All LifeSkills Academie educators are professionals in the business world, some with academic backgrounds and all have proven success in the world of commerce.
Barbara Badolati
CEO - Live Blissful
Barbara Badolati began her personal wellness journey in 1982 from years of an unhealthy lifestyle. She obtained degrees in health education and exercise physiology, followed by internships at two California spas. She has been a key player in the evolution of worksite wellness since 1986 through her company, Alive & Well which provided health initiatives for both the public and private sectors. This included developing and teaching mind-body programs, opening several yoga studios and coaching thousands in personal growth and well-being. Barbara has authored and been featured in several publications, podcasts, television broadcast and a TEDx Talk! She is best known as an international speaker who lights up the room with her well-being bliss. Barbara infuses her audience with energy and joy, while sharing stories and insights to uplift, educate and entertain so others are inspired to create abundant well-being in their lives. Barbara has taught children, teens and adults yoga, mindfulness and dance throughout West Michigan in many organizations including schools, community education and her own wellness centers over the past three decades.
Sandi MacCalla
Founder and President
Sandi MacCalla’s 40+ years in business spans major industries: Space Exploration, Aluminum Manufacturing, Real Estate Investing, Transportation, Custom Clothing and, most recently, Large-Scale Homeowners’ Association Management. Sandi became a Certified Etiquette Consultant teaching classes for kids at Macy’s Seattle & Bellevue stores. Currently, she is Founder and President of Etiquette for You and LifeSkills Academie. Sandi’s passion is to teach skills that help others become successful in their life choices including Etiquette/Social Intelligence classes for children, teens, and young adults.
Elisa (Lisa) Hawkinson
Since 2000 I have been professionally helping people bring calm into their life by teaching, inspiring and encouraging them to gain control over their clutter and implement a routine to their life. I want to help them love where they live and have calm in their personal life and the household too. Teaching students early in life the skills to have habits and routines along with goals and boundaries around key areas of their life is a passion of mine. I want them to have successful productive lives that a positive contribution to our society.
My goal is to equip students with basic life-long skills and tools in organizing school work, their daily routine and preparing them for their future as adults. I have taught these classes at alternative schools in the Northshore School District and the classes have been well received by the faculty and students. One student exclaimed at the end of the class that she could see herself going to college to be a nurse after what she heard me teach. That was the highest compliment and testimonial I have ever received.
Lauren Crist
Lauren Crist has over 12 years in product management and marketing management for Fortune 100s, including Microsoft, Amazon.com, and Hotels.com. For the past 10 years, she has coached youth, ages 15 to 25, in resume writing, networking, personal branding, and career aptitudes. An overview of Lauren's expertise is available at Linkedin. Lauren's passions lie in creating a more strategic, driven level of leaders for America's youth, who are struggling to make their career and life dreams a reality. Lauren brings a systematic, data-driven approach to helping young people find the right opportunities based on personal assessments that offer a unique outlook on each individual. She also leads classes that help students define their life blueprint and determine next steps to accomplishing their life goals.
Susan Naranjo-Stultz
LifeSkills Academie Board Advisor
Susan Naranjo-Stultz founded Grasshopper Enrichment Education in 2009. Her company’s mission is to empower students through the cultivation of confident communication skills so that they may have every opportunity to be successful in life and contribute their gifts to the world. She and her staff strive to provide education which is fun, challenging, and engaging. Prior to Grasshopper, she taught in the regular classroom in California for six years until she moved to lovely Washington state where she ran the academically talented program at a private school for over fourteen years. Susan has raised three incredibly talented young adults who are also learning and working in the education and business fields.
Susan gladly accepted the position of board advisor with LifeSkills Academie as she believes in the importance of our youth and adults learning valuable life skills to live a successful and fruitful life.
Linda Yee, MSW
Linda Yee, MSW, is a Child and Family Therapist who practiced 12 years prior to her third son’s birth. After many years as a stay-at-home mom, Linda began work at a local elementary school, where it is her absolute joy to teach mindfulness to every student in every class. From this, her own mindfulness practice and a firm belief that we all benefit paying attention to our thoughts, our bodies and our surroundings, Linda began JustBE mindful coaching. She offers years of experience with children and teens as an educator as well as her personal knowledge and practice of mindfulness to create a rich curriculum where young people can master this lifelong skill. Students learn strategies to help them pay attention to happenings around them in the current moment. Research shows that mindfulness not only can physically change the structure of our brain (increasing focus and attention), but also lowers the stress hormone cortisol, reduces anxiety and depression and improves emotion regulation – all of which helps improve our relationships and quality of life!
