marketer? Perhaps you enjoy delivering actionable results that you can see and experience first-hand. Perhaps you are more creative and have more artistic values, how can this coincide with the possibility of a whole new career?

Jot down a few ideas and take the time to think about all the things in your personal life that you consider valuable. That way, you can start looking in the direction you want to move in before making a final decision about a career change.

Connect with connected professionals

Once you are aware of your professional needs and have taken the time to examine your values, it is time to talk and network with like-minded professionals.

The best way to do this is to use your social network and find out which people either work in a similar field or have expertise in the desired career path.

When you start talking to other people about your potential change, you’ll get better insight and what to expect. Additionally, talking to professionals in the field can help you learn the pros and cons that you may not have considered before.

If you don’t necessarily have or know someone to talk to, consider attending informational sessions or attending a workshop that can help uncover the inner workings of a seemingly unfamiliar world.

It’s important to also be open-minded about networking and open to the idea of ​​being challenged or needing to change the way you think about career aspects. It’s best to test the water before diving head first.

Create a strategy

As you begin to gain more insight into the possibility of a new career, start creating a strategy or game plan to follow. Be realistic about your goals and how you will achieve them. Your strategy should focus on what you want to do and how you will do it.

Suppose you want to change your career from a senior manager to a pastry chef. Consider the type of qualifications you may need to perform a pastry chef’s duties and how long it will take you to hone those skills. More than that, where can you learn these new skills and what do you need to enroll? All of these and other questions should be part of the goal that helps build the strategy.

To develop your strategy, you need to think about the direction you want to go in and choose something that excites you. Once you know what that is or could be, start by laying the groundwork for achieving that goal by assessing your skills, networking with other professionals, increasing your knowledge, and researching potential job roles.

Move and reflect

Thinking about a career change is one thing, but doing it is quite another. Although the transition has slowly begun — the day you felt stuck — now is the time to take the plunge and start aligning your needs and values ​​with the career path that excites you.

In order for you to represent yourself, you must start doing instead of thinking and planning. While there’s no standard time frame by which you must complete the process, it’s best not to be hard on yourself at first. Take your step and reflect on it later to see if it was the right decision.

If you feel like you are moving in a straight line, you are not growing and you are not finding viable ways to extricate yourself from the situation. It seems a bit scary at first to be flung around like this, but through these actions you will be able to reflect and draw a conclusion.

Constant theorizing or planning won’t get you the change you want unless you start with it or take that leap.

While we once thoroughly enjoyed the pace and excitement of our current career, there will come a time when the sense of euphoria will wear off and the harsh realities of your career will hit you out of the blue.

Changing jobs is one thing, but a career change completely changes who you used to be and reevaluates the things you once found interesting. It’s a confusing time, but instead of worrying about whether or not you will succeed, you will only feel more anxious, causing you to completely disengage from the idea.

Instead of seeing it as a career change, see it more as a change of scenery, closing a chapter in your life and starting something completely new—again.

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Written by Jacob Wolinsky.
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Canarian Media Load Column reports on gender diversity in the climatetech sector. Part one is a short Q&A with an industry role model about her career path. Part two contains updates on career transitions. Please send feedback and tips to [email protected]canarymedia.com. canary thank you Fish Tank PR for supporting the column.

Lauren Flanagan: A self-taught serial entrepreneur who is always learning

Lauren Flanagan is co-founder and chairman by Sesame Solar, which makes solar-powered mobile nanogrids. This interview has been edited and abridged for brevity.

How did you come to this career path?

I’ve always loved science and technology. I was the kind of kid who would ask his parents for microscopes, chemistry kits, and telescopes as gifts. My stepfather was an engineer who built audio amplifiers and model airplanes, and I liked all of that. It was so fun to learn when I was a kid.

I studied philosophy in college, but I also took some programming courses and taught myself a lot. I’ve always loved using technology to solve problems. I founded five technology companies. But after Hurricane Katrina I was so shocked at how unprepared we were and I felt like we should all do something about climate change. I thought about what I’m good at – starting technology companies – and decided to see how I could help solve some of the problems that arise after these disasters. We are currently doing the worst that is possible [after disasters], which sends diesel generators everywhere to provide electricity, so on top of the massive environmental damage caused by a hurricane, flood or wildfire, we are further polluting the ecosystem with particulate matter in the air and water, noise and carbon emissions. I figured if we could make renewable energy easy to use and fast, that would solve this problem, and that’s how Sesame Solar was founded a little over five years ago.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

My grandmother grew up in very poor circumstances, but later became a successful real estate investor in California – she was self-taught. She taught me the value of a good education, but also the ability to teach yourself. ​“Always learning”, or OJhas become my motto.

The other advice I would like to give is to try new experiences and take risks. It’s not a mistake unless you repeat it; You can find out how to do better. So maybe this motto can be ​“you only live once”, or YOLO. Be brave and live big.

What was a barrier you faced and how did you overcome it?

All women, people of color, and other underappreciated founders probably face similar challenges when it comes to fundraising, which is that we don’t fit the patterns most investors are looking for. One path I’ve overcome is to focus on profitability from the start to be financially self-sufficient. This gives you a lot of decision-making power for your business, and it’s also a way to attract the best investors and [to be able to] Work with people who really understand you and what you are trying to do.

What do you think are some interesting, overlooked career opportunities in HVAC?

There are so many. The market is paying a lot of attention to CO2 extraction, but probably the greatest impact will be in reducing consumption and circularity. This means repairing things instead of throwing them away and making new ones, but also how companies can optimize processes to use less energy. Not everything has to be completely new or revolutionary. For young people starting out I would say try to work in companies where you can gain experience and expertise to really understand the issues and then pick a narrow part to focus on want.

What’s your super power?

Trinity Bastin, Elena Bautista Rios and Janet Reyes all work at Amazon’s fulfillment center near the Colorado Springs airport. When they’re not at work, they’re probably in class or taking online classes at Pikes Peak State College on the company’s bill.

Bastin wants to get a degree in computer science, Bautista Rios hopes to be an elementary school teacher, and Reyes is enrolled in a general studies curriculum and plans to later major in college. All three women hope to graduate in a few years without taking out student loans, as Amazon will pay all tuition and fees up to $5,350 per year as long as they remain employed by the online retail giant.

Amazon is among a growing number of large employers offering to pay tuition and other higher education costs to attract and retain employees amid a nationwide labor shortage that is unlikely to be resolved anytime soon. UCHealth also pays the cost of dozens of college programs for its employees across the state to move into higher-paying jobs, offering everything from pharmacy technician and phlebotomist certificates to bachelor’s and master’s degrees in respiratory therapy, social work, and behavioral health acquires.

Many other companies with a Colorado Springs presence — including Chipotle, Lowes, Target, Walmart, and Waste Management — offer a similar benefit through Denver-based Guild Education and its network of colleges and universities, which include the University of Denver and the College of Business belong to Colorado State University. Guild Education offers more than 2,200 academic programs through its network of higher education institutions, ranging from high school diplomas and English as a second language to software development and product management.

Rachel Romer Carlson started Guild Education in 2015 to help employers bridge the gap between what employees want and what employers pay for educational services that help entry-level and low-income workers into higher-paying jobs switch. The company has since raised $378.5 million in venture capital to expand its reach, and over the past year has more than doubled the number of students using its platform, which is now available to more than 4 million workers.

“Our research has shown that 63% of employees will stay with their employer if they have the opportunity for career development and career opportunities,” said Romer Carlson. “Companies can help by offering education and career mobility. This creates a way for employees to stay with the company.

“A key insight into Guild’s early work is that employers can help their employees avoid debt (student loans) entirely, and we’re helping employers find a way to do that.”

Debt-free education programs have been developed by Starbucks and Amazon over the past decade to provide educational benefits more comprehensively than the tuition-reimbursement programs that many employers have offered for decades but were primarily used by white-collar workers. Debt-free programs appeal to a broader cross-section of the workforce because employees don’t have to find the money to pay for college tuition and books and have to wait months to get reimbursed by their employer.

“Ask a worker to pay up front (for college tuition) and then reimburse them at the end of the year often meant the workers would put that expense on a credit card or get a payday loan, so reimbursement worked for.” Salaried workers, but not entry-level workers,” said Romer Carson. “The return on investment (from paying directly for college courses) is so high that employers should ensure every employee has this opportunity.”

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An April Harvard Business Review article written by executives from Guild and Walmart said the financial burden of enrolling in college programs is the number one barrier to enrollment and the number one reason students drop out of college. Findings from Denver-based restaurant chain Chipotle showed that employees who attend their free college education program (via Guild) are 350% more likely to stay with the company and seven times more likely to advance to management.

Amazon’s program with Pikes Peak State College, which is not operated by Guild (though the college is attempting to join the Guild program), began May 31 and has already attracted 100 students — mostly for courses in information technology, healthcare, and general studies. said Chelsy Harris, the college’s associate vice president for strategic partnerships. The average age of program participants is 28, with the majority having little or no college experience, she said.

“You can save money by spending money on an educational grant to improve (employee) retention. It can be a win for both the employee and the company,” Harris said. “Programs like this not only help employees avoid debt (student loans), but also help them get the education they need for a job with a decent wage and advancement opportunities. It doesn’t have to be a full two or four year degree; It can be certifications that can be earned much faster.”

None of the three Amazon employees were aware of the company’s Career Choice program before taking a job at the giant fulfillment center, but all three said they will stay with the company until they graduate and maybe beyond. Bastin, 22, said that without the college payments program, she probably wouldn’t work at Amazon and will likely stay with the company if it offers her a job in her new career field after she graduates from the program.

“I’ve taken college courses in the past, but I didn’t know what I wanted to do (professionally). I finally figured it out,” Bastin told the manager, so I checked. I had read that STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) jobs are in high demand so there would be more opportunities. I enjoy having the ability to pay for my college (courses) because they are very expensive.”

Reyes, 29, wants to pursue a four-year degree but hasn’t decided what career she wants to pursue, so hasn’t decided on a major just yet. However, she eventually wants to start her own real estate business to buy homes and convert them into short-term vacation rentals.

Bautista Rios, 24, just started the early childhood education program at Pikes Peak State College but later wants to transfer to the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs to pursue a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. She said her niece and nephew and love for children inspired her to become a teacher and she started taking college courses three years ago with financial support, but the Amazon program will make her graduation easier and less expensive make.

UCHealth’s Ascend program, which pays entry-level and other low-paid employees to take college courses to move into higher-paying jobs, launched in February and has already attracted 126 employees in southern Colorado, including Kristine Hoffner. The 20-year-old UCCS student, who will complete his bachelor’s degree in cellular molecular biology in December, was hired as a phlebotomist in September 2021 and completed the program’s medical assistant training; after all, she wants to use the program to train as a medical assistant.

“One of the reasons I applied to UCHealth is because I want to be a Physician Assistant and can continue working there and gain the 1,200 hours of clinical experience I need to achieve that goal. I wanted to get my foot in the door at UCHealth (as a phlebotomist) and move up the clinical ladder,” said Hoffner. “Programs like this allow companies to retain good employees and give them opportunities to grow professionally.”

Both UCCS and Pikes Peak State College have college payment programs with UCHealth and Aamazon, but neither school has made much effort to make additional such arrangements with local employers.

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However, some employers are already considering such schemes; The Ent Credit Union, which already reimburses employees up to $10,000 a year for college courses, is considering expanding to direct course payment. Chris Beiswanger, UCCS Director of Admissions, said other companies have contacted him to learn more about the Amazon program so they can offer similar benefits to their employees, but have yet to set up or launch such a program.