Marketing and Content Specialist, Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch & Special Projects Coordinator, Churches United
Q: Tell us about yourself.
A: I am a mother to two teenage girls, a wife, and an animal lover. Our home is full of life thanks to our dog, two cats, and a fish. My daughters and I are campaigning to begin fostering dogs as well.
Professionally, I work full‑time as the Marketing and Content Specialist for the Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch Thrift Stores, overseeing marketing and social media for eight locations across Fargo, Dilworth, Grand Forks, Bismarck, and Mandan. These thrift stores help fund the Ranch’s mission of providing Christ‑centered psychiatric treatment and education for at‑risk children and their families, with campuses located in Fargo, Bismarck, and Minot. I’m involved in every aspect of creative communications for the thrift stores, including daily digital content, billboards, radio partnerships, and major campaigns.
I also work part‑time as the Special Projects Coordinator at Churches United, connecting departments and keeping organization‑wide initiatives moving. Churches United serves the community through Micah’s Mission homeless shelter, the Dorothy Day Food Pantry, and two supportive housing apartments for families, seniors, and individuals who experience chronic homelessness.
Outside of work, I love supporting my husband in his community musical theater productions. I’m an avid reader, a frequent concert‑goer, and I try to spend as much time as possible skateboarding in the summer or relaxing at the lake. I also love to travel, especially to maintain my tradition of visiting Las Vegas at least once a year with friends.
Q: Who has been the most influential mentor in your life, and why?
A: I can’t choose just one mentor, because I’ve been fortunate to work alongside several incredible women in leadership who have shaped me in different ways. At the Ranch, my direct supervisor, Tammy Noteboom, VP of Communications, has been a steady source of wisdom. She has a way of helping me stay focused, tuning out the noise, and moving forward with clarity and purpose. Our CEO Joy Ryan is another woman I deeply admire. She led the Ranch through the challenges of COVID and continues to guide our growth. Watching her make big decisions with confidence, compassion, and long‑term vision has been inspiring.
At Churches United, Shelley Brooks, our Shelter Director, has also made a huge impact on me. She has completely rewritten the playbook for staff, centering genuine human connection, meaningful support, and truly being the safety net our guests and neighbors in need deserve. Her leadership is grounded in empathy and action.
Each of these women leads differently, but all with strength, heart, and integrity.
Q: What community issue do you feel deserves more attention?
A: One community issue that deserves far more attention is mental health support, from early intervention to creating a safety net for those who need it most. As a society, we treat people with mental illness differently from those with visible illnesses or disabilities. That stigma prevents people from seeking help until they’re in crisis. If we approach mental health with the same openness, resources, and compassion as physical health, many people will be more successful on their own. We’d see fewer individuals turning to drugs or crime, ending up in jail, or experiencing homelessness simply because they don’t have the support they need. Strengthening mental health services and normalizing treatment will change the trajectory of so many lives in our community.
Q: Why is our local United Way important to you?
A: Our local United Way strengthens programs that lift up people in our community when they need support the most. They help fill critical gaps for families, children, and individuals by connecting them with resources that make a difference. They bring businesses, nonprofits, and community members together in meaningful ways. Their fundraising events and collaborative initiatives create energy, connection, and a shared sense of purpose. To me, United Way represents what happens when a community chooses compassion and action, and I’m grateful for the hope they help build every day.
Q: Finish this sentence: Lifting families out of poverty is important to me because …
A: No one should have to fight for their basic needs or face the world without stability, dignity, or hope. When a family is supported, their entire future shifts, children can dream bigger, and parents can breathe easier, so they can finally break cycles of struggle. Helping people move from surviving to thriving strengthens our whole community and reminds us that every person deserves a chance to rise.
