I want to nominate Liz for both Family and Business! In 2000, Liz's brother, Ross, came to visit. He had just finished his undergraduate degree in Economics. There was no place in her little town of Fuquay-Varina for him to get a specialty coffee. The two plotted to start such a business. Leapin' Lizards Espresso was born! With three children (the oldest was 4), Liz did all the legwork to open her first drive-through Kiosk, serving free trade coffees that were custom-roasted and brewed for the tastes of her area. Within 7 years, she had grown the business to 5 locations, including two locations in Wake Medical Center, the second-largest hospital in North Carolina. When Starbucks tried to come to town, Fuquay-Varina citizens voted them out and Leapin' Lizards in! Liz hired the mothers, grandparents and teenagers of her community. She became a surrogate mother for the youngsters, helping them through tough times, encouraging their success and calling them on their inappropriate behaviors. Leapin' Lizards sponsored children's sports teams, as well as the annual Relay for Life, and helped the hospital by supplying beverages for Board and development meetings. She made Leapin' Lizards into a household name, supporting local roasters, giving local residents good wages for their work and working with them like a large family. Tragically, in 2003, Liz's brother, Ross, 24, suffered major brain damage in a bike/automobile collision. He had gone home to California before starting Law School, so that he could marry. All of that was lost. Now, Leapin' Lizards had a stronger impetus to succeed and serve the community, this time as a tribute to the injured brother who had started it all. When the economic downturn hit in October of 2008, it hit the area in which Liz lived very hard. Filled with military personnel training for deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan, farmers, and newly-relocated people from other areas of the country, the local economy could not support the rate hikes for specialty coffees that Liz needed to make in order to survive. For a time, Liz took on a second job in order to support the shops, but it was not enough. Her business went bankrupt. Determined not to abandon the 32 employees who worked for her, Liz worked with her creditors, lenders and employees in order to keep the business open, bought out at a severely reduced cost by two of her long-time employees. Nobody lost their job, and Leapin' Lizards is still in business! Within a year, Liz Schroeder had reinvented herself as an adjunct Junior College Professor, teaching courses on Communication (her major in college). Beginning in 2010, Liz taught up to 80 people per semester, offering required courses that enabled students to learn communication tools, cultural diversity, understand relationships and personality systems, so they can function effectively in the world of work. When, during her first full semester of teaching, she was evaluated by colleagues and students, her rating was "A". Liz was recognized by many for her extra efforts to help students succeed, including tutoring during her open office hours. During all of this, Liz did not forget her family! In addition to developing the children's gourmet palattes, she did three years of homeschooling for the eldest of her three children. When all the children started regular school, she supported them with their academics and study habits. (This was supplemented by her husband, Warren, who has read to the children nightly since each was 3 months old! He, also, has participated with projects, sports, and activities.) She explored opportunities for the children to develop their talents--in dance, in singing, playing musical instruments, playing competitive soccer, and participating in drama. Her children were selected for an Academically-gifted middle school. When they were in 8th, 7th and 5th grade, respectively, they all made straight A's in the same semester! Liz was in tears about this, largely because the motivation for the excellent grades was self-generated by her son and two daughters. At home, they also participated in family chores, made family meals, cared for a large number of family pets, and helped with the gardening. Liz made gourmet meals for them, developing their taste buds. She and Warren taught them to cook. By age 9, the eldest could make an entire breakfast for the family, including leaving the kitchen area immaculately clean! The children became excellent communicators and stayed open and loving. They are now ages 14, 13 and 11. Liz also managed the finances for the drama and music programs at the Middle School, which included managing funds and fund-raisers. In addition, she helped build sets for the drama department (bringing her own tools). Liz Schroeder has demonstrated the power of one woman--in business and in family! She deserves a separate award for each area! She has contributed to her community, to the care of her injured brother, to her local teen population, to her childrens' education and their schools, to business, to her employees and has, through it all, been a remarkable mother raising 3 remarkable children. I'm nominating Liz Schroeder because a woman like Liz deserves to be recognized for her many talents, her great effort, and the love that she shares with her family, business family and community.