Cheers to 2025 and the Bright Promise of 2026!

The holidays are here, and what a perfect time to celebrate all that 2025 brought our way.

This year was full of moments worth cheering for: growth, connection, laughter, lessons, and wins both big and small. Some things went exactly as planned, some surprised us, and some opened doors we didn’t even know we were looking for. That’s life, and it’s worth celebrating.

As we look ahead to 2026, there’s so much to be excited about. New ideas. Fresh opportunities.

A renewed sense of purpose and possibility. The future feels bright, and the momentum is real.

This season is a reminder to speak kindly to ourselves, celebrate how far we’ve come, and step forward with confidence and joy. A positive mindset doesn’t ignore reality, it chooses optimism, creativity, and hope.

Here’s to a new year filled with clarity, confidence, laughter, and moments that make life rich and meaningful.

Wishing you a joyful holiday season and a fantastic start to 2026! ✨

2025 in Review: Building Capability, Confidence, and Community

Empowered Personal Protection

Some years are about checking boxes. This year was about building something that lasts.

At Empowered Personal Protection, 2025 marked a powerful season of expansion, of skills, credentials, and vision. Every class taught, every certification earned, and every conversation held reinforced one guiding principle: true personal protection begins long before tools or tactics are ever introduced

The Launch of The Assertive Edge

One of the most meaningful accomplishments of this year was the continued development of The Assertive Edge.

The Assertive Edge is a trauma-informed, nervous system–aware personal protection program designed to cultivate proactive mindset, emotional regulation, assertive communication, and responsible decision-making. It fills a critical gap in traditional training by addressing how people think, perceive, and respond before they ever face a threat.

In 2025, Empowered Personal Protection formally announced The Assertive Edge and opened registration for its inaugural sessions, marking a defining evolution in how we approach personal protection education.

The Assertive Edge is not a one-off class. It is a structured, trauma-informed, nervous system–aware program that teaches proactive mindset, emotional regulation, assertive communication, and responsible decision-making, skills that shape confident, capable individuals long before tools or tactics are ever introduced.

With sessions now open for registration, The Assertive Edge sets the standard for all Empowered Personal Protection training: intentional, regulated, and rooted in personal agency. This is where confidence stops being reactive and becomes embodied - calm, grounded, and deliberate.

🔗 Registration for The Assertive Edge and all Empowered Personal Protection classes is now open:https://www.usconcealedcarry.com/firearms-training/instructors/ohio-instructors/empowered-personal-protection-llc-2193202/

Elevating Safety Through Medical Preparedness

This year also marked a significant step forward in emergency readiness.

• Empowered Personal Protection officially became a Stop the Bleed® Licensee

• Instructor certification as a Stop the Bleed® Instructor was achieved

This means students now have access to nationally recognized bleeding control education, because preparedness doesn’t stop at avoidance or defense. The ability to act decisively in a medical emergency is a responsibility, and one we are proud to carry forward into all future training.

Training With Integrity and Depth

Throughout the year, Empowered Personal Protection continued to provide high-quality instruction grounded in safety, legality, and respect for the individual.

Instruction and certifications upheld include:

• Firearms Instructor

• Range Safety Officer

• Concealed Carry & Home Defense Instructor

• Emergency First Aid Fundamentals Instructor

• Stop the Bleed® Instructor & Licensee

• Trauma-Informed Somatic Practitioner

• Human Rights & Anti–Human Trafficking Consultant

Each credential reflects an ongoing commitment to education, accountability, and excellence, because our students deserve nothing less.

Community Impact That Can’t Be Measured

Beyond credentials and coursework, 2025 was about people.

Women stepping into confidence. First-time students discovering capability. Returning students deepening skill and self-trust.

From range days to classroom conversations, this year reaffirmed that when people are taught with clarity, respect, and compassion, they rise, calmly, confidently, and responsibly.

Looking Ahead: 2026 Opportunities & Promotions

As we step into 2026, we’re excited to offer opportunities that support access, celebration, and community.

🎉 Turning 21 in 2026? - Students who turn 21 during the 2026 calendar year can receive 21% off the cost of their Ohio CHL / CCW class during their birthday month.

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👥 Bring Your People Promotion - When a participant brings 4 friends to a CHL / CCW class:

• The organizer’s class tuition is free

• Range fees are not included in this promotion

Because training together builds accountability, and learning alongside trusted people strengthens confidence.

Gratitude and the Road Forward

We close this year with gratitude for every student who chose to sit with us, learn with us, and grow with us. This work is a calling - one grounded in responsibility, faith, and the belief that strength is a birthright.

2025 laid the foundation.2026 will build boldly upon it.

We look forward to continuing to help individuals own their safety, build their skills, and empower their lives, with intention, integrity, and unwavering care.