On January 8, 2026, I earned the gold standard certificate in the fitness industry – Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). I am also a NSCA-CPT (Certified Personal Trainer). I work independently and at multiple YMCAs as a Personal Trainer and am a certified Les Mills BodyCombat group exercise instructor. I have a Ph.D. in Research, Measurement and Statistics with a minor in Health Promotion along with a MS and BS in Health Promotion. Lastly, I am a Brown Belt in Jiu JItsu and am co-owner of Gaston Jiu Jitsu in Gastonia, NC.

Jiu JItsu literally changed the trajectory of my life. I started jiu jitsu at 52. I wasn’t in great shape mentally or physically. With the encouragement of my youngest son (18 at the time), I began training jiu-jitsu with him. It wasn’t easy—I hated it at first and almost quit after three months. But slowly, I began to see progress. I gained control over my body, started mastering moves that once felt completely uncoordinated, and learned to stay calm even in the most uncomfortable situations.

Around 6 months in, I decided to enter a competition. For me, it was about overcoming fear. Fear of the public. Fear of my shadow. Fear of being rejected. Fear of being accepted. And on and on. I was scared of everything at that time in my life. It was about rejoining the world. My past had kept me from being part of events, gyms, and gatherings. This was my opportunity to be part of something again.

Although I lost all four of my matches in my first competition, the lessons I learned ignited a desire to keep going. A month later, I entered my first IBJJF open and lost two more matches, but I could feel myself improving. I was growing mentally stronger and no longer panicked during my matches. A few months later, at another local event, I lost two more. But by then, there was no turning back. I was determined to get my hand raised, no matter how many losses it took. At my next local event, I lost my first two matches—but then, finally, I got my hand raised. And this was the event that I met Jeff. Over the next few years, I continued to compete, winning some and losing some. But in 2023, I decided it was time to win. I pushed through past limitations and the fear that had held me back.

The biggest change in my jiu jitsu and in life is I began strength training and received nutrition guidance. I needed help with energy and recovery to sustain that much working out and doing jiu jitsu 7 days a week, sometimes twice a day. I signed up for Atlanta open and won both my weight division and the absolute. I then moved on to Pans, where I, again, double golded in both my weight and absolute. That year culminated at Worlds, where I won my weight division and earned silver in the absolute. I was promoted from blue belt to purple belt at Worlds.

Over the next two years, Jeff and I got married, bought a new home in Gastonia with the goal of opening a gym, and I won another Worlds. To further the change in my life, I left the organization I had been with for 19 years. I had no job to go to. The gym was starting to pay for itself, but it wasn’t paying any personal bills. And I wasn’t old enough to draw retirement. I’ll never forget what the security guard said to me when I was contemplating resigning…she said, “You either have faith or you don’t.” And 30 days later I was without a “job” because I chose faith. I ramped up my studying with the National Strength and Conditioning Association. December 2024 I sat for the NSCA – Certified Personal Trainer and passed. Since then, I’ve built a clientele who challenge me in my knowledge and understanding of strength training; who crack me up laughing so hard that I get cramps; and am finally feeling like I am where I belong in this life…in this world. Jiu Jitsu offers so much more than jiu jitsu skills. Similarly, strength training offer so much more than just physically getting stronger.

Seeing the CSCS behind my name is crazy! With this new stature, I will continue to expand my knowledge and skills to bring the best to my clients.

Let’s GOOOOO!