- Hometown: Marysville, Penn.
- Role: Chief clerk for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
- Years of legislative service: 15
“I grew up in a small town right across the Susquehanna River from Pennsylvania’s Capitol in Harrisburg, and its magnificent dome was always visible on the skyline. From my first visit as a child, I knew it was where I wanted to work when I grew up.”
What skill or talent are you most proud of?
I am most proud of the work I did as in-house counsel to the chief clerk of the House before I was elected to the chief clerk position. As the only attorney dedicated to the nonpartisan operations of the House for 13 years, I handled everything from open records requests to administrative law questions to employment law issues on a daily basis. Though I was a one-person legal department, I was privileged to be guided and mentored by some of the best attorneys in Pennsylvania, from all corners of the Legislature and beyond. My experiences in that role taught me everything I know, and I wouldn’t trade that part of my career for the world.
What’s the best advice you were ever given?
Nothing worth having comes easy. If you want it, work for it!
Who or what inspires you?
I am inspired by people who lead by example and genuinely practice what they preach. I’ve been blessed to work alongside a few such individuals over the years, and they taught me that respect is easily earned when your actions consistently and humbly reinforce your words.
What’s one thing you love about your state?
Pennsylvania’s place in American history is perhaps unlike any other. From the founding of our nation in Philadelphia, to turning the tide of the Civil War in Gettysburg, to the start of the Industrial Revolution in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania has provided the backdrop for so many significant moments for our country. I love that no matter where I travel in this commonwealth, there is always something to see and learn about the past.
What are you currently reading/listening to/watching?
I just finished reading “Mud, Rocks, Blazes,” by Heather Anderson, which is a memoir about the author’s quest to break the fastest known time on the Appalachian Trail. As someone who grew up only steps away from a large swath of the AT in Pennsylvania, I found it to be particularly poignant. It has definitely inspired me to spend time hiking the Pennsylvania portions of the AT this summer!
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
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