Everyone knows Dorothy from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s 1939 motion picture triumph, but just who is this woman — Cheryl Ann Silich — who thinks she’s Dorothy… and has all those muscles? Since when did Dorothy become a fitness expert from Kansas, and where did she get those silver shoes and blonde hair? Well, if you read the1900 American classic, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, then you too discovered that Dorothy’s shoes were indeed… silver! In fact, in the original Oz series, Dorothy’s hair color was actually blonde. And as for the fitness expert part, well…

There’s No Place Like Home
Cheryl grew up as the daughter of an ironworker in Hobart, Indiana with her five brothers and sisters. She learned a love for personal excellence from her adoring father, who taught her how to stand on her head as a young child. A cherished relationship with her mother ignited an enduring affinity for the classic tale The Wizard of Oz.

By all indications Cheryl’s high school achievements were brilliant. She graduated as Salutatorian of her class, was voted “Most Likely to Succeed” and “Best All-Around Girl” by her classmates, and earned 10 varsity letters in a variety of sports. But, concealed behind the accolades and popularity were feelings of inadequacy that were getting reinforced.

Overcoming childhood feelings of inadequacy is, of course, what The Wizard of Oz is all about. But who could imagine that fitness media star, Cheryl Ann Silich, struggled with her own personal “hidden-fear” while growing up — a speech impediment that once made her the victim of mockery and a voice of courage today.

Off to Meet the Wizard
Setting off to college rather paralleled Dorothy’s adventure into Oz. Cheryl discovered a wonderful new place of challenge and opportunity. At the end of her first week on campus she received a surprise initiation and faced the “Wizard” that had been skulking behind her personal curtain of fear for so long.

A chance meeting with a perfect stranger bearing a gift would change the course of things to come. After years of living with a hidden fear of public ridicule because of her lisp, Cheryl could now be free from her self-imposed repression by recognizing her problem, seeking the proper therapy, and correcting her impaired speech.

A Call for Courage
Cheryl’s lesson that day was as important as a college degree: Some people make changes, and some people stay the same. The gift she received was part of a greater plan. It may have been the day she first became a “champion.” Today, Cheryl’s mission is to reach out to as many people as possible and encourage them to live life to the fullest by following their very own Yellow Brick Road – the path that leads to one’s greatest good.

Cheryl’s Journey to Oz

• Valparaiso University – B.S. in Business Administration
  
  
• University of Massachusetts – M.S. in Sports Management
  

• American Gladiators – On the popular Hollywood production, Cheryl won the coveted Alumni Championship title!
  
  
• Adventures in Oz with Cheryl™ – Cheryl is the executive producer, creator and star of the children’s DVD/video series, which has garnered 12 national awards including:
  
  
• Hollywood Film Advisory Board – Award of Excellence
  
  
• Dove Family Foundation – Five-Star Rating
  
  
• Kids First! – Coalition for Quality Children’s Media
  
  
• Yellowstone Film Festival – Grand Geyser Award
  
  
• The Home Shopping Network – Cheryl was invited to market her
  Adventures in Oz with Cheryl™ product as the actual spokes- person, a rare decision for the network.
  
  
• The Body Perfect by Cheryl – For 10 years, Cheryl was the creator, executive producer and host of the widely acclaimed educational fitness television show.
  

Brains and Brawn

• Indiana Jaycee’s “Outstanding Young Hoosier” for her turn-around efforts
  
  
• Indianapolis Business Journal’s “40 Under Forty” for entrepreneurial excellence
  
  
• Proclamation “The Spirit of Oz Day” by Bart Peterson, Mayor of Indianapolis
  
  
• Difference Makers International “Spark of Greatness” for donating over $250,000 of her children’s videos to the World Trade Center Relief Fund

Articles, Interviews and Reviews, Oh My!
The Home Shopping Network, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Press News Syndicate, Knight Ridder News Service, Parenting Magazine, Chicago’s Superstation WGN-TV, Indianapolis network affiliates NBC-TV, ABC-TV and CBS-TV, and more...

"The Yellow Brick Road to Success"
Today, Cheryl is a highly sought after professional speaker that motivates, inspires and electrifies audiences with an insider's look at how to beat the odds. Her "Yellow Brick Road to Success" presentation is filled with energizing and unique real-life stories about how she has fought back the wicked witches of self doubt, cast aside the falling bricks of nay-sayers, and made true friends while pursiuing her dream. She resides in Indianapolis, Indiana.