Back Story

Nearly thirty years ago my parents moved our family from Bellevue in order to raise their kids in a less hectic, more nurturing environment. They embraced the small-town way of life, and in turn, Poulsbo took us in.

This place instilled in me a deep sense of pride in my one-quarter 37% Norwegian heritage, and gratitude for the unparalleled natural beauty that we enjoy here. Whether it was perfecting the schottiche with my fellow folk dancers at the Sons of Norway, or inadvertently measuring the depth of Liberty Bay with the mast of a capsized dinghy sailboat, I was an active participant in this community from my earliest years, and I haven’t taken for granted what an idyllic childhood that was. I’ve travelled far afield, and briefly spent time in the southeast while attending the Savannah College of Art and Design, but life has always brought me back to Poulsbo, and eventually I knew I’d stay.

I met my now-husband while working in one of Poulsbo’s most popular downtown restaurants, and we bonded over our shared desire to grow roots here, and start businesses. Jason is a Battalion Chief with the Bainbridge Island Fire Department, but our entrepreneurial dreams have led us into a variety of other industries. Home-brewed craft beer, real estate, construction, design, and short-term rentals are what we do, under the name Dauntless Endeavors. However, we don’t limit ourselves, so who knows what might be next??

I like to make stuff (better).

I see the world through an artist’s lens. A love for spacial design, architecture, and interiors is as much a part of me as my right arm. I believe that good design has the extraordinary power to make life better for all people, whether on the scale of a home, a town, or a metropolis. I hope that I provide a valuable perspective within Poulsbo’s leadership by representing this philosophy.

I have a deep, abiding love for animals, which led me to become a volunteer with the West Sound Wildlife Shelter in 2015. I’ve served as a committee member and the Volunteer Coordinator for the annual Call To The Wild gala auction that raises approximately two-thirds of the Shelter’s yearly operating budget. While many things changed during the pandemic, and the auction moved online for two years, the cause of rehabilitating wildlife and preserving their habitat is still very important to me, so I support the WSWS in whatever capacity I’m able.

I spent two years serving on the City of Poulsbo Lodging Tax Advisory Committee, where we had the important, and sometimes very challenging task, of dividing up Lodging Tax revenues to the organizations for whom it’s meant to benefit. My position on this committee is part of what initially opened up my mind to the possibility of running for a city council seat, and I’ve greatly benefitted from the insights I gleaned there.

Since taking office for City Council Position 3 in January of 2020, I’ve experienced the many peaks and valleys of public service and local governance. Embarking on a new experience far outside of my comfort zone, while the world descended into a deadly pandemic, was a challenge to the say the least, but one that’s been humbling and character-defining. Along the way I’ve learned so much from my colleagues, constituents, City staff, and the greater community, which has been incredibly gratifying and motivates me to continue this work. I currently serve as the City Council Liaison to the Poulsbo Chamber of Commerce and the Historic Downtown Poulsbo Association. Additionally, I’m one of three Council members on the Suquamish Tribe MOU committee, who help foster the relationship between our governments, as well as a peer-to-peer ad-hoc committee with the Bainbridge Island City Council. I am the City’s representative to the Government Alliance for Race and Equity (GARE), and had the pleasure of attending the annual GARE meeting in Portland in 2022. I’m also part of an ad-hoc Art Board that selected the art for the Highway 305 & Johnson Parkway Roundabout, and reviews other proposed public art projects.

I’m still figuring out what I want to be when I grow up, but for now I’m fortunate that most of what I do for work is on my own terms, and utilizes my strengths and passions. When I’m not working on behalf of the City of Poulsbo, selling real estate, renovating a house, or hosting guests at one of the vacation rentals that I manage, I’m likely to be planning a trip, dreaming up a party menu, or listening to an audiobook while walking Lemolo Shore Drive. Thanks to the ladies of the Sons of Norway, I’m a knitter who can stitch a mean dishcloth, and sometimes even a stocking cap. I’m a passionate entertainer, cook, and mixologist, and I have this nagging dream of opening a bistro some day. I often say that we’ll never reach the goals if we haven’t set them, so there you have it.