Thirty years after my grandfather stopped smoking he died of a lung infection.  This lung infection was caused by his tobacco use.  Of course everyone is going to die but no one needs to suffer.  That is why I am involved in tobacco prevention.

I have my Bachelors degree from Point Loma Nazarene University in Sociology.  My first involvement with tobacco prevention was in 1998 as the Tobacco Prevention Coordinator for the local grant recipient of the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation.  From there, Tobacco Free Benton-Franklin Counties was established as a non-profit corporation to receive the tobacco prevention and control state funds.  And I was named the Director.   

My favorite part of my job is working in the community.  I enjoy helping to connect agencies and individuals to resources that will educate or help people quit tobacco.  After 7 years of tobacco prevention, I have learned how bad tobacco is, how hard it is to quit and what a wonderful resourceful community we have. 

I am married and have two boys.  My husband, Rich, keeps the family busy with his job as Area Director for Young Life in Kennewick and Richland.  My sons, Ty & Tate, are typical boys active in the neighborhood with their friends and in sports.