"Why"
I grew up the oldest of three in a small, college town in Southern Minnesota called Saint Peter. Two days before my 12th birthday, our home was destroyed by a tornado. We sat huddled under a mattress in the basement as the house collapsed on top of us. It only took a few minutes to lose almost everything we owned. In that moment I learned two lessons that I carry with me today:
1) Things don't matter.
2) People DO matter.
After that day I went on to graduate with honors from Saint Peter High School, moved to Sioux Falls where I earned a BA in Business and Computer Science from Augustana College, and eventually moved back to get a Masters in Teaching from Minnesota State University, Mankato. Throughout that time I stayed involved in sports and music and worked multiple jobs to make ends meet.
Today, I have almost 16 years of experience in fraud prevention at multi-national banks. I currently manage a team that supports internal data requests from over 800 individuals in Fraud Strategy. I am thankful to be able to provide for my family while also staying involved in our local Parks & Rec Softball league and more recently joining the Plymouth Concert Band. So back to the "why" that began for me after that fateful Spring day in 1998...
I have worked hard in life, but that alone wouldn't have been enough without the systems that provided us with food and clothing, the people who provided us with shelter for months, and the thousands of volunteers who came to find some way to help. Since then, there have been countless others: friends, family, teachers, and mentors, who have helped get me to a place where I am able to raise a family here in Plymouth.
The people and systems that have given me the privilege to be where I am today are the reason I have dedicated my time to serving the public. I am the person looking for a way to help others and I aim to be in a position where I can shape the systems of support, but I cannot do it alone.
This is a people-powered campaign. I am asking for your support to join me in making this a great place for ALL who call Plymouth home.