Born and raised in South Bend, IN the eldest of five children but all are taller than me. My father was a partner in an engineering firm headquartered in Fort Wayne and always traveling. My mother was an active volunteer. Early on I was charged with some oversight of my siblings, even though we were close in age, and preparing dinner when my mother had a late afternoon meeting. That responsibility provided context for how I approach life – taking care of business or stepping forward to serve. Graduate of Albion College, Albion, MI with degrees in history and English but no intention of teaching. Joined a national sorority, Alpha Chi Omega, somewhat reluctantly and only because the college did not have residential sorority housing. Ultimately, and ironically, elected sorority president. Also was a freshmen women’s resident hall advisor in my senior year. Both positions offered an education in interpersonal relationships, organizational structure and planning, and diversity. Resided in Albion, Minneapolis and Chicago before moving to Fort Wayne in 1994.
Fund raising assignments of note:
Ohio – Denison University, Baldwin Wallace College, Ohio Northern University; Michigan – Hope College; Indiana – Indianapolis Zoo, Sigma Theta Tau Nurses Society, Children’s Museum; South Dakota – Huron College; Nebraska – Union College; Maryland – Goucher College; New York – Union Theological Seminary; Illinois – Monmouth College, Chicago Ballet, Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary, Brookfield Zoo.
My liberal arts education prepared me for a creative and diverse career life:
• Higher education – college admissions, fund raising (Albion College, University of Minnesota Foundation). • Fund raising consulting – Campbell and Company (Minneapolis, Chicago). • Women’s retail – co-owned high-end retail stores (Chicago, Fort Wayne). • Corporate communications and marketing – Phelps Dodge Magnet Wire, Lincoln Re; organized and led corporate-wide Arts United and United Way campaigns. • Nonprofit fund raising and grant making – Benchmark Human Services (formerly AWS) and AWS Foundation; ran holiday event Fantasy of Lights; co-founded Northeast Indiana Disability Advocacy Coalition; organized and expanded Disability Expo; created annual disability community awareness event; developed Mayor’s Disability Advisory Council; organized first special needs art event. • Retired January 1, 2019.
Volunteerism:
• First Wayne Street United Methodist Church – chair Trustees 2004-2012; chair Staff-Parish Relations 2014-2018; Charis House Kids Backpacks fundraising chair 2012-present; Foundation board 2018-present. • Northeast Indiana Methodist Conference – Kingdom Builders Committee 2019-present. • Alpha Chi Omega – alumni chapter member. • American Heart Association – board member, chair 2003. • Go Red for Women – organized first event in Fort Wayne 2005-2009. • WomenHeart – support group established for women with heart disease; local spokesperson for women and heart disease 2002-2010. • Northeast Indiana Public Radio – board member, secretary 1998; board member, chair 2020- present. • Arts United – various arts campus and marketing task forces; Master Planning Facility Committee. • Rotary Club of Fort Wayne – President 2021-22; member 2009; program committee chair. • Creative Women of the World – board member; chair 2019-2020; interim executive director 2020-present. • Friends of the Rivers – board member beginning 2022; Clean Drains committee 2021; Paddles Aweigh committee 2018. • Fort Wayne PBS – board member; co-chair fund development 2021. • Alive Community Outreach – board member, marketing and fundraising chair; Peacemaker Academy committee 2020-present.
Hobbies – avid knitter; baking; antiquing, exercise: Pilates and Bellicon; Northern Michigan, travel. Last, but not least…dog Mom to one-year old Asti, pure bred Lhasa Apso.
