For this lawyer, it’s about work and giving back to the community
Hard work is my passion. I was raised by a single parent who went to school and often worked multiple jobs. She ingrained a strong work ethic in me from a young age. My brother and I grew up pulling our weight at home before I started working at age 15. In high school, I worked my way up to manager of a smoothie shop; I nannied, tutored, supervised a retail store, and served legal process through undergraduate school; and I supported an orthodontic front office before attending law school and beginning my career as an attorney and making partner seven years later. I am most passionate about transferring that work ethic to my children and serving as an example for them so they learn that they, too, can become independent, productive, and self-sufficient members of society on their own account.
Recognizing I would not be where I am without the resources and support received beyond my family, I am also passionate about and committed to ensuring the same resources and support are available to others in my community, especially our youth. To this end, I am passionate about mentoring junior lawyers to help train, develop, and advance their legal skills and careers, as well as about serving on the Board of Directors and Executive Board of the Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows, one of Nevada’s leading nonprofits and top youth development organizations, performing frequent pro bono work, and acting as outside counsel to many nonprofit clients that provide a broad range of community services.
Hard work and helping others are the drivers and guideposts for my personal and professional approach to life. Success depends on hard work, putting in the extra effort, and meeting, if not beating, expectations. But life is about more than individual success; it is also about helping others and contributing time, energy, and resources to building the institutions that provide meaningful community support for the long-term. You get out of life what you put into it, and if what you’re putting in also benefits others, the hard work is especially worthwhile.
