Judi Valentine – Bio for CFU Newsletter
Judith Valentine, PhD, CNA, CNC
CFU Volunteer, Support Marketing
Judi Valentine shares her story, and as a talented author, you will see telling stories is one of the things she does best! This is what her early experience has been, and it seems like quite a testimonial that she has chosen to join our CFU team! We feel very lucky to have her. Judi relates:
"My good fortune began In 2015 when The Urantia Book practically fell into my hands at a Portland, Oregon bookstore, the famous Powell’s City of Books. I had left my home in coastal Maine for the coast of Oregon on a writing retreat to work on my first adventure novel for young readers, The Crystal Chain.
"Fellow writer, Jewell, and I took a side trip into the city. What writer doesn’t love to visit a bookstore, or library, in every town? While I drifted around the amazing Powell’s, I was spirited to the massive section on Spirituality when I saw a book sticking out a little from the shelf. I sat down with it right away ogling every word written about God’s creation, our multiverse-cosmos. It was a good half hour before Jewell dragged me away for lunch.
"That day The Urantia Book was too heavy to bring home, but I quickly ordered a copy, and went on to read the Papers in no particular order, and then over the years, took many courses sponsored by Urantia Foundation. Respect and gratitude to the Foundation for its many educational programs and enlightening Spotlights.
"Recently, The Center For Unity asked me to come on board to support marketing efforts for their many impressive projects. Every day it gives me a thrill to work with our brilliant, hard-working teams as we develop effective ways to reach more and more brothers and sisters here on Urantia.
"What can I offer CFU?—you may ask. Well, I’m glad you did because Susan wants me to give you a rundown of my background, and I hope it’s more informative than boring. If you turn sleepy, feel free to leave the screen anytime. Although I hope after your nap, you’ll come back and read more.
"As you’ll see, like many of you I’ve spent years in time and space accumulating knowledge and experience which I’m delighted to share. My career began in the 1970s, and with both parents small business owners, I organically rolled in that direction. Since then, I’ve been blessed with a series of amazing opportunities. Soon out of school, I was hired by a small law firm in Portland, Maine, by two young attorneys who’d just graduated law school. My hiring was unusual because I didn’t know how to type nor did I take shorthand, but thanks to my parents’ businesses, I could run a small office. Being visionary, smart lawyers they said, “no problem, you’ll walk up the road to business school every day on your lunch hour for typing and speed writing classes.” Over time the firm became busier, and we grew together with me as the receptionist, typist of long legal briefs (before e-typewriters), a bookkeeper, gal Friday, how to be a law clerk, and sometimes lobbyist on state legislative matters. How lucky was that?
"Valuable learning opportunities continued to find me—including later, ownership of two small businesses where I learned accounting, sales and marketing, and later on, even learned to run larger business entities as operations director of the State of Maine Office of Energy Resources, finance director of the Portland Maine Metro system, then as sales and marketing director for a large Maine home builder.
"This went on—exciting positions, well loved, learning a lot—until the early 1990s when my husband and I moved to Washington D.C. to fulfill his political appointments to the U.S. Senate and the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration). For me, excitement grew as I got to leave Maine for the BIG CITY.
"After moving to D.C. I responded to an ad from a market research firm and went to work as their operations director. This is the company that did, and still does, the polling for NBC news, and is where I learned about the world of research and the best ways to glean and assess popular opinion. While living in D.C., I also witnessed a federal government that actually balanced the Federal Budget, which hadn’t happened since 1969 and hasn’t happened since.
"After several years living in D.C., I decided to follow a long-time passion for health and wellness and apply the science of human nutrition to healthy living. After receiving an M.S. and Ph.D. in nutrition science, I later specialized in the clinical assessment of blood labs from a nutritional perspective. Twenty years as a clinical nutritionist allowed me to help adults, families, and kids achieve healthier lives. Along the way, a side business in network marketing offered clients access to healthier skin care and cosmetics.
"Twelve years ago, we decided to return home to my original world of youthful imagination and I was soon drawn yet to another career. One as an author of wholesome novels for young readers. It’s satisfying to realize that my six novels have led readers to feel young again. For me, writing offers a chance to create stories about love, friendship and courage, and the adventure of standing up for what’s right. Much like what I learned reading The Urantia Book in 2015."
Editor's Note: Judi has been very helpful serving as a copy editor / proof-reader for the CFU Newsletter, Behind the Scenes, for several months now, in addition to her other responsibilities.
Judi has written several other books for young adults, in addition to The Crystal Chain, including The Lost Treasure, available on Amazon.com.