Resume
About my work
I've covered everything from complicated water law cases to a modern-day cattle rustler.
My work is varied, ranging from in-depth reporting on flaws in a county child-welfare system and a funeral home where the remains of more than 170 people were found in the basement, to human interest features that touch readers' hearts.
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I have a reputation for finding just the right person to interview and I love to dig for information and ferret out details. I also am not afraid to ask the hard questions and hold responsible parties accountable.
Recent work experience
Reporter, The Daily Sentinel, Grand Junction, CO
2015 - present​
Wrote daily articles as well as more in-depth features and enterprise stories for the largest daily newspaper between Denver, Colorado, and Salt Lake City, Utah. I've consistently been recognized by the Colorado Press Association for my work, and have also won awards for my reporting from the Society of Professional Journalists Top of the Rockies contest.
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I've also been the garden columnist for this newspaper since 2012, writing weekly columns that are humorous, informative and engaging, and was honored by the Garden Writers Association for my work.
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I also worked at the Daily Sentinel initially from 2001-2004 as a copy editor and reporter, covering education, the environment and crime.
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Freelance journalist, 2011-2015
Wrote for various publications on a freelance basis, topics ranged from stories about water in the West to agricultural articles for trade publications and a series on school lunch reform. During this time, I also started my own business making and marketing artisanal pickles and learned a lot about entrepreneurship.
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Elementary school teacher, 2006-2011 ​
I taught fourth and fifth grades for Mesa County Valley School District 51 in western Colorado. The school I spent where I spent most of my tenure was in a low socioeconomic part of town (80%+ of the population receiving free/reduced lunch). I learned a lot about poverty, how school districts work and what it's like to be a teacher. This time includes my training to obtain teacher licensure and my student-teaching experience.
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Radio reporter, 1999-2001
I worked for KNZZ Newsradio 1100, producing wraps and voicers for local news programs. Also recorded and edited audio in the studio, in the field and did live reporting. My work won awards from the Colorado Associated Press Broadcasters Association.
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Things I'm good at doing...
- Data journalism techniques, including spreadsheet creation, manipulation and interpretation
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- Have a strong understanding of public records acquisition and sources, using Sunshine laws. I regularly use these laws to obtain public information for stories.
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- I have a keen ability to gain trust with sources and obtain difficult interviews on sensitive subjects
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- I work well with others on visual storytelling techniques and multimedia (graphics, video, etc.)
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- I'm equally adept at deadline reporting and longer-term, more in-depth projects
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- I report accurately on variety of topics, including education, environmental issues (including water), municipal topics, crime and marijuana.
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- I have a strong sense of ethics
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- I treat sources fairly and with compassion.
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- I'm a sixth-generation Coloradan (my family came here in the 1860s) and I love Colorado history.
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- I make really good blueberry pie.
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- I grow beautiful vegetables
(I completed the Colorado Master Gardener program in 2012)
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- Backyard chicken-raising is one of my hobbies.
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Education
Mesa State College (now Colorado Mesa University​)
Earned bachelor's degree in mass communications, emphasis in news/editorial writing. Minor in political science.
I also earned a teaching licensure from the same school with an emphasis in elementary education.