Candidate for
Council Member; City of Santa Cruz

PERSONAL BIOGRAPHY

I was born in Los Angeles, California on February 20, 1962. I am the oldest of five children. My father is a retired minister and community leader, while my mother is a newly retired public school teacher. Both of my parents have taught me the importance of public service and the positive impact leaders can have on their communities. These lessons have stayed with me as I make my way through life.

After I graduated from high school in 1979, I had the opportunity to travel alone through Europe. During my visit, I was able to meet and interact with people from different backgrounds, cultures, and political perspectives. The following year, I was a foreign-exchange student in my grandfather's native country of Norway. Both of these experiences helped me learn the importance of listening carefully and communicating effectively in order to better understand the viewpoints of others.

In my early twenties, I opened a small retail business, Specialty Gift Baskets. I served in every capacity, and it was in my small shop that I began to learn the practical realities of being a small business owner: taking calculated risks, living with the potential of failure, and savoring business success.

Later in the eighties, I had the opportunity to work for Disabled Programmers, Incorporated, or DPI. This non-profit organization provided job-related training for physically disabled individuals with the goal of allowing them to remain productive and independent community members. After two years of working in the San Jose marketing division, I was given the responsibility of opening a branch office in Santa Monica, California. My experiences, both in the for-profit and non-profit sides of DPI, reinforced my interest in affecting positive change within my community. I also saw firsthand the difference that one person can make by building effective relationships, listening carefully, building consensus, and developing solutions. I learned about investing money to help people, getting great results and changed lives in return.

After several fulfilling years at DPI, I resigned in order to pursue my college degree. I graduated from UCSC as a full-time, re-entry student in 1994, with a combined major of Legal Studies/Philosophy.

After graduation, I began my public sector career working with the Employee Relations Service for Santa Clara County. I was responsible for completing classification and compensation analyses and other related studies. Later, I accepted a position with the Santa Clara County Fire Department, where I remain employed today. I work in human resources as a Management Analyst. Doing this type of work, I am challenged by the real life problems of everyday people. I also serve on the City's advisory Equal Opportunity Committee, as I value diversity and equal employment opportunities.

In my free time, I enjoy gardening, cooking, and reading. I am a regular walker on West Cliff Drive, and I appreciate all that Santa Cruz has to offer. I have been married for 13 years. My husband, Adam, works as a project manager for a local residential design firm. We have no children, but enjoy the company of our adopted cat and her feline friends.