I’m a North Carolina native who ultimately found her way back home after years of living and working in South Florida, Lake Tahoe, and Aspen. My professional career began in medicine, where I worked alongside my husband, Dr. McAlister, helping expand and manage bariatric medical practices across multiple states. Through that work, I became deeply involved in supporting women navigating weight-loss care, long-term health changes, and the often-overlooked emotional side of bariatric medicine. 

When I later moved to South Florida, I began investing in real estate, which led to becoming a licensed broker and operating my own brokerage for 17 years. I later became licensed in Colorado and continued practicing while living there. 

Across both medicine and real estate, my focus has remained the same: helping people—particularly women—navigate complex, high-stakes decisions with clarity, confidence, and trusted guidance. 

Education has always been important to me, so I returned to school later in life to complete my undergraduate degree in International Business, followed by a master’s degree in Sustainability.

So how does all of that lead to becoming a firearms instructor and speaker?

Later in life, I came to realize that the world I grew up in had changed. That realization led me to obtain my concealed carry permit and begin taking personal responsibility for my safety.

Although I had held my concealed carry permit for many years, I did not fully appreciate the importance of advanced training until a frightening incident at my own front door. Someone attempted to break in just seconds after I locked the deadbolt. That experience became the catalyst that pushed me to pursue serious, ongoing skills development. While I share additional details during my classes, that moment fundamentally changed my approach to training.

Since then, I’ve trained with more than 50 instructors across the United States, many at the top of their disciplines. Today, I teach students at every level—from brand-new beginners to advanced shooters working on movement, downrange decision-making, and real-world defensive skills. I also compete in 3-Gun competitions, continually sharpening my own abilities so I can bring the best training possible to those I teach.

I feel it is important to help people build confidence, competence, and the mindset necessary to protect themselves and the people they love. As students progress, if interested, training may also include competitive shooting, which I use as a tool to sharpen skills, reinforce discipline under pressure, and keep training both effective and engaging.