I met grieving parents in a quiet Starbucks, three months after losing their child. They weren’t looking for answers, just someone who understood. I listened as they shared memories, fears, and questions I couldn’t answer. That night taught me grief needs presence, not solutions. It also shaped The MentorWell, where mentors show up, listen, and walk beside young people who feel lost.

Someone asked me what my proudest accomplishment was. They expected a business win. I said: "Learning how to keep going after the day everything changed." After losing my daughter Maddie, the strength it takes to keep showing up, loving, and living — not just surviving — has become the thing I’m most proud of.