Managing marketing, volunteer base, cultivating relationships and developing an entire community to support the mission of Ready For Life: to engage foster care youth, private citizens and public resources to assist Pinellas County foster youth in creating a successful transition to adulthood. We produce unique, fun, experiential learning opportunities to help the youth fill in life skill and self-sufficiency gaps in a way that anchors the learning and makes it fun (for the youth and volunteers); and what may be even more extraordinary is the way we’ve designed the environment for these opportunities to take place within a connected, family-like community of caring support. The impact goes on and on as together we help model new possibilities, tackle challenges, and fill in the rough spots. Did you know that: 1 in 5 youth exiting foster care will experience homelessness.70% of people in our prisons today had experience in the foster care system80% of the people on death row in the US were in foster careMentoring is the #1thing the youth have said will help them the mostAt Ready For Life we touch the lives of over 424 young adults age 15-25 in Pinellas Co and 94 of their children (age 0-8). The kids of "our kids" are being successfully parented and are not in the system. Thanks to volunteers and supporters like YOU! the youth at Ready For Life are breaking the cycles. It takes a lot of arms to wrap around these resilient young people, and it takes my breath away every single day to see them discover just how great they are.Visit www.readyforlifepinellas.org Email MWalag@readyforlifepinellas.org or call 727-954-3989

Do you want to write a book, share a new product, build an extraordinary something in the world? If you think you're supposed to be up to something bigger than you're currently living into, Michelle will help you explore that notion, clearly define what you want, and put systems and structures in place to help you shape it. She sees the brilliance, creativity, and wisdom in her clients, calls them forth to own their whole selves, and holds them steady as they step out into the "panic zone" just a little bit to reach farther than they knew they could. Her clients reclaim their passion and create an exhilarated sense of aliveness. They find deepened levels of intimacy in their relationships and rediscover the power in “who they are” at their core--AND FAST -- within 90 days most have a first draft of their book or product! -- and it's a lot easier and more fun than you may think! Michelle’s own journey to discover what it means to live in the world of possibility provides her a unique foundation to call that forth in others. Michelle knows that living life on the edge of possibility is exhilarating and takes support to do! She's learned specific ways to be there with you on your journey. Working with her you'll learn how to let go of the anxiety that can block you. She has developed simple to learn tools and techniques to support you in learning to trust your own process, see the value in how you create and what you have to offer, and celebrate as the pages begin to unfold and it all comes together! Main philosophy stems from Radical Leadership: www.radicalleadership.com What if there was a way to clear away confusion, reclaim your passions, connect to your life’s purpose, and live your life wide awake and knowing you are ready for whatever comes your way?There is. Plain and simple, and it's easier than you might think!

What if there were more available to your life than stress and overwhelm and a never ending to do list? When we own our power to create what we want, we can live out our lives passionately on purpose, filled with joy, ease and crystal clarity. And here's the thing.. the answer to finding that kind of aliveness is not by waiting for your next bonus, raise or review! There is nothing any company can provide you that will have you living your life totally engaged and alive -- that's a choice that's up to you and it's easier to make than you might think!Stop waiting and start creating what you want for your life today!Disengagement is costing the U.S. $370-$588 Billion annually in lost revenue. What's it costing you? What's it costing the company you work for or own? What's it costing your non-profit agency, our government, the world? That financial number is just barely the tip of the ice berg. It doesn't begin to address the malaise and discontent fallout for individuals living disengaged and disenfranchised lives: bored, stressed out, never quite getting, doing or being enough. What if you and everyone you work with could feel totally engaged and alive again. What if the tools to do that were simple and quick? They are. And the only way you'll know that is by living it yourself. Experience yourself as a Radical Leader and see just how powerful you are to create what you want regardless of circumstances. Register for a retreat or read what others have had to say at www.radicalleadership.com. If you (and those you work with) are not leaping out of bed every morning, doing what you love, and creating the results that you want, then I highly recommend you reach out to RL right away. Because living without aliveness, passion and purpose is just plain unnecessary. Join a community of pioneering, cutting-edge leaders from around the world. We know the path to aliveness for you and your teams and we want to share it with you.

General Manager of Country Thunder USA-multi day camping/music festivals named by Conde' Naste Magazine as the Premier Country Music / Camping Festivals in the world -- (100,000+ attendees at ea.) held annually in Arizona, and Wisconsin. Developed company communication systems and management practices for all departments. Directed development and successfully launched the first ever Print at Home scannable tickets for a camping festival(in the middle of a desert field) currently being marketed to other events nationwide. Designed and directed national call center box office. Directed teams in marketing, PR teams, sponsorships, production, operations, & backstage to accomplish sponsor goals and market the festivals. AE for multiple sponsor accounts. Developed sponsorship proposals, event summary reports & documentation. Liaison with governing agencies for permit approvals.

Project Manager - First annual Halloween Hollow a family event with a Disney-like feel – The Terror Trail filled with 40’ animated monsters and the Enchanted Forest with meandering trails of family fun like Giggle Berry Gardens, Goosbump Gully, and private campfires for a great family getway! Managed the marketing teams, on site teams, and licensing for this amazing event.

Independent Contractor, Writer/ Producer: 2001-2004 – Independent Contractor, Writer/ Producer: Project Management; Event Production; & Webbed and non webbed technical writing. Clients include: Bank of New York (NYC), Bridgeline Software (NYC), United Way (Sarasota, FL), American Red Cross (Sarasota, FL.) Projects include Live Event Production and Marketing, Corporate Training Products, Fundraising, Marketing and PR, Website Content Development; Creative, Marketing, and Technical Writing, Designing and Managing Production of Marketing Materials, Writing scripts, and Press Releases, and Art Direction. Guest lecturing on the writing process and project management techniques at MCC, USF and other organizations. Writing coach for professionals and tutor for ESL and other University students in various writing techniques. Published various handbooks and articles.

1997-2001 - Project Manager, NMG Entertainment/11th Hour Entertainment: Managed CD replication and Print Production, publicity efforts and created opportunities including national campaigns for radio play, advertising and live appearances for the rock band Neurotica’s CD release campaigns. Coordinated national tours. The team effort and amazing talent of the band on this campaign led to unprecedented independent label success with over 70 national radio stations spinning the hit single “Easy Speak” 30+ times per week. Neurotica performed on the Ozzfest tour and signed to Smash Down Records. Directed graphic design, photography and visual art. Coordinated publicity and meeting tours for the rap artist Bubba Sparxxx. Bubba Sparxxx signed to Interscope Records. Designed, wrote and managed implementation of online catalog. Managed production, designed and wrote copy for publicity and marketing materials.

1995-1997 - Production Coordinator/Producer, RMC Interactive: Wrote and implemented procedures for developmental and quality control testing for training, travel and edutainment software. Wrote copy for various websites, advertisements, children’s activity books, and software instructions and licenses. Managed Website production. Managed international relationships for localization of the “Let’s Pretend" Children’s CD ROM Series. Coordinated U.S. production of software with revolutionary interactive production cycles reduced to only three months per title from concept to completion. Produced video announcement of company partnership with Dr. Jane Goodall, for Milia Conference. Managed copyright, trademark, licensing and ratings for all products.I was also the voice over talent for the lead character in Let's Pretend named Flash the Firefly.