PERSONAL LIFE
What would people be surprised to find out about you?
After I graduated high school, I attended nursing school at St. Luke’s in Sioux City. My journey through nursing school at St. Luke’s in Sioux City was a testament to resilience. It was a challenging path, marked by failures and setbacks. Nursing school was the hardest thing I have ever done. I failed the first semester, retook it, and then I failed a class in the second semester, retook it, and then I was involved in a grease fire that resulted in 3rd-degree burns in which I could not attend clinical due to having open wounds, so I failed a third time. This put me behind 1.5 years, and it’s a two-year program. Despite these obstacles, I persevered. I felt like a failure, and I didn’t know how I would ever fulfill my dream of being in the medical field. Most people don’t know that, but it shows my resilience. I have always been the worst test taker, but I was very good clinically. I went on to graduation, passed my RN boards, and started in the ICU. I excelled and quickly became very skilled in many realms, which led me to be a traveling ICU nurse.
I spent time in Florida and California in some of the sickest ICUs. When I returned to Iowa, I started in Labor and Delivery, which I fell in love with. I wanted to deliver babies, so I went on to get my ARNP-CNM degree, which is a master’s degree in nursing. Because of all of my experience as an RN, my master’s degree was a breeze, and I graduated with honors. During my time in graduate school, I worked part-time as part of the Critical Care Resource team, which only allows certain RNs who have the most experience to work in both the ER and ICU. Before I opened The Sonography Studio, I was skilled in 3 very different specialties. Looking back, my failure in RN school was such a small part of who I have become, but during those years, it seemed like I would never succeed. Going from failing to graduating with honors is a surreal experience.
What is your life purpose? Do you have a personal mission statement for this phase of your life?
If you are familiar with the Enneagram test, I am an Enneagram 8. My life motto is definitely a mixture of being a go-getter, sticking up for myself and others, being passionate about life, and the opportunity that we all have to become successful … as long as you never give up!
What is something that you struggle with?
I am successful in many aspects, but it has been hard to recognize it. It always feels like I am onto the next thing instead of slowing down to enjoy the daily little things. For a long time, I lived in the future. When you have a big goal for your life, you have to live in the future until you get there. But I remember dreaming of the life I live now, and I still find myself trying to live in the future. A big lesson I had to learn was that it’s important to enjoy the now. My dad suddenly passed away three years ago, and my whole perspective on life since then has shifted. It sounds cliche, but life truly is short.
Do you have morning rituals or daily habits that enhance your life?
I am NOT a morning person. I worked the night shift for most of my career. Now that I have two kids, they are my alarm clock, and I don’t like that about myself. I want to get in the habit of waking up before them, meditating, journaling, and enjoying a slow morning. It’s one thing I am focused on for this year. So far, I have not succeeded. It’s a hard thing to do when you’re a night owl. Daily meditation at night, before I fall asleep, has truly brought so much inner calm- and that is one thing that I have been consistent with within the last six months or so.
What are your non-negotiables?
Therapy once a week. Everyone needs a therapist.
What are 4 random facts?
1. I am successful, but I can’t remember anything. I am going to see a specialist in Atlanta very soon. My memory is awful, and sometimes it makes my job hard.
2. I am not a Midwesterner at heart; I was raised in Florida and California prior to moving to Iowa, and I will be moving to Florida very soon!
3. I am opening a reformer Pilates studio and have never taken a reformer Pilates class. LOL!
4. The Sonography Studio will soon be a nationwide franchise!
Who do you look up to?
My dad. He was my hero. I had lived with him since I was 12 years old. I strive to be more like him in many aspects, especially with his kind and non-judgmental attitude. He was also an entrepreneur and successful business owner. Even though his specialty was Asphalt, and I didn’t want anything to do with it, I learned a lot from him over the years that I have instilled in myself as a business owner. He has been gone since I opened the studio, but he has and will always continue to be the driving force behind it all.
How do you want to be remembered?
On top of being a great mother, I will be remembered as The girl who founded The Sonography Studio.
WORK LIFE
Tell us about your business.
The Sonography Studio was founded in 2022, shortly after my dad passed away. While pursuing my master’s degree, I became pregnant with my first son, Lux. I was in clinical rotations and had access to an ultrasound machine and peeked in on him all the time. It was so fun to watch him grow, and that’s where the idea sparked. But, because I am a practitioner, I thought to myself, “I could offer so much more than just ultrasounds.” After graduation, I tried to establish a midwife program at the hospital. It was moving in the right direction until the CEO was let go, and then my focus switched, and I thought, “Maybe I should do that thing I’ve been thinking about. I know I’m not the only one who would enjoy seeing their baby.” When I opened, I originally had planned to have elective ultrasound and IV hydration for sick mamas. The studio quickly grew, and I was having people come to me from all over. I attended a conference and learned more about technology for vaginal rejuvenation and pelvic floor rehabilitation, which I knew fit the theme. We have grown and are in our second space, with a second location in Sioux Falls and many more to come. I consider the studio a full-blown Women’s Wellness Studio now. We offer massage therapy, IV hydration, hormone/vitamin optimization, vaginal rejuvenation, urinary incontinence treatments, pelvic floor rehabilitation, lactation consultations, and elective ultrasound. It has been so much fun to watch it flourish and grow!
What’s the meaning behind the business name?
I wanted something classy but to the point. I still love the name. However, I’ve had to add a tagline, Pregnancy, Postpartum & Beyond, because a lot of women still think that it is just for pregnant women.
What sets your business apart from the rest?
From what I have gathered – this is the only business of its kind in the United States, which is crazy to think since we are in little Sioux City, IA, with such a niche business. I always told myself that if it could flourish here, it would flourish anywhere.
What are you most proud of?
How fast it has grown, and how many comments we get all the time thanking us for offering these services. So many women struggle with anxiety throughout pregnancy, and we help alleviate that for many. We have also successfully treated more than 250 women across both locations with a 99.9% success rate in treating stress, urge, and mixed urinary incontinence, which 70% of us struggle with. That is probably my favorite accomplishment – we have allowed people to experience life-changing results. Our oldest patient thus far is 95.
What have been the most valuable lessons you have learned in running your own business?
It can be tricky to devote enough time to your business and also enough to your home life/being a mom. I still struggle with this, but I have learned that life goes by quickly; work needs to stay at work, and when I am at home, I need to be fully present so I don’t miss any moments!
Advice for others starting out in business?
DO IT. That’s all I have to say. If you believe you have a good idea, go for it!
