First and foremost, Deb is a wife and mother, sister and daughter. She has always been a champion for women’s causes. That’s just who she is.

She was turned down after applying for the U.S. Peace Corps at age 10, and tried to join the NAACP at 13. Deb moved through the ranks of health care one step and conviction at a time. At age 12 she was as a “Sunshine” geriatric volunteer. She advanced from the Junior Red Cross, to hospital Candystriper, to Nurses Aide, to Licensed Practical Nurse, to Registered Nurse. Deb also studied music, art, and mass communication at California State University, Hayward. She has been part of a team piloting therapeutic humor, pet therapy, and other complimentary therapies, and is currently serving on the board of the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor. Deb served hard time on the PTA.

Since creating her professional speaking and entertaining business in 1993, Deb has delighted hundreds of audiences from Fargo to New Zealand.

Her recordings of “Hormone Affirming Music and Humor” are enjoyed and used in educational settings in at least six countries, and were featured on the National Public Radio Program, The Infinite Mind.

Deb’s signature story is part of an anthology called The Princess Principle: Women Helping Women Discover Their Royal Spirit. She is also a contributing author to the book, Humor Us: America’s Funniest Humorists on the Power of Laughter.

Deb is a member of numerous professional organizations and as the past president of the National Speakers Association-Illinois Chapter, is an avid student of the business of professional speaking and entertaining.

Still, she insists that her best teachers are in her audiences and her true qualifications are her stretch marks and laugh lines!

Deb’s programs have been the subject of numerous newspaper articles, and featured on radio, television, and electronic media. From local cable access stations to WGN, from the front page of the St. Joseph Missouri News Press to The Chicago Tribune, Deb enjoys collaborating with the media in promoting your event.

MOST REQUESTED TOPICS:

Replenishing & Retaining Nurses

(Programs can be adapted for any healthcare discipline or combination of disciplines) Whether you are battling attrition and the chronic nursing shortage, or seeking to recognize and reward resiliency, Deb’s programs will lift the spirits of every attendee.

     Lighten Up and Look Ahead: Songs, Stories and Humor Celebrating the Best in YOU!

     Songs for the Unsung Heroes: Nursing Heroines, Heroic Acts, and History (Ask Deb about her nursing antique collection and hands-on display)

     Going for Brilliance! Keeping Spirits Bright During (or after completing) the Magnet Status Process

Heroic Acts in Humble Shoes Americas Nurses Tell Their Stories by Irene Stemler, BSN.

Annie, Annie Are you OK?

Stress Busters and Morale Boosters for Caregivers

Everyone knows that in order to have healthy communities, families, and patients we need healthy nurses, yet there is chasm between what nurses know and do for others, and what they apply to themselves. With a gentle delivery, Deb helps caregivers bridge that divide so they feel worthy of the same love and compassion they share with others day in and day out.

Who's Hoarding the Linens?

A Personality Primer for Dealing with Difficult People

Studies indicate that interpersonal conflict, often with managers, is the most common reason employees leave their jobs. This program helps participants understand that difficult co-workers are not lying awake at night planning ways to annoy them! Fun, interactive and solution oriented, best describes this choice.

Oh No! I Forgot To Starch My Hat. Oh No! I Forgot to Cover My Navel

Bridging Intergenerational Differences in the Workplace

For the first time in history, four generations of trained nurses are practicing along side one another. This presentation fosters understanding, and suggests concrete ways we can be mutually accepting, appreciative, and gracious towards one another in (and out of) the workplace.

Is Laughter the Best Medicine? You bet!

How Humor And Laughter Are Beneficial Personally & Professionally

This program covers the latest evidence based information from the fast growing fields of psychoneuroimmunology and therapeutic humor. You don’t need to be Patch Adams in order to bring more joy and laughter to those you care about as well as those you care for.

The Wrinkles We Wear and Stories We Share

Aging Gratefully

Deb customizes songs and creates cartoons for all aspects of care for women. From incontinence and heart disease to the dis-ease of being over-committed and out of balance in general, Deb makes an immediate connection with participants. They leave feeling better about themselves (just as they are) and feeling better about their ability to put what they learn into action.

As Long as Your Net Carbs Aren't Greater Than Your IQ, You Are Probably OK!

Includes the latest information about the diet "industry" and growing research on non-dieting approaches to healthy living for people of all sizes and shapes.

Are You Pouring From an Empty Pitcher?

With a gentle delivery, Deb helps caregivers feel worthy of the same love they share with others day in and day out.

The People on the Bus Go Up and Down

A Personality Primer for Dealing with Difficult People

Are there people in your life who drive you crazy? Conflict with others leads to stress and stress related illnesses. This program helps participants understand that "difficult people" are not lying awake at night planning ways to annoy them! Fun, interactive and solution oriented, best describes this choice.

"Whaaasssup?" to "Giddy-up"

Understanding and Appreciating Intergenerational Differences

People are living longer and healthier lives than ever before. The good news is seeing four generations working and playing along side one another. The bad news is seeing four generations working and playing along side one another! This presentation helps participants better understand the factors that lead to generational misunderstanding and offers concrete ways we can be more mutually accepting, appreciative, and gracious towards one another.

Celebrating the Spirit

From small cancer and other support groups, to thousands participating in the Avon 3 Day Marches, Deb’s songs and  stories are hope and humor filled. It feels so good to laugh.

What Can I Learn From You? Writing Women Back into History

Light and uplifting, this program incorporates songs and images of women throughout history. Always enjoyable, but especially in demand during Women's History Month in March.

Yes Means Yes

Focusing on the strength of survivors, this program shines hope-filled, positive light on a painful subject. Deb's song, You Deserve a Safe Home is featured in Domestic Violence: Violence Against Women,a multimedia program developed for healthcare organizations.

Is Laughter the Best Medicine? You bet!

How Humor And Laughter Are Beneficial Personally & Professionally

This program covers the latest evidence based information from the fast growing fields of mind body connection and therapeutic humor.

WOMEN'S SUCCESS SERIES:

Positively Working!

5 Stun-Gun Strategies for Experiencing Workplace Happiness and Fulfillment ~ Right Now!

If you won the lottery, would you continue doing the work you are doing? What would it take to feel happier and more passionate about your job ~ right now?

We spend too many hours of our lives in the workplace to be consistently unhappy. If you want much more out of your worklife, or just need a boost, try implementing 5 of what Deb describes as "Stun-Gun" Strategies for treating even the worst cases of workplace "dis"-ease.

     Learn how the science of attitudinal health and latest research on humor and happiness impact personal and professional well-being.

     Learn why incompetent people don't have the competence to recognize their incompetence. Are you stunned, yet?

     Learn 2 transformative bedtime rituals and one daily practice that will greatly improve workplace creativity, communication, and collaboration.

You've Got to be Kidding!

Catapult Your Career by Practicing the Art of Suspending Judgement.

You can read 1,000 books or attend yet another fabulous career development seminar, but if you haven't examined the judgements you hold about yourself and others, your best intentions won't get off the ground.

If you are serious about improving the relationships studies tell us are foundational to business success, this humorous program will help you to catapult past the assumptions getting in your way. Get ready to launch, because you are going galactic!

     Learn the science and art behind the skills women use to sustain friendships, and how these same unique skills can be applied at work.

     Go from secretly "wanting to slap someone up-side the head" to having them eating from the palm of your hand. Deb's not kidding!

     Though we think it's about them, learn how being less judgmental ultimately benefits both of YOU!

     Learn how to avoid the same old answers by asking different questions.

Crazy-making 101

The ABC's of Dealing with Difficult People.

Do you find some co-workers or clients unbearably rigid? Some too perky? Do some practice nerve-racking procrastination and others drive you crazy with relentless memos, reminders and follow-up?

Think of this program as a "personality primer" full of easy, applicable tips and tricks for staying positive, focused and sane even in the midst of people you find most difficult. The session doesn't involve long surveys or deep introspection, yet you will be amazed at what you discover anew about yourself, as well as the "crazy-makers" we all encounter!

     Release the belief that difficult people are lying awake at night just planning ways to annoy you. (Even though it feels like they are!)

     Discover your dominant life-energy or personality type.

     Learn what is great about you -just as you are, as well as why you may experience being misunderstood.

     Explore how to quickly improve communication, collaboration, and productivity through a better understanding and acceptance of yourself and others.

Tweeting in a World of Princess Phone Managers!

A Fun Look at Generational Diversity and How to Successfully Bridge the Gaps.

For the first time in workplace history, four generations are working side by side. Some grew up playing Tinker Toys and others Atari. Some shell out money for i-pods and DVDs while others shelled pea pods while listening to RCA's. In all cases, people who learn to bridge differences and celebrate the richness of age diversity report higher levels of workplace happiness and success.

Giddy-up! ZoomZoomZoom!

     Learn how the significant events experienced by each generation influence work ethic, leadership preferences, views of authority and technology.

     Enhance relationships and improve collaboration by discovering how to appreciate, reward and recognize persons of each generation.

     Build your skills by learning to value the skills sets found in other generations.

     Discover how much you can learn when you share your own expertise!

Work-Life Balance, Attitude, Health, Women, Women's Health, Business of Healthcare, Personal Growth,