The passion and purpose of my life has always been centered around who we are and are created to be as human beings on this planet.  I feel so blessed to have found the field of coaching as it allows me to utilize all my past life experiences and training to support you to be all that you can be and to live the life you were meant to live.

"Be faithful to that which exists nowhere but in yourself."       ~Andre Gide
 
Born and raised on the Montana prairie on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, I have lived a life rich in experiences and opportunities for exploration, learning, travel, and service.  Raised by homesteaders who had survived the great depression, I grew up with the traditional values of hard work, discipline, honesty, common sense and perseverance.  I was blessed by a family strong in spiritual values and also experienced the cultural and spiritual ways of the Dakota and Assiniboine who were our relatives, neighbors, and friends.  Since that time, I have lived in the Middle East, the American Southwest, and the Pacific Northwest and experienced the rich cultural traditions of the many people with whom  I have lived and worked.

"There are only two ways to live your life.  One is as though nothing is a miracle.  The other is as if everything is."
--Albert Einstein

I feel that all of my past experiences and training--personal and professional--have prepared and led me to the wonderful work of coaching.  30 years in education and the social services as a teacher, administrator, trainer, program developer, researcher, and consultant working with families and individuals of all ages from across the spectrum of many cultures have given me a strong foundation in personal and institutional development.  My personal life experiences including surviving breast cancer and living with a disabling chronic illness for several years, as well as working with individuals living with AIDS for over 12 years, have deepened and broadened my understanding of the human condition even more and of what it takes to overcome adversity and live a life in alignment with one's deepest values and passions.

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
B.A. Sociology, University of Montana
M.Ed. Special Education, University of Arizona
Ed.S. Special Education, University of Arizona

Graduate  COACH UNIVERSITY
Member INTERNATIONAL COACH FEDERATION
Certified Retirement Coach

WORK & VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCES
Teacher, Social Worker, Parent and Staff Trainer, Administrator, Researcher, Consultant

HIGHLIGHTS
Staff Training and Development, Fort Peck Tribes, Poplar, Montana
Administrator, Portland Center for Hearing and Speech, Portland, Oregon
Founder, Multi-racial Family Support and Advocacy Group, Corvallis, Oregon
Founder, Women's Spiritual Support Groups, Portland, Oregon
Co-founder, Center for Visually Impaired Infants, Tucson Arizona

PERSONAL
I am the proud mother of a beautiful 28-year old daughter.
I love nature, gardening, hiking, fishing, travel, reading, the mountains, the beach, the desert!
I am a lover of ethnic food, the ballet, art galleries, and craft shows.
Still on my list of travel goals:  Spain and Portugal, Ireland, Monument Valley (Arizona), San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.