Donna Yost

The Life Chest on Veterans Radio

To hear the show click here!

Our CEO Donna Yost was honored to be featured on Veterans Radio on Sunday – The #1 Veterans Radio Show in the Country! Radio host Bob Gould is truly a remarkable and vivacious spirit – a Life Chest Lifer who truly understands the importance of leaving a legacy and cherishing the stories and mementos of veterans. Cant wait to be on the show again!

Detroit News

See the full article here!

Getting pumped

The ever-glam Donna Yost hosted a fun dinner party at Forest Lake Country Club in Bloomfield Hills last week to celebrate the release of her book, “Pumptitude: My Journey from CEO Wife to CEO Life.” In the book, Donna, who’s married to Art Van Furniture CEO Kim Yost, writes about how she transitioned from being “the woman behind the man,” to running her own successful business, The Life Chest, which produces elegant memory boxes.

The book traces her personal experiences while offering tips to women who may be pursuing a new career path or entering the workforce for the first time. “We give them the skills and courage they need in a fun, but informative format,” Yost said. The book reveals her humble beginning raising chickens and wearing rubber boots on a farm in Alberta, Canada, through today, where she is in boardrooms clad in her favoriteChristian Louboutin pumps. For information, or to purchase “Pumptitude,” visit pumptitude.com.

Donna Yost, CEO of The Life Chest, honored at Hollywood’s 2015 ENTREPRENEUR AWARDS

THE LIFE CHEST GOES TO HOLLYWOOD

Last night, our vivacious CEO Donna Yost was honored at the 2015 Entrepreneur Awards Gala in Hollywood!

Donna was a keynote speaker, chosen for her tireless work and community involvement through The Life Chest. Her book, “Pumptitude: My Journey from CEO Wife to CEO Life and How to Survive”, was even featured at the Gala, and given to attendees and VIPs.

A big thank you to the incredible Lousine Karibian of The World Networks for hosting us. We can’t wait for next year!

,

“Living the Dream” with Mark “Ranger” Jones

,

Mark “Ranger” Jones is a retired Master Sergeant who describes his experience in the military as “living the dream.”

While in his sophomore year of college Ranger joined the Army as a cook with the Airborne Rangers because of his wife (and high school sweetheart) Lorries medical condition, she had suffered an aneurism and he wanted to be able to provide her with good medical benefits.

Before arriving at the Fort Benning Jump School Ranger had no idea that he would have to jump out of a perfectly good aircraft. Ranger has said “It was probably noon, but it was my first night jump because my eyes were closed tight the whole way down.”

In addition to serving in Desert Storm, Desert Shield and the Haitian Campaign, Ranger Jones went on to become the Senior Aide to the Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff, General Hugh Shelton. In his US Army career Jones has completed more than 4,000 airborne jumps, even jumping with former President Bush.

Interesting Facts:

To this day, Ranger Jones remains the only Airborne and High Altitude, Low Opening (HALO) jump-qualified cook in US Army history.

After his retirement Ranger Jones continued to be a strong advocate for service men and women alike, recently he appeared in the Veterans Business Journal to discuss opportunities in the Federal Government for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses and has assisted in a major ad campaign for the US Army’s recruiting efforts.

Mark “Ranger” Jones in Todays Military Ad

Jones serves as a Board Member for the Greater Southeast Hospital Foundation and Salute America’s Heroes Foundation as well as the Fisher House™ Foundation.

“You can’t judge an individual by how much money they make, but you can always judge someone by their character,” Jones has said, and it’s obvious that he applies this to his company The Ranger Group.

“The Ranger Group is a global general construction and commissioning services company founded in 2006 by U.S. Army veteran Mark “Ranger” Jones. It is a Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) company as well as a certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) with Virginia-Certified Small Minority Owned Business (SWaM), Maryland Department of Transportation® (MDOT), and South Central Texas Regional Certification Agency™ (SCTRCA).” – http://www.ranger-group.com/

The Ranger Group Foundation is a proud supporter of the Fisher House(TM) Foundation, with Ranger Jones serving on the Board of Trustees. The Fisher House(TM) is an organization that shares our commitment to military and veteran communities and their families, providing a “home-away-from-home” for more than 10,000 families of patients receiving care at major military and Veterans Affairs Medical Centers. Our support also included negotiating a new roof for the West Palm Beach, FL Fisher House(TM) at no cost. To find out more about the program or to contribute to the Fisher House(TM), please visit www.fisherhouse.org

Ranger with Ken Fisher in Iraq 2008, visiting troops and hospitals to learn first hand how to better help Soldiers in their time of need.

The Life Chest team had the pleasure of spending this years Grand Prix in Michigan with Mark “Ranger” Jones.

The Reviews are In for Pumptitude!

Thank you for reading!

 

An amazing book by an amazing woman! You have somehow figured out how to squeeze 48 hours out of a 24 hour day. Loved your traveling adventure stories and hair-raising experiences that made you a stronger, more confident, resilient and caring person. And, of course, the Donna Yost ‘fun factor’ is evident throughout the entire book.  It was a great read and a fabulous addition to the “Pumptitude” series. I really enjoyed it!

Cathy DiSante

 

 

I’m holding your book in my hands like a precious work of art which is exactly what it is.

 

It is beyond amazing – the cover, the layout, the pics, the feel, the content. Wow! Wow! Wow! I’m proud to be a part of it. We definitely need to share a Dom Perignon over this.

 

The Life Chest Collections catalogue is pure class. The Yosts only go first class! The cover fold out is an amazing touch. All kudos to you.

 

Here’s to the record breaking year that you have earned already.

Onwards and upwards 

 

Mike Lipkin

 

 

Where do I start, well I cannot thank you enough for letting me be a part of the Life Chest world. Thank you for allowing me to share my story, my foundation, but most of all for being a true friend and caring enough to help. I enjoyed my visit, although It was short, which may not be bad since it prevented me from hitting Nieman Marcus and going into bankruptcy!

I read some of your book while on the plane and needless to say, got some strange looks as I busted into laughter at your stories! I found it hard to put it down. What a great book so far. 

Again, thank you so very much. I look forward to seeing you again soon! 

Love,

Louise Cantrell

 

 

Donna just finished your beautiful book! It gave me goosebumps, tears and laughter. Congratulations! It shows your work, your life and your love of everything and everyone, mostly your Kimmy. Much love. Thank you for sharing with us. What a treat on this cold winter week.

There is more heart than there is anything in your book, the common thread throughout. And I see and feel this more so because I know your heart and the words reflect what we all know and have experienced sharing your little life!

Connie Donnelly

 

 

Re: Pumptitude and The Life Chest Reading
Donna, what energy last night!!!  I loved the acting, and most of all I loved Kim’s message.  I’m used to your positivity…nothing like it…but to see a mate be so much like his darling wife was magic.
You are both so dynamic, and so is your team!!!  Loved being there with you, Beautiful Lady in Red!!  The sky is the limit…maybe I should say the Universe is the limit for you and your dreams. 
Pat Hardy

 

OMG, loving your book!!! I can’t put it down! I feel like I can relate to this! I know Shane is not a CEO (yet  but what you are saying reflects many aspects of my life! Thanks for writing this!!! 

 

Alicia Sabatino

  

 

Dearest Donna,

So I am sure this email is just one of many that have been coming into you as people start going through the book.

I officially started reading it last night and got up to chapter 6 before having to help the kids with night snacks /homework etc.

I laughed SO hard at the shoes on the roof of the car! Mostly because I know you and then I picture and this whole thing is

more like a great movie.

This might sound really corky, but I have always been so inspired by you and you are like a light when you enter a room beaming

positive energy. With such a “We’ve got this” attitude.  Too bad you couldn’t bottle that up and sell it because it would be worth millions!! Reading that so many other people feel the exact same way about you was like whoa, she treats everyone single person

she meets with the same love and respect like you’ve known them a life time. You make people feel special and I am so honored to call you a friend, you are amazing!

I loved this book so much that I have already quoted a few lines to my husband. You may not know this but your words about being

there for your husband and having a house full of love speaks to every family and everyone can use a reminder that happiness and family is all that really matters in life – even if you’re not married to a CEO, they are still our providers/protectors & hero’s!

So Good Morning, and just wanted to tell you I’ll be finishing this book throughout the week on my trip in Mexico next week!!

G

xo