I was raised on a farm outside of New Vienna by a single mother. I was blessed to live with my grandparents on a property that was in our family since 1840. Living on a farm, you learned hard work and responsibility, but more so, you learned about community and giving back. I was involved in Girl Scouts, 4-H, and Rainbow for Girls until I graduated from East Clinton High School. In school, I participated in marching band, concert band, jazz band, drama club, cheerleading, drill team, and the church softball team.
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Once I graduated from high school, I moved to Dayton to attend Wright State University. I was involved in my college sorority, Phi Mu. After three years, I switched to Sinclair as I was not sure what I wanted to do. I took an education class that had me volunteer with Special Olympics and got instantly hooked. I took a job at the Kettering Recreation Complex working at their camp for those with special needs. Soon, I was promoted to Special Populations Coordinator. I received the Ohio Park and Recreation award for the Most Outstanding Recreation Programs for people with disabilities. I finished my associate's degree in Handicap Services in a year and got hired by the Montgomery County Board of Developmental Disabilities at the end of my internship.
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After six months working with the County, I became their Recreation Coordinator where I worked for 30 years. I created and developed this program. When I retired, I was over a budget of ¾ of a million dollars and was over 55 employees. I learned many skills such as bidding for contracts, grants, starting non-profits to enhance government projects as well as listening to citizens as this is their tax money that provides the services. I served on the State Board for Very Special Arts as well as national committees. I received the Fran Bay outstanding services award as an Erin Ritchey award for outstanding supervisor in the Disability field.
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Upon retiring from the county in 2017, I started a program for Choices in Community. I administer grants to help take people with developmental disabilities out in the community. I remain with this program. In September of 2018, I got hired as the Executive Director of FOA (Families of Addicts). I work with families who have loved in addiction and recovery. I work with many local, county, state, and federal politicians and agencies. The best part is working with families and helping them to get assistance and support.
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I moved to Huber Heights in 1988. I became a foster parent from 1989 until 1999 which I had 23 different foster children over this period. I was involved with my foster children’s education and served as a room parent, Girl Scout Leader, HHYFC cheer advisor was a basketball coach for the HHBL. In 1996, my Mother became ill and I moved her to Huber Heights to help care for her. That same year, I moved in two men, with developmental disabilities, whose parents had died and there was not a place for them to be placed together. They remained in my home until one passed away in 2010 and the other in 2014. I went back to college at Central State to get my degree in Special Education, but due to maintaining my job and family, I was short of receiving my degree. I did finish a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Wright State University in 2017. I have also coordinated the Miami Valley Very Special Arts Festival for the last 25 years.
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I married my husband, Brian, in 2009. We live in the same Huber home on Alter that I moved into back in 1991. I still have my 86-year-old mother with us as well as our four very spoiled dogs. (Zeke, Gabby, Misty, and Chase. We are sports enthusiasts.) We like traveling and have visited 44 states and 19 foreign countries. Our family loves the Ohio State Buckeyes, Cincinnati Bengals, and most of all the Reds. We are on the mission to see the Reds play in all the Major League Ballparks. We have seen them play in 9 different ballparks already.