15 years of workplace development, leadership, and management

5 years as a member of the MT Region 2 Fish, Wildlife, & Parks Citizen Advisory Committee (volunteer)

3 years of wildland firefighting, qualified FFT1 Squad Boss / ICT5 Incident Commander / FAL B (Hazard Tree) Trainee

Paused active firefighting due to persistent Long COVID from 2020

Currently an Aerial Observer (Fire Detection Flights) for MT DNRC as an independent Single Resource

Member of the City of Missoula Open Spaces Advisory Committee (volunteer)

Continuing to pursue role diversity and advancement within wildland firefighting

BA earned in 2012 from University of Montana in Environmental Studies and Climate Change Studies

Attended Oregon State University on exchange to gain perspective on Atmospheric Science, Limnology, Snow Hydrology, Population Dynamics, and Forest Carbon Cycles

Born and raise on then very rural Orcas Island, WA, centered in the Salish Sea

Lifelong education from her father, a forester, landscaper, ecologist, and former Baker River Hotshot (WA)

Early awareness of Native American cultural ways and ecological values

Took a lead role in earthquake and wildfire preparedness for my family, complicated by living on an isolated island

Developed greater atmospheric awareness from sailing, competing at Nationals in High School

Learning backpacking, fly fishing, and hunting solo as an adult in Montana

Getting caught in ashfall deep in the Wilderness, and remaining calm due to survival knowledge

Assisting friends in the wildfire evacuation process for the Lolo Peak Fire in 2017

Developing lifelong relationships with loss, trauma, and grief, learning to be stronger from them

Becoming an advocate for taboo subjects, such as sexual assault, pregnancy complications, and now, wildfire