I spent most of my childhood and nearly all of my teen years in southern California, continuing to move around every couple years. My life was quite tumultuous growing up, but that turmoil helped to shape the adult I’ve become. I’ve always been fiercely independent and determined to make my own way in this world.

I served in the military for nearly 10 years; starting with the U.S. Army where I was stationed at Ft. Myers, VA. Followed by time in the Air National Guard; first with the 152nd Airlift Wing in Reno, NV, and then with the 146th Airlift Wing at the Channel Island ANGS, in Port Hueneme, CA.

I started my family when I was 21 and had my second child at the age of 23. It didn’t take long to realize if I wanted to provide for my children, I would need an education. I completed an Accounting degree at the Univeristy of La Verne in 2002, then went straight into an MBA program at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, graduating in 2004.

I accepted a position with the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General where I worked for several years until I encountered an opportunity to start a business in the medical coding and billing industry. That endeavor came to a quick end thanks to the economic downturn of the great recession. I returned to the government, this time with the Defense Contract Audit Agency. After nearly a decade, I finally reached a point in my life where I needed to make big structural changes (I think some people call this a mid-life crisis), and decided to enroll in law school.

And here we are at the present. Over the last year, I have decided I want to live in a way that has impact. I don’t know exactly what that looks like yet but I know I want to be more involved and committed to making a difference where it matters most – to those who are often forgotten, least considered, or have no voice.