If you haven’t had a chance to interact with me before, I’d like to take a moment to tell you a little bit about me and how I have ended up in the fitness industry, as an expert and body image coach and why I am crazy passionate about what I do.

I feel truly blessed because I believe what I teach helps others achieve not only better health but more abundance and success in all areas of  life!

My greatest success to date still remains my marriage to my wonderful husband and raising my three children, while trying to remain balanced (sometimes I get it right).

Currently, I have the privilege of being the fitness guru for Monday Morning Fitness, with K92, the area’s top radio station. I am a regular guest with the fabulous team Natalie Faunce and Jay Web of Channel 10’s Our Blue Ridge where I am a fitness contributor. I have also, had the opportunity to speak with various companies and organizations about health and fitness.   To name a few: Delta Dental, Allstate, local churches and schools, the Girls Scouts.  In addition to being a health and fitness coach I am a weight loss coach to many wonderful people all over the country.  I am also finishing up my first book Flawed and Fabulous: loving who you are while becoming who you want to be.

I have always been interested in helping people, even in high school.  I knew I wanted to be a psychologist.  I graduated Magna Cum Laude from Wake Forest University, with a major in Psychology and minor in Sociology.  During my senior year I began exercising regularly and signed up for weight lifting classes as one of my electives.   I remember being one of the few girls who would weight train in the newly built fitness center.

My parent’s are exceptional people, both taught me valuable lessons.  Two phrases that would describe my mom is: “IF I CAN THINK IT, IT CAN BE DONE!” and “YOU NEVER QUIT FOR ANY REASON.” This is the kind of lady she is and so physically strong!  My dad I’d describe as a WORKAHOLIC so I have a great work ethic from him, he always had a contributor kind of attitude -and ALSO MASSIVELY GENEROUS. An interesting note, our family vacations often consisted of going to a fitness spa where we would eat, clean and exercise all day!” SO, my exposure to this kind of healthy, all encompassing lifestyle started more than 20 years ago, believe it or not!

After working many different odd jobs, I stumbled into the spa industry! When I began working for a spa in Charlotte, NC, I knew I was in LOVE! I finally found a way I could help people look and FEEL BETTER – I LOVED IT! I thought how awesome, that I could help people learn to take care of themselves! In ’97, after moving back to Roanoke/Salem, I opened my own spa called SPAVA WELLNESS CENTER. It was always my mission to help people look and feel better. Through out this whole period, starting before I even was married, I worked with many personal trainers. Although I do not remember at the time thinking I would ever be one, I so valued their insight, their coaching and of course the results!

SEVERAL years later I became a partner in a new small personal training studio, which I opened next to the original spa and my vision of wellness was complete!

Needless to say, after selling my spa to the largest independent AVEDA spa and salon owner on the east coast, I retained my wonderful personal training studio that opened in conjunction with my second spa location.