Tina Bakehouse
Founder, Chief Communicator
Educator, Executive Consultant & Coach for 20+ Years
NICE TO MEET YOU!
Growing up on a farm in southwest Iowa, I found fun in performing, teaching, and learning. Using my front porch as a proscenium stage, I created radio talk shows with my tan 1980s Fisher Price tape recorder and orange sponge microphone. I composed scripts with my siblings and acted them out annually for my parent’s anniversary. I practiced monologues and speeches for high school competitions. Now, with my enthusiastic passion for performance, I’m transferring what I loved as a child into my adulthood career (with updated technology, of course).
Then, in 2007, I lost my voice. My voice was completely gone. More than laryngitis, it was vocal polyps, just like Julie Andrews. This vocal condition was due to stress, strain, and overuse. I met weekly with a speech pathologist for vocal therapy and saw a throat specialist who gave me two choices: surgery to remove the polyps, which could permanently change my voice, or complete silence for six weeks. I chose silence. In those six weeks, I realized the importance of listening and being fully present with others. I also realized how my vocal and nonverbal presence defined who I am and influenced my communication with others. After lots of therapy and rest, my voice recouped, and I left the high school teaching arena after six years of teaching speech and English.
Following 10 years of collegiate teaching at Creighton University, including starting a communication center for one-on-one coaching and consulting, I decided to try something new: leave education and work as an outreach and communication coordinator for a nonprofit. Burnout sneaked in. I made a difficult decision to jump out of a plane (figuratively) to try something new (again) by working for a bank as a Chief Creative Officer. Then came an international pandemic. From this social isolation, I committed to creating my own story by helping others share their stories with confidence and communicate more effectively, both in business and interpersonally.








MY CREDENTIALS
Education
Bachelor of Arts
Communication Studies, Psychology
University of Northern Iowa
Bachelor of Arts
Communication-Theatre, English Teaching
University of Northern Iowa
Master of Arts
Communication Studies
University of Nebraska-Omaha
Advanced Professional Writing Certificate
University of Nebraska-Omaha
Predictive Index Certificate
Keirsey Temperament Theory Certificate
2 Levels of Improvisation
Certified in Holistic Life Coaching
Professional
10 years college teaching Public Speaking and Business Communication
Creighton University Communication Studies Department
Coached students and Creighton professors one-on-one in the Creighton Communication Center
13 years of communication coaching and workshops
Iowa High School Speech Association All-State Speech Critic
Leadership Iowa
1 year of human resources experience
Empower Rural Iowa Task Force (Statewide group; selected by the Governor, making policy decisions and empowering leaders)
Performance
Walt Disney World – Cast Member
Coached teens, found sponsors, and collaborated with a New York storyteller for two teen storytelling shows
Performed in multiple storytelling shows in southwest Iowa
TEDx speaker and TEDx Coach
Directed and performed in a storytelling show for Malvern’s 150th Celebration