Dr. Nicole McCauley stands at the intersection of food equity, innovation and philanthropy. She owns Breath of Life Pregnancy and Pediatric Chiropractic, a business that has been a fixture in Springfield since 1966. Breath of Life is growing into a new location, creating space for complementary natural health care options for patients. “Dr. McCauley is not just a doctor, she is a game changer for families,” Daniel Ortega said in his nomination for McCauley.

Beyond her clinic, McCauley is the CEO and founder of the McCauley Foundation, which creates agricultural ecosystems for nonprofit organizations to develop self-sustainability. McCauley’s local goal with the foundation is to end food insecurity for this generation through access and education, “because everyone deserves to know where their next meal is coming from”—a topic she knows all too well, as she grew up food insecure herself. One of the ways her team is tackling this is through aeroponic growing, which allows for increased production and nutrient density equal to that of produce grown organically in soil. McCauley helps schools, nonprofits and communities set up tower farms, which are vertical growing systems that deliver fresh produce while using 98% less water and 90% less space than traditional farming. “My whole life is going to be dedicated to feeding people from here on out,” McCauley says.

As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
“When I was 5, I wanted to be a tap-dancing brain surgeon.”

What is your go-to coffee shop order?
“I don’t always drink coffee, but when I do, I like to go to Dancing Mule and get a Razzle Nut with coconut milk. It’s off-menu, except around Christmastime.”

What’s your favorite way to unwind in 417-land?
“I like to go to Acacia Spa. I schedule it once a month, and I like to take the whole day and just recharge.”