I was a 2011 graduate of Lincoln High School after being born and raised in Manitowoc County. Shortly after graduating I joined the United States Army as a combat medic and lived in Oklahoma and Texas. I returned to Manitowoc and attended Lakeshore Technical College, UW-Manitowoc, and UW-Green Bay where I received various technical diplomas in the medical fields, an associates of arts and sciences degree with a social welfare emphasis, and a bachelors of psychology degree with a brain, behavior, and health emphasis. The majority of my “working” years were spent in the medical field working in various group homes, nursing homes, and a hospital. In 2015 I became a homemaker after the birth of my first child. My husband and I now have three young sons and a chocolate lab. 

Volunteering became my way to stay connected to “the adult world” while having the flexibility needed with parenting young children. While living in Manitowoc County, I volunteered with Incourage as a sexual assault advocate and CASA of East Central Wisconsin as a court appointed special advocate. In 2022 we relocated to Brown County where I began, and still currently, volunteer with Brown County Health and Human Services as a legal guardian and pals chaperone. In the spring of 2024 I went through the Mediation Center’s volunteer mediator training. I currently mediate family cases, small claims, and property owner / tenant disputes. I dabble in volunteering for a few other local organizations like my children’s school and sports programs, Foster The Village, and St. John’s Ministries.

Through my experiences I quickly found that what I gave others, I received back a thousand fold. It is extremely rewarding to know that I’m helping others and leaving a positive impact on the community. I truly enjoy interacting with the individuals on “both sides of the table” and assisting them in finding solutions that are best for them. In my limited spare time, some other hobbies I enjoy are reading, puzzles, art/crafting, learning new things, and traveling.

My favorite quote is, “As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.” – A.H. 

I became interested in volunteering as a mediator because of my strong interest in landlord/tenant disputes. I was employed by a local not-for-profit housing organization for over 30 years and helped resolve landlord/tenant disputes as a part of my job. I am also a past member of the Fair Housing Center of Northeast Wisconsin Advisory Board and past board member and past president of Literacy Green Bay. My last 10 years of employment were at NWTC where I was employed as an adjunct instructor teaching classes in Diversity Studies as well as Psychology of Human Relations, Thinking Critically and Creatively among others.
I have volunteered at the Mediation Center for 5 years and continue to do so because I see value in the mediation process. I see my role as an impartial facilitator who can offer both parties the opportunity to listen as well as be heard. This often leads to a mutually agreeable solution rather than a court- imposed decision.
The Mediation Center offers an upfront training program, mediation observation as well as co-mediating to provide the skills you need to become a mediator. Staff support is available on an ongoing basis, volunteer hours are flexible and the rewards countless.