Cheryl Svensson is an experienced GAB instructor who worked directly with James Birren for many years. Cheryl has taught college courses in the Autobiographical Studies Program at the University of Southern California’s (USC) School of Gerontology. After the training, you’ll be well-qualified to teach the proven GAB method that is recognized throughout the world.

Contact her for more information: cheryl.svensson@gmail.com or 949.413.8704

Sarah White is a Birren Center GAB Instructor Trainer who teaches the Birren workshops "Find Your Students, Fill Your Classes" and "Shaking the Family Tree." A personal historian, book coach, and freelance writer, Sarah helps individuals, families, and organizations preserve life stories in written form. She has taught Guided Autobiography workshops online and in person since 2004. Sarah also serves as Interim Executive Director of the Birren Center and has been active in curriculum development, communications, and community programming. To learn more about Sarah, visit her website at www.firstpersonprod.com.

You may contact her for more information at sarah@thebirrencenter.org or 608-347-7329.

Heidi Thorsen is a Birren Center GAB Instructor Trainer who has a lifetime career in education. As an Educator, Heidi has taught elementary through adult education over the span of 40 years. She has worked extensively in curriculum development, administration, and classroom engagement. Heidi transitioned to teaching GAB classes in 2015 and has taught GAB classes in her home, online, 1-week workshops, and Internationally. To learn more about Heidi, visit her website at www.tyememoirs.com.

Contact her for more information: tyememoirwriting@gmail.com or 360.621.3542.

Sheri Kohlmann formed her company, More Than Words, Inc. after being inspired by her own family’s legacy and by the clients she met while working at a Southern California estate planning law firm. She has served as a Director for an international nonprofit organization and strategized with churches in the area of generosity. Sheri became a GAB Facilitator in 2010 and has led hundreds through the process. To learn more about Sheri, visit her website at www.morethanwordsinc.com.

You may contact her for more information at sheri@morethanwordsinc.com or at 714.420.5092.

Steve has been a teacher his entire adult life, having taught every grade level from 3rd through graduate students. Following his retirement as a university professor, Steve worked for the Central Minnesota Council on Aging as the Healthy Aging Coordinator. In this role he created the Central Minnesota Coalition to End Social Isolation and Loneliness. A central focus was his becoming a certified GAB teacher and leading classes through the Whitney Senior Center as well as the Central Minnesota Dementia Community Action Network. His modification of GAB for individuals living with early-stage dementia was shared at national and international conferences and published in The International Journal of Reminiscence and Life Review. In 2023, two of his former students compiled GAB stories from his class participants in Memories and Musing: An Anthology of by Vintage Minnesotans. Steve lives in central Minnesota with his wife and their two dogs.

Leigh Morrow, a Birren Center GAB Instructor Trainer, has worked three decades in broadcast journalism reporting from her home in Canada and from around the globe. As an award-winning investigative journalist in both Television and Radio, she learned the art of telling people’s stories. Now as a GAB Instructor she is a natural guide to help students tell their own stories, and as a mentor for those wishing to become instructors. Leigh teaches Gab 1 and has created a curriculum for GAB 2 and GAB 3 for students who wish to continue writing their narratives. She also offers special workshops on The Art of the Micro- Memoir and Publishing Your Life Story.

You can find out more about Leigh at www.thestoryguides.com She can be reached at morrowreports@shaw.ca

Lily Bengfort, a Birren Center GAB Instructor Trainer and instructor since 2019, blends a rich storytelling expertise and business leadership background in her teaching approach. Beginning her radio and newspaper reporting career, Lily mastered the art of connection through storytelling. Her journey then led her into technology entrepreneurship, where she earned recognition as an award-winning CEO.

With a passion for helping others narrate their life stories, Lily guides students through the reflective and expressive journey of Guided Autobiography (GAB). She ensures students find and articulate their unique voices, creating deeply personal and meaningful storytelling experiences. Holding both a BA in English and an MBA, Lily integrates her love for language with strategic insight, making the process of crafting life stories both creative and impactful.

In collaboration with Leigh Morrow, Lily offers students a comprehensive learning experience, from foundational GAB courses to specialized workshops, including "The Art of the Micro-Memoir."

For more information about upcoming courses and workshops, Lily can be reached at lily@mystoryguides.com. You can also find out more about Lily at https://thestoryguides.com