THE PERSON BEHIND THE BLUEPRINT
Hi, I’m Macen.
A coach, a lifelong learner, and someone who knows that life doesn’t always follow the blueprint we imagined.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned through my personal and professional journey, it’s that life rarely unfolds in a perfectly straight line.
Sometimes we choose a new direction. Sometimes circumstances make that choice for us. And sometimes we reach a point where the life we’ve been living no longer reflects the person we’re becoming.
I’ve experienced my share of unexpected turns, new beginnings, and moments of reinvention. Those experiences have shaped how I see the world, how I connect with others, and why I believe everyone deserves the opportunity to create a life that feels authentically their own.
That’s the heart behind Life Beyond the Blueprint.
My Journey - The Road That Brought Me Here
A Journey of Service, Leadership, and Reinvention
My professional journey began as an Emergency Medical Technician in the Army National Guard, where I developed an appreciation for service, responsibility, and showing up for people when it matters.
After my military service, my career took me in several different directions. I worked as a direct care provider supporting adults with disabilities, co-owned a dog training and boarding business, and explored opportunities in customer service and banking.
Eventually, I found my way into healthcare administration and leadership.
At UnityPoint Health, I progressed from a Patient Service Representative into administrative and supervisory leadership roles, including positions with Blank Children's STAR & Developmental Center and the Neurology and Infectious Disease departments. I later served as a Practice Manager with The Iowa Clinic.
Throughout those experiences, one part of leadership consistently stood out to me: the opportunity to help people recognize their strengths, work through challenges, build confidence, and grow into their potential.
I discovered that what I valued most wasn't a title or position. It was the people.
And just as my career had taken unexpected turns before, another transition eventually challenged me to reconsider what I wanted my next chapter to look like.
Rather than continuing to follow a familiar professional path simply because it was expected, I began exploring how I could take the parts of leadership I loved most—coaching, encouragement, development, and meaningful connection—and build something of my own.
That exploration became Life Beyond the Blueprint.
More Than a Career - The Person Behind the Coach
My life outside of work has shaped me just as much as my professional experiences.
I'm a military veteran, a husband, and a proud bonus dad to three. I'm also a transgender man who has navigated significant personal transitions, including divorce, remarriage, and the ongoing process of understanding and embracing my authentic self.
Each chapter has brought its own lessons about identity, relationships, expectations, resilience, and the courage it sometimes takes to move in a different direction.
I know what it's like to question the path you're on, to reconsider what matters most, and to discover that the life you once imagined may not be the life you ultimately want to create.
I also know that personal growth isn't always a dramatic transformation. Sometimes it's a quiet realization, an honest conversation, a difficult decision, or the first small step toward something different.
These experiences don't mean I have all the answers. They remind me how important it is to approach every person's journey with humility, curiosity, compassion, and respect.
Because no two stories are the same. And no one should have to live according to a blueprint that doesn't fit who they are.
Why I Coach
Because I believe meaningful change begins when people feel seen, heard, and empowered to make their own choices.
Throughout my career, the most rewarding moments were rarely about completing a project or reaching an organizational milestone.
They were the conversations where someone discovered a strength they hadn't recognized, found the confidence to pursue an opportunity, or began seeing a challenge from a different perspective.
I loved helping people grow.
Over time, I realized that this passion extended far beyond the workplace.
We all encounter moments when life asks us to reconsider who we are, what we want, and where we're going. Those moments can feel uncertain, overwhelming, exciting, or sometimes all three.
I created Life Beyond the Blueprint to offer a supportive, judgment-free space where people can explore those questions without pressure to fit someone else's expectations.
I don't believe my role is to tell you how to live your life.
I believe my role is to listen, ask meaningful questions, challenge assumptions when appropriate, celebrate progress, and help you recognize that you have the ability to make intentional choices about what comes next.
Your story belongs to you. I'm here to help you explore the possibilities.
Empower
Listen
Support
What I Bring to Our Coaching Relationship
Experience That Shapes My Approach
Leadership & Development
Experience supporting people, developing teams, and navigating organizational change.
Service & Compassion
A background in military service, direct care, and healthcare environments.
Lived Experience
Firsthand understanding of identity, relationships, career transitions, and reinvention.
Ongoing graduate education in organizational leadership with a healthcare focus and coaching certifications.
Continued Learning
My approach to coaching is informed by a diverse professional background spanning military service, direct care, entrepreneurship, healthcare administration, and organizational leadership.
I'm also pursuing a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership with a healthcare focus, with anticipated completion in May 2027.
These experiences have strengthened my appreciation for the complexity of people's lives and reinforced my belief that meaningful growth requires both thoughtful reflection and intentional action.
I bring that perspective into every coaching relationship, while recognizing that you are the expert on your own experiences, values, and aspirations.
Grounded in Experience. Committed to Growth.
Your Story Matters, Too.
Whatever brought you here, a life transition, a new possibility, or simply the feeling that something needs to change, you deserve the space to explore what comes next.
Your Life. Your Direction. Your Design.
Ready to Start Your Next Chapter?
Send us a quick message and let’s map out the first step—together.