By Kathy Gaillard
Growing up Dr. Stephanie Findley didn’t have to look far for a role model—her dad was there, modeling servanthood, encouraging, and building her confidence so that she understood that she could accomplish anything she set her mind to.
Born in San Francisco, CA, Stephanie’s early years were spent living between Beloit and Milwaukee. When she was five years old, her parents separated so she split her time living in Milwaukee and Beloit. And—a self-proclaimed tomboy—Stephanie demonstrated her confidence and independence by opting to take shop class instead of the traditional home economics offered to girls. This was just the beginning of her journey of thinking ‘outside the box.’
Education was always important to Stephanie so after graduating from James Madison High School in Milwaukee, she went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Concordia University, a master’s degree in management from Cardinal Stritch in 2007, and a Doctor of Philosophy-Psychology degree from Grand Canyon University.
After spending part of her career in construction and management running her own company, Stephanie quickly began to recognize another area where she needed to put her skillsets to use—helping people become healthy and whole.
“I’ve always wanted to help and give back to my community. When my father retired, I attended his retirement party and was surprised to learn about all the programs he had started and people he had helped at that company. He was the GOAT!,” she said.
Stephanie asked her father how to replicate some of the wraparound programs he had started at the company from which he retired. She wanted to use that blueprint to start similar programs at her company. Stephanie and her dad founded the Findley Foundation and began implementing wraparound services to help her construction workforce.
“Some of the guys couldn’t pass drug tests, others were homeless and sleeping in their cars or on someone’s sofa. Many were dealing with trauma or returning to society after long-term incarcerations. To address those concerns, we started providing wrapround services.
“Your health is your wealth. If you are not happy and whole, you can’t expect to go anywhere in life. You can’t live your best life. If you’re not healthy, you can’t become financially able to achieve the things you want,” said Stephanie.
Always looking for ways to esteem and encourage others, Stephanie said that she believes she stands on the shoulders of every woman who fought to get to where they are—to have a voice, do great things, and have a vision that enables them to achieve good things.
“There are so many women who, throughout my lifetime have inspired me, for example my mother, Shirley Paige; my aunts, Mary Russell and Linnie Penn; Madame C. J. Walker, and local icons such as Martha Love, Hattie Daniels Rush, and many others that I pull inspiration from,” said Stephanie.
And she is ‘no ways tired.’
“I always do my best to help people find their purpose in life. Being able to do that helps ensure that they will become healthy, healed and whole,” she said.
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