Priscilla Loomis Shares Her Olympic Journey and Message of Resilience at NAWBO Event
Olympian Priscilla Loomis with members of the NAWBO at the installation bereakfast on July 15, 2025. Photo by Monique Howard
BY MONIQUE HOWARD | For AC JosepH Media
CHERRY HILL – Olympic athlete and motivational speaker Priscilla Loomis said she learned to succeed through her failures and learned to be herself through all the trials.
Loomis, the former South Jersey track and field star who completed for Antigua and Barbuda in the Summer Olympic Games, gave a message of resilience and determination at the National Association of Women Business Owners South Chapter 2025-26 board installation breakfast at the Legacy Club on July 15.
She joined NAWBO’s new board members and supporters in a bright, airy dining room decorated with vibrant floral arrangements and balloon garlands.
On an early Tuesday morning, entrepreneurs, sponsors, and individual supporters gathered with a like-minded purpose—to celebrate the installation of new officials and pay homage to those who served in previous roles—as NAWBO continues its longstanding legacy of excellence.
Current president Maria Veglia gave a heartfelt speech to honor the new appointees and to commemorate the regional chapter’s history of achievement and advocacy.
“It really taught me a lot about working together—teamwork and passion—because that’s what these women have,” Veglia said.
Each woman called to center stage was presented with a bouquet of flowers and a small gift.
The 2025–2026 South Jersey NAWBO board members include:
*Arlette Leyba
*Megan Knowlton Balne
*Lisa Giovannini
*Nancy Starr
*Sharon Dunkel
*Olivia E. Mendler
*Susan Hodges
*Angela Tofani Kucenski
*Cheryl Squadrito
*Kelly Wernersbach
*Audrey Wiggins
*Lisa B. Snyder
*Carly Jordan
*Debra Berman
*Maria Veglia
*Renee Patrone Rhinehart
*Jenny Breuning
*Sarah Brand
As a professional athlete, Loomis represented Antigua and Barbuda for seven years before retiring in 2021 to establish her public speaking service, Priscilla Loomis LLC.
With a culturally diverse family background, she understands the importance of representation and its impact.
“My mom is from the Dominican Republic, my dad is from Antigua,” she explained. “And so representing Antigua, being born in New York City—there’s a lot of different cultural backgrounds. I’m also a Catholic. I’m married to a white man.”
Loomis continued, “Life was so different when I was 10 years old. I’m a different person than I was at 21, and now I’m 36, right? And so it’s also about owning who you are and being able to allow young girls to see themselves in me.”
During her journey from athlete to motivational speaker, Loomis encountered sexism, racism, and colorism.
“I was always labeled too much or over the top,” she said. “And so, when I was trying to take that Olympic mindset and fit it into a nine-to-five, I kept failing. I realized that so many kids needed growth. They needed a different perspective.”
After realizing her public speaking didn’t need to follow the mold of a TED Talk, she discovered the importance of remaining true to herself.
“And then I realized that I have to meet the audience where they’re at,” Loomis reflected.
“I was like, let me just do one being myself and see what happens. And now we’re here, right? So, then I was able to create a business out of it.”
When considering advice for the next generation of athletes, she emphasized the importance of resilience.
“You’ve got to fight,” she stated. “You are gonna fail over and over again. There’s gonna be a lot of different people in your ear, but you’ve got to do the work. Nothing is going to be given to you.”
Despite the challenges Loomis faced along the way, she has many memorable moments she is grateful for.
“Finally getting that call and being selected for the team and falling to my knees and crying. Being at the Olympics. Walking in the opening ceremony,” she recalled. “Getting married the day after a track meet, in Ireland.”
During her career, she had the opportunity to meet stellar professional athletes such as Michael Phelps and Serena Williams.
“There are so many incredible things that I’ve experienced because of track and I made it my own,” she continued. “And through all the failures, through it all, I have come out stronger.”
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