Italian by birth, a mom, a teacher, a wife, a runner & triathlete, and a cancer survivor, Elena shares every day Live.Do.Grow. moments from her perch in the Washington DC suburbs.

Being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma at 23 made Elena a fighter, and provided a perspective that was life altering. Life was no longer about watching, it was about doing.

Elena left her twelve year career as a teacher and educational leader to pursue freelance writing, blogging, and social action full time in June 2012. Her passion of fostering self sufficiency in students, parents, and teachers is now embedded into everything she does in her new life whether she is building her own capacity or that of readers or teachers that she coaches.

Having always battled with weight and self esteem, Elena is committed to standing taller, feeling strong, and healthy. Whether it is training for a half marathon, a triathlon, or getting back to her status as a Lifetime Weight Watchers member, she strives to inspire and empower others by sharing her journey. Striving to carry the extra weight of empowerment and self-confidence, she founded Just.Be.Enough. where the voices of many tell a story of celebrating our strengths.

Elena also documents her travels through life as a contributor and Internal Community Relations Director to TravelingMom.com and as a member of the Hilton Mom Voyage team. She is aShot@Life United Nations Foundation Social Good Fellow, a member of Bloggers4Haiti and is on theAmerican Cancer's Society Blogger Advisory Council working towards More Birthdays. Elena also appeared on stage as a member of the Listen to Your Mother DC cast in May 2012.

Elena is also an Ambassador for FitFluential, the Toyota Women's Influencer Network, and Ubisoft.