About Me

Qualifications & Achievements, 30+ Years Experience

  • Responsible For Grassroots Development & Ground-Breaking, University of Miami, School of Medicine’s 16-Million Dollar Wellness Center, 13 Years 
  • Single-handedly Led Grassroots Construction, Wellness & Recreation Center, Miccosukee Indian Reservation 
  • Bachelor of Science Degree, Health, Wellness & Exercise Physiology, Penn State University
  • Master of Education, Mental Health Counseling, University of Miami
  • Regional Corporate Consultant, Employee Health & Wellness, 10 Years 
  • Founder, Current Owner, CEO LifeDesign Lady

Beneath lay the story of my journey thus far. Fasten your seatbelt, for this tale stretches long, and if stories aren’t your cup of tea, that’s perfectly fine too. Just know that I have weathered storms and emerged resilient, chin held high and adorned with a smile. I share these chronicles because if I can inspire even a single soul to believe that no life challenge is insurmountable, then my purpose flourishes. I believe life’s successful navigation requires a specific mindset, intertwining scientific knowledge and spiritual tools, to harness one’s personal power, while skillfully traversing stormy waters with those who elevate rather than belittle. I know what it feels like to be ensnared by despair, yet I have gathered a wealth of skills to better transform life’s trials. I stand ready to pay it forward—what value would these experiences hold if not shared? With open arms, I can genuinely declare that this journey remains profoundly humbling and utterly wondrous. I eagerly and humbly anticipate guiding you through life’s ups and downs, demonstrating that you too can emerge on the other side, transformed into an even brighter and happier version of you.

The unabridged journey of me

A desire to arrange things and make harmony out of objects mindfully placed in relation to one another began as far back as I can remember, that was the artist in me. With little interest in dolls, I much preferred designing and reconfiguring the interior of my doll house, persuading Grandma to knit miniature rugs from yarn remnants and repurpose toothpaste caps into planters. A yellow, oversized sand bucket, chock full of crayons, often held my attention for hours on end. It is now I realize these outlets were “art-therapy,” for my little latchkey self, not an unfamiliar reality for many Generation X’ers. This passion for meaningful, mindful creativity and deep reflection would manifest in a myriad of ways beyond childhood, shaping my story well into adulthood!


After earning a bachelor’s degree in corporate health and wellness from Penn State University, I relocated to Miami, Florida and accepted a position with a local Native American Indian Tribe, on a reservation in the heart of the Florida Everglades.

Initially considered a typical outsider by tribal members or one with little motivation for The Tribe’s best interests, it took time, patience, and the team-building skills I had acquired as a lifelong competitive athlete, before I would prevail. Noticing parallels between my rural upbringing in a PA town of only 5,000 and the small 500-member strong Miccosukee Indian Community came with ease. Healthy recreation and creative outlets were next to none. Children, adults, and tribal elders, alike, had no bona fide community gathering place. My intuition served as reminder that people are not meant to be separated from others for extended periods of time nor left with little to no meaningful outlets for expression. Feeling a sense of community, alongside the freedom to creatively and actively express one’s own terms I felt were extremely important contributors to igniting the human spirit. Before long, a relentless vision struck. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to build an inspiring space where children could partake in active, educational arts and play, where adults and the elderly exercise, socialize, learn, and creatively connect! The familiar notion, “build it and they will come” took hold. I immediately set to work on the vision. Creatively picturing every detail of the physical space came naturally. That knack for designing and reconfiguring the childhood dollhouse, childhood crayon-obsession and newly acquired health and wellness degree, alongside persistence, laser focus and deep knowing this was something I was meant to do, proved invaluable.


It wasn’t a done deal yet, however. Generating enthusiasm, within the community, for the groundbreaking of a new wellness center and developing the many interactive and meaningful self-improvement programs to accompany, was crucial, therefore it was time to go to work selling the vision. Before long, women in patchwork skirts frequented fitness creative cooking and parenting classes. Children beamed with excitement while interacting in fun, healthy & meaningful activities using whatever random space I could secure. Excitement within the community, alongside impressive pilot program attendance numbers, convinced otherwise skeptical tribal elders to approve the project. By successfully securing $1.5 million dollars in state and federal grants to reconfigure an abandoned warehouse, hire staff and jumpstart a variety of programs, the mission was accomplished. Once again, creative juices surged while selecting paint colors, mixing, and matching custom tiles, countertops, floors, and accessories as well as developing a gamut of creative mind, body, spirit health and healing programs and events. The Miccosukee Wellness Center was born! After only a single year of operation, several of these unconventional programs became nationally recognized and for a cause much greater than self!

Following several years with the Miccosukee Tribe, it was time to expand horizons, so I accepted a position with the University of Miami, School of Medicine. The task before me was to develop the University’s first-ever employee wellness department. Naturally, it didn’t take long for my vision to grow well beyond that. Again, this academic community lacked a “central gathering space, sense of community unity” where individuals could recreate, de-compress, move, learn, laugh, and grow. It was time for history to repeat itself! This project required a team of influential collaborators, me, and eight years to materialize. A $16 million-dollar state of the art wellness center became reality! Having the 60,000 square foot facility as a blank canvas to design and carry out hundreds of creative, interactive and therapeutic initiatives felt so incredibly rewarding & meaningful; an utter blessing! In retrospect, this undertaking was absolutely a “full circle experience,” closing out the small-town childhood chapter, filled with a constant yearning to meaningfully and creatively express, connect and grow! 

While serving as the University’s Wellness Program Director for 13 years, another important milestone was obtained, earning a Master of Education in Mental Health Counseling and Psychology from The University of Miami.


It appeared The Universe had been cooperatively conspiring to continuously make my life-long dreams come true however, as the wise saying goes, “there is only one constant and that’s change”! At 39, I had the wind sucked from my sails with the end of a 10-year marriage, resulting in loss of a dream home and the need to redefine as a single mom. Shortly thereafter, the 2009 economic downturn had me caught in the crossfires of massive layoffs. Then, my son and I relocated to a historic home in South Miami, where I succumbed to an inexplicable and profound illness. In that moment, I found myself utterly and irrevocably shattered!

In the shadow of discontent with the elusive answers offered by conventional doctors, I turned to personal research and the guiding light of intuition, unveiling toxic mold poisoning as the hidden culprit. With unyielding determination and unseen spirit as my guide, the transformative journey began. Embracing integrative medicine—an academic discipline under which I’d spearheaded several prior University events and most notably the ancient wisdom of traditional Chinese practices, herbal remedies, soulful prayers, healing foods healing, trauma-informed bodywork, countless yoga sessions, and a year steeped in profound meditation—I traversed the lengthy path to near-total recovery. With renewed vigor, I accepted a regional consulting role at a national employee benefits firm, spending a decade shaping the corporate wellness department into a beacon of excellence in population health management for businesses across the nation. Amidst this, a personal triumph blossomed as my son graduated from college without the weight of debt upon his shoulders, thankfully I was equipped to support him through that.


Yet lessons continued to emerge. A fateful car accident, instigated by a drunk driver, resulted in years of conservative treatments, leading to debilitating neck pain and a staggering 90% loss of use in one arm. Faced with no choice, cervical fusion surgery was imminent. Having been stripped of my means yet again, I admittedly felt truly defeated, this time uncertain I’d manage a comeback. After slipping hopelessly into a knee-deep pity party, one morning I awoke with an idea. Not one to ever admit help is needed I forced myself to round up a productive support system. It was officially time to do what I’d been doing best for others through the years. This time, however, I’d do so as a gift of love to self; a lesson I had yet to conquer. It was near immediate that every last detail of what would soon become a “pre-surgery pep rally,” where friends fashioned an uplifting collaborative artwork to place at the foot of my recovery bed appeared in the minds-eye. 

Through a ten-month healing journey, I was graced with complete recovery, one that flourished both within and without! How wondrous it is that life’s most formidable trials allow us to peel back the layers of our own existence, unveiling hidden opportunities for transformation! 


Amidst it all came a new understanding. I had been bestowed the sacred gift of setting aside ego to unveil a treasure trove of priceless lessons. Each challenge transformed into a gateway, allowing me to delve into the alternative healing practices I had passionately championed throughout my career, so that I might ultimately share this hard-won wisdom with others. It was undeniably time to Pay-It-Forward, to intertwine my rich tapestry of professional, academic, and lived experiences—the joyous, the arduous, and even those that felt insurmountable—into a fresh endeavor. Thus, LifeDesign Lady gracefully emerged into the world!

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