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Author: Windyl Amado

The Warren Center

A father smiling and holding his young daughter during a home-based therapy session.

Discover how The Warren Center supports North Texas families navigating developmental delays and disabilities through early intervention, speech therapy, and family advocacy.

From Richardson to the Bruins: Ashlee Sullivan’s Path to Elite Gymnastics and UCLA

Elite gymnast Ashlee Sullivan in a sparkling blue leotard with her arm extended high during a performance or posing on the balance beam.

By Patti Otte Remember the name Ashlee Sullivan. This talented young woman, who spent her childhood in east Richardson, has embarked on a new adventure as a freshman at UCLA. After years of rigorous training and building her elite gymnastics career at Metroplex Gymnastics in Allen, Ashlee is stepping into a fresh chapter as a Bruin. She is an outstanding athlete with a personality built for competition: outgoing, driven, and kind. The Drive of an Elite Athlete and Scholar Ashlee was drawn to gymnastics because its dynamic nature matches her own vibrant personality. Beyond the gym, Ashlee is also a self-proclaimed book nerd who loves to read. Her favorite read is Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, and she has devoured everything author Rick Riordan has created. Born into a close-knit family, Ashlee remains devoted to her parents, Lori and Jim, and her sister, Emilee, a first-year medical student at UT Southwestern in Dallas. A Career Shaped by Mentorship and Resilience Ashlee’s path began as a little girl at ASI Gymnastics in Garland, ultimately leading her to full-time training at Metroplex Gymnastics by age 11 or 12. She gives tremendous credit to her parents for their sacrifices. However, she credits coach Marni Futch at Metroplex Gymnastics with being her biggest influence. Futch’s philosophy—love for life first, sport second—shaped Ashlee’s mindset, resilience, and enjoyment of the sport. Her teammates were her home base, helping her balance full-time training (up to eight hours a day) with “normal” high school activities like prom and football games, despite attending Texas Connections Academy online. Elite Achievements and Powerful Comebacks Ashlee’s elite resume is impressive: Winter Cup champion Multi-year U.S. Senior National Team member International competitor in Italy, Switzerland, and Germany She is one of just 15 American women competing at an active senior level for the US National team. Her strongest event is floor, and she thrives on big performance energy, reframing nerves as excitement—a mental strategy learned from Coach Futch. Her ascent has required great grit, including coming back from two slow-developing stress fractures in her back and a dislocated elbow suffered in Italy in 2022. This required nine months to return to full strength. Ashlee affirms that gymnastics is “definitely a mental game” that requires fighting your way back. UCLA: Combining Elite Academics and Athletics When choosing a college, Ashlee sought a school that combined elite academics and elite athletics. UCLA offered that duality and the team culture she sought. Now, Ashlee balances a demanding student-athlete routine: Mornings: Daily wellness checks, three hours of practice, plus an hour of weightlifting and cardio. Afternoons: Reserved for online classes and schoolwork. She emphasizes that UCLA takes care of the whole person—physically, mentally, and emotionally. Ashlee also hopes to continue pursuing elite gymnastics while competing for the Bruins—a rare and difficult challenge she embraces. A Future Full of Big Ambitions Ashlee’s goals are set high: Help lead UCLA to a national championship Score a perfect 10 on one or all of her events Consistently maintain a 4.0 GPA Set her sights on the 2028 Summer Olympics Beyond gymnastics, she plans to major in communications and then go to law school. Through it all, her attitude remains focused on gratitude, knowing that “Peace and joy follow gratitude”. Ashlee Sullivan is clearly just at the beginning of a very exciting life story. For more content like this check out Richardson life magazine.

☕️ Brewing Change: How Counsel Brew Co-Founders Bring Insight—and Fun—to the Airwaves

How Counsel Brew Co-Founders Bring Insight—and Fun—to the Airwaves

Meet Shereen El-Domeiri and Nicola Hobeiche, the dynamic co-founders and co-hosts of the podcast Counsel Brew, which launched in May 2024. Dropping a new episode every two weeks, their conversations are described as the best kind of coffee date: meaningful, surprising, and fun. The Co-Hosts: Law, Life, and Laughter Both Shereen and Nicola are attorneys working as in-house counsel and proud graduates of SMU Dedman School of Law. Though they grew up in Texas, their large extended families overseas keep their perspectives beautifully wide. They initially met after law school while studying for the bar exam. Since then, their careers have intertwined multiple times. The co-hosts are both moms, proud children of immigrants, and firm believers in the power of humor, caffeine, and connection to navigate life’s challenges. They actively support their communities through civil service and involvement in professional organizations. The Inspiration Behind “Counsel Brew” The duo created Counsel Brew to keep their partnership and laughter going, but with a clear purpose: to inspire others and themselves. They aim to share the experiences and knowledge gained over the last 20 years and create a safe and inspiring space for the next generations. They are also passionate about highlighting everyday heroes whose stories aren’t widely shared. The “brew” in the title comes from a shared tradition of pausing midday to connect over coffee or tea with family—a ritual of connection they hope to pass on. Defining the “Path to Badassery” The podcast focuses on “paths to badassery,” which the co-founders define not by titles or resumes, but by: Resilience. Authenticity and experience. The courage to keep rewriting your own story. They are drawn to guests who have faced challenges with grit and grace, who embrace the “messiness” of life, and who lead with heart. ⚖️ The Legal Edge: Structured Empathy Their background as attorneys significantly influences the show. They approach conversations with structure, empathy, and a dash of cross-examination flair, but they also know when to “ditch the script”. Their legal experience taught them that every person’s story has many layers, and within each unique experience lies wisdom that can guide others. The podcast uses three key questions—favorite brew, path to badassery, and something ridiculous (stupid sh*t)—but they embrace the spontaneity of unscripted conversations. A Purposeful Pause and Future Growth Counsel Brew itself reflects the importance of taking a purposeful pause. Whether it’s 10 minutes for coffee or an hour recording, the pause is a reminder to slow down, connect, reflect, and dream. This personal practice is a way to show their children that meaningful work doesn’t require “running on empty”. Looking ahead, they aim to grow the podcast community and audience. They are also working on a new project focused on professional development for attorneys transitioning to in-house counsel. Ultimately, they hope Counsel Brew continues to remind listeners, especially women listeners, that there is strength in connection, beauty in imperfection, and always time for another cup. Read more content like this at Richardson Life Magazine.