A Résumé of Commitment, Experience, and Passion

Those who know me know I hold myself to a high ethical standard. With a lifelong commitment to Chester County, I have the experience and passion to make the hard decisions to bring back responsible government to Pennsylvania. I will continue to work tirelessly as our representative in the 156th legislative district, while drawing on my experience as an elected official, community leader, educator, and 28-year small business owner.

Government Experience…

Pennsylvania General Assembly, 2006 to Present

Member of the House of Representatives,
156th Legislative District (2006-2008 Term)

Standing Committees

Children & Youth
Aging & Older Adult Services
Education, Subcommittee Chair—Special Education
Local Government
Health & Human Services

Memberships

National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL)
- National Congress of American Indians (NCAI)
- National Caucus of Environmental Legislators (NCEL)

Caucuses

Arthritis
Autism
Bi-Partisan
Lupus
Non-Profit Organizations
Organic Farming
Pain Management
Women's Health

Appointments

Assisted Living Commission Task Force
Solid Waste Commission RFAC (Recycling Fund Advisory Committee)
Virtual High School Commission Task Force

Borough of West Chester Council, 2002-2006

Vice President (2004-2006)

Public Works Committee Chair
Planning, Zoning, Business, Industrial Development Committee Member
Parking Committee Member
Initiated trash, recycling, and composting systems to improve solid waste disposal and to cut costs
Governor's Growing Greener II program—initiated resolution to support

2002-2004
Parks, Recreation & Environmental Protection Committee Chair
Public Works Committee Member
Parking Committee Member
International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI)—initiated resolution to support
West Chester Public Library—initiated support for its renovation and reconstruction
West Chester Area Council of Governments Member—helped incorporate monthly group to discuss regional concerns and cost cutting

Professional Experience…

Brandywine Water Systems, Inc., 1980 to 2007

Owner and Vice President

Family owned and operated water treatment business; handled finances

Arcus Design Group Architects, Inc., 2005

Administrative Assistant

North American Land Trust, 2002-2004

Administrator

Baseline Coordinator in charge of publishing conservation easement documentation
Initiated filing system to organize all documentation
Initiated and executed a successful fundraising campaign

Chester County Hospital, 2001

Volunteer Department Secretary

The Art Institute of Philadelphia, 1997-1998

Administrative Assistant

Supported a staff of nine in the Office of Student Services
Assisted with special events and database management

Brandywine Valley Association, Inc., 1996-1997

Environmental Educator for grades K-8

West Chester Area School District, Fall 1996

Teacher

Fourth grade teacher at Penn Wood Elementary School
Produced and presented programs on my Native American heritage for the district’s multicultural/sensitivity training workshop, Respecting Ethnic And Cultural Heritage (R.E.A.C.H.)

West Chester University, 1990 to 1995

Student

Hiatus to obtain Bachelor of Science, Elementary Education

Toll Brothers, Inc., 1987

Accounts Payable Clerk

Part-time employment to supplement income

Other Employment, 1969-1987

Prior to becoming a business owner and while a young mother, I worked for or associated with the following organizations:

Village Record, Newspaper Stringer
Mary Kay Inc., Consultant
Wickes Lumber Company, Cashier to Manager-in-Training
Girl Scouts of America, Assistant Scout Leader
Junior League of Philadelphia, Board Member
Unitarian Cooperative Playschool, Board Member
The Holy Trinity Belles, Choir Director

Education…

West Chester University

Bachelor of Science, Elementary Education, summa cum laude, December 1995

Kappa Delta Pi Education Honor Society
Teacher Education Council Scholar Award
William Pyle Philips Scholarship

Certifications

Group Facilitation
Environmental Education
Grantwriting

Community Experience…

Transportation Management Association of Chester County, Board of Directors, 2007-Present
West Chester University Act 101/ADP, Advisory Board, 2007-Present
AARP Chapter 1520 (West Chester), Board of Directors, 2006
YWCA of Chester County, Board of Directors, 2003-2005
West Chester Downtown Foundation, Vice President, Board Secretary, 2002-2004
Town Gown Council, Borough Council Liaison, 2002-2004
Brandywine Valley Association, Volunteer Steering Committee, 2002-2003
WCU President’s Work Group on Alcohol, Drugs, and Violence, 2001-2002
The Peace Education Project, Inc., Board Secretary, 2000-2002
West Chester Borough Residents’ Association, Inc., Executive Committee, 1999-2002
Citizens Business Alliance, First Block Four member, 1997-2002
Chester County Citizens Watch, Inc., Board Secretary, 2000-2001
Chester County Historical Society, Gala Committee, 2001
Chester County Day, Executive Committee, 1996-2001
Chester County Flower Show, Executve Committee, 1996-2001
West Chester Henderson High School, Class of 1968 Reunion Chair, 1983, 1988, 1993

Memberships…

Business

Chamber of Commerce of Greater West Chester
Chester County Chamber of Business & Industry
Women's Referral Network

Community

Chester County Historical Society
Chester County NOW, Chapter PA0630
Downingtown Friends Meeting, Stewardship Committee
Friends of Everhart Park
Friends of Marshall Square Park
The Valley Garden Club
West Chester Branch of the NAACP
West Goshen Parks
West Chester University, Kappa Phi Chapter 261
West Goshen Lions Club, 3rd Vice President
YWCA Chester County

Education

American Association of University Women
Kappa Delta Pi, International Honor Society in Education
West Chester University Alumni Association

Environment

Brandywine Valley Association
Green Valleys Association
PennEnvironment
Sierra Club
Trout Unlimited, Valley Forge Chapter
West Chester Fish, Game & Wildlife Association, Inc.

Politics

Human Relations Council of Greater West Chester
League of Women Voters
NAACP
National Organization For Women
National Women's Political Caucus

Service

Lions Club International
YWCA USA

Enrolled tribal member of the federally-recognized Sac and Fox Nation of Oklahoma

Awards…

Pennsylvania Families for Public Cyber Schools "Cyber Families Leadership Award," May 2008
College of Education WCU, Distinguished Alumni Presenter "Professional Pathways: Alumni Share the Way," April 2007
AAUW West Chester—Chester County PA Branch • Distinguished Member AAUW-PA 2006-2007