Michele Neff Hernandez is the Founding President and Executive Director of the Soaring Spirits Loss Foundation. Her creative energy and passion for helping other widows is the driving force behind the SSLF National Conference on Widowhood. In addition to her work with the SSLF, Michele is the founder of www.widowsbond.com and the Widow Match Program, a frequently requested motivational speaker, and a dedicated free-lance writer. She inspires people through her presentations, and in her writing, to truly live the life they are given. Michele resides happily with her three children in Simi Valley, California.

"We are friends; we must assist each other to bear our burdens."
~Native American Proverb

Michelle Dippel is an archaeologist and environmental permitting manager working in the natural gas pipeline industry in Houston, Texas.  Michelle received her bachelor's degree in Archeological Studies and her master's degree in Anthropology from the University of Texas at Austin. She currently serves on the Steering Committee for the United Way Campaign for her company, and has served on the Board of Directors of the Heart of Texas Chapter of the Women in Transportation Seminar. Michelle has served on various commissions for the City of Buda, the City of Fort Worth, and is a graduate of the Leadership Austin 2007 class. She has captained an American Cancer Society's Relay for Life team for three years and “Team Dippel” has been one of the top 10 fundraisers for the event all three years. She also volunteers for the science program at her son's school. When she isn't working or spending time with her son, Michelle runs as often as she can, reads as much as she can, and plays golf as well as she can (not very well). Michelle's interest in the founding of the SSLF originated in her own experiences as a widow and her desire to make the tragedy of dealing with grief and loss more manageable and less lonely for others. Michelle lives in Houston, Texas with her awesome son, Grayson.

"We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face...we must do that which we think we cannot."
~Eleanor Roosevelt

Patience Worrel is an attorney with the Texas Senate in Austin, Texas. A native Austinite, she graduated from the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Houston Law Center. Patience served as vice president of community service for Austin Junior Forum and as public relations chair for the group's major yearly fundraiser, Christmas at the Caswell House, in 2006. She is currently a member of the American Society of Legislative Clerks and Secretaries and vice chair of the society's Roster Committee. Patience's interest in helping to create support resources for widows stems in part from her personal experience with her mother, who was widowed twice. When not enduring a legislative session in Austin, she likes to travel and aspires to see a least a bit of each continent.

"My idea of good company is the company of clever, well-informed people who have a great deal of conversation; that is what I call good company."
~  Jane Austen