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| Company owners on the night of their wedding, July 27, 2002 |
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On Life Michelle grew up in the log cabin her father built, where the land sloped down and tree frogs belched strange music. Where he tilled potatoes and her mother killed snakes, staked the scarlet roses and tamed the wild forsythia. The cabin was made of knotty pine wood that glowed—her father’s rifles on one wall, her mother’s carved glass mirrors on another and a crystal chadelier hanging between them.
Both Robert and Michelle grew up near the Catskill Mountains. Robert in Franklin, NY and Michelle in Narrowsburg, NY, after she moved there with her family from her native New York City.
Just recently, Michelle took Robert Lofthouse (her partner in work and life) to the small hamlet where she grew up and more specifically to Luxton Lake Estates--an intentional community of about 75 people of color from New York City who spent their summer vacations there. Michelle's family lived there year-round—which was something only about ten of the 75 chose to do annually. Michelle grew up surrounded by a five-mile lake called Luxton Lake (which is now gone, due to the actions of greedy developers). She spent her childhood biking, boating, hiking, running, swimming, jumping rope, playing jacks and hop skotch, exploring the woods, nurturing crushes, re-enacting Logan’s Run and voraciously devouring Trixe Belden mysteries. Michelle had a penchant for ice skating, ice fishing, playing soccer and yes, it's true: dancing to disco and of course, Donna Summer. There was a gorgeous lake, a beagle named Buttons and tons of playmates.
Michelle writes:
I loved my neighborhood beyond belief. I know that it was that combination of those interested adult mentors, respect for elders, love of the outdoors and reverence for hard work and heartfelt play that prepared me for many inordinate challenges and seemingly impossible obstacles I would face. I give thanks to all those who came before me—those ancestors of African, Irish and Native American decent—they shaped the outlines of big dreams—many that I have already fulfilled.
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On Career
I believe that there is great potential in all of us and that when we “truly communicate, all things are possible. The power of active, engaged listening, combined with thoughtful action can never be underestimated," said Courtney CEO Michelle Berry.
I have worked in a small research-based advertising agency and with big firms. One of the most exciting career highlights came when I supervised a large firm and all vendor relationships for a Cornell University's top 10 business school. I've worked with The New York Times, Business Week, USA Today, PBS, Investors Business Daily, The Financial Times and many other media powerhouses. As a young TV journalist, I covered The White House and Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. I went on to write business and wellness columns for Gannett Newspapers and open for Maya Angelou, Nikki Giovanni, Howard Zinn and His Holiness The Dalai Lama. As a former Alternate Acting Mayor of the City of Ithaca and Poet Laureate of Tompkins County, I am currently an entrepreneur, elected official, strategic marketing consultant, author, travel writer, mother and spouse. Throughout my career, which spans more than 15 years of progressive employment and complex assignments, I’ve worked from the ground up to build programs that are both sustainable and recognizable.
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On Success
Carpe Diem was a mantra taught by my parents, Glenn and Dorothy, who believed in the value of working for something, not having it handed to you. I also drove myself to succeed because I saw early own how the power of regret could eat away joy. I ask my clients: How can we seize these delicious opportunities before us both strategically and enthusiastically? How can we better organize our day, our workflow and our processes to get more out of our work, and by extension, free up time for our personal lives?
At age ten, my father taught me to ride a motorcycle. I was the first girl to ride, helping integrate riding for girls in my whole neighborhood. My father Glenn Wright, was born in Weedsport, NY in the Fingerlakes Region of New York State. He was the Captain of almost every Varsity team and he went on to accept a full football scholarship at Tuskegee where he pledged Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. After I mastered riding a motorcycle at such a young age, he said, Now you know what it feels like to be free. Never let anyone make you afraid. Dream big, succeed.
I went on to graduate Valedictorian of my high school and was the Commencement Speaker at my undergraduate college. I got a full fellowship to Cornell University, where I obtained a Master's Degree in Communication Planning & Strategy. Right before I got my master's degree, my father died. Several years later, I made sweeping changes in my life. I closed the chapter of a long-term relationship, opened a business, began writing poetry, married Robert Lofthouse (an amazing person and partner in my business) and ran for public office. In 2004, I gave birth to our first child, Nina Berry-Lofthouse. In 2007, I completed a four-year City Council term. In 2008, I was elected in the 22nd Congressional District of New York State as a delegate for Presidential Candidate Senator Barack Obama. I hope I've made my Dad proud.
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