I’m a gregarious introvert. I love to challenge traditions and social mores and have developed a special interest around the intersection of beauty and aging. I grew up in a small town in Michigan that parallels Sherwood in many ways. I value beauty and truth and think we need more of the arts in our lives to remind us of the bigger picture.
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
When I was in my mid-twenties, I put myself in the smartest place I knew – on the campus of MIT in Cambridge MA with a strategy to make friends and surround myself with incredible brains, and the plan paid off. I met my husband Ali who is the foil to my life drama and the steady to my wobble. We have three young children – the recent milestone was sending the youngest to kindergarten last month… that feels very significant to our family life and structure. All three children were born in Portland – and then we realized we needed a yard.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
I am a professionally trained flautist with an additional degree in theology and the arts. After getting highly educated in disparate fields, I transitioned into being a business owner. Every day I use skills and experience gleaned from my education to interact with and understand people.
What I love about being a photographer is that it gives me the opportunity to interact with people from all different perspectives. I consistently pursue being around people who are different than me and smarter than me.
There’s great joy in coming alongside a person and breaking through the awkward layer, because people – especially women – have conflated how they look with who they are. I love to come alongside brilliant people and shine a light on what makes them remarkable. People are fascinating.
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
I now have to eat gluten free so restaurants can be a challenge. I enjoy Sabye Thai Street Food – I love their dessert menu and their creative and fresh entrees. I also adore the folks at Fat Milo’s because of their involvement in the community and willingness to stand up for what’s right.
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
Sherwood came on my radar in November of 2021, and I found a space for my portrait studio the following spring.
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
Renee Brouse – she was the first official city person I met and she was so welcoming. I also admire her ability to see both sides of an issue and keep boundaries while facilitating a room. She also puts in the time to help organize and show up at community events.
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
It’s actually a podcast I’m really into right now – Duped, The Dark Side of Online Business – because it illustrates the difference between experts and influencers in the marketplace.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
Age boldly
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
I am interested to operate a space in or near Sherwood that is a place for makers, artists, and creative business owners to shine. Right now we seem to have a lot of practical businesses in 97140, but I’d love to see more space set aside for creative work and out-of-the-box thinking. The new Mosaic Arts Loft building is a nice, conspicuous step in the right direction in my opinion!
Q: What is your go to band when you can’t decide what to listen to?
When I’m unsure of what music to listen to I ask Alexa to play any random word or phrase that pops into my head and see what song she comes up with from her discography. My kids and I made up that music game last year and it’s really entertaining and is expanding our knowledge of popular music.
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
I absolutely love the Morback Museum because it gives me, a newcomer, the history of this town.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
I appreciate that Sherwood has maintained a distinct Old Town area that’s walkable, with that beautiful library and Center for the Arts. I also really appreciate how welcoming the Chamber of Commerce space is, as a resource to the community.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
I’ll still be photographing extraordinary leaders and learning more about the world.
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
I receive inspiration in the form of mental images- so I often get a visual in my brain before I have words to explain a creative idea or intuition about a situation. It’s sometimes frustrating when I can see the picture but can’t find the words.
Q: What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
When I was an undergraduate I lived in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Two places stand out as the most beautiful from my semester of travel – one was Florence, Italy. It was sunny and friendly. We ate a constant stream of gelato, and deeply enjoyed seeing the architecture that was extraordinary and ancient at the same time. The second place that surprised and delighted me was Scotland – specifically hiking to the top of Ben Nevis (the tallest mountain over there) with my middle school pen pal – a British peer who was studying in St. Andrews. The best hospitality I had received to date- he surprised us with a thermos of hot tea and some biscuits when we reached the very top of the mountain..
Q: Favorite month? favorite holiday? and best single day on the calendar?
I love the month of October! I grew up in Michigan and the changing leaves have always felt exciting and lovely. I also love the December 31/January 1 border yearly – all the potential it holds.
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
Earl Grey tea at the perfect drinking temperature while biting into the perfect square of dark chocolate.
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My five year old reminds me every day that it’s possible to challenge authority and still be filled with joy.
Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Accepting, Comfortable, and Chaotic
