Flossie Hall, co-founder of Association of Military Spouse Entrepreneurs (AMSE), is an overcomer. Coming from a rough childhood, an unplanned teenage pregnancy, and all that happens in between, Flossie serves as a beacon of inspiration for all of those striving to rise from the ashes. Like steel that is forged in fire, Flossie has taken these hard circumstances and allowed them to fuel her boldly forward.
In 2007, she fell in love with a man in the Navy, a SeaBee. With only a few months of a 9th grade education and a GED, Flossie was accepted into the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC).
in Gulfport, Miss. While her son bravely stepped into kindergarten, she courageously continued her education as well. She had no idea what was on the path ahead, but she was certain that she would be building a life that her growing family could be proud of.
After two years of hard work and ardent study, Flossie graduated with a 3.98 GPA and distinguished honors. She had earned an associate degree in science. She also earned her Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification in the hopes of one day becoming Dr. Flossie Hall. She finished all of this while eight months pregnant, hotel crashing with two young children, and with a spouse who had PCS’d ahead of her two months earlier.
With an immense amount of drive and gusto, she was accepted into the University of Michigan – this time studying biology and psychology. During her time there, she earned the 2012 Top Researcher of the Year Award and her work in biological study was published. Flossie was a woman unstoppable.
She graduated, again with honors, from the University of Michigan with a bachelor’s degree in biology and a bachelor’s in psychology. But like many others before (and after) her, Flossie would be met with a challenge. Her plans of a career in the medical field and the plans the military had for her were at odds.
So after racking up over 230 academic credit hours in the study of medicine, Flossie forged herself a new path – as an entrepreneur.
Healthy Momma – a meal prep delivery company – was born. Her fierce ambition, her intuitive nature, and her hunger for excellence propelled her to over a million dollars in revenue her first year. She eventually sold half a million healthy and affordable meals.
In a short interview with her, I was overwhelmed by her sense of courage, how she bootstrapped herself up and constructed the most beautiful life. With grit and grace, she managed to take the sourest of lemons and turn them into one heck of a margarita. She really is “all that and a bag of chips.”
When I asked her what keeps her humble, she said, “I always want to remember where I come from without forgetting where I’m going.”
She has risen to the occasion and conquered. When challenges stood between her and her future, she resourcefully navigated the rough waters of change and choppy waves of uncertainty with eloquence. Today, she holds two bachelor’s degrees, an associate degree, an EMT license, and is the first in her family to receive a higher education. She is living proof of how powerful it can be to break the cycle.
Her work with AMSE is lighting the way for generations of military spouses to come, leaving a legacy of opportunity. When I asked how her experience and education contributed to where she is today, her answer inspired me: “I knew for certain that I wanted to be Dr. Flossie Hall. I wanted to pursue that passion with everything I had. But after consideration, I am so much more than that. I am a biologist, a psychologist, a mom, an advocate, and an entrepreneur. I don’t fit into any one box and that is beautiful.”
If you, like her, find that you have risen from the ashes of a hard start, she has some wonderful advice. “Start with one step at a time and start today.” She shared that none of the things she accomplished happened in a day. So many times, opportunity looks like hard work. But at the end of the day, the effort is well worth it.
Working a photo shoot amid COVID-19
So how do you conduct a cover photo shoot in the middle of the COVID-19 outbreak? To honor social distancing, we took the shoot outside to Flossie Hall’s driveway at Naval Base Ventura County – Point Mugu, California. Flossie brought out her blue Victorian table and some decorative pieces, and photographer Julie Campbell staged them in front of a white backdrop.
Back at HQ, Art Director Edgar Reynolds replaced the white backdrop by superimposing an office setting. To pull it all together, he adjusted the lighting in both images and played with the depth of field to give it a beautiful finished look.
Flossie and Julie also took some shots on a private extension of nearby Malibu Beach for the cover story spread.