GRIT SUMMIT 2021
Participant Packet
OCTOBER 15, 2021
GRIT Summit Agenda
October 15, 2021 · 9 am - 1 pm
8:50 - 9:00 Check-in
9:00 - 9:05 Video Testimonials Main
9:05 - 9:10 General Welcome Room
Durrell Forte Join Main Session:
GRIT Summit Host Click Here
Meeting ID:
9:10 - 9:25 Special Welcome
2620 841 6371
Dr. Lee Ann Nutt Event Password:
President, Lone Star College-Tomball
grit2021
9:25 - 9:30 Introduction of Keynote Call-in Number:
9:30 - 10:00 Speaker 1-408-792-6300
Durrell Forte Access code:
GRIT Summit Host 2620 841 6371
Keynote Speaker
Dr. Paul Stoltz
Founder & CEO of PEAK Learning, Inc.
10:00 - 10:05 Thank You
Durrell Forte
GRIT Summit Host
10:05 - 10:10 Transition Message
10:15 - 11:15 Breakout Session 1
11:15 - 11:50 Lunch, Video Testimonials &
Reflection Activity
12:00 - 1:00 Breakout Session 2
1:00 - 1:05 Summit Wrap Up Click Here
Main Room
Durrell Forte
Meeting ID: 2620 841 6371
Event Password: grit2021
Call-in Number: 1-408-792-6300
Access code: 2620 841 6371
Breakout Session 1
10:15 - 11:15
Carmalyn McCraken
Join me for an interactive workshop where you will learn easy techniques on how to become grateful through
daily practices. I will challenge you to look at your life from a slightly different angle and start having tiny
shifts in your focus that will help you see the joy even in the chaos. Often, when people think of gratitude they
think of the really BIG - the good times, their favorite people, and lovely places in their lives. The problem is,
when any of those big things on that list are the same items that are causing concern or stress, one can feel
lost and may not "see" anything to be grateful for when in that hard place.
I am here to direct your thinking and help you discover all of the tiny, small, and often overlooked points in
your life that when you PAUSE a moment to reflect on, you will see that you are now looking at your life from
a completely different perspective.
Using this shift you will begin to notice all of the moments between the chaos, between the joy, between the
sadness where you can recognize peace, love, laughter and more. I once read that if you have to move 10
inches from where you are to be happy, you will never be happy. Joy is in the NOW. Living a daily life
through a grateful filter will shift you from having your mind full to recognizing the joy and becoming more
mindful.
Session Information - Room Hosts: Lacy Moreno & Lee Ann Ridgley
Meeting number: 2624 231 9792 Password: GRIT2021
Call In Number: 1-408-792-6300 Access code: 262 423 19792
Uniqua Smith
The lecture will encompass the four components of GRIT through sharing my personal experiences through
each one and how they intertwined to lead me to where I am today. The Growth discussion will describe my
career development journey from working at the prison in undergrad, then progressing through life’s
challenges to complete my BSN, MBA and PhD. Next, I will discuss my Resilience as a cancer survivor and
switching from nurse to patient at the very institution that I was employed at. Then comes the discussion on
Instinct in where I describe how I was just a year in remission from cancer and asked to develop a COVID
testing team for the entire institution. Instead of working remotely as an administrator, I had to return to the
frontlines to battle an unknown virus in order to protect our patients and support our clinical staff. Lastly, I
will discuss Tenacity and how I was able to successfully build that COVID testing team and manage it for the
last 18 months. This discussion will include the work it took to develop a strong team that is dependable,
respected within the organization and most importantly, has demonstrated safety by not being infected.
Session Information - Room Hosts: Corniche Land & Andrea Martelo
Meeting number: 2620 955 6461 Password: GRIT2021
Call In Number: 1-408-792-6300 Access code: 2620 955 6461
Breakout Session 1
10:15 - 11:15
Bre'Anna Bivens
At the impetus of the coronavirus pandemic, everyone was thrust into months of a mandated
isolation that social distancing measures forced nearly everyone in the world into. As the world
seemingly came to a halt, we all struggled with sitting still because there still loomed in us a
demand to keep busy. As I struggled to do the same myself, I became surprisingly self critical; I
couldn't find a job despite spending years to attain a college degree, I felt as If I was a
disappointment to my family for being a first generation college student with no job, I became
depressed and trauma I ran successfully from for years started to creep into my mind. Determined
to combat the ill feelings that I began to experience more often than not, I learned to sit with them,
and allowed their visitation to teach me things about myself, healing , patience and peace that I
had previously never understood. With these new revelations, I became a valuable resource to my
friends and family, and I wish to share this same insight.
Session Information - Room Hosts: Amy Cook & Joel Reyes
Meeting number: 2623 870 7887 Password: GRIT2021
Call In Number: 1-408-792-6300 Access code: 262 387 07887
Breakout Session 2
12:00 - 1:00
Mark French
After receiving an unsatisfactory evaluation and being put on a growth plan late in his
career, Mark worked hard, moved off that plan and received a performance stipend in one
year. Mark will share the strategies and actions he took to adapt his behaviors, beliefs, and
mindset to move from a difficult time to a successful outcome.
Session Information - Room Hosts: Gloria Maristany & Andrea Martelo
Meeting number: 2621 809 7251 Password: GRIT2021
Call In Number: 1-408-792-6300 Access code: 262 180 97251
Mari-Carmen Marin
I was on a sabbatical leave during spring semester 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic started to cause
havoc around the United States and the whole world. What was spring break became an indefinite break
for my son, who could not go to school for the rest of the academic year. Apart from the worries about
catching the virus, not finding enough food to buy in the stores, and especially, not being able to see my
family in Spain that summer, my plans to complete the project for my sabbatical became less clear than
before, but I pushed through and my book was accepted for publication by Legacy Book Press in May. My
project consisted on writing a poetry book tracing my life-long journey through an anxiety disorder that
often leads to depression. My goals were both to raise awareness of the existence and effects of mental
disorders and to reach out to those, many of whom are students, who feel trapped in a circle of shame and
helplessness and suffer in silence. In this presentation, like in my book, I will talk about the storms that strike
us, making us fall into the rough waters, where we think we’ll drown, until with much practice,
understanding, and support, we learn how to keep our heads above water and even swim to the shore. I will
use poems in my book to guide my talk and discussion.
Session Information - Room Hosts: Corniche Land & Camilo Bandiaran
Meeting number: 2620 955 6461 Password: GRIT2021
Call In Number: 1-408-792-6300 Access code: 2620 955 6461
Breakout Session 2
12:00 - 1:00
Daphine Jack
Join me as I share personal experiences that I went through and came out victorious. I will
also share some that didn't go in my favor! I had to gain patience and perseverance which
got me to the space of gratitude.
Session Information - Room Hosts: Amy Cook & Joel Reyes
Meeting number: 2621 411 2341 Password: GRIT2021
Call In Number: 1-408-792-6300 Access code: 262 141 12341
Welcome Speaker Bio
Dr. Lee Ann Nutt Dr. Lee Ann Nutt serves as President at Lone Star College-Tomball. Prior to assuming
the top position in February 2015, Dr. Nutt served as the institution’s Vice President
President of Instruction (VPI) for over three years. For over 12 years, from 1999 – 2011, she
LSC-Tomball served in various administrative roles at North Central Texas College, including
Dean of Continuing Education, Provost, and Vice President of Instruction. Dr. Nutt’s
first experience in community colleges began in 1990 at South Plains College-
Lubbock, where she served as the Assistant to the Dean of Instruction. Prior to joining
NCTC, Dr. Nutt serves as the Director of Education and Public Relations at the New
Mexico Health Care Association.
Dr. Nutt is the primary author of Complete the Agenda: Challenge Beliefs About
Student Success, released by Rowman & Littlefield Publishers in January 2019. The
book reflects Dr. Nutt’s passion for creating environments where potential becomes
achievement, which motivates her each day, and has for more than 20 years. Her
passion established LSC-Tomball as a national leader on how to infuse GRIT across
the curriculum and into the culture of an institution to ensure students finish what they
start. She has become a sought after national speaker and consultant on the topics
of grit, leadership, and the Beliefs Agenda.
In addition to holding various community college administrative positions, Dr. Nutt
has teaching experience at the university level. Dr. Nutt has taught Quantitative
Research Methods for the Ferris State University’s Doctorate in Community College
Leadership program. She also taught research methods, writing and research, and
statistics for the Psychology Department of Lubbock Christian University. She taught
a college success course at Texas Tech University.
Dr. Nutt is very active in professional and civic organizations, having served as a
member of over 20 boards and committees over the years. She served on the
American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Special Commission on
Leadership and Professional Development, which contributed to the development of
the 3rd Edition of AACC’s Competencies for Community College Leaders. Locally,
she serves as a member of the HCA Healthcare Houston – Tomball Board of
Trustees, and she served as a member of the Greater Tomball Area Chamber of
Commerce Board of Directors. Dr. Nutt served as Chair of the Denton Chamber of
Commerce Board of Directors in 2005 - 2006. She chaired the Emerging Workforce
Committee for the North Central Texas Workforce Development Board for almost
four years. She was a member of the North Central Texas Workforce Development
Board for more than five years. Dr. Nutt is a Leadership Denton and a Leadership
Gainesville graduate. In November 2003, she was appointed by US Congressman
Michael Burgess to his Service Academy Nomination Advisory Board, on which she
served for several years.
Born in Borger, Texas and raised in the Texas Panhandle, Dr. Nutt graduated from
Amarillo High School in 1985. A Texas Tech Red Raider, Lee Ann earned three
degrees from the Lubbock, Texas-based institution. She earned a Bachelor's degree
in Business Administration/Management (B.B.A.) in 1989; a Master's of Education
(M.Ed.) in Higher Education Administration in 1992; and a Doctorate of Education
(Ed.D.) in Higher Education Administration in 1996. Her doctoral research focused
on career satisfaction of female presidents of higher education institutions in the
United States.
Keynote Speaker Bio
Dr. Paul G. Stoltz Dr. Paul G. Stoltz is considered the world’s leading authority on the integration and
application of grit and resilience. He is author of five international bestselling books on the
Founder & CEO subject—printed in 17 languages—including the top selling business book in China, and was
PEAK Learning, Inc. voted by HR Magazine as “One of the Top 10 most influential global thinkers,” and by
Executive Excellence as “One of the 100 Most Influential Thinkers of Our Time.” In newest
book, GRIT—The New Science of What it Takes to Persevere, Flourish, Succeed, he pioneers
the first validated construct and method in existence for growing both the quantity and
quality of one’s GRIT
Dr. Stoltz has served as faculty for MIT’s acclaimed entrepreneurship program and for
Carnegie Mellon’s distinguished Global Leaders Program, where his AQ and GRIT-related
methods and assessments have been used to equip tomorrow’s leaders and entrepreneurs.
He also serves on various boards, including advisory board for DocuSign, and several
companies focused on earth rejuvenating technologies.
Harvard Business Review selected Dr. Stoltz to be a member of their prestigious Board of
Business Mentors. Harvard Business School has selected and incorporated Dr. Stoltz’s
Adversity Quotient® tools and methods into its top-rated MBA and Executive Education
programs and is featuring Dr. Stoltz’s newest work on GRIT in a new video series for
Harvard Business Review. Dr. Stoltz has also been a member of Stanford University’s
Distinguished Leaders Lecture Series, was selected as the Millennial Thinker for Singapore,
“Thought Leader of the Year” in Hong Kong, and is a top-rated international faculty member
for the Young Presidents’ Organization. He has guest lectured for Princeton, INSEAD, and
Cornell, and has been a featured blogger and author for both the Harvard Business Review
and Psychology Today.
Dr. Stoltz has been the founder and CEO of PEAK Learning, Inc., a global research and
consulting firm, since 1987, through which he coaches, consults, teaches, and collaborates
with top leaders, thinkers, and influencers within a broad range of organizations from start-
ups and NGO’s to the Fortune 500 on six continents. He is also the founder and managing
director of the GRIT Institute and Global Resilience Institute, both worldwide research
collaboratives for exploring and advancing the frontiers of human endeavor.
Today, GRIT and AQ are the most widely adopted methods of their kind in the world for
measurably enhancing one’s resilience, agility, and GRIT—currently in use by industry-
leading companies, top institutions, and many governments in 137 countries across six
continents.
Dr. Stoltz is frequently featured in the world’s top media. Examples include the major news
shows CNN, CNBC, ABC, Sky News, Business News Network, NBC Nightly News, Public
Broadcast Service (PBS), as well as the biggest daytime shows such as the Today Show, and
multiple appearances on Oprah. You will also find Dr. Stoltz quoted in the major press,
worldwide, including Wall Street Journal, Harvard Management Update, Investor’s Business
Daily, Yahoo! Finance, Asia 21, Inc., Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Singapore Straits
Times, The Australian Financial Review, Success Magazine, Entrepreneur Magazine, Boss
Magazine, The Drucker Foundation’s prestigious Leader to Leader and other publications.
Dr. Stoltz coaches the U.S. Olympic Team, has served as faculty for MIT’s acclaimed
entrepreneurship program and for Carnegie Mellon’s distinguished Global Leaders Program,
where his AQ and GRIT-related methods and assessments have been used to equip
tomorrow’s leaders and entrepreneurs.
Dr. Stoltz received his bachelor’s degree in Organizational Communication and Economics
from the University of California, as well as his business, leadership, and social sciences
interdisciplinary master’s and Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota. PEAK Learning’s
international headquarters is situated in the coastal mountains of San Luis Obispo,
California, where Dr. Stoltz resides with his family, who were honored by USA Today as
“America’s Most Creative Family.”
Speaker Bios
Durrell Forte - Conference Host
Durell Forte was born in Houston, and he’s worked at Lone Star
College-Tomball for 18 years. Since graduating from LSC-
Tomball in 2008, Durell has transferred to Lamar University,
and he’s remained devoted to the arts that he first showcased at
the LSC-Tomball. In addition to working as a producer, emcee,
poet, and motivational speaker for other up-and-coming
Houston artists, he’s self-published 7 books of his own, “Speak
What You Scared to Whisper”, “From the Top of My Lungs”,
“Don’t Tell Me to Hush”, “I’m Just Saying”, “Yeah I Said It”
“Things I wanted to Tel Her”, and “5 Minutes with Forte: The 90
Day Motivational”
Workshop Presenters
Bre'Anna Bivens
I graduated from Sam Houston State University in 2019
with a bachelor's in mass communications and minor in
creative writing. Currently, I work for the City of Houston
in the Mayor's Office of Communications as his
ceremonial documents writer. In my spare time, I volunteer
with Child Advocates as a court-appointed advocate, and
I also volunteer with Memorial Assistance Ministries as a
volunteer teacher.
Mark French
Mark French is a recently retired elementary school
principal who worked in education for 38 years, the last
23 as a principal. Among his accomplishments are
serving as President of the Minnesota Elementary School
Principals' Association and being honored as 2015
Minnesota National Distinguished Principal. Mark is co-
author of the book, Principals In Action.
Daphine Jack
Daphine Priscilla Brown-Jack is from Houston, Texas. a
retired Parole Officer, Parole and Author Consultant,
Private Investigator, Author, Inspirational Speaker,
Podcast Host “If Emmet Was Alive Today Podcast” owner
and manager of Brown Jack Books, LLC and the Founder
and CEO of nonprofit Prevention Zone Inc.
Mari-Carmen Marin
I was born, raised, and educated in Spain. In June 2003, I
defended my dissertation on African American literature and
received my Doctoral Degree at the University of Zaragoza,
and at the end of July of the same year, I crossed the Atlantic
Ocean to begin a new life in Houston. I started teaching
bilingual education at an HISD elementary school with a J-1
Visa, but after meeting and marrying who nowadays is my
American husband, I could change Visa status and work
wherever I wanted. I, then, became an adjunct instructor of
English, teaching at UH and Lone Star College -North Harris.
In 2009, I was hired as a full-time professor of English at LSC-
Tomball and I have been part of the Tomball family since then.
My passion for poetry began in 2008 and apart from having
several poems published in literary journals, my first book of
poetry was published by Legacy Book Press this past June
2021. It is entitled, Swimming, Not Drowning, and you can
find more information about it and my poetry in my author's
website: www.maricarmenmarinauthor.com
Carmalyn McCracken
Carmalyn McCracken is the founder of You Got Joy which
focuses on helping others discover and live a joy-filled life.
She is a keynote speaker, seminar/workshop leader, and life
coach. She is also an adjunct professor at Lone Star College-
Tomball and the creator of her own inspirational jewelry
collection, Good Carma Designs, which is hand-stamped
personalized jewelry. She has her Bachelors degree in
Psychology from Marquette University and Masters degree in
Counseling from Prairie View A&M University. She has lived
in Texas for 30+ years although home was originally in a
Chicago suburb. She is a wife, mom of 2, cat lover, bike rider,
and self-proclaimed Joyologist.
Uniqua Smith
Uniqua Smith is currently the Associate Director of Innovation
& Performance Improvement at the University of Texas MD
Anderson Cancer Center, where she has worked for over 17
years in various clinical and administrative roles. She has
served in her current role for 7 years, with responsibilities in
the scholarly advancement of over 4,400 nurses through
mentoring and program development. Uniqua has also served
as an Adjunct Faculty member for the University of Phoenix for
6 years and is currently an Evaluation Faculty member at
Western Governor’s University. She completed her Bachelor of
Science in Nursing and MBA from Texas Woman’s University
in 2004 & 2006 and her PhD from Capella University in
2013. Most importantly, Uniqua is a breast cancer survivor
who serves as an inspiration to others on being optimistic,
assertive, and hopeful through life’s unexpected challenges.
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Acknowledgements
Speakers Lone Star College-Tomball Honors Students
Dr. Lee Ann Nutt - Welcome Camilo Bandiaran
Dr. Paul Stoltz - Keynote Speaker Andrea Martelo
Durrell Forte - Conference Host Joel Reyes
Bre'Anna Bivens - Presenter Lee Ann Ridgley
Mark French- Presenter
Daphine Jack - Presenter Grit Summit Video
Mari-Carmen Marin - Presenter
Carmalyn McCracken - Presenter Lone Star College-Tomball Multimedia Services
Uniqua Smith - Presenter
Technology Support
Lone Star College Office of Technology Services
Video Testimonials
Angely Alvarez (LSC-Tomball Student)
Racquel Arceneaux (LSC-Tomball Student)
Richard Burkey (LSC-Tomball Staff)
Sue Comstock (LSC-Tomball Staff)
Flonisha Dames (LSC-Tomball Staff)
Laura Lockhart (LSC-Tomball Student)
Linda Ponce (LSC-Tomball Student)
Dr. Jerrel Wade (LSC-Tomball Administrator)
Grit Summit Committee
Anita Dann Lauren Clyde Donna Fitzpatrick
Corniche Land Lisa Davis Gloria Maristany
Donielle Miller Lacy Moreno Jacquelyn Shepherd
Jerrel Wade Amy Cook
Sarah Pitre Flonisha Dames
Katerina Wingfield
Committee Chair and Dean of Academic Affairs