1. Tell me how you first became involved with Cedar Lake.
I first heard of Cedar Lake probably 8 years or so ago, from my (then) work mentor Lynn Wilkerson. I quickly grasped that this organization supported such a wonderful mission and held such a special place in her life. Fast forward many years later, and Lynn reached out, connecting me with Kathey to discuss open board positions and the possibility of getting more involved.
2. What are you most looking forward to during your time on the board?
Cedar Lake is my first experience serving on a board and I’m very excited to contribute to the wonderful work being done here. What drew me the most to Cedar Lake was their mission for supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities along with their structure as a faith-based organization.
My youngest brother Drew has Down Syndrome, so I’ve seen firsthand the challenges people with similar disabilities face. It’s so heartwarming to know that there’s an organization that is striving every single day to enrich people’s experiences here on earth and help them live their lives to the fullest capacity they can. It’s truly quite humbling to be present at our Board meetings and hear of all the real, meaningful work being done at Cedar Lake. I’m looking forward to learning more and hope to utilize my skill set to further build on everything Cedar Lake represents.
3. Tell me a little about yourself – background, family, etc.
I’m a native Louisvillian, born and raised here; I’m also a graduate of the University of Louisville where I studied Accounting and Finance. I first started my career at KPMG as an auditor, where I obtained my CPA license. After 5 years, I transitioned from the Public Accounting world and joined Brown-Forman. Going on 11+ years at Brown-Forman, I’ve held a variety of roles in Internal Audit, Regional Finance and Financial Planning. For the past few years, I’ve worked as a Brand Analytics Manager, supporting brand teams in decisions around overall brand strategy, pricing decisions, new product development, supply chain, amongst other things. It’s a far cry from my auditing days, but I love it and the challenges that come my way! My husband and I reside in Louisville and have two little girls, Phoebe (2) and Naomi (almost 1) that keep us quite busy these days!
4. Anything else you’d like to share?
Prior to my Corporate career, I was a dance teacher all throughout high school and college teaching ballet and tap dancing for 5 years. While those days are long gone, I always enjoy running into past students and reminiscing.
I grew up in quite the large family as one of ten children. Adding on to that, we were all homeschooled by my mother! It was such a special and unique experience, and one that has shaped me into the person I am today in so many ways.
