GET TO KNOW MY BACKGROUND & PHILOSOPHIES

In an era where many households had one income, I grew up in a similar environment where my father worked and my mother raised two older brothers and me. The big difference was Mom was an amazing public servant and Dad was still able to be involved in our lives outside of his business dealings. They were also both driven to give back to the community. Dad with his involvement in the Portage Rotary and the Red Cross and Mom was a consummate professional board member…from the Portage School Board, the Bronson Healthcare Group Board, the Kalamazoo County Road Commission, the list goes on and on.

I grasped at an early age volunteering and public service was a natural part of life, an extension of ourselves planted right in the middle of positive change.

With my younger years filled playing volleyball against very high level teams, I also learned about discipline, determination, competitive advantage, and success….all attributes I saw in both parents but experienced personally through athletics.

We as children were encouraged to find employment by the age of 16. My “job” was to practice and play volleyball as it looked favorable I could earn a full-ride athletic scholarship to college. In 1985 that became reality as I started my freshman year on a volleyball scholarship at Western Michigan University. Four years later, after winning 4 Mid-American Conference Titles, I graduated with my Bachelors in Business Administration Degree.

Those years strengthened my confidence, perseverance, dedication and how to learn and evaluate through difficult situations.

Fast forward to my Real Estate profession, I’ve built a rewarding career due to the many experiences from my past, applying what it takes to be successful, and combining them to focus on the people and communities I serve. Spending half of my life in Kalamazoo County and the other half in Calhoun County I stay active where I can.

I’ve been involved with my Alma Mater WMU since I left in the late 80’s within the Athletic Department and Alumni Office.

I currently serve on the Bronson Health Foundation Board. It’s very near and dear to my heart as our eldest son Brett, spent his first 100 days of life in the Bronson Neo Natal Intensive Care Unit. He weighed only 1.2 pounds at birth. I look at it as my way to “pay it forward” to this wonderful hospital. I’ve also served on the Calhoun County Pathways to Health Board and the Calhoun County Women of Impact, a group supporting local non-profit organizations.

One of my favorite quotes comes from my mother…

”That what I’ve given has been minuscule compared to what I have received.”

When you give of yourself to groups or organizations that mean something to you this quote fits perfectly.