A Career Rooted in Community

As a person with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) on the grants team, I had the unique opportunity to work at the intersection of money and community. I led grantmaking in economics, business and community development while also overseeing concessionary lending efforts. Using grantmaking and investing together opened my eyes to what’s possible when philanthropy deploys more of its assets locally.

In 2016, I participated in a national learning cohort of community foundation leaders exploring ways to move foundation assets from Wall Street to Main Street through place-based impact investing. That experience was both inspiring and transformative.

The breadth of my experiences at the Foundation has ultimately led me to what I consider my capstone project. For the Foundation to embrace impact investing, it requires vision, courage and leadership willing to take bold action. I’m grateful to have been in the right place at the right time to help turn the bold vision of the Foundation’s leadership into reality through the launch of two new impact investing portfolios.

I’m someone who needs purpose and meaning in my daily life, and I’ve been fortunate that my professional career has provided both for more than three decades. In retirement, I’m looking forward to spending more time at my family cabin up north.

I’ve also been working with my rescue dog, Archer, on earning his therapy dog certification. My mother lived with memory loss, and one of the highlights of her time in memory care was visits from therapy animals. I’d love for Archer and me to bring that same joy and comfort to others.

I also plan to spend more time perfecting my sourdough bread — hopefully improving both the crumb and oven-spring (the rise you get in the oven) — and I’m literally taking up the torch again by reopening my silversmithing studio.