Born and raised in Longview, Washington, I grew up helping out at my parents' small business and helping my father manage and maintain our family's investment properties. Both my parents instilled in me a strong work ethic and a love for new experiences and meeting people. Thanks to them I learned early on the ins and outs of customer service, running a successful business, construction and real estate investments. Wanting a change in scenery after high school, I moved to Hawaii where I lived for 8 years and ran a successful wedding photography business.

After 8 years of living in Hawaii and traveling the world there was nothing I wanted more than to move back to my native Pacific Northwest because I realized that, while I will always enjoy travel and going to new places, this is my favorite place in the world!