We had the good fortune of connecting with Meredith Gavin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Meredith, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
Worklife balance is crucial to an individual. If you do not prioritize your personal life, then you can face burnout in your career. When I was younger, I strived to be the ideal employee coming in early working late and I learned that the more your do there is still always work to get done. I didn’t take any time for myself and ended up working so much that a job I loved ultimately became something I despised going to. My personal health began to fail and my relationships suffered. I learned that I need to prioritize work-life balance because nobody else will do it for me and I wanted to be happy.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I started my career in nonprofits with working as a Development Representative. I pursued my Masters Degree in Nonprofit Management with a concentration in Leadership. I then went to travel the world working for a major cruise line. I had the time of my life onboard and met my now husband. I had the best of both worlds living in the mountains and working on the water. After I left the cruise industry, I missed being on the water and was searching for a nonprofit to work with the share my expertise. I was so excited to find Freedom Waters Foundation! It mixes my love of the water and nonprofit work.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would take them to see the lovely beaches and dine at my favorite restaurant I Love Curry.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to shout-out to Debra Frenkel, my Executive Director and Founder of Freedom Waters Foundation. She has created a company that creates a sense of community and provides respite and relaxation for those in need,

Website: www.freedomwatersfoundation.org

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutMiami is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.