It's Always Been About People

I've been mentored by some of the best — personally, professionally, and everything in between.
And one thing holds true with each of them:
they taught me to lead with heart.

That phrase has stayed with me through every chapter of my life — from the classroom to the ballfield, from higher education to youth sport.

The truth is, Lead with Heart wasn't born from a highlight reel.
I wasn't a Division I athlete who went pro.
I was the regular sportsmanship award winner of my youth rec league.
The proudest JV captain you'd ever meet.
The best warm-up catcher my varsity team had my junior year — because the girls in front of me and behind me were absolute beasts.

I did what the team needed, when they needed it.
Because that's what team means.

My dad understood that, too. He was one of the 1964 captains of the South Carolina Gamecocks football team — and that group of men still remains on my speed dial all these years later. They remind me what loyalty, legacy, and heart look like long after the lights go out.

Today, as the President of the Upper Arlington Softball Association, I'm responsible for the hearts of nearly 400 girls every year — a privilege and an honor I don't take lightly.
Once upon a time, I thought I'd just coach my first-grade daughter alongside a close friend and former teammate. And the rest… is history.

I'm also the Program Chair for Sport Management at Franklin University, where I've spent almost 25 years in higher education — advisor, faculty, leader, and lifelong learner.
And through every chapter of my life, the same truth has held:
team is everything.

Almost ten years later, I've become a resource for so many — parents, coaches, volunteers, and kids — all working to create something that matters.
And again, I felt that nudge.
It was time.
Time to write the handbook.

Lead with Heart isn't just a brand or a program — it's a culmination.
Of the lessons my dad taught me.
Of the kids who remind me why it matters.
Of the mentors who modeled love through leadership.
Of the educators, coaches, and leaders who keep showing up.

It's my love letter to the power of people — and to the belief that when we lead with heart, we change lives.