I happen to be one of those rare people who are a native of Arizona. I was born in Prescott and at the age of six months, my family moved to Flagstaff. I graduated from Northern Arizona University with a bachelor's degree in Marketing and Fashion Merchandising.

Growing up, The Museum of Northern Arizona played a significant part in my life. In high school I worked in the mailroom during summers. During college I worked in the gift shop, bookstore and at the front desk as a receptionist. After graduating from NAU I began a career in retail working in management for Dillard's and Robinson's department stores.

However, my passion for Northern Arizona and The Museum of Northern Arizona brought me back to Flagstaff where I was offered a job as the store manager for the Scottsdale Museum Shop. This was a wonderful grassroots opportunity where I was able to use my marketing skills and knowledge of Native American culture.

Several years later, the Scottsdale Museum Shop closed and I was offered another wonderful opportunity working for a Navajo jewelry silversmith company in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This was an experience of a lifetime which truly put my marketing skills to test. I developed and represented a line of Navajo handmade jewelry for catalog companies such as Sundance and Coldwater Creek. I also marketed the line to airport gift shops and resorts across the world. My favorite part of the job was traveling to trade shows in Miami, Atlanta, New York, San Francisco and Phoenix.

However, as time went by, I missed my hometown, family and friends. I moved back to Flagstaff and began working for a group of medical doctors. It was here I found a new passion for healthcare.

Flagstaff is my home. I enjoy going to the grocery store or movies and seeing longtime residents and friends. The community spirit is a large part of my life. I enjoy the Friday art walks, the local theater, the weekend arts and crafts shows. I live two miles from The Museum of Northern Arizona so I enjoy their activities offered to the public.

I am also involved in The Order of Eastern Star as well as volunteering at Hope Cottage. I am active in my church. In the winter you can play in the snow and in the summer start your own garden. The seasons are beautiful.

I also love working at the Peaks. It is a great place where I still enjoy the beauty of The Museum of Northern Arizona and my fondness of working with our senior residents. I know many of the residents from growing up in Flagstaff so it makes for a nice reunion while at work. I also have personal experience with The Peaks while my aunt was a resident in the Memory Center. This job gives me an opportunity to give back to the wonderful caregivers who took great care of my aunt.