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Fat Bear Week returns to Katmai National Park Sept. 22-29, 2026, giving bear fans around the world another chance to decide which of Katmai’s brown bears has done the best job packing on the pounds for winter. Vote for the fattest and most winter-ready bear at fatbearweek.org. But here on News from the Peak, we have our somewhat inside track with one of our most popular guests - Artist and Bear expert Carl Ramm. Carl talks to Maureen and David about his life since leaving his role as a Bear Management Professional in Alaska and relocating to Southern Virginia. We talk to him about Fat Bear Week of course... and even do some math!

At Grays Peak Strategies, we are always drawn to stories that challenge, uplift, and expand how we see the world. In our latest episode of News from the Peak, we had the honor of sitting down with Tailyr Irvine — a photographer, storyteller, and changemaker whose work is reshaping how Indigenous life is seen and understood. Born and raised on the Flathead Indian Reservation, Tailyr grew up with a deep love for photography and a powerful awareness of the narratives surrounding Indigenous communities. From an early age, she felt called to document real life, the celebration, the grief, the joy, the complexity. She describes much of her work as a “love letter” to her community. Tailyr is a co-founder of Indigenous Photograph, a database created to uplift and connect Indigenous visual storytellers across the nation. She is also a National Geographic Society Young Explorer, and her work has been featured in major publications and platforms, including PBS. Her powerful project Reservation Mathematics, part of the We, Woman series, explores what it means to navigate love, identity, and expectation in America as an Indigenous woman. Through striking imagery and honest storytelling, she challenges stereotypes and re-writes the narratives that have long misrepresented Native communities.

On today’s episode, we explore Business Process Optimization, which we will call BPO. We look at what BPO really is, what it isn’t, and why it has become one of the most powerful tools for strengthening human services programs. BPO is often misunderstood as a technical or automation exercise. Too often it’s thought of as a “nice to have” extra rather than a critical part of any modernization effort or part of any new implementation of policy or legislation.  BPO is about rethinking how work gets done, from the moment a family interacts with a system - and continuing through the life of their case. When done well, BPO improves efficiency and the experience, benefiting staff, partners, and families alike. Today Maureen Leif welcomes two guests with experience from different perspectives.  Kristie Gordy is a Senior Administrator in the Economic Security Division for the State of Wyoming. She comes from the perspective of putting BPO to work as a program administrator, and leader.  Leo Ribas is a BPO practitioner from Human Services Group, and will share his perspective of how effective process optimization can benefit programs and allow them to keep pace with the changing needs of their customers.

For the past two years, Grays Peak has hosted a leadership retreat for women that brings together a small group of 15 - 18 people to share some amazing experiences and learn from each other. Our most recent event was held in Ireland, and was led by the hosts of today’s show, Maureen Leif, Liz Bullard and Gemma Hilario.  The idea behind these events is not only to grow in their leadership skills, but also, and maybe more importantly, to build a community of support among leaders at various points in their careers and lives. We try to bring together a diverse group of people, and provide them with experiences they may not otherwise have had.  On this episode, we welcome some of the participants from that retreat, who will share their experiences, what the event meant to them, and some updates on what’s happening now. We’re pleased to welcome Terry Hardy, Kate Cooper Richardson, Erin Frisch, Connie Chesnik, Jamie Murray and Ellen Rutledge.

In this powerful episode of the Grays Peak Strategies podcast, we sit down with Dr. Jeneile Luebke, RN, PhD, Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Grays Peak Strategies Consultant, and enrolled member of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians. Dr. Luebke has partnered with Grays Peak through the SAVES grant with the Lac Courte Oreilles Child Support Program, an OCSE 1115 Grant focused on helping families access child support services safely when they are experiencing family violence. Her work centers on understanding the lived experiences of gender-based violence through storytelling and advancing survivor-led, trauma-informed, and culturally safe screening methods, particularly for Indigenous survivors. In this conversation, Dr. Luebke shares how her personal and professional journey that led her to this work. We explore the intersections of domestic violence, systems involvement, and cultural safety, The conversation centers around what it truly means to design services that protect rather than retraumatize.

Guy Bowling is Program Manager of the FATHER Project at Goodwill/Easter Seals in St. Paul, Minnesota. He oversees a substantial grant funded by the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families. Guy brings 19 years of experience working with low-income, unmarried, non-custodial fathers and fragile families. On this episode, Maureen Leif talks to him about how he got involved in this work, how it has evolved over the years and we get some insights into his personal journey that brought him to this work.

In this episode, Maureen, Gemma and Claudia sat down, each in their own living room across several miles on both sides of the Atlantic, to have a lovely conversation with visual artist Aideen Barry. Aideen Barry is a world renowned artist living and working in Cork, Ireland. In 2020 she was elected to the RHA- Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts, a collective of contemporary artists and architects dedicated to the advancement of arts and culture in Ireland. She is also a member of Aosdána, a collective that honors artists whose work has made an outstanding contribution to the creative arts in Ireland. Aideen lectures regularly in several universities and schools of visual art in Ireland, the US and Europe. Claudia and Aideen met in 2013, when Aideen was one of the thirty artists in residence at the artists’ retreat Claudia directs in the summer upstate New York. In this episode, together they cherish memories, laugh together, and the four of us touch upon the complex, multilayered issues and the profound intricacies of being a mother and a professional in today’s society. We hope you will enjoy listening to these conversations, and dive into the musicality of the various accents you will hear, while we celebrate women’s accomplishments, and life, together. If you are curious about Aideen please visit her website, and follow her on Instagram.

In this episode, we had the privilege of talking with Altynai, a gifted artist from Kyrgyzstan, whose story is a powerful reminder to stay true to your passion—even when it feels like the path is not straight. Altynai shares what it’s like to be a woman creating art in a place where creative paths aren’t always supported, and how sisterhood and solidarity across the globe can spark hope and inspiration. She talks about the incredible support she received from people around her—mentors, teachers, multiple parents —and how that encouragement changed the course of her life. It reminded us that one of the most powerful ways we can make the world better is by uplifting and educating women everywhere. When we invest in women’s education and creativity, we help entire communities thrive. We also loved hearing what a regular day looks like for her and realizing how—even though our lives may look different—we’re all grappling with many of the same struggles and aspirations.  It’s a heartfelt exchange about creativity, resilience, and the ripple effect of supporting one another. Don’t miss it.

Your voice is powerful—but finding it, fighting for it, and fueling it is a journey. In this episode of News from the Peak, we dive into what it means to truly own your voice, whether in personal struggles, professional challenges, or creative pursuits. Our Grays Peak Strategies teammate Shantelle Williams shares her personal journey of overcoming domestic violence and the fight to protect her business from a multibillion-dollar company. These experiences have taught her that finding her voice is just the beginning—standing firm and nurturing it is what creates lasting change.

As we celebrate International Women's Day and Women's History Month 2025, the theme "Moving Forward Together" reminds us of the power of women educating and inspiring generations. This year, my colleague Gemma Hilario from Killarney, Ireland, and I had the privilege of interviewing women from Italy, Brazil, New Zealand, and Ireland. Despite the vast distances between us, common themes emerged in our conversations—proof that, regardless of location, culture, or background, women share a collective strength and vision for the future. Hosted by Gemma Hilario and Maureen Leif, Our guests include Juliana Peixinho, and Paula Knaap, Claudia Cannizzaro, and then Claudia interviews Gemma to close out the show. Please check out the News from the Peak section of our website for much more information on our guests and this episode ..

Maureen Leif and Liz Bullard welcome our friend from Ireland for her first of what we hope will be many appearances on our show. The three talk about executive coaching, leadership, and facing the world with positivity and grace.

In this episode, Maureen Leif welcomes special guests Meg York and Nesta Johnson. This episode delves into the crucial topic of parentage laws and their impact on same-sex families.   Meg York, representing Family Equality, and Nesta Johnson from the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), bring their expertise and advocacy experience to the table, discussing the importance of clear and inclusive parentage laws. They explore how these laws can support the recognition and rights of all families, regardless of sexual orientation.  York and Johnson highlight recent advancements and ongoing challenges in ensuring that same-sex parents receive equal treatment under the law. They also share insights from their collaborative work and the latest reports, including the 2023 Parentage Report by MAP Research and the policy guidance on same-sex parents and child support program requirements by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. They both have such deep and amazing experience in this space yet make everything so personal and accessible for those are not as proficient.

On today’s show we welcome two guests – the leaders of Onyx Rising – Irma Neal and Kelli Lester Irma has been a guest on the show before, and I encourage you to check out her previous visits to News from the Peak and check out her book, Leading in Chaos – but today she is joined by Kelli, and we get a chance to hear from them on this important topic. Onyx Rising is a proven change management leader, renowned for comprehensive expertise and innovative strategies that drive meaningful, sustainable change. Their qualifications and expertise in DEI are rooted in a deep understanding of diverse organizational needs. They specialize in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) change management providing behavior change services and development for individuals, teams and organizations, With an approach that is inclusive, respectful, and empowering We shared LINKS TO THEIR WEBSITE in the show description and encourage you to visit for more information. We will feature Kelli and Irma at a free webinar scheduled for July 10, 2024 – at 1:00 PM Eastern 11:00 AM Mountain. Today’s episode is intended to give us some background and to start us all thinking about the issues of and around inclusive leadership, which we will explore further and in a more interactive way at the Webinar. Please visit our website for more information and details on how to register and attend. Or you can register by accessing THIS LINK.

Join us at Grays Peak Strategies for an inspiring conversation on our latest podcast episode, dedicated to women in leadership. In this captivating discussion, we had the honor of hosting Shaneen Moore, the Deputy Assistant Commissioner at MN Department of Human Services, Kate Cooper Richardson, the Director of Child Support at the Oregon Department of Justice, and Kristi Gordy, the Senior Administrator for Economic Security, and Child Support Director with the Wyoming Department of Family Services. As with part 1, these members of the panel talk with Maureen Leif, reflecting on their experiences from participating in Women in Leadership panels over the past year. Host Maureen Leif says, "We dive deep into the rewards and insights gained from sharing our journeys. From breaking barriers to fostering diversity, women are instrumental in shaping the future of leadership. As leaders in our fields, we share our hopes for the next generation and discuss the importance of empowerment and creating opportunities for growth. Despite challenges such as gender bias and imposter syndrome, we offer strategies for navigating them." Tune in for valuable insights, inspiration, and advice as we celebrate women in leadership and pave the way for greater equality and empowerment.

Join us at Grays Peak Strategies for an inspiring conversation on our latest podcast episode, dedicated to women in leadership. In this captivating discussion, we had the honor of hosting IV-D Director Erin Frisch from Michigan and Federal Office of Child Support Services Commissioner Tanguler Gray. Reflecting on our experiences from participating in Women in Leadership panels over the past year, we dive deep into the rewards and insights gained from sharing our journeys. From breaking barriers to fostering diversity, women are instrumental in shaping the future of leadership. As leaders in our fields, we share our hopes for the next generation and discuss the importance of empowerment and creating opportunities for growth. Despite challenges such as gender bias and imposter syndrome, we offer strategies for navigating them. Tune in for valuable insights, inspiration, and advice as we celebrate women in leadership and pave the way for greater equality and empowerment.