My personal mission in life is "to make the world a better place than I found it by giving back and uplifting others." Thus, once I graduated from OSU, I moved back to my hometown community and became the Director of a local commerce-generating program called Keep it Local Columbia County. After 8 months, I was offered full-time employment between CET and the Columbia Pacific Economic Development District (ColPac). Working for both organizations not only kept me adaptable, but I also gained valuable insights into both county-wide and regional economic development strategies.Today, I am now working full-time for just CET, wearing many hats. I am still the Director of Keep it Local, I assist the Columbia County SBDC with programic work, and the "other duties as assigned" clause is often put to use. My skills include marketing, program creation and implementation, and being able to accomplish nearly any task given to me.In my free time, I also volunteer on the Rainier & Clatskanie Chamber of Commerce boards, I am Vice President of the United Way Columbia County board, I serve in my church's youth group, and I volunteer for a Clatskanie Downtown beautification committee. I have been described as action-oriented, inquisitive, and a go-getter. But putting my reputation and titles aside, what matters to me most is helping others and the community. This is why I do as much as I do.