| My dad loves to tell the story that when I was growing up, every night at the dinner table I would pray for God to end homelessness and make more waterfalls. This hopeful, tenacious spirit never left me - leading me to pursue a life of community service and leadership. After graduating from the University of the Redlands with a bachelor's degree in environmental management and biology, I spent my career inspiring people into action, including training thousands of women to run for office at The White House Project and fighting for environmental justice as a Director for Enviro Citizen. I love organizing because I believe the best way to create change is by building power through people.
Then in 2004, after inspiring countless other women to lead, I ran for Westminster City Council and won by a landslide. During my time on city council, I was a leader on renewable energy and protecting services for survivors of domestic violence. As Mayor Pro-Tem of Westminster, I helped lead Westminster to become the first platinum solar city in the state.
Since then, I have continued my leadership journey - first representing House District 35 and now Senate District 24.
I currently serve as Chair of the Senate Transportation & Energy Committee and as a member of the Finance Committee. I have fought tirelessly for hard-working Coloradans and their families in the legislature by sponsoring a key component of the Colorado Ready to Work jobs package, passing the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, helping home-based businesses, and passing an energy efficiency standard.
I am also the founding Executive Director of Emerge Colorado and the current National Training Director for VoteRunLead, all which work to engage women in the political process.
In 2004, I was named one of 30 people under 30 showing political leadership by the Youth Vote Coalition, in 2008, I was named one of the top ten most influential women in Denver by the Denver Examiner, in 2010, I was named Woman of the Year by Colorado Business and Professional Women northwest chapter, in 2012, I was named one of the up and coming women leaders to watch by the Denver Post, and in 2014, the Colorado Democratic Party named my their rising star.
When I'm not in the legislature or knocking on doors, I can be found hiking, cooking, and spending time with my family, my kids Tobin and Sienna, my husband Mark and our dogs and cat. |