Mr Heather J.

I grew up in Erie, IL and attended Erie High School. I was involved in a variety of academic groups, sports and cheerleading. My love of sport and physical activity translated to my chosen area of study in college. In addition, immediately following high school I became a personal trainer, group fitness instructor and eventually a Strength and Conditioning Specialist for a variety of recreational, collegiate and Olympic athlete populations. Fitness and training continues to be a big part of my own life, and I still do some consulting work in the fitness/wellness field today! I attended Illinois State University for my B.S. and M.S. degrees, earning my Masters in Kinesiology/Exercise Physiology. Following my Master’s degree I did a post-graduate fellowship in a biomechanics lab in Vail, CO and worked for an orthopedic surgeon in Breckenridge, CO. After moving back to the midwest, I attended the University of Iowa, earning a PhD in Health and Human Physiology (2010) with a research focus on physical activity and bone health. I have spent the last 25 years in education, program development and research; with the majority of my career spent as a professor of exercise science. I learned about Cornerstone from a friend who felt my background and skills would be a good fit for a new administrative role Cornerstone had developed. After learning about the values, positive business model and the caring nature of the owners and team, I knew I wanted to be part of the Cornerstone organization, joining in 2025. Because of my educational background and passion for helping others achieve positive health and wellness outcomes, taking on a role in a clinical health field has been a natural transition. While I have a great deal to learn about dentistry specifically, it has been an interesting and fun challenge! I live in Illinois with my husband, Brandon, and son, Colton (2017). We enjoy family movie nights, the outdoors, sports/hiking and an occasional Whitey’s ice cream run. We also love sharing a meal or sitting around a bonfire with friends and family. My favorite Cornerstone Core Value is the Golden Rule because it is aligned with my Christian faith and Jesus’ second greatest command – to love your neighbor as yourself!