I am running for City Council to use my extensive experience in public and private work to create a stronger, more vibrant community for everyone in Hastings. I am committed to serving the citizens of Hastings with trust, kindness, and integrity. I look forward to enhancing local efforts to help people connect and further develop our community’s future together.

Growing up in Hastings, my family, teachers, neighbors, friends, and mentors inspired me to be a life-long learner and leader. After graduating from Hastings Public Schools, I spent a Rotary exchange year in Germany, then studied, lived and worked in Minneapolis/St.Paul before choosing to move back to my hometown roots in 2008.

As Executive Director of Prairie Loft Center for Outdoor and Agricultural Learning from 2008 through 2022, I established a strong community hub in Hastings that connects people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. I have served as an adjunct instructor at Hastings College, as Outreach Manager at Crane Trust, and on the boards of the Hastings Area Chamber and Give Hastings Day.

My passion to create human connections is informed by more than thirty years of professional work in nonprofit leadership, experiential education, and community engagement. My creative endeavors include photography, music, theater arts, native gardening, and intrepid home improvements. I cherish time with family and friends and loves sharing outdoor experiences with others.

Through my consulting firm, Roots & Ripples LLC, I have helped local nonprofits, businesses, and city agencies grow their impact. I currently work as Director of Major Gifts at the Nebraska Community Foundation, helping to strengthen rural communities statewide. I serve on statewide boards of the Humanities Nebraska Foundation and the Nonprofit Association of the Midlands. I am a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) and an experienced group facilitator, consultant, presenter, and speaker.

Whether volunteering at local organizations and events, playing music with Gracie’s Uncles, or spending time with family and friends, I am deeply committed to this community that I proudly call home.