I am a first-generation college graduate. My father joined the Navy during WWII and became a talented cabinet maker after completing his service. My mom was my biggest cheerleader.
Having sat bedside through several childhood hospitalizations due to a spinal defect I was born with, they knew my resiliency. They set high standards and never let me believe being different could either limit my accomplishments or excuse me from serving others. This set a tone of perseverance and service that compels my campaign.
During college, I married my husband, Scott, and we celebrate 38 years of marriage this year. In 1988, we bought our first home in Roseville near Cirby and Sunrise as I completed my first master’s degree, and I knew I’d never leave Roseville again. We moved to the original "west side of town" (near Foothills and Pleasant Grove) in 1993, then to our current Westpark community in 2015.
I began my career here, started a business here, raised my family of 7 children through birth and adoption here, and I'll retire here. I watched our community grow from saplings, empty lots and fields to scenic green spaces, lively neighborhoods, parks, and high-performing schools.
I love this community!
I have the experience to best serve you and your family. This matters because your council representation will affect your daily life more than any other vote on your ballot. I have unique qualifications and a proven track record in business and community leadership.
My business management background has given me the first-hand experience and understanding of how important it is for businesses to be successful in a climate where state regulations can make it quite difficult.
My career path demonstrates the values and successes I will bring to my council service:
- Building and nurturing families
- Keeping our covenant with our veterans
- Ensuring a higher quality of life for community members
- Protecting children and helping them reach their full potential
- Guarding public dollars and resources
As a small business owner (A Dash of Panache in Downtown Roseville, 2004-2016), I learned how to budget wisely, manage in a heavily regulated environment, attract business to our downtown, and stretch dollars. Through the lens of a small business owner, I am prepared to advocate for business-friendly policies and streamlined permitting. I’ll bring this same mentality to city government to help our small businesses grow and thrive.
I have lived these values through my work with:
PRIDE Industries as Director of Customer Experience - This social enterprise is the nation's largest employer of people with disabilities, creating and finding jobs for our neighbors with physical disabilities, veterans, and foster and trafficked youth.
Make-A-Wish (CANV) as CEO - This nonprofit is the 2nd most trusted charity brand in the nation and annually brings hope, strength, and joy to 300+ youth facing critical illness across 45 counties in California and Nevada.
Lilliput Families as CEO and Wayfinder Family Services as Chief Impact Officer - This merged nonprofit placed more than 10,000 children in foster care into permanent, loving families and provided numerous supportive services for children, families, and adults facing challenges.
North Park University and Jessup University as an adjunct business professor - Since 2016, I’ve enjoyed educating the next generation of business leaders in undergraduate and graduate programs.
In these roles, I successfully accomplished:
- Growth and financial stability during an economic recession, including growing the budget more than 5 times during my tenure as CEO at Lilliput (from $3 million to over $45 million)
- Responsible stewardship of publicly-funded programs enriching the lives of youth, families, and adults
- Creating and sustaining jobs and essential services during the pandemic
- Consensus building and collaboration among diverse stakeholders to advocate for family-friendly policies, to lift complex projects off the ground, to foster innovation, and to strengthen the community safety net and services
- Implementing a customer-centric strategy across a nearly half-billion-dollar enterprise to elevate the customer experience and brand reputation
I’ve been actively involved in our community for many years including:
- City of Roseville Personnel Board, serving as Chair in my second term
- Roseville Volunteer Force (co-administrator) - I helped coordinate our home-based effort to get scarce supplies and food deliveries to shut-in neighbors during the COVID pandemic
- Pleasant Grove Neighborhood Association (RCONA), Board Member (founding)
- I represented Roseville at the National Neighborhoods USA (NUSA) conference in Oregon
- California Alliance of Child & Family Services, Board President (non-profit promoting the health, well-being, and safety of children, youth, and families in CA)
- Sacramento Child Protective Services (CPS) Oversight Committee, Board Member (oversite committee ensuring CPS acted in the best interest of children and families)
You can often find me helping at various community service events throughout the city and region.
- MBA, MSW, BSW
- 2017 Leadership California (a diverse network of more than 1,700 women leaders across CA versed in issues and cutting-edge trends facing California)
- 2015 Women Who Mean Business Honoree, Sacramento Business Journal
- 2015 “Best Places to Work” – Lilliput Families (during my tenure as CEO) – Sacramento Business Journal
- 2011 “Angel in Adoption” Congressional Award (bestowed in D.C. by Congresswoman Doris Matsui)
- 2010 Nonprofit Executive Leader of the Year for the Sacramento Region
- 2007 Sierra Health Foundation Health Leadership program
- 2002 Leadership Sacramento, Sacramento Metro Chamber (develops community-minded and civic leaders in the region)
I value honesty, humility, kindness, and transparency. Please read what some of our community and business leaders say about me.