Smith Lake Local - SPOTLIGHT - Catching up with CAROL BERRY of "Community with Carol"

Carol Berry, Smith Lake, Fall 2018 - Photographer: 3G Marketing

Smith Lake and Cullman resident Carol Berry - who was featured in our 2018 Quarter 2 Issue in the article “Changing Lives One at a Time, Restoring Women Outreach" - has recently begun a new venture in Cullman as a weekly contributor and columnist with local newspaper The Cullman Tribune writing a series named “Community with Carol" focusing on community awareness.

In addition, she will educate and inspire us through public speaking, posts on social media and her blog. You will find her featured on videos, local radio stations and television spots. We are very excited to announce that Carol will be reaching out to Smith Lake area residents with recurring spots in The Lakeside Life magazine and blog beginning at present and with a first article by early 2019.

Carol is married to Johnny Berry, and they are parents to 4 children, 3 grandchildren, and a beloved dog named Arnold. Most people who know Carol know that she puts God first in everything she does. In fact it is the first thing that you’ll know for certain about Carol. She is a very active member of her local Catholic church, but she is a Christian with a mission. 
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As a lifelong resident of Cullman County, Carol is passionate about her community and known as a positive force for charitable causes. She has owned and operated a successful local business as well as founding and directing the local nonprofit Restoring Women Outreach (RWO) which has been instrumental in changing so many lives in our area. One of the key contributions from that organization is the goal for those who are involved to give back to the community and promote good citizenship, and RWO has been successful in doing just that. Carol now has a platform to further that goal to a larger audience.

Carol Berry, Smith Lake, Fall 2018 - Photographer: 3G Marketing

Carol Berry, Smith Lake, Fall 2018 - Photographer: 3G Marketing

​During a recent political campaign, Carol became even more aware of local organizations and public service-minded individuals. This experience ignited her idea to share those type of encounters and interactions in more ways. She is interested in educating the community regarding current charitable and community endeavors, by personally introducing us to those organizations and individuals to discuss their missions, their services, their needs, and providing us with all the contact information necessary to get involved.  ​By showcasing nonprofits, she will help facilitate change by inviting contributions and/or volunteers, and generally motivating citizens to "get up, get out, and get involved."

​As The Cullman Times 2017 “Unsung Hero” award recipient, we have discovered that Carol lives her life as a definition of that title. Her demeanor is often described as soft-hearted, sweet-spirited, and never self-seeking. These attributes make her a sincere and motivating public speaker. On a myriad of topics, her delivery is candid, kind, funny, and determined. She will attack a topic with precision and conviction, displaying gumption, humor and soul, then closing with an upbeat and constructive message. She definitely enjoys encouraging others through God’s word.

Carol's comfort in public speaking makes her a perfect host for live and recorded interviews, so you will enjoy her companion videos on topics from her articles and blogs. She demonstrates a noticeable ease, gracefully guiding an interview allowing the subjects to tell their story passionately within a concise timeframe. Through this medium, she helps deliver a message in a relatable and respectful manner, often discussing uncomfortable topics with thoughtfulness and integrity, sharing the goals and passions of people and groups who want to bring about change, and doing it all while inspiring others to join in. 

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​​To keep up with everything “community” - catch up with Carol on her weekly column in The Cullman Tribune and on her social media sites:  Facebook @carolberrypublicspeaker and Instagram @carolberry_speaker. Do not hesitate to reach out to Carol if you need her to help promote positive community or charitable causes in your area, or if you need a motivational speaker for an event in your community, school, church, or business. She’s a true servant of the community, and ready for any challenge.  

Below are video links to some of Carol's first interviews through "Community with Carol" for The Cullman Tribune. (Click the video hyperlinks to access the Facebook videos).  You may also view these videos through The Cullman Tribune sites or Carol's Facebook page - click links above.  

• Video featuring Jerry Jacob with Grace Place
• Video featuring Dusty Baker with Cullman County Commission on Aging
• Video featuring Rachel Bryant with Karma in Cullman
• Video featuring Katie Murphree Loyd with Cullman's "St. Vincent de Paul"
• Video featuring Julie Hall with Cullman's "The Link of Cullman County"
• Video featuring Melissa Dew and Sharon Kane with Cullman's "Flourish of Cullman, Inc."
• Video featuring Kelsey Rice with Cullman's "Hope Horses, Inc."
• Video featuring Jeremy Hogan with Cullman's "Saving Forgotten Warriors"