My career officially launched the summer of my sophomore year in high school. I worked at Burger King as cashier, salad maker, and drive-thru attendant. I was quickly absolved of my drive-thru responsibilities (too stressful) and fared better with the salad making, but my true calling was morning coffee, when I would eagerly "ring up coffee" and then socialize with the senior citizens who strolled by each day. My next anointed roles (thank you nepotism!) were restaurant bus girl and then purchasing assistant for a corporation - neither of which brought me any great joy, but I did socialize very well. Then I landed my college summer dream job - I was a candy girl at the local movie theater. Free movies, socializing with friends, their parents, former teachers, new people, high school students who now saw me as their mentor. This was the life!

After I earned my Bachelor's Degree in Advertising from Bradley University, I began my 10-year marketing career in Chicago's sales promotion agencies, working in Account Service with national clients such as Nestlé and the United States Postal Service.  I facilitated the development and execution of marketing campaigns through promotional events, newspaper advertising, product packaging, websites, eMails, signage, brochures, postcards and consumer giveaways.  I experienced my lifelong dream of living in Southern California when I transferred to work on-site for two years at Nestlé.  Back in Chicago, I joined Clear Channel Radio's sales support team, leading the development and execution of national contests with radio stations and program winners.  My marketing career highlight was orchestrating a contest trip to Los Angeles and accompanying our winners to see a live taping of The Bachelor's Bob Guiney and the "Bachelorettes Tell All" episode in ABC's studio!

Throughout my marketing career, I most enjoyed working in a client service role and especially loved mentoring new team members.  My biggest joy had been helping people overcome roadblocks and fears to ultimately grow from their experiences.  After some deep soul searching, I realized I had a personal desire to help people design careers to fit their lives, just as I had been doing and will continue to do throughout my life.

Now I've combined my marketing background with my zeal to support working moms' dreams. And when I'm not coaching, I'm spending time with my husband and son, hosting and visiting whoever wherever, walking around downtown Elmhurst, or enjoying a girls' night out playing Bunco!