Communication Expert · Award-Winning Author ·
Keynote Speaker · Retired Veteran
I'm Dr. Renea (Re-Nay) Skelton.
And the woman who will tell you the truth —
then hand you the tools to do something about it.
Hey, friend. Glad you found me.
I’m a Communication Expert, Air Force veteran, wife, mom, sister, and a woman who knows firsthand the cost of carrying everything alone—and the power of not doing that anymore.
I teach people how to communicate better. Also, I'm mildly obsessed with cheese and I genuinely wish Quokkas were adoptable. Google them. You've been warned.
My story (so far)...
I joined the military at 17.
Spent 22 years learning how to hold it together… and say the “right” thing.
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On the outside? Solid.
On the inside? Managing everything.
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I got really good at reading the room…
and editing myself in it.
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A lot of my life was shaped by conversations I didn’t know how to have.
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The ones I avoided.
The ones I over-explained.
The ones I replayed later thinking, that’s what I should’ve said.
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I thought if I could just say it better… people would finally get me.
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They didn’t.
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Then life hit hard - loss, a brain tumor, everything slowing down whether I liked it or not.
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And I started seeing something I couldn’t unsee:
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It wasn’t just what I had been through.
It was how I had been showing up in conversations the entire time.
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Avoiding. Performing. Pushing.
Trying to control how things landed so I could feel okay.
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Exhausting.
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That’s when it clicked.
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This isn’t about better words.
It’s about what’s happening underneath them.
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Now I don’t teach people how to say things perfectly.
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I teach them how to stop turning every conversation into something they have to win.​
How I've Learned About Communication
Most people don’t struggle because they don’t know what to say.
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They struggle because they’re:
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Overthinking
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Trying to control how it lands
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Or avoiding the conversation completely
It’s not a wording problem.
It’s what’s happening underneath it.
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That’s where things either connect… or fall apart.
Facts About Me...
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My inspiration comes from my 3 amazing kids and being married to my best friend for 29 years
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I’m a combat veteran and retired Air Force officer of 22+ years
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I hold a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership & Emotional Intelligence
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I’m a "joy junkie" and find delight in the simplest of things
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Favorite Color: Anything bling!
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My clients call me the “People Whisperer”... seriously!
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I was on the finale of Yellowstone (although you can't see me)
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I wish I had a pet Quokka in my life (Google it, it will make you smile)
What I Do Now
I teach people how to understand what’s really happening in conversations - so they can stop overthinking, stop pulling, and actually connect.
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At work.
At home.
In the moments that matter most.
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If you’ve ever walked away from a conversation replaying it in your head… you’re not the only one.
My Bucket of Dreams...
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Go on an actual picnic (somehow… never have)
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Have a real wedding (29 years married… still waiting on that one)
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See my book on a well-known talk show and act like I belong there
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Turn my children’s books into a TV series
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Be a voice in a cartoon (I’m not picky… give me a squirrel)
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Deliver a True Colors workshop to an NFL team
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Travel to Bali and soak it all in ​
Because the right words at the right moment
change everything.
I Show Up in a Lot of Places.
Here's Where to Find Me.
ShiFt
Happens
Whether it’s life, relationships, leadership, or work, ShiFt Happens shares practical communication insights that make everyday interactions easier.
Workshops that Work
Whether it's a school, business, or organization, my True Colors® and emotional intelligence workshops bring insight, practical tools, and energy that sticks.
Keynote Speaking
Make your next event memorable. Inspire you audience with real talk, humor, brain-based tools, and powerful stories that inspire people to start showing up fully.
Drop
the Rope
Tired of conversations that go nowhere? Drop the Rope exposes the tug-of-war keeping you stuck and hands you communication hacks to change the dynamic.
"I've worked with Renea for 10 years. Her combination of dynamic presentation skills, brilliance, and character are truly unmatched... She earned impeccable praise from the workshop participants, and I can't wait to team up with her again."
Tony R.
Leadership Strategist & Trainer
"Dr. Renea is an amazing listener and has guided me to learn how to make my own happiness and joy instead of turning away from it. She met me where I was at the start and guided my way of thinking...I'm now more positive and loving to myself."
Jennifer S.
Coaching Client
"Dr. Renea is a gifted, intuitive listener who is uniquely able to distill what she has heard into valuable, credible insight. If you are looking to be inspired and make a difference in your life, Dr. Renea Skelton is the perfect choice for you!"
Staci M.
Parker County Relations Officer