“Before I can tell my life what I want to do with it, I must listen to my life telling me who I am.”

Parker J. Palmer
Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation

Family

What can I say…I am so blessed. I married a native Spokane boy, raised three beautiful humans who have found beautiful humans to share their lives with. We are grateful to have them all live and work in the area.

I may have been raised in Western Montana, but the deep roots I have established in our fertile Eastern Washington soil redefined “home” for me decades ago.

Professional Resume

Education

While treasuring the knowledge and skills acquired through on and off-the-job training, I am proud to have graduated from two esteemed Washington State universities. I also hold a certification in Integrated Business and Entrepreneurship.

Central Washington University

Bachelor of Arts in English: Professional and Creative Writing

Gonzaga University

Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership: Change Leadership Concentration

So this I believe, is the question upon which all creative living hinges: Do you have the COURAGE to bring forth the hidden treasures that are within you?

Elizabeth Gilbert
Big Magic

Me

As a young Montana girl, I was confident, free-spirited, “bossy” as some of my friends and family might proclaim. I have always considered myself a healthy balance of hippy and yuppy. I adore creativity, the wonder of the unknown, and reflecting on the connectedness of all things. However, I also embrace Christian foundations, the benefits of hard work and perseverance, and a commitment to life-long learning.

Some of these tendencies have conflicted over the years, to be honest. For twenty years, I let these paradoxes keep me buried under layers and layers of others’ expectations. I was all the things I was supposed to be, mother, sister, daughter, friend, spouse, professional, leader, artist, writer, designer, and all the labels that came with fulfilling expected behaviors.

A beautiful and scary catalyst altered my trajectory a little more than a decade ago which led me to finish an undergraduate degree in writing, fulfilling a childhood dream. Just a few short years later, in my early 50s, I have completed a level of education I dared not dream of, under the mentorship of insightful and challenging educators and leaders in the Organizational Leadership graduate program at Gonzaga University.

This experience raised me to new awareness, challenged me to truly reflect on my intrinsic beliefs, nursed me through vulnerabilities unforeseen, and healed me through analysis of my internal motivations as they pertain to past personal and professional experiences. I truly feel optimistic and purposeful about my career moving forward and passionate about the impact my clarified philosophies and beliefs might have on those around me in the coming years.

Gratitude seems a small word when I reflect on the journey that has created my present reality. I can only hope the momentum will continue. I look forward to helping others learn meaning and impact from their journey and the ability to see beyond perceived restrictions hindering their fulfillment. Change is scary for many, but I have always thrived in the possibilities of it. I am passionate about aiding others through transformational exploration, helping them embrace the potential that change can bring.