A Father’s Inspiration

Finding the right coach to achieve success is extremely important. Mark Guttenberg understands this from the perspective of both student and coach. It was Guttenberg’s father who first inspired him to play golf. When he was ten years old, his father had weekly golf dates and would sometimes let Guttenberg come along and caddy. When one of his father’s fellow players noticed that Guttenberg had a natural swing, he told his father that he should let the boy take lessons. “And that’s where it all started,” says Guttenberg. “I started playing golf at the age of ten and knew right away I was going to be a golf pro.”

His father further increased Guttenberg’s determination when he took him to the US Open at Congressional Country Club, where he saw Arnold Palmer on the putting green. “He had this knock-kneed putting stance, and this really charismatic way about him, and when I saw that, I just knew I (had to) do this one day,” Guttenberg says. So he did. After he accomplished his dream of competing in the PGA Tour, Guttenberg decided to give back and pass on what he had learned by becoming a golf coach.

Giving Back Through Coaching

Guttenberg was a head pro at a golf club where he started to become more involved in teaching. However, when that club bought more houses and took away from the driving range, Guttenberg decided to leave. An acquaintance who had nine golf courses that he wanted teachers for called Guttenberg up and offered him 60,000 customers and a facility where he could teach them. Guttenberg jumped at the opportunity. “I become enamored by the aspect of teaching, the idea that people could come to me to talk about something I love so dearly, pay me money to make them better at what they could do,” says Guttenberg. “I couldn’t believe that I could make a living at that.” The gratification he gets when he sees a student leave with a smile is heartwarming.

A Torch Passed Down by His Own Coach

Guttenberg had had a coach of his own who made him feel like Superman. Now he wants to make his own students feel the same way, passing down the passion from generation to generation through coaching. “(He made me feel) like I could really achieve my dreams, and I try to instill in my students that they can do what they want to do,” he says. “I try to give back like he gave to me.”

Finding the Right Coach For Your Child

Parents seeking a coach for their child have to trust that the coach has the child’s best interests at heart. They also need a good relationship and rapport. “If you and the parents and the kids aren’t on the same page, nobody’s going to win,” says Guttenberg. Although a coach needs to know how to play the game, there’s more to it. “A great coach has to know more than the mechanics of a golf swing,” he says. “You have to be able to motivate your students. You have to be able to empower them and believe in them no matter what.” There will be good days and bad days, and a coach has to know how to get the child up and keep them going through those bad days.

Support Your Child’s Coach

For parents to get the most out of their coaching investment, they should support the coach. “If your child is taking lessons, find out from the coach and from your child what the coach wants you to do,” he says. Nobody wins when Guttenberg gives a lesson and the student comes back two weeks later and didn’t work on what they were supposed to work on, because he or she worked on what the parents thought the child should do instead.

“It’s really not about how great the coach is,” says Guttenberg. “It’s really about how great the parents are. It’s what the parents have done to support and follow up with the development of the kids that makes the difference.”

Novices Need Coaches Too

It’s not only children just learning the sport of golf that benefit from coaches. Novices can also learn and improve with a coach. “The first and most important thing, even if you just took one or two lessons, is the basic fundamentals of how to hold the golf club,” says Guttenberg. He breaks it into four letters — GASP — that teach the proper Grip, Aim, Stance, and Posture. “If you don’t do those correctly, your swing will not evolve properly,” he says. “Fundamentals are very important.”

Lessons, both for children and novices, should be catered to the student. “The type of lesson that you get has a lot to do with you as an individual and your personalities,” says Guttenberg. “So the first part of every lesson for me is an interview. I want to know more about the student.” Guttenberg also wants to know what his students would like to get out of their lesson so he knows how best to pass on the torch of knowledge to the next generation of golf pros.

Contact Information for Mark Guttenberg

You can learn more about Mark Guttenberg at his website, where you can also find his email address and phone number.

1. Capital

A self-directed IRA allows you to invest, but you definitely need available capital. As Brian Eastman of Safeguard Advisors realistically advises, “Most people want to invest in real estate, but guess what? You’re not going to be able to do that with just $10,000 or $15,000.” There are other investment options for that. For many people, retirement income is locked into their employer’s plan. Others believe their money is tied up permanently, but there are some exceptions to this. Sometimes when you change jobs or reach a certain age you are able to access those IRA or 401(k) funds. Talking with someone who specializes in self-directed IRAs can help you recognize potential opportunities and avoid missing out on a chance to redirect your funds. You may be able to free up some of that money and put it to work for you in a self-directed IRA with investments of your own choosing.

2. Advisors

You need something to invest in, but you also need a team of experienced advisors around you to help you develop a sound investment strategy so you can invest wisely. “The nature of our business,” says Eastman, “is to educate people.” Contrary to what many believe, Safeguard Advisors does not offer investments; they offer advice regarding the tax code and guidelines for investing.

The interest in self-directed IRAs is rapidly growing, as many people are ready to move beyond the traditional investment model. “In past generations that model worked pretty well,” he advises, “but the economy has been much more disruptive in the past few years. It has changed the way people look at Wall Street.” Safeguard Advisors has grown from a fledgling company into a national leader in its field, employing legal and financial experts who can help you with every aspect of successful self-directed IRA investments. In fact, they have thousands of clients in all fifty states and an A+ rating with the BBB. Perhaps that is why upwards of 40% of their business comes as a result of referrals from existing clients.

3. Perspective

And finally, you need good perspective, which is gained with increased knowledge. If, for instance, you are interested in real estate investing, it’s not enough to think it’s a good idea. You need some knowledge to give you the perspective that will help you make good choices. Some people think that because they are investing in real estate they can finally buy that vacation home on the beach. Not so, says Eastman. “Because the real estate has tax-sheltered status, it’s about exclusively growing the IRA, not about your personal enjoyment.”

Another good way to gain investment knowledge and experience is to join an enlightened local investment club. They usually meet once a month to share ideas and information, learn about investing, network with other investors, analyze investment options, and many even pool their money to make investments as a unit. Buying and selling is done by a voting process. Since they are all different, it is often a good idea to visit more than one group so you can choose the one that feels right for you. Another part of educating yourself and gaining perspective is reading magazines and books about investing. There is a great deal of information out there, and Eastman advocates that all you have to do is make the time for it.

Learning More

There is no such thing as learning too much when it comes to growing your nest egg for retirement. All those you learn from, advisors, authors, and fellow investors all become part of your network, and you can learn something from all of them. Host Ryan Sloper remarks that learning about self-directed IRAs and acting on that knowledge “could mean the difference between a successful retirement and dreaming about what could have been.”

Safeguard Advisors is working hard to put that knowledge out there in several ways. The Safeguard Advisors Facebook page is a great resource for timely information and includes topics such as stocks vs. housing, investing in non-performing notes, and successful flipping with a self-directed IRA. The Safeguard Advisors website is easy to navigate and loaded with interesting information which will inform, educate, and entertain you. They also welcome your questions via telephone at 1-877-229-9763 and by emailing irainfo@ira123.com.

A Little Girl with Big Ideas

What sort of environment creates someone like Sheyna Burt? The oldest of four children, Burt quips, “I was always super bossy. I wanted to be queen of the universe, but apparently that is not a thing, so short of doing that, I wanted to be an astronaut, but by age ten I knew I wanted to be an attorney.” She was serious about it too, carrying a briefcase to school in lieu of a book bag. In public school she also had the opportunity to learn to play an instrument. Hers was a violin, and right away she loved it. “I remember getting a violin just before fifth grade started, making the most obnoxious noises with it. I remember the way it smelled. I was obsessed with how it sounded and how it smelled. ”

Later, when Burt was invited to participate in the Governor’s School for the Arts, she describes it as a “transformative moment” in her life. “I found my fellow nerds of music!” she says with satisfaction. The Governor’s School mission statement identifies it as “a center for innovation that develops excellence, nurtures creativity, inspires artistic vision and builds communities with a passion for the arts.”

Role Models and Mentors

“My first mentors were in the house,” says Burt. “Both of my parents were extremely inspirational to me. They were able to pull themselves into the middle class by their intelligence, their drive, and hard work, so I expected the same from myself.” She gives high praise to the Prince William County Public School system and her mentors there. “I was so lucky to have the teachers I had.”

You Can’t Do Both

As a junior in college, Burt studied music as a major. A panel of musicians was invited to answer questions from students in one of her classes. One musician was from a musical group, which Burt says she will not name. She told him she was studying both law and music, and asked if it was possible to have careers in both fields? The musician laughed and replied, “Absolutely not. If you want to practice law, do that. If you want to become a musician, do that, but pick one. You can’t do both.” Burt was crushed, realizing that if he was right, after college her dreams of playing music would come to an end, so she enjoyed it as much as she could during the remainder of her college life. It wasn’t until about a year after she graduated that she decided he was dead wrong. She could do both, and she has been doing so ever since.

Don’t Settle

Burt says that after graduating, “I went and got a job with a big city law firm. I was not cut out for it at all. I was not happy.” She moved to a smaller firm, which was a better fit. Eventually though, she opened her own shop so she could have time to do the musical and volunteer work she loved. Even her law firm is all about service. “I wanted to be in practice dealing with people directly,” Burt says, so she focused on family law. Then she added service organizations, like community associations, non-profits, volunteer groups, and arts associations, which now form the bulk of her business.

Old Bridge Chamber Orchestra

A year or so out of law school in 2003, Burt was a law clerk and enjoyed it but felt the need for something more. After researching music in her community she came across Old Bridge Chamber Orchestra and gave them a call. “They were so welcoming and nurturing,” she says. Not only did she go on to play for them, she brought along her two sisters, also musicians. To this day they all still play, but now Burt also serves at the Concertmistress and Board President.

“Our Messiah Sing-Along is easily our most popular event,” says Burt. “There is something profound and beautiful about hundreds of people joining forces to produce this music.” Admission is free but donations are encouraged. Due to popular demand, the event is being offered twice: on Friday, December 16th at First Baptist Church at 13600 Minnieville Road in Woodbridge and on Saturday, December 17th at Grace United Methodist Church at 9750 Wellington Road in Manassas. They usually do five performances per season and details are on their website. Their biggest concert of the year is in May at the Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas. The “Tribute to American Composers” features songs Americans know and love, including works by Aaron Copland and George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue.

Prince William County Arts Council

Burt suggests a great first step for parents to encourage their children to explore music is by contacting the Prince William County Arts Council. Its job is to support artists and performers while connecting with community members.

World Doctors Orchestra USA

As President of World Doctors Orchestra USA, Burt is excited about the projects this group has in the works, including their goal of bringing a youth choir over from South Africa for an event in June. People short on volunteering time but with an interest in offering support can donate at their website.

Contact Information for Sheyna Burt

To learn more about Burt, visit her website for plenty of information regarding Burt, her volunteer work, her awards, and her business.

Born in Denmark, Birgit Campana moved to America with her family when she was only nine. She married at eighteen and did not have the opportunity to attend college. When her friends went into the military, Campana decided to join too, beginning a seventeen-year military career. Campana gives high marks to the U.S. military for teaching her important life skills that enabled her to experience success as an entrepreneur. She credits the Army with developing her work ethic, ability to follow through, and organizational and problem-solving skills.

One thing they instilled in her was going all out to make things happen. “Tell me what you can do, not what you can’t,” and “Bring me as close to yes as possible” were frequent mantras. As well, military leaders she encountered modeled qualities that she values and tries to live by, such as tenacity, strength, justice, and a sense of fair play.

Military Meets Corporate America

After the Army, Campana experienced a series of trials when adjusting to civilian life. Accustomed only to military uniform or casual clothing, Campana had never dressed for business before and had to learn the basics of civilian professional attire. “It was tough,” she says. “I didn’t even know how to put a business outfit together.”

When a series of temp jobs proved unfulfilling, Campana tackled her first “real job” as the Senior Executive Assistant at a non-profit corporation. The workload made it almost impossible to keep up. After eighteen months, she decided it was not going to work and resigned. After she left, the job that she performed as one person was divided among four other employees. In true entrepreneurial fashion, Campana knew that if she were going to work that hard, she would rather work for herself. She explored various business ideas, at one point discussing with her husband the possibility of opening a pizzeria, or trying her hand at Amway, but nothing seemed like a good fit.

While in the military, Campana had taken some medical courses, not really knowing if they would come in handy later. “I’m just fascinated with the human body,” she says. Then one day while she was having a treatment from her chiropractor, she asked him what happened to his massage therapist. He said the therapist had moved on, but that one of his other patients was going to massage therapy school and that she would graduate in just six months. This piqued her interest. “Six months? I could do that,” she said.

Before she left his office that day she had secured an agreement from him that if she graduated from massage therapy school, he would save an office for her where she could treat clients and build her own business. At a time when she was beginning to doubt everything, her husband and her chiropractor believed in her. With the military mindset of ‘going all out to make things happen’, Campana registered for school, soon graduated, and immediately set about getting to work.

A Spa Is Born

When she had first talked about becoming a massage therapist, but still wrestled with feelings of fear and apprehension about the future, a trusted friend and superior from the military said to her, “Sometimes we just need to take that step off the cliff and see what happens. And you know what? If you land on your feet, it’s all good. If you land on your face, you can always flip burgers at McDonald’s, right?” Those words put things into perspective for her and helped keep her motivated to move forward with her business.

Four years later in 2004, she took another leap and signed a lease on a location, which would become the luxurious Dansk Day Spa at Occoquan, VA. She hasn’t looked back, has built a steady and loyal clientele, and employs a staff of women of diverse talents and training who keep her customers coming back. She also holds popular “Open House” events at the spa, meeting regulars and potential clients. At these events she invites other local business owners to network and promote their businesses as well.

For more information on the wide variety of services they offer or to book an appointment, visit the Dansk Day Spa website.

Ruth Anderson doesn’t just lead as the Occoquan District Supervisor, she also passionately advocates for others to get involved in county government and work their way into leadership roles.

Her drive began in an early and uncharacteristic manner, a byproduct of growing up in rural Alaska. Running the family’s twelve-dog team up and down the Yukon River wasn’t out of the norm for Anderson. “For us it was an everyday type of experience,” she recalls. “Mushing a dog team is a huge lesson in leadership, because you have to lead those dogs when they want to lead you.”

Military Experience and Humanitarian Aid

Watching her mother administer medical services in areas with little or no health care convinced Ruth early on to pursue a career in nursing. Anderson’s family relocated from Alaska to Minnesota, where she obtained her nursing degree and joined the United States Air Force. “I was so sure I could get sent to Alaska,” Anderson says, as she’d hoped to return to the communities of her youth to provide much needed health care. Her supervisors told her that they didn’t send new military nurses to Alaska as it was considered overseas and too much of a cultural shock. Instead, the Alaskan-born Anderson was transferred to Biloxi, Mississippi.

With the initial intent of serving only three years in the Air Force, Anderson soon found that the combination of nursing and the military environment both contributed to her leadership sensibilities. “You are expected to lead those that are maybe below you in rank or less experienced. It’s immediate.” Having found her niche, the three-year stint turned into a twenty-one year career. Of her time in the military, Anderson says, “We were on a mission and I loved being on that mission and taking care of the troops.”

New assignments within the Air Force brought with them opportunities for advancement. Anderson went from staff nurse to charge nurse and eventually became a squadron commander and chief nurse at Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii. After twenty-one years of service, Anderson retired from the Air Force, but continued to put her skills to use by assisting in the aftermath of war and natural disasters, traveling on fifteen different missions to administer aid in countries including Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia.

Leadership at the Local Level

When the position of Occoquan District Supervisor opened up, Anderson was encouraged to pursue it. “This wasn’t exactly on my bucket list,” she admits, though she’d been no stranger to politics, having a politician husband and being involved in the campaigns of others. “I’d helped many people get elected.” Still, Anderson needed to be persuaded. “I said ‘no’ a few times before I said ‘yes,’ but I am so glad that I did because it opens up so many opportunities to help people.”

As Occoquan District Supervisor, Anderson’s leadership skills are employed in managing the county budget and land use issues. Setting the tax rate and deciding how much money goes to schools is a great responsibility. “We make decisions that affect everyone that lives in the county,” she says.

Call to Action

Facing countless challenges and an initial learning curve never dissuaded Anderson from the position. She encourages others to get involved as well, citing the value of figuring out what it is you stand for and then taking action that supports those core beliefs. Citizens can intern with the county, serve on boards or committees, or seek out civic associations. Anderson asserts that these opportunities are for everyone. “If they come to my office, I will find a niche for them to get involved.” She also encourages people to advocate for their candidates of choice until they feel comfortable running for office themselves.

Strength in Pride

While Anderson enjoys her leadership role as the Occoquan District Supervisor, she also still takes great pride in her service with the United States Air Force. “I will do anything to save our country and the freedoms we have,” Anderson asserts. With that pride and leadership, and through positive example, she hopes to inspire others to do the same.

Ruth Anderson welcomes emails at randerson@pwcgov.org and looks forward to assisting citizens in identifying roles in which they can affect positive change.