Deann Wood
Deann Coffman is a certified health and nutrition coach, entrepreneur, and speaker with over 16 years of experience helping individuals transform their health and rediscover self-worth through sustainable lifestyle change. Her journey into wellness was shaped by profound personal challenges, including surviving a 22-year abusive marriage that significantly affected her physical and emotional health. During that time, her weight increased to 347 pounds, but after her divorce, she committed to rebuilding her life, ultimately losing over 240 pounds and restoring her health and confidence.
Nine years ago, Deann faced another life-altering moment when she became seriously ill and nearly died, an experience that further deepened her commitment to health, nutrition, and helping others. Having survived multiple life-threatening events, she now uses her story of resilience to inspire others through coaching, meal planning, and motivational speaking engagements at churches and community events. Alongside her daughter, she co-founded and operates a nutrition shop, which serves as a foundation for her hands-on work in guiding clients toward healthier habits and improved well-being.
In addition to her work in health and wellness, Deann brings over 30 years of experience as a bookkeeper and tax consultant, supported by academic training that includes two associate degrees in Marketing and Public Relations and Business, a bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Public Relations with a minor in Meeting and Event Planning, and a master’s degree in Marketing and Public Relations. Her professional philosophy centers on helping others achieve lasting transformation through nutrition, accountability, and self-love, while also promoting community wellness and family-centered values through her business and outreach efforts.
• Certified Health and Nutrition Coach
• Master's Degree in Marketing and Public Relations
• Acknowledged as an Influential Woman by College Sorority
• Lobbying for Children's Rights and Protections
• Advocacy Against Child Abuse and Bullying in Schools
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to having survived two life-threatening experiences. I was declared dead at the scene of a car accident but was ultimately revived, followed by a long recovery that required me to relearn how to walk; nine years ago, I faced another near-death experience due to a serious illness. These pivotal moments profoundly shaped my perspective, instilling resilience, determination, and a strong sense of purpose, and strengthening my commitment to persevere and move forward despite challenges.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received was 8 years ago when a doctor looked at me and told me that if I did not get my mental health in check, my physical and medical health would never improve, and I would never be able to succeed at what I wanted to do. That advice completely turned my life around. It was when my career really started to progress the way I hoped it would. That's when I started working with my personal trainer, Trevor Miller, and began getting my mental health in check. That one piece of advice changed everything for me and set me on the path I'm on today.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Do it for the right reasons, not just for yourself, but to help others. When I started doing this work for myself, I realized that I could help others do this, too. That's my goal. I've come across so many women that have been in abusive situations, and I look at them and see myself 19 years ago. Helping them realize that by getting themselves right and learning to love themselves, they can help others, too. It's about more than just your own transformation. It's about using your journey and experiences to lift up other women who are struggling the way you once did.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge is getting people to understand that there is a better way out there, that you can learn to love yourself again, and that you can succeed without those that drag you down. That was why I stuck it out in my abusive marriage for 22 years, because I did not have the strength to think I could succeed on my own. One of the biggest things I try to impress on people is that if you don't have your mental health in check, your medical and physical health will never survive. Getting people to truly understand and believe that message is the greatest challenge I face in this work.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Honesty, love, and respect are the most important values to me. I also deeply value what I'm leaving for my children and my grandchildren in life. My children experienced that abuse with me for 22 years, and being able to show them that there's life out there that's better than that means everything to me. Watching them succeed makes me prouder than anything. My daughter will be receiving her doctorate degree from OSU on May 9th. My son is a disabled vet now, but he served in Turkey during the bombing of Syria in 2018 in the United States Air Force, and seeing what he's done through his military career makes me very proud. My other daughter has raised 3 children on her own with no support or financial help from their father and has done tremendous with that. Seeing that I can be an influence on my children to know that there's something better out there than what we were experiencing in those 22 years is what drives me.