I bring to my role as Executive Director 35+ years of combined experiences in social enterprise and non-profit, high-tech, education, theater, film, restaurant and food service, event production, fundraising events, human resources, recruitment, and retention in various sectors.

As a woman and single mother, I know how supporting those who need and depend on us makes us wholly human. It transcends religion, politics and race. I know that we are all more alike than we are different, and that supporting and empowering those who are underserved creates equity that makes our world more just. I created Women Hold the Key to turn these philosophical tenants into my life’s work. It’s not just an organization; it’s an extension of my beliefs.

My life’s mission and work, like most of us, centers around our own gifts – which are directly connected to the places where we are the most wounded. This work allows me to come full circle, from being a child that felt alone without a mother, unseen and unvalued, to being able to create places where women are seen, heard and know they matter.

This work creates embedded community and deep and lasting relationships in which women can support one another, their families, and their community as a whole. I feel very connected to my community, and feel a personal responsibility to improve the lives of those with whom I live. I also get to watch my daughter (and sons) observe women who support women. As young people, they are exposed to how mean people can be to each other, especially young women, through social media. Modeling supportive relationships between women has given them a more nurturing viewpoint of how women and all people can be in community. It also shows that our natural inclination is to be supportive of one another, more understanding of each other and more powerful together than alone. I am proud to be a positive example to my daughter, my sons and to my community