BIO

I have been a resident of St. Helena since 2019 when I moved to town with my husband and three children. What I love about St. Helena is the community spirit.

Professionally, I am the Executive Director of QA Commons, a national nonprofit dedicated to preparing students for workforce success and improving economic/social mobility by focusing on "employability" in colleges, universities, workforce entities, and carceral institutions. My role involves managing daily operations, overseeing projects and staffing, project development, fundraising, and working with the Board of Directors to ensure the mission and goals are achieved.

As a consultant, I have served as a researcher on economic development and labor market initiatives in rural areas of Oregon and Virginia and have co-written winning grants awarded by the Department of Labor and Environmental Protection Agency. Additionally, I have served on the boards of several education-focused nonprofit organizations over the years. Before moving into a nonprofit, I spent 15+ years in the corporate realm, working at Bank of America, Atlas Capital Advisors, and Oracle Corporation.

I hold a Master's degree in Demography from UC Berkeley and a Bachelor’s degree in Rural Sociology from Cornell University. My professional development activities include earning a Design Futures Certificate from the Institute for the Future.

These experiences have equipped me with the skills to understand diverse perspectives, read financial statements, think strategically about complex issues, and drive impactful change.

LOCAL LEADERSHIP & VOLUNTEER ROLES

St. Helena Library Board, 2024 - present
St. Helena Striders co-founder, 2024
St. Helena Parks & Recreation Commission, 2020-24
Napa United U10 Volunteer Soccer Coach, 2023
Napa Valley Waves Volunteer Swim Coach, 2022-23

OTHER LEADERSHIP & VOLUNTEER ROLES

Cornell Track & Cross Country Board Member, Ithaca, NY, 2012-16
Mural Music & Arts Project Board Member, Palo Alto, CA, 2004-15
South End Rowing Club Board Member & Swim Commissioner, San Francisco, CA, 2011
Presidio YMCA, Board Member, San Francisco, CA, 2005-09
Olympic Club of San Francisco, Roughwater Swim Commissioner, 2005-07

EXPERIENCE WITH CHALLENGING SITUATIONS

My ears perk up when I hear the word “challenge.” I’ve swum the length of Lake Tahoe and the circumference of Manhattan. I’ve raced Ironman Hawaii (with a top 20 overall women’s finish) and completed a 50-mile endurance run. Rubber Duck Regatta? I’m in!

In 2016, I joined a nonprofit organization that I soon realized was in financial trouble. The revenues were solid - but the expenses were eye-popping. In this situation, I was able to develop and lead a plan to reshape operations by eliminating the use of an outside management service provider, bringing all administration in-house, and reducing duplicative processes. Administrative costs were reduced by over 65%. While I recognize that government is inherently inefficient (due to necessary rules around transparency), I believe the city has opportunities to streamline its operations and reduce unnecessary expenditures. I would welcome the opportunity to collaborate with city management on how to do so.

Finally, I understand that being just one person, even with the best solutions, won't make a difference if I can't get those solutions implemented. There's a certain "art" to making things happen—an intricate art. I am dedicated to creatively building consensus and alliances, navigating and leveraging processes, ensuring effective communication, engaging the community, and maintaining persistence and follow-through, all while fostering strong partnerships with city staff.

BIO

LOCAL LEADERSHIP & VOLUNTEER ROLES

OTHER LEADERSHIP & VOLUNTEER ROLES

EXPERIENCE WITH CHALLENGING SITUATIONS

CONTACT

This website uses cookies.