PRIME is thrilled to present our series Prime Voices: An Interview Series! We introduce you to exceptional women over 50 who’s story reflects a journey of strength, tenacity and compassion
— Meet Cheryl Alexander Stearns and Tami Sulistyo —
This mother-daughter business team made a major shift in their business in the early 2000’s from executive search to a new enterprise, creating a character-based leadership development exchange program for executive women. The first five years Cheryl worked through the University of St Catherine, forming and leading year-long cohort based executive women’s roundtables based on the character-based model of development. She also developed a program offered at the Carlson School of Management for women enrolled in the various MBA programs. These programs became the model for the multidimensional Leadership Development Exchange (LDE) programs the company is known for.
Tami rejoined the company after she returned from Asia with a wealth of new experiences and training, and has served as a coach, trainer, group convener, thought partner, and now as President of the company.
Video Direction, Editing & Cinemetography - Elle Keseley
— Meet Marissa Frankenfield —
Marissa Frankenfield is a partner in Magenic Technologies and Owner/President of Cast & Cru/ Old Log Theatre. She graduated from University of MN with a BA in education as a recreational therapist and a minor in psychology. Marissa worked in Ohio and California as a Recreational Therapist and with adolescents in drug rehab. She and her husband, Greg, started a technology business, Magnetic, in 1995. They purchased the Old Log Theatre in 2013 and developed a restaurant along side the Old Log in 2014 named Cast & Cru which she continues to run. The Frankenfields are the proud parents of four children.
— Meet Renay Dossman —
Renay Dossman is the Executive Director of the Neighborhood Development Center, Twin Cities where she is responsible for local programing for low-income entrepreneurs. Her background includes leading teams in merchandising, product development, and design for Target and served as Vice President of Bakery and Vice President of Category Development for Southeastern Grocers. Renay shares her journey and how her faith has led the way, especially during the George Floyd riots which impacted one of her buildings, the Global Market.
Video Direction, Editing & Cinematography - Elle Keseley
— Meet Eileen Opatz Berger and Joan Berger Bachman—
Mother-daughter duo Eileen Opatz Berger and Joan Berger Bachman have teamed up to write a book, “If Only You Would Ask: a Guide to Spending Quality Time With the Elderly.” With 42-topics and over 400 questions, it provides a framework for having a meaningful conversation. Eileen and Joan walk us through how the book came about, the steps they took to get published, their working relationship and why it’s important to ask the right questions. During this time of Covid 19, when people are more isolated than ever, questions from “If Only You Would Ask” provide a sure-fire, positive way to stay connected and spread joy. Available on Amazon.
Video Direction, Editing & Cinematography - Elle Keseley
— Meet Gulbakhor Makhamova —
Gulbakhor Makhkamova is the Founder, CEO, and presently the Board Chair of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BUSINESS WOMEN OF TAJIKISTAN, one of the first non-profit membership organizations in Tajikistan, uniting more than 3500 women entrepreneurs.
She has over 25 years of professional experience in community mobilization and social development work, with a focus on young people, poverty reduction, and women’s economic empowerment and financial inclusion. As a co-founder and First Deputy CEO, and later CEO of IMON International, she spearheaded the establishment and development of institutional infrastructure, built up company network from a single office to 110 service points, including 27 branch offices, with 2000 professional and dedicated staff, more than $100,000,000 in assets.
This prestigious background has provided invitations to speak at the United Nations and a variety of international conventions on the topic of microfiancing for women entrepreneurs.
In 2018, she joined her children in United States, who had been living in Minneapolis for 12 years. Here she set up a non-profit organization “Financial Inclusion in Development” (FID)- with a focus on designing innovative financial services to excluded groups (including women and youth) through digital transformation and strengthening data management and social performance management systems.
Video Direction & Editing - Elle Keseley
Cinemetography - Will Neisen
— Meet Piyumi Samaratunga —
Piyumi Samaratunga, an attorney from Sri Lanka, is the Head of the Minneapolis office of Constangy, Brooks, Smith, & Prophete, LLP where she focuses on corporate immigration and global mobility for employers ranging from Fortune 500 corporations, small employers, health care facilities and universities to foreign nationals, family based, green card, permanent residency and consular matters.
Piyumi’s background and experience offers her a unique perspective when serving her clients, both employers and individuals, drawing on her extensive professional experience and her education at Cambridge University, Sri Lankan Law College and Hamline University School of Law and her experience in international corporate transactions, corporate law, finance and securities regulations. Her personal experience as an immigrant contributes to understanding her clients’ needs and priorities and is the focus of our Prime Voices interview.
Piyumi Samaratunga is an active Twin Cities community member and has served on the YWCA board, the Greater Twin Cities United Way board and is presently serving on the Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity board and Minneapolis Institute of Art board.
Director/Editor ElleKeseley
Cinematographer Will Niesen
— Meet Rose McGee —
Rose McGee is the founder of the Sweet Potato Comfort Pie,™ a catalyst for caring and building community. After Michael Brown was killed by police in 2014, Rose McGee baked 30 pies. She then loaded them into her car and drove to Ferguson, Missouri, to offer what comfort she could. Upon returning to Golden Valley, she felt a calling to do something closer to home. That’s when she cooked up Sweet Potato Comfort Pie,™ a catalyst for caring and building community.
In the five years since, her mouth-watering pies have offered comfort to many local families, protestors, police officers, and first responders. Rose’s pies are also the cornerstone of a Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend tradition in which Rose and dozens of volunteers of all ages and ethnicities gather to mark Dr. King’s birthday by baking the same number of pies as his age had he lived. Community members then gather to discuss race and equity, and distribute the pies to those in need. This sweet approach to community-building has been featured in local and national media, and is the subject of a popular TEDx Talk titled The Power of Pie. Rose, now 67, is also the author of Story Circle Stories and a forthcoming children’s book, Can’t Nobody Make a Sweet Potato Pie like Our Grandmamma.
You can learn more about Rose and the Sweet Potato Comfort Pie on her website at www.sweetpotatocomfortpie.org.
Director/Editor Elle Keseley
Cinematographer Will Niesen