At Ashley Smalley Digestive Health & Nutrition, Ashley Smalley believes food should empower, not overwhelm. Drawing on her own experience with digestive health, she’s built a practice rooted in empathy and evidence-based care. Ashley helps people reclaim confidence in what they eat and rediscover the joy of living well. From her Freeport office, she partners with patients to create practical, personalized plans that fit real life, so they can feel at home in their bodies and in Maine.

Q&A as told to CEI by registered dietitian, Ashley Smalley, in their own words, with minor editing for context.

Please introduce yourself.

My name is Ashley Smalley, and I’m a registered dietitian. Two and a half years ago, I started my private practice in Freeport, Maine. I have a background in Integrative & Functional Nutrition, which means I am always trying to figure out the root cause of someone’s symptoms. I specialize in digestive health and see both adults and kids. One thing that’s unique to my business is that I take insurance, which is uncommon in the Integrative & Functional health space. This was important to me when I started my business, so I figured it all out and worked hard to navigate the insurance piece, and I’m in-network with a handful of insurance companies in Maine.

Can you share a bit about your background?

I grew up in Maine and went to school at Bates College. After college, I lived in California for a while working in public health research. It made me realize, yes, I want to work in a health-related field like public health, but I want to do more clinical work one-on-one with people. So, I went to school to become a registered dietitian at Tufts University, and then worked at various clinics and hospitals. My passion for nutrition and health comes from my own personal story, which is that since I was little, I’ve had digestive issues. It has fueled my desire to figure out and learn about nutrition, and, within nutrition, to focus on functional nutrition and finding the root cause of symptoms.

After living out of state, I moved back to Maine, had a couple of kids, and worked part-time at a nursing home. To fuel my interest and do something for myself as a stay-at-home mom, I put energy into continuing learning to be an integrative and functional dietitian. I ended up doing a two-year certification in integrative and functional nutrition. After completing that certification, in combination with a three-month course on the digestive system, I felt like I had enough experience and support to take the leap and open my own practice. In this field, there are not a lot of places to work in functional nutrition, so to do exactly what I wanted to do, I needed to do it myself.

How would you describe Ashley Smalley Digestive Health & Nutrition in one sentence?

Ashley Smalley Digestive Health & Nutrition is a place where people can truly be heard and understood, and I work alongside them to find solutions to their digestive health concerns.

Why did you start Ashley Smalley Digestive Health & Nutrition?

I started Ashley Smalley Digestive Health & Nutrition because I wanted to be able to offer people in my community the same healing and improvement in quality of life that I have experienced after healing my gut. As a dietitian, I have had the opportunity to access resources and education, and I am very fortunate to have had the ability to learn the information needed to heal myself. I feel compelled to share this information with others so they, too, can have an improved quality of life.

How does your business represent you?

Ashley Smalley Nutrition represents me in that it is just me. I offer a free discovery call, which allows me to connect with people and for people to get a clear picture of what it would be like to work with me and what I offer. My clients are supported in a way that feels right for them, and watching their journey unfold has been incredibly empowering and inspiring.

I put a lot of thought and care into the copy on my website, and it was so validating to see that the people looking for what I offer were able to find me. It confirmed that being honest, open, and putting myself out there really does attract the right clients!

What has been the greatest challenge you’ve faced?

The overwhelm. I needed to figure out all of the parts and pieces of starting a business, which was not taught in nutrition school. I reached out to people in my community for support. I have learned to be resourceful and seek opportunities to get answers to my problems. I really relied on the supportive and collaborative nationwide dietitian community that I am a part of.

How did you overcome those challenges?

I overcame these challenges by systematically and carefully gathering information. I looked for info, then saved it, so I could reference it for future use. I also reached out to people in my community and networked with whomever I could find. Early on, it was a mentor through SCORE. I worked hard on seeking, finding information, saving it, and figuring out my way through it. I am very grateful for all of the support and resources I utilized (and still use today!).

What has been your greatest achievement so far?

Two things: 1. Being able to exist and keep going in a private practice business model. 2. The positive impact I am making on client’s lives. The feedback that I get, and have shared on the testimonial page of my website, demonstrates exactly how I’m impacting people’s lives and making a difference.

How do you see your work impacting your local community?

I see my work impacting Freeport in that I’m able to help people enjoy and improve their quality of life. That would potentially have a ripple effect, because if they’re able to be more productive in their lives, they can engage more in the community. It can help us as a whole community to feel better, get along with each other better, and have a more vibrant community.

How did you first hear about CEI?

I heard about CEI when I received an email describing the Women Mean Business Summit earlier this year in June 2025. I said to myself, “I am going to take the day. I’m going to put myself out there and attend this event.” As it turns out, I saw one person that I knew. I also met some other neat people, and it was really cool being in a room full of women entrepreneurs, getting to see such a broad spectrum of all the different work, services, and offerings in Maine. I have found that networking with women from this event has been much better received and successful for me than cold calling people in the community. So, thank you for this opportunity!

At the summit, they announced and shared the resources CEI offers, one of which is the mentors. I thought to myself, “Ooh, I need that.” The mentorship was what first drew me to CEI, because at that time, I didn’t know all that it had to offer. I have since engaged in an 8-week Discussion Group – “The Self-Worth Club” hosted by CEI and attended various webinars. I highly recommend these offerings!

What resources or support from CEI were the most helpful to you?

At the summit, I was able to connect with other women and save that information. Something I learned was when you reach out to people in the community, maybe community partners or someone you want to connect with and learn what they do, share what you do, that kind of thing. If there’s some sort of minor connection to that person, they are willing to call you back and have a conversation.

What advice would you give to aspiring business owners?

The advice I would give to a business owner who is early on is this: do some introspective thinking on your passions, interests, and desires. When you start a business, there are ups and downs and hard times, but if you have that core passion that drives you forward through those difficult times, then it makes it easier to persevere. The passion burning within you will keep you going through the ups and downs.

If someone already has a business, knows what they’re passionate about, and is going for it and doing it, the advice is to reach out to the community and know that you don’t have to do this alone. Reaching out to organizations like CEI or SCORE, or even other business owners, is helpful in expanding your community network, because others want you to succeed, just as you want that for them.

Where do you see Ashley Smalley Digestive Health & Nutrition in three to five years?

I see Ashley Smalley Nutrition in three to five years, rocking and rolling, and helping lots of people feel better with their digestive health. I also see myself being out in the community and at events, having more visibility, and continuing to do what I love.

Ashley’s approach is simple yet powerful: listen first, understand what matters most, and design plans that fit real lives. Her work reflects a commitment to helping people feel comfortable with food again and confident in their daily routines. With support from CEI, Ashley used her passion to build a patient-first practice that provides Freeport families access to collaborative care. Looking ahead, she envisions her practice as a trusted source for education and community wellness, where neighbors learn, connect, and thrive.