Staff Profile

I grew up in the Twin Cities and lived in various points in the Midwest before moving to the Pacific Northwest in 1991. I fell in love with the amazing landscapes and great outdoor activities to be found here, as well as the lack of mosquitoes and freezing MN winters.

I got a B.A. in government at University of Notre Dame (Go Irish!) and an M.S. in environmental studies from University of Oregon. During my more serious moments at Notre Dame, I was active in the student environmental group and did volunteer service work through its Center for Social Concerns. This led me to volunteer for a year of service with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps after I graduated.

Through JVC and my subsequent work at Sisters of the Road in the early 90’s, I learned about systems change, which has been the focus on my professional work since then. For 12 years, I had the privilege of leading Coalition for a Livable Future where I worked to connect the dots between a broad array of organizations’ efforts aimed at creating sustainable communities in greater Portland.

Jefferson High School in Bloomington, MN

Picking one thing has never been my style. Needless to say, I had absolutely no idea.

About a year ago I realized that I’m an “expert generalist.” While I’ve never veered from the non-profit sector, except to wait tables at a variety of restaurants in my 20’s, this seems to characterize my career path.

Chill out.

I was on my high school tennis team and did a lot of distance running and roller blading on my own time. Oddly, I was a sprinter on our track team one year. My best friend and I ran the score boards for hockey games.

Three local favorites were Bob Dylan, Prince and the Replacements. Others were AC/DC, Led Zepplin, Grateful Dead, REM & U2.

never miss a party or an A.

I once hand-carved a wooden duck decoy that my parents still display in their home. Completing this project was a standard part of the public school curriculum. (More proof that the Coen brothers nailed Minnesota culture in their classic film, Fargo)