2015 Conference Speakers
Satyn Nishon Geary
Sheri Abbott
Michelle Mardenborough
Lisa H.Wynne-Magnuson
Ethlyn O. Farrell
Michelle Mardenborough was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. She attended North Carolina Central University in Durham, North Carolina and Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland, where she received the degree of Bachelor Arts in Theatre Arts, Telecommunications/Mass Media. She began her career as a radio news reporter for WEAA in Baltimore, Maryland and subsequently worked in various communication and state government positions in the Northeast. She currently serves as the Assistant Vice President of Service Excellence at International Capital & Management Company in St. Thomas US Virgin Islands. She has demonstrated a high proficiency throughout her career consistently achieving high ratings as a result of her being extremely self-motivated and goal oriented.
Michelle is the author of Empowered to Lead Destined to succeed, a work book on goal setting and achieving your dreams as well as, the founder and executive editor of EMPOWERED for uncompromising Christians an online newsletter; she is the former host of Women to Women, a local Virgin Islands talk show which empowers and motivates women. Michelle is currently enrolled in the Masters of Practical Theology program at Oral Roberts University. Her passion is Biblical Archaeology and Historical Research. Michelle resides in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands with her beloved husband and best friend, James. She attends Living Hope Catherdral under the awsome tuteledge of Pastor's Carl and Reva Richardson. Michelle is the mother of Satyn Nishon Geary and "Mimi" of her amazing sugar-baby, Destiny Nichelle Geary-Lee. Michelle’s rally cry is “With God all things are possible.”
Ethlyn “Etty” Ottley Farrell is a woman of the twenty first century with many different diverse gifts and talents. By profession, she is a Cosmetologist and entrepreneur who successfully owns and manages Etty's Too hair salon, for twenty-eight years despite economic challenges. She is a certified educator for Avlon Industries, creator of Keracare hair care products.
This woman of God has been born again for twenty eight years; delivered from physical, emotional and verbal abuse to total liberty in Christ. Called as an intercessor in 1996, Ethlyn allows the Holy Spirit to have His way. She is actively serving as an intercessor with www.praylive.com, a live interactive prayer network that is available 24/7, since 2007, and is the Chief Intercessor at Living Hope Cathedral, where she is an active member and serves on the First Impressions Ministry. Ordained in 2007 by the Holy Spirit through the ministry gift of the Evangelist, along with her husband of eighteen years, Errol Farrell. Ethlyn has been called to the ministry of soul winning/evangelism. She has a burning desire to make the word of God simple to the unchurched and unsaved. God has used her to establish a non-profit organization, After God's Own Heart, which is an umbrella for other outreach organizations. One of these organizations is Woman 2 Woman, a Bible study and support group for women. Its purpose is to encourage and direct women to God's word for answers and solutions to life challenges.
Ethlyn also founded and launched Victory In Prayer Center on March 4, 2013, a prayer website, www.victoryinprayercenter.com, where individuals can post their prayer request(s) and testimonies to answered prayer. In addition to the website, she also leads a prayer conference call every Monday night for intercessory prayer, the second and last Thursday of each month for strategic prayer at 8:00 pm AST. Individuals can join her by calling (605) 475-4700 and enter the access code 100784#.
A woman of many talents, Ethlyn has also authored two (2) books: a devotional, Alone in the Presence of God, released in 2011 and a mini book, There's a Miracle in Your Mouth, released in 2013. She is actively working on several other books which includes a prayer book, which will be coming out by the end of this year. With deep roots in her faith, along with a strong love for God and His people, Ethlyn is committed to going to the next level in Christ, waiting with great anticipation for the next move of God.
Ethlyn and her husband reside on the beautiful island of St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, surrounded and loved by eight siblings and many friends. Holding onto God’s unchanging hand, Ethlyn’s greatest desire is to use her God-given talents to evangelize and win others to Christ.
Satyn Nishon Geary is a Senior Policy Analyst at The Georgia Senate. She works in the office of Senate Research where her primary role is to serve all Senators and the Lieutenant Governor with objective information and analysis of legislation and issues affecting our state. By using a wide array of resources Senate Research has access to the latest, most accurate information available from all states, the federal government, and other public interest and professional sources. She provides support to individual Senators on issues of policy development and both background and comparative research for statewide and local legislation. In addition, she identifies public policy trends; produces study committee reports; summarizes legislation; and, gathers information on programs including cost analysis, program elements, and success.
Prior to working with the Georgia Senate, Satyn Nishon worked for Morehouse College. She worked in the office of Institutional Advancement where her primary role was to monitor trends in the business, foundation, political and civic communities in order to develop strategies for fundraising development and relationship management. Institutional Advancement had relationships with over 250 corporate and foundation partners. She was a key member of the prospect research committee, which meets regularly to track the growth and development of key fundraising partners.
Satyn started her political background with the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. There she was responsible for developing and crafting legislative initiatives, conducting legislative research on public policy issues, preparing co-sponsorship memos for resolutions and bills, conducting legal research of statutory, administrative (regulation), and case law and tracking all legislation. She worked on both sides of the aisles to get fair and just legislation passed for the advancement of Pennsylvania residents.
Satyn is a member of The National Association of Professional Women (NAPW), The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), the Association of Professional Researchers (APRA), the Commission on Educational Philanthropy (CASE), and the National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL). Passionate about helping others, Satyn Nishon volunteers at the Open Door Community homeless shelter, the Atlanta Urban League and Infinite Possibilities, a non-profit organization that is dedicated to empowering women. She holds a BA in Communications with a concentration on public relations from Elizabethtown College and a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from Kennesaw State University.
Satyn attends Cathedral of Faith church in Atlanta, GA, and also resides in Atlanta, GA with her daughter Destiny Lee and their Yorkie named Timberlyn.
Sherri Abbott is a loving and devoted wife to Steve Olander Abbott, a dedicated mother to their children (Kenneth, Joel, David and Siara) and a passionate servant of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She is an anointed preacher of the Gospel, who is committed to bringing healing and restoration to the Body of Christ. Sherri was born and raised in Michigan and attended Word of Faith international Christian Center, Southfield, Michigan under the Leadership of Bishop Keith and Pastor Deborah Butler.
At Word of Faith she attended the Bible Training Center and graduated with honors in 1999. Sherri was licensed and ordained into ministry June of 2001. Sherri is a member of The Word of Faith Ministerial Alliance. In 2000, Sherri Abbott relocated to St. Thomas, Virgin Islands to serve under the leadership of Pastor Ronald and Minister Sharon Walker. At Word of Faith she has served in the capacity of Administrative Assistant to the First Family, Children’s Church Minister, Layperson’s Bible School Instructor, Touch Group Leader and Pulpit Minister. She was promoted to the Dean of Layperson’s Bible School in September 2013 and currently serves as the Missions Coordinator for the ministry.
Lisa Wynne-Magnuson is a graduate of the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) and has earned her Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Elementary Education. She has served as a certified educator with the Department of Education for over ten years. Coupled with her love for the USVI Territory, its people and its children, Wynne-Magnuson resigned from being a classroom teacher to pursue her passion of running her own business: The Virgin Islands Etiquette & Leadership Institute.
Wynne-Magnuson believes that in today’s increasingly diverse, fast-paced, high-tech world, it is imperative that individuals; adults and children, equip themselves with not only academic proficiency, but with “social skills” that will eventually separate them from ordinary to extraordinary. The Virgin Islands Etiquette & Leadership Institute specializes in teaching Customer Service, Business Protocol, Professional Dining and Children’s Etiquette. Wynne-Magnuson earned her Etiquette Certification from the Etiquette & Leadership Institute in Athens, Georgia.Another aspect of her business is teaching Pageantry Preparation and Modeling Techniques to young and young at heart ladies who love the stage or who just want to polish their skills and build their self confidence.
Her business is located in Fortress Mall (Behind the RLS Hospital), Building K, Suite 2015. The Virgin Islands Etiquette & Leadership Institute can customize classes for organizations, schools, camps, churches, sororities, businesses and the likes. Classes can be conducted at the Institute in Fortress Mall or your place of choice. Holiday Etiquette Registration is currently in progress for elementary, middle and high school students. And please ask about their Executive Dining Workshop for the holidays or The Power of Professional Presence training.
To learn more about The Virgin Islands Etiquette & Leadership Institute, feel free to contact Mrs. Wynne-Magnuson at (340-643-3149). You can also find The Virgin Islands etiquette & Leadership Institute on Facebook or also email vietiquette@gmail.com.