Hi!
I am Jess, my pronouns are she/her/they.
I thought I would share a little about how I got to this place.
I spent over 20 years in corporate America in various human resources roles. My passion has always been equity, diversity, and inclusion. I was blessed to be able to center this work throughout my HR journey.
I received my Bachelors degree in Communication from the University of Southern Maine and have maintained my PHR from SHRM.
That being said, the Human Resources was not my “soul work”. In 1998 I was witness to my sister’s entire pregnancy, labor, and postpartum journey. I fell in love with all of it.
I did not attend another birth until 2001 & that experience only confirmed what I knew; birth work is my calling. I brought my daughter earth side in 2002 with a midwife but no other continuous labor support. And that was my pivotal moment.
…no one should have to do that alone (unless by choice).
A few years later, I had lunch with a doula in the community and asked her all the questions. I did not even know that what I was stepping into was called a “Doula”. It was many more years, my 2nd miscarriage and bringing my second daughter earth side before I attended formal doula training. In 2016, I took my birth doula training with DONA International.
Just like many folx, I was laid off (not my first time) and I ultimately left my corporate career in 2017. My life was in the midst of complete overhaul. I had recently been accepted into a Yoga Teacher Training with Sacred Seeds Yoga School (before I knew my role was eliminated) and I considered cancelling my enrollment.
I am incredibly glad I went forward with YTT.
It was a life changing experience .
In 2017 I also completed my postpartum doula training with Pro-Doula and started my Reiki certification (I am currently a level II practitioner and completing my Master level with Molly Donlan).
I am quite certain the majority of people around me thought I lost my mind. My marriage was ending, I was experiencing severe depression and I left the corporate world to teach yoga, do energy work and assist pregnant folx on their sacred journey.
I knew I was finally listening to my calling and I was exactly where I was supposed to be.
Build it.
I have been certified in trauma informed yoga (Mindy Muse Yoga School), prenatal yoga (Shiva Shakti School of Yoga), childbirth education (Whole Body Pregnancy), and I am in the process of becoming certified as a Mother Roaster (Sacred Postpartum).
As a doula, I spent some time with a wonderful doula agency, took clients on my own, and was a member of Portland Doula Collaborative.
In 2020, Mary Bolton asked me if I would join her as co-owner of PDC and I enthusiastically said YES! Just over a year later, I took over as owner of the practice.
I am currently teaching yoga with Sea Change Yoga. I am an activist, a maker of art, a mama, a plant lover and a constant learner.
I am looking forward to getting to know YOU!