Name: Shannon L Tolbert

Age: Old enough to know better and energetically young enough to still do it.

Town/neighborhood: I reside in the Town of Gilbert. I have two acupuncture clinics in both Mesa and Gilbert and we’re excited to also have plans for a third location within the East Valley.

When and why I moved here: Originally, I moved to Arizona with a GE (General Electric) corporate relocation. I lived in Scottsdale from 2012 to 2017 leading a marketing team for a $6 billion financial division. After making the decision to get off the corporate train, I elected to stay in Arizona to follow my dream of entrepreneurship. I specifically chose the East Valley because I wanted to join a progressive and growing community where I could help with the introduction of natural medicine.

What I like most about living here: There is a lot to love about Mesa, Arizona. In one word, though, I would say, “Access!” Living in Mesa provides access to beautiful weather, sunshine nearly every day and some of the most beautiful hikes in the country.

What I do: As a small business owner, I do it all. I am certain that many entrepreneurs will relate. Hiring, training, marketing, sales, operations, janitorial, customer service….they are all me and I am all of them.

What I like most about what I do: I love to solve real problems. It energizes me. For example, pain is the most common disability in the U.S., and our team at Modern Acupuncture help heal pain each and every day. Additionally, more than two people die every day from opioid overdoses in Arizona. In 2017, Gov. Doug Ducey signed an emergency declaration to address the issue. Acupuncture mitigates cravings that can cause addiction and reinforces natural willpower so that the individual can regain health and self-control. I absolutely love working one-on-one with our patients to help positively impact their health. We hear success stories daily and they never get old.

Changes I’d like to see in this area: I truly believe we live in one of the best areas of the state. That said, it would be nice to see Mesa develop a true downtown — like Gilbert and Chandler. We need a place where you can walk around, grab a bite or a drink and just meet up and hang with family and friends.

Favorite community cause and why: I am a personal fan of the Wounded Warrior Project. My brother did three tours during the Iraq War which culminated in an honorable discharge. He — like many of our veterans — will never be the same. Although I do not have all the answers, I do know that our veterans need assistance. Our clinical director, Klint, is also a veteran of the Army and he along with some of our other team members happily volunteer at Arizona Veterans StandDown Alliance each year.

My family: My family consists of my handsome husband of 19 years, ElMond, and two bonus children, Kiel and Jenna who live in Michigan. What I have found over the past two years is that family is not limited by biology. I now have a 500-member family and growing all extremely interested in health and wellness with Modern Acupuncture.

My interests and hobbies: The East Valley is filled with fabulous hikes and I love to take part at least twice a week. My favorite mountain range, so far, is the Superstitions. I love winding down with a nice full-bodied Cabernet, preferably from Napa. I only do this because it’s good for the heart.

The trait(s) I admire in others: I am sure I am typical, but I just enjoy people with good vibes and positive energy — you know those people that consistently smile and see the light in people.

People who inspired me (and how): I get inspired each day from witnessing anyone overcome adversity. When I see people in the community meet challenges head on and make a decision to persevere no matter what….I am inspired beyond words.

My guiding philosophy: “No Man (or woman) is an island.” We are all here in this community to be in relationships with each other. If one of us has a problem, we should only need to look around for the answers.

Information on Modern Acupuncture: The Mesa site is at Dana Park, 1652 S. Val Vista Drive, 480-376-7739. The website is modernacupuncture.com.