“She challenged our college personnel to build bridges with one another as well as our students.  She also challenged us to express care and concern for each other as co-workers and to build on trust.  CiCi presented unique and creative analogies that helped to engage her audience with her points.  Throughout, she gave a passionate and poignant presentation while maintaining an energetic and enthusiastic spirit.  . . . Comments from the attendees included, ‘CiCi was a wonderful speaker’ and ‘This was the best speaker we’ve ever had for in-service.’
. . . In summary, CiCi Higgins is a speaker who will engage the audience, grab their attention, and cause them to think.  She pays attention to the little things, prepares extremely well, and delivers a wonderful presentation.  I highly recommend her.”
-John McIntosh, M.S. - Director of Institutional Research, Chair - Professional Development Committee, Northwest Shoals Community College

“Your message was right-on-target and very well delivered.  Any organization that contracts your services would be hard-pressed to find one better than you!  Thanks again.”
-Tina Scott, Former Executive Director - United Way of Northwest Alabama

“Congratulations on doing such a great job kicking off the UWay campaign. Looking forward to seeing you again soon.”
-Bud Ward – Independent Marketing and Advertising Professional, President - The Angel Network, Florence, AL

“CiCi—I don’t know about anyone else, but I can tell the difference in the morale around here in just these few days!  Your beaming energy was truly infectious, and the people are responding well to their ‘attitude tune-up.’  For those that didn’t or couldn’t attend, they’ve been told that they missed something special.  Anyway I just wanted to say thank you for all your hard work, and especially for braving the weather to get down here!”
-Robyn J. Rhymes - Project Manager / Compliance Officer, Montgomery Area Transit System, Montgomery Alabama

“CiCi, It was such a wonderful evening.  Everything was just perfect!  Your speech was just wonderful with the humor, creative and very meaningful content. I was so impressed.  Words cannot express the gratitude that I have for you and getting to know you.” 
-Professor Laura Lynn Kerner - Athens State University

“Hi and thanks for the follow-up.  Did you get a chance to see your evaluations?  They were very good. I personally thought the class was great.  A nice new addition to our curriculum for the Mentoring Program . . . .  You did an exceptional job keeping the Envision participants involved in the class.
-Tonya S. Freeman - HHS CDC/ATSDR Mentoring Coordinator, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Office of Workforce and Career Development

“I wanted to let you know that your referral to CiCi Higgins led to a wonderful 3 month coaching experience. I needed assistance on identifying areas that I am truly strong in plus ready myself for a life-shift with a career search and relocation.
She was the right person to work with. The tools that she uses to have you look at yourself were great. I really appreciated how she was able to take the daunting task (from my perspective) of determining my strengths, what I want in a career and employer, and my purpose and break them down into such small modules that you didn't realize how much you were doing until you were done. When people ask you to do that on your own you feel over-whelmed. I didn't in this case.
Please keep recommending CiCi! Working with her was a pleasure as much as it was a benefit. She is energetic, positive, professional, and insightful. Her collaborative style worked very well for me and made me feel a part of the process and how we defined our working style. 
I truly appreciated working with CiCi and will continue to remain connected with her as I go forward.”      -Kraft Foods Executive

“Thank you for taking the time to speak with Phi Beta Lambda. I know everyone who heard your words was touched and uplifted. I felt more comfortable giving my presentation on Saturday thanks to your advice.”
 -Joe McCollister - President, UNA Phi Beta Lambda

“ I would personally like to thank you for your wonderful speeches at the 2008 NACOG Girls Mentoring Conference. Your speech about dreams and how to make them a reality truly inspired myself and my classmates. Taking your advice, I wrote my dreams and goals down and put them into steps for myself to follow, I also shared them with someone close to me, that way she can go the journey with me. Your speech on etiquette was truly helpful also, because I am a girl who hasn't had all the finer things in life, and I wasn't sure of a dinner fork from a salad fork. So, thank you again for your inspiration and encouragement, I look forward to hearing you speak again one day.”
-Savanna Guy - '08 NACOG Girls Mentor

"Thank you so much for speaking at the Business Development Workshop in Winfield (AL). Your presentation was great and made the workshop a success! I look forward to working with you and wish you much success in your business endeavors."
-Carolyn M. Long - Senior Account Executive, University of North Alabama, Small Business Development Center

"Mrs. Higgins brings a wealth of knowledge and information to all the topics she presents. I was really impressed with the Catch the Wave: Brainy Me program that she did at the Boys & Girls Clubs. This program was very beneficial to the youth. I recommend her program to any agency who is in need of motivational topics and programs. The program is rated tops on my list."
-John Williams - Club Director, Carver Homes Boys and Girls Club

"Thank you . . . for doing such a great job (again) as our emcee at the show Sunday."
-Didi Vardaman - Marketing Manager, TimesDaily Newspaper

"I also want to thank you for your work at our events. You have been the perfect addition to our shows with your professionalism and fun-loving personality. I hope we can continue to work together in the future."
- Kelli Jackson Bush - Advertising and Marketing Assistant, TimesDaily Newspaper

"On behalf of Cecil Community College, I want to thank you for captivating our students and staff at our . . . Christmas Celebration. Engaging us in songs and discussions was a wonderful way for us to share our experiences and appreciate the differences in our customs.
I enjoyed watching our shy students feel your warmth and speak freely about their backgrounds. Thanks for allowing them to see that learning occurs outside the classroom! A staff member commented that they felt the Christmas spirit and wanted to have more programs designed for sharing. . . . Once again, we appreciate your presentation and know that your style will be an asset to Cecil County."  -C. Laney M. Hoxter - Director of Minority Student Services, Cecil Community College, Elkton, MD

"It was certainly a day of inspiration when you taught us all about how to be good leaders. You also left us a grand message expressing in various ways that we should follow our hearts' desires." -Evangelist Dianna Dill - Atlanta Philharmonic Chorale Member

"How special it was to feature you on our Artistic Expressions program. I have received so many compliments about the evening in general, and about you in particular. You truly charmed the audience, just as I expected!"
-Toni Anderson - Advisor, Delta Omnicron, Morris Brown College

"Carolyn, what a blessing you are to all who hear your testimony or who read your words."
-Patrice Gaines - Washington Post, Winner, National Assoc. of Black Journalists Award

"You have been committed to sponsoring and producing many worthwhile programs that have inspired and motivated youth and adults. . . . You are a pillar of strength . . ."
-Stan Watson - Former Georgia State Representative, District 70

"Thank you for your informative lecture . . . on personal image. You were definitely well versed and prepared to talk with members of The Association of Gospel Songwriters. Your demonstration with the mirrors was inspirational. We certainly were motivated to consider how we view ourselves."
-Paula H. Clarke – President, The Association of Gospel Songwriters

"Thank you for your well organized and informative presentation . . . during the Towards a Culturally Competent System of Care Conference. In reviewing the evaluations, it was evident that the workshop participants learned much about working with families and were able to begin assessing their advocacy skills. . . . Again, thank you for your valuable services and assistance."
-Dawne Mickle - CASSP Director, Georgia Department of Human Resources, Reme Rodriguez - CASSP Consultant, Georgia Department of Human Resources

Testimonials - Stories Worth Retelling; Articles Worth Sharing

   “Your last 50 pages are, for me, page turners.  Gripping real life empathetic articles that reveal your understanding of the human condition. . . . For national and international audiences these are excellent.”
-Burt Dubin - President, Personal Achievement Institute, Kingman, AZ

  “It is my hope and prayer that your book gets into the hands of millions of people . . . the material in this particular book is a ‘must read’ for a better and brighter world.”
-Jan K. Kearney – FEMA Manager, New Orleans, LA

   “What an exceptional work.  Informative and inspirational.  I couldn’t put it down.  It was very insightful.”
-Dorothy Lassiter – Alpha Kappa Alpha Golden Soror and Lifetime Certified Library Media Specialist, Decatur, GA 

  “ I would like for you to represent the IWG class at our Founders’ Day celebration. . . I am so proud of your accomplishments and this is a way to showcase the results of your efforts.”
-Dr. Dorothy C. Hardy – President and Sponsor, The Intergenerational Writers Guild, Florence, AL 

  “GOOD MORNING!   I have just finished reading your book, Stories Worth Retelling; Articles Worth sharing.  As I was reading, my thoughts would reflect on some of the times in my life.  And all the opportunities that I have passed by.  I thought about how life can consume (if you let it) the way we greet people in our every day walk. 
. . .  All through your book, stories that I could relate to my life and through my job.  The quote that J.L. Adam said, ‘DO IT RIGHT! GIVE IT YOUR ALL, OR....DON'T DO IT AT ALL.’ . . .
I would like to thank you for writing this book.  And for inspiring me to slow down and to say Hello to the people that cross my path in my daily life!”
- Jealyn Swaim, Huntsville, AL

Copyright © 2010 Be Encouraged.  Phone:  256 398 0039 US / Email:  cici@BeEncouraged.net .

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