Tammy was born in Youngstown, Ohio. After living in Michigan, Colorado, and California, she was raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She began swimming competitively at age 7 for a park and recreation team.  Within a year she moved on to a USA Swimming age group team. She continued to swim competitively through high school.

Following two years at Oklahoma State University, Tammy finished her Kinesiology degree at the University of Colorado at Boulder. While swimming for the University of Colorado, she began racing sprint and Olympic distance triathlons. In 1989, after a year of battling shin splints, she was sent to a store that made custom foot orthotics. Within two weeks, the pain was gone. She was so impressed, she began working part-time at the very same running store which specialized in the fabrication of custom orthotics. She worked for this company for eight years, honing her own skills in custom orthotic fabrication.  In 1997, Tammy started her own company, Elite Feet Orthotics, which focuses only on custom, hand-crafted orthotics. Additionally, Tammy received training through the International School of Pedorthics.  Tammy is also a USA Triathlon certified coach. 

As the owner of Elite Feet, Tammy has fabricated custom orthotics for all age groups from 4-95 years of age. If a sport requires footwear, chances are, Tammy has customized an orthotic for that sport.  Ski boots, water skis, toe shoes, running shoes, hiking boots, Army boots, sandals, and even Hungarian dance boots, to name a few.   Lance Armstrong trusted Tammy's expertise all the way to winning his 6th Tour de France victory in 2004.

An accomplished athlete, Tammy knows the wear and tear one's body can take.  She also knows that proper footwear and support have helped keep her body healthy.  Tammy is a 11 time Ironman competitor.  In 2002, she competed at the Ironman Triathlon World Championships.  She is a two-time member of the US National and World Olympic distance triathlon team.  Tammy is also a member of the 2005 National Long Course Triathlon Team. To round out the year, her winter activities include x-country skiing and snowshoeing from her home outside of Boulder, CO.