I’m lucky to have called many places home. I’ve lived in Alabama, Alaska, Minnesota, South Dakota, New Mexico and Colorado. Colorado is my home state because I’ve lived here the longest. I grew up in Pueblo, but refused to eat green chili until I lived in New Mexico. That means it took me 21 years to realize what a fool I was. All this movement is in part due to both my parents starting their careers in the Army. But it’s also because I value fresh experiences, settings and people in my life.
For me, there’s nothing better than a good song or a good conversation. My mom tells me that I always woke up singing and telling stories before her coffee was ready. Now that I’m a mother, I’m living that experience from her vantage point with my oldest son. It feels only natural that I’ve settled into a career helping people connect to their loved ones and the moments that matter to them. I’ve served people with hearing loss since 2010 and in 2017 became co-owner of Family Hearing, which is celebrating its 60th year as a community resource.
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
My husband, Robert, and I have been partners in misadventure for 15 years. We’re blessed with two happy boys who join us on our favorite escapades.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
I started my career assisting children improve their verbal communication, but for the last 13 years have supported adults with their receptive communication. I enjoy what I do because helping people hear better blends my love of connecting with people with my passion for sound. As co-owner of Family Hearing for the last 6 years, my purpose has expanded to help the practice enhance the care we provide to exceed the best practices of the day. I love collaborating with my business partner, Jen, to develop strategies to help our patients and our team members achieve their aspirations. The ability to help people at home or at work is why I get out of bed every day.
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
Jus’ Burritos, Snarfs, Original Pizza and Zaika.
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
11 years and counting.
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
My mentors, Christopher Schweitzer and Karima Thobani, who were the previous owners of my practice. From my viewpoint, they lead their lives heart-forward. This was epitomized by their purchase of Family Hearing after their first date. I love that their investment in each other and the practice paid out because they committed to the belief that it would. They also live their lives as citizens of the world, with family and experiences across the globe. I appreciate their expansive viewpoint in every discussion I have with them.
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
The Starwars Saga is one of my favorite breaks from reality. I’ve been fortunate enough to see every movie in theatre with my dad and have enjoyed diving into the TV series with my boys. “This is the way…”
Q: What advice would you give to people?
Rainer Maria Wilke has a long quote that includes the advice to “live the questions,” meaning that the answers or solutions to things in life take time to reveal themselves and to be patient and present while in the waiting zone. That advice is hard for me when so often I feel impatient for the outcome as a business owner or a parent. I try to remember that when I get hurried and would encourage others to do the same.
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
Does the Broomfield Community Center count as a business? Before they renovated, the south side of the building had 3 couches filled with people surrounding a well-used coffee maker that had the smell of spilled brew on the warming plate. They were all reading newspapers, catching up on their way into a class or biding time until a ‘healthy heart’ lunch. Now the building is breath-taking and smell of burnt coffee is gone, but that feeling of community and activity is just as strong. I love that.
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
I want to go to lunch with someone who I can laugh with. So I don’t know… Graham Norton, Kristin Wiig, Paul Rudd?
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
I think Broomfield is unique in how genuine people are in creating authentic connections. While it’s a big city, it has a small-town feel. The people are welcoming and, in my experience, usually looking to help.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
Rob and I will be supporting the experiences our little people are passionate about. They will be in the thick of their school years then. We should also be traveling more often. Personally, I hope I’ll be volunteering regularly and including my children in on the fun.
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
I volunteered for the forest service after college which gave me axe, chainsaw and latrine digging skills.
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
Vanilla ice cream with cookie dough, Oreos and fudge.
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
It’s nice to be at a stage in life when most of the people I surround myself with inspire me to be better. My husband is my go-to person for advice and the person who makes the effort to help expand my vision to see things I can’t. He’s my ride or die. My other account-a-bil-a-buddies include my sister, mom, dad and my work-wife, Jen.
Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Love, dreams and restoration.
