Experience

United Way of Northwest Michigan

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Parent Liaison and Co-Coordinator

  • Oct 2015 - Present

  I connect with parents and families of young children to provide experiences with the Strengthening Families Framework to ensure that every child has the opportunity to reach his/her highest potential.I help provide parents with a structure to engage in parenting education and build early childhood systems within our Great Start Parents group and 5 to One Neighborhood Network. Supporting and engaging parent voices in our community to create awareness about the importance of early childhood is the foundation of my work.



Pediatric Acute Care Cardiology Collaborative

• Parent Advisor

  • Oct 2018 - Present

  As the co-chair of the Patient and Family Action Committee, I guide the mission of PAC3* by promoting the voices of parents in all levels of decision making to ensure the best possible outcomes for children born with congenital heart disease. * We aim to improve cardiac acute care outcomes by focusing on quality, value, and experiences as appreciated by all stakeholders. Success will be measured by our ability to reduce acute care complications, adjusted hospital length of stay, and less than 7-day all-cause readmission rates, as well as improving patient, family, and staff experience. We will employ validated and sustainable quality improvement methods to achieve our aims. PAC3 will intentionally optimize partnerships and build alignment with other collaboratives, medical organizations, and parent-driven advocacy groups. Success will be realized by metrics derived from a validated, audited, and prospective data registry.



Michigan Medicine

• United States
• Hospitals and Health Care
• 700 & Above Employee

• Michigan Congenital Heart Center Parent Advisor

  • Jun 2010 - Present

  Volunteer co-chair of the committee for Patient and Family Centered Care (PFCC) within the Congenital Heart Center. Directly responsible for the development of educational and inspirational experiences to reinforce the values of PFCC for participating physicians, nurses, and staff center-wide.Offer guidance and feedback with regard to policies and clinical procedures that are in place to treat the needs of patients with congenital heart disease.Directly involved with the development, creation, and implementation of the "Waves of Hope" art tribute to patients and families for the center.



Gun Safe Mom

• Owner and President

  • Jan 2010 - Present

  Invented a visual communication tool to help parents broach the subject of gun safety and accessibility and children in the home.Created and presented a lecture and interactive workshop series to help parents keep firearms out of the hands of children and vulnerable young adults via preventative conversation. Invented a visual communication tool to help parents broach the subject of gun safety and accessibility and children in the home.Created and presented a lecture and interactive workshop series to help parents keep firearms out of the hands of children and vulnerable young adults via preventative conversation.



Down Syndrome Association of Northwest Michigan

• President Board of Directors

  • Jun 2009 - Dec 2015

  Organize events, fundraising, and offer leadership to to provide support for individuals, families and caregivers touched by Down syndrome. This organization offers hope, encouragement and acceptance through advocacy, education and awareness.I served as president of this organization. I developed meeting agendas, led the meetings, and guided the coordination and implementation of activities and events that support our mission. Organize events, fundraising, and offer leadership to to provide support for individuals, families and caregivers touched by Down syndrome. This organization offers hope, encouragement and acceptance through advocacy, education and awareness.I served as president of this organization. I developed meeting agendas, led the meetings, and guided the coordination and implementation of activities and events that support our mission.



Senior Helpers of Northern Michigan

• Community Educator

  • Oct 2014 - Feb 2015

  Organized and presented training seminars for caregivers of those with Alzheimer's disease and dementia based on recognizing the progression of the disease as well as strategies for interaction. Organized and presented training seminars for caregivers of those with Alzheimer's disease and dementia based on recognizing the progression of the disease as well as strategies for interaction.



Goodwill Industries of Northern Michigan

• Volunteer

  • Aug 2006 - May 2012

  Orchestrating the organization and planning for Goodwill's Reinvention Convention to raise money for Goodwill's Workers on Wheels Program in 2012. Orchestrating the organization and planning for Goodwill's Reinvention Convention to raise money for Goodwill's Workers on Wheels Program in 2012.



Woodland School

• Teacher, Grades 3-5, All Subjects

  • Jul 1997 - Jun 2005



Grosse Pointe Public School System

• United States
• Primary and Secondary Education
• 400 - 500 Employee

• Teacher, grades 4-5, all subjects

  • Sep 1994 - Jun 1997

  I taught all subjects in a self contained fourth grade classroom for two years and in a talented and gifted classroom for one year. I taught all subjects in a self contained fourth grade classroom for two years and in a talented and gifted classroom for one year.