When you sit down to talk with Stephanie Kalkbrenner, it’s hard not to feel inspired. Born and raised in Budapest, Hungary, Stephanie has lived on three continents and built a life rooted in purpose, resilience, and love. That applies not just to her work, but also to her family and the community around her.

     At 18, she left Hungary to begin a new chapter in Australia, eventually making her way to the U.S. at age 24. Thirteen years later, she now calls Arrowhead Lakes home, where she lives with her husband, Kristofer, and their daughter, Daisy, who will be 11 months old in October.

     Stephanie’s background in athletic performance runs deep. She was an aerobic gymnast in Hungary and later went on to coach an international team in Sydney. That experience shaped her passion for developing not only physical skills in athletes but also the mental strength needed for long-term growth. Today, she runs her own coaching business, Elite Youth, working with children between the ages of 6 and 17 to help them build the confidence and mindset that supports both performance and well-being.

     Her coaching style is rooted in strategies from neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), and her focus is on building confidence. She has found that when young athletes struggle with consistency or motivation, it often comes down to a lack of self-belief. Many parents, she explains, don’t realize that discipline actually builds confidence. She helps kids find that link for themselves in a way that sticks.

     In addition to her youth programs, Stephanie also works with adults between 18 and 60, offering coaching that focuses on personal growth, mindset, and life strategy. No matter the age group, her core goal is the same: to help people tap into their potential and move forward with clarity and confidence.

     Stephanie met Kristofer in 2018 after their parents, who each had boats in Mission Bay in San Diego, introduced them. They kept up a two-year long-distance relationship, seeing each other every two weeks. During that time, Kristofer was working as a firefighter, a career he continues today. As the engineer on his crew, he drives the fire truck and is responsible for the technical aspects of the job, including vertical ventilation and extrication. It’s a role that requires sharp focus and serious commitment, and he takes it to heart. He doesn’t call in sick, even when it would be understandable, simply because he won’t let people down.

     When the pandemic hit, Stephanie adapted quickly. She opened a private educational leadership school, focusing on helping children build confidence and leadership through mindset work. At its peak, she was working online with hundreds of children across six different states. Once schools reopened, she moved to Arizona to be with Kristofer and bought their home in Arrowhead.

     Now, her coaching work is mostly remote, with clients in eight states. She holds face-to-face sessions once a week, but her flexible schedule allows her to balance her growing business with time for her family.

     Stephanie speaks warmly about the people in her life. Her parents live in Playa del Carmen, and her mom, with whom she is very close, visits every other month, staying for at least 10 days. Her in-laws live nearby in Arizona. She describes their families as the best family on earth. Surrounded by love and support, Daisy is growing up in a home full of purpose, encouragement, and laughter.

     Kristofer’s dedication to his work and his family is something Stephanie admires deeply. Whether it’s his career in public service or his role at home, he leads with integrity and heart. He fights fires not just as a job, but with a clear sense of purpose. At home, he is present, engaged, and dependable. He’s the kind of person who shows up no matter what and never lets people down.

     Together, Stephanie and Kristofer have created a life that blends ambition with care and structure with flexibility. Whether it’s through her work helping others grow or his commitment to public safety, they both serve with intention. And in doing so, they bring something truly special to the neighborhood.