Darrah Brustein is an Atlanta transplant, by way of Philadelphia and Baltimore.  She holds a BA from Emory University in Religion and Italian,  which she naturally parlayed into her first job in wholesale apparel sales.  Ready for a new challenge, Darrah and her twin brother launched Equitable Payments in 2009.  Together they work with businesses to help find them the best fit and lowest cost solution to accept credit card payments.  Seeing a need for young professionals to have an environment where they can network both socially and professionally, she launched Atlanta Under 40 in 2011 and Atlanta Lawyers Under 40 in 2012.  She also launched Finance Whiz Kids in 2012, a series of kids books that teach elementary aged children the basics of financial literacy.

When Darrah's not working, she's volunteering as Chairman of the Board for Emory's Atlanta Young Alumni chapter and board member with the College Alumni Board.  She is also amongst the inaugural class of the Forum of Global Shapers in Atlanta, a hub of the world economic forum for 'young global leaders', working to become Altanta's leading think tank for young minds assisting non-profits.  She also spends time as an ambassador at the Metro Atlanta Chamber.

Make Purpose Your Priority!

From rural Charleston, SC to the White House, ‘Q’ has an unique commitment to building communities and people.

Quinetha Frasier of Strategic Funding Group shares how her entire life has been enjoyed by helping nonprofits, individuals and organizations to obtain the resources to fund their vision.

Quinetha believes that every person was born with a gift and talent that is essential to the success of our communities. She has had the opportunity, for the past fifteen years, to help colleges, nonprofit agencies, churches, and foundations find the inspiration and resources to Fund Their Vision. Quinetha has a passion for building the sustainability of nonprofits across the country.

The "Better You" Project highlights the journey of Eric Holtzclaw, your co-host, as well as the CEO and founding partner of User Insight.

Eric is an entrepreneur, business consultant, strategic thinker, and trusted confidant. He has over 20 years of experience building companies from the ground up. Join us as we highlight his journey of success.

What can the dying teach us about living?

When you’ve compassionately aided people leave the planet for 30 years—helped them be comfortable, reduced their pain and listened to their words—what emerges is not just a way of dying, but also a way of living.

In her book, TRANSITIONS: A Nurse’s Education About Life and Death, Hawkins, who spent the heart of her career as an oncology and  hospice nurse in Oklahoma, offers 60 tenderly-rendered short recollections of those experiences that stayed with her…the one’s that touched her heart, took her breadth away and opened her to a greater wisdom. It’s that wisdom which she shares with us—how we can live better, more richly, more wisely and with greater love before we, too, transition—and look back to wonder what we missed.

Alyssa Phillips is more than just a cancer survivor, she’s a miracle.

It’s been a long road for Alyssa but by sharing her life-changing story, she hopes to empower others with what she used to turn two bone marrow transplants and a less than five percent chance of survival into a beautiful new beginning. Alyssa wants people to know that there is no such thing as “impossible” and that miracles can and do happen…she’s living proof. Alyssa encourages all of us to transcend our circumstances, physical or otherwise, by choosing to view the challenges, and even the tragedies, of our lives as veiled lessons and gifts that can break us in beautiful ways into the people we were always meant to become—if we let them. “It’s the choice that changes everything,” she says. “And it’s why I know that, no matter what it looks like, Something beautiful is happening™.”

You can also get a nice dose of inspiration from Alyssa’s uplifting blog, including all of the original “updates” she shared during her pivotal cancer journey. Alyssa continues to share her incredible story as she moves beyond her miraculous turnaround—both inside and out—to help others with what she’s learned and how she did it—including some of her favorite tips, trips and pics from along the way and even an excerpt from her upcoming book!

Eric Holtzclaw and Susan McMullen interview Lee McCracken – a writer, editor, social entrepreneur and three-year breast cancer survivor. At 50, Lee says God turned her mess into a message, and she created and trademarked Yes, Ma-am! Mammograms Are A Must®. The social enterprise makes a sassy and southern statement about the importance of early detection of breast cancer. The pink T-shirt (www.YesMaamTee.com) helps to fund annual screenings for uninsured women. The message is clear: “Get your squeeze on!” and be breast-aware to put a stop to late-stage cancer diagnosis. Lee welcomes advocates of early breast cancer detection, known as Ma’ambassadors, to join the campaign at www.Facebook.com/YesMaamMammograms and on Twitter at @YesMaamMammos.

Lee lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with her husband of 29 years and also is a veteran writer and editor. Her book, “A Prayer and a Pink Pedicure,” which tells the story of self-discovery and spiritual preservation following loss, a cancer diagnosis and a crisis of faith, will be published in 2013.

Eric Holtzclaw and Susan McMullen interview Renea Winchester - - a mother, friend, gardening-fool and an award-winning author.

Renea is passionate about the written word and offers her advice to emerging authors who aren’t certain how to market their work. When she isn’t writing, she volunteers her time at the local library shelving books.

Anne VanDeVelder is the owner of Casabella, a 12,000 sq. ft. home décor / gift store and boutique.  Casabella carries brands such as Vera Bradley, Brighton and more and great clothing, many under $50.  You can always find a special gift and get it beautifully gift-wrapped.

Anne has been married to her husband, Tom, for 26 years.  They have 2 great daughters and 5 grandchildren.