Her Story
About Susie
Susie Tatman-Baldner, RN, is a registered nurse, certified personal trainer, and health coach who brings together clinical healthcare and fitness expertise to help people improve their health, confidence, and quality of life. She currently works as a nurse at the Carle allergy clinic in Urbana while continuing to train clients at The Zone Fitness gym and The Sports Crib in St. Joe. With approximately 15 years of experience as a personal trainer, Susie has built her career around helping individuals overcome challenges and achieve meaningful personal goals through fitness and wellness.
Susie began her professional journey as a single mother raising three young children and initially worked as a substitute teacher before pursuing her passion for fitness and becoming a personal trainer. She later returned to school to pursue nursing while continuing to work with clients. She earned her Registered Nursing degree from Parkland College in December 2024 and holds a bachelor's degree in Activity Therapy from Illinois State University. Her earlier professional experience also includes working with individuals with disabilities in psychiatric hospitals and serving as an adapted aquatics teacher, providing her with a broad foundation in healthcare, activity therapy, and supportive care.
Beyond her professional responsibilities, Susie is committed to service, personal wellness, and family. She participates in volunteer and community activities through Meadowbrook Church and CU Church and has identified Daily Bread and Alternative Living Counseling as areas of volunteer involvement. She credits perseverance, family support, gratitude, and her passion for helping others as important factors in her success. Her commitment to service extends into both nursing and fitness, where she strives to help others build confidence, overcome obstacles, and pursue healthier lives.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Susie
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to perseverance, family support, gratitude, and a genuine passion for helping people succeed. I began my journey as a single mother raising three young children and later returned to school to become a registered nurse while continuing to train clients. My family supported me throughout the challenges of balancing school, work, and family responsibilities, including helping me navigate technology and coursework. Maintaining a gratitude journal has also helped me remain thankful and focused on the positive. Above all, I am passionate about helping people overcome challenges, build confidence, and improve their lives through fitness and nursing.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I have learned is to never give up, regardless of the obstacles I face. My own experiences have taught me the importance of perseverance, gratitude, and believing that I am capable of difficult things. I remind myself, “I can do hard things,” because I have faced challenges before and overcome them. Keeping a gratitude journal has also reinforced the importance of maintaining a healthy and positive outlook throughout life's challenges.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would encourage young women to embrace life's obstacles rather than allowing them to define or limit them. You do not have to settle for anything less than success, and challenges can become opportunities to discover your strength and resilience. Find something you are genuinely passionate about and pursue it wholeheartedly, because passion can make the process of overcoming challenges and continuing to grow much more meaningful.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of my biggest challenges is learning to balance my relatively new role as a registered nurse with my established work as a personal trainer and health coach. Managing multiple professional responsibilities requires careful time management, organization, and balance. At the same time, having experience in both nursing and fitness gives me an opportunity to help people approach their health and wellness from multiple perspectives.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Perseverance, gratitude, service, self-care, and physical wellness are central to my work and personal life. My experience as a single mother who returned to school later in life taught me the importance of continuing forward through difficult circumstances. I value giving back through volunteer work with alternative living programs and my church, while also prioritizing my own health and well-being. Most importantly, I value spending time with my three grown children and three grandchildren. Gratitude and serving others remain at the heart of how I approach both my personal life and my professional work.
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