Bio

I was born in Madison on a cold night in March many years ago. My dad came from Chicago on a football scholarship and met my mom who came from a farm in central Wisconsin. I spent my childhood on the south, southwest and west sides of Madison and came up through Madison’s public schools, graduating from Memorial High School before enrolling at UW-Madison. There I earned my B.S. and M.F.A. degrees and lived on State Street for several years after.

While downtown I took an interest in neighborhood affairs and joined the executive council of Capitol Neighborhoods, Inc., where I eventually served a three-year stint as vice-president followed by another three years as president. During this time I focused intensely on development. I suppose I was distressed by some favorite old buildings that I grew up with making way for new projects and I gained a respect for historic preservation. But I also understood the balance that comes with the need for a city to constantly change and to make new spaces for people.

While downtown I served on neighborhood development oversight committees for over thirty projects. I experienced firsthand how neighborhoods could be powerful participants in the development process. The majority of proposals fit into zoning and we worked to make them better, by offering developers insights only neighbors who live in the area could provide and advocating the neighborhood’s positions to city committees. And when necessary, we successfully opposed the handful of proposals that were incompatible.

I moved eastward and have called the Schenk-Atwood-Starkweather-Yahara (SASY) neighborhood home for several years. I soon joined the SASY Neighborhood Association and am now in my second year as vice-president.

Having never owned a car, I treasure the walkability of the neighborhood and close proximity to restaurants, shops, taverns, music venues, parks, bike paths, bus lines, lakefront, festivals, and all District 6 has to offer.

Professionally I work in web development and project management and am currently employed at UW-Madison. I have a cat called “Sasy” who is indeed named after the neighborhood I call home.

Résumé:

Neighborhood Organizing:

  • Current Vice-President of SASY Neighborhood Association
    • Festival Committee, Membership Committee, Communications Committee, Preservation & Development Committee, Sustainable Finance Committee
  • Former President and Vice-President of Capitol Neighborhoods, Inc.
    • Bassett District Rep, Mifflin West District Rep, Physical Linkages Committee, Programs Committee, Newsletter Committee, served on over thirty neighborhood development oversight committees

City Committees:

  • Current member of the Downtown Coordinating Committee for the past ten years
  • Former member of the South Central Transit-Oriented District Committee
  • Former member of the Ad Hoc Library Mall Public Art Committee
  • Former member of the Ad Hoc Downtown Restroom Committee

Volunteering:

  • Poll worker at Ward 53 for the past twelve years, including as Chief Inspector for the past eight years
  • Line lieutenant at the Dane County 2020 Presidential Election Recount
  • Atwoodfest, working set-up, tear-down, and everything in-between
  • In 2022 I managed to work at least one volunteer shift or more at Féte de Marquette, Waterfront Festival, Orton Park Fest and Willy St. Fair!