Life and Work with Teddi Lynn Covey von Pingel

Today we’d like to introduce you to Teddi Lynn Covey von Pingel.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I am a native of Arizona – born in Globe, Arizona (home of the most delicious Mexican food!). I am the oldest of seven children, with five brothers and one precious sister. My journey is non-traditional and at times, meandering. Right after high school graduation, I moved to Los Angeles, CA to attend fashion design school. I was 17-years old and determined to put my passion for art and clothing to good use. However, I quickly figured out that LA wasn’t for me – I was too young, too inexperienced, and too far away from home. I returned to Arizona and transferred to another school to continue working in Fashion Design. It was a slow process and when I was 21, I decided to serve a volunteer mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I was asked to learn American Sign Language (ASL) and work with the Deaf communities in North Carolina and Georgia. I didn’t know at the time, that this one decision changed my life path in ways I would be discovering for the next 30 years. I was immediately immersed in ASL and the Deaf community – a rich linguistic and cultural group. After I completed my mission, I went on to interpret in Arizona, Tennessee, Washington DC and back to Arizona, my home.

In 2006, my husband and I moved to Salt Lake City, Utah area with our three young children. I was working as a Video Relay Service interpreter for Sorenson Communications and transferred to the new location. I continued interpreting in a variety of settings, including a dedicated interpreter for a Deaf doctor in residency. In 2012, I was hired as a mentor for the Video Relay Service Interpreting Institute (VRSII) and another turn in the road began. I lOVED being a mentor! The VRSII had a School to Work program where recent college graduates would come for an intensive three-month program, onsite in SLC. I was responsible for mentoring them through the experience and in preparation for taking the national certification test for interpreters.

Since those beginning years with VRSII, I have mentored over 100 interpreters and the common challenge, outside of language acquisition and fluency, is self-confidence. I found a secondary passion – to help others build their belief in themselves and find the tools to quiet the negative self-talk in their head. I developed workshops that would extend this dialogue beyond the VRSII participants and included my local interpreting community. I then took it to other states and have continued to refine and develop an approach that allows each person to take their own approach to improve self-confidence.

In 2017, I started working with Family Fusion in Mesa, as part of their Liminal Retreat team. I took my years of experience mentoring interpreters and applied it to general life and women in all types of life journeys that want to feel empowered and confident. I have traveled with Family Fusion to support retreats in Park City, Utah, Juarez, Mexico, and back home in Mesa, Arizona. I love giving back to those I work with and the greatest joy I experience is seeing them embrace who they are and who they can be… when they feel empowered and confident.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Life is never smooth, but it does lead us where we need to be. One of the biggest challenges for me was trying to get the education to give me the knowledge and credentials to be an educator. I had taken classes sporadically through 20 years. However, I was raising kids and working with little time for ‘me’. In 2012, I returned to school part-time and was able to complete an associates degree in 2013, a bachelors’ degree in 2014, a master’s degree in 2015 and am currently enrolled in an educational doctorate program that I will complete in 2019. So, in seven short years, a dream I thought would never happen became a reality… and then some! I never imagined myself with a doctorate degree until I stepped on that path. It is hard. It requires sacrifice and discipline but it is not without anyone’s reach. Education has allowed me to broaden my perspectives and be exposed to other ways of thinking and seeing the world – that benefits me in all aspects of life.

My advice for young women – you can have it all, but maybe not all at once or in the order, you have decided. Be open to the journey and where life takes you. Never accept the idea that you are an ‘imposter’ and don’t know what you are doing. Life experience is valid and principles of truth are everywhere – find them! Being confident doesn’t mean bullying, being egotistical, or looking down on others. It does mean knowing who you are, being your own best cheerleader and constantly working to stay balanced in spirit, heart, and mind.

Please tell us about your work.
My current position in Sorenson Communications is a Leadership Development Specialist in the Corporate Learning and Development Department. I am designing and implementing a company-wide leadership program based on both lean and rich skills that are needed to manage people… not just things. Out program will embody principles found in the work of Brene Brown, Stephen Covey, and many others. I’m excited to see which managers will be a ‘first adopter’ in embracing these principles of people over processes. I want to inspire managers to see the potential in others and grow employee strengths, thereby also growing their own skills.

I believe my strengths to lie with people and soft skills. I was raised by a great example – my Dad. He was a chiropractor in a small town. He would post inspirational quotes every week on a large signboard outside his office. Driving through our town, you could read these small truths and reminders and in fact, people still talk about those times when Covey Chiropractic was a permanent fixture of inspiration in the town. My Dad was great with people – going out of his way to shake hands, introduce himself and make people feel comfortable. He often bartered with patients that couldn’t afford his services and he never turned anyone away that couldn’t pay. One of my fondest memories was our kitchen counters at Christmastime – covered in tamales, baked goods, fruits, nuts, candy… all gifts of gratitude from those he served. I aspire to be like him.

There’s a wealth of academic research that suggests that lack of mentors and networking opportunities for women has materially affected the number of women in leadership roles. Smart organizations and industry leaders are working to change this, but in the meantime, do you have any advice for finding a mentor and building a network?
I believe that anyone can be a mentor, truly! You don’t have to have expertise in an area to mentor in that same area. What you do need is expertise in helping others find resources, tools, and what works for them. If you are looking for a mentor, start with your closest network – family and friends. Ask around. Find someone that embodies qualities that you want to emulate and ask them to mentor you. Give back to those that mentor – find a way to be reciprocal, even if it’s not monetarily. Be like my dad, barter!

I believe in accountability to yourself and others. Set regular meetings with your mentor and do the work that they suggest, even if at first, you’re not sure it will work. Be open and be ready to look inward. I believe in mentee-driven agendas for mentoring. If you don’t know what you need, don’t expect someone else to tell you! You have your own unique ways of assessing your inner and outer skills – be prepared to discuss those!

Contact Info:

• Address: c/o Family Fusion, Liminal Retreat
  252 N Stapley Dr
  Mesa, AZ 85203
• Website: http://www.teddivonpingel.com
• Phone: 480-205-8508
• Email: tlvonpingel@gmail.com
• Instagram: tlvonpingel
• Facebook: Teddi Lynn Covey von Pingel

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