Meet Jana Dufresne | Owner & Coach

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

Hi Jana, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
Well, I was born in Chattanooga, TN, but moved to Birmingham, AL at a very young age and lived there until I was 10. It was then that my family moved to the suburbs of Atlanta and I’ve pretty much been here ever since. I’m the youngest of three children in the family and I definitely believe my birth order plays a huge roll in who I am today. When you’re the youngest in the dynamic I was raised in, you spend a lot of time observing everyone else who is older than you. It’s like there’s a drive to want to act older, be just as athletic, or better than your older siblings. Plus, they’ve gone through it so you get to take note on what works and what doesn’t. Haha.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Synergy Nutrition was born in 2017 out of a fitness community here in Johns Creek, Ga. What started off as two people asking a lot of questions when it comes to performance nutrition and learning what worked and what didn’t, ended up with the launch of Synergy Nutrition. Frankly, we’re just two normal people. We have and have had questions just like most of you. We did research and certifications, got help from leaders in the industry, and set out to share what we found with the world. We really weren’t sure what Synergy Nutrition was going to do, but we knew we just had to try. Our mission was very clear. We aimed to take what we know and give it to others. We are a science based nutrition company that only wants the best for our clients and we hold high standards to making sure what we’re doing is sustainable for each person that comes to us for help. With that, it was clear in that first year that we had something worth fighting for, which led us to where we are today. It’s not easy, but it is very rewarding. Owning your own business comes with the obvious stressors. but also that feeling of putting yourself out there in a more public way. If a decision is made, good or bad, all eyes are on you. That’s honestly been the biggest struggle I’ve been up against since starting this venture. Thankfully, I have several people in my corner to push me to be the best version of me and find the confidence I sometimes can’t see in myself. When those things come together, it’s a beautiful thing! Without persevering, I could have easily missed the pride and joy I get to experience in Synergy Nutrition every day and the people who make our community who we are.

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?
Oooo, this is a tough one! While I’ve spent most of my life here, I have moved around some and my family dynamic has changed so much over the years. I’m not as young as I use to be and I’m sure so much in the city has changed since I was living down there. I currently live in Johns Creek, north of Atlanta, and I typically spend my time looking for spot to grab some good food, enjoy an outdoor concert, or head down to the city for a sporting event (my favorite being Atlanta United with the kids). I will say that I am partial to a good Old Fashioned, and in my opinion, it’s hard to beat the one at Rumi’s Kitchen. I’ll also add that the food there is high quality and tastes amazing. Certainly, nutrition coach approved!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’ve been so fortunate to have many incredible leaders in my life. People who have taught me what it looks like to lead, push against the uncomfortable, and jump when I need to jump. Like I said before, I’m an observer by nature, so having all of these amazing folks in my circle has really formed me to who I am and what I’ve been able to do in my life. To name a few names, my husband, Andy, would be at the top of that list. His patience and leadership shine like no other I’ve seen. He is the master at living by example, and his support for me is unwavering. He really is my backbone in life. Next, I’d have to mention my business partner, Will Hamilton. Honestly, if it weren’t for him, I would likely be doing something very different right now. Will is the risk taker that I need in my life and he has this uncanny ability to push me in areas I maybe didn’t see I needed to be pushed. It’s clear to me that we have and will continue to accomplish great things together. There are several other mentors that I’ve had the opportunity to study and work under in my past life. A guy named, Derrick Brown, made a huge impact on my in my very first job out of college. He taught me how to work smart, lead well, and how to treat others. He had a work life balance that was against the norm and was very successful in his career while maintaining great relationships at home. Last, I will mention my sister, Andria Parker, who went out on a limb in her own life to forge ahead with her own design business. Watching her succeed, fail, and overcome, has given me the courage to do things that I would normal be apprehensive to do. She has been a natural leader in my life and I’m incredibly thankful for what she’s taught me.

Website: https://synergyjohnscreek.com/nutrition/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/synergynutrition_/
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