Lora Conrad is next on my list of inspirational women in my life. I remember when she hired me for my first job in education. Even though I’m sure I didn’t make a very confident first impression, she still took a chance on me. Lora, on the other hand, is one of the smartest (she’s like a genius!), and most-confident women I’ve ever known. I got to visit her, and her equally smart husband, in Iowa this past summer where they have both retired. I got to see a completely different side of her during this visit. On one hand, she’s this high-powered career woman who is able to intimidate anyone she meets; and on the other hand, she’s a soft-hearted lady who loves her husband, animals (especially horses), and the land. This woman taught me how to be strong when facing life’s adversities, because I was definitely going through some learning experiences when I worked for her! She’s also one of the hardest-working women I know and I admire her tremendously for her strength. Thank you Dr. Conrad, for being such a strong example in my life. Oh, she’s also an avid nature photographer!