San Juan County has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. One of my earliest memories is getting carsick in a U-Haul winding over Coal Bank and Molas Pass. While my siblings sold “ore samples” on Blair Street, I would wander off and daydream about becoming an engineer for the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Like a lot of childhood dreams, that one didn’t stick—but my connection to this place always did.

Silverton was never just somewhere I visited. It was somewhere that shaped how I see the world. I grew up listening to stories—on porches, in living rooms, and on barstools—about the people who built this town, struggled here, and chose to stay. Those stories instilled in me a deep respect for community, resilience, and the responsibility we have to take care of the places we call home.

After high school, that perspective led me outward. I spent time living in São Paulo, Brazil, where I studied international relations and became fluent in Portuguese. It was my first real exposure to how different communities function—and how much good governance, or the lack of it, can shape people’s lives.

I went on to earn a degree in international business with a concentration in finance, followed by a master’s degree in public service. Over the next several years, I worked across the nonprofit and private sectors, both in the United States and abroad. I managed programs in Haiti focused on child malnutrition, worked in financial technology helping oversee complex systems and teams, and later developed and led nonprofit initiatives focused on education and community development.

Those experiences gave me a broad perspective—but they also clarified something for me: the work that matters most is local.

When the COVID pandemic hit, I made the decision to move to Silverton full time. I didn’t come back just to live here—I came back to contribute.

Since then, I’ve worked to be deeply involved in this community. I’ve started and managed local businesses, navigating the realities of operating in a small, rural economy. I serve on the board of Region 9 Economic Development, working with leaders across Southwest Colorado on housing, funding, and long-term planning. I’ve taken on an active role with KSJC Community Radio, helping lead major upgrades, strengthen operations, and ensure the station is prepared to serve the community in emergencies. I also serve on the Historic Preservation Commission, helping guide development in a way that respects Silverton’s character while allowing it to grow responsibly.

In addition, I serve as President of World Experience Scholarships, a nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to international opportunities for young people—because I believe the kind of experiences that shaped my life should be accessible to others as well.

Professionally, I serve as San Juan County’s Chief Deputy Clerk. In that role, I work across many of the county’s core functions—administering elections, managing public records, supporting motor vehicle operations, and assisting with county finance and administration. I’ve worked on budgeting, compliance, and internal systems, and I’ve seen firsthand how important it is for county government to be accurate, accountable, and reliable.

All of these experiences—my education in finance and public service, my work in nonprofits and the private sector, my time building businesses, and my role inside county government—have led me here.

The Treasurer’s Office is about more than numbers. It’s about stewardship. It’s about trust. It’s about making sure that the systems people rely on every day are handled carefully, correctly, and consistently.

I’m building my life here, and my partner and I are expecting our first child. That makes this work even more personal. I care deeply about the kind of community we’re building—not just for today, but for the next generation.

That is the kind of work I care about, and it is why I am running to serve San Juan County as Treasurer.