Sean Armstead, owner of Phenomenal Fitness, Inc., has been a personal trainer since 1993. Sean is certified by the National Strength and Conditioning Association as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. He is also a certified personal trainer with the National Strength and Conditioning Association and Certified Personal Trainer with the National Academy of Sports Medicine, as well as a C.H.E.K Nutrition and Lifestyle Coach. 

A former U. S. Marine Corps Captain, Sean has received a number of fitness-related awards including the Allstate National Healthy American Fitness Leadership Award; Degerberg Academy of Martial Arts: Student of the Year, Best Thai Boxing Student, Warrior Spirit Award and Most Fit Male.  Sean earned a bachelor's of arts degree in Speech Communication from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Sean's fitness creed is: "The heart of a successful conditioning program is commitment, consistency and correctness."

   Dr. Laura Berman is the Director of the Berman Center in Chicago, a specialized healthcare facility dedicated to helping women repair their sex lives and find relief from menopausal symptoms. Dr. Berman is also an assistant clinical professor of OBGYN and Psychiatry at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University. She has been working as a sex educator, researcher and therapist for 18 years.

Considered a thought leader in her field, Dr. Berman has appeared in numerous national media outlets including, “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” “The Today Show,” Fox News, CNN, The New York Times, USA Today, Glamour, Elle and Ladies’ Home Journal. She is a columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times and co-author of The New York Times bestselling book, "For Women Only: A Revolutionary Guide to Overcoming Sexual Dysfunction and Reclaiming Your Sex Life” as well as "Secrets of the Sexually Satisfied Woman: 10 Keys to Unlocking Ultimate Pleasure."

     David Blackmon's first love is the passion for cooking and the excitement in the kitchen. With 17 years of food service experience, and twelve years as a professional Chef, his food testimonials are bar-none. Chef Blackmon received his culinary training at Kendall College in Evanston, Illinois and sharpened his skills working under top chefs in some of the finest restaurants around Chicago.  David’s career started with a family owned catering company where he was quickly promoted to food manager while attending culinary school. After graduating, he worked a year for a popular cruise line out of Miami.

David is now found spending his time at BLU-47 creating menus and daily specials that are changing with the seasons and the modern trends, paying close attention to the old standbys like calamari, bruschetta, rib-eye filets, and the freshest seafood available. David constantly strives to bring innovative ideas to the public and is looking forward to many successful years with BLU-47, the hottest spot on the south side of Chicago.

  Brandy Cruthird is a fitness expert who has a wealth of tips on how you and your entire family can get healthy and fit, with just a little extra effort.   

Brandy founded the 10-year running event “Everybody Walk Your Body Fitness Walk and Health Fair” as well as created “The House is Getting Fit” family fitness series. Because of her work in the community, she has been recognized by organizations such as Blue Cross Blue Shield, and was chosen as the winner of Exercise TV’s “America’s Next Fitness Star,” in 2007. She now hosts a show on Exercise TV and writes a monthly blog on excersicetv.com.  

(It’s Your Health – Oct. 2007)

   Jinnie English, a graduate of the University of Chicago's School of Social Service Administration is completing her Ph.D. at the Institute for Clinical Social Work and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and President of English Consulting, which she founded in 1999. Jinnie developed and continues to refine the concept of Business Therapy. She has been instrumental in transforming English Consulting from a private sector mental health services agency to a niche executive mental health maintenance firm.

Jinnie has been featured in many publications and has served as an expert commentator on national and Chicago radio and television stations on topics such as employee relations, networking, pathological behavior, relationship issues, seduction, organizational psychology and violence.

  SuEllen Hamkins, M.D., after twelve years as the psychiatrist for Smith College, now has a private practice in Northampton, Massachusetts, specializing in women's mental health. SuEllen is the mother of two daughters, ages 12 and 17, and raising them has been the most thrilling and rewarding work of her life.

Aware that the world offers both opportunities and challenges for mothers and girls, SuEllen reached out to other mothers and daughters beginning in her girls' infancies, ultimately becoming one of the founding mothers of the Mother-Daughter Project. Bringing the empowering, nurturing and joyful message of the Project to other mothers and daughters is her calling. 

  Jeanette Jenkins, the founder and President of The Hollywood Trainer, is one of the country's leading fitness experts, known best for her cutting-edge style, results-driven cross-training techniques, and supreme ability to motivate.  Her knowledge and ability to get results is what attracts a client roster that includes A-list actors, professional athletes, swimsuit models, and Hollywood executives. It's also what keeps her group classes at L.A.'s top fitness clubs jam-packed with celebrity regulars and Hollywood's hottest bodies.

Jeanette's student and client roster has included Queen Latifah, Christina Applegate, Taryn Manning, Ian Ziering, Jordana Brewster, Carmen Electra, Rae Dawn Chong, Jackée Harry, Amy Weber, Victoria Rowell, Tom Arnold, The NFL's Ty Law and Brian Cox. Terrell Owens describes Jeanette as being "High energy, passionate and knowledgeable. Jeanette knows how to draw you in and keep you motivated." 

  Chef Kimberly Jones began her journey in the culinary field in her early twenties.  She knew that cooking was a part of her calling but had not come to full realization of her abilities.  She was later challenged by her friends and family to cultivate her gift and she began her professional training at the Illinois Institute of Art Chicago Culinary program.  

She was so excited about how much she learned from her professional training that she decided to start a catering business.  Chef Jones is fairly new to the professional field but she is not short stopping on great flavor, great taste and proper techniques. 

(What’s For Dinner – Sept. 07)

  Jill Koenig, the "Goal Guru" is America's Top Goal Strategist.

A best-selling Author, Coach and Motivational Speaker, she is an expert on the subjects of Goal Setting, Time Management and Business Success.

Her Goal in life is to help you UNLEASH your untapped potential. 

  Kerry Knee's move into fitness began in 2005 after watching an episode of Oprah with Desperate Housewives’ Terri Hatcher demonstrating a sexy workout class she’d been taking. Kerry thought it looked fun and wanted to try it, but she couldn’t find any classes available outside of CA. Because Kerry couldn’t find anywhere to learn the work out, she bought a pole and taught herself.

She loved it so much that she talked her sister Krista into leaving a management IT position in Halifax to join her in Toronto to develop and launch Flirty Girl Fitness.  Kerry’s extensive business background helped make Flirty Girl Fitness one of the top fitness facilities in Toronto for women since opening in December 2005.

  Terry Leeders is a partner of Leeders & Associates, Ltd. Leeders is a prominent bankruptcy attorney in the Chicago area, and has personally advised thousands of clients regarding their finances and managing debt. 

Terry focuses primarily on personal bankruptcy law (Chapter 7 and Chapter 13), and his office also handles an array of legal services to clients throughout Chicago and the surrounding suburbs.

   Bill London, served for 4 years as a cook with the United States Marine Core and later graduated from culinary school in El Toro, CA.  From there he proceeded to McDonalds and was a manager for the next 2 years.  The next milestone for Chef London included a career with the Marriott Corporation where he was able to utilize both his culinary and management skills opening several new hotels for the Marriott in 5 different states including Maui HA. 

Chef London ended his 14 year career with the Marriott to accept an opportunity to work for Ms. Oprah Winfrey as the chef at Harpo Studios. Moving forward in his career, Chef London went to the Hyatt Regency as the Food & Beverage Director.

Chef London is now working with his own business, Chef London Catering.

 Susan Nethero has helped thousands of women transform their comfort and appearance by choosing the right bra.  Her Intimacy Bra Fitting Specialist shops can be found in Atlanta, New York, and Chicago.  In 2004 Intimacy was named "Best Reference Shop in America" by Intima.

Susan has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show and has been featured in national women's magazines including O, Redbook, Women's Day, and Marie Claire. 

 Michael Moody is the owner of Revival Fitness, LLC in Chicago.  Michael has integrated his degrees in psychology and education to create a comprehensive mind and body personal training experience. 

The principles of learning and motivation are the foundation for Michael’s programs and play an important role in the success of his clients. 

   Lisa Nichols is a dynamic international motivational speaker and powerful advocate of personal empowerment. She is the Founder and CEO of Motivating the Teen Spirit, LLC which is recognized by many as the most comprehensive empowerment skills program available today for teen self-development.  As of July 2006, her company has impacted the lives of over 60,000 teens, prevented over 1,750 suicides, reunited thousands of teens with their parents, and influenced more than 975 teen drop outs to return to school. 

Lisa Nichols is a proven entrepreneur and since starting her company in her living room in May of 2000, she has taken it international while doing more than two million dollars in business along the way.  Despite being labeled "one of the worst writers" by her English teacher, she's landed three major book publishing deals with the best selling Chicken Soup for the Soul series. She's appeared as an expert Life Coach on NBC’s hit show, “Starting Over” as well as one of the 27 leading teachers featured on the international hit DVD, "The Secret."

  Steve Raichlen is a multi-award winning author; journalist; cooking teacher; and TV host. His best-selling Barbecue Bible cookbook series (more than 2 million copies in print) and Barbecue University TV show on PBS have virtually reinvented American barbecue. 

In addition to the 25 books that he has written, in 2000, Raichlen launched Barbecue University at the Greenbrier—which was profiled on the Food Network (which ranked it the “Best BBQ Experience in the U.S.”), and in Bon Appétit Magazine, Travel & Leisure Magazine and Esquire. In 2003, Bon Appétit named Raichlen “Cooking Teacher of the Year.”

   Russell Simmons is the founder of Def Jam Records and is responsible for launching the careers of Hip-Hop icons like Run D.M.C, and L.L. Cool J. Since then, Def Jam Records has taken hip hop from a creative expression to a Madison Avenue marketing darling.

This savy entreprenuer is also responsible for the Phat Farm clothing line, the Def Comedy and Def Poetry Jam television series and is a well respected political and philanthropic activist.

    David Sullivan, a graduate of the University of Illinois has been an agent with Country Insurance and Financial Services since 2006.

   Lisa Johnson-Willingham, born in Washington, DC is a graduate of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts and received a BFA from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Lisa has performed with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, New World Dance Company, Donald Byrd/The Group, Complexions-A Concept in Dance, Joel Hall Dance Company, Deeply Rooted Productions, Cerqua/Rivera Art Experience, and Nucleus Dance Collective.

As a choreographer Lisa has been honored and blessed to have choreographed on such dance companies as Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Joel Hall Dance Company, Cerqua/Rivera Art Experience, Hubbard Street II, Melissa Thodos and Dancers and One World Dance Theater.  Along with her stage credits Lisa has been involved in television, commercials, movies, and videos.

Studying under renowned master teachers she has become a requested teacher of dance, sharing her experience and love of dance all over the world. In 2006, Mrs. Willingham founded Chicago Contemporary Dance Center and serves as its director.