Childhood abuse and bullying convinced me children need a few champions and role models to emulate in order to know how to stand up against the problems that face them on the playground and in our schools every day. In addition, a traumatic brain injury in the '70's taught me that everyone needs to be able to find hope beyond the suffering. I have been a champion for protecting our surface and ground waters for the past 15 years, after I discovered our "Dream Retirement Home" was located on one of the most toxic lakes in the State of Wisconsin. I honestly didn't think anything this bad existed in the United States. The toxins produced by the cyanobacteria that clogs this lake has created massive lupus attacks which have had a major impact on my ability to breathe. Prior to retirement, I was a trainer and speaker in the field of commercial credit. I now thrive in a lake home with my husband and two rescue pups (one from a horrible puppy mill and the other a little blind dog who lost his master. In my free time, I write and do watercolor pictures which have won awards and been featured in gallery shows. I also was active in many civic organizations and was organist and choir member in church. My "Lessons from Fiori" series featuring Elle Burton is being expanded on a daily basis. Book one has been published, book two will be published soon, and book three is in process. I am partnering with a licensed child counselor to provide discussion sheets to go with each book to help parents find ways to discuss the tougher issues of parenting through the story characters. I am also starting a mystery series about Jess Gantry, an investigative reporter from Des Moines. Book one is currently in editing. My first book published in the 80's, "The Art of Business Credit Investigation" is currently out of print. (I'm trying to convince my Credit Manager son that it's his turn to update and republish).

National Award Recipient of the DAR Conservation Award

CBF (Certified Business Fellow) Certification from the National Association of Credit Management

Numerous awards on watercolor pictures

Top Salesperson for the State of MN from Century 21 prior to the head injury in the '70's