CALPINE, CA, April 21, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Michelle Elaine Reugebrink has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
As a mindfulness and coaching program manager, a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) teacher, a master-certified coach, and a national board-certified health and wellness coach, Mrs. Reugebrink's career is marked by her dedication to fostering resilience and purpose-driven leadership. She has worked as faculty for the Federal Executive Institute Office of Personnel Management and Human Resources Solutions since 2023. Additionally, she co-founded Mindful Federal Employees Development, using her expertise to reimagine workplace well-being. Her contributions have been recognized with a letter of appreciation from Chairman Darkhan Zhazykbay of the State Institution Agency for Civil Service Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan in 2025, the Exceeds Fully Successful Performance Cash Award from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management in 2024, and many other accolades.
Mrs. Reugebrink commenced her career at 16 with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, participating in the Golden Sierra program, which supported low-income families. This experience proved to be a pivotal moment in her life. By 18, she had become a wildland firefighter. She spent 16 years working on wildland fire engines and hand and hotshot crews and has held fire qualifications for 36 years.
In 1994, Mrs. Reugebrink was involved in the devastating "Storm King Mountain" incident, during which she tragically lost 14 colleagues. This experience profoundly impacted her. During the crisis, her husband received a call indicating she was missing in action. At that time, there were no established methods for clinically licensed stress debriefing. This incident motivated her to seek improvements in both personal and team readiness. Consequently, she became involved in occupational health and safety, eventually serving as chief investigator for 18 major catastrophic events, gaining valuable insights along the way.
Mrs. Reugebrink's 37-year career with the Forest Service included roles as a mindfulness teacher, health, wellness and resilience manager, forestry technician supervisor, and cartographer, among others. She also worked as an occupational health and safety manager in California, Hawaii and the Pacific Islands. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she demonstrated exemplary leadership through weekly guided reflections and various tools to support individuals during a global crisis. In recognition of her unwavering determination to prioritize mindfulness, resiliency and the well-being of wildland firefighters and their families in decision-making processes, she received the Paul Gleason "Lead by Example" Award.
Mrs. Reugebrink's educational background is extensive. Driven by her ambitions, she was the first in her family to attend college, earning a degree in fire science at Shasta College in 1991. She also completed the Wildland Firefighter Apprenticeship Program. Mrs. Reugebrink is a national board-certified health and wellness coach (NBC-HWC), a professional integrative health coach through Duke University's Integrative Medicine program, and a member of the International Coaching Federation (ICF) as a master-certified coach (MCC). Mrs. Reugebrink was the director of education for the Federal Internal Coach Training Program with OPM for several years and was the first in the federal government to become a master-certified coach. Other certifications include supervisor coach, personal trainer, and certified MBSR teacher, which were granted by the University of Massachusetts Medical School. She has also completed trauma-sensitive yoga and resiliency training and received certifications as a forest therapy guide and holistic stress management instructor.
In addition to her professional accomplishments, Mrs. Reugebrink is involved in civic-minded organizations such as the National Wildland Fallen Firefighters Foundation, the Wildland Firefighter Foundation, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, Healing Beyond Borders, and the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy. Her contributions extend to co-authoring publications like "Stress Control and Resilience and Crisis Intervention" and "Recovering from Traumatic Stress" in 2014. In 2012, she participated in a documentary for the National Fallen Firefighter Foundation, sharing stories and lessons from the fatal fire on Storm King Mountain.
Mrs. Reugebrink's contributions to the field of mindfulness have been widely recognized. She was featured in the 2018 fifth anniversary edition of Mindful magazine for her work on MBSR and coaching. Additionally, she was highlighted in TIME magazine's anniversary editions in September 2018, 2019 and 2020 for her efforts in teaching mindfulness. In 2011, she received the Regional Forester's Honor Award in Safety Leadership. Baskin-Robbins and the National Fallen Firefighter Foundation honored her as one of America's 31 Firefighting Heroes for her outstanding acts of valor and commitment to community service and the protection of life as a forest safety officer and wildland firefighter in 2008. In 2007, she received the Chief's Award for Health and Safety in recognition of her passion and commitment to employee safety and well-being.
Mrs. Reugebrink's most notable achievement has been her ability to connect with and learn from many remarkable individuals throughout her career. This experience has broadened her understanding of humanity and illuminated the vast potential we have to offer one another. Rather than waiting for direction, she takes initiative, creating opportunities and driving progress. She attributes her success to her supportive parents, husband and family. Additionally, Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, the founder of MBSR, has played a significant role in her career and continues to inspire her. She is also grateful to many others who have guided and supported her.
Born in Sacramento and raised in Sierra Valley, Mrs. Reugebrink enjoys hiking, mountain biking and spending time with her family. Looking ahead, she intends to continue empowering individuals to discover their purpose and take meaningful steps toward achieving their goals. Her life's work reflects her belief that courageously committing actions to beliefs can profoundly impact others' quality of life.
About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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As a mindfulness and coaching program manager, a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) teacher, a master-certified coach, and a national board-certified health and wellness coach, Mrs. Reugebrink's career is marked by her dedication to fostering resilience and purpose-driven leadership. She has worked as faculty for the Federal Executive Institute Office of Personnel Management and Human Resources Solutions since 2023. Additionally, she co-founded Mindful Federal Employees Development, using her expertise to reimagine workplace well-being. Her contributions have been recognized with a letter of appreciation from Chairman Darkhan Zhazykbay of the State Institution Agency for Civil Service Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan in 2025, the Exceeds Fully Successful Performance Cash Award from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management in 2024, and many other accolades.
Mrs. Reugebrink commenced her career at 16 with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, participating in the Golden Sierra program, which supported low-income families. This experience proved to be a pivotal moment in her life. By 18, she had become a wildland firefighter. She spent 16 years working on wildland fire engines and hand and hotshot crews and has held fire qualifications for 36 years.
In 1994, Mrs. Reugebrink was involved in the devastating "Storm King Mountain" incident, during which she tragically lost 14 colleagues. This experience profoundly impacted her. During the crisis, her husband received a call indicating she was missing in action. At that time, there were no established methods for clinically licensed stress debriefing. This incident motivated her to seek improvements in both personal and team readiness. Consequently, she became involved in occupational health and safety, eventually serving as chief investigator for 18 major catastrophic events, gaining valuable insights along the way.
Mrs. Reugebrink's 37-year career with the Forest Service included roles as a mindfulness teacher, health, wellness and resilience manager, forestry technician supervisor, and cartographer, among others. She also worked as an occupational health and safety manager in California, Hawaii and the Pacific Islands. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she demonstrated exemplary leadership through weekly guided reflections and various tools to support individuals during a global crisis. In recognition of her unwavering determination to prioritize mindfulness, resiliency and the well-being of wildland firefighters and their families in decision-making processes, she received the Paul Gleason "Lead by Example" Award.
Mrs. Reugebrink's educational background is extensive. Driven by her ambitions, she was the first in her family to attend college, earning a degree in fire science at Shasta College in 1991. She also completed the Wildland Firefighter Apprenticeship Program. Mrs. Reugebrink is a national board-certified health and wellness coach (NBC-HWC), a professional integrative health coach through Duke University's Integrative Medicine program, and a member of the International Coaching Federation (ICF) as a master-certified coach (MCC). Mrs. Reugebrink was the director of education for the Federal Internal Coach Training Program with OPM for several years and was the first in the federal government to become a master-certified coach. Other certifications include supervisor coach, personal trainer, and certified MBSR teacher, which were granted by the University of Massachusetts Medical School. She has also completed trauma-sensitive yoga and resiliency training and received certifications as a forest therapy guide and holistic stress management instructor.
In addition to her professional accomplishments, Mrs. Reugebrink is involved in civic-minded organizations such as the National Wildland Fallen Firefighters Foundation, the Wildland Firefighter Foundation, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, Healing Beyond Borders, and the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy. Her contributions extend to co-authoring publications like "Stress Control and Resilience and Crisis Intervention" and "Recovering from Traumatic Stress" in 2014. In 2012, she participated in a documentary for the National Fallen Firefighter Foundation, sharing stories and lessons from the fatal fire on Storm King Mountain.
Mrs. Reugebrink's contributions to the field of mindfulness have been widely recognized. She was featured in the 2018 fifth anniversary edition of Mindful magazine for her work on MBSR and coaching. Additionally, she was highlighted in TIME magazine's anniversary editions in September 2018, 2019 and 2020 for her efforts in teaching mindfulness. In 2011, she received the Regional Forester's Honor Award in Safety Leadership. Baskin-Robbins and the National Fallen Firefighter Foundation honored her as one of America's 31 Firefighting Heroes for her outstanding acts of valor and commitment to community service and the protection of life as a forest safety officer and wildland firefighter in 2008. In 2007, she received the Chief's Award for Health and Safety in recognition of her passion and commitment to employee safety and well-being.
Mrs. Reugebrink's most notable achievement has been her ability to connect with and learn from many remarkable individuals throughout her career. This experience has broadened her understanding of humanity and illuminated the vast potential we have to offer one another. Rather than waiting for direction, she takes initiative, creating opportunities and driving progress. She attributes her success to her supportive parents, husband and family. Additionally, Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, the founder of MBSR, has played a significant role in her career and continues to inspire her. She is also grateful to many others who have guided and supported her.
Born in Sacramento and raised in Sierra Valley, Mrs. Reugebrink enjoys hiking, mountain biking and spending time with her family. Looking ahead, she intends to continue empowering individuals to discover their purpose and take meaningful steps toward achieving their goals. Her life's work reflects her belief that courageously committing actions to beliefs can profoundly impact others' quality of life.
About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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