Island Liaison founder Claudia Kaercher will receive the Positively Powerful Woman Nonprofit Leadership Award on October 16, 2020.

Feb 21, 2020 | conversation on leadership, diversity and inclusion, Domestic Violence Prevention, empowerment, Leadership, Women

Island Liaison founder Claudia Kaercher will receive the Positively Powerful Woman Nonprofit Leadership Award on October 16, 2020.

2020 Positively Powerful Honoree Claudia Kaercher

I received an email from my friend Marian Yim, Esq. who nominated Claudia Kaercher to be a recipient of the Positively Powerful Woman Awards. Here is her message: “In 2014, at the PPW event, my friend Claudia Kaercher told me that she was inspired to found a nonprofit to aid Pacific Islanders. She founded Island Liasion, dedicated to healthcare, education, and culture. Last fall, when news of a Marshallese baby-selling scheme broke, she had a network in place and was the best prepared person in Phoenix (and perhaps the nation) to get these women the healthcare and resources that were needed.

I met with Claudia Kaercher and discovered that she was also a long-time employee of Southwest Airlines, the Official Airlines of the Positively Powerful Woman Awards, and Triad West client Mountain Park Health Center was the organization she chose to take care of the pregnant Marshallese women so desperately in need of support and medical attention. Claudia Kaercher served with and was mentored for five years by Mrs. Cindy McCain, founder of the American Voluntary Medical Team (AVMT).

Please meet nonprofit leader Claudia Deleon Guerrero Fajardo Kaercher, the Positively Powerful Woman, who will be acknowledged for her many contributions on October 16, 2020:

I am Claudia Deleon Guerrero Fajardo Kaercher of Chamorro-Filipino descent from the Mariana Archipelago in Micronesia a region in the western pacific. My family and I spent 10 years on Majuro Atoll in the Marshall Islands while my father worked for the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands U.S. administration. I graduated from John F. Kennedy High School, Tumon, Guam a U.S. Territory. I was one-year old when the U.S. military on Bikini atoll conducted the thermal nuclear “Castle Bravo” test in 1954.

As a resident of Arizona for over 35 years, I am an active and positive contributor to my community and acknowledge all for embracing my Micronesian background.

Claudia Deleon Guerrero Fajardo Kaercher

I founded the nonprofit organization Island Liaison to serve as a resource providing awareness of locally available health and educational agencies and providers to help Pacific Islanders with focus on the Independent island nations of the Freely Associated States (FAS), i.e., the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), and the Republic of Palau. They are under the Agreement of Compact of Free Association (COFA) with the US and living in Arizona which allows them to freely travel within the US without a visa and with no time restraints. These Islanders are not eligible for many federal or state services. Unlike our neighboring Islanders from the US Territories of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), who are U.S. citizens and have the ability to access many federal or state funded services.

I’m a Fellow of Leading For Change Fellows 2014/2015 I’m a member of Lau Kanaka No Hawai’i Hawaiian Civic Club of AZ, Phoenix Chinese American Citizens Alliance and, Mountain Park Health Center (MPHC) Diversity Site Council. I serve on the Board of Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) AZ and the City of Phoenix Police Chief’s Advisory.

I provide community outreach to Arizona State University (ASU) Asian Pacific American Studies (APAS) program Asian Pacific Advocacy, Culture, and Education (APACE) Academy and Maricopa Community Colleges Chancellor Advisory.

My previous community service includes Commissioner for the City of Phoenix Pacific Rim Advisory Council (PRAC), Board member of Asian Chamber of Commerce AZ and, Member of Governor Janet Napolitano’s Asian-American Advisory Council.

During the 2010 U.S. Census, I was the Partnership Assistant for the Pacific Islanders in Arizona and on occasion assisted the state of Nevada.

My Awards include the Arizona Aloha Festival “2011 Kokua” Fostering a better understanding of Pacific Islanders, ASU “2015 Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion” and, the Pan Asian Community Alliance Tucson “2019 Friend of Pan Asian Community”.

This is an open invitation to all who know, would like to know or whose lives were touched by Claudia Deleon Guerrero Fajardo Kaercher. Join us. Become a sponsor. Attend as a guest. Connect and make an impact at the Positively Powerful Conference, Friday, October 16th at ASU Community Union, Sun Devil Stadium, 500 East Veterans Way, Tempe, AZ. The Education Summit breakfast and registration begin at 7:30 a.m. Speakers program from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Following the Summit, we host the Positively Powerful Woman Awards in celebration of the accomplishments of the 12th Annual Positively Powerful Woman Award recipients. Sponsorship Information and Registrations are available online.

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October 16th, Intel Vice President Barbara H. Whye will be acknowledged as the 2020 Positively Powerful Woman Global Leadership Award recipient.

Feb 19, 2020 | Business, Domestic Violence Prevention, global, Leadership, PPW Awards, Women

October 16th, Intel Vice President Barbara H. Whye will be acknowledged as the 2020 Positively Powerful Woman Global Leadership Award recipient.

2020 Positively Powerful Award Honoree Dr. Barbara H. Whye Intel Corporation @BarbaraWhye

The Positively Powerful Woman Awards Mission is to shine the light on women who are creating a pathway so that all people can follow in their footsteps, be “self-actualized”, and live their dreams. Barbara H. Whye is a visionary and a role model who walks her talk in the technology space. It is for this reason that I was delighted and honored when Barbara H. Whye said “Yes” to receiving the Positively Powerful Woman Global Leadership Award.

Barbara H. Whye is Intel’s Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer and Vice President of Human Resources. She leads Intel’s Diversity in Technology $300M initiative which resulted in reaching full representation in Intel’s U.S. workforce in October 2018. The company’s workforce now reflects the percent of women and underrepresented minorities available in the U.S. skilled labor market.

A champion of Intel’s culture of inclusion, with 24 years of experience, she develops strategies that accelerate progress and integrate diversity and inclusion across the ecosystem to enhance innovation and drive business results. Barbara joined Intel in 1995 as an engineer and held a number of leadership roles driving large scale and enterprise wide change. Prior to joining HR and Global Diversity and Inclusion in 2015, she spent 15 years in key leadership and project engineering roles responsible for acquiring and starting up new facilities for Intel Corporation worldwide, including Talent Management as an expatriate in San José, Costa Rica.

Barbara also led the investment strategy for Intel’s global (STEM) education portfolio, with an emphasis on girls and underserved populations, and was a strategist on Girl Rising, a global campaign for girls’ education and empowerment. Barbara earned her bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of South Carolina and her MBA from the University’s Darla Moore School of Business.

Recognized as a force for positive social change, she has been awarded with the 2014 National Society of Black Engineers Career Excellence Award, a 2015 Society of Women Engineers Spark Award, a 2016 Inspiring Women of South Carolina Award, 2019 BLACK ENTERPRISE Most Powerful Women in Corporate Diversity Award, 2019 Most Influential Women in Corporate America Award, and 2019 NAFE Women of Excellence Corporate Women’s Champion Award.

Dr. Maya Angelou said, “My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” Dr. Angelou’s quote describes Barbara H. Whye to me. Dr. Joel P. Martin, Triad West Inc.

Join us for Positively Powerful Conference, Friday, October 16th at ASU Community Union, Sun Devil Stadium, 500 East Veterans Way, Tempe, AZ. The Education Summit breakfast and registration begin at 7:30 a.m. Speakers program from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Following the Summit, we host the Positively Powerful Woman Awards where we will acknowledge Barbara H. Whye as one of this year’s 12th Annual Positively Powerful Woman Award recipients. Sponsorship Information and Registrations are available online.

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“Crucial Conversations” It is a good read and listen

Jun 28, 2018 | Business, Coaches Corner, Domestic Violence Prevention, relationships

“Crucial Conversations” It is a good read and listen

For women and men who sometimes face conflict and want options other than fight or flight, run out or numb out, for business people who are wanting to have more effective conversations in difficult but necessary circumstances, for parents, couples, etc. who want to learn how to communicate better and create more caring relationships, check out: Crucial Conversations. It is a good read and listen. “The first edition (2012) of Crucial Conversations exploded onto the scene and revolutionized the way millions of people communicate when stakes are high. This new edition gives you the tools to Prepare for high-stakes situations Transform anger and hurt feelings into powerful dialogue Make it safe to talk about almost anything Be persuasive, not abrasive.”

Domestic Violence Prevention-75 Minutes to Empowerment

Nov 17, 2017 | Domestic Violence Prevention, empowerment, Women

Domestic Violence Prevention-75 Minutes to Empowerment

Estrella Mountain Community College, Dr. Olga Tsoudis Residential Faculty, Dr. Joel P. Martin Speaker and Laura A. Dulgar, Dean Student Affairs

Invited by Dr. Olga Tsoudis, Residential Faculty and Dean of Students, Laura A. Dulgar, I recently delivered a Workshop for Estrella Mountain Community College Students. I gave my presentation on Empowerment during this year’s Domestic Violence Prevention Month. Here are a few highlights of my 75 minutes to make my difference.

“How it has been for me.”

After creating the roadmap: “How it has been for me.” “How I want it to be.” “What it will take from me,” I asked them to close their eyes and raise their hands if they had experienced or witnessed domestic abuse. Many hands were raised. Then with examples, straight talk, some humor, and experiential simulations, I created the possibility that they could be the most empowered person they wanted to be regardless of any negative situation – including those of abuse. I chose not to delve too deeply into the horrific, but rather to give them tools to use to bust through to greater confidence, self-esteem, and personal power.

Create the experiences you want

I shared the “Seven Super Powers” that every person has. One is our ability to challenge the beliefs we have that don’t work to create our personal power. Because a belief is something that we hold to be true and act as if it is, it is changeable. By challenging our beliefs that don’t produce the results we want, like a bad habit, we can put a new belief in its place. We also have beliefs that work. Knowing and appreciating them gives us positive reinforcement and boosts our ability to produce the quality of life that we truly want. Another Super Power I demonstrated is our ability to use our words to create the experiences we want. For example, depending on whether we say “I have to…” or “I chose to” before a task will determine the feeling we create within ourselves.

Being empowered takes owning one’s power, saying “No!” and meaning it, knowing how you want to be treated and why, knowing how you want to treat others, taking actions that align with your personal value, and empowering others.

It was an honor to spend the 75 minutes with the students of Estrella Community College. I was inspired by the goals they shared about their futures and their attentive participation.