I am originally from Rochester, N.Y., and have been involved in community service all of my adult life. I graduated from State University of NY at Buffalo (BS) and Georgia State University (MS) and taught for 32 years in New York and Georgia focusing on K-6 education. In my professional career, I served as lead teacher, mentor for beginning teachers, reading specialist, and supervised numerous student teachers. I also served on many building leadership teams, was selected as Teacher of the Year and also served as president of my education sorority for two years.

After retirement in 2002, I worked part-time as a parent-school coordinator in a neighboring school district and began planning our family's move to Big Canoe. My husband, Brian, and I had purchased a lakeside lot in 1995 and planned on relocating after we both retired.

Since moving to Kingfisher Point in 2004, I have been involved in numerous activities. I have served as Women's Guild historian, Tour of Homes photographer for two years, house hostess for the Tour of Homes, helped coordinate the ushering schedules for the Chapel for two years, and worked in medical records at Good Samaritan since 2005. I have also been active in the Wildflower Bunch, Ridgerunners, and participate frequently in water aerobics classes.

We moved to Big Canoe because of the natural beauty of this mountain community, but have also realized the true strength of Big Canoe is the dedication of its residents to maintain Big Canoe's unique culture and vision. As a director of the HOA, I will strive to enhance the attributes "within the gates," and continue to make meaningful connections with our neighboring communities.

My personal strengths of empathy, compassion, organizational skills, dependability, and open-mindedness would serve me well if I were to be elected to the HOA Board of Directors. I view it an honor to have been nominated for this office and will, if elected, steadfastly strive to serve the needs of the homeowners of Big Canoe.