Our Speaking Team is a carefully curated group of team members with a desire to share specific subject matter knowledge with a live audience, whether virtually or in person. Our team members have a combined total of 55 years of public speaking experience on a variety of topics including military life, volunteering, motherhood, resiliency, leadership, mental health, and more. To request an AWN Speaking Team member for an upcoming event, please email us at info@armywifenetwork.com.
Sharita Knobloch, AWN Owner & Commander
Sharita Knobloch has long been a fan of sharing her heart and passion with audiences of all backgrounds and beliefs. She has two decades of speaking experience and started out “back in the day” speaking at various leadership events in FFA, once delivering a keynote address to an audience of more than 2,000 people. In recent years, she has written and facilitated a variety of leadership workshops and given presentations on educational topics in pursuit of her doctorate of education from Liberty University. She has also served on the preaching team at her local church for the last two years. Sharita thoroughly enjoys weaving humor (and the occasional well-placed pun) into her presentations and always hopes that her message leaves listeners inspired, encouraged, and empowered. In her current season, supporting the military community is her “jam.”
Speaking Experience: 20 years
Expert Topics: Leadership, faith, resilience, mental health, empowering volunteers, encouragement
Current Location: El Paso, Texas
Amanda Bicknese, AWN Empowerment Agent
Amanda Bicknese has been an educator for seven years. She has a Master’s in Elementary Education and has given presentations on educational topics as well as presented to other educators in various teacher leadership roles. She’s ready to expand her role and speak to others outside of the educational and classroom realm. Amanda is a mom and military spouse who has battled anxiety for years. She seeks to share her own mental health journey to let others know that they aren’t alone. Through transparency and authenticity, Amanda approaches her audience with a genuine heart and an open-mind, in hopes that her message will leave others with the same.
Speaking Experience: 5 years
Expert Topics: Education, growth mindset, motherhood, resiliency, mental health- anxiety, encouragement
Current Location: Fort Carson, Colorado
Jolene McNutt, AWN News 6 Correspondent
Jolene began public speaking at a young age, thanks to her parents’ encouragement to take any and all opportunities that came her way, from competing in forensics to volunteering with their local fire department. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Life Sciences Communications degree. Her education helped her hone her writing and marketing skills; taught her to craft a message for an audience based on their interests and perspectives; built her confidence in working with media, including newspaper, radio, and TV; and allowed her the room to add her own sparkle and humor to her work. Upon graduation, Jolene took on the role as American Honey Queen, the national spokesperson for the American Beekeeping Federation. After that, Jolene worked in marketing until she chose to stay at home with her son. Her marketing career expanded her experience speaking to audiences one-on-one, in small groups, and leading forums and lessons in lecture halls. Jolene has experience working with media and podcasts, curating a message for audiences from kindergarten through adult, and presenting in both small and large group settings.
Speaking Experience: More than 20 years
Expert Topics: Military life, food allergies, volunteering, faith, encouragement, resilience, family travel, hosting guests
Current Location: Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Brooklyn Morgan, AWN Special Projects Coordinator
Brooklyn is a National Guard spouse, teacher, and current doctoral candidate. She has held meetings on autism in the classroom, English phrases and how to react to them in Prague, and other small group talks about charity events for St. Jude sponsored by her teaching job. Brooklyn holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s of Science in Education, an English as a Second Language endorsement, and is currently working on her doctoral dissertation relating to teaching and autism spectrum disorders. She has been an integral part of AWN’s social media presence since joining the team in 2021.
Speaking Experience: More than 10 years
Expert Topics: Marriage, college, children, autism, National Guard
Current Location: Conway, Arkansas
