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by Lynn Wenzel
Featured Member: Judith Pruess-Mellow
Business & Professional Women of Nevada County is happy to welcome new member Judith Pruess-Mellow. Judith is a co-owner of Gold Country Seniors Alive, an organization that seeks to improve the quality of elders’ lives and that of those who care for them. GCSA creates, offers and supports group programs that enhance the well-being of seniors. Judith is an ordained clergyperson in the United Methodist Church. From 2005-2009, she was Executive and Founding Director of Senior New Ways, a non-profit in the South Bay. Judith has also been Minister of Visitation and Older Adult Programs at Los Altos United Methodist Church and hosts “Seniors Alive” on NCTV.
Judith teaches and writes on aging and spirituality and was also one of the Founding Members of the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalition. She has written Sammy’s First Book, Friendly Visitor Training; was a co-author on Creating Your Legacy Through Memoir Writing (2010); and co-author of Listening to Legacies (2009). There is much more but you will have to talk to Judith about it!!
Judith and her husband, Lee Mellow, enjoy their lives with Sammy, their cat, and Keeper, their dog. Judith’s husband, also known as Jimmie Skinner, is a retired country western guitar player who has performed with Lefty Frizell and Merle Haggard. Judith’s mother is 93 and lives in the Atrium at Quail Ridge. Judith loves gardening, travel and interfaith dialogue. She vacationed in England in 2010. Welcome Judith. We are so glad you joined us!
Featured Member: Dawn Narvaez
We are happy to have Dawn in our BPW family. She is a mobile Notary Public and Process Server who advertises her business as “Professional Services With A Smile!” Dawn has also held a wide range of other jobs—working at a fruit stand in San Jose, first woman counter person at an auto parts business, running a boarding stable, and Tupperware, Avon, Mary Kay and Garden Goodies home sales.
Dawn has been married to husband, Mike, for 24 years. They have a 19-year-old daughter, Sara. The Narvaez family enjoys the quiet of the country and lives on 20 acres in Penn Valley near Bridgeport, overlooking Englebright Lake. Sophe and Axel are their two “very well-behaved and lovable” pit bulls and an old gal pal horse, Satin Bow is “older than Sara!”. Dawn is also a member of the Elks. On the fitness side, she is a Beach Body Coach promoting health and fitness—she dropped 42 pounds in 2010!
Dawn joined BPW because of the platform and the promotion of Women in Business on the local level as well as to get to know other professional women. In welcoming 2011, she says: “May your troubles be less, your blessings more and nothing but happiness come through your door.”
Featured Members: Sharon Rose and Frederika Zylstra,co-owners of Abundant Earth Design
At Abundant Earth Design, we believe that the design of your home should fit your lifestyle. Taking our inspiration from the Earth’s colors and textures, we will create a living environment that reflects your individuality.
Your home should be both efficient and organized for
the way you live, and also make you feel wonderful and relaxed every time you walk in the door. It should have continuity and flow, and the spaces in your home should have a purpose.
Sharon Rose is a well-known Realtor in the Nevada County area. She is a self proclaimed “garden fairy.” Nature being her palette and a love for gracious settings, Sharon finds peace and balance in a well conceived plan of color and harmonious lines in interior spaces. “If one must be indoors the exterior must be brought in.” Sharon has worked with contractors, interior decorators and landscape architects. Many of her clients ask for “staging advice” and “remedies” to help put their homes in order to help sell them quickly and for the best price.
Frederika Zylstra is a custom home builder, whose love of architecture and interior design led her to offer design services to her building clients for many years. Earth inspired colors and the use of texture to create dimension is her idea of play. As a child she spent most of her time outdoors collecting rocks and leaves. Bringing nature’s glory inside in texture and color to create the sanctuary we call home is her goal.
We are members of Build It Green and Sierra Green Builders Association. Green design means much more than using recycled materials. A crucial part of any green project is choosing materials that will last a lifetime, and that the design is classic and timeless. We encourage the use of sustainable materials where possible, and design to support a lifestyle that is both meaningful and efficient. Our services include organizing shopping trips to vendors who provide the personalized service, variety and competitive pricing you want. We assist you in selecting the finest quality materials for your budget while saving you time and money.
We are available for a variety of services, including working with your builder or architect, color consultation, home staging, and selection of all finish materials for your home such as cabinets, countertops, flooring, appliances, fixtures, lighting, windows and doors, and window treatments.
Whether you are building a new home, remodeling an existing home, or just want to spruce up your living space on a budget, our expertise can guide you!
Featured Member: Frederika Zylstra, Spring Valley Construction
My husband Mike Butterfield is the heart and soul of the business, having started in the construction business 35 years ago in Napa and Marin Counties, building high end homes and wineries. In 1987, a home he built for client James House won the “Napa Valley Home of The Year” award and later (in 1989) sold for $8 million. He owned Spring Valley until 1999, when realizing that he preferred the art of creating an exquisite three dimensional object from blueprints to the administrative responsibilities of business, I took over the business as owner.
Spring Valley specializes in building dream homes. These, like our clients, come in all styles and sizes, but have one thing in common: they reflect the personality of their inhabitants. As a builder of ultra custom homes, it is my job to assist in walking my clients through the thousands of decisions necessary to create their dream. We are involved in every aspect of the project, no matter how minute. The smallest dream home gets the same dedication and attention as the largest and most complex.
I have held a number of jobs over the years that have prepared me for this. I worked for a builder of high end spec homes, and assisted in site planning, design, and cost control. For many years, I was a small business consultant, helping business owners organize, market and streamline their operations. Then came the real test – a good friend was building a new upscale restaurant and bar. Her general contractor was not performing. After relieving herself of his services, she and I took over the project and managed the construction and the subcontractors. We found we were quite good at it and had a wonderful experience – I looked forward to coming to work every day! I had found a place where I could be both creative and practical.
Using a team approach, I consider my employees to be the foundation of a good business. They are fully invested in our building philosophy, which is reflected in the tag line “Homes Built To Last Through The Generations”. It is the hope of every member of my team that our homes be passed on from one generation to the next, and stand the test of time. Every one of my employees is a superb craftsman, who truly understands the meaning of teamwork. Watching them on the job is like watching a beautifully choreographed dance – graceful, efficient, and no wasted movement.
SVC is a certified green builder, and member of Build It Green and Sierra Green Builders Association. The certification requires hours of study and a rigorous exam; followed by hours of continuing education. Our next plan is to become a ‘Green Point Rater’ for new and existing homes. I am very excited that we will be featured in the January edition of Green Building and Design Magazine, a national publication that promotes sustainable building, particularly solar design.
My hobbies? I am a dressage rider, at the Prix St. Georges level, dabble in Western Reining, love quilting (mostly the color choices and design) photography, and landscape planning and design. I also play the violin at the elementary school level, but remain undaunted.
Featured Member: Rachelle Bloksberg, Sierra EEG
I discovered neurofeedback because I suffered a brain injury. Neurofeedback gave me my life back. Doctors had run out of medications and therapies to try. They told me that I needed to accept that I would be living the rest of my life on the couch. I had a horrible migraine headache all the time. My pain level was always between 7 and 9 on a scale of 1-10. Because of my constant headache, I was unable to sleep without sleeping pills. I had problems with communication and thought processing. My energy levels were very low. My memory was very bad. The scores on my neuropsych tests were very low. I knew that I was not functioning well and did not want to accept this as my permanent condition.
My neuropsychologist suggested I call his grad school roommate who does neurofeedback in Missouri. After a long phone conversation, he convinced me to try neurofeedback. I had nothing to lose, so I traveled to Southern California to try it out.
I did an intensive two week neurofeedback program followed by daily home training. The results were amazing! Now my headache is between a 1 & 2 on a scale of 1-10. I can think much more clearly. It is much easier for me to pay attention. I can hold a conversation without help. I can sleep without having to take pills. Now I sleep better than I have in my entire life. I have enough energy to participate in life. Only my family notices my brain injury symptoms now that they are so dramatically changed. Now I function in the world and am back to being a productive member of society.
Given my amazing experience with neurofeedback, I wanted to share it with others who suffer from brain injuries and other neurological issues. And, so, I became a neurofeedback therapist.
You are probably wondering now, what is neurofeedback? Neurofeedback is a very powerful therapy that can help with many conditions. It is 100% drug free and 100% non-invasive.
Neurofeedback uses EEG technology to exercise your brain. Everyone can benefit from this type of brain exercise,
just like everyone benefits from exercising their body. There is no need to have a diagnosis before beginning brain training. Everyone is different and experiences different groups of symptoms. The training is based on symptoms rather than diagnosis. I tailor your neurofeedback training to you. It is a learning process. Neurofeedback EEG exercises help improve your brain’s ability to self-regulate and encourages greater control over functions like sleep, behavior, memory, concentration and mood.
Unlike other therapies, neurofeedback works on the subconscious level. Since the problems I address in my practice are usually out of the client’s conscious control, being able to affect subconscious brain function is a huge benefit. We show the brain how it is functioning and encourage it to make positive changes. Clients play a video game with their brain waves in order to show the brain where to make changes. It’s easy. Anyone can do it.
I work with both children and adults. Most of my young clients have problems with learning, attention or behavior. Many have been diagnosed with learning disabilities, ADD/ADHD, Autism, Tourette’s Syndrome, depression or anxiety. My adult clients are primarily people suffering from sleep problems, migraines, depression, anxiety, brain injury, chronic pain, and cancer treatment. My clients tend to be people who have exhausted all their options to find a solution to their problem.
I have been able to help people make significant positive changes in their lives. I really enjoy seeing these changes take place. I have had an autistic child learn to express his emotions. I have watched migraines disappear while a client sits in my chair. One of my clients is finally able to read. Depression and anxiety medication have become unnecessary for a woman who has struggled with emotional ups and downs all her life. A cancer client has found clarity from chemo brain fog. Most clients notice that they sleep much better. Getting a good night’s sleep is a solid foundation for positive change.
When I’m not seeing clients, I spend much of my time doing volunteer work in the community. I am a tutor with the library literacy program. I am also a California Certified Crisis Counselor. I volunteer with DVSAC, Women of Worth and Wildlife Rehab & Release. I facilitate a Mother’s Circle for Gather the Women. My husband and I hold the annual We Can Drive Through and the Unpotluck for the Food Bank sponsored
by Aikido’Ka.
If you would like more information about neurofeedback and how it can make a difference for you, please visit my website and call to schedule your free 30 minute consultation.
