Overview

Motivational Speaking

The E’s of Life, the Stitching of Your Own Quilt

Colleen offers a very lively motivational presentation backed by her life experiences. Many points of the presentation begin with the letter "E."

Here are just a few of Colleen's "E's" of Life:
Envy: Don't let envy get in your way because you concentrate more on the person you envy than on yourself, which only results in wasted Energy.

Excuse: When a winner makes a mistake, he says "I was wrong." When a loser makes a mistake, he says "It wasn't my fault."

"Thank you for participating in our Ag Day Forum. Your presentation was Excellent and Everyone thoroughly Enjoyed it. I look forward to Engaging in the Efforts of your book Endeavor."
Kerry A. Bell, First Trust and Savings Bank, Watseka, Illinois

"Thanks again for a super key-note speech. You were marvelous and so comfortable doing it."
Jim Davis, Attendee, Pennsylvania State Association of County Fairs

"You gave a great presentation at the Ag Breakfast. I appreciate your mentioning and asking for support of the Livestock Invitational that we have proposed. Keep giving that message!"
Chuck Hartke, Director, IL Dept of Agricultures

Comments from Morton Community Bank employees after Colleen's "E's" of Life presentation:

"I learned to be more elastic and flexible. I need to listen to other people's ideas and don't get set in my ways. Always listen to other employee's ideas about the department and how it can be run more efficiently."

"I really enjoyed the presentation given by Colleen Callahan. She has a lot of good information that will stay with me."

"I enjoyed Colleen as a speaker, and she kept the attention of everyone extremely well."

"In the New Accounts department, most of Colleen's "E's" are necessary. Experience, education, enthusiasm, being explicit when explaining types of accounts. Employees working together with energy, not envy or excuses."

Facilitating Debate

Colleen Callahan has long been facilitating debate during her broadcast work. Issues discussed frequently require a "point/counterpoint" approach. Through Colleen's questions, reviews and summaries, her audience is more informed and better prepared to determine their own opinion on the subject. She creates a comfortable environment in oftentimes difficult situations.

Connecting People

Colleen Callahan has been connecting people throughout her career. She has informed and educated her listeners and viewers by introducing them to subjects, locations, knowledge and opportunities they otherwise would have never "met." She can do the same for your audience.

"There is no one better than Colleen Callahan when it comes to connecting people. During the 10 years that Illinois Central College hosted "Fields of the Future," Colleen was the catalyst that connected students with potential employers, sponsors with potential customers, and the college with its community. With one finger on the pulse of these various groups and one eye on the future, she showed us how we could benefit one another, and everyone came out a winner."
Dr. Thomas K. Thomas, President Emeritus, Illinois Central College

"Colleen Callahan is a great business partner. During our ten years with the 'Fields of the Future' project, Colleen devoted a tremendous amount of time and energy connecting WMBD Radio and Illinois Central College to our agricultural community. She was a strong advocate of education and the learning process. She enabled our students to meet with business people. She provided opportunities for business people to meet their customers and also to promote their support of education for their future employees. Through her continued support, our industry knows this community
college has an agriculture/horticulture program with a future."
Don Jenkins, Professor, Illinois Central College

Building Relationships

Colleen Callahan has been building relationships her entire life. Some would say that Colleen blends personal, professional, political, academic and collegiate relationships into friendships.

"Colleen has devoted her career to establishing positive relationships. She is known as a friend by widely varied people, from 4-H members in her home county to the CEO's of major companies. She has the poise and experience to bring consensus to difficult situations. Her understanding of people, agriculture and rural America give her a perspective that can be used to solve problems or advance a cause. She is a person who can unite a group and bring their goals to a positive outcome. I value her as a professional colleague and a personal friend."
Ken Root, Executive Director, National Association of Farm Broadcasters

Coordinating Events

Colleen Callahan coordinates events by taking her broadcasts on the road. Some of her programs have included Fields of Future, The Centennial Farm Tour, County Fair Tour, Agri-Woman of the Month, and The Weather/Marketing Seminar. Serving as emcee at hundreds of meetings and banquets throughout the United States, Colleen is considered one of the most effective "masters of ceremony" on the circuit.

"Thank you for your appearance at our annual meeting! Despite the stressful conditions, I was amazed on how relaxed and ready you were. Perhaps it comes as a result of the number of years you have been on the air; you are unflappable. Good job!"
Tom Steever, American Farm Bureau Federation

Motivating People

Colleen Callahan has been motivating individuals with her public speaking skills for many years. Following her principle of "leading by example," her successes and disappointments as a woman breaking into a male-dominated profession serve as the background for her inspirational message.

"Thanks for the masterful emcee job at our annual meeting in Reno. It is always a pleasure to work with a professional communicator who can make long luncheons motivational and informative. We felt like you were able to inspire our audience and make the event successful."
-Ron G. Francis, Director of Public Affairs, National Association of Conservation Districts

Personal Coaching for Media Interaction

Who better to trust with advice on how to present and handle yourself in front of the media than an experienced media professional. Colleen Callahan brings her wisdom from being on the other side of the microphone to you. By identifying subject matter on which you will likely be questioned, she can coach and help you present the best image with the most confidence. Colleen's personal training of an individual will drastically increase his or her comfort level in front of the media and help their message be communicated more effectively.

"Colleen provides a motivational message that is uplifting and energetic. Her life experiences provide a story line that all audiences can understand. At the completion of her message, you feel as if you have known Colleen all your life. This connection allows a person to become motivated and willing to make a difference."
Curt Oldfield, Dean of Instruction, Spoon River College

Television

Hosting TV specials and on-location productions. For 25 years, Colleen hosted a daily feature segment on WMBD-TV (Peoria, IL) and WCIA-TV (Champaign, IL). Whether live or taped, the segments were personal yet topically informative. Many interested in the markets, say that they stopped each day at lunch to watch her daily market reports, and her news reporting was award-winning:

•Oscar in Agriculture, Television category
•American Women in Radio and Television Commendation Award
•Farm Wife Financier", 1st place, Television News Category

"As the guest-host of a "live" national television program about pork production, Colleen helped drive home the key messages we wanted to communicate and asked the questions producers wanted to hear. When it comes to understanding and communicating the issues, Colleen really puts her talents to work. Colleen combines talent,
intellect and a passion for agriculture...all of which make her a great partner for us to work with."
Cindy Cunningham, National Pork Board

"Colleen's unsurpassable professionalism makes her a key part in the success of the many agriculture broadcasts we have worked on together. Over the years I have continued to keep a working relationship with Colleen."
Ed Mathias, Production Manager, WCIA-TV

Audio Album

Have you wished that you would have taken time, when you had the chance, to document the history of your family or the life and times of a family member or friend? Have you gone through pictures and wished that you knew more about what the pictures showed? Have you thought about "interviewing" your Dad, Mom, Grandma, or Grandpa, but were just too nervous to ask or too uncomfortable to actually ask the questions? Colleen Callahan can create your "Audio Album" for you.

"I want to thank you so very much for our time with you and the recording of the interview. Dad died on March 21. Time is precious, and we want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the time with you."
Chris McMillen

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Community Connections

Logan County Fair

"On Friday I heard your interview from the Logan County Fair-the Cullers folks, the people with the french fries. I'm from Lincoln, you may or may not remember-and I had thought the Cullers had retired years ago. (Did they used to come to the HOI fair, or did I just imagine that?)

Anyway, my brother worked for them in 1963 (before you were born). He was 16 years old, and getting a job at the fair was a big deal in Lincoln. I would go see him while he was working, and point him out to my friends. (I was 9 then).

The Cullers would often give me free fries. I remember them costing 20 cents then. Your interview with them inspired me to drive to Lincoln today and walk around the fairgrounds and of course, have some french fries. My brother died in 1986, and all my other Lincoln relatives are long deceased, so it was truly was a trip down memory lane. Nice work, Colleen."
Henry Balfanz

Newton Co. Fair

Kentland, Indiana on behalf of WGFA

“Colleen’s Cuban Crossing”

Available now as a 5 part series.

• click here - provided by WGFA
• or copy RSS URL to use in the program of your choice
  http://www.wgfaradio.com/category/podcasts-audio-links/feed/
• or simply listen below...

 

CUBAN AGRICULTURE slideshow below created by Gary Goodwin.

“From the Midwest to the Middle East”

In November of 2003, Colleen was invited by the Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman to accompany her to Afghanistan and Iraq. Travelling on Blackhawk helicopters, C-130’s and in heavily secured SUV’s over a five-day period, Colleen shares what she saw and what she learned in “From the Midwest to the Middle East.”

Click on any thumbnail below to begin slideshow