I grew up in Hampton, Virginia, and was a member of the first graduating class of Kecoughtan High School, entering adulthood during one of the most transformative periods in our nation's history. The assassination of President John F. Kennedy, the integration of Virginia's public schools, and the social changes of the 1960s shaped both my education and my perspective on leadership. Those experiences taught me the importance of resilience, understanding, and embracing change, values that have guided me throughout my professional career, volunteer service, and lifelong commitment to leadership.

After graduating from high school, I attended Pan American Business School in Richmond, Virginia. Upon completing business school, I worked briefly as a Clerk Typist at Langley Air Force Base before marrying. My husband proudly served three tours in Vietnam before beginning his civilian career as an air traffic controller at the Air Route Traffic Control Center in Hampton, Georgia.

Together, we settled in nearby Powder Springs, Georgia, where we made our home on a small farm. During those nine years, we raised our two daughters, cared for chickens, and embraced the rewards and challenges of country life. While my husband worked at the Air Route Traffic Control Center, I managed our home and farm, volunteered extensively through church, school, and community organizations, and maintained my administrative and business skills through part-time employment. Those years strengthened my appreciation for hard work, responsibility, perseverance, and service.

Following my husband's untimely death, I returned to Virginia determined to build a new future for my daughters and myself. As my youngest daughter entered college, I returned to school and earned an Information Technology degree from JSRCC. Combining my education with years of administrative experience opened the door to a new phase of my career. An opportunity with Time-Life Books & Music brought another significant transition. I participated in the transition from Chicago to Richmond to serve as a Program Librarian, where I was responsible for organizing, managing, and supporting information resources for the company's publishing and marketing programs. The position combined my growing technical skills with research, organization, and communications, reinforcing my appreciation for the value of information systems and technology in helping organizations work more effectively. The experience broadened my professional perspective and strengthened the foundation that would later support my work in technology, website development, organizational leadership, and digital communications.

Technology has remained a constant throughout my life. I have witnessed, and embraced, the remarkable evolution from manual typewriters and mimeograph machines to IBM Selectric typewriters, photocopiers, personal computers, digital photography, the Internet, and today's artificial intelligence technologies. My first computer was a TRS-80 Model I purchased from RadioShack, and my curiosity about technology has never stopped growing.

Photography became my profession in 1998, allowing me to combine technology with creativity and storytelling. Over the years, I have built a successful photography business while continuing to pursue leadership opportunities in professional organizations and nonprofit service.

Volunteer service has remained a constant throughout my life. Whether serving through my church, professional associations, or nonprofit organizations, I have always believed that leadership is about helping others succeed. Since joining NARFE in 2017, I have devoted significant time to supporting federal employees and retirees through leadership, communications, advocacy, governance, website development, and technology initiatives.

Today, my life continues to be centered on the values that have shaped every chapter of my journey: family, faith, service, leadership, technology, and creativity. Every experience from growing up during a time of historic change, to raising a family on a small Georgia farm, to building a career in photography and technology has reinforced my belief that meaningful progress comes from lifelong learning, collaboration, and a willingness to embrace new opportunities.

I created this website to share my journey, my experiences, and the lessons I've learned along the way. I hope you'll find ideas, inspiration, and resources that encourage you to pursue your own passions, embrace change, and make a positive difference in your community.