I'm a healthcare information technology professional living in Virginia Beach, VA.  I have been working from home for over 5 years and normally travel pretty often for business.  My career path, like many, has not exactly been linear, with a big spike early in my career when I became a healthcare Chief Information Officer (CIO) followed by a couple twists and turns that led me to new roles and types of organizations.  And there will likely be more to come! 

I enjoy being active and living a healthy lifestyle, after years of working way too much, ignoring my social life, and letting stress get in the way of quality sleep, eating right, and exercising.  My unhealthy lifestyle started when I was a CIO but it can happen with any demanding and stressful role.  It is hard to break out of this cycle and make wellness and self-care a priority, and now that I’ve worked this into my life, there is no going back.  I am now always up for a day hike, a run along the oceanfront, or a neighborhood walk with my dog, Leo.  I have come a long way and learned to embrace new experiences and have a healthier mindset.

While business travel keeps me in the air a lot, I also fit in R&R and adventure trips.  Travel is important!  I’m a big fan of spa destinations that come with beautiful scenery, such as the desert, and trips where hiking is on the agenda.  Add in a local brewery and it’s a perfect trip!  There’s so much to see and do and my trip list is long.  With all of my trips come lots of learning experiences and fun travel stories!  

While I live in Virginia Beach now, I grew up in western Pennsylvania (Go Steelers!  Go Pens!) and spent most of my post-college life in the DC area.  Beach life is good but there are a few things that I miss about living in a big city, especially all the ethnic restaurants.  Here in Virginia Beach, I am a big advocate of buying local and supporting small businesses.

I am here to share my experiences in devising career shifts, exploring the unfamiliar, and navigating every-day life both at home and in my travels.

As my Mom used to say - you should write a book! Well, maybe one day!

~ Gretchen Tegethoff, Master Certified Life Coach
hello@gretchentegethoff.com