View From the 5th Row

Mischelle O'Neal has been living her passion to help women move from a victim mindset to a champion mindset through her books, her mastermind groups, and her motivational speaking.  We often set goals for ourselves but don't realize those goals when we are frozen in place and too afraid to start.  Mischelle believes that we must learn to simply start and we must learn to master the art of starting.  When we get comfortable starting, then we will be well on our way to living the live we desire.

Mischelle O’Neal is the Founder of Mastering Your Monday, LLC a lifestyle Enrichment Firm. She valiantly served her country and is a retired United States Air Force Veteran. Mischelle continued her career as a civil servant working for various federal government agencies. Today, Mischelle and her husband reside in Loudoun County, Virginia and enjoy the company of their four awesome grandchildren.

Inspired by a desire to help women overcome personal and professional challenges, Mischelle created Mastering Your Monday, LLC, to assist women in developing a more balanced, productive lifestyle by teaching the skills needed and control they desired to succeed and create a “fresh start”, one Monday at a time. Mischelle’s extensive background with over twenty-eight years of experience and expertise with the military, has been paramount in her development of the M.A.T. Technique(TM). It brings her great joy to witness women move from a victim mindset to a champion in their own life. Not only do they become champions for themselves, but champions for others.

Throughout her life, Mischelle has had to overcome her own challenges. Through her faith, discipline, and strong values, she developed the resilience necessary to prevail. Her presence today is a testimony that you, too, can win with the right guidance, support and mastery.

IG & FB @mischelleoneal

There are superheroes and then there are super she-roes who are working to serve citizens from their financial woes and challenges.  My special guest today works daily to help resolve financial crisis that occur with small businesses and individuals who often go it alone until it's too late.  As small business owners and professionals, we are often unwilling to invest in an expert to help us handle the finances, avoid peril, and create wealth.  Angie Toney is not your everyday financial professional, she specializes in resolving complex situations and helping her clients find balance their mental and physical health & wellness with their financial positions.

Angie Toney is a native New Yorker, corporate exec turned entrepreneur serving clients as a health and wealth professional in the DC area. She utilizes a holistic approach to help small business owners in the health industry increase cash flow and reduce taxes and audit risk.

Before launching her business, she was a director working with a local CPA firm providing audit and quality assurance services for local, state and federal government projects and the chief auditor for a chemical manufacturing company.   Angie also worked as a consultant with Experis (formerly Jefferson Wells) and as a senior auditor for the not-for-profit insurance and investment organization, TIAA-CREF.  She earned a BS in Accounting from Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry, NY, and an MBA from the University of Phoenix.  She is a Certified Public Accountant / Personal Financial Specialist (CPA/PFS) and holds a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) license.   Angie is also a certified health coach earned from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition.  As a health coach, she practices a holistic approach to health and wellness, which examines all areas of an individual’s life, including financial matters, to see how they are connected and impact each other. Reducing financial stress can have a profound impact on health.

Angie is a mother of two living in Northern Virginia outside of Washington DC.  Outside of work, she enjoys various types of volunteer work including mentoring youth and participating in adult literacy/training programs.   She is an active board member and volunteer with the Loudoun Volunteer Financial Council, a member of the Urban Financial Services Coalition – UFSC (formerly known as the National Association of Urban Bankers), and a volunteer with Operation HOPE, the nation’s leading nonprofit social investment banking and financial literacy empowerment organization with a mission to eradicate poverty.

How much attention to you pay to the leadership in your community? Are you plugged into the decisions that are on the table or do you react when things get too close to home.  There was a time that I took much for granted.  Then somewhere between becoming a mother and increasing my participation in the local community, I started paying closer attention.  Maybe, that's where it all begins....something or someone you care about is being ignored or mistreated, and you decide that it's time to let your voice be heard and fight for what you believe in.  In this episode, I am talking to three active leaders in the community. I went all the way with this one. 

You will also find it live on Facebook @ViewFromthe5thRow!

My featured guests include:

Buta Biberaj - Buta Biberaj has lived by the principles of Justice, Equality, Transparency, and Integrity all of her life and was recently elected as Commonwealth Attorney for Loudoun County, Virginia in 2019.  Buta practiced as a trial attorney in Loudoun County for over 25 years and a substitute judge for over 11 years.  Buta spent her entire career helping families, children and clients with problems that required experienced, sensitive, and solution based approaches.  The ultimate goal being to help address the core root issues of the matter, provide support systems and prevent repeat incidents of crisis.  Buta was a guardian ad litem for 23 years.  Judges from the Juvenile and Circuit Courts in Loudoun, Fairfax and Fauquier Counties consistently selected her to represent the best interests of children and the elderly in some of the most complex and dire cases that came before the courts.

Are you an entrepreneur just starting out or wondering how to elevate your success? Sometimes it is just as simple as identifying your why.  Why should customers buy your product or use your services? How can you change your message to have more of an impact and to develop better, long-term customer relationships.  Kindra Harvey will no doubt help you get your business on the right track!

Kindra Harvey serves and inspires business owners and industry professionals daily. Encouraging and empowering those who are unafraid to take the leap into business ownership is one of her core missions in life.  She believes it is through our collective experience and willingness to share that we are able to impact generations and contribute innovation to the future of our culture, community, country, and our world. Helping to create jobs for our neighbors, stepping in to help companies re-imagine their possibilities, and shining light on resources that make a difference drives her to excel. Exceeding expectations and witnessing dreams as they come true is what makes her job interesting.

Professionally, Kindra has spent the past 17 years working in Human Resource Development, Training and Development, Employer Services, Business Development, and Economic Development. During her tenure in Economic Development Kindra led the charge in her community to create a system of support for HUBZone companies and local job seekers. This model is now being duplicated in communities across the country.

Now as an entrepreneur, Kindra also, serves on HUBZone National Council where she is Chair of the Economic Development Committee.  Her company, Purpose WorX, guides businesses through the process of expansion, relocation, and consolidation of their business operations. They regularly monitor economic trends and the competitive landscape for various industries. The firm advises businesses on strategies and best practices to better equip them for success.

Carla Wiley is a beautiful soul who had a temporary setback that resulted in her learning a life lesson that was instrumental in helping her find her life’s passion and personal peace.  This is Carla’s Story: My Crown, My Cross, and My Celebration.

Carla Anderson Wiley has been a resident of Loudoun County, Virginia for over 55 years and works for the Archdiocese of Washington - Catholic Charities in the Human Trafficking Victims Assistance Program.

As a community involved citizen, Carla was on the founding Student Achievement Committee which was later renamed Minority Student Academic Achievement Committee (MSAAC) as well as an active member of the Loudoun NAACP. Carla originally became interested in community work through her mother, now deceased, who was one of the first black teachers to teach at Douglass Elementary School (now Frederick Douglass Elementary) when schools were integrated in Loudoun County.

Many of us have said at one time or another "I want to write a book!" and then the feeling passes.  Maybe, it's because the thought of doing so is overwhelming, we don't think we have the time or expertise to make it happen, or we're afraid it won't be a bestseller so we kill it before it even gets off the ground.  My guest today will inspire you back to the drawing board and help you get your book out into the world where it belongs! 

What happens when you roll up on 40....or 50...or later and you realize that you have planned well for retirement? What can you do? Where do you begin? Lorrie's continuing her conversation with Pam Sams, Jackson Sams Wealth Strategies.   Pam is sharing a few insights on what we can do to plan when you're feeling too close for comfort.

For 18 years, Pamela Sams has been helping women improve their personal and financial wealth through solid financial life planning. Pamela’s education and training enable her to help clients successfully navigate through the myriad of financial decisions they face during their lives. Pamela holds a Behavioral Financial Advisor designation, awarded to advisors who have undergone training to learn to help clients make financial decisions using a rational, values-based approach. Behavioral Financial Advisor’s integrate techniques founded in traditional finance, psychology and neuroscience to positively influence clients’ spending and saving behavior in the presence of challenging emotions. Pamela has become a strong voice in the area of personal finance for women. Her knowledge in this area has made her a sought-after speaker.

Lorrie's chatting with financial services professional, Pamela Sams, about how many of us avoid financial services because we don't have our acts together yet, we don't think we have enough money to justify or we've just plain got things under control and know what to do.  We liken a financial advisor to that of a dentist----they will cause us pain and make us do things we don't want or think we can't do.  Pamela Sams helps us demystify this "phenomena" that many of us benefit from and many more of us avoid like the plague. 

For 18 years, Pamela Sams has been helping women improve their personal and financial wealth through solid financial life planning. Pamela’s education and training enable her to help clients successfully navigate through the myriad of financial decisions they face during their lives. Pamela holds a Behavioral Financial Advisor designation, awarded to advisors who have undergone training to learn to help clients make financial decisions using a rational, values-based approach. Behavioral Financial Advisor’s integrate techniques founded in traditional finance, psychology and neuroscience to positively influence clients’ spending and saving behavior in the presence of challenging emotions. Pamela has become a strong voice in the area of personal finance for women. Her knowledge in this area has made her a sought-after speaker.