It all started with a vision and journal entry back in 1998. I had just completed a 2 year service as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Nepal, and I was traveling through India with a burning question, “What was I going to do when I returned to Colorado?”
I started having visions of opening a Wellness Center that was specifically designed to support women. A safe place, with a resource center and services that allowed individuals to take care of their bodies and leave their stress at the door.
I returned to live with my parents, and my journal got filed away, as I had no money or business experience. After adjusting to the culture shock of returning to America, my parents told me it was time to look for a job. My undergraduate degree was in Urban Planning and Design, but I had no desire to work for a city or county doing zoning work. I really didn’t have many other options, so I put my resume together and headed to copy center in Boulder to make copies.
Next to the copy center was a place called The Wild Oats Wellness Center. My interest was piqued. I went into the space to check it out, and my jaw dropped. This place was almost exactly like what I had journaled about in India. They had a resource library in the front, and 5 treatment rooms where they offered; psychotherapy/counseling services, Ayurvedic Medicine, Acupuncture, Chiropractic Care and Massage. It was a non-profit wellness center that Libby Cook, co-founder of Wild Oats Markets founded, to give all Wild Oats employees monthly wellness services as an employee benefit. It was ahead of its time.
I immediately wanted to work at this place. They were hosting a community dinner that evening and I changed my plans and went to the dinner. There I met Lisa Shapiro the Director. I told her that I would be willing to do anything, that I just wanted to work at the center. I submitted my resume over the weekend and by Monday I was offered an administrative assistant position. I was elated!
I worked there for 2 years, while also pursuing a Masters Degree in Counseling and Psychotherapy from Regis University. I worked my way up to Assistant Director, and was assisting in the management of both the Denver and Boulder Wild Oats Wellness Centers.
In 2000, I started my entrepreneurial journey. I started my first business, which was called Inner Infinity, Inc. I was designing cards with inspirational sayings and images. In early 2001, I found out that the Wild Oats Wellness Centers were going to be closing. The Board of Directors for Wild Oats was trying to increase the bottom line for the company, and having 2 non-profit centers that were running in the red on their balance sheet didn’t make sense. They made the decision to close them. I approached Libby Cook about buying the assets of the Denver wellness center and negotiated a new lease.
On March 1, 2001 myself and my business partner Sheri Willan took over the Wild Oats Wellness Center in Denver and we converted it from a non-profit entity to a corporation and The Wellness Center was born!
It is hard to believe that this month, March 2021 marks the 20th anniversary of The Wellness Center. As I take a moment to reflect, I am incredibly grateful for the community/family that we have built. My personal journey throughout the years, have shaped and formed my worldview of life and business. The greatest gift I have learned, is to come from a place of compassion and kindness when it comes to running a business that is built on humans providing healing services. Compassion for myself, the staff, the practitioners and our clients (even more so during a global pandemic). All the while also setting clear boundaries, and letting people know your expectations. You can be both compassionate and kind, while also making very difficult business decisions such as letting go of people that are not serving the higher good of the vision of your business.
I am forever grateful to the vision I had in 1998, and the path and opportunities that have led me to today. I equate much of my success to following my instincts, ancestral guidance, and having the courage to make mistakes and pivot quickly.
I often get asked if I will open additional locations. My response is, “if I am guided and inspired to,” but at this juncture in my life, success is not about a huge business enterprise and making more money. It is about having rich friendships and relationships, having contemplative time and being a steward to the community, state and World.
I am forever grateful to all of the practitioners that have come through The Wellness Center over the past 20 years. They are a network of healing providers that continue to share their talents with the community and I am proud to have been part of The Wellness Center’s journey.
Over the next year there will be many celebrations and honoring of individuals and milestones, big and small. I invite you to celebrate with us!
