Northeast Philly Mindy
Where It All Started
I was a precocious little girl—inquisitive, creative, and athletic. Born and raised in Northeast Philadelphia, the “Great Northeast” it was called, a working-class and middle-class neighborhood of well-kept row houses. My parents, as well as many other parents in the area, were from "The Greatest Generation", those who lived through, and fought in, World War II. Although my parents had only a high school education, they taught me that it was important to get a college degree, and most of all, to have a strong value system.
My dad hailed from Philly and served in World War II as part of Patton’s Third Army. He earned (and I now own) a medal called the Croix de Guerre, the French Medal of Honor given by France to American soldiers for bravery. My mother was orphaned at a young age and was raised by her aunts in Queens, NY. My parents communicated during the war, and when my dad returned, they got married. My mom became a seamstress and designed beautiful outfits for me. She instilled a great artistic sense in me and at a very young age, I could often be found using my creativity for all types of arts and crafts projects. She also loved fashion and that certainly rubbed off on me. And so, the seeds were sown (no pun intended) and off I went to Drexel University, where I earned my bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design.
I was inquisitive, creative, and athletic.
Fashion Designer Mindy
How I Found Fashion
At Drexel, I won the Golden Thimble Award for my design Electronic Waves, which was awarded to the most promising Junior in the class, and as a Senior was invited to exhibit my collection in the Easter Extravaganza, a fashion show held outdoors in Center City, Philadelphia. Having a passion for theatrical-looking clothing, my collection was quite avant-garde and two of the designs were based on Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes. 
This was before Madonna came along and started a forward-looking and highly-touted style of dressing for the club scene in the 1970's and 1980’s.
After graduation, I spent 15 years as a fashion designer. With an entrepreneurial spirit, I had my own design business, twice, and worked for other companies too, designing children’s wear, body wear, bridal gowns, and formal dresses.
The club scene of the Disco 70's and the Yuppie 80's fit right into my design sensibility.
Runner Mindy
How Running Found Me
I started running in 1978. At that time, there were very few women running, and no running shoes made for women (who have narrower heels than men), so I wore Keds® sneakers. Throughout the 1980’s, I enjoyed the sport and the sense of accomplishment it gave me. I entered races and realized that I had some talent for putting one foot in front of the other. In the 1990's I became a competitive runner, winning age-group awards in the 5K to half-marathon race distances and ran six marathons, including qualifying and running in the prestigious Boston Marathon.
In the summer of 1989, I went to running camp in Vermont, and it changed my life. At camp, I met people from New York City. As a designer, I always wanted to go to the big apple, so three months later, I packed my bags and off I went to the city that never sleeps. I found a job as a designer, and after one year, with an eye towards integrating fashion and fitness, I became the marketing director for a fitness apparel manufacturer.
It was the 1990’s and the fitness and running boom was coming into fruition.
Coach Mindy
Building The Running Center
The sport of running hooked me which prompted me to get certified as a running coach and personal trainer. While still working full-time in the marketing job, I started coaching runners at night and on weekends. This led to the founding of The Running Center, and I built a "gym for runners" on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, which was NYC’s first and only training studio for runners.
I became a running expert, training all levels of people, from beginners aiming to run their first 5K, to experienced marathoners looking to improve their personal best time, and everyone in between. From 1994 to 2001, I developed and was the Head Coach for the Leukemia-Lymphoma Society's Team In Training Marathon Program. I trained 3,000 people in Central Park to run marathons, and traveled with them to dozens of marathons across the world. From 1996 to 2002, I was the Running Coach at Reebok Sports Club/NY, the exclusive health club in NYC. My business grew to include fitness walking classes for non-runners, as well as posture and balance classes featuring Runditioning™, which is so important in today’s world, and especially to baby boomer women. For 17 years, from 2000 to 2017, I led a fitness walking program at the American Museum of Natural History.
With a proven track record of client achievements, I established myself as the running and marathon expert in NYC. This led to appearances on local and national television and radio; being featured in dozens of print and online publications; and speaking at business and community events.
I ran and I coached, and I coached and I ran.
Manhattan Mindy
The Sex In The City Girl
People are surprised to hear that I never got married and have no children. And my response to them is, "I married my business, and my children are the thousands of people I’ve coached". Maybe that’s why I would sometimes refer to my adult runners as “my kids”. The fitness specialty business that I built in NYC was such that it would have been nearly impossible to have a traditional family lifestyle. Coaching runners in Central Park seven days a week and at all hours of the day and night, would not have boded very well with children or a spouse.
Oh, I’ve had plenty of relationships and countless dates. After all, I was living in Manhattan. What better place to be a single woman? During the day I wore fitness clothes, ran, and coached in Central Park, and traveled with my runners to support them in running marathons all over the world. At night, I went to parties, ate at fabulous restaurants, and was wined and dined. Looking back, my life in NYC was glamorous. The decades of the 1990’s and 2000’s was a great time to be living in Manhattan. I loved every minute of it.
At night, I wore my trademark leopard-printed clothing (and still do!) and stiletto heels (not as much!)
Personal Stylist Mindy
Mindy Goes Home
In 2016, after 25 years in NYC, I moved back to my hometown of the “City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection”. I got involved in the Philly business and neighborhood communities and continued my run coaching business. In 2018, I reignited my fashion career and love of fashion as the Personal Stylist at Macy's in Center City Philly.
I became the Regional Director of Fashion Group International in Philadelphia, a post that I held for two years, 2021 and 2022, and have been serving on the Board of Directors of the Philadelphia Fashion Incubator since 2021. Additionally, I am a member of the Advisory Board at WIBO, the Workshop In Business Opportunities.
And you know what? All my years of coaching runners gave me insight into how the body moves, which I use to style my clients for a personal and professional image.
Going 360: Fashion-Fitness-Fashion
BB Babes Mindy
Combining It All
You can't keep an entrepreneur down. And so, on March 31, 2023, after five years as the personal stylist at Macy's, I packed up my office, walked three blocks to my apartment, and created BB Babes. With five decades of experience, knowledge, and skillsets under my belt, I am finally able to develop the business that combines all my passions and career paths - fashion, fitness, and health, to provide guidance and support to the generation of women who inspire me. In 2022 I got certified as a Health Coach, adding to my list of certifications and knowledge.
I am a baby boomer. I am not slowing down. I am still a fashionista. I am still a runner. I am still a running coach. And I love to give back. In fact, I’ve always said I will never retire. I love to work. You might call me a work-a-holic, but I prefer the name creator-a-holic. And now I can put all my energy into BB Babes and coach the proud women of the baby boomer generation in fashion, fitness, and health. I can't wait to meet you!
BB Babes: The Fashion, Fitness, and Health Network for Baby Boomer Women