Patti Allen is one of the most interesting and amazing women I know. Although she lives in Utah Valley now, she was born and raised in the small farming community of Blackfoot, Idaho.
At an early age she realized that two of her life passions are helping people improve their lives and training search and rescue canines. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice with a minor in sociology from Weber State University.
She is the International Director of Global Women’s Summits for the Women’s Information Network, and she is working to complete her certification as a clinical hypnotherapist.
“My work with canines led to my volunteering as a search and rescue volunteer for 30 years,” Allen said. “I participated in search and rescue operations with law enforcement agencies and the FBI to locate victims in many places across America. I have volunteered over a thousand hours of community service toward victim recovery, and public education in school, church and community organizations teaching basic wilderness survival skills.”
Another thing Allen enjoys doing is riding her Harley-Davidson motorcycle. She has ridden for 17 years across the United States. “I love the wind in my hair and the solitude and freedom my bike allows me,” Allen said. “It is a great way to unwind after a busy day!”
Paula Fellingham: What was your life like growing up?
Patti Allen: I grew up in a loving, supportive home with my parents, Joe and Jane Kerscher, and my two older sisters, Terri and Joni. My parents took us camping every weekend to Cooper Basin where we hiked, fished and bonded as a family. My parents believed in teaching us to be independent, which led to my learning skills typically reserved for boys, along with taking care of a home. My parents always encouraged us to live our dreams, and that led to my getting my first dog, Puddles, when I was 12 years old. Through the loving and kind mentorship of Evelyn, a 4-H Advisor, I earned the award of “Top Dog in the Eastern Idaho State Fair in Confirmation and Obedience” at the age of 15.
I have worked in the veterinary field for 10 years and was honored to be selected to work the Drop Dog Lots during the Iditarod in Alaska one 
year. My love affair with dogs has never stopped and I continue to help people with dog training issues.
One of my favorite memories as an adolescent was spending the summer of my junior year in high school on the North Fork of the Big Lost River, building our log cabin. My sisters were married, but everyone came up and helped that summer. Forty years later we still have our cabin, and our whole family loves to spend time together playing games, riding 4-wheelers, fishing, playing horseshoes and reconnecting with each other.
PF: What is your life like now?
PA: I am blessed with joy, peace and happiness at this stage in my life. I love my career path and the opportunity to meet and share my life with kind, talented and loving people. Being single, I also indulge in my love of traveling whenever asked. I find living out of my suitcase a great opportunity to continue learning about new cultures and meeting wonderful people who enrich my life.
PF: What is your greatest challenge?
PA: My greatest challenge is my desire to gather the women of the world in the fastest way possible to share the wonderful resources we have at the Women’s Information Network (WIN) and help them in cost-effective ways. When people ask me what I can do as one woman, I think of the well-known story of the starfish.
An older gentleman was walking along a beach that was covered with stranded starfish. He noticed a young boy throwing starfish back into the ocean and asked, “What are you doing?” The boy said, “I’m saving their lives.” Surprised, the man remarked, “You can’t possibly make a difference; there are hundreds of starfish here!” The youth picked up another starfish, threw it into the sea, then responded, “Made a difference to that one.” And that is how I feel about the work we do atwww.WomensInformationNetwork.com. Our motto is, “We Are Women Helping Women Live Our Best Lives.”
PF: What is your greatest success?
PA: My greatest successes are raising my children to be kind, loving and contributing members of society and surviving cancer for 19 years. I was 35 years old when I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer that had spread into seven of my lymph nodes. Cancer teaches one to prioritize your life and spend your time doing only those things that bring you happiness, joy and peace.
PF: What is your advice to other women?
PA: Believe in yourself! Love yourself! Honor yourself! Remember always that you are a strong, intelligent, beautiful and compassionate woman whose love for your sisters and mankind makes the world a better place for all.