Our Vision
At Fresh Start Healthcare, LLC we believe that success comes from hard work and determination, but that has to be started with a single step. From the beginning of this journey, Fresh Start Heathcare has been a pioneer in the Richmond Area for learning and education. We believe that with quality training from skilled instructors that you will be able to go as far as your mind and heart will take you.
“There is no end to education. It is not that you read a book, pass an examination, and finish with education. The whole of life, from the moment you are born to the moment you die, is a process of learning.”
Jiddu Krishnamurti
Our Story
Fresh Start Healthcare, LLC formerly Breath of Fresh Air, was founded in 2002. The journey to open Fresh Start Healthcare, LLC was to provide CPR and First Aid Training. This came after the founder, Teresa Mason, RN saw a need to create easy access for educational opportunities. Originally, an entirely mobile business, dedicated to teaching CPR and First Aid on location. In 2007, we moved into a dedicated teaching space in Mechanicsville, VA. As the business grew, so did our services. Realizing the need for more classes throughout the state, Fresh Start began offering Nurse Aide (CNA), Pharmacy Technician, and Medication Aide classes. Throughout the years, Fresh Start has been empowering its students through quality education and instruction. In 2018, Fresh Start, had to do some reevaluating. Realizing that teaching classes at one specific location was challenging for our students and our facilities, the decision to take our classes back out into the community was made. This change allows us to come to where we are needed the most, making our classes more accessible to everyone. With that change, also came a name change, Fresh Start Healthcare, LLC was created. This change came after much consideration to who we are as a company. While Breath of Fresh Air will always be a part of who we are, we knew that in order to effectively reach those looking to start or continue with their careers in the healthcare profession, we had to make a change, a Fresh Start.
Meet the Team
Teresa Mason, RN, CPhT
Executive Director
Teresa has worked in the healthcare industry all of her life. As an advocate for health care and education, Teresa knows all about putting in the hard work. While she has had many years of real life training, she decided that formal training was necessary to further her personal education goals. While working full time as president of Family Care/Cedarfield Pharmacy and running a growing business, Teresa went back to school in 2007 to obtain her nursing degree. After many long days, and short nights, Teresa graduated with her Associates in Applied Health Science and as a Registered Nurse in 2010. When she is not working, she enjoys relaxing in the sun, spending time with her husband, step-daughter, and grandbaby.
Ashleigh Mason
Director of Operations
Ashleigh has been an integral part of Fresh Start Healthcare, LLC from the beginning. Growing along with Fresh Start, her official journey started as a CPR instructor at the age of 16. Ashleigh’s dedication to Fresh Start Healthcare has been a learning experience throughout the years and has resulted in her official title as Director of Operations since 2016. Outside of Fresh Start Healthcare, LLC, Ashleigh enjoy spending time with her son, Ryan, rock climbing, bird watching, and overall just being in nature. She is currently pursing her bachelor’s degree at VCU in Biology.