Traci Bakenhaster

Coach | Educator | Mentor

Hi, I'm Traci, the founder or Raising the Next Gen! I love working with teens and their families, and you're no exception! I can't wait to work with you on your college, career, and life skills!

My Story

When I was in high school I was a good student, I never had less than a "B", rarely had to study, was involved in sports and National Honor Society. I was friends with everyone, cared too much about boys, and had many interests. I never thought too much about my future, but there were several careers I was interested in. These included becoming a veterinarian, an FBI or CIA agent, a model, a teacher, and eventually I landed on becoming a pilot in the Air Force.


I took my ASVAB, was ready to go into ROTC to be an officer, but then my serious relationship went from high school love interest to fiancé, to military wife. My dreams then went out the window when I moved away. As you can guess, things didn't work out and I ended up back home. A few years later I was a single mom, working three jobs, and going to school full-time to get my degree. I worked my way through my associates, then my bachelors, then my masters. I was a first generation college student, but by the time all was said and done I had racked up over $80,000 of student debt!


Looking back I realized I had no guidance, my parents had no clue about college or helping prepare me for life after high school. When I was in college I had no idea of the opportunities, or the financial support that existed. I took the most difficult road to get to my destination, I learned everything the hard way, I had to do everything alone. But because of all of that I can now take everything I learned to now help future generations.

My Values & Beliefs

Trustworthy

Every relationship is build on trust, if you don't have this, then you won't have anything.

Be Authentic

Always be honest, and transparent in everything you do.

Humility

Don't let your pride get in the way of asking for help or support.

Persistence

Perseverance & determination will always get you to where you want to be.

Accountability

This is essential to reaching your goals, and sticking to your plan.

Self-Improvement

Always invest in yourself. You are your best asset, so never stop improving.

Continuous Improvement

You should always be pursuing additional training, education, and knowledge.

Passion

Passion and purpose is what guides you and is so important in your decision making.

Mentorship

Having a mentor is so important, and being one is just as valuable.

My Experience

I'm a Ramsey Solutions Master Financial Coach, hold my MS in Business Psychology from Franklin University, my BS in Business Administration from The Ohio State University, Fisher College of Business, and several AS degrees from Columbus State Community College.


I have over 10 years’ of professional experience in higher education, career-tech, and industry. Some of my roles include Academic Advisor, Career Development Specialist and Program Manager.


In these roles I:

  • Advised students with full academic planning including course planning, admissions, involvement, and more


  • Worked with students and families with financial aid including FAFSA, financial aid appeals, and scholarships


  • Created career development workshops for students focused on resume writing, interviewing, professional communication, and etiquette


  • Presented to over 4,000 high school students in over 45 Central Ohio high schools about college admissions and career options


  • Provided career guidance & coaching to undecided students based on their interests and skills


  • Provided career exposure through industry speakers, presentations & workshops, field trips and more


  • Worked with guidance counselors to bring career exploration workshops and programs to middle and high school students


  • Provided hands-on learning experiences for students to try out a career


  • Created and managed multiple summer camps for middle and high school students

Other roles I've held include CEO & Founder, Director of Marketing, Event Specialist, and Hiring & Training Manager. 


In these roles I:

  • Develop a strong relationship with clients to aid in problem-solving, goal setting, and increasing self-esteem and confidence


  • Coach clients on finding their passions and what fulfills them, finding the best career path, and career planning to help them get there


  • Developed workshops, courses, and training to provide education on all things personal finance


  • Created and maintained relationships with 336 business partners, local government offices, and Public Safety departments


  • Manage all business operations including marketing, sales strategy, business finances, daily operations, partnership development, and more


  • Created job postings for current openings, reviewed applications, and reached out to set up interviews


  • Vetted candidates through a series of targeted questions during the interview process, made hiring decisions and offers, and completed all new hire training and documentation

2020 Emerging ATHENA Leadership Award Recipient


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