At eight years old, a barn she passed every Sunday caught fire—an experience that left a lasting impression. Witnessing the devastation of that loss sparked a lifelong desire to understand fire behavior and, more importantly, how such tragedies can be prevented. That early moment became the foundation for a career and calling rooted in safety, education, and service.

Her life has always bridged two worlds: the equestrian industry and public service. She began riding at age eleven and went on to become a working student, gaining extensive hands-on experience in horse husbandry, training, and riding. Throughout her youth, she was actively involved in 4-H and Civil Air Patrol—where she famously flew a plane before she ever drove a car.

At nineteen, she began volunteering with her local fire department, formally entering the emergency services field that had fascinated her since childhood. She earned an Associate of Applied Science in Fire Science along with a certificate in Fire Science Technology. While completing her degree, she also pursued equine science coursework through a concurrent equestrian program, reflecting her dual commitment to both professions.

Following graduation, she attended LDS Business College in Utah with a focus on Business Entrepreneurship before returning to Virginia. With the help of her grandparents, she purchased her first farm and welcomed her first horse. Professionally, she built a diverse equestrian career as a barn manager, instructor, trainer, and rider, freelancing at multiple facilities and spending a summer working as a hot walker for a Thoroughbred trainer at Colonial Downs.

Her emergency services career continued to advance alongside her equestrian work. She served as an EMT/Driver in medical transport before becoming an Aircraft Rescue Firefighter/EMT at Richmond International Airport. She proudly rose through the ranks to Lieutenant, running her own shift, and was deeply involved in fire prevention efforts—including CPR instruction, commercial fire inspections, and fire extinguisher and safety training.

In 2015, she married her husband, Randy—whom she met in the Fire Academy—and in 2016 they welcomed their daughter, Emma. While she thrived in the fire service, the demands of extended shifts and frequent overtime eventually became unsustainable for her family. In 2023, she made the difficult decision to step away from the fire service to prioritize family needs, including supporting her daughter through the IEP process, caring for her mother with declining dementia, managing the farm, and assisting her husband’s construction business.

Leaving the fire service was deeply personal and challenging, as it remains a core part of her identity. That sense of loss ultimately led to the creation of Equestrian Safety Group—an organization that allows her to continue her original mission of prevention and education while serving the equestrian community she has been part of her entire life.

She is neurodivergent (AuDHD), a perspective that enhances her ability to identify risks, recognize patterns, and approach safety systems with depth and creativity. Through Equestrian Safety Group, she is committed to proactive barn safety, ensuring that preventable tragedies are addressed before they occur—not after.