Biography I Resume
SHANNON'S BIOGRAPHY

Shannon spent most of her childhood years (6-13) living in Saudi Arabia, (talk about culture shock!), where she embarked on the beginning of her swimming career, learning how to swim in classes at school and then swimming for her school swim team. Not much else to do when you live in the middle of a big desert! She came back to the U.S. because Mom had had enough "culture" and spent her high school years in Roanoke, VA doing little more than studying in school and swimming year round. She graduated from high school in 1993, gave up her last summer of freedom and her swimming scholarship to James Madison University, to head off to the Air Force Academy for boot camp, with her 8 white bras, combat boots and a dreadful haircut.

It turned out to be one of the most challenging and rewarding things she'd ever done. All the hardships and challenges were worth it for the personal growth, relationships, and leadership opportunities she gained and most of all for throwing that white service cap in the air at graduation and looking at the school in her rear view mirror as she left. Just kidding, it wasn't that bad!

Swimming was her savior at school. At any other college, swimming would have been the focus...if you got hurt or couldn't perform, your scholarship was taken away. At the Academy the primary focus was education and the military, so swimming was a get away from it all...all pressure was off! Amazing how FOCUS changes everything!! She was blessed to have a wonderful coach who opened her eyes and body to potential she never thought she had and she ended her swimming career as a 14 time NCAA All-American, with 4 school records, and Co-Captain of the swim team.

In 1997 she graduated with a degree in Human Factors Engineering, was commissioned as an officer in the US Air Force and headed down to San Antonio, TX to serve her country as a Manpower Officer. Kind of hard to explain, but for all intensive purposes...Organizational Consultant.

After a year, she headed up to Mountain Home AFB, ID, where she spent her last four years in the military. During that time, she got introduced to one of the best kept secret cities in America, Boise, ID, the wonderful world of Triathlons, and Mr. Right... She met many great friends, worked hard at her job, got her Master's Degree, was glad for the experiences it provided her, but was ready to spread her entrepreneurial wings and move on.

After dabbling in a couple business ventures, discovering some life-changing mentors and coaches, and experiencing tremendous personal growth, she finally returned to her real love and source of passion...swimming. In January of 2002, she was hired as the Head Coach of the YMCA Sawtooth Masters Program. Inspired by her enjoyment of coaching, the birth of her son Jayden, and multiple inquiries for lessons, she embarked on her dream of starting her own business (FLOW Aquatics, LLC) and opening her own Swimming School, where she can share her passion of swimming with children, teenagers and adults and teach them the intricacies and joy of this wonderful lifesaving, lifetime activity!

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SHANNON'S RESUME

Education:

U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Spring, CO 1993 - 1997
B.S. in Human Factors Engineering (Behavioral Sciences)

Fielding Institute, Santa Barbara, CA Jan 1999 - Aug 2000
M.A. in Organizational Design and Effectiveness

Certifications:

ASCA Levels 1 & 2 and Masters Certification

Swimming Experience:

1981 - 1987: Competed on the British school swim, gymnastics, modern dance, and netball teams in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
1988 - 1993: Year-round member of RVSI Gators Swim Team, Roanoke, VA. Competed in a number of 'Y' Nationals and Junior National meets throughout the country.
1993 - 1997: Recruited by the U.S. Air Force Academy. During 4-year tenure on the swim team, the team won 2 NCAA II Championships; served as Team Captain during Junior and Senior years; awarded, 14 time NCAA All-American titles; and broke 4 school records (1 individual, 3 relays).
Sep 1999: Competed in swimming and life guarding events in the 2000 World Military Games in Zagreb, Croatia, medaling in several life guarding events.

Coaching/Teaching Experience:

1989 - 1990 (Summer): Taught swim lessons for summer league swim team members
1992 - 1993 (Summer): Head Coach of Forest Hills Swim Team (Summer League), Roanoke, VA
1995 - 1996 (Summer): Coach and instructor for 2 summer sessions of the at U.S. Air Force Academy Summer Swim Camp
1998 - 2000: Head Coach for a year-round Age Group USA Swimming Team and high school swim team, in Mountain Home, ID
2001 - 2003: Head Coach for Timberline High School, Boise, ID
2002 - 2006: Head Coach for YMCA Sawtooth Masters Swimming Club, Boise, ID

Work/Business Experience:

Sep 1997 - Sep 1998: Manpower Officer, Lackland AFB, San Antonio, TX.
- Established parameters, industrial engineering techniques, and conducted management studies for of the Health and Wellness Center and the Basic Cadet Training Wing, and made making recommendations in for the development of manpower standards and authorization/organization changes.
Sep 1998 - Jun 1999: Section Commander, 366th CRS, Mountain Home AFB, ID
- Managed the Administrative Center and its 4 personnel technicians, for the Component Repair Squadron comprised of 280 personnel.
Jun 1999 - Sep 2001: Manpower Chief, 366th Wing, Mountain Home AFB, ID
- Advisor to the Wing Commander concerning manpower and organizational issues.
- Managed a team of 10 manpower and organization specialists responsible for over approximately 4,800 manpower assets valued in excess of $140M.
- Determined programs and validated manpower requirements for the Wing to achieve its peacetime, wartime and air expeditionary force missions.
Sep 2001 - May 2002: Heath and Wellness Officer
- Implemented and managed Wing programs to designed to enhance the health and wellness of over 4,000 personnel
- Manager/Instructor Smoking Cessation Program
- Instructed Spinning Classes
- Organized and directed the annual Wing Sprint Triathlon Series
- Developed and taught Water Aerobics program

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