- - Issuu

from 2023 DICKINSON PRESS WOMEN'S EXPO

Merlyn’s Magical All Season Holidays

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy

Presented by Lauren Lund, LPC, Behavioral Health Counselor

This discussion and on-stage demonstration will focus on the healing capabilities of EMDR and how it works through rewiring the brain to reach a deeper level of healing.

A specialist in trauma therapy, Lauren utilizes her trainings in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Internal Family Systems to alleviate distress associated with traumatic memories in adolescents and adults. She also provides cognitive behavioral therapy, talk therapy, biofeedback therapy to control certain bodily processes that normally happen involuntarily, such as heart rate and blood pressure, and sand tray therapy to help people express their inner world in a nonverbal way.

11:00 am Digital Protection for Work, Home, and Family

Presented by Bonnie Filipi, IT Systems Supervisor

If you use the internet for home or business, this session is for you! Bonnie will discuss how Consolidated can help you keep your business and family safe from cyber intruders!

Bonnie Filipi is the IT Systems Supervisor at Consolidated, holding degrees in Business Management and Computer Information Technology. Her focus is on digital protection for Consolidated business customers. With her expertise, she also empowers her family to navigate the digital landscape safely and confidently. Bonnie’s commitment extends to the community through cyber education initiatives. She cherishes family time and creates lasting memories with her loved ones. Her passion lies in making the world safer, one connection at a time.

Feeling Young in Senior Living

Presented by Tessa Johnson, Executive Director, MSN, BSN, RN, CDP

If you are wondering about senior living for yourself or a loved one, this event is for you! Join us for a short presentation and, learn about our communities, see how our unique approach to senior living and memory care helps those who’ve chosen to live with us enjoy their golden years. Get thoughts and information straight from the experts: the residents of our communities!

Tessa is a native of Dickinson, ND and a working Registered Nurse. Tessa graduated locally with her baccalaureate degree from Dickinson State University in 2008. She earned a Master’s Degree in Nursing with an emphasis is leadership in 2014 from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix Arizona. Tessa has worked in various types of nursing primarily in leadership specific roles. Tessa has worked in long-term care, correctional nursing, occupational health, home health and hospice and is currently the Executive Director of Evergreen Assisted Living and Basic care. Tessa is a Certified Dementia Practitioner and has a great deal of passion for dementia care. Tessa is a community educator and a support group volunteer for the Alzheimer’s Association. In addition, Tessa is current on the board of director for the MN/ND Chapter for the Alzheimer’s Association Tessa is a recent past president of the North Dakota Nurses Association as well as past President for the North Dakota Center for Nursing. She has been involved in many different work groups and volunteer groups locally, statewide, and nationally. Tessa was awarded the Agemark Senior Living Director of the Year award in 2019, a ND Legendary Nurse Award in 2021 and was inducted into the ND Nursing Hall of Fame in 2022. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Tessa was a huge advocate for healthcare workers, especially nurses on a local, state, and federal level. Tessa resides in Dickinson where she raises her two children, Jaxson, and Bentlee. They enjoy traveling, spending time with family and friends and her happy place is in Minneapolis watching the Vikings!

1:00 pm Martial Arts Demonstration

Presented by Willet Martial Arts Academy

1:30 pm BIO Girls - Beautiful Inside & Out

Presented by Nikki Wolla

BIO Girls Youth Program is for grades 2-6. It is a 12week program with three main pillars: Life Skills, Positive Mentorship, and Physical Activity. The curriculum revolves around mental wellness, healthy relationships, leadership, and kindness.

Nikki Wolla was made aware of BIO Girls in 2022. She loved the mission of the program: to improve the selfesteem of adolescent girls through empowerment of self and service to others. She believes the topics and skills we go through every week are crucial for all of us but especially for young girls. The program has been going since 2013 and has great success in impacting the girls by giving them the life skills to be strong (mentally and physically), confident, and kind. Teenage years are hard and if we can help by providing a group of young girls the tools to help them be mentally, spiritually, physically strong to push through challenges they face in today’s world, that’s a win for me. Nikki has a teenager and she would have loved for her to be involved in a program like BIO Girls to learn skills and develop relationships outside of school with girls her age as well as a positive mentor.