Valerie Valentino - August 2025 ANNEfluencer

Valerie grew up in Greenville, North Carolina, where her early years were filled with the competitive spirit of athletics. She played basketball, cross country, soccer, and volleyball—planting the seeds of her lifelong passion for fitness and drive.

 

At just 20 years old, Valerie made a courageous decision to join the U.S. Air Force to help pay for college. She became a Communications and Navigation Specialist, working on KC-135 aircraft—massive military planes used for aerial refueling and transport. She thrived in the high-pressure world of aviation maintenance, embodying excellence and discipline.

 

But at age 22, Valerie’s world shifted. She discovered a golf-ball sized lump in her throat that was later diagnosed as Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Rather than letting cancer define her, she attacked it head-on with resilience and faith. Valerie faced chemotherapy with grit and grace, and despite the toll it took on her body, she emerged victorious and transformed—finishing her final round of treatment while living in North Dakota.

 

Following her recovery, Valerie spent about three years working as a delivery driver, rebuilding her strength and reconnecting with her body. She soon transitioned into her true calling as a personal trainer and health coach, helping others achieve their fitness goals and reclaim their health. During this time, she became immersed in the world of powerlifting, pushing her body to new limits. It was at a competition where she met her future husband, JW.

 

“JW is the one who taught me about nutrition,” Valerie says. After beating cancer, she realized she had survived chemo but knew nothing about nourishing her body. “I would go to chemo and then through the drive-thru at McDonald’s.” With JW’s guidance and her own fire to rebuild, she embraced a healthy lifestyle—and eventually, a brand-new business.

 

After giving birth to their son, Valerie deepened her expertise, becoming a certified personal trainer with a specialty in pregnancy and postpartum athleticism. As she trained others, her passion for juicing began. It started as a few orders from gym friends… and quickly snowballed.

 

With faith at the center of their decision-making, Valerie and JW prayed for guidance. “God has a plan for us,” she’d say. “Let’s ask Him to open doors.”

 

The doors flew open.

 

She began juicing out of her home, taking orders Monday through Thursday, shopping on Fridays, juicing on Saturdays, and delivering on Sundays. “We had fruit everywhere,” she laughs. “All over the garage.” What started as a goal to sell 100 bottles quickly turned into 250 bottles a month. That’s when JW, inspired by the vision, quit his job in the oil fields. “I wish we could do this every day,” he said. The very next day, they bet on themselves—and never looked back.

 

From their kitchen to a rented kitchen, to juicing 18 hours a day, the couple’s relentless work ethic fueled their growth. They opened their first Jack & Juice shop in 2023. By 2024, they had sold it. And in 2025, they returned to Valerie’s roots in Greenville, NC to bring Jack & Juice home.

 

You can now visit Jack & Juice in Arlington Village, where Valerie and JW serve made-from-scratch smoothies, açai bowls, and fresh-pressed juices in a space full of love, health, and hope.

 

Valerie’s story is one of deep resilience, bold faith, and fearless entrepreneurship. She reminds us that the most powerful stories are the ones we write ourselves.

 

Come taste the spirit of strength at Jack & Juice – 642 E. Arlington Blvd Greenville, NC.

 

Welcome home, Valerie. Pirate Anne salutes you.