I earned a psychology degree from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa and have worked as a Certified Addictions Counselor and an Internationally Certified Prevention Specialist and LBSW. Prior to joining PRI staff in 2002, I was an outpatient treatment program supervisor and was responsible for coordinating outreach prevention and intervention activities for eight high school and middle schools, three colleges two outpatient units and a halfway house. I enjoyed direct service and had a passion for training which led me to the Prevention Reserach Institute.
I have provided services in many different settings including Adolescent Intervention Programming and Iowa workplaces. While working in direct service I received the "Iowa Juvenile Court Success of our Youth Award" for my work within school based programming and the Theresa Youngbear award from the Iowa Department of Public Health for my work in Prevention.
At PRI I coordinate training and support for instructors and counselors using our two programs--Prime For Life and Prime Solutions. I also specialize in coding using our Quality Assurance tool--Moving ForWarD-an instrument I developed with Theresa Moyers and Ray Daugherty in 2007. Terry turned me on to coding and it's become a favorite task of mine to train and support coders.
On an off day I love to be on a lake waterskiing, or skiing down a mountain in fresh powder in the winter. I am a private pilot and would like to add an instrument or sea plane rating to my license next. My husband and I recently relocated from LA to a ranch in the Ozark range of OK and are having fun filling it with rose bushes and animals! I have had a love and passion for horses since I was a child and continue foxhunting and raising APHA and Percheron/Quarter horses today.
I have been truly blessed to be mentored by some of the best MI trainers in the world and am eager to give that energy back to others interested in learning more about the amazing communication style that is MI. In 2023 I am co-chair of the MINT Program Planning Committee and am dedicated to providing and supporting quality training and mentoring.
