Occupation: I am the Senior Paw Project Manager for the Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary in Newtown.

Family: I am single.

Pets: I recently became a handler for a facility dog named Apricot. She is a beautiful 2-year-old Golden Retriever. I also work part-time for the Christian Counseling Center of Greater Danbury and facilitate grief groups. In addition to accompanying me to work, Apricot will be a part of those groups once we begin to meet in person again.

What do you like to do in your free time? I like being outdoors. I hike, kayak, and like to pursue photography. I love to travel. I also play guitar and help run a small once-a-month music venue in Danbury called the Community Coffeehouse. I have a passion for providing talented artists a place to share their gifts. I and the other volunteers who run the Community Coffeehouse have had the privilege of doing it since 1991.

What is your favorite book? Books that I return to are The Chronicles of Narnia and Lord of the Rings. A friend who is an author wrote The Wingfeather Saga and that is high on the list. I love stories that carry deeper truths. Usually, I’m excited about whatever I read last.

What is your favorite travel destination? Although I was very taken by Spain and by Santorini, there is something about the Pacific Northwest that stirs my soul. The mountains, sea, lush forests … the combination of it all is stunning.

What is the best part about Newtown? Up until recently, Newtown was a place I drove through rather than explored. A year ago I would have said Ferris Acres and it is still high on the list, but now I am discovering the parks, restaurants, and the community feel. So many people know each other and there are lots of hidden gems that, unless you live in town, take a while to discover.

What organizations are you part of in Newtown? At the moment, just the Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary.

Who or what has been the greatest influence in your life? My faith has been central to my life. I am blessed to be surrounded by friends who have been like family to me. They have given voice and presence to aspects of my Christian faith that I would have missed, given my own blind spots.

If you could spend the day with one person, who would you choose and why? I am adopted, so it would be fascinating to meet my birth parents and learn some things about my history that I can’t know now.

Who is your favorite musical artist? Andrew Peterson has long been a favorite. He is a gifted writer and storyteller. He is also a gatherer of like-minded artists and has helped create a community of artists I might never have heard of otherwise.

What is the greatest piece of advice you have ever been given? Try not to think about “what-ifs.” Be present and engage with your life and the people in it.

What is something you cannot live without? Sadly, sometimes it feels like my phone. But the thing I cannot live without is the love of my family and friends. I think many of us were reminded of that over the last two years.

What is your proudest accomplishment? I ran a mentoring program called Good Friend for many years. To this day, I run into adults who were youth mentees that have put their lives together, created families of their own and often still see their mentors who have become lifelong friends. It has been such an honor to be some small part of that and it is a joy that mentors and mentees still value their connection to each other and to me.