I am originally from rural Sparland, Illinois just north of Peoria.  I have been practicing Qigong exercises since I was a small child alongside my grandmother, who taught her own classes for many years and took me to workshops with her teachers.  In addition, I am a certified Yoga, Pilates and Zumba instructor and have been teaching fitness classes since 2010. 

 

After moving to Dubuque in 2013, I was fortunate to join John Deere and put my degree in Agricultural Economics to use.  I also had the opportunity to teach fitness classes at the factory fitness center. Our Wellness committee chair asked me if I would be interested in creating a program to help employees develop greater resiliency. My result is a Mindfulness program that combines mindset, movement and meditation. In addition to sharing this at work once a week, I’ve also presented at various community events. 

 

Joining the Mindful Minutes foundation board is very meaningful to me as I truly believe in the importance of the work it supports in our community schools. 

 

On a personal note, I am married to my college sweetheart, Brian, and we have two children, Anya and Gavin.  We enjoy exploring the Tri-State area through hiking, biking and camping.