How long have you lived in Lakewood?
I’ve lived in Lakewood since 2006.
What motivated you to enter public service?
Being actively involved in my community has always been important to me, but I never expected or planned to run for public office. Then, in 2020, that changed for me. I spent much of that first pandemic year operating as a “financial first responder” for people all around me. Helping family, friends, and clients navigate loss of employment, PPP Loans, EIDL grants, and other small business challenges - in addition to helping them make decisions about working, retiring, or taking short sabbaticals to keep family members safe - this work really impacted me and my priorities. Between that personal shift and the ground swell of social unrest, 2020 fundamentally changed the way that I felt I needed to show up in order to improve our community.
What issues are you most passionate about?
I’m passionate about many issues, but that passion generally focuses on:
- Collaborating and working together to build a stronger Lakewood. We must invest in our small businesses in order to build an economy that provides opportunities for all Lakewood residents to earn an income that keeps up with the cost of housing;
- Prioritizing the use of our municipal resources to ensure that everyone feels safe. From traffic safety to crime fighting, it’s important that we focus on directing resources in a way that helps each of our residents feel safer in our city; and
- Preserving what we all love about Lakewood: our quality of life, our sense of community, our parks, and our open spaces. City Council has the opportunity to take bold action to address Lakewood’s “growing pains” while enhancing sustainability and protecting the best parts about living in our community.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Spare time? What’s that? As a small business owner, a wife, and a mom - in addition to representing Ward 5 and serving as Mayor Pro Tem on City Council - “spare time” is a rare commodity. Fortunately, community service has always been both my hobby and my passion. When I’m not working, you’re likely to find me walking the Bear Creek Greenbelt with my dog, driving the “mom chauffeur service,” or attending cultural events around the metro area.
What is your professional and/or educational background?
My “day job” is as a financial planner. I’ve been in financial services since 2000 and became a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ in 2009. I help my clients understand what they have, what they need, and what they need to do to meet their financial goals. Early in my career, I noticed a gap between the way women needed their financial professionals to “show up,” and the way they actually did. As a result, I dedicate my work to helping women get more clarity and feel more confident about their finances.
Personal background
I grew up on the Western Slope of Colorado, and studied at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. I’ve been married to the same great guy for 18 years, and we are enjoying the pleasure of raising a teen-ager. My son is currently a junior in high school with aspirations of joining the Marines upon graduation.