Tobacco addiction hits close to home for me. I am the second of four children in my family, the only one who has never been addicted to nicotine. I have watched my sisters and brother go through the financial burden, the social stigma and the painstaking withdrawal symptoms that tobacco addiction brings. Thankfully my brother quit after nearly 16 years of the addiction, my younger sister quit for a second time after she smoked for 15 years, but sadly my older sister has attempted to quit a number of times, but has been unsuccessful. It is hard to watch each of them battle it out with their nicotine addiction. My passion is to help prevent other young people from going through the same things my siblings have gone through by never using tobacco and to help tobacco users quit this addiction. 

I graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Washington State University. I began working in the tobacco prevention field in 1997 when I worked as a Health Educator for the Benton-Franklin Health District. During my employment with the Health District I was involved in the process of creating the non-profit agency Tobacco Free Benton-Franklin Counties and was then hired as the first full time employee in September of 2000. 

I enjoy working with youth and adults alike. My favorite part of my job is working with others toward the improvement of the health of our community. Whether that happens while working with youth, adults or other agencies, it is exciting to see our community move forward together toward  a healthier future. 

I am married and have one son. We have lived in the Tri Cities since 1995. My husband is a teacher in the Kennewick School District and stays busy teaching and coaching. Luke is a busy boy learning more and more everyday about the world he lives in.