Breathing Purpose Into Every Space and Every Soul
When you meet Dr. Holly J. Burns, you sense a rare blend of intellect, warmth, and drive. She is a scientist, entrepreneur, educator, philanthropist, and pageant titleholder whose life’s work revolves around helping people in body, mind, and environment breathe easier.
As founder of Action Consulting & Environmental Services (ACE) and ACE Training Institute, Dr. Burns stands at the intersection of women’s health, environmental science, and empowerment. Her journey began as a marketing representative at a water and mold restoration firm, a role that awakened her life’s mission.
From Marketing to Mission
Early in her career, Holly assisted with a mold assessment involving an 18-month-old girl who suffered cognitive health issues from exposure. The experience changed her path. Determined to understand how environment affects well-being, she earned her Ph.D. in Environmental Epidemiology at Walden University, researching how indoor air quality and mold exposure influence cognitive health in women going through menopausal transitions.
“Women’s health is environmental health,” she explains. “If the air we breathe is compromised, it affects our minds, hormones, and vitality.”
Building ACE and ACE Training Institute
What began as a small business is now a respected national enterprise. ACE provides air-quality assessments and mold consulting for homes, hospitals, and schools, while the ACE Training Institute delivers IICRC-approved education to contractors and insurance professionals throughout the United States and Canada. Her precision and compassion led to her election to the Board of Directors of the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration (IICRC).
The Feminine Boss Philosophy
Dr. Burns defines a Feminine Boss not by authority but by authenticity. “It’s grace with grit,” she says. “It’s leading with intellect and intuition in equal measure.” Her leadership mirrors her remediation philosophy to remove toxins, restore balance, and create conditions for growth. She encourages women entering technical trades to claim their seat in spaces historically saturated by men. “Science needs women’s perspectives,” she asserts.
Beyond Business: A Legacy of Kindness
Dr. Burns writes and speaks about kindness as a transformative force. Her book, A Kiss from God, published under her own imprint, Kindness Publishing, celebrates everyday compassion: supporting shelters, hosting community events, and comforting those in need. “Kindness isn’t weakness,” she says. “It’s the most powerful form of leadership.”
Crowns with Purpose
In 2025, Holly represented Florida at the Mrs. USA Pageant, placing in the Top 5, and now holds the title of Mrs. Southeast Classique Globe 2026. Her platform “Fit for a Cure” raises funds to send children with Type 1 diabetes to camp. Her second platform, “Be the Hope,” supports women and children overcoming domestic abuse and homelessness through clothing drives, meal programs, and mentorship. “Hope isn’t a feeling,” she says. “It’s an action.”
A Global Perspective
Dr. Burns has presented research about air quality in Rwanda and shared her findings internationally in Tokyo and at the University of Cologne, Germany. Her upcoming book, The Cost to Breathe, explores the medical, environmental, and financial struggles to maintain healthy indoor air. “Clean air should not be a luxury,” she insists. “It’s a human right.”
Balancing Science, Faith, and Family
Despite her achievements, Holly’s proudest titles are wife, mother, and grandmother. Her greatest joy comes from time spent with her husband, her children, and her granddaughters. Family is the foundation that keeps her grounded, and faith is the compass that directs her path.
She believes every accomplishment begins with gratitude and prayer. “My faith reminds me that every opportunity is a calling,” she says. “Whether I’m teaching, writing, or volunteering, I see God’s hand in every part of the journey.”
It is that spiritual perspective that shapes how she leads, teaches, and serves others: always with humility, compassion, and the desire to leave the world a little better than she found it.
The Future
Dr. Burns is expanding her environmental business’s reach while creating initiatives linking indoor air-quality awareness with women’s and children’s health worldwide. “My dream,” she says, “is to build a world where families breathe easier, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.”
True power is rooted in kindness. Strength isn’t about control or perfection; it’s the quiet confidence to lead with empathy, faith, and purpose. Every challenge becomes an opportunity to serve, to grow, and to inspire others to rise. Through my work and my faith, I’ve learned that leadership isn’t about being followed; it’s about helping others find their own strength to shine with grace.
