Occupation: I work in live event production; we produce concerts, corporate events, trade shows, etc. My main focus is in video. Our industry has taken a huge hit due to COVID. Because of that, I started a little side job called Celebrations Out Front. I decorate people’s front yards to celebrate special events like birthdays and graduations.

Family: My husband, Scott, and I have two great kids. Grady is 9 and Edie is 7; both attend Sandy Hook School.

Pets: We have two rescue dogs. Ozy has been with us for a little over five years and we recently added Violet, another rescue, to our family on July fourth of this year.

How long have you lived in Newtown? We have been in Newtown for six years. I am originally from Connecticut. We moved back in 2013 after living in L.A. and Atlanta.

What do you like to do in your free time? I spend a lot of my free time volunteering on the PTA at Sandy Hook. I love to craft and make all kinds of things. I also really enjoy listening to podcasts.

What is your favorite book? I’ve always loved I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb. My guilty pleasure is the Outlander series and really anything by David Sedaris.

What is your favorite travel destination? I love anywhere with a beach, for sure, but when Scott and I lived in Atlanta we really enjoyed all of the quaint southern cities we visited — Nashville, Savannah, Charleston, New Orleans to name a few.

What is the best part about Newtown? I really love and appreciate our community of local businesses. I think the town as a whole does a great job to support them and it’s always nice to grab a bagel, chocolate, toy, piece of jewelry, or gift from a store owned and operated by a local family.

What organizations are you part of in Newtown? The organization that I spend the majority of my time with is the Sandy Hook PTA. I have been on the executive board for four years now and I really enjoy working with the SHS staff and all of our wonderful volunteers.

Who has been the greatest influence in your life? It really has to be my parents. They have a great work ethic, all the while knowing how to appreciate the joy in life. When I was a kid they made me feel like anything was possible. I attribute my can-do attitude to them, and I try to be that for my kids, as well.

If you could spend the day with one person, who would you choose and why? Michael Barbaro is the host of The Daily which is one of my favorite podcasts. The show tackles a different topic every day, so it’d be great to tag along with him and see the process.

Who is your favorite musical artist? I absolutely love the Hamilton soundtrack, Prince, Avett Brothers, Lizzo. It’s a mixed bag!

What is the greatest piece of advice you have ever been given? No one will ever value your time more than you. In other words, don’t expect anyone else to tell you to take care of yourself, book the vacation, sign up for a class. You need to do it for yourself.

What is something you cannot live without? This year has really taught me a lot about that question. Hugs and kisses from my kids. My older one is already a bit less interested in my long hugs, but I’m still doling them out!

What is your proudest accomplishment? This is a fairly new one, but when the pandemic hit and I felt the stability of my 9 to 5 was in question, I jumped online and started Celebrations Out Front. Not only has that helped us as a family, but I think that in this hard time bringing a little joy through bright decorations and a personal touch was a great thing for the community.