I ROSE FROM THE ASHES, BECAUSE I MADE THEM.

My goal is to leverage my knowledge, experience, and network to help you shorten your learning curve on your path to becoming your own advocate for yourself and your children.

I’ve always been resourceful and solution oriented.

One of my earliest memories of this was when I was a Junior in High School. I had just turned 17 and I was standing in my kitchen listening to my father explain to me that there was no money for college. I was shocked. I didn’t know much about my recently divorced parents’ financial situation. I just knew that I needed my job at the restaurant to fund everything outside of the necessities. I listed 13 extracurriculars on my college applications. I heard my father’s words and moved through feelings of disappointment and frustration. I walked away to my room knowing I’d find a way, there was no way I was going to continue the cycle of financial struggle of my childhood. Neither of my parents attended a four year college and I resolved that college was my way out.

The next day I took the first step in a chance meeting in my high school cafeteria with a recruiter toward a full scholarship to a Big Ten school. Within a year I was on my path to a degree in International Relations and then on to serve six years in the US Navy. I excelled there earning every qualification possible, including ones outside of my assigned duties, to become one of the top ranked Surface Warfare Officers on both ships I served on.

I dreamed of becoming an entrepreneur in my Navy days and started learning all that I could. I read books and even took extra college classes in my free time in topics like accounting to prepare myself for my future business ventures.

After the Navy I accepted an offer with a national home builder and fast tracked my way through their Project Management program to learn all I could about real estate. I started with construction and earned my General Contractor’s license, then went on to earn my Real Estate Broker’s license. I supervised the construction of about 50 houses in my first year and then, after my twins were born, I went on to start my own construction and real estate firm.

I loved my construction and real estate business; however, I was growing that business while also being a full-time mother. I worked when they napped and slept---which meant I wasn’t.

When you’re fueled by passion and purpose, you can move mountains. I wanted a better life for my daughters, and I was determined to create it.

I reached a point where I had to choose to continue with that business or pivot to something different to be more present for my daughters. I chose to pivot. In 2012 I began a blog about health and wellness and stumbled into network marketing through the love of a product. Within a month I had earned enough money to cover our grocery bill while being present for my daughters. It was so much easier than what I experienced in my previous business that I decided to put in more effort. Six months later I was covering the mortgage, eighteen months later I was earning more than I was paying myself as a General Contractor—without any of the overhead or stress.

I grew a team of thousands, created marketing strategies, gave presentations to thousands around the globe, held retreats, and created training programs.  Suddenly I found myself as a Senior Level Sales leader in the top 0.01% of the company with a team generating $45 million in sales over 10 years earning multi-six figure commissions.

From an entrepreneurial and financial perspective, I was having the time of my life. Growing an income and helping others do the same is incredibly rewarding.

Investing in personal development and education is something I do regularly. I have earned a long list of certifications along the way to include Health Coach, Train Your Organization Coach, Holistic Minister Practitioner, and even passed my exam to become a Life and Health Insurance Agent. My education and experience helped me to become a life skills master and critical thinker. I’ve been able to pour my knowledge into my daughters as I homeschooled them over the years and I am thrilled to witness their incredible growth as they begin to walk their own path.

In 2021 I began to wake up to the truth of my marriage. I took a rapid succession of steps to extract myself from my situation and began the healing journey and education of a lifetime through that process. I never imagined what I would go through over the next two years — the betrayal from people who claimed to care about me, the lies, manipulation, and deception. The details of all that unfolded are a story for another day.

Early in the process, I realized I needed to pull back from most of the relationships my ex and I had in common.

I didn't know who to trust, and I didn't want to put anyone in the middle of this strange situation. I felt heaps of guilt and shame in the beginning. I knew what needed to be done and was holding my resolve tight.

I was separated for about seven months when I realized I needed a new lawyer. One month after I had the new one, I realized he wasn't the right fit, either. Thankfully, my third lawyer was exactly who I needed. I stuck with her all the way to the end. It was right around the time I began working with her that I began to unintentionally build my support team. 

What each person requires for members of their divorce team may vary.

First, I started with a Health Coach — despite being one myself. She helped me get on track and focus on some physical wellness goals to complement the emotional and spiritual healing work I was already doing. 

The next member of my support team was my therapist. Right out of the gate at the first appointment, she indicated that I was doing amazing on my own with the healing work I was doing and that I could continue to meet with her if I wanted to, but she didn't see it as necessary. 

While this was validating, I determined it was important to continue attending regular sessions. I'm grateful I trusted my intuition and continued to develop a relationship with her over the next several months. 

It wasn't until well over a year after separating that I hired a Divorce Coach and a few other support team members. By then, with my coach's help, I started taking action and understanding more about the process. 

Unfortunately, I was also coming to realize that the trajectory I was on was referred to as a "high conflict" divorce.

Despite all signs pointing to high conflict and Custody Evaluation appointments being set, I refused to accept it. I woke up one morning, and the phrase "The high conflict divorce that never was" came to me. I wrote it on a sticky note and stuck it on my dry-erase board at my desk. 

This became my daily affirmation. I wrapped it around me like armor as I walked into battle daily. I had it in my mind during every conversation with my lawyer, therapist, and ex. 

I found that your lawyer actually responds to YOUR mindset and YOUR energy. Which means if you're confident and persistent in your beliefs and priorities, then they will be, too.

I repeated two primary objectives over and over again for my entire divorce process:

1. The best interests of the children.

2. Fair and equitable distribution of assets and liabilities. 

Whenever things were spinning out of control and others got swept up in the drama, I'd go back to those priorities. 

Around 18 months into the process, I learned how lawyer bills can accumulate quickly during certain phases of the process. They can add up even faster when opposing counsel isn't properly doing their part, and your lawyer is doing the work for two. The preparation time for a mediation and the subsequent event takes many hours, equating to a substantial bill. Thankfully, I was organized, succinct, and prompt with my contributions and leaned on my third-party resources to help me streamline everything as much as possible.

Despite the trajectory my divorce was on, including a five-day trial request submission, "The high conflict divorce that never was" became a reality.

We were able to pivot away from Custody Evaluators and outlandish accusations to a more reasonable discussion and agreement. 

Through the two-year divorce process, I met many more women going through their own divorces along the way. Each was navigating a different scenario but with some common issues. I started to see the playbook and distill some of the key strategies I had implemented to overcome many obstacles thrown my way. I became passionate about wanting to help women through this process. 

If they only had the awareness, support, and tools I had access to and developed along the way, they could have a better outcome for themselves and their children. 

I want to help women live the lifestyle they choose and build a legacy in this next chapter of their lives. 

I've done a lot of reflection on my journey, where I succeeded, and where I could have improved. There were skills and awareness I had gathered during my life that helped me tremendously. My experience in real estate, general contracting, health and wellness, owning businesses, and verbal and written communication were instrumental.

I rose from the ashes. Because I made them.

The visual that I made the ashes gives me full-body chills.

My mentor spoke those words in an Instagram post and they resonated so deeply.

I was born with a cycle-breaker gene. I was like one of those frantic little moles in the whac-a-mole game. I would keep trying to dodge the controlling systems of the world, establish my independence, learn all that I could, and break free, but the matrix hammer (wielded by various people and institutions) kept bopping me on the head.

My path to becoming my own advocate began right there in our pediatrician's office with my baby girls when a medical professional became enraged after I presented facts contrary to what she told me. 

It's been a long road to where I am today, and I don't believe the learning ever ends. As a homeschooling mother, entrepreneur, Functional Divorce Coach, Holistic Health Coach, and Holistic Minister Practitioner, I'm immersing myself in learning daily. I'm humbled by the circle of talented professionals I get to collaborate with regularly. 

My goal is to bring my knowledge, experience, and network to you to shorten your learning curve on your path to becoming your own advocate for yourself and your children.

Uncovering truth and being willing to speak up for YOURSELF in the face of adversity WILL TAKE TAKE COURAGE AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

Along my journey, I've had to take accountability for the decisions I made that put me on the divorce path due to a lack of awareness, wounding, and fear.

Those decisions carry consequences. You may have some playing out in your life right now, and I'd like to encourage you to take accountability, forgive yourself, and transform those life experiences into purpose.

And I can help you do that.

As your Functional Divorce Coach, I'm your guide and biggest supporter. I'll help you create an action plan, identify resources, and develop the important emotional management skills needed to respond coherently and professionally throughout the process.

You’ll receive awareness, support, and tools to navigate the divorce process successfully and come out on the other side of it stronger than when you went in–– financially, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically –– as you navigate single or co-parenting.

I won't just help you survive–– I'll help you implement action steps to thrive and lay a foundation for creating your next chapter. 

You and your kids aren't another statistic in the Family Court system. With my support, you’ll be setting yourself you to achieve the highest outcome possible. 

I'm so happy you found your way here.