Type Of Business:
Nonprofit Entertainment, Therapy and Prayer Service
Marketing Area:
Northeastern Ohio, Western Pennsylvania
Major Product/SVS:
Volunteer Services for Special Needs Individuals, Delivery of 'Therapy Ducks' to Different Nursing Homes, County Fairs, Small Town Festivals, Parades and Private Parties, Monthly Publication of 'Duck Diaries' and 'Feather Letters' in The Country Critter Journal
Favorite Business Publication:
Bible; Charisma; The Country Critter Journal; Various Self-Study Publications Including: Computers, Spanish, Sign Language, Nursing and Dementia Topics
Hobbies/Sports:
Calling, Visiting, Serving, Writing, Singing and Praying with Women who Need Encouragement through her Ladies of Faith and Widows or Not Missions, Attending Local Country and Gospel Jams, Singing
Education Degrees:
Graduate Coursework in Special Education, Youngstown University; Graduate Coursework in Special Education, Cleveland State University; Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, Kent State University; Christian School Certification; Lay Speaking Certification; Certification in Student Pilot Skills, FCC
Affiliations Awards:
Founder, The Kings Kids, Northeastern OH, Western PA; Disc Jockey, Christian Radio Station; Home Deliverer, King's Kids Library; Have Ducks-Will Travel; Duck Creek Revival Center; Halo Home for Ducks; Halo Adoption Agency for Feathered Friends; Mentor, Women Winning Under God's Wings
Work History:
Writer, Feather Letters, The Country Critter Journal (2005); Have Ducks-Will Travel (1987); Teacher, Kindergarten through Third Grades, Public School (14 Years); Tutor, Kindergarten through Third Grades, Public School (14 Years); Teacher, Special Education, Christian Academy (2 Years); Sunday School Teacher, Junior Church; Sunday School Teacher, Kindergarten through 12th Grades, Vacation Bible School; Tutor, Kindergarten through Adults
Highlight of career?:
The most gratifying aspect of her career is making people smile and feel good about themselves by sharing her therapy ducks, whether in person or through Feather Letters. She would like for her most famous ducks, a Swedish Mallard named Drake, also known as 'Manna Bread of Heaven,' to help people become hungry for God's word and for 'Salty Quackers,' a Mallard duck also known as 'Princess Alexandria,' to help people become thirsty for Jesus. She also uses Goldie, a white Mallard known as the 'Duchess of Windsor Heights,' to remind people what it is like to be as white as snow once they are saved and forgiven by Jesus.
Charity:
Book Profit Donator, 'To Windsor with Love,' Windsor Elementary School, Windsor Historical Society; Faith and Community Church; The Country Critter Journal; State Troopers Athletic Fund; Paralyzed Veterans; Animal Protective League; Various Projects to Assist the Lonely, Rejected and the Needy
Number Of Years In Profession:
23
Number Of Years In Current Position:
20
What Does He/She Attribute Success To:
She attributes her success to her belief in Jesus Christ and her parents devotion to helping her overcome mental disabilities and repeated failures in every area of her life. She had a short attention span and her parents stressed for her to never give up on her dreams and to 'kiss the frogs in life' after being put in a special class for the learning disabled. They encouraged her to look for other girls sitting alone in the lunch room and make friends with them. As a result, she learned to encourage others to look upwards in their midst of failure and reach their daily goals one step at a time. What continues to help her get through her daily blunders and mistakes is the verse 'I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me' from Philippians 4:13.
How Did They Get Involved In Profession:
She became involved in her profession after being diagnosed with lupus and her husband suggested that she quit teaching and take care of her mother with cancer and herself. Remembering that her sister, Tina Sklenar Sweet, had died from lupus at the age of 27, Ms. Olah wanted to make the most of her life with a goal of 'Encouraging everyone she meets.' She still tutors, but has become more and more involved with raising and sharing her ducks and swans.
Extended Bio Profile:
Mrs. Olah is married with three children. Her husband, Ernest, is also known as 'Alexander the Greatest.' She proclaims that he is her better-half as well as a gift from God because of his love for people and his love for sports, history, the daily news and a host of trivia. He is constantly reading books, watching television, or on the phone with his favorite duck, Salty Quackers, also known as Princess Alexandria, sitting beside him. Ernest has an abundance of knowledge and a habit of striking up a conversation with anyone on any subject, which makes him the most unforgettable character in the world. Usually, he is found at a local restaurant with other retirees, comparing facts or visiting someone who is down on their luck and reaching out to help others feel the joy of friendship.
Mrs. Olah has and acronym for Joy, which is Jesus first, Others next and Yourself last. She also likes to share trivia about their family, their last name spelled backwards is Halo, reminding others that they have a holy purpose in their lives together. They also were married on April Fool's Day in 1977, which makes them 'fools for Christ.' Her son Eric works in maintenance and has a child named Kody, Brian is a construction foreman and Janal is a sales representative for an airline improvements company.
Mrs. Olah has many more books to come, included on the list are: Tikie-Tommy-Anna, A Thrill of a Lifetime, Fibbie's Farewell, White as Snow, Dorcas the Dove-like Duck, Stuck in the Mud, Sewing Salty Quakers, A Day at the Races, A Dunking Duck, From Soup to Quackers, From the Table to the Tub, From the Prison Cage, Words of my Father, Prayers from Verses, Brought to the Brink, My Father and His Word, Words of Encouragement, Life More Abundantly, August Wings of Faith, Behind the Swan Barn, Dirty Dozen, Do I have a Story for You!, Don't Bother Me, I'm Going to be a Mamma!, Ducklings in Wonderland, Ducks without Tales, Enemy in the Camp, Ernie's Chronicles, Fibby!, Free at Last!, I Flew Away, It's Just Duckie, What is a Sure-to-Get Mother?, Carnival Kids, Lame Duck, The Farm House-pital, Lap of Love, Lovable Zerubbable, Manna Mania, Manna Went to Church, 'Twas the Day Before Manna, Mannie Goes Awalking, Manna's Three Wives, Mexican Stand Off, Midnight Serenade, Mumpsy with Alligator Skin, My Dear Auntie Em' (Emanuella), My Fair Lady, Three Bills for Coffee, Tub of Love and New Ducks on the Block in Duck Creek.