Testimonials
Carolyn Vinup is the quintessential radio host; extremely charming, great sense of humor and timing, knowledgeable about topics and able to ask insightful questions. She is the bridge between innate talent and the fruition and application thereof. Carolyn allows those who have skills and abilities to be seen for who they truly are! HZ P.S. Carolyn Vinup, being who she is and doing what she does, comes with my highest recommendation.- Hanakia Zedek February 13, 2012
“It was our pleasure and honor to have been sponsored by Carolyn Vinup for the Soundsations Conference at Normandale College in Minneapolis, MN. Carolyn’s expertise in producing events is truly outstanding.
We have been teaching and traveling throughout the world together for well over a dozen years. Of all the hundreds of workshops and presentations we have given, the event Carolyn Vinup produced is among the very best we’ve ever experienced. Carolyn Vinup’s expertise in creating, marketing, and promoting events such as the Soundsations Conference is extraordinary. Carolyn has the ability to work graciously and efficiently with people at every level…she gets things done timely and with grace and ease!
We not only recommend Carolyn Vinup—we look forward to working with her again in producing another event in the very near future.”
June 2011 - Jonathan Goldman & Andi Goldman, Internationally Acclaimed Authors and Teachers
Carolyn is one of the most energetic, authentic, creative, organized, and inspiring people I have ever met! She is multi-talented as a business owner, developer, and strategist. I have worked with and known Carolyn in several capacities including an event planner, teacher, feng shui expert, negotiator, leader, and motivator to name just a few. She can take a broad idea with tight deadlines and the end result is always above and beyond what was expected! She gets it done and always with a little bit of fun! She has a natural ability to bring clarity and focus to any situation, shows dedication and support of people with all that she does, and anyone who crosses paths with her cannot help but benefit from her wealth of experience and knowledge. Carolyn’s work ethic, enthusiasm, and smile are contagious and she is an asset to any person, team, or company that gets to know and work with her. - October 7, 2011, Andrea (Marketing Manager and Media Relations at The Emmerich Group )
“Carolyn is one of the most enthusiastic, energetic and creative business professionals I know. I’ve worked with Carolyn on a number of PR, marketing and training projects at Normandale Community College. She is great to work with and I highly recommend her. She is a real “possibility thinker” who gets results – no matter what the project is. Not only does she “think outside the box”; she encourages others to do the same, which is very motivating and exciting. I love working with her because she is energetic, passionate, positive and committed to excellence. Plus, she is a lot of fun to work with!” – September 14, 2011, Barbara Mednick, Strategic Communications & PR Consultant, BKM Consulting, Inc.
“I have had the pleasure of knowing and working with Carolyn in 4 capacities. I know Carolyn as:
1. a Teacher. She has brilliantly facilitated and/or co-facilitated a number of classes that I have attended at Normandale. She is a knowledgeable, fun, engaging and motivating instructor.
2. an Events Coordinator. Carolyn organizes, manages, promotes and delivers a seamless production! Her project management and client support / interaction skills are amazing!
3. the Workforce Partnership and Development Specialist. Carolyn very much impresses me with her sincere need to understand and appropriately meet the needs of dislocated workers. She is changing the meaning of the word ‘partnership” and is putting Normandale on the map for people in career transition!
4. a Healer. I am honored to have had Carolyn facilitate a healing for me! It was supportive, interactive and transformational. I have no words to describe her sound healing work; it needs to be experienced.
Carolyn has managed to successfully integrate professional and spiritual elements into her own personal brand. She is an inspiration. Kudos to Carolyn!”- July 21, 2010, Claire K. Nelligan, Employment Counselor, State of MN
“In a word? WOW. Carolyn took an idea for an event and somehow managed to pull together three different host organizations, and over 20 speakers for an event that knocked all our socks off … in just 6 weeks! Despite the size and scope (over 500 attendees), she made me feel like I was the only speaker of the day and I was well-taken care of from beginning to end. Carolyn is an exciting visionary who also knows how to get it done. If you want an event they’ll be talking about for ages, look no further; Carolyn will get it done. And she’s great fun to boot.” - June 28, 2010, Catherine Byers Breet, Chief Stripe Changer / Career Coach / Strategic Recruiting, ARBEZ (www.arbez.com)
“A master organizer and producer, Carolyn makes things happen and brings high value to her clients and the community. She takes concepts and turns them into reality. Carolyn led the successful Change Your Stripes event at Normandale CC in conjunction with DEED and the MN Workforce Center that was attended by more than 700 people. Her relationship building skills, positive attitude and innovation exceed expectations at any project or event that she manages. Carolyn gets the Law of Attraction. It is always a pleasure to work with her. I highly recommend Carolyn.” Top qualities: Expert, Good Value, Creative – June 23, 2010, ANNE PRYOR, M.A.
“Carolyn is “can do” and “take charge” in all of her endeavors. Her energy, vision and purpose inspires all, moving the team forward towards more innovation.” - June 14, 2010 , Jeanne Larson, President & CEO, The Incubator
“Carolyn has a thirst for continual growth and learning and has a keen ability to create connections and ties between all that she experiences and learns in her life. As a small business owner, she has the business and financial acumen to understand successful business and marketing processes and models. As an event planner, she has project management and time management expertise and experience that she utilizes in everything that she does. As a holistic health practitioner, she understands human development and interpersonal communication/relationships and as someone who has worked in the service industry for many years, she understands the true essence of customer service. Using all these talents, Carolyn has provided Normandale with 110% in every role she has been in.” - June 3, 2010, Sunny Ainley, Director, Normandale Community College
“Carolyn truly understands how to deal and motivate people within her orbit. I found her very easy to work with, timely and innovative in handling business situations.” - June 3, 2010, Steve Beseke, DLR, CWP, President and Chief Motivational / Marketing Communications / Personal Brand Strategist, Resilient Communications
“Many years ago, when I was first getting to know Carolyn, I told her that I found her “inspirational”. Today I believe that more than ever. Carolyn lives a life filled with big dreams and big accomplishments. She is a master connector, who always focuses on how she can help others – rather than how she might benefit personally. Wherever she is you’ll find people living their passion and having fun doing it. I am proud to call her my friend and colleague.” - June 3, 2010, Rich Muller, Owner, The Business Development Portal
“Carolyn is a big picture, collaborative partner who has more ideas than anyone. Most importantly, Carolyn implements ideas at warp speed! Carolyn has the ability to uncover your biggest business dreams and goals and turn them into results.” – June 3, 2010, Liz Weatherhead, Customized Training Representative, Normandale Community College
“I am grateful to have worked with Carolyn over the years on a number of special events, classes and unique projects. She is a true living example of someone who understands and applies the Law of Attraction with remarkable results! She is able to attract and assemble elite teams of experts easily for her projects. She can meld seemingly opposite programs and people to work in perfect harmony for the greater good of all. Her events are always first class and participants learn and grow tremendously. She is a consummate marketer, visionary, innovator, highly skilled in customer service principles, especially willing to “go the extra mile” for others! She has a driven, goal achieving mindset and makes great things happen, concept to completion! Carolyn was part of the inspiration for my new book, Superconscious Power, and has provided constant encouragement to me throughout the writing process. She inspires and motivates others to achieve their dreams. Carolyn has earned a 5 star recommendation from me as well as EVERYONE I have spoken to about her work! Feel free to contact me in regard to Carolyn at: www.powermindtraining.com” - August 19, 2011, Michael Monroe Kiefer Ph.D., President, powermindtraining.com
“Carolyn is beyond amazing at what she does. She has an uncanny ability to find the best people and programs, and package them so that everyone involved benefits, from the presenting institution or corporation, to the teachers and presenters, and of course, all of those who attend.
Carolyn brings her best, authentic self to everything she does, whether it’s business or personal. She is one of those rare people who stays centered, relaxed and happy, while handling a tremendous amount of organization and detail. I’ve known and worked with her for over 8 years, and every encounter has resulted in something good.” - June 16, 2010, Kay Grace, Holistic Practitioner and Life Coach, Energy Express, Inc.
This letter is in support of the value of continuing Carolyn Vinup’s position, as Workforce Partnership & Development and Program Specialist for Continuing Education & Customized Training. The position seems to have been designed for her since she has natural talents as a collaborator, event planner, facilitator, and, of course, sincere passion. From concept to follow through, Carolyn has many unique talents that would lend themselves to her continuing in the position and, hopefully, take this partnership to the next level.
Hennepin South Workforce Center has been very fortunate to have a successful partnership with NCC from Day One which has involved many collaborative events (classes, Job Fair, Educator or the Day, and Rebranding event) which have involved many of our staff and your staff, and our partners, and which have served hundreds of job seekers which we hope to continue. Many of these events have involved stimulus funds but others, like the “Rebranding”, have mostly been successful as a result of dedicated people like Carolyn who put in many long hours to make it a huge success. As you know, she coordinated the overall event and since she knew the Normandale staff and I knew our staff and the networking groups, we were able to combine our knowledge and work together effectively. She quickly bonded with our DEED and partner staff, and I told her “we considered her family”.
It takes a collaborative individual like Carolyn to be a liaison between both our organizations and she has offered many times to do what she can to do foster this partnership. Carolyn came to almost every class we offered to enhance her knowledge about what we do and gave valuable insight as a “participant observer” and I am impressed that she had the initiative (and time management skills) to go through the Global Career Development Facilitator training. She also aptly presented the details and results of various events and got others involved..
Most recently, I noted her leadership and event planning skills in the “Rebranding Your Career” event which attracted 500 participants and many volunteers. From an event that started as a two hour workshop, it quickly expanded and I was drawn into it (despite many other time commitments) as a result of her passion and my desire to maximize our partnership and, consequently, we had many late night marathon email dialogues and spontaneous meetings when she was here including with other staff. She provided enough, but not too much, direction for Pat Thiewes, who served as the Volunteer Coordinator, so that Pat could do her own thing and Carolyn had every detail covered (unless, perhaps, it was a rainy day which, thankfully, it wasn’t).
Based on our April 20th meeting, there was interest in co-sponsoring addition community events such as a Health Care Expo with health care related schools, recruiters, and organizations and it would be most valuable for us to work with Carolyn again. I am not sure about her other duties, but, if she does everything else like she has done in working with us, she must always give more than 100% to the position. In addition, she is very pleasant and easy to work with. I am looking forward to continued cooperative ventures with Carolyn and the rest of the Normandale staff and faculty. - June 8, 2010, Laurie Trach, Workforce Specialist – Hennepin South Workforce Center
