I grew up in Selah and attended school there from kindergarten through high school. After graduation, I went on to Washington State University, where I studied psychology and human development. Today, I wear a lot of hats—I’m a Fractional COO, Director of Strategic Sales, and the mom of three teenagers (not necessarily in that order). I’ve spent over 15 years in leadership roles focused on operations, sales strategy, business development, marketing, and team growth.

In my free time, I’m usually learning Italian, reading, cooking, exploring the beautiful Pacific Northwest with my dog, figuring out how to use new power tools, or dreaming up the next global adventure for my kids. At my core, I believe that knowledge is the fastest path to empathy and kindness—and that life’s purpose is to extract as much beauty and joy as possible from every day. I strive to be a positive force in the lives of those around me and love nothing more than making meaningful connections.

My family has lived in Selah for generations. My grandfather was a schoolteacher there—gentle, accepting, and thoughtful—but he endured constant mistreatment from both students and faculty in an environment where hate and bias weren’t just tolerated, they were often encouraged. His experience stuck with me.

Years later, after having my third daughter, I made the difficult decision to move away from Selah. I didn’t feel safe raising girls in a place where misogyny and violence felt so deeply rooted—and I knew they wouldn’t be safe either.

Much of my family is still in Selah, so I’m there often. During the Black Lives Matter marches in the summer of 2020, I heard about a city official making violent threats toward local protesters. Another Selah graduate and I launched a petition to have the official removed. As the movement grew, more stories of bias and abuse of power surfaced. It became clear that Selah needed something more—a community space where people could come together, feel protected, and fight injustice collectively.

SAFE grew out of that need. Alongside a group of passionate, dedicated women, I helped launch what quickly became a 1,000-member-strong organization. With support from the ACLU and a clear purpose, we saw an opportunity to create something lasting—something that could help Selah become a place of inclusion, safety, and support.

For me, SAFE is a labor of love and a call to action. It’s a way to give back to the town that shaped me and to help ensure that others don’t have to leave it in order to feel seen, valued, and safe.