Sue Trombino, Founder
When Sue created Woman Impacting the Nation (W.I.N.) in the fall of 2008, she felt called to make a difference. Her passion for empowering people with God’s truth and her strong love of America are the principles on which the foundation of W.I.N. is built. Both are the driving force behind Sue’s tireless passion to make a difference.
Sue was born in Caracas, Venezuela and she proudly declares that she was able to choose to be an American citizen. Sue earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education and a minor in languages from Florida Southern College, where she played volleyball and basketball for four years. She and husband Michael have been married twenty-five years and have one son, Michael, who is in college.
Growing up overseas in Central and South America, Africa, Europe and Asia has given Sue a deep appreciation and love for America and the Judeo-Christian principles upon which our country was founded. The Armed Services are also a source of great pride for Sue, as her father, mother and brother each served our country with honor.
W.I.N. seeks to inform, inspire and initiate response from woman of all backgrounds. W.I.N. provides resources, information and biblical knowledge to anyone seeking to take personal responsibility for their freedoms and to be accountable to God’s word in their actions. “Seek God’s wisdom on the issues and do your due diligence,” encourages Sue. Sue is on the advisory board of Florida Pastors Faith & Works, and on the board of Liberty Counsel Action.
Sue Trombino wants to embolden every Christian to be involved in the political process at any level. You will often hear her say, “What does God say?” as she speaks to various organizations, groups and individuals across the country. W.I.N. has been created to answer that very question for all who seek the truth.
“I feel so blessed to be an American, a mother, a business woman, a wife, a friend, a daughter, a sister and someone whom God has chosen to impact the lives of others. W.I.N. is God’s idea, founded on Godly values and driven by God’s word. Women can make a difference and women can impact the nation!”
Criss Bertling, Board Member
Criss is the Director of Communications at a mega church in South Florida. She is the mother of two adult children and two grandchildren. She spent many years in the legal field as a federal court reporter and the owner of a court reporting firm before moving into a 20-year public relations and marketing career. Criss oversees the women’s ministry at her church, where she plans special events, speaks to women’s groups, and counsels women in crisis. She is passionate about the U.S. Constitution and the principles upon which this nation was founded. She firmly believes that women make a difference in unnoticed ways everyday and that working together for the common cause of education and truth, we will W.I.N. – for this generation and generations to come.
Kari Scott, Board Member
Being born in Montana and raised just outside of Washington DC gave rise to Kari’s pride and awe of America. She is a graduate of Virginia Tech University with a BA in Communications. During college Kari founded her Kappa Delta sorority chapter and served as president for two years. Kari and her husband Chris have been married for 28 years, having first met in high school, and are the parents of two children.
Kari’s professional life has been in front of the camera and also behind the scenes. Her career highlights include working in broadcast news as an anchor, a reporter and a producer; as a special projects producer for an international company; organizing and running a women’s fitness program (River Fitness), and countless volunteer jobs. Her passion for fitness kept her involved in the fitness industry for over 26 years.
Kari is a writer and loves encouraging people both one on one and through her public speaking as well as her participation in organizations and causes she believes in. She emphasizes that her “. . .central focus has always been my children and my husband and my deep faith.” Kari is excited to be a part of making a difference and impacting lives through Women Impacting the Nation.
Sara Jane Swarthout, Board Member
Born in Panama, Sara has spent most of her life in the U.S. She has a Master’s Degree in Humanity and spent ten years as an instructor in Detroit at the community college and five years as an instructor in North Miami. Sara has spent the past 15 years working for Family Christian Stores – the perfect organization for such an avid reader and lover of books. She enjoys the arts, especially films, and spends many hours gardening, one of her favorite hobbies.
Sara has been married to Robert for 41 years; they have two children and one grandchild. She describes her husband as “politically savvy” and says that his knowledge and deep interest in our government and politics has stirred a passion in her to work with W.I.N. to “take back America, returning Christian values to our nation and our homes.”
Sara Tallbacka, Board Member
Sara, the mother of two and grandmother of four, graduated from Ohio University with a degree in Speech and Hearing Therapy, spending her career working with preschool children. She has been married for 44 years; her husband and son are both dentists and her daughter is a speech therapist. Today Sara works with mothers of newborns and serves on the Helps Team at her church, supplying meals to families in crisis.
Sara refers to herself as “a conservative patriot who believes America is the greatest country in the world because it was founded on Judeo-Christian values by people who based their beliefs on the Holy Bible, the written word of the living God.” Sara’s faith, her family and friends, and “keeping my country true to our Constitution” are the most important priorities in her life.
