About CATHERINE SCHRENKER, CHt
Known as “The Queen of Color”™, Catherine Schrenker (Catherine Schrenker Poole) is a distinguished pioneer in the integral role of color regarding our emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being. Her beautiful spirit shines through as she generously shares her wealth of knowledge in a dynamic firestorm of color, humor, and spirituality. Integrating impromptu intuitive messages for those in the audience -whatever her keynote subject- creates a fresh, unique, and inspiring presentation.
She is well-respected in medical, corporate, and educational environments throughout the United States and Canada. She is the Executive Director of The Wayne C. Henderson School of Appalachian Arts located in the beautiful small town of Marion, Virginia. The mission of The Wayne C. Henderson School of Appalachian Arts is to preserve, promote and provide a learning experience that has its roots in the culture and heritage of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Among her many tasks, Catherine manages a variety of programs offered at The Henderson, including guitar building in the Gerald Anderson Lutherie, The Burke Print Shop, Pottery, Quilting and much more.
Catherine is working with other area professionals to develop a unique program focused on the recovery process: integrating traditional craft with her life skills research and the workshop topics she has developed over the years. This region has been devastated with Opioid and Methamphetamine abuse and The Henderson is working with leaders in Smyth County to introduce a path to recovery that is focused on positivity, creativity, and understanding the guidance in everyday experiences; using craft, music and pride in their Appalachian Heritage to aid in their recovery process and create a future for themselves and the community.
Catherine has a Master of Fine Art (MFA) degree in design from Cranbrook Academy of Art, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, and a Bachelor of Fine Art (BFA) degree in graphic design from Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana. Catherine was a professor of color theory and graphic design for fifteen years, including nine years at The University of Notre Dame. She currently teaches as an Adjunct Professor in Mass Communications and Graphic Design/Typography at Emory & Henry College, Emory, Virginia.
Her color and behavior research while at Notre Dame led to her current work with emotions, energy and color in regard to the human body.
Internationally, Catherine has lived and worked in Den Haag, Netherlands and always welcomes the opportunity to speak abroad. She lived in Warsaw, Poland and taught The Philosophy of Color in the Philosophy Department at Warsaw University. Catherine left Notre Dame in 2001 to co-write her first book, Everyday Lessons. In 2004 she co-founded Integrated Health Concepts (IHC) with her brother, family practice physician, Dr. James H. Schrenker. This allowed Catherine the opportunity to work side-by-side with a physician and hone her skills as a medical intuitive and further study and compare the relationship between color, emotion, the body and disease.
Catherine’s international client list includes, doctors, celebrities, psychologists, successful business professionals, authors, speakers and political figures. Her corporate clients have included Home Depot’s Freshaire Choice Brand Paint, Eastman Chemical Company, Reebok International, Newell-Rubbermaid as well as smaller companies, institutions and organizations.
Catherine illustrates professionalism, compassion, and a unique ability to help individuals understand their current life challenges. She empowers others to look at their life challenges in a positive light by helping them shift their perspective of their current situation. Her intuitive talent, generosity, and credibility create a compelling arena that inspires certain magic and has made The Henderson a creative gem in this Southwest Virginia community.