After being born and raised in Nevada and traveling the country throughout my twenties, my family and I chose Pierce County, Washington, as the place to plant roots. Since 2018, we’ve called the Lake Tapps area home and are deeply grateful to live in such a beautiful, community-focused place.

I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from California State University, Bakersfield, and spent my early career working with at-risk and incarcerated youth in residential programs. I served both in direct care and leadership roles, including in outdoor experiential education programs in North Carolina, Florida, and New Hampshire — work that shaped my lifelong commitment to equity, accountability, and service.

Life took a new turn when I became a Navy spouse. During my husband’s military service, I helped reestablish the Family Readiness Group (FRG) for the USS Shoup (DDG 86), creating a vital network of support for military families during deployments and transitions.

After his military service, we settled in Lake Tapps with our two children. As a parent and active volunteer, I’ve served on our local PTA board, chaired school events like the book fair, and supported school and community initiatives aimed at building strong, transparent systems. I was proud to help organize the successful campaign for the Sumner-Bonney Lake School Bond — the largest school bond in Washington State history to pass. I now volunteer on the Oversight Committee for that bond, working to ensure public transparency and fiscal accountability.

When I’m not involved in local efforts, I enjoy reading, hiking, camping, and distance swimming — and reminding everyone I meet how important it is to participate in local government and vote!