She grew up in Leland, Michigan, and earned a B.A. in International Studies from Michigan State University in 1994. After graduation, she began her career in real estate in Traverse City, obtaining her real estate license in 1999.

In 2000, she moved to Grand Rapids, where she began working in property management. In 2011, she joined Dwelling Place—the largest provider of low-income and supportive housing in the Grand Rapids area—as a Senior Manager. In 2019, she became the Executive Director in Cadillac, continuing to advance affordable housing initiatives across the region.

She served on the Legislative Committee of the West Michigan Property Management Association and traveled to Washington, D.C., multiple times to advocate for housing legislation before members of the U.S. House and Senate. She is a Certified Specialist of Occupancy, Public Housing Manager, and Public Housing Specialist.

She currently serves as a Board Member of Housing North and the Michigan Housing Directors Association (MHDA).