Kim Penny

Kim grew up in Lawrence, Kansas and attended the University of Nebraska on a cheerleading scholarship. She married her husband Jon and they moved to Durango, Colorado where she settled into a career in Real Estate and Finance. One year into her marriage, the accident occurred. Through the trauma, she learned to value those who supported her, and when none of her worst fears were realized, she learned to live with a grateful heart and focus on the blessings that life offers. These are messages she now shares with her teen audiences.

Kim was able to continue her work in Real Estate and Finance, but after mourning alongside close friends and family - losing loved ones to suicide - she felt compelled to take a step back from her career and share her own personal story of overcoming heartache and trauma. Her goal is to encourage students to focus on the hope that lies ahead and not on their temporary brokenness. She published her memoir Mountain View in July 2017.

When Kim is not writing or speaking, you can find her mountain biking or skiing in the mountains with her twin daughters.

www.kimpenny.com