By nature, massage and bodywork therapies are very personal and can seem invasive to many people. So, in hope of providing some ease to those who may feel uncomfortable or intimidated, I wanted to provide some insight into who it is that will be working on them. Below you will find a short autobiography describing how I came into being:

One serious throwback picture... I think I was 18 months here. Honestly, my personality probably hasn't changed much!

I was born an Army brat, and my early life was on post, where my father was an Artillery/Infantry officer, Airborne Ranger, and a Company commander over an infantry Airborne ranger unit in Fort Benning. My father was deployed many times, but became a disabled veteran in the Desert Storm and my family relocated to Birmingham in the years following his medical discharge. And I’ve loved living in Birmingham ever since!

I competed in Cross Country and both Indoor and Outdoor track in the 800 meter dash, 4x800 meter relay, 1600 meter dash, 4x1600 meter relay, and 3200 meter dash. There was a one time event of 4x3200 relay. I was the 2nd fastest runner and was always… — I competed in Cross Country and both Indoor and Outdoor track in the 800 meter dash, 4x800 meter relay, 1600 meter dash, 4x1600 meter relay, and 3200 meter dash. There was a one time event of 4x3200 relay. I was the 2nd fastest runner and was always the first to start the relay races.

I grew up in Vestavia
Played rec soccer for more than a decade
I rocked the trombone in the middle school Jazz band.
My first job was working a movie theater concession stand at the Regal Cinemas Galleria 10 movie theater and I loved it!
I competed in cross country and in indoor/outdoor track.
I attended and graduated from Vestavia Hills High School.
I studied Social and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, concentrating in Justice Sciences and Psychology (especially biopsychology).

Towards the end of my college education, I enlisted in the Army Reserve and survived Basic Training. I attended the Judge Advocate General school and received professional training as a JAG Core paralegal. I later received more professional developemental training, adding “Information Technology Specialist” to my growing list of specialities. I returned to Birmingham to be assigned to the 926th Engineer Battalion.

My 8 year Army career was unexciting and relatively lackluster.

Two Army Achievement Medals
I never went anywhere exciting and I have two cancelled deployments. My only time in active duty was for training.
Four different commanders selected me to represent my company in the Best Warrior Competition on four different occasions. That was an honor four times over.
The military was leaning down towards the end of my contract and I opted not to reup my enlistment. I received my honorable discharge.

While in that Army Reserve experience, I pursued a career in law enforcement and was hired into the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.

I was deputized
Attended the Jefferson County Sheriff's Academy
Received two professional certifications by the Alabama Police Officer’s Standards and Training Commission

Certified State Law Enforcement Officer
Certified State Correction Officer

I served as a deputy sheriff for five years and five months
I resigned after that period looking for something mentally, emotionally, and spiritually healthy to do with my life… cause Law Enforcement is NOT.

I never got my uniform tops tailored because we were supposed to wear our armored vests beneath them.

I obtained two personal training credentials and was looking for work when I began to consider ways to supplement a potential high turnover rate with clients in the fitness industry. One of the personal trainers I followed through social media was also a massage therapist. I looked a little further into massage, fell completely in love with it, and quickly became one of two students to graduate from the Birmingham Aveda Institute's Massage Therapy program and was fortunate to receive almost one-on-one training with a passionate instructor, Amy Self. It was an amazing and worthwhile training experience.

I still love learning bodywork techniques and different therapeutic approaches to addressing a variety of problems. The state of Alabama require 16 continuing education credit hours for renewing my license. I have 323 CEUs through 346 additional training hours. I had to cancel additional training due to COVID19, but as more hands-on training becomes available, I fully intend to continue my training.