2010's Top Movers and Shakers

Here is my list of 2010's top movers and shakers! (Or 2010's coolest people.)

1. Michelle Millman

I have volunteered with the Puget Sound affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure for many years. A year ago, they came to Seattle University, where I was a senior, to have a booth at the breast cancer awareness women's basketball game. That's where I was introduced to Michelle Millman.

Michelle's day job is being an anchor and reporter for KIRO 7 Eyewitness News here in Seattle. By night, she puts on her sparkly pink cape and fights breast cancer. From the first time we met, I knew that she was a fighter.

I have heard many stories of women battling this disease, but I found Michelle's particularly interesting, as it was her job to be on television in front of millions of people. (Yup, you have MILLIONS of fans, Michelle!) I have had the honor of watching Michelle (both on television, over twitter, and the occasional in-person chat) as she has rocked radiation, conquered chemo, and mastered a double mastectomy!

She's been back on television for a while now, rocking the cutest short hair I've ever seen!

2. Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker

Nancy Goodman Brinker is the Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. An excerpt from her biography on the Komen website:

In 2010, Brinker released her New York Times best-selling memoir Promise Me, an inspirational story of her transformation from bereaved sister to the undisputed leader of the ongoing international movement to end brease cancer. She was named one of TIME magazine’s “100 Most Influential People” in 2008. From 2001-2003, she served as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Hungary and most recently served as U.S. Chief of Protocol from 2007-2009 where she was responsible for overseeing all protocol matters for visiting heads of state and presidential travel abroad. In 2008, President George W. Bush appointed her to The Kennedy Center Board of Trustees.

She has received numerous accolades for her work, including the prestigious Mary Woodard Lasker Award for Public Service, the Trumpet Foundation’s President’s Award, the Independent Women’s Forum Barbara K. Olson Woman of Valor Award, the Champions of Excellence Award presented by the Centers for Disease Control, the Porter Prize presented by the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, the Forbes Trailblazer Award, Ladies Home Journal's 100 Most Important Women of the 20th Century andBiography Magazine's 25 Most Powerful Women in America.

As a soon-to-be 7-time participant in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure event, Ambassador Brinker is a true inspiration to me. I am very involved with the Puget Sound affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and I am very blessed to have had the staff there give me a copy of Ambassador Brinker's book, Promise Me. She even personalized it and signed it for me!

To be continued...