(What you won’t find on social media — even if you’re approved as a friend:)
- Born: Chicago, Illinois
- Status: Not married, not single — somewhere between “Do you want to split an appetizer?” and “Let’s talk about the mortgage.”
- Alma mater: University of Illinois at Chicago
- Something surprising about me: The exact number of animals in my house. Let’s just say ... enough to qualify as a nonprofit pet rescue, require a spreadsheet, and keep a Roomba in a perpetual state of character-building.
- What’s on TV: Travel documentaries like “The Long Way Up, Round and Down,” true crime series or a rotating cast of shows I’ll never finish — because I tend to fall asleep about 15 minutes in.
- What I drive: A very forgiving SUV with a rack, paddleboard rails and pet hair embedded into the fabric of its being.
- Favorite flicks: I don’t rewatch movies, but I do fall asleep to the same comfort series on repeat. Somewhere between “Schitt’s Creek” and “Sex and the City,” I’ve learned I’m part Carrie, part David, and 100 percent someone who finds peace in fabulous chaos and well-timed one-liners.
- Actress who would play me in a movie: A blend of Tina Fey and Goldie Hawn — with Reese Witherspoon’s planner, David Rose’s wardrobe anxiety, and just enough caffeine to keep the chaos organized and the day on track.
- What I’m reading: My nightstand and dresser are stacked with books, and my Audible library thinks I’m training for a leadership decathlon. I’m currently toggling between “The Last Days of John Lennon” by James Patterson in print and “Leadership Mindset 2.0” on audio — because personal growth doesn’t clock out.
- App I can’t live without (no judgment): The one that helps me get things done, think through complex ideas and occasionally talk myself out of sending a four-paragraph text when one would do.
- Worst habit: Believing rest is only earned after sundown. I’m basically a business-world farmer — circadian rhythm–dependent and suspicious of naps.
- On my office walls: A nesting ecosystem of Post-its — giant ones, medium ones, and Post-its stuck to other Post-its. It’s less décor and more controlled chaos with color coding.
- Favorite go-to comfort food: Pasta in all forms — especially if it involves wine, either in the sauce or in the glass.
- Superstitions: Jinxes are real. I knock on wood, avoid declaring victory too early and trust Mercury in retrograde only when it’s Freddie.
- Most used emoji: 🤦♀️ Usually following something involving mud, animals or a very ill-timed Amazon delivery.
- First job: Working in a Catholic Church rectory — where I learned to answer phones with grace, keep secrets like a vault and that priests drink way more coffee than you'd expect.
- What I like about Effingham County: There’s something quietly remarkable about this place. It’s not just the charm of the landscape or the slower pace — it’s the way people show up. Whether it’s for a neighbor in need, a new business opening or a community cause, there’s a generosity of spirit that runs deep here. Effingham is full of people who care deeply — about their families, their hometowns and the kind of future they want to help build. And that gives the work I do real meaning. It’s not just professional — it’s personal.
- Favorite sports team: Chicago Cubs, without question. I was born just blocks from Wrigley and proudly raised as a certified bleacher bum. It’s not just fandom — it’s in my veins.
- What song always gets me singing (or dancing): Hands down — “Africa” by Toto. If it’s playing, I’m harmonizing like I was born to serenade the Serengeti. Fitz and the Tantrums are a close second — perfect for shaking off the day with a Swiffer in hand and just enough groove to dodge a looming deadline.
- Favorite value in others: Follow-through. Initiative. Kindness. A generous spirit. I admire people who show up with intention, speak with honesty and hold space for others without judgment.
- What advice I’d give my teenage self: Stop trying to tone it down. Your energy isn’t too much — it’s your edge. What feels like “too much” to some will one day be your greatest asset. Keep leading. Keep loving hard. Keep showing up.
- Talent I’d most like to have: Singing — like, actually singing. I’ve downloaded the apps, tried the exercises and even attempted to match pitch with a tuner. No bueno. But the dream lives on.
- Dream date: Wandering through the woods or paddling down a river with zero agenda — just the possibility of spotting mushrooms, moss or an unexpected animal encounter. Then stumbling into a nearby small town with a quirky coffee shop, a hidden culinary gem and a bottle of wine we didn’t plan to finish but definitely will. No cell service. No reservations. Just serendipity, snacks and someone who’s game for both.
- Attribute I like best about myself: I bring my whole self to the table — energy, empathy, vision and grit. I don’t necessarily wait for permission to care deeply or act boldly.
- And least: I often forget I’m not a one-woman pit crew. I run hard, rarely pause and tend to mistake rest for laziness — even though I know better.
- My hero: Honestly? I don’t have a classic “hero.” No capes, no pedestals. I’m inspired by people who do hard things quietly — who survive real life with humor, show up when it’s inconvenient and don’t need applause to do the right thing. Resilience over perfection. Wit over fame. Always.
- My bucket list: Travel to India for a yoga and meditation retreat. Explore Greece with no itinerary — just curiosity and comfortable shoes. Find myself in remote places with blue waters, winding paths and wild things I can’t predict. Do it all with the freedom and funds to savor it slowly, not rush through it. And professionally? Lead a chamber to five-star accreditation and know the impact will last long after the title fades.
- My motto: “If it doesn’t grow you or ground you, it’s probably not for you. Get still long enough, and the universe usually confirms it.”
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