I was born in Canal Fulton, a small town in Ohio between Akron and Canton. While growing up, I was always a tomboy – playing basketball, football, softball, etc…anything athletic I was a part of.  During high school – I focused on basketball and track I attended college and graducated.  While training in college with my sport – I found that I enjoyed lifting the weights at 4am a great deal – even much more than I did playing point guard for my school.  I truly enjoyed the empowerment the weights gave to me – and I enjoyed myself lifting.

I then joined the United States Air Force and was stationed at Edwards AFB in CA in the Mojave Desert.  Was that a change from Ohio or what?  I’d never even seen a four-lane highway prior to trying to drive on the 405.  Wow – what an eye opener.  I worked with the United States Air Force on the Space Shuttle Response Team on the flight line while attending night school.  I played sports in the military as well – basketball – and trained in kickboxing strenuously for a few years.   After receiving an honorable discharge from the military, I finished school and was working and broke my left knee playing softball.  It was then that I started to seriously weight train.  I was in a wheelchair for 6 months and crutches for 10 weeks and two hospital stays until I started rehab.  The doctor told me to forget the sports because of the knee, but once I was in rehab I really started training and training hard.  I’d always wanted to compete and be a bodybuilder and to help others train to better themselves – I just had never had the opportunity to pursue my passion until that time. 

First, I had to lose the weight I had gained from being immobile for almost 8 months.  Once I did that, I started training for my first show and I was hooked.  I’ve been training now for approximately three years and hope to turn professional someday.  I’ve been working with Colette Nelson this year – not only a great friend of mine but an extraordinary trainer – and this year will be even better than last.  I am a student, personal trainer and model.  When I’m not working, training or traveling I’m pretty much a homebody – I love spending time with my animals, writing, and relaxing.  I love the outdoors, new experiences, movies, ice-cream and Italian food (which are off the menu at the moment),, I’ve learned through the past few years that I love training, I love the sport of bodybuilding, I love to help others and see them grow and will continue to pursue those goals no matter what jumps up in my life. 

I appreciate all of those who have supported me and my fans – you are all terrific in your own way!  Keep it up!

Saying for the week:  This is what I listen to right before I hit the heavy weights….

“You ready?  Let’s go… For those of you who want to know what I’m all about it’s like this:  it’s 10 percent luck, 20 percent skill, 15 percent concentrated power of will, 5 percent pleasure, 50 percent pain and 100 percent effort to remember the name….”