Jenaissance (Editor-in-Chief)
Jennifer Krempin Bridgman is inspired by the great Minneapolis designer Stanley Wai, who said: “I had a job once, and I’ll never do that again.” A writer and journalist by background, she held various communications management positions in the financial services, health care and legal services sectors before succumbing to the lure of a creative life of self-employment and entrepreneurism. In her spare time, she is always brewing a great idea (including this one). She considers “home” to be Green Bay, Wis., and Minneapolis, Minn., although all of her furniture currently resides in Washington, D.C.
jenaissance@trippingontheladder.com
Brian Doebert
Brian Doebert has 13 years in the IT industry working as an engineer and project manager but has always felt the lure of being an entrepreneur. Since he found a business partner with more ideas than any other five people combined, those entrepreneurial dreams have become a reality. In his spare time, Brian enjoys reading, watching movies with his wife, or playing with the four cats who graciously let him share their home
Dan d’Man
On New Year’s Eve 2002, Dan packed up his belongings (and maybe a few handfuls of pilfered paper clips) in a box and headed to his car for the last time as a corporate employee. Since then, he has happily worked as a freelance writer and communications strategist from the comfort of his home office. (Those uncles who congratulated him on his college graduation by asking, “What in God’s name can you do with an English and political science degree?” might be interested to know that he often spends his days wearing shorts and working from his backyard deck.) He and his wife live in the Twin Cities and are the parents of two young girls.
Diva Nikki
Diva Nikki works as a marketing communication specialist for a program that’s partnering with Habitat for Humanity to build hundreds of homes a year around the world. She and her husband Brian both received their MBAs in December 2006 after taking all their classes together. (Yes, they still like each other.) In her spare time, Nicole loves to serve on nonprofit boards, sing opera, read voraciously, knit prolifically and snuggle her four black cats.
divanikki@trippingontheladder.com
Linda Lande
Linda Lande is an accomplished communicator with more than 20 years of corporate writing, editing and marketing experience. She has worked for a Fortune 500 financial services organization, an AmLaw 100 firm, and also has experience in the association community.
Michael Krieger
Michael Krieger is a journalist who has covered everything from presidential elections to the neighborhood harvest festival. But since recently (and reluctantly) relocating to Milwaukee, Michael now writes for food and should just be thankful that he has a job at all. At least, that’s what people keep telling him.
michael@trippingontheladder.com
Sharon Korbeck Verbeten
Grammar guru Sharon Korbeck Verbeten is editorial director of All Write Creative Services, a freelance writing/editing firm located near the Frozen Tundra in Northeast Wisconsin. In her home office–currently known as the kitchen table—she has one reliable laptop, one sometimes reliable toddler and one very large tumbler of iced tea on hand at all times. Writing for almost 25 years, she has been published in everything from the local women’s magazine to national trade industry titles. She is the author of The Best of Barbie (Krause, 2001) and several pending book titles.
sharon@trippingontheladder.com
Jim Taylor
A veteran of career transition, Jim Taylor has a BFA in acting from Boston University, an MFA in screenwriting from the University of Southern California, and completed a professional massage therapy training program. As a screenwriter, he’s received an Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Award and had his script, Zen Turkey, produced and aired nationally in Canada on the CBC. As a director, his award-winning documentaries Subdue the Universe and Run Some Idiot have been featured in film and television venues around the world. As an actor, he’s done voice-over work for dozens of radio and TV ads. As a political consultant, he’s created ad campaigns for candidates for Governor and U.S. Congress. Based in St. Paul, Minnesota, Jim continues to write, direct, produce, act and serve as a political consultant through his company, Jim Taylor Media.
Jen Cohen
Jennifer Cohen is a social media and marketing maven and President of Something Creative LLC, a marketing boutique. Jen’s been knocked down many times in only 26 years but keeps getting back up and going full speed ahead. She never has her ducks in a row, but always know where they are!
Survivor Gal
Survivor Gal, a.k.a. Allison Sandve, earned her non de plume in post-graduate studies at The School of Hard Knocks. Over the years, Allison has been a reporter at daily newspapers, a registered lobbyist and political organizer. She’s been laid off by a distressed nonprofit and a Fortune 500 company — all the way, gaining life’s lessons to share via Tripping on the Ladder. Most of all, she wants readers to know they’re going to make it. A communications and public relations professional, Allison lives and works in St. Paul, Minn. She is certifiably crazy about travel.
survivorgal@trippingontheladder.com
Jen the Catalyst
Jen the Catalyst (a.k.a. Jen Woods Antila) recently left the corporate workforce after an 18-year career. She decided to strike out on her own, doing something completely different than any of the roles she’s previously held. She aspires to find work that is fun, joyful and a labor of love! Read her posts to be inspired by her experience, and possibly apply what she has learned to your own journey.
