Grinding away 80 hour work-weeks as a certified public accountant, Pevateaux had a defining moment in her life. “One rare evening, I went to meet friends for dinner to ‘get away’ from the stress of work. My friends took one look at me and said I looked terrible – drained, sleepless and stressed. That was a defining moment in my life. I knew right then and there I had a choice to make a change and live life to the fullest,” said Pevateaux.

With an impressive 25 years of dance performance and instruction, combined with her endless drive and enthusiasm, Pevateaux is in her 13^th year owning dance studios. Because of her accomplishments and perseverance, Lisa Pevateaux is Denver’s “Dream Achiever.”

“A ‘Dream Achiever’ is a woman who rejected the status quo and refocused her life to reflect her passion,” shared Michelle Hare from State Farm Marketing. “She is a woman who takes chances, follows her heart and believes in empowering others.”

Together is a six-city tour convening women across generations and backgrounds for evenings filled with storytelling focused on creating community, well-being, purpose and action. State Farm is a primary sponsor of the tour and will honor a Dream Achiever in each city.

“The Together tour is about bringing women together to celebrate love, build community and take action. Through storytelling, Together aims to help people feel less alone in their lives,” said Jennifer Rudolph Walsh, who leads WME’s Literary Division and is producing the tour. “Our work with State Farm to honor Dream Achievers is the ultimate culmination of the Together mission. Lisa is inspiring and courageous -- a true example of what it means to live in your purpose and follow your dreams.”

More than 2,000 women gathered at the Keller Auditorium for friendship, empowerment, and action. Core speakers included Glennon Doyle Melton, Seane Corn, Dr. Jacqui Lewis and Valarie Kaur, with celebrity guest appearances from Abby Wambach and Geena Rocero.

“Together is a movement bringing new ideas, influencers, and organizations together,” shared Hare. “Lisa is the epitome of a Dream Achiever. She personifies what we hope for all the women attending the Together tour.”

Listening and responding to the one moment that defines your dreams may be all it takes. “I got excited about all of the possibilities that could be created in an environment that was constantly nurtured and enriched through amazing programs and people. My defining moment pushed me toward my dreams,” said Pevateaux.

One day, during a rare dinner gathering with friends, Lisa received an awakening. Her friends stared at her and delivered an honest assessment. They remarked that she looked terrible, drained, stressed, and altogether unhappy. Some would have been hurt by that comment, but not Lisa.

“That was a defining moment in my life. I knew right then and there that I had a CHOICE to make a change and live life to the fullest, or continue on suffering through stress,” Lisa explained.

Today, Lisa has achieved her dreams and owns two dance studios in the greater Denver area. Additionally, she founded Camp Telaphiba, a local summer dance retreat, as well as other student-led philanthropic initiatives.

“I am so thankful for all of the wonderful people who have walked through our doors at Elite Dance Academy and Camp Telaphiba,” shared Lisa. ”It makes me so happy to see all of our dancers and their families with smiles on their faces. And I’m so thankful for my defining moment.”

Lisa Pevateaux took a chance, rejected the status quo and followed her heart. Now her life reflects her passion for entrepreneurship and dance. She is a Dream Achiever.

After lots of hard work, Adriana learned English and diligently climbed up the career ladder. In five years, she was a plant supervisor learning everything from operating the machines, quality control and digitizing, to management skills.

When Adriana decided to be a stay-at-home mom, she soon realized she wanted to put her skills and 13 years of experience to good use while taking care of her daughters.

So she took a chance. With a small budget, she created an Etsy store selling customized children’s apparel.

Early success turned into stagnant client growth. She thought about closing the shop. With little motivation to continue, Adriana came across some interesting social posts. One of the posts was about a Latin American Association (LAA) women’s program.

Adriana soon joined the LAA program, and it was a wake-up call. The program, which is supported by State Farm, opened her eyes to available resources, smart business practices and methodologies. She received professional guidance and a push to keep trying. She then created Georgia Stitch. It is a family-owned business specializing in embroidering uniforms, apparel and spirit wear for businesses and individuals.

“With the support of the Latin American Association, I was able to gain knowledge that allowed me to re-launch my business,” shared Adriana. “These types of programs are a huge resource to the community thanks to companies like State Farm and others.”

Her goal is to make Georgia Stitch the place where companies’ and individuals’ ideas can be transformed into embroidery, screen printing, vinyl and more. Adriana took a chance, rejected the status quo and followed her heart. Now her life reflects her passion for entrepreneurship. She is a Dream Achiever.

Andrade-Jenkins immigrated from Mexico in 1998 in search of a better life. With some knowledge in the embroidery industry and no English skills, she fortunately landed a job, in Georgia, at a uniform apparel company.

After years of hard work and dedication, Andrade-Jenkins not only learned English but also diligently climbed-up the career ladder. In five years, she became a plant supervisor. Soon after she became a mother and left the work force.

As a stay-at-home mom, she realized she wanted to put her skills and years of experience to use. Andrade-Jenkins created a store in Etsy with a small budget. Early success led to stagnant client growth; she thought about closing the shop.

Andrade-Jenkins decided to join the Latin American Association Women's Program and she got the push she needed. She received professional guidance and took a risk and started her new venture, Georgia Stitch, an embroidery company that caters to businesses and individuals.

“A ‘Dream Achiever’ is a woman who rejected the status quo and refocused her life to reflect her passion, just like Adriana did,” shared Michelle Hare from State Farm Marketing. “She is a woman who takes chances, follows her heart and believes in empowering others.”

Together is a six-city tour convening women across generations and backgrounds for six nights of storytelling focused on creating community, well-being, purpose and action. State Farm is a primary sponsor of the tour and will honor a Dream Achiever at each stop along the Together tour.

“The Together tour is about bringing women together to celebrate love, build community and take action. Through storytelling, Together aims to help people feel less alone in their lives,” said Jennifer Rudolph Walsh, who leads WME’s Literary Division and is producing the tour. “Our work with State Farm to honor Dream Achievers is the ultimate culmination of the Together mission. Sabrina Lamb is inspiring and courageous -- a true example of what it means to live in your purpose and follow your dreams.”

“Together is a movement bringing new ideas, influencers, and organizations together,” shared Hare. “Adriana is the epitome of a Dream Achiever. She personifies what we hope for all the women attending the Together tour.”

Lamb is the founding chief executive officer of the World of Money, a leading provider of financial education to youth in the Tri-State Area.

After conducting some research on the subject, Lamb found the answer to her question was a resounding “no”. So, after affirming the detrimental effects of this knowledge gap, she leveraged her network as a media personality and love of empowering children to create World of Money.

Since 2005, Lamb has been empowering youth by providing them an engaged, professional quality financial education. These accomplishments and her continued work inspiring youth is why Lamb was honored on the Together stage as New York’s “Dream Achiever.

“A ‘Dream Achiever’ is a woman who rejected the status quo and refocused her life to reflect her passion,” shared Michelle Hare from State Farm Marketing. “She is a woman who takes chances, follows her heart and believes in empowering others.”

Together is a six-city tour convening women across generations and backgrounds for six nights of storytelling focused on creating community, well-being, purpose and action. State Farm is a primary sponsor of the tour and will honor a Dream Achiever at each stop along the Together tour.

“The Together tour is about bringing women together to celebrate love, build community and take action. Through storytelling, Together aims to help people feel less alone in their lives,” said Jennifer Rudolph Walsh, who leads WME’s Literary Division and is producing the tour. “Our work with State Farm to honor Dream Achievers is the ultimate culmination of the Together mission. Sabrina Lamb is inspiring and courageous -- a true example of what it means to live in your purpose and follow your dreams.”

More than 2,000 women gathered at BAM Howard Gilman Opera House in Brooklyn for friendship, empowerment, and action. Core speakers included Glennon Doyle Melton, Seane Corn, Dr. Jacqui Lewis and Valarie Kaur, with celebrity guest appearances from Abby Wambach and Geena Rocero.

“Together is a movement bringing new ideas, influencers, and organizations together,” shared Hare. “Sabrina is the epitome of a Dream Achiever. She personifies what we hope for all the women attending the Together tour.”

Solo performer and author Sabrina Lamb heard this question at a financial planning seminar. She conducted a little research and learned the answer was a definitive ‘no’. Understanding the problems a lack of financial education causes, Sabrina jumped into action. Leveraging her background, experience, and love of children, she created, World of Money, in 2005.

World of Money (WOM) is a New York City-based non-profit whose mission is to empower youth through the engaged, local delivery of professional quality financial education.

With Sabrina’s leadership and State Farm financial support, WOM has strengthened its commitment to providing children and families day-to-day tools for enhancing their financial capability.

Since 2005, more than 3,000 youth, ages seven to 18, have received the necessary financial foundation to break a generational cycle of poverty. WOM helps to change the way youth view money by equipping them with the tenets for a financially responsible and philanthropic life: learn, earn, invest and donate.

“Our main goal is to enhance the lives of underrepresented children and young adults in the immediate New York City area,” shared Sabrina.

Sabrina took a chance, rejected the status quo and followed her heart. Now her life reflects her passion for helping and empowering youth. She is a Dream Achiever.

Reveca, 13, the oldest of the four kids, tried to get up and help her family but she couldn’t move. Everyone else was okay but she had a fractured spine. She was paralyzed.

After months of rehabilitation, Reveca returned to high school. She didn’t let her injury stop her from going after her dreams. After graduation, she attended college and received a fashion degree.

In 2009, Reveca left her career in fashion design to address a need. She started Backbones, a Chicago-based nonprofit that connects thousands of individuals with spinal cord injury or disease (SCI/D) and their families with others to learn, teach and share experiences. The organization also raises awareness about life in a wheelchair.

“I realized the importance of a strong support system after I connected with other people with similar injuries,” Reveca shared. “Those relationships can grow your confidence and motivation; they did for me. And I want others to have that experience through Backbones.”

Reveca took a chance, rejected the status quo and followed her heart. Now her life reflects her passion for helping and empowering others. She is a Dream Achiever.

A quadriplegic since 13, Torres knows how to adapt to what life throws at her. Torres, 35, is the founder of Backbones, a Chicago nonprofit that connects individuals with spinal cord injury or disease (SCI/D) and their families with others to learn, teach and share experiences. Torres was honored on the Together stage in Chicago for her dedication and hard work today.

In 2009, Torres left her career path in fashion design and took a chance to make her passion for helping others come true. She started an organization that helps thousands of individuals with SCI/D and raises awareness about what life in a wheelchair is really like. Because of her accomplishments and perseverance, Torres is Chicago’s “Dream Achiever.”

“A ‘Dream Achiever’ is a woman who rejected the status quo and refocused her life to reflect her passion,” shared Michelle Hare from State Farm Marketing. “She is a woman who takes chances, follows her heart and believes in empowering others.”

Together is a six-city tour convening women across generations and backgrounds for evenings filled with storytelling focused on creating community, well-being, purpose and action. State Farm is a primary sponsor of the tour and will honor a Dream Achiever in each city.

“The Together tour is about bringing women together to celebrate love, build community and take action. Through storytelling, Together aims to help people feel less alone in their lives,” said Jennifer Rudolph Walsh, who leads WME’s Literary Division and is producing the tour. “Our work with State Farm to honor Dream Achievers is the ultimate culmination of the Together mission. Reveca is inspiring and courageous -- a true example of what it means to live in your purpose and follow your dreams.”

More than 2,000 women gathered at the Keller Auditorium for friendship, empowerment, and action. Core speakers included Glennon Doyle Melton, Seane Corn, Dr. Jacqui Lewis and Valarie Kaur, with celebrity guest appearances from Abby Wambach and Geena Rocero.

“Together is a movement bringing new ideas, influencers, and organizations together,” shared Hare. “Reveca is the epitome of a Dream Achiever. She personifies what we hope for all the women attending the Together tour.”

Torres had misgivings about starting the nonprofit, at first. As an artist, she worried she might lose her creativity. Turns out following her passion and starting the organization may be the most creative and important thing she’s done yet.

Dr. Davidds knew her mother had the strength, she just had not found it. So, Dr. Davidds made it her life’s mission to help other women find their strength.

Dr. Davidds is the founder and CEO of the Latina Global Executive Leadership and Entrepreneur Institute at the University of Southern California (USC). It is a unique leadership development program that addresses the sociocultural realities of today's emerging corporate Latina leaders and helps them reach their full potential.

With an undergraduate business degree from the USC, a master’s degree in women’s studies from San Diego State University, and her doctoral degree from USC, Dr. Davidds inspires women across the globe to take control of their lives, education and dreams.

She believes in empowering women to be leaders. And she has had help along the way too. She is a graduate of Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE) Latina Leadership Institute. The goal of the institute is to train Latinas in leadership and advocacy skills, allowing them to create vital change across California.

“HOPE has had a profound impact on my leadership identity and my life. First, serving on their board of directors for 10 years taught me the true sense of sisterhood,” shared Davidds. “HOPE’s Leadership Institute curriculum elevated my competencies as a community and civic leader and instilled a sense of pride of being Latina.”

HOPE and Dr. Davidds have helped create positive change in California, encouraging young women to graduate high school, go to college, be leaders in their community and promote civic engagement. State Farm has supported HOPE for nearly 20 years.

“The pipeline of Latina leadership in California HOPE has developed is impressive and I am extremely proud to be a product of their hard work and dedication,” Dr. Davidds continued. “The advocacy skills the Institute taught me enabled me to create fundamental change within my community, my business and those I lead.”

Dr. Davidds took a risk, rejected the status quo and followed her heart. Now her life reflects her passion for helping and empowering others. She is a Dream Achiever.

In 2005, she co-founded Financial Beginnings and started delivering financial classes to schools. In addtion, Bell revived the Oregon Jump$tart Coalition in 2008 and helped develop new statewide education standards that include financial literacy as a Social Science Core Standard.

These accomplishments and her continued work teaching young adults about the importance of financial planning is why Bell was honored on the Together stage as Portland’s “Dream Achiever.”

“A ‘Dream Achiever’ is a woman who rejected the status quo and refocused her life to reflect her passion,” shared Michelle Hare from State Farm Marketing. “She is a woman who takes chances, follows her heart and believes in empowering others.”

Together is a six-city tour convening women across generations and backgrounds for evenings filled with storytelling focused on creating community, well-being, purpose and action. State Farm is a primary sponsor of the tour and will honor a Dream Achiever in each city.

“The Together tour is about bringing women together to celebrate love, build community and take action. Through storytelling, Together aims to help people feel less alone in their lives,” said Jennifer Rudolph Walsh, who leads WME’s Literary Division and is producing the tour. “Our work with State Farm to honor Dream Achievers is the ultimate culmination of the Together mission. Melody Bell is inspiring and courageous -- a true example of what it means to live in your purpose and follow your dreams.”

More than 2,000 women gathered at the Keller Auditorium for friendship, empowerment, and action. Core speakers included Glennon Doyle Melton, Seane Corn, Dr. Jacqui Lewis and Valarie Kaur, with celebrity guest appearances from Abby Wambach and Geena Rocero.

“Together is a movement bringing new ideas, influencers, and organizations together,” shared Hare. “Melody is the epitome of a Dream Achiever. She personifies what we hope for all the women attending the Together tour.”

In her next career role she helped people who had fallen behind on their financial obligations and save for retirement. But deep down, she felt she could do more. She wanted to help people before they fell into economic hardship.

Melody realized sound financial decisions are a result of early education. Unfortunately, the majority of the people she encountered did not have that education and were not equipped to make those important decisions. They not only struggled to make ends meet, but often were forced to put dreams and life goals on hold.

In 2005 Melody took a leap of faith. She left her secure job to start Financial Beginnings (FB).The non-profit provides unbiased, personal financial education to young people.

In 2015, the organization reached more than 34,000 youth and adults in Oregon and Washington. FB shares its financial literacy curriculum with 151 schools and 56 community organizations across both states.

Melody didn’t stop there. She revived the Oregon Jump$tart Coalition and took part in creating statewide financial education standards. Today, financial literacy is a Social Science Core Standard in Oregon.

Melody took a chance, rejected the status quo and followed her heart. Now her life reflects her passion for helping and empowering others. She is a Dream Achiever.