As part of Plante Moran’s 10-person management team, I lead all public sector industries, including governmental, not-for-profit, K-12 schools, and higher education.
I’ve always enjoyed puzzles, reasoning, and math, which made accounting a natural fit for me. In high school, however, I thought I might become a dentist! Then, during a campus visit to Wayne State University, I took an interest test, and accounting came back as the first result. After earning a bachelor's degree in business administration and interviewed with top firms, Plante Moran impressed me as different and down-to-earth; I could see myself working alongside the partners I met.
More than 30 years later, I’ve had many opportunities to contribute to the firm, including leading our government practice where I helped build a strong team of more than 20 partners and 200 staff.
I’ve also done my best to support the CPA profession, including serving as chair of the Michigan State Board of Accountancy. I was honored to receive the 2014 Being a Difference award from the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy Center for the Public Trust and the Michigan Association of CPAs' Distinguished Service Award for helping to promote whistleblower protection and other legislation.
Being a working mother back when there weren't many in the profession, I’ve always tried to be a role model for women. I was a founding member of the firm’s Women in Leadership initiative and continue to serve on the steering committee. Few things make me prouder than to see the staff — men and women — I’ve mentored progress in their careers to manager and, ultimately, to partner.
Known as the queen of weekend getaways, I rarely visit the same vacation spot twice. When my husband, John, and I aren’t traveling, we stay busy tackling HGTV-inspired home improvement projects and hosting large family gatherings.
