Willows Locket

at leave lasting impressions. Her professional background demonstrates a wide array of creative skills, fueled by a drive for excellence. Angie’s mission is to create meaningful connections through exceptional experiences. Angie grew up in a factory town where girls were taught to be homemakers, and although that was an eventual goal, she sought a life with more adventure and opportunity. Despite a troublesome childhood and struggles in school, she was the first to graduate high school in her family and went on to put herself through college. She became laser focused on broadening her scope and improving her chances of a better life through education. In her twenties, she started a family, which she considers her greatest achievement. Determined to create a supportive family environment, she was heavily involved in school activities and supported all her children’s extracurricular pursuits. Concurrently, she remained focused on personal goals, resuming her college education to complete her degree and pursuing career advancement, which ultimately earned her five promotions within an eight-year period. In her mid-thirties, however, the prolonged effects of self-inflicted expectations combined with minimal sleep and no self-care, ultimately led to diagnoses of generalized anxiety and panic disorder. She tried various medications, but troubling side effects led her to turn to the holistic practices of yoga, meditation, and superfoods. During her recovery, she noticed many others faced similar struggles but lacked access or resources for healing. Motivated by compassion and empathy, she made a pact with God that when she healed, she would work to make health and wellness accessible and affordable for others. She dove into intense training and once certified, she brought a yoga mat to a park—people came. Angie saw in her students the same healing she experienced in her own practice. By the grace of God and support of her family, she opened her first yoga studio in Florissant, MO. It was an instant success. In 2014, she decided to leave her corporate job and built another yoga studio in Ferguson, during a period of unrest, seeking to provide a place of unity and peace. Drawn to Ferguson’s hometown feel, she promoted a message of inclusivity: no matter who you are, you belonged. Over the course of nine years, Angie operated multiple yoga studios, expanded the business to include an apothecary and health spa, established a community cafe, developed the space into an event venue, sponsored a community garden, and created a proprietary product line. Her team organized and facilitated more than 10,000 workshops, classes, and events. Angie served as a wellness expert on Fox 2 News, delivered keynote addresses at Women in Leadership conferences, and taught wellness techniques at local schools and businesses. The franchise received recognitions such as being named "Best in St. Louis" by STL Magazine and "Best of Missouri" by the Missouri State Treasurer’s Office and was featured in multiple publications including the St. Louis Post Dispatch, Riverfront Times, and Yoga & Spa Magazine. Her beloved OmTurtleYoga, Spa and Café, where people came for health, healing and friendship. She was working on plans to franchise three more locations when March 2020 forever changed the course for millions. Despite these accomplishments, Angie’s business faced significant challenges due to the impacts of Covid-19, extended restrictions in St. Louis County, mounting debt, and property damage obtained during protests that same year. This eventually led to its closure. As she watched her business collapse for no fault of her own, she felt like a failure. Piles of memories and hard work boxed up in every corner of her home. Sifting through remanence was paralyzing. Trying to hold on to everything, just in case, felt like drowning. All those people she loved, left behind. She tried multiple times to restart but had no energy left and what if she failed again? Hundreds of applications went out for corporate jobs, but she was overlooked for more “qualified candidates.” She felt hopeless and sunk into a deep depression asking herself “who am I now?”

During this prolonged period of uncertainty and adaptation, she haphazardly initiated "Shenanigans" to keep her family entertained, which sparked an idea and the establishment of Shenanigans St. Louis, a mobile event production and entertainment company which became the culmination of her professional journey. She just wanted something light and fun. The company won “Best of Missouri 2024” for Event Design. In 2024, Angie expanded her operations to open Willow's Locket—a Social House and Event Venue located in historic downtown Wentzville, MO. With its storied past as a residence, bourbon/wine/cigar bar, and bakery/coffee shop, Willow’s Locket now offers an elevated and nostalgic setting for both social and private events. Since opening, she’s been booked almost every week, and her social events are selling out! Looking ahead, Angie’s goal is to develop Willow’s Locket into a social center for creative services, drawing on years of experience hosting events, workshops, and classes. As she enters her 50’s, navigating an empty nest and rebuilding through transition, the founder continues to hinge on her personal experiences to draw in those looking for meaningful connections, where everyone belongs. For more information or to reserve the venue, visitors are encouraged to check the social calendar or contact Willow’s Locket to book an event. Visit the website www.willowslocket.com.