Starting my own business was both terrifying and exhilarating. At 30 years old, I found myself widowed with three young children after the sudden loss of my husband, Kyle, in a car accident. In an instant, I went from sharing a life with the love of my life to navigating the unimaginable—raising our three-year-old and 15-month-old twins alone. In the face of heartbreak, I had a choice: merely survive or choose to thrive. I chose to thrive. I chose to turn my pain into purpose.

Over the next few years, I focused on raising my children in the way Kyle and I had envisioned. Life brought me love again, and I remarried a wonderful man, Tom Schreiber, who later adopted my children as his own. It was during this period that I also embarked on a new journey—one that would become my life’s mission. I founded Challenge to Change, Inc., a company built to inspire individuals to embrace health, happiness, and a positive mindset.

As a former elementary teacher, my heart has always been in education, and working with students and school personnel remains at the core of my mission. My own journey of loss and resilience fueled my passion for teaching others how to cultivate happiness and well-being. I named my business Challenge to Change to reflect a core belief: the power to change and create a fulfilling life resides within us. It isn’t something we find externally—it is a choice we make every day. Understanding this truth can be transformative, leading us exactly where we need to be.

Today, Challenge to Change has grown into a company dedicated to equipping individuals with proactive and preventative mindfulness strategies. Our programs include the Mindful Education in Schools curriculum, Kids and Adult Yoga Teacher Trainings, online learning tools for schools and families, numerous children’s books, and various mindfulness-based resources. I truly believe that empowering children with skills in positive thinking and self-compassion can change the world.

I hold a Master’s Degree in Education from Western Illinois University, am an E-RYT 500 yoga instructor, a Registered Children’s Yoga Teacher, and a certified sound healer. Through my work, I continue to pursue my noble goal of raising happy, healthy, and safe children who make the world better than they found it.