Hello Master Gardeners! I am so excited to be your new Master Gardener Coordinator and Assistant Horticulturist for the Arapahoe County CSU Extension. I started on January 3^rd and have been busy learning all about this wonderful program.  I am honored to be a part of this network of amazing and dedicated volunteers and staff, and I can’t wait to meet you all.

I’m a Colorado native and grew up in Colorado Springs. I attended college at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, CA where I received my B.S. in Environmental Horticultural Science with an emphasis in landscape design. The highlight of my college days included building several Tournament of Roses Parade floats for my university. I benefited so much from volunteering on the float committee by learning how to weld, and install electronics, pneumatics and hydraulics adding to my traditional education on the agriculture side.  I absolutely loved being so close to the beaches also, but the mountains and family eventually called me back home after 10 fun years in California. My husband and I love exploring our state and like camping, hiking and traveling (mostly to beach destinations!). My hobbies include gardening (of course!), rock-hounding and lapidary, beadwork and archaeology. I have 4 spoiled fur babies; 3 cats and 1 dog that adores his feline sisters.

I have worked in landscape management for close to 25 years, almost exclusively on the maintenance side of the industry. I worked for a landscape company in Colorado Springs in high school which led to my interest in horticulture. I also worked for a couple other landscape management companies in California as an account manager after college. Since being back in Colorado I worked for over 14 years at a large HOA in Aurora managing its grounds department.

Again, words can’t express how excited I am to be here, and I look forward to getting to know you all and learning and working together in the future! Please feel free to stop by my office anytime!