Bio:

I was born in the Edinburgh, Scotland sometime during the last Century.  Came to the US as a child and we located in Southern California, and then relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area while I was in grammar school, staying there until I graduated from my 12th year of Catholic schools.

Shortly thereafter, I moved to Las Vegas, where I went to college [UNLV], married and had two children – a daughter and son.  I lived in Las Vegas for 20 years, then moved to Southern California, New York, Ohio and finally in November of 1994 to Houston, Texas. 

While living in New York I became friends with the manager [Nina] of the travel agency that booked the airline tickets for my National Sales Manager boss.  At that time, my husband traveled about 80 percent of the time, so I spent a lot of weeknights alone.  One day in 1987 Nina asked me if I’d like to go to a meeting with her.  It was a group I’d never heard of called ABWA.  It was a dinner meeting, and I liked the restaurant so I thought – Why Not?  I could always plead headache if I wasn’t enjoying myself…  Well, as history has proven, I did enjoy myself; I enjoyed the women, the speaker, the professionalism – and yes, the food!

I became a member of ABWA in 1987, in Long Island, New York.  Since then I have belonged to five chapters in three states – New York, Ohio and in Texas.  During my years I have had the honor of being chapter president 3 times, and have held all but the Treasurer position on the board multiple times.  I’ve also chaired all of the standard chapter committees; in addition, I have chaired a number of standard and special committees for the North Coast Council [Cleveland, Ohio area] and the Houston Area Council.  I’ve been a team member for four Spring Conferences and have attended more Spring Conferences than I can count.  I’ve had the pleasure of attending four National Conferences, and each one has been a truly different and wonderful experience. 

I’ve also had the honor of being an integral part of two National Office Elections.  This is an endeavor I would highly recommend.  This is when you really learn about ABWA, the sisterhood, the work, the enjoyment, the relationships gained with people you would never have met if it wasn’t for this organization.  I can honestly say there is not one woman in the W.I.N.G.S. Chapter that I would have ever met if it wasn’t for this Association.  My closest friends are members of ABWA, the women who have stood beside me in times of joy, sadness, terror and just when ‘life’ happens.  I have also had the honor of being someone my ABWA sisters have been able to lean on during their times of joy, triumph and sadness.

It is truly my honor and pleasure to represent the W.I.N.G.S. Chapter this year as the 2009 - 2010 Chapter President.