ABOUT: FACULTY
Advanced Professional Massage Therapy Program
Angel Gregorio – Program Director
angel@sochi.edu 818-980-8990 x 110
A graduate of Southern California Health Institute, Mr. Gregorio has been the program director of the massage therapy and physical therapy aide programs at SOCHi since 2009 and had prior been a lead instructor at the institute since 1999. Mr. Gregorio had been instrumental in developing and perfecting the core curriculum of the massage and physical therapy aide programs. He had originally studied under Boris Prilutsky the founder of the institute and now he continues to pass the knowledge to his own students. Committed to his love for the profession, he continues to practice massage therapy for his own private clientele. In prior years he had worked extensively in a physical rehabilitation environment where he had assisted physical therapists in the treatment of their patients. Today, his passion is to give others the opportunity to explore this wonderful world of healing through the art of touch.
Liat Golan – Lead Instructor
liat@sochi.edu 818-980-8990 x 121
Liat has been passionately devoted to the healing arts for most her adult life. She earned her certification in massage therapy in 1999, and feels that a holistic approach to teaching is essential to a student’s success. Volunteering is also a large part of Liat’s life. She has volunteered at youth centers and high schools and rides for aids lifecycle and the la marathon. Liat worked in a variety of clinical settings as a massage therapist. She began teaching in 2004 at Bryman College. In 2009, Liat began working for the National Holistic Institute, where she also had dual responsibilities; she was a teacher and a placement coordinator. This type of dual work gave her a better insight as to what the student needs to succeed in the real world. Liat understood the power of motivation, and daily she gives her students all she can to help them succeed in this amazing choice they made. Liat declares, “Everyday I am privileged to see the integration of intellect, spirituality and integrity flourish right before my eyes… masterpieces of which I am both the paint and brush”.
Linda Sweet – Instructor, Tutoring Coordinator
linda@sochi.edu 818-980-8990 x 125
Linda, originally from Detroit, Michigan, where after her education taught weekly seminars, and classes to educate anyone and everyone on massage therapy and all aspects of natural health. She had a practice in a chiropractic center for 5 years, and then decided to move to California.
Linda is a certified naturopath and a certified massage therapist. It is her passion to help others get on a healthy natural path, change their lifestyle from fear to prevention, and help to reverse all conditions through nutrition, herbs, vitamins, minerals, homeopathic and more. It is also her pleasure and passion to do help repair various physical injuries by applying medical massage therapy. Being a part of Southern California Health Institute the education process for those who desire to find a path to a career in massage therapy, is very rewarding to Linda and she is regularly amazed by how much she grows together with her students as they reach their goal of becoming massage therapists. Linda worked diligently over the course of ten years to obtain her natural health certification. She studied under her mentor DR. Delores Spence in Hillsdale Michigan, and then in 2000 she did a correspondence course through Trinity Natural Health College, Warsaw, in, where she received a master of holistic health certification. In 2001 Linda attended the naturopathic institute of therapies and education in Mt. Pleasant, mi for a certified naturopath program, receiving that title in 2006. During her education at naturopathic institute of therapies and education in Michigan, she took "body work" classes of over 300 hours for massage therapy and in 2007 she returned to graduate from the massage therapy program.
Angel Martinez - Instructor
angelm@sochi.edu 818-980-8990 x 125
Angelica Martinez has been a practicing massage therapist for over 14 years. She has a great deal of experience in the many types of working environments massage therapists find themselves in, from working in chiropractic offices to working on Olympic athletes.
"Miss Angel" is a national seminar leader and has taught her class "Massage for Autoimmune Disorders" all over the country. She maintains a position as the massage therapy consultant for Cross Country Education, a national continuing education company. She has developed this teaching and curriculum development experience at SOCHi since the Fall of 2011.
Her approach to learning is engaging, fun and interactive - her students are never bored! They find her classes challenging and informative and as an instructor she seeks to impart a passion for this field that has carried her for over a decade.
Katie Sordahl – Instructor
katie@sochi.edu 818-980-8990 x 125
Katie graduated from Ashmead College of Massage in 2001, and began what has been a wonderful and fulfilling career as a Massage Therapist. Since then she has had the pleasure of working at Frenchy’s Day Spa, in Seattle’s exclusive Madison Park neighborhood where she worked for 4 years. Upon moving to LA, Katie became the lead therapist and manager at RA Organic Spa where I had the pleasure of working for 6 years, until deciding to come full circle, and focus on teaching. It gives Katie tremendous gratification to know that she can take all that she have learned in her 14 years of practice and share it with new generations of impassioned therapists learning the art of massage.
Jarrod Stein – Instructor
jarrod@sochi.edu 818-980-8990 x 125
Born and raised in Northern CA aka The East Bay aka The Bay Area aka Concord, CA
My brother and I got infant massage from our mom growing up and for me massage has always been a part of my life. I have never much been in love with "the spirit of competition" instead if I saw my friend doing yard work next door I would go over and help. My life growing up was filled with family trips, team sports, laughter, great home cooked meals, and all the normal things that my peers also had.
I went on a study abroad trip to London in 1999 and decided after that trip that I wanted to know more about massage therapy.
I went to school at NHI (National Holistic Institute) in Emeryville, CA in 2001 it was a 720 hour program and my first introduction to Kinesiology. It was that introduction that caused me to take Exercise Physiology as my B.S. when I attended USC Chico from 2001 through 2005. After which I loved the town so much that I worked as a stage hand for a theater on campus. It was up until now the most rewarding job that I've ever had. I made a lot of great friends that I am still in contact with now.
After moving back to Concord I took some courses through NASM (National Acadamy of Sports Medicine) I did this because I decided that for myself if I was going to work out that I was going to do it with a method based from a place of science. I took their CPT and CES course. In 2012 I moved down to LA and at the end of 2014 I was given the opportunity to work at SOCHi. I am now working as a teacher for massage therapy and occasionally personal fitness training and I love it. The people I work with know what they are talking about and the students are here because they want to be here. I love my job!
Igor Kodzic - Lead Clinic Coordinator
igor@sochi.edu 818-980-8990 x 133
Began his massage therapy career at Southern California Health Institute ( SOCHi ). As a passionate professional therapist and after over 700 hours of massage training Igor became Student Clinic Coordinator for Southern California Health Institute where now he enjoys sharing his knowledge with students that SOCHi provided him. Igor focuses its practice on European Medical Massage Therapy and dedicated to personal wellness.
Hilda Obadic - Clinic Cordinator
hilda@sochi.edu 818-980-8990 x 133
A passionate professional faculty member of SOCHi school, is certified and licensed in therapeutic massage and bodywork. Hilda focuses its practice on European Medical Massage Therapy, which was developed in Russia and later in Germany some hundreds years ago. This method of therapy is non-invasive in nature and it has been shown to be extremely effective in treating and preventing injuries, stress and illness. Hilda focuses and believes in using an applied and practical approach to teaching individuals the concepts of medical massage which helps students and clients know the material and how to apply it in their everyday life.
Physical Therapy Aide/Sports Rehab Program
Arteka Robinson – Instructor
arteka@sochi.edu 818-980-8990 x 125
Arteka is experienced and well trained as a sports rehabilitation therapist with a degree in sports medicine from Fremont College. Though she is well schooled in hands on general physical therapy approach and techniques, her most recent specialties are in exercise/fitness and sports therapy massage. She is also well versed in using a variety of techniques and modalities such as: ultrasound, heat therapy, cold therapy, electrical stimulation, hydrotherapy and mechanical manipulation to bring about much needed bodily repair following a trauma to the human body.
At present, and for the past five years, she has worked with thousands of patients with varying sports related injuries and conditions, successfully helping them to regain the proper use of their body through the comprehensive and well practiced physical therapy exercise plans. Physical therapy and massage therapy are not just a profession for Arteka, but also her passion.
Robert De La Cruz – Instructor
robert@sochi.edu 818-980-8990 x 125
Conscientious and professional, Robert De La Cruz is one who remains devoted to his commitments. A qualified forerunner in the area of Kinesiology, Robert embodies perseverance while exuding confidence. The ability in making long lasting connections encourages him to only continue his extensive knowledge and background in the healthcare profession.
With an emphasis in Exercise Physiology and Adapted Physical Activity, Robert possesses a Bachelors and Masters of Science degree in the field Kinesiology. His wide-ranging experience in physical and occupational therapy has allowed him to continue to use his critical thinking skills as evident in his work with diverse populations.
Growing his business, FIT, as a therapeutic Exercise Specialist for people with physical disabilities, Robert provides in-home training services for his clients catering to their individual specialized needs. FIT has been established since 2011 and is geared to open its rehabilitation facility center in the near future.
Along aside his teaching background, Kinesiology has given Robert increased knowledge in the field as he perspires to continue to advance his education in the arts and science of human movement. His recent thesis work, “Effects of Aquatic Exercise on Gait Parameters in Children with Cerebral Palsy,” has shed light on the tremendous effect aquatic exercise has not only on adolescents with cerebral palsy, but also on all populations going through similar disabilities.
Robert spends time with his loved ones and makes a personal commitment to himself by incorporating a healthy lifestyle.
Personal Fitness Trainer Program
Heather Binns – Program Director
heather@sochi.edu 818-980-8990 x 201
Heather Binns is a nationally-acclaimed fitness expert, wellness educator, certified personal trainer/coach and best-selling author. She loves fitness and has a passion for high-energy and personal fulfillment, and has spent most of her life devoted to helping others achieve their fitness goals. Heather was voted one of the top five personal trainers in Los Angeles for three years in a row (2012, 2013, 2014) and is one of America’s PremierExperts®, a designation given in recognition of her outstanding personal accomplishments and expert knowledge in fitness.
Having a background with an eclectic mix of Puerto Rican, French, Finnish and Norwegian ethnicities makes Heather well suited to connect with people of all backgrounds and from all walks of life. Growing up in Orange County, California, she has always been people-oriented, athletic, and competitive in nature. Throughout her early years, she participated in ballet, tap dancing, cross-country, track & field and various other school and recreational sports. Setting her apart from other female athletes, she was also a Defensive End for the Los Angeles Lasers, a women’s professional tackle football team in her early adult years. Her passion for fitness emerged early and consistently throughout these formative experiences.
Heather began her career in fitness about twenty years ago. Foundationally, she was educated in Southern California, first securing an Associates degree in Liberal Arts at Orange Coast College and an Associates in Fire Science at Santa Ana College. Heather later obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Communications & Advertising at Chapman University, also in Southern California. Subsequently, Heather trained and obtained her certifications in the following: CPR/AED and Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) via NASM, EFTI, and APEX. She pursued and now holds certified specializations in the following areas: Kettlebells, TRX Suspension Training, Functional Movement Screens (FMS) Level 2, Special Populations, Power Plate, K Training (Kinesis), SilverSneakers and ViPR (Vitality, Performance, Reconditioning). In additon, Heather is a Spartan SGX-certified coach training those who want to complete the infamous obstacle races. In the course of her career, Heather has trained at Equinox, Sports Club/LA and 24 Hour Fitness. The combination of profound fitness skills and excellent communications makes her a top pick as a personal fitness trainer and coach to myriad customers in the greater Los Angeles area as well as internationally through her virtual training platforms.
As a published author, Heather was selected as one of 20+ fitness experts to write the best-selling book Results Fitness. Written by a team of celebrity fitness experts, Results Fitness brings the public “maximum results and the bodies they want” using their collective knowledge, experience, and proven methods. Published in 2012, the book offers “a wealth of amazing, effective, clinically-proven advice” and has consistently sold well since released.
Additionally, as a previous member of the Action Personal Training Certification Governing Board of Directors, Heather worked with fellow board members to guide the future of the Action Personal Trainer Certification by overseeing the NCCA accreditation process and providing ongoing direction for the program.
Heather has enjoyed great successes training men and women of all ages to reach their fitness goals, even leading some to national competitions. Heather's strong desire to help others get in shape and stay fit inspires her to proactively train people from all walks of life. Some of her clients include Disney, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, The American Heart Association, Nike, Active.com, Runnergy, and Full of Life Fitness. As an area of specialization, Heather meticulously plans and coordinates runs for clients at all ability and experience levels – from novice to expert. Her passion to help others to cross that finish line - whether it be for a 5K, 10K, half marathon, marathon, triathlon, adventure race/mud run, or duathlon – shines through in everything she does.
In 2008, Heather felt compelled to start Full of Life Fitness (www.FullOfLifeFitness.com). Full of Life Fitness (FOLF) provides fitness coaching & race training as well as cost-effective instruction for individuals of all activity levels. Known as a results-based training organization, Full of Life Fitness provides its clients with a healthy, fun and motivating fitness environment. Owned and operated in Valley Glen in the San Fernando Valley of Southern California, Full of Life Fitness provides:
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Customized training programs with a personal touch
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Detail-oriented and safe program planning
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Optimal fat-burning and muscle-building techniques and approaches
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Increased energy while getting lean and feeling great
Apart from her commitment to Full of Life Fitness and her own personal health, Heather is now and has always been very active in the broader fitness community as a both a wellness educator and advocate. An avid speaker and presenter, Heather has given educational seminars and talks for organizations such as the Los Angeles County Sherriff’s Department, Kaiser Permanente, Maxim Health Systems, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, ICANN, the Los Angeles County employees, and Business Health Services. Further, Heather also taught at the Southern California Health Institute (SOCHi) in North Hollywood, CA as a PFT Instructor teaching others how to become personal trainers. She was then promoted to Program Director of the entire Personal Fitness Training program and currently holds that capacity.
As a published author Heather also writes and often is quoted for a variety of blogs, magazines, and other print media, sharing her expertise with as broad an audience as possible. An expert in her field, Heather also acts as a “Master” for Fabletics®, a fitness apparel company for women (profile at http://www.fabletics.com/master-hbinns.htm). As a Fabletics® Master and Elite Professional, Heather embodies the Fabletics® lifestyle and provides inspiration and guidance to their community of members nationwide.
Most recently, Heather was honored with becoming a spokesperson and sponsored athlete for the electrolyte supplement, ReplaceSRTM, provided by Endurance Products Company (EPC), an exclusive marketing affiliate of Innovite, Inc. (www.replacesr.com). She is excited and pleased to take on this new role and continue to help the fitness community in new avenues.
Heather lives in Southern California with her husband and her dogs, Sweet Pea and Kizzy. A committed wife, mother, grandmother, fitness enthusiast, coach, teacher, author and leader, Heather brings passion to everything she does and inspires her clients and many others to be their absolute best.
Derek Craigie - Instructor
derek@sochi.edu 818-980-8990 x 202
Derek was born in Scotland where he grew up participated in several different sports. Derek ended up settling on ice hockey and martial arts. As a teenager he became involved in body building and Olympic lifting to help compliment the sports he was involved in. Recognizing this was his passion; Derek became certified as a Personal Trainer and began helping others reach their fitness goals. He’s been a trainer for over ten years now and has worked privately running his own business and as a personal trainer at Equinox. Today, Derek teaches the Personal Fitness Trainer Program at SOCHi. Derek is certified with NASM and has continued to push and learn as much as possible in the fitness industry.
Debbie Brown – Instructor
debbie@sochi.edu 818-980-8990 x 202
Debbie’s ability to teach students of all ages is validated by her educational accomplishments. Debbie holds two degrees in education: An Associate in Arts (with honors), and a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education (Summa Cum Laude). And she is pursuing her Master of Arts in Adapted Physical Education. Debbie's experience exemplifies her commitment to physical and health education. Debbie's vast range of experiences include: Physical and Health Education Teacher, Adjunct Health and Wellness InstructorDelta College University Center, Completed Group Fitness Instructor certification with Aerobics & Fitness Association of America (AFAA), Completed Personal Trainer certification with American Council on Exercise (ACE), Water Safety Instructor (WSI Certified), and CPR Certification. Debbie has also served as a Group Fitness Instructor, and Sunday School Teacher at In His Presence Ministries.
Debbie's acquired experience, expertise and knowledge, combined with her contagious energy and highspirited personality, have made her the ideal group fitness instructor and personal trainer. Debbie is a dedicated teacher who is committed to sharing her knowledge, expertise and experience with students of all ages. She has what it takes to motivate each one of her students to reach his or her maximum potential!
Debbie is a national fitness competitor. She won the 1999 NPC Michigan Fitness Championships, as well as the 1999 Mid-Michigan Fitness Championships. And in July of 2000, she crossed over to bodybuilding and won her weight class at the NPC Natural Michigan Bodybuilding Championships. She has the heart of a true champion and believes you can be successful in whatever you put your heart and energy into. Debbie is the Creator of Fit 4 Eternity—a fitness program which promotes and facilitates positive lifestyle change. Her business is committed to providing high quality, lifelong fitness, nutrition and positive-spirit programming for clients of all ages, as well as athletes and instructors. Debbie believes that fitness is a life-long endeavor; that it's a way of life. Therefore, her superb talent for customizing programs to meet the needs of each one of her clients has become her recognized trademark. Debbie is a true natural--a gifted teacher who loves teaching, whether it be gymnastics, fitness aerobics, kickboxing, hip-hop, dance or weight training. More importantly, she loves working with people, and gives her all to each and every one of her students. Debbie's dynamism and high-energy level radiates throughout her classroom and onto her students! She always shows sensitivity for each individual’s level and ability, yet she encourages the entire group to complete a maximum workout.
Gregory Simonds – Instructor
gregory@sochi.edu 818-980-8990 x 202
NCAA division 1 track and field at Cornell University. Greg worked at 24 hour fitness in downtown LA as a Master Trainer. He also was a Lifestyle Health coach for Cenegenics Inc. Greg was a USATF Level 2 sprint, hurdle, relay coach and coached Hurdles at Fullerton college.
Greg started teaching his senior year at Byram Hills High School, teaching Health as part of the school's Peer Leadership program. He continued to teach in graduate school at UC Davis as a teaching assistant for courses in
Exercise Biology and Microbiology. He started working in the Health and Fitness industry as a Personal Trainer and Lifestyle Health Coach. In 2013, he began working as the Director of Academic Affairs at the American Fitness and Nutrition Academy. Greg's favorite topic to teach is Bioenergetics.
Today, Greg teaches the Personal Fitness Trainer program at SOCHi and assists Career Services with finding employment for graduates of program .
Yulia Chekan – Instructor
yulia@sochi.edu 818-980-8990 x 202
Certified massage therapist, 450 Hour Certified Pilates Instructor, 200 Hour Certified Yoga Instructor, Certified Personal Trainer/Group Fitness Instructor, Gyrotonic Instructor and Licensed Cosmetologist. Yulia is all things wellness. Since early age always submerged in hardcore Soviet Athletic Programs repeated injures to her knee lead her to a very challenging yet very rewarding world of rehabilitation and healing. Yulia has years of experience in working for high end spas, gyms and chiropractors. She is currently working in Physical Therapy office in Beverly Hills applying all of her skills and talents helping patients recover from various injuries and surgeries.
Molly Ring – Instructor
molly@sochi.edu 818-980-8990 x 202
Molly has always had a true passion for fitness, nutrition and sports. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area she was involved in a variety of sports and athletic activities. The sport she loves the most is soccer, and most recently she was an AYSO Coach for girls under 10. Even though she no longer plays team sports, she still spends her free time boxing and training herself like an athlete in the gym. While Molly was finishing her Bachelor of Science in Financial Management and Financial Services at CSU Chico, she became a NASM Certified Personal Trainer. She currently works in banking, but continues to share her knowledge and love of health and fitness with the students of SOCHI.
Matt McCormick– Instructor
matthew@sochi.edu 818-980-8990 x 202
Matthew recently graduated from California Baptist University with a master’s degree in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Exercise Science. He previously got his undergraduate degree from California State University East Bay in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Exercise Wellness & Nutrition. Matthew played baseball and basketball throughout his youth and he played four years of collegiate baseball at both Saint Mary’s College of California and CSU East Bay. Matthew has worked as a NASM certified personal trainer for three years and continues to work as an independent trainer in the Los Angeles area. He enjoys activities such as hiking, running, and weight lifting in addition to his passion for sports.
Jeremy Manning– Instructor
jeremy@sochi.edu 818-980-8990 x 202
Jeremy Manning has been an Advanced NASM Specialist for more than a decade. He’s been a Top Tier Personal Trainer for elite clubs like Equinox and Sports Club LA and previously owned a high-end wellness center in West Hollywood. Jeremy is an Army Veteran and Two-Time international bronze medalist in Tae Kwon Do. In 2012 Manning was featured on the cover of The FIGHT Magazine for using fitness and martial arts to overcome a serious illness. He's since been published in LA Times and multiple international fitness magazines and created a website where a community of survivors share their inspirational stories using fitness to overcome adversity. He continues to train and compete on the international martial arts circuit and believes that, “Strength is a State of Mind.”
Medical Billing & Coding Specialist Program
Wendy Schmerse – Program Director & Instructor
wendy@sochi.edu 818-980-8990 x 125
Wendy is dedicated and a technically skilled business professional with a versatile instructional and management skill set developed through experience as a program chair HIT, instructor, office manager, and a supervisor. She worked for eight years with large and small domestic and exotic animals in clinical as well as community settings. Wendy spent four years training beginning students in front office reception techniques, patient flow management, patient records, medical terminology, pathophysiology, patient billing, collections and customer service. She excels in resolving employer challenges with innovative solutions, systems and process improvements proven to increase efficiency, employee, customer satisfaction and profit. Wendy is familiar and proficient with face to face, synchronous learning and distance learning delivery including Course Management Systems (CMS) that provides asynchronous courses. Wendy developed innovative approaches for meeting campus goals, including technology integration across the curriculum, adult learning, literacy and diversity.
Wendy recently attended a Medical Billing and coding Symposium with McGraw-Hill in Chicago where she participated in curriculum development and viewed new technology and products that can assist students and enhance their learning experience! Wendy continues to do book reviews and accuracy checks on McGraw-Hill products, while she now spends most of her time mentoring her students as the Program Director for the Medical Billing & Coding Specialist Program at Southern California Health Institute (SOCHi).
Laurie Keck-McGee – Instructor
laurie@sochi.edu 818-980-8990 x 125
Laurie Keck-McGee was born and raised in Southern California where she and her family with three siblings shared a love of cooking, movies, and travel; her travel have taken her across the globe to Scotland, England, Whales, France, Japan and Australia. In her twenties, Laurie went to West Los Angeles Community College to explore many types of classes to explore career options. She found herself enjoying the rigors of the business world thanks to the influence of her father whom is an accountant. But, she was also drawn to medicine from a biology teacher at Venice High School that she enjoyed so much that it encouraged her to take college biology as a prerequisite for her business degree and she was hooked! The instructor was so electrifying and exciting that she never missed a day of class. The experience was so positive that she took every science course as extra credit including anatomy, microbiology, chemistry, and science math.
After graduating from West Los Angeles Community College, Laurie was accepted to the University of California, Riverside to further her studies in one of the two colleges in California that focus on a science degree in Business of Administration. After completing two years, Laurie returned to Los Angeles to find that she wanted to go into a career that blended her business knowledge of accounting, financial management, human resources, and strategic management within the medical field. Choices of positions were limited since she did not know enough about medical insurance, medical billing and coding thus, she made a decision to return to school at Everest College to learn billing and coding and found her passion!! The experience was amazing! She was valedictorian of her class.
She was immediately employed after graduating, at Downtown Physician Medical Group in Downtown LA and she became an ambassador for her patients and a strong representative for her doctors. Patients on the whole did not understand all the details of their benefits so she became their advocate to help them get their coverage and care they needed as best as she could. She spent one day on the phone for over 7 hours to fight with a worker’s compensation case to fight for a man who needed a surgery for over 5 years that had been denied; best moment was calling him and giving him the good news that he no longer needed to suffer. She also enjoyed working with her doctor’s side by side being a support to help them get optimum reimbursement for the work that they performed as well as keeping them informed on new changes in laws and regulations to prevent denials. The field was electrifying and enjoyed doing something new every day, until one day an opportunity came along for a medical and billing instructor and jumped at the chance with the support of her mother; who is also a tenured teacher of over 20 years. Laurie’s knowledge of the field and her experiences came alive in the classroom and has been helping individuals like herself many years ago make this amazing change. She motivates, encourages and breaks down material to help students achieve their success in their upcoming field. She has been honored as teacher of the year for Parthenon and has worked with charities to help the community as well.
Since then, she has received her CPC (Certified Professional Coder) certification from the AAPC (American Academy of Professional Coders) in 2011 and is looking forward to achieving more certifications to challenge her beyond the classroom.
The love of her family and, husband, John and daughter, Jillian are her greatest joy and greatest gift.