When a stranger asks me, “What do you do?” I’m sometimes not sure what to answer.
Teacher
Teaching at the University of Colorado is very rewarding. I currently teach Sales Management in the marketing department, which I thoroughly enjoy. The students’ enthusiasm and their ability to deliver insane excuses for not coming to class never ceases to amaze me.
Volunteer
I never realized how valuable volunteering is to both those being helped and those doing the helping until I became heavily involved in animal welfare in 2007. My husband, Dylan, and I began by fostering a Boston Terrier for MidAmerica Boston Terrier Rescue because I wanted a dog and he didn’t. We have since fostered almost 50 Boston Terriers, and the experience led me to begin publishing books about adopted pets to raise awareness and funding for private rescue organizations. Since 2009, Happy Tails Books has published more than 20 books and raised more than $20,000 for rescues – and our efforts are still going strong. I also founded Up For Pups, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization to support rescues by publishing a rescue best practices manual and to engage people in activities that encourage rescue volunteering.
Performer
After retiring from professional snowboarding in 2001, my heart missed performing. I had no idea what would manifest to fill that hole, but it turned out to be flying trapeze and a crazy little show called Don’t Kill Bill.
I’m grateful to friends and family who have encouraged me to “follow my bliss” and pursue the things in life that I feel are really important, like using my skills to raise awareness (and hopefully reduce) puppy mill suffering. I hope you follow your bliss, too, and that it leads you to do something for the greater good. There is nothing more rewarding in life than feeling that your life has purpose and meaning beyond simply your own happiness.
Please feel free to explore this site. At present, I am mostly focused on finishing up the spring/summer semesters at the University of Colorado Leeds School of Business and then going on a big adventure as a flying trapeze performer. (I have no idea what that means yet, but if this is, indeed, the path I should be on, I’m sure it will all work out.)
