Brandy Neece has the distinction of inspiring Purpose on Fire’s founding. Brandy was in an audience of 75 women at a leadership conference when Alise was speaking in early November 2018 on the importance of cultivating meaning, passion, inspiration, and purpose in our lives – and the importance of embracing adversity to lean into who we can become in life. Soon after the session, Brandy reached out and told Alise that experiencing the presentation had inspired a new direction for her, helped her realize she had been living a satisfied life, but one not completely fulfilled, and that she had a story about experiencing trauma that she needed to share in order to help others. Dr. Cortez knew she had to help give Brandy wings. 

Today, Brandy is entering a new chapter of her life as an emerging speaker, having recently begun her journey in helping and encouraging struggling individuals. At the age of 18, she experienced a horrific and traumatic life-altering event. In an effort to avoid losing herself in pity and grief, she sought and discovered strength and beauty she did not know existed – in herself and in others around her. Brandy spent the next twenty years facing fears, overcoming personal obstacles and improving her self-image. She has navigated a successful career in the Finance industry but has discovered a bigger calling for herself in service of her one precious life and all she’s lived through. She is now utilizing her passion and experiences to help facilitate healing and empower others to overcome their own fears, shame, doubt and daily trials. Visit her open Facebook group called The Journey to Freedom at https://www.facebook.com/groups/2255336614726688/ or go directly to her blog at: https://thejourneytofreedom.blog/

Richard Medina discovered Dr. Cortez’s work on living with passion and working with purpose, and was compelled to reach out to see if she might be able to help him with his pesky purpose problem. You see, the idea had been born in 2011, and it just would not let him be. Understanding the powerful governing and enlivening force of purpose, Alise knew he needed guidance and direction to unleash his purpose into a meaningful offering. 

Having recently retired from the USPS, Richard Medina, age 66, decided to focus on an idea which he has been test marketing. He has received very positive feedback and want to see the offering come to fruition to both complete his bucket list and make a lasting difference in our community. Legacy Keepsakes, Inc. is a millennial graduate identity brand that recognizes a major achievement. The brand CO2K®, with the year proudly displayed behind it, reflects the year of the graduation and is the symbol of the significant step completed by the student. CO2K® means CLASS OF 2000 with the year boldly reflected behind it. The CO2K® brand will not only recognize the major achievement of graduation but allows the student to make a contribution to their community. Every purchase of the CO2K® keepsake products will result in a contribution to a worthy cause. This is a class act with a cause. A large portion of the proceeds will benefit scholarships. The graduating student has achieved multiple goals; recognized their academic achievement with the CO2K® keepsake products and made an impact in the community with their contribution to several worthy causes. The graduating student has left a legacy since day 1 of graduation. In numbers we have strength to make a difference. Richard Medina of CO2K.org; retired from USPS – has a dream he wants to leave as a legacy and not just play golf! He wants to do something meaningful and create an engine that his sons can carry on. Visit his site at https://co2kgrad.com/

Meriam Wydick … Hashtag This Woman blog – empowering women
Meriam came into the Purpose on Fire sphere when she approached Alise after a keynote speech she gave for a Dallas Toastmasters conference in May 2019. Meriam’s eyes were brimming with excitement, as she eagerly approached Alise upon leaving the podium. Meriam blurted out, “I want to hear about how you started your podcast!” At first, Alise was taken aback and thought, Huh? Is that all she got from my talk about passion, inspiration, and purpose – that I produce a podcast? But then, as the conversation continued, Alise came to understand her talk further inspired a dream in Meriam to launch her own women’s empowerment platform, which would ultimately include a podcast of her own. The best part of the story is that in their meeting and her hearing Alise’s message, Meriam became more present to her own purpose and dream and got somehow that talking to Alise would help get her closer. And thus, there she was, first in line to talk with Alise. What a privilege and gift to be there to “catch” her fire and start the path to launching it into the world through her purpose.

About her platform HashtagThisWoman blog she just recently launched after our work together began: A platform where women come together to push forward the revolution of women empowerment. All women from different journeys, with different backgrounds evolving together, creating the energy needed to fight the social and cultural division amongst us. Taking the stand where we recognize the roots to our division and owning up to who we are and pushing each other to become the best of ourselves. A means of where women can interact, mentor or be mentored, questioned, challenged while understanding that this process will help to learn and understand one another on a deeper level, as we learn to do more than exist or scream for justice. Hashtagthiswoman, is here to bring women not only together, but lift and power them regardless of the demographic society has placed on them. She envisions this platform as a medium for the global community of women to advance the female revolution. http://hashtagthiswoman.com/