Where are you from originally and how long have you lived in town?
I am from Richmond, VA. I’ve lived here all my life!
Tell us about your Child(ren) and Age(s)
I am a mother of identical twin girls! They are nine years old in the 3rd grade
What’s your favorite activity to do in Richmond with the kids?
Every Saturday, I spend time with the girls. We call it Girls’ Day. I enjoy taking them shopping and out to lunch to catch up.
One thing people would be surprised to know about you…
I am an introvert who loves to dance! I love line dancing and Latin inspired dance. I’ve taught at 2 fitness clubs and I dance for fun.
Anyone special you’d like to thank for helping you through parenthood?
It takes a village! I give all the thanks to my mother, brother and husband for caring for the twins while I work. I especially want to thank my mom and brother as they both play a vital role in the twins’ lives while my husband and I continue to build our businesses.
Are you involved in a business venture, a local organization, a creative endeavor, or in the corporate world? Please share!
Yes! I am a Certified Medical Laboratory Scientist. I graduated from VCU in 2009. I’ve been in the field for 14 years. I started working in hospital laboratories then reference laboratories. Now, I am an entrepreneur. I own Any Lab Test Now located in Short Pump along with several other businesses in property maintenance, fitness and wellness.
How did you get into this field?
My passion of “taking one’s health into their own hands” is what drove me to invest in the franchise, Any Lab Test Now. I believe that everyone should not only “know their numbers” but understand what their lab results mean in order to help guide them on the path to good health and wellness and prevent obesity, heart disease and diabetes for example.
What’s your favorite thing about your job?
My favorite thing about my passion (job) is that I directly impact every person that walks through my door through lab testing! My team and I are customer service focused and not afraid to go the extra mile to ensure that our customers’ needs are met.
How has this community been instrumental in getting you to where you are now?
I am very blessed! God is very important in my life. He has placed special people in my life to serve as my mentors. As I stated before, I am an introvert. I am used to performing my best work (lab testing and reporting quality results) behind the scenes and having that work interpreted by a nurse or doctor and presented to patients. My mentors inspired me to bring my expertise and compassion for people to the forefront because they knew that it would change lives for the better!
Easy Turkey Chili
Winter is chili season in our household, so I’ve been making a pot just about every week, trying new recipes, making my tried and true favorites, and getting creative. This recipe has been the family favorite this season, and I have already made it no less than 7 times since fall finally arrived here in Richmond, VA.
Easy Peanut Butter Football Dip!
This easy, no-bake dessert dip from Lynn Lilly, the talented mama behind the Craft Box Girls blog uses basic pantry ingredients like peanut butter, chocolate chips and pretzels. We’ll be making it for the Super Bowl and then again for Valentine’s Day—simply swapping the football shape for a heart one!
Turkey and Sweet Potato Rainbow Chili
I love all the different colors in this dish, hence the name rainbow chili, and that it incorporates sweet potatoes without being overpoweringly sweet like some sweet potato chili recipes I’ve had. I also love that it’s so easy to get creative with and add any vegetables you like or have on hand and need to use. Plus it means I can make it a few weeks in a row and adjust it enough that it tastes unique each week.