So when I had the choice in my twenties to pursue a career in broadcast journalism or step into the family business, I chose to continue my family's legacy.

 

I started where the work was needed most. I paid the bills, answered the phones, helped employees’ families navigate benefits, and learned the business from the ground up. Over time, I grew into new roles — from bookkeeping to marketing, from colleague development to leading sales, strategy, and innovation.

 

With each step, I didn’t just learn how to run a business — I learned how decisions impact real people.

 

I saw it firsthand when healthcare laws changed and we had to balance rising costs with caring for our team. I lived it as the first woman in more than a century of our company to take maternity leave — three times — navigating what it meant to have a career and to be a mom at the same time. I carried that experience into leadership roles in our industry, serving on the executive board of the American Feed Industry Association in Washington, D.C.

 

What mattered most was always the people — the employees who built their lives alongside ours, and the community that surrounded our company as we grew.

 

Even as I was building my career, I felt a pull toward public service. While raising our four children and helping lead our family business, I found ways to serve right here in our community. I was elected to the Forest Hills School District Board of Education, bringing a practical, business-minded perspective to public education while staying closely connected to my kids’ lives. I also served on committees and community boards across Cincinnati and Anderson Township, working alongside neighbors to strengthen the place we all call home.

 

In 2020, during a time of global uncertainty, my family made the decision to partner with another family-owned company to ensure the business could continue to grow for generations to come. It was one of the hardest decisions we’ve ever made — and one rooted in the same principle that guided us from the beginning: do what’s right for the long term.

 

It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve my family and the families who built their livelihoods alongside ours. And now, I’m ready to extend that service — to more people, more families, and more communities across Southwest Ohio.

 

The values that shaped me — responsibility, stewardship, hard work, and care for people — aren’t just part of my story. They’re the foundation of how I’ll lead as your state representative in Columbus.​​​