This "Taking 20" Conversation was recorded LIVE in 2021. Tami Hedrick is well-known for her work as the Director of Vikings Women and Strategic Development for the Minnesota Vikings, as well as the Head Coach and Director of the Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders. Tami has coached professionally for over 20 years, in the NFL and for the NLL. Before Tami took the leadership position as Head Coach, she proudly cheered as a Minnesota Vikings Cheerleader for the 1997-1998 season. Tami’s career path led her to roles as Vice President of Marketing, to a Director level role in Sales, and as the founder of several startup companies/groups in the Midwest. Tami has also appeared in multiple national pageants – She was Mrs. Minnesota when I met her. She was a television host for ShopNBC/EVINE, and has been a judge and choreographer for International, college and high school teams. Tami is proudest of her roles as a wife and mother to four children and three step children.

I have gotten to meet a lot of wonderful people through my career as a TV Shopping host. Some of the best friends I have, are TV Shopping people - hosts, production folks, vendor representatives. In a live 24/7 setting, you really go through "fire" sometimes, so relationships form in a way that is hard to explain. Tami and I both worked overnight and "swing" type shifts at a network that was going through transition and boy, were we tired. Meanwhile, she was going through life changes, and her son was injured in an accident. The thing is, Tami was ALWAYS kind and graceful and prepared at work. She kept it together and was very professional, and she was also a fun person to work with. Tami is the type of friend who will drive across town, in the snow, to see you if you are just passing through. I know, because she has done that for me and we have had a quick meal at the Mall of America. She always asks about my daughter and genuinely cares about how I am doing. 

One of the "coolest" things I have gotten to do, is judge the Vikings Cheerleader try-outs. I also got to attend a game while Tami was coach of the cheerleaders. I won't tell you who my favorite football team is, but I will tell you that day, was the BEST overall experience I have had. And we got to see waaaaaaay down in front so we could watch the cheerleaders and a couple players high-fived my daughter. Thank you for the "cool mom points" Tami. We have had some wonderful times just hanging out and talking over coffee while the kids played. 

In this Taking20, we talk about some of the things Tami has gone through, included the challenges she faced. She's not only a great friend and mom, she was also recognized as one of the Top 50 Women in Business Honorees in 2016 with the Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal and she's board member with one of the fastest growing non-profit organizations in Minnesota, Matter. 

We hope you enjoy this Taking20 with Tami. 

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