Biography

My interest in the District is deeply rooted in both personal and professional experience. I’ve lived in Boulder Creek since March of 2022. Prior to that, I lived for 21 years in the small Sierra Nevada mountain town of Grizzly Flats. In August 2021, exactly one year to the day after the start of the CZU fire, the Caldor Fire swept through our community. 

My home was one of over 400 that burned to the ground. Two-thirds of the town was destroyed, including vital infrastructure: the post office, elementary school, power lines, and the entire water delivery system. The Grizzly Flats Community Services District, a community-owned nonprofit similar to SLVWD, faced the daunting task of rebuilding with a drastically reduced customer base. To help ensure its financial survival, the District instituted a policy requiring anyone requesting a meter to pay a flat monthly fee for water service, even if no water was used. I still own a now-vacant lot in Grizzly Flats and pay this monthly fee, not because I use the water, but because I can afford it and believe it’s the right thing for me to do. While everyone has to consider their own financial situations, it is important that we each do whatever we can to contribute to our community's infrastructure.  

The water district’s survival was—and remains—critical to the recovery and future of the town. That experience gave me a deep appreciation for the importance of long-term financial planning and community support in sustaining essential services like water.

I am currently retired after a 33-year career in public service, most of it with the State of California. I spent two decades in leadership roles focused on program administration, policy development, and fiscal oversight. My responsibilities included:

• Leading a section of 20 staff, including hiring, onboarding, supervision, and performance management
  
  

• Developing and delivering statewide staff training and presentations to interagency and community partners
  
  

• Writing, interpreting, and revising policy and procedural manuals to ensure alignment with current law and best practices
  
  

• Overseeing multi-million-dollar budgets, including procurement of matching funds to draw down federal resources and support program sustainability
  
  

• Negotiating, executing, and monitoring contracts with local government and nonprofit agencies, including reviewing scope, deliverables, and compliance terms
  
  

• Conducting programmatic and financial reviews to ensure invoicing accuracy, performance outcomes, and full compliance with state and federal laws and regulations
  
  

• Monitoring and responding to changes in legislation and regulatory policy, translating complex requirements into training materials and written guidance for staff and external partners
  
  

• Collaborating across departments including finance, contracts, administration, human resources, and field operations to implement programs and maintain regulatory integrity

These experiences have equipped me with a deep understanding of budget development, financial stewardship, and strategic planning, all vital to the long-term sustainability of SLVWD.

I care deeply about our community and the services that support its health and vitality. I would be honored to bring my skills in administration, budgeting, and governance to the SLVWD Board.

Education:

MS Counseling Psychology, Northwest Missouri State University 1983

BA Psychology, California State University, Stanislaus, 1981

Work History: 

State of California Department of Rehabilitation: Staff Services Manager II 1997-2016

State of California: Department of Social Services: Disability Evaluation Analyst II 1992-1997

State of California Department of Rehabilitation: Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor 1989-1992

San Lorenzo Valley Water District Administration Committee: 

I have been serving as a public member on the SLVWD Administration Committee since January of 2025.  As a member of the committee, I have gained a better understanding of how the district functions and how my skills may be used as a way to assist the district to prosper.  

Community Involvement: 

Since moving to Boulder Creek, I have become a volunteer for the local Recreation and Parks Department.  This has included acting as a volunteer worker for the annual Redwood Mountain Faire, as well as a volunteer Disc Jockey for their community radio station, KBCZ.   These volunteer opportunities have allowed me to become part of this community, become acquainted with other  community agencies, and to give back in a way that helps others and encourages collaborative efforts.