Michelle Renee has been "dreaming big" all her life. From abused runaway, at times homelss, teen to becoming a banking industry Executive by the age of 30. At age 35 Michelle's 13 year career came to an end when she, and her 7 year-old daughter, were stalked, kidnapped, held hostage, taped with exploives and after 14 hours, Michelle was forced to rob the bank she managed to save their lives. Michelle Renee kept on "dreaming big" and is now the 2008 MSN Hometown Hero, a published author, speaker, and owner of dreamBIG® Consulting and Women Who dreamBIG® and delivering her "Live Your dreamBIG® Life" message to the masses!

Michelle's debut book, Held Hostage:The True Story of a Mother and Daughter's Kidnapping shares her journey with passion, grit and courage. From the dark aftermath of violent crime, confronting her abusive past in order to embrace what she calls "her now" and what it took for her and her daughter to overcome this devastating tragedy with self-love will be a Lifetime movie in May 2009. Michelle is curretnly seeking publication for her sophommore book, Hostage No More: 10 Secrets to "Live Your dreamBIG® Life".

Michelle has been awarded for her success in banking as well as for her leadership in our community via her advocacy efforts with The Violent Trauma Awareness Project and Rock To Stop Violence: A Rock & Roll Benefit Concert, Fashion and Art Show. Her vision is to have a sold out arena for her Rock To Stop Violence event with well-known headline bands who want to share in this global message of standing united for peace and non-violence and inspiring others to see that they can "Live Your dreamBIG® Life".

Michelle studied Communications with an emphasis on Public Relations at the University of Alaska and is a member of the Global Peacebuilders Project, National Association of Women Executives, was named Soroptimist International's 2007 Woman of Distinction, and has been interviewed by Gayle King, featured in magazines in the UK and on national and international radio. In 2008 Michelle was honored to be added to the Chicago Children's Hospital Trauma Center Survivor Wall, became a Family Advocate for the National Child Traumatic Stress Network and Children's Hospital Chadwick Center in San Diego, and was featured on The Biography Channel and A & E Television.

Michelle resides in Southern California with her daughter, Breea.

Blog Entries by Michelle Renee

Recession Causes Bank Robbery Spike

Posted November 17, 2008 | 04:44 PM (EST)


Five Things Employers and Employees Need to Know

The FBI is reporting a spike in the number of bank robberies across the country with $15 million in losses last quarter alone. This is not unusual during economically challenging times. Add the holiday season to the mix, which is typically the...

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Top 10 Reasons Why I Left Alaska

Posted October 26, 2008 | 12:33 AM (EST)


Having to leave San Diego and await the criminal trial of our attackers after being kidnapped and held hostage is one thing. Having that state be Alaska is, well, like moving to a whole new world. A pretty one, but talk about culture shock for this Californian...

Here are the...

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Youth Speak Up and Stand Out in Chicago

Posted October 22, 2008 | 06:38 PM (EST)


Until recently youth have been greatly ignored in trauma treatment, program and outreach strategy development. This, as we are discovering, is a mistake.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2006, U.S. state and local child protective services (C.P.S.) investigated 3.6 million reports...

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Why I Do What I Do & Why It Is Worth It

Posted October 9, 2008 | 06:55 PM (EST)


I received this letter today and thought of how inspiring it is for me and hope that it will be for you as well. With so much focus on Breast Cancer Awareness this month, as you read this please remember this is also Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear...

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Breaking The Chains of Domestic Violence

1 Comments | Posted October 7, 2008 | 04:02 PM (EST)


According to UNIFEM, at least one out of every three women around the world has been beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime. For women aged 15 to 44 years, violence is a major cause of death and disability.

For me, breaking the chains of domestic violence...

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Fans Not Going to Work Because Clay is Gay?

11 Comments | Posted September 25, 2008 | 05:11 PM (EST)


This is a comment posted on Clay Aiken's blog by a fan, or ex-fan I guess, after he announced he was, surprise, surprise...gay.

"This is really shocking news as I had no idea he was gay and now I have to deal with this. I am not sure what...
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Politics: A Big Jumbled Mess

Posted September 23, 2008 | 10:00 AM (EST)


Talking politics with our teens should definitely be on the table-talk agenda, in my opinion. So, Sunday morning breakfast table-talk included the presidential candidates and I was surprised when my daughter was the one who actually sparked conversation on the topic. Although she is only 15 and isn't able to...

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Everything I Own Fits In a Hefty Trash Bag

Posted September 19, 2008 | 04:22 PM (EST)


The truck I stole to have a place to sleep was a white Toyota with yellow and orange stripes, lifted with fat tires and no power steering. Everything I owned was stuffed into a dark green Hefty trash bag, including a birthday card my mom had managed to get to...

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Want Success? Change Your Attitude and Be Shameless!

Posted August 27, 2008 | 08:44 PM (EST)


My daughter is a cheerleader for California All Stars, an elite academy for this competitive sport that makes the cheers I used to see at high school football games look like elementary age patty-cake. When she injured herself in a bike accident and couldn't cheer she began to huff and...

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Hotel Room Hell: Sense of Humor Required!

Posted August 1, 2008 | 05:49 PM (EST)


Ahhh...our first trip to the windy city; Chi Town; home of Harpo, the Bears, Cubs, and the White Sox. I couldn't wait to get there and take it all in. After all, summertime in Chicago is supposed to be beautiful, and it was. We were there for the first two...

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A Woman's Journey To Wholeness

Posted July 12, 2008 | 12:22 PM (EST)


Somewhere we lose sight of our wholeness and of our holiness. We begin to look in the outer world for something to fill the void that is gaping open inside of us. A Woman's Journey to Wholeness Retreats is an invitation to connect to the essential nature of who you...

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Upside Down! Before You Walk Away Know Your Mortgage Options

Posted July 11, 2008 | 02:31 PM (EST)


The statistics are all over the place but what we do know is that the housing market is a mess. Some numbers we can sink our teeth into are that an estimated 9 million American households, or 10.3 percent of all single-family homes, owe more than their home is worth...

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Radical Reinvention: From Poor White Trash and Abused Runaway Teen to Successful Women of Worth

Posted July 8, 2008 | 02:27 PM (EST)


Meet my "Radical Reinvention" business partner Jana Fleming.

Jana: Labeled poor white trash. Me: Abused homeless teen. We are both 42. We both have been single moms. We both know the pain of an abusive childhood and both know the thrill of choosing to radically reinvent your life. But that...

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Learning to Love Yourself Through It All

Posted July 5, 2008 | 05:09 PM (EST)


I was in a meeting the other day and found myself uttering the words, "You have to love yourself through it all." as a response to the question of the important take-away message to those who have gone through insufferable circumstances; those I will be speaking with as an Advocate...

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Is Miley Cyrus Vanity Fair Issue a Repeat of Brooke Shields in the 80's?

Posted May 1, 2008 | 04:01 PM (EST)


Yesterday I got into a discussion with a good friend who said he believes Miley's parents are in on the "artistic prostituting" of their daughter. That conversation got me thinking back to the 1980's.

My friend made some excellent points.

He said Disney owns the Hannah brand, her...

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Can Miley Turn This Thing Around?

Posted April 29, 2008 | 11:44 PM (EST)


Can the Hannah Montana starlet turn the recent negative buzz into a positive? The answer is yes, if she wants to.

Impressionable young girls everywhere have been looking up to teen star Miley Cyrus for over three years since her debut as Hannah Montana. But recently...

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Are Candidates Sweeping "Keeping Kids' Safe" Under the Political Rug?

Posted March 13, 2008 | 01:41 PM (EST)


I know...they are just trying to get the nod at this point. But does that mean they should leave out important issues, like keeping America's kids' safe online, just because opponent bashing will get them more votes? Hillary Clinton's camp came up with an impressive Internet Safety Guide that no...

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My "Mango" Moment

Posted March 6, 2008 | 05:53 PM (EST)


I recently spoke at the Woman's Journey to Wholeness Retreat in Santa Barbara. People always ask if I prepare for my speaking engagements or topics and I suppose I do if you consider the incredible drive from San Diego to Santa Barbara preparation.

The earth is still black, trees...

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Parents, Are Your Kids Duping You?

Posted February 14, 2008 | 03:10 PM (EST)


If you have never checked your kid's cell phone messages, history or voicemail, or internet history, you should. In this technologically advanced time, kids are catching on to the tricks and clicks that erase their communication tracks.

When spouses are cheating or engaging in behaviors that they...

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It's Not Just About Lunch Money Anymore

Posted February 5, 2008 | 10:04 PM (EST)


When I was in school bullies were the mean kids on the blacktop. The ones waiting after school to beat up on another kid that was usually no match for their size and strength. But there was at least a "safe zone" from school bullies: Home. Today, running home and...

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