I’m a wife, mother, 20-year Air Force retiree and well-being coach, consultant and trainer. I love nature, traveling and coffee gelato.
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
My husband Quinn and I met playing basketball at a military gym and immediately became friends. We still enjoy being active lifting weights, hiking and playing basketball and now have a 16 year old son, Donovan, and 10 year old daughter, Ella, to enjoy our hobbies with as well.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
Soon after joining the military at 17 years old, I began my love of health and wellness. Although I was working as a Turkish language interpreter for the military, I also began working part-time at a local gym. I started as a personal trainer and then got certified to teach group fitness and yoga. As I continued working with people on their physical health, I recognized that there was also a need to focus on mental, spiritual and emotional health and began learning more about things like mindfulness, trauma, and emotional intelligence, and conscious leadership. I started my company Strong By Nature Wellness to focus on holistic well-being for purpose-driven professionals and later started a second company, Better Execs, to focus on supporting leaders and organizations.
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
When we lived in Baltimore, we used to go hiking at Harper’s Ferry and would often stop to eat at Vintage on the way home. When we decided to build a new home where we could have a yard and be closer to the mountains, we started looking from Mount Airy to Frederick, but felt most at home in New Market and moved into our home in 2017.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
Slow down. Be intentional. Choose gratitude. Every single day.
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
Biking across Italy.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
My favorite things is how kind everyone is and how much people look out for one another.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
I see myself continuing to live in our beautiful town, while also doing more traveling to teach and speak at places all around the world.
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
I never graduated college. Instead of doing courses that I didn’t particularly care about, I chose to get certifications in things that were specifically relevant to the work I do instead of finishing my degree.
Q: What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
It’s hard to choose THE most beautiful place because I’ve been blessed to travel all over the world but one of my favorites has been the Greek Isles, specifically Santorini.
Q: Favorite month? favorite holiday? and best single day on the calendar?
I don’t have a favorite day or holiday. Honestly I dislike the commercialization of most holidays. I am intentional about enjoying every day and am equally grateful for every single day that I wake up.
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
A sunrise at the beach.
Q: What person, event or experience has made the greatest impact or inspiration in your life?
There is no ONE event or person that comes to mind. I am inspired by people and experiences every day. An experience that was impactful in ways I didn’t realize at the time was deploying to Pakistan when my son was 2. I learned so much about myself and the world during that experience and it has allowed me to better serve my clients.
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
I’d love to have lunch with Oprah at Vintage after I lead her in a meditation outside in nature. It’s been on my vision board for a while and I put it out into the universe whenever possible!
Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Safe, warm, loving
