I have lived in Gilpin County for over 20 years and owned my own business in Nederland for almost 15 years. I live with my husband, Richard Brandon.

I started writing a mental health column in The Mountain-Ear in December 2021. I have written mental health columns for over a decade and was excited to have the opportunity to reach so many people in the Peak to Peak area through The Mountain-Ear.

I am passionate about community mental health and psycho-education, and enjoy interacting with Mountain-Ear readers as we all work together to learn and grow as a community. I also love sharing tools and skills community members can easily try out in their own lives and hearing of people’s successes.

I enjoy snowboarding, hiking, playing the piano, visiting museums, traveling, experiencing different cultures, attending concerts, cooking, and trying new restaurants. I’ve held board seats on TEENS, Inc. and Nederland Area Seniors, supported a wide variety of programs through the Nederland Community Presbyterian Church, and was a founding member of the Housing and Human Services Alliance. I started and manage the Mountain Health Collaborative, which offers local healthcare volunteers during mountain disasters via the Red Cross and the Medical Reserve Corps. Currently, I serve as the Chair on the State of Colorado’s Department of Regulatory Agencies Licensed Professional Counselors board, where I work with counselors, citizens, and state staff to regulate other counselors and create a safe and ethical environment for clients.