Trauma to Triumph and conference to benefit Food Bank, April 26

HOUSTON, Texas--A life of fulfillment and success is within reach. The Get Up, Get Dressed, Get Out conference will bring together a network of women on April 26 at the Houston Food Bank for a day of business and life coaching, as they explore what it takes to achieve goals and find happiness.

The conference is the brainchild of Keli Chevalier, a retired army major, who turned her experiences in overcoming PTSD into a non-profit organization called Trauma to Triumph. Proceeds of the conference will be donated to Patriot Village—which provides housing to homeless female veterans and their children. The event runs from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and will include networking, goal-setting and speeches from Chevalier and Houston-based business coach Dawniel Winningham.

“What I tell people is that it takes work,” Chevalier says, who served her country during two tours in Iraq. “You can’t say, ‘I have PTSD’ and go sit in a corner, take your meds and expect your life to change. It takes work, diligence and a system. You get up every morning, say your prayers, and tell yourself things are going to change and map out what that looks like to you. You have to work at it six days a week. You can’t just do the minimum.”

Chevalier took a straightforward approach to dealing with her own trauma, and will detail her self-empowering techniques in her speech and in her soon-to-be-published book “Get Up! Get Dressed! Get Out!” Chevalier and Winningham will provide entrepreneurial guidance and inspire attendees to find a path to success no matter what events may be in their past. Winningham is a business and life coach and has been awarded Presidential Awards for Community Service under both President George W. Bush in 2005 and Barack Obama in 2012.

Get Up, Get Dressed, Get Out will feature vendor booths and a silent auction as well. Tickets for the event are $45 and may be purchased online at the link below.

“We’ll take the time to think about what God has put into your life, what your talents are, and how to turn that into your own business,” Chevalier says.