As the only female in my my nuclear family, I can sometimes feel overwhelmed by male energy. I live three miles from the Global Volunteers office with my husband, Bud, two of my three sons, two male cats and one male dog.  While my present life can get "hairy" at times, by contrast, my childhood was quiet, controlled and protected. I grew up as essentially an "only child," as my only sibling, my sister Terri, was married and living several hours away by the time I was one year old. My father, who was a published author, playwrite, educator and schools administrator, died at age 54 when I was only eight years old. My mother, who hadn't worked outside the home since she was married, found a job during the school year with the city of St. Paul, and took a position at a resort in St. Mary, Montana for the summers. That's where my fondest childhood memories were generated. In the wide expanses of the Rocky Mountain foothills, I learned to fish, ride horseback, backpack, start and tend a campfire, and was exposed to the fascinating culture of the Blackfeet Indian Tribe. One of my greatest satisfactions as a mother has been that I've been able to take each of my sons, individually and together, to my favorite places in Glacier Park, Montana, and in that way, to share some happy pieces of my childhood with them. I was grateful to initiate Global Volunteers' partnership with the Blackfeet Nation in 1999.

I feel very fortunate that as co-founder of Global Volunteers, I also have the opportunity to lead my choice of teams when the need arises. Over the years, I've led more than 30 teams in the U.S., in as wells as to Australia, South America, Jamaica, Mexico, Africa and Europe. I feel truly privileged to participate in this amazing journey of peace! I know from personal experience we are making a difference all around the world.

Over the years, my sons traveled with me on some of my service programs. Jake volunteered with me in Mississippi when he was in sixth grade. My middle son, Nick, volunteered on my Ireland team in his junior year of high school, and my youngest son, Drew, has been with me for three service programs on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. All three also have logged many thousands of miles traveling around the world with their father on his exploratory and "check-in" trips for Global Volunteers and celebrated our historic Team 100 in China and the opening of An Shang school.

In my day-to-day life, I manage the marketing efforts at the Global Volunteers office, including our web sites.  I serve on the Board of Directors, and help set the future direction of the organization.  I have a Master's Degree in Liberal Studies/International Communications from Hamline University in St. Paul, and a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism from the University of Minnesota. Before joining the staff of Global Volunteers in 1990, I served a few non-profit clients as a public relations consultant and in several communications positions for the State of Minnesota. I also worked as an account manager at a Twin Cities-based public relations and advertising firm, and as an event organizer for the United Way.

My motto: We have so much to learn from one another. Every person is a unique composite of life's limitless opportunities, with a fascinating story waiting to be told. Take time to listen!