Port Lansing

Our Mission
At Bee Inspired, we’re all about spreading the BUZZ – inspirational messages, motivational thoughts, and positive actions. We offer a collection of Bee Inspired inspirational boxes, perfect for yourself, special occasions or as a gift. A Bee Inspired inspirational box provides the recipient with daily BUZZ to transform an ordinary existence to an extraordinary experience. The messages inside give the reader something to read, do, and share with others.
 
Our Signature Bee Inspired Inspirational Box
Each Bee Inspired inspirational box contains rolled scrolls of quotations designed to inspire and energize you for the next year. It gives you something easy to read, do and share with others to improve your life and lift the spirits of the people around you. At the start of each new day, select your inspirational message and Read the Buzz. Then Bee the Buzz throughout the day as you take action. Share the Buzz with others to inspire them.
 
Our Idea
The idea for the Bee Inspired inspirational box started with the handcrafted gifts Kristin Novak made for friends and family members for years. Kristin spent hours carefully selecting inspirational quotes to share with loved ones. She individually hand-rolled and tied each small scroll with raffia. Then she placed the special quotes in a custom-designed box.
 
Kristin partnered with Sue Dickinson, Leigh Kraushaar and Marsa Truscott to develop her idea into a product that could be sold in stores, yet maintains the intimate character of the original concept.
 
Our Team
Bee Inspired was created by four women committed to promoting positive actions in their communities:
 
 Sue Dickinson, co-founder
Launching a company with the aim to inspire and change people’s lives is a natural fit for Sue Dickinson, a motivator with years of experience cheering on her three children from the stands at various sporting events.
 
Sue has spent most of her professional career working in real estate. She is a licensed broker and works as a Marketing Representative for Bell Title Co. in Okemos, Mich. An accomplished businesswoman and entrepreneur, Sue launched her own decorating business specializing in custom made drapery and accents when she temporarily left the real estate industry to raise her children. She also is a member of Greater Lansing Women’s Council of Realtors and Mid-Michigan Mortgage Lenders Association.
 
Sue lives in nearby Holt with her children and husband, Tim. She is also a volunteer for St. Casimir Parish as a minister to the home bound. In her free time, she enjoys many activities such as running, scrapbooking, card making, and sewing.
 
 Leigh Kraushaar, co-founder
Leigh Krauschaar is an accomplished businesswoman who is committed to Bee Inspired’s mission to lift the human spirit.
 
Leigh is President and Counsel of Okemos, Mich.-based Bell Title Co., which she co-owns and operates with her husband, Mark. Leigh also is a co-founder and co-owner of TiTAN, The Independent Title Agent Referral Network.  She is a frequent speaker on title insurance topics and real estate related issues.
 
She also is president of Zonta Club of East Lansing, an organization committed to improving the status of women nationally and internationally.
 
Leigh grew up in Ferndale, Mich., and attended Michigan State University. She received her law degree from the Detroit College of Law (now the MSU College of Law) and is a member of the State Bar of Michigan.
 
She lives in Holt, Mich., with her husband and their three children.
 
 
 Kristin Novak, co-founder
Kristin Novak loves inspirational quotes and the way they can affect people’s lives in positive ways.
 
When Kristin learned that her sister’s newborn child was diagnosed with Down Syndrome, she turned to her favorite quotes as a way to provide daily support. An inspirational quote of the day became Kristin’s way of being there despite the hundreds of miles between her home and where her sister lived.
 
Kristin created her first quote box about 10 years ago to give her friends and family members a personal, meaningful gift to inspire them. For years, she has handpicked her favorite quotes, cut them into strips, rolled each into a scroll and tied them with raffia.
 
Kristin lives in Saginaw, Mich., where she lives with her husband and their two sons. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English and communication from Saginaw Valley State University.
 
 Marsa Truscott, co-founder
Marsa Truscott knew she had found something special when she came across one of Kristin’s quote boxes. For years, Marsa also has used inspirational quotes to send positive messages to her clients and friends.
 
Since 2001, Marsa has worked in fund development and conference planning with her husband at The John Truscott Group, a public relations, public affairs, government affairs, and business development firm with offices in Lansing and Grand Rapids, Mich.
 
Alongside her work at the firm, Marsa has co-created her own business ventures. As a partner in J.a.M. Entertainment (Joe and Marsa Entertainment), she represented country musician Artie Dean Harris. Her work led to nine tour dates with Tim McGraw and Faith Hill on the Soul2Shoul II Tour and an audition with Sony BMG records in Nashville. J.a.M. Entertainment also produced the album “Artie Dean Harris Best Bad Habit.”
 
Marsa also has a long history of working with nonprofit organizations and civic causes. In June 2009, Marsa began assisting with fundraising efforts for the international charity Executives Without Borders, which connects service organizations around the world with volunteer experts to improve their operations. Marsa also is a former executive director of the Michigan Women’s Commission, where she worked with women and civic groups throughout the state on women’s health, education, career and finance issues. She also has served on the boards of several area nonprofit organizations, including Ele’s Place, a healing center for grieving children and families, and MSU Safe Place, a domestic violence shelter serving the Michigan State University community.
 
Marsa has a bachelor’s degree in political science and labor relations from Michigan State University. She lives in Okemos with her husband, John.
 
Where You Can Buy Our Products
 
Bee Inspired inspirational boxes are available from our Web site, www.beeinspired.com. Our gift boxes also are available at boutique retailers across the country:
 

Michigan
 
Silver and Beyond
333 Albert Ave.
East Lansing, MI 48823
www.silverbeyond.com
(517) 337-3202
 
The Silver Rabbit
120 High St.
Williamston, MI 48895
(517) 655-6003
California
 
Seven Sisters Gallery
601 Embarcadero, Ste. 8
Morro Bay, CA 93442
(805) 772-9955