Get to Know Maggie Braun: Healthy Living for a Happy Life

Maggie Braun is known as someone who is always on the go. Whether it’s helping her family and community find practical solutions to life’s challenges, staying active or living a healthy lifestyle in Reno – her home of more than 40 years – people in her community think of this Sterling Silver Club member and healthy living advocate as a role model for positivity.

City Roots, Mountain Dreams

When Maggie was a little girl, she had a dream where she would be able to look at the mountains every day. The first time she visited Reno from Marin County, Calif. with her two sons was on a Greyhound bus to visit her brother in 1980. It was snowing in the Sierra Nevada mountains on the way up, which reminded her of her very young childhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and she immediately felt at home. "As I looked out the bus window, I thought to myself, this is my dream!” said Maggie.

Many people in Maggie’s life noticed that she had a mind for business as far back as her teenage years. She started out working in the San Francisco Juvenile Hall in high school. After she graduated from high school and enrolled in classes at City College of San Francisco, she was able to hone her business and journalism skills. But Maggie was not one to let life pass her by; she wanted to put her business skills to work as soon as she could. She started working full-time in the corporate world at age 19, holding jobs at a variety of organizations, including the Inspector’s Bureau in San Francisco’s Hall of Justice, the legal department of Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company, Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (known as MetLife), Novato Community Hospital and even a temporary assignment to work on the set of the Disney on Parade in southern California. Soon after she began her professional career journey, she purchased a 1966 Chevy Camaro at the age of 19, all by herself.

In 1981, in search of a new start in the Sierra Nevada mountains, Maggie and her two young sons packed up and made the move to the Biggest Little City. Here, she happily raised her boys amidst the mountains she dreamed about as a child.

Career and Community Minded

Once she arrived in Reno, Maggie got involved with her community, taking a special interest in helping others by means of her Christian ministry. She brought her passion for helping others to her career. Until Maggie landed a permanent position, she continued working with Kelly Services (and was known a “Kelly Girl”). Sharpening her skills in her temporary positions helped her gain experience by working in a broad range of businesses, and those same skills qualified her for her next major role at Western Energetx, a.k.a. Berry-Hinckley Industries. This role would turn out to be her career for more than two decades. Starting in 1988, Maggie was known as someone who “wore a lot of hats” for the company: a personal assistant to the company president, an executive administrator managing all facets – from the ground up – of human resources for 500 employees with only one assistant, assisting in creating the company newsletter, the list goes on. She enjoyed the perks the company extended to her as a valued employee, including their sponsorship support for her Silver State Marathon run in Washoe Valley in 1982 and an all-expenses-paid business trip to London with herself and two members of her family.

When Dec. 2019 rolled around, with a successful career down in her history books, Maggie retired and poured all her energy into continuing to help her community by volunteering for her ministry full-time, a longtime passion of hers. “There is nothing better than to see someone change their life for the better,” she said. “Everyone is dealing with something to some magnitude, and people are very concerned about their future. I love helping people. If you can change the life of one person, you’ve made a difference.”

As she enjoys retirement, Maggie reflects on her home. Maggie’s home has been thought of as a launching pad by both her biological and spiritual family members. Throughout the years, she has happily opened her home to help those whom she loves or cares about make their transition. “There is more happiness in giving rather than receiving,” she said.

Family Ties

Known as a family-minded person, Maggie embraces time with her family as often as she can with her busy schedule. She is proud of her family accomplishments.

Maggie raised her two sons in Reno since they were three and six years of age. Both have grown up and matured into responsible men. Her eldest son now lives in San Antonio, Tex. with his family, raising Maggie’s three grandchildren and oversees a home improvement company. Her youngest son, also all grown up, is living here in the Silver State and owns a unique design candle company in Reno. His daughter – Maggie's granddaughter – has a background in medicine and now works remotely for a medical equipment finance company. She is happily married with two precious dogs. Maggie’s grandson – her youngest son’s child – lives in southern California. “Though raising a family has had its challenges, all my children and grandchildren are doing well, and they have been able to purchase their own homes and have meaningful careers,” said Maggie. “That’s a real accomplishment, especially in today’s challenging environment.”

Maggie’s younger brother, who lived in Reno before Maggie’s move from the San Francisco Bay Area, had moved up to Seattle, Washington with his family, where he had a career as a smooth wall drywall contractor. He fell ill with a bronchial disorder complicated by asthma after breathing in carbon monoxide from a gas fireplace for years without his knowledge. It was at this time when Maggie encouraged him to move back to Reno, where the drier climate would help his condition. His doctors helped bring him back to health. Maggie is especially proud that her brother goes to the gym twice a week, persevering against his health struggles. She and her brother remain very close.

A Special Self-Care Motto

“Girls’ Gotta Try.” This is a motto that Maggie lives by every day. “It means, take care of yourself girls! There is only ONE you,” she said. These words of wisdom were taught to Maggie by her mother when she was growing up. She inspires others around her to be their own best friend. “Take care of yourself first – you have more to give,” said Maggie. “After all, how can you take care of others if you don’t take care of yourself?”

If you ever need self-care advice, Maggie’s close friends, associates and acquaintances look to her as their go-to person. She enjoys eating clean and staying healthy by staying active. In fact, healthy eating and athleticism runs in her family. All her family members stay fit, whether it’s deep sea and scuba diving, parachuting out of airplanes, skiing, hiking, bicycling, playing basketball, participating in gymnastics, swimming, playing soccer, weight training or long-distance running, including the San Francisco Bay to Breakers throughout the years. Today, you’ll find Maggie spending time in the gym and taking on new bicycle challenges, one of which included riding the McCarran Blvd. loop and finishing it within two and a half hours. Taking care of her physical and spiritual health is high on Maggie’s list of priorities, and she encourages everyone to live a healthy life.

“There are four aspects to a human being: physical, mental, emotional and, more importantly, spiritual,” said Maggie. And she’s exactly right. Outside of her family, ministry and active lifestyle, several say Maggie is a woman of many talents. She has enriched her life through drawing, gardening, playing string instruments and the piano.

An Appreciation for Senior Care Plus and Renown

A healthy spirit like Maggie does best with a health insurance plan that aligns with that same passion. She and her brother both found that match in Senior Care Plus, the Medicare Advantage plan operated by Hometown Health. The two siblings are both thrilled with the coverage and perks they receive as members of Senior Care Plus.

Maggie has a special appreciation for her primary care provider Sarah Snow, APRN and the care team at Renown Medical Group – Summit Sierra. She has enjoyed all the providers she’s seen as a Senior Care Plus member, especially her physical therapist, who has helped her gain mobility in her neck after a bad fall in her backyard which resulted in whiplash affecting the fascia muscles in her neck. Maggie appreciates the 20 physical therapy visits per year her health plan extends to her.

Life can change in an instant, and Maggie experienced that firsthand when her brother needed life-saving emergency surgery three years ago. He was cared for by robust healthcare teams in the surgical, intensive care and medical-surgical units at Renown Regional Medical Center, followed by intensive rehab totaling three weeks and home care for three months. Their swift attention to his emergent condition was impressive, and Maggie felt that her brother was in the right hands. “I have nothing but praise for Renown – they saved my brother’s life,” she said.

Maggie and her brother fully embrace the power of preventive health and take advantage of every possible preventive care option they can, including a yearly health assessment, an annual mammogram, a yearly eye exam, regular dental check-ups and more. The free gym membership is a plan benefit she greatly appreciates, and she enjoys the gym at least three times a week. “It’s so important to stay on top of your health, and I make sure to get all my preventive visits done every year,” said Maggie. “If something’s amiss, don’t hesitate to address it.”

Parting Advice

Maggie tries to bring her best self every day so she can give her best self to others. The feeling of fulfillment she gets from those actions is priceless to her.

As we close on her story here, let’s leave with one last sprinkle of advice from Maggie:

Life can be challenging, especially in a world full of uncertainties. But when you maintain a positive mindset and see the glass half full, you naturally attract others who want to be that way too. In a world overflowing with negative energy, choose to be someone who radiates positivity. I’m grateful to have lived long enough to focus on what truly matters—we all have something of value to bring each other. First, we must value ourselves.