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Michelle Renee was an abused runaway, at times homeless, during her teenage years. But that didn't stop her from becoming successful in life. Renee became a bank executive. However, her life was shattered and was changed like she wouldn't ever imagine when she, at age 35, and her 7 year-old daughter were kidnapped, held hostage, and taped with explosives. Michelle was then forced to rob a bank. Luckily, after 14 hours of being held in captive, she managed to save their lives.

Because of her resiliency, inner strength, courage and optimism, Michelle Renee became the MSN Hometown Hero for her work with survivors of violence, abuse and trauma. She is now known as a radio & TV host/personality, an award-winning published author, international speaker, owner of dreamBIG® Consulting, and Creator/Founder of Women Who dreamBIG and Rock to Stop Violence.

Michelle Renee is also the creative consultant and associate producer for a new film based on her book, Held Hostage. The film is set to depict not only the violent kidnapping and brutal judicial process for victim/witnesses, but also post trauma, recovery, inner-strength and how critical treatment is in a very real, sensitive, and honest way so that the viewers can relate to it in one aspect, if not all. The movie will be aired on July 19, 2009 on the Lifetime Movie Network.

Today, Renee and her daughter Breea are family advocates for the National Child Traumatic Stress Network and Children's Hospital Chadwick Center for Children and Families in San Diego. They help people deal with trauma caused by tragic events so as to start a new life for these people.

Michelle and Breea now reside in southern California with their dog Gypsy and have survived the most tragic event of their lives. Breea has become a competitive cheerleader in said place.

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