I grew up in Ypsilanti, Michigan, the youngest of five kids, which probably explains a lot. I never took the traditional path.

I attended three different colleges over a decade and racked up a lot of credits, but no degree. Instead, I found my education through business: starting things, closing things, failing publicly, and learning how to keep going.

I’ve been married three times. I call the first my “starter marriage.” The second brought me to Virginia and was followed by bankruptcy and a DUI.

I’m not proud of all of it, but I wouldn’t undo it either. That chapter led me to Adam, my husband and co-navigator through some of life’s tougher terrain. Together we built (and eventually walked away from) a business that left us with debt, grief, and a stronger partnership than we ever expected.