Our story
Nice to meet you
HOW IT ALL STARTED
Heather and Jess met when Heather found Jess hitchhiking on the side of the road in Wyoming.
They really met on a playground with their kids, but when you meet the two of them, the hitchhiking story is way more plausible. Feisty, fierce and foul-mouthed - they became fast friends. Jess admired Heather’s big hair and big earrings, and Heather loved Jess’s loud and contagious laugh.
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Plus, they were both completely comfortable saying “What the fuck, this is fucking bullshit” outside of a church that was providing childcare for their children. After a few months of getting to know each other, the question, “Is this fucking it?” kept coming up. They didn’t want another book club, detox challenge, mom’s group or workout crew.
Jess + Heather planned an afternoon brainstorming session and created a women’s group that met monthly to explore various things they were curious about, ranging from meditation techniques and sustainability practices to embodiment and axe throwing.
For the last seven years, their group has been going strong. The group became essential to them. They needed each other. Once COVID hit, Jess + Heather knew they had to find a way to help other women connect as they had. They continued to evolve in their mindset and pondered, “What are we doing?” “Can we do more?” “Do we want to do more?” They recognized that they could (and should) create these opportunities for other women, and Hey Birdie was born.
Words about birds
At Hey Birdie, we are inspired by the V-Formation of birds, symbolizing strength, presence, and unity. This formation is not just a pattern of flight for us; it's a guiding principle for all our endeavors. We are committed to cultivating Flocks of women who feel deeply connected and supported by one another, creating a community where every woman feels seen and held.
Meet Jess
GET TO KNOW US
Originally from Massachusetts, Jess stayed close to home and went to Babson College to study entrepreneurship. The day after she graduated, she packed the car and headed to California, but ended up running out of money in Denver. Jess wound up staying in the Denver area for several years before moving to California and then on to Sheridan, Wyoming. After a decade of bouncing around, she ended up back in the mile high city, where she has settled with her family: Michael, Hazel, Ruby, and her two dogs, Rosie and Coco.
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Jess never had a career in mind, but was always very clear that she wanted to be free. She wanted to dress in suits and be able to be move like a badass in heels, travel, leave the East coast and do whatever the fuck she wanted - when she wanted.
While she’s not exactly stomping around in heels (that goal fell by the wayside due to comfort and function), she has had a successful 18-year career in event and fundraiser planning, community organization, and as a non-profit consultant in the Denver area. Hey Birdie is her dream job, and her goal is to continue creating the space for women and girls to realize that being together is the secret human strength; to openly talk about their clitoris and have access to all sorts of joy and pleasure; and to be a beacon of “fuck yeah” for anyone seeking the experience.
At Hey Birdie, Jess is a pro at pulling off events and activities, especially when shit falls apart. She is grounded, loyal, fearless, and determined, and many turn to her as a source of inspiration and for her contagious personality.
When not curating flocks for Hey Birdie, you can find her outside doing some sort of movement, going on adventures outside of her comfort zone, camping with her family, SUPing, skiing, reading and volunteering.
Meet Heather
GET TO KNOW US
Heather is a small-town girl from Nebraska, but she exudes big energy that matches her hair and earrings. She began her professional career in the Health + Wellness Industry as a Personal Trainer before evolving in to Health Club Management and Consulting. She had the honor + pleasure of working with people from Omaha, NE to Boulder, CO to Manasquan, NJ and Denver, CO. She thrived in talent development + team building.
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Heather always knew she loved people, spotting talent, community outreach, and seeking adventures, and her personal training career allowed her to exercise (pun intended) those passions. She loved helping people discover their potential through movement, and as she transitioned to management, she excelled at helping trainers, instructors, and practitioners explore their professional potential.
After spending 20+ years in the health and fitness industry, Heather is now committed to Hey Birdie full-time, and strives to hold space for women and girls to be seen, loved and supported in living their fullest life. She wants to contribute to society as a whole in demonstrating the brilliance of women + the power of connection.
At Hey Birdie, Heather helps pull off events and concepts that are seemingly impossible, as well as finds talent and provides them with the space and platform to excel. She is fun, witty, strong-willed and compassionate, and her gentle, but strong energy allows her to hold space in a way that makes people feel safe.
She now resides in the Denver area with her husband, Rich, Lily, Kenzie, and her two cats, Ruth and Binx.
Outside of Hey Birdie, Heather can be found perfecting her right hook at her favorite boxing gym, soaking in the sun, hiking, SUPing, dining and eating ice cream. She’s looking forward to more travel, learning Spanish once and for all, taking voice lessons and riding a motorcycle.