As the proud Founder & Executive Director of the PATCH Program, and I've been steering the PATCH ship since its launch in 2010. What a journey it's been, filled with excitement and fulfillment!Before immersing myself in all things PATCH, I earned a Masters degree in Family and Consumer Communication and a Masters of Public Health from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. My journey led me to the healthcare industry, where I passionately delved into health communication and promotion. I also had the pleasure of teaching mass communication and interpersonal relationship techniques, both in universities and through collaborations with non-profits and scientific research organizations. These experiences only fueled my passion for working to improve the health and well being of future generations.In 2009, I found my sweet spot as the Associate Director at the Wisconsin Alliance for Women’s Health (now Embolden, WI). This role provided the freedom, creativity, and support to launch PATCH—an initiative that blends my love for working with youth, my communication background, and my public health expertise. Over the past 13 years, nurturing PATCH's growth has been an incredible honor, recognized through various accolades such as being named a de Beaumont 40 under forty in public health inductee, receiving a Vince Hutchins Partnership Award from HRSA Maternal and Child Health Bureau, and being honored as a Woman to Watch by BRAVA Magazine, among many others.