My well-rounded background in community service and advocacy work, along with my administrative experience, has prepared me for continuing a leadership position with an organization that has a positive impact in people's lives. Serving those in need and creating ways to better our communities continues to be my passion.

I have done promotional work for numerous companies from health products to beauty promotions, hosted corporate events, and radio station representation. I am a registered yoga teacher, a professional trainer and wellness coach. I have a Master's Degree in Organizational Leadership with a concentration in Strategic Management and a certificate in Ethics and Leadership as well as a legal education. My bachelor's degree is in communication with a focus on writing. I have worked to secure resources for organizations, create policies and procedures, manage organizations, lead staff, and work under tight deadlines to meet grant application and report requirements.

I created an employee wellness program in my role as the Executive Director of a domestic abuse program and have established many other programs in a variety of capacities. I have had numerous articles appear in fitness and wellness magazines, newspapers, and websites.

I have experience working with Boards of Directors in a variety of capacities and have been involved with media outlets, including writing, public speaking, video productions, and other venues. I have managed day-to-day operations of an organization, and have done strategic planning both short-term and long-term. I am a self-starter and a high energy, dynamic leader. I have excellent communication skills and am highly organized and have experience in board and staff development.

I have a history of proven leadership in community service, organizational management, and department management as well as a strong background in customer service. I have over eight years of progressive managerial and leadership experience, as well as over twenty years working in administrative positions. I have committed my life to helping people find wellness in their lives. My background also includes public relations and event planning, including environmental work, grant writing and fundraising. I also have a strong background and training in Microsoft Office applications and database applications.

I have extensive experience providing direct services to low income individuals, victims of abuse, sexual assault, as well as families at risk, elders, clients with mental and physical challenges, and teen parents. Some of the highlights of my social justice work are working as a mediator for a restorative justice program, mentoring teen parents for over four years, and creating a program called 'Animals Helping Elders and Others,' in association with the Humane Society.

I developed an educational program for male inmates in the Dunn County, Wisconsin jail called "Building Bridges," The program focused on restorative principles, cognitive restructuring, taking responsibility for our choices, and healthy relationships. It was very well received by the program participants. I also developed a mentoring program for young women to provide them with positive role models. The Shine program includes mentoring as well as a teen empowerment program to teach self-esteem and empowerment to them so they are less likely to enter destructive relationships or participate in risky behavior. It was developed as a prevention tool in domestic abuse and sexual assault. I have received state level accolades regarding the programming. I have worked with local coalitions on homelessness, health care, and hunger issues to find ways to better serve clients and address their needs.

Summary of fitness and wellness experience

• Teaching a wide range of athletic classes, mentoring and empowerment workshops.
• Writing health and fitness articles which are published in a variety of national magazines and on natural bodybuilding websites.
• National Federation of Professional Trainers - personal training credentials.
• Registered Yoga Teacher- Yoga Alliance.

Dance & fitness experience & education

• CJ’s Dance Studio & Phipps Center- ballet, tap, jazz, modern, belly dancing, lyrical
• University of WI- River Falls- dance minor, acting 101, health & fitness, weight training
• Prescott Community Education- creative dance teacher
• Sahaja Gypsy Tribe- tribal fusion belly dance
• Women’s fitness and dance center- assisted in creating dance classes
• YMCA- tumbling teacher
• Fitness & figure competitor
• Yoga instructor

Articles and features

• Fitness & Physique magazine Aug ’05-Jan ’06 Competitor Spotlight
• Fitness Rx for Women magazine August 2005 Success Stories
• Ms. Fitness magazine Summer 2005 What a Difference a Year Can Make

YOGA HISTORY

• Registered Yoga Teacher- listed with Yoga Alliance
• Reiki I certified: Earthstar Co-creations- December 2004
• Guided imagery training- Health Journeys: Belleruth Naparstek- September 2007
• Spirit Medicine: An Overview of Shamanic Healing- October 2006
• Circle Keeper training: St. Croix Valley Restorative Justice- July 2007
• Resilience/Health Realization training- October 2007
• Riding the Wave- meditation training

Yoga teaching

• Baldwin Area Medical Center Wellness Center, Baldwin, WI
• Bodyworks Athletic Club, Menomonie, WI
• Ultimate Fitness, Hudson, WI
• Inspiring Actions- Hudson, WI
• Various women's empowerment workshops and retreats

PROFESSIONAL RESUME

Candidate for State Legislature- Wisconsin 29th Assembly District

• Public presentations, campaign planning, volunteer training and management, writing press releases, articles, website content, constituent contact, designing materials, planning mailings and literature, fundraising and budget planning.
  January 1, 2010- November 3, 2010

Business and Non-profit consultant & yoga instructor
Various locations
Independent contractor

• Creating corporate wellness programs. Registered Yoga Teacher and Fitness professional. Administrative support- temporary assignments. Board and staff training, retreats, facilitating meetings, strategic planning sessions. Event planning, grant writing, and other support services.
  January 2005 - ongoing

The Bridge to Hope
Domestic abuse and sexual assault shelter and advocacy organization
Menomonie, WI
Executive Director

• Creating and implementing programming, grant writing, fundraising, budget and accounting, employee and organizational management.
  April 2007- January 2009

McMillan Electric Company
Electric motor company
Woodville, WI
Quality Assurance Administrator.

• Responsible for ISO 9001-2000 compliance paperwork and system management. Writing and updating work instructions and training. Presentations, daily, weekly, and monthly reports. Customer contact regarding returns.
  February 2005- April 2007

The Resco Company
Corporate marketing & sales support firm
Hudson, WI
Customer Service Manager

• Responsible for department billable hours. Hiring and managing employees. Managed customer service on 24-line phone system for multiple clients. Order entry in Access database. Administrative reports. Creating training materials.
  August 2000- July 2004

Crum & Forster Insurance
Commercial insurance company
Bloomington, MN

• Office Services Assistant to the Director of Underwriting
  Licensing software. Administrative support. Corporate event planning.
  July 1999 - August 2000

Education

• College of St. Catherine
  St. Paul, MN
• • BA degree in Communication with an emphasis on writing
  • MBA/MAOL-Master's Degree in Organizational Leadership with a concentration in Strategic Management and a certificate in Leadership and Ethics.
    September 2002- May 2008
• Hamline Law School
  St. Paul, MN
• • Pursued a dual degree in Law & a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership
    September 2003 -December 2005
  • Seminars & extension classes
  • Corporate Social Responsibility
  • Business for Social Responsibility
  • Power Point, Advanced Excel, Microsoft Office, & Outlook training
  • Catapult & Fred Pryor
  • Leaders of Today & Tomorrow
  • League of Women Voters MN

Communicating with Diplomacy & Professionalism
Skillpath

Nonviolent Communication
St. Paul, MN

Certificate of Advanced Leadership Studies- Leaders of the New Millennium
St. Paul, MN

Restorative Justice training- Circle Training
St. Croix Valley Restorative Justice- River Falls, WI

Investigating Domestic Abuse Law Enforcement training
Wisconsin Office of Justice Assistance

Partners in Resilience
National Resilience Resource Center

Nonprofit Management
U of M Law School- MCN

Managing Nonprofits More Effectively
Bremer- New Richmond, WI

A Circle of Hope, A Circle of Healing
US Dept. of Justice- Office for Victims of Crime

Wisconsin Summit on Children and Families
Changing Lives by Improving Court and Child Welfare Practices

Transforming Communities
A Summit on Hunger & Housing

Extensive training in community involvement, fundraising, issue framing and message development
Certified in Mental Health First Aid, CPR and First Aid.

Community activities & volunteer work

• League of Women Voters
• Mensa

Board & committee affiliations history:

• Our Neighbor's Place homeless shelter- Board of Directors
• UTeam4U community wellness- Board of Directors
• St. Croix Family Resource Center-Board of Directors
• Baldwin-Woodville School Board-interim member
• Leaders of Today & Tomorrow-Advisory Board
• 4H-Chair of Archery Program
• St. Croix Electric Coop-Nominating Committee

Volunteer services history:

• Pierce County Community Justice Program-victim-offender mediator
• Pierce County Humane Society- dog foster home & creator of Animals
• Helping Elders and Others
• Mentor Moms @ St. Croix Family Resource Center-mentor to teen parents
• Robins Run-organizer for a fundraiser for the Bridge Domestic Abuse Shelter
• Gorilla Run-organizer for a fundraiser for the Como Zoo
• Turningpoint Domestic Abuse Shelter-crisis phone counselor & office work
• Representative for Children's Miracle Network
• Dunn County Humane Society-dog care
• Various fundraising fitness events- Race for the Cure, Children's Miracle Network 5 K, MS Bike Tour, Walk for Wyatt, many others

Languages

• English
• Spanish
  3 trimesters of Spanish, Beginning and Intermediate- St. Catherine's
  Community Education Spanish
  Various Spanish tapes and video trainings
• Sign Language
  Various community education courses