My story
Transforming Complex Challenges into Clear Community Solutions
As co-founder and board president of the Community Broadband Action Network (CBAN), I've spent the last eight years building a nationwide coalition that has transformed broadband access for over one million Americans. What started as a mission to democratize internet infrastructure has evolved into comprehensive digital equity work—from training hundreds of Iowans through our digital navigator program to shaping national policy on community-controlled broadband.
My approach combines three decades of strategic communications expertise with deep community advocacy and emerging technology innovation. As Michigan State University's 2025 REI Innovation Fellow, I developed innovative research, practically applied, on AI's role in coalition building, creating an AI Workplace Policy course for public entities launching in 2026. This reflects my core belief: technology should amplify community voices, not replace them.
My professional foundation was built in media and strategic communications. I founded and scaled multiple publications, growing ThirdCoast Digest from zero to 100,000+ monthly readers and boosting BizTimes Media's online engagement by 150% while generating over $300K in new revenue. These experiences taught me how to translate complex concepts into compelling narratives that drive action—skills I now apply to help municipalities, utilities, and nonprofits navigate crisis communication, policy development, and stakeholder engagement.
Today, I serve as a strategic partner for organizations at the intersection of technology, policy, and community impact. Whether developing AI implementation strategies for nonprofits, providing crisis communication support for rural municipalities, or facilitating multi-stakeholder coalitions, I bring both national perspective and grassroots experience to every engagement.
Beyond the boardroom, I'm committed to knowledge sharing—mentoring small business owners, teaching at Northwestern Michigan College, and speaking nationally on digital equity and strategic communication. My partner and I explore the country in our vintage Shasta Starflyte and keep "pet" chickens.
Ready to turn your complex challenge into clear community action? Let's talk.
How I work
Keeping It Simple
This is my summer office in northern Michigan (my winter office has a wood-burning stove). I keep my overhead low and work to level the online playing field for small organizations all over the country.
For the most part, the work I do isn't flashy. My goal is to help my clients connect with and professionally deliver important information to their constituents with timely media interaction, community engagement programs, and customer/constituent education. Every organization is unique, and the way I engage with my clients reflects their individual cultures and needs.
PERSONAL PASSIONS
Broadband for everyone
Somewhere between 19 and 30 million Americans in rural and tribal areas lack high-speed Internet access, limiting opportunities for economic development, education and connection to the world. I am a founding partner in the Community Broadband Action Network (CBAN). Our mission is to help communities bring high-speed Internet to their residents.
Honey bees and pollinators
The bees are my beautiful ladies, sharing their gifts and providing invaluable pollination to the orchards, forests, and fields surrounding my home. I keep a small yard at home (3-5 hives) and am the apiarist for the Interlochen Center for the Arts, where I also teach beekeeping to the community.
Get in touch.
Contact me today for a free 30-minute consultation on your current and upcoming initiatives. I'll send you a summary report that's yours to keep whether we work together now or sometime down the road.