I grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota, where I studied Food Service Management and Culinary Arts. I began my career in Minnesota restaurants, experiences that sparked a deeper interest in nutrition and led me into healthcare. There, I studied nutrition and earned my Certified Dietary Manager credential.

For more than 25 years, I built a highly rewarding career as a K–12 Food and Nutrition Director. Today, I have combined my passion for school nutrition with my desire to continue supporting schools—advancing child nutrition programs.