WellCommons

First, I am a proud native Kansan. I was born in Eldorado, grew up in Pittsburg. I lived for a while in Wichita and Salina, and finally found my true home in Lawrence in 1985. My first job in Lawrence was waitress at the Woolworths lunch counter on Mass Street. I worked up and down Mass while studying Theatre Design at KU majoring in Costume and Make-up design. So basically I majored in Halloween!

Most of professional life has been spent in sales and marketing. I have sold everything from cross-country skies to medical devises to people on Medicare and everything in between. The key to any successful selling is to be honest, be up front, be available, and be positive. Perhaps that is the key to a successful life as well.

I have been married since 2002, and like any good bargain hunter, I got a “buy one, get one free” deal. Not only did I get my wonderful husband Gary, I got and his fantastic son Jeff as well. Gary and I have a beautiful daughter Lucy who was born in August of 2008. The day after she was born, our little Lucy was diagnosed with a heart defect called Tetralogy of Fallot and had open heart surgery in the winter of 2009. We brought her home from Children’s Mercy Hospital on Valentine’s Day with a “new” heart. She is now healthy, thriving and a typical stubborn pre-school girl.

Since 1998 I have been a volunteer with The Lawrence St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and have helped that organization raise money for local children’s charities, as well as putting on some pretty darn good parades! I have also worked with other nonprofits throughout my time in Lawrence and most recently, Lawrence Memorial Hospital Hearts of Gold steering committee.

On May 29, 2012 I started my career as The Director of Development and Marketing for Independence, Inc. This is a local nonprofit that advocacy, peer support, training, transportation, and community education for people with disabilities. I am so thrilled to be a part of this wonderful organization and hope I can help make a difference.