Linda Hesthag Ellwein

Change Agent, Connector, Global soul, Idea generator, Marketer, Photographer, Producer, Project manager, Promoter, Writer/Editor

Linda is passionate about building bridges, dialogue and understanding. She believes kindness, listening, and compassion is at the heart of peace. This is her life's work. Linda's career has been centered on communication and working through change in cultures, communities and business. She works with tough questions - related to cultural and ideological divisions; managing change, conflicting belief systems and sustainability. Her work to create understanding between people and diversity in the American West earned her ËœFounder of a New Northwest" Award from Sustainable Northwest and the President's Council on Sustainable Development; and the 'Chief's Award for Outstanding Achievement' from the United States Forest Service, among others. Linda began her career in New York City, working for major advertising and public relations firms, managing campaigns and producing film, television and video, along with special events. She has managed a number of organizations, is the founder of Oikonomia, Inc., American West Roundtables, Idaho Roundtables, and the Mackay Cultural and Arts Council. Presently an independent contractor, Linda takes on projects in economic development, marketing and communications, change management, conflict resolution, photography/video, special events, and facilitation. When not consulting, she ranches in Mackay, Idaho, where she also has a photography studio and gallery, From the Saddle. Her work can be seen online at www.lhellwein.com. She is a frequent contributor to a number of national publications and currently working on a short video featuring immigrants. Linda was named first place Speaker's Choice winner at the annual Shooting the West Conference, receiving the award personally from William Albert Allard, senior staff photographer at National Geographic. Her work was shown recently in a one-person show in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Constructive dialogue, kindness, listening, civility, walking in your shoes, a-ha! moments, laughing, capturing images, coming up with more questions.

We might be wrong. Just because something feels or looks right doesn't mean it is right. The answers to our greatest challenges may lie in the last place we'd think to look.

Communicating across barriers, Conflict Resolution, Mediation, Entrepreneurial Development, Environmental and Land Management, Leading creative, collaborative, cross-disciplinary teams, Managing Change, Marketing Innovation, Producer, Rural Community Development, Team Alignment

putting on makeup while driving, gardening, breaking up fights, holistic management, driving in mud. Wish there was a 'People don't know I'm bad at.'