Tell us about a woman you’ve mentored whose journey inspired you in return.
One of my proudest mentoring moments is with my daughter. When Georgia sanctioned co-ed wrestling, she came home and said, “Mom, I want to wrestle.” I thought, Well, this is new…and this is going to be amazing. I found her coaches, studied the rulebooks and let her take the lead. That leap turned into a journey, recruitment to the top women’s team in the nation, international medals and now a spot in Texas Woman’s University’s first D2 women’s program. Today, we stand side by side in the Wrestlers in Business Network — and cheering her on is as fulfilling and inspiring as anything I’ve done.
What role has fitness and discipline played in shaping your resilience?
Being active has always been part of my joy. Growing up in Albany, Georgia, you had yardwork, housework, a sport and a musical instrument every single day. Now, I love moving my body in all kinds of ways: sometimes it’s a solo workout, sometimes with my husband or my girlfriends—the “Sassy Sisters.” For me, fitness is about staying grounded, laughing through the sweat and celebrating what our bodies can do.
What are you most excited for in women’s wrestling right now?
There’s so much to celebrate! Women’s wrestling has officially graduated from an Emerging Sport for Women to a full NCAA national collegiate championship across Divisions I, II and III. What an incredible milestone for these athletes and the sport’s future! Through the Wrestlers in Business Network, we’re also looking forward to opening applications for our annual four-year scholarship in March. Georgia high school seniors don’t have to be wrestlers to apply. Being a fan is enough! And on a personal note, I’ve already secured my Olympic tickets and cannot wait to cheer on Team USA!
What do you love most about living and working in this area?
After nine years in Decatur, I can easily say the community is what I love most! Chris and I love our long walks, date nights on the Square and being surrounded by such a vibrant, creative and wonderfully eclectic culture. One of our favorite spots is Thinking Man Tavern. You never quite know what you’re walking into—live jazz, trivia or a young local DJ taking a turn at the music. That’s part of the fun! Decatur has that rare combination of small-town familiarity and big-city personality. We’re still finding new reasons to love it.
