THE JOURNEY (Mary’s Blog)

BOOKS

PUBLIC SPEAKING

VIDEOS

CONTACT

ABOUT

MEDIA

A BENCH AND A TREE

THE JOURNEY (Mary’s Blog)

BOOKS

PUBLIC SPEAKING

VIDEOS

CONTACT

ABOUT

MEDIA

A BENCH AND A TREE

Mary McKSchmidt

Sometimes all it takes is one sentence to change the world.
“I believe in you.”

  • Like Nick Sharkey, her first newspaper editor, and Harry Stapler, her first publisher, who took a risk when she was a senior in high school and assigned her politically-charged stories at a time news coverage was required to be unbiased.
  • Like former Michigan State University football coach Denny Stolz, who on that sloppy-wet game day, took her elbow and ushered her into the men’s locker room. Later, she would learn he sent word ahead that the team’s first woman sports editor would be joining them that afternoon.
  • Like Billy Martin, former Detroit Tigers Manager, who shared with her his life’s story, offering her an opportunity to make her debut into the major league of sports reporting. Twenty-years-old, she did not realize the door he was opening until six months later, when she saw the story in Sports Illustrated.
  • Like the woman in South Africa who gifted her a handful of Rands when she was impoverished, hungry, and caught stealing water to survive.
  • Like Clarence Underwood, the Michigan State University Athletic Director who awarded her and all the MSU pre-Title IX athletes their varsity letters in 2002, thirty years after she played on the university’s Big 10 championship tennis team.
  • Like Dave Nelson, Dick Miller, Judy Braun, Tracy Wimberly, Dianne Blanco and the many mentors who coached her up the ladder from sales representative to president within a Fortune 500 company.
  • Like former Baxter Healthcare CEO Harry Kraemer who trusted her to create and facilitate a CEO Roundtable of healthcare executives who brainstormed solutions to some of the industry’s greatest challenges.
  • Like renown poet Jack Ridl, who explained to her what it means to be a lyrical writer, introduced her to poetry and encouraged her to keep writing.
  • Like Alene Moris, a leadership consultant who noticed her passion for the Great Lakes and urged her to advocate on their behalf.
  • Like childhood friend, author and Wyoming teacher of the year, Eric Stemle, whose commitment to helping others reach their full potential is a constant inspiration.
  • Like all who have read her books, blogs, invited her to speak, shared their thoughts, and supported her on this journey of caring.
  • Like her parents, Jane and Harry McKinney, who taught her the importance of life-long learning, not just education, but learning; who emphasized using one’s talents to get involved, to make a difference.
  • Like her husband, Rubin, who may shake his head in disbelief but never stands in her way.