Shelley has been leading aquatic exercise classes since 2012. She began teaching in Wichita, KS, at Genesis Health Clubs where she obtained 3 in-house certifications for teaching aquatics, including aqua arthritis. Shelley also expanded her teaching skills to land fitness where she taught in the Silver Sneakers program and continues to offer chair exercise to this day. 
Shelley currently resides in Topeka, KS, where she helps run Shockwave Aqua Fitness with daughter Sharlie. She is fondly referred to as Machine Gun Shelley by class members who have dared to take her popular aquatic boot camp and HIIT classes.