Mara is proud and so happy to be a part of the Swim Life team that was founded by Kelly Wiggins and currently run by Kelly and David Wiggins; both amazing and serving people! She is currently the President/Founder of The Fair Idea Company, LLC, a freelance grant writing, management, and evaluation company.

She became certified to teach Swim Life Water Survival Swim Lessons, so she can help students learn water survival skills, independent swimming and floating, and gain a love and safe respect of the water anywhere and always! Mara's Dad always told her brother and her that safety is paramount in and around the water. He taught them how to save themselves if they ever fell into the water, which saved her brother’s life at around age 3! Swim Life struck a chord with her and she wants to spread these skills that not only save lives but also adds self-confidence, enjoyment, and fitness benefits to someone’s life!

She formerly worked as an American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor (WSI), Swim Instructor, and Lifeguard as summer jobs in high school and college. She was a competitive swimmer between the ages of 11-17 and attended Niceville High School, helping to start their 1st swim team and making it to the Florida State High School Championships in Gainesville.

Mara is also the proud owner of the infamous "Cantankerous" & is working to get her restored & sailing fast! She's completed an Ironman & hundreds of other triathlons ranging in half Ironman distances to sprint triathlons, completed the ‘Victor’ swim company 5 mile Coral Reef swim at the Buccaneer, St Christiansted, St Croix, British Virgin Islands and many 1⁄2 mile to 2 mile open water swim races.

Mara loves Swimming, Biking, Running, Sailing, Animals and People! :)
Her motto is: Smile and just be nice and do good things! Peace and Love! Shaka Shaka

Some of Mara's notable certificates and affiliations are:

• Swim Life Aquatic Education Specialist

• AA, Business, Okaloosa Walton Junior College, 1984 - 1886

• BS, Finance, Florida State University, 1986 - 1988

• MS, Grant Writing, Concordia University Chicago, 2015 - 2017

• Retired, Lt Col, USAFR with 4 years active duty and 22 years total service (Dec 2022)