I am a wife, mother, creative director & producer, choreographer, former teacher, and Cincinnati native. I loved growing up in Cincinnati and after living in Chicago for a few years, have been delighted to return to raise our family in this city. I was a competitive gymnast at Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy and went on to compete at Illinois State University where I met my husband. I like storytelling in all forms, as well as travel and adventure, and I love people, including all the ways we are different and each have a unique filter through which we see the world.
Please tell us a little bit about your family.
My husband (Darrin, a physical therapist) of 25 years and I have three children: Caroline (20, a student at NKU), Adam (19, a student at the University of Indianapolis) and Eric (16, a junior in high school). We are grateful to have had a variety of very positive schooling experiences in Cincinnati (public, private, and homeschooling) choosing the method that worked best with our family rhythms and experiences at the time. We love travel and adventure and spend time with our extended family that includes my younger brother who has Down Syndrome and Autism. My siblings and I are close (my sister and I have 6 kids between us and they all went to school together).
Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
I have always had a variety of jobs as I have a wide range of interests and experiences. For a few years while I was a stay at home mom, I choreographed gymnastics floor routines for local club gymnasts. When asked “what do your parents do” in kindergarten, my son told his class that his daddy was a physical therapist and his mommy danced at night. That was a surprising conversation at parent teacher conferences. I taught 6th grade in a public school for a few years before staying home with our kids and now work at Crossroads Church as a creative director & producer. I also do freelance choreography for local theaters and teach an elementary school musical theatre class. I am the producing director of Awaited, a Christmas show that debuted at the Aronoff Center for the Arts in 2019. I love storytelling, especially when it intersects with my faith, and enjoy working with creative teams to produce experiences where people can have impactful moments that challenge, inspire, or grow them.
What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
Since we live in Loveland, we love going to the local restaurants along the bike trail like Tano’s or The Works but we also love Sotto downtown or LouVino in OTR. We are also partial to family owned restaurants like Half Day Cafe in Wyoming & Mason and like to support our friends who own it.
How long have you lived or worked in our community?
I have lived in Cincinnati for about 40 years. I was born in Portland, Oregon and moved to Cincinnati as a young child. My husband and I lived in Chicago for a few years before coming back to raise our family here.
Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
Oh so many! I have loved freelancing and being able to connect to so many amazing people in our community. Chris Milligan, director and CEO of the Cincinnati Opera, is a talented and kind family man who has a passion for the arts, our city, and his wife and three daughters. Chris started at the opera as a production intern and continued to grow without sacrificing his faith and importance of family. Roderick Justice, the producing artistic director for The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati is a gifted performer who pours his life into creating theatre for children and families with excellent production value and positive messaging. He is a bright light in our arts community, sharing creativity and kindness through every part of his work. Liz Young, a friend and freelance writer, is a talented author who seeks beauty and story wherever she goes. Liz is a contributing author for The Magnolia Journal, Artifact Uprising, and Darling Magazine to name a few. Jon Willis is a local photographer who has traveled the world, telling stories with his photographs while creatively investing in things like Blink, The Simple Portrait Project, and Dad Skate Squad. Teresa Tanner, the former 5/3 VP who retired to start a new company to change the game of how the corporate world is played for women, Kyla Woods, a broadcast host and advocate who is bringing to light why we all need to be activists in our community…I could go on and on. Cincinnati is rich with talented, passionate, creative people who desire to bring beauty, inspiration, and hope to our city and beyond.
If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
A few years ago, I was in Rome for a video shoot scouting trip and met an 80 year old Italian friend, Emanuele. He was a veteran of the film industry, tough, so interesting, and hilarious (we keep in touch on facebook). This year, I planned on bringing my husband back for our 25th anniversary – I knew he would appreciate the rich history, the beautiful country, and I couldn’t wait to introduce him to Emanuele. Covid 19 postponed our plans, but we still hope to travel there one day!
What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
One of my favorite movies is About Time, a film about a father and son relationship that brings me to tears every time, thinking about how powerful shared life experiences can be in a close family. My husband and I also aren’t embarrassed to admit that we love good sports stories – so Friday Night Lights, Miracle, Rudy, 42, and Hoosiers are high on our list. I’m also a sucker for good “based on a true story” shows -I think the human experience is a dramatic and emotional story in itself and I love storytelling that ends with hope.
What advice would you give to people?
Every relationship has a gap in it because we are different people and can’t read each other’s minds. I heard a talk once about making the choice to fill that gap with trust versus suspicion and it is absolutely how I challenge myself to try and live. It creates a more peaceful and grace giving way to go through life.
What is something on your bucket list?
I would love to take my family to an Olympics. When I was in college, I went to the Atlanta games in 1996 to support friends who were competing on the gymnastics team (but could only afford to go to the compulsory round and watch the finals outside the arena on screens). But still, the diverse crowds there from all over the world coming together to have a shared experience was exciting and inspirational.
What is your go to band when you cant decide what to listen to?
I really like Ben Rector’s songs. He has a fun storytelling vibe and a laid back musical style. I also listen to Crossroads Music, created by my incredible friends who pour their lives into writing and arranging beautiful music full of hope and redemption.
What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
As a little girl, I remember attending the symphony and Nutcracker at historic Music Hall and have taken my own family to many opera, ballet, and orchestral performances there with fond memories. As a performing arts lover, I remember when the Aronoff was built in the 1990’s and have supported it as a patron for over 20 years, watching it grow into having one of the largest touring musical theater productions subscription bases in the country. Producing Awaited there this past Christmas season was a dream come true, watching audiences experience a show I had a hand in creating in my own city’s beautiful venue.
If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would you meet for this lunch?
I would pick up Skyline and do a carpool karoake with James Corden and invite Michelle Obama, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Peyton Manning.
What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
I love that Cincinnati is rich with a Civil War history (read about the Defense of Cincinnati and visit the John Rankin house) has historic transportation stories (underground tunnels, steamships, and railroads) and a deep appreciation for the arts of all kinds. It is a diverse community with midwestern friendliness. I mean we when we don’t hear someone clearly we politely ask them to repeat themselves….”Please?”
Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
My husband and I are nearing the empty nest phase and are looking forward to enjoying our adult children and their future families as they grow and create their own stories. I hope to always be dabbling in something creative and connecting with more amazing arts organizations in Cincinnati. My husband and I had an amazing neighbor family who built into us as a young couple just starting out and we hope to continue encouraging young families along their journeys as our friends did for us.
(Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
When I was a stay at home mom, I wrote a book called “Growing Healthy Friendships” for young girls to help them navigate relationships and learn how to deal with things like conflict, self-confidence, forgiveness, and communication. It’s designed as a small group experience and includes a workbook. I went back to work shortly after it was published and never really did much with it, but several groups of girls have gone through it and had good experiences.
What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
Lake Tahoe seems like the first place God must have created. It is incredibly naturally beautiful with crystal clear refreshing water (1,600 feet deep made by glaciers!) surrounded by majestic pine trees and nestled in beautiful mountains. Amazing.
What is your favorite month? favorite holiday? and best single day on the calendar?
My favorite month is December. For over a decade, it has been the month that my partners and I prepare for Awaited, the Christmas production we created and produce. Working with the amazing cast and crew, preparing for audiences to experience the story, all while the world readies for Christmas and all the beauty that comes with that. The best single day on the calendar might be New Year’s Eve when our family opens and reads through our Blessings Jar. Throughout the year, we write on little slips of paper things that have happened that are blessings in our lives – big or small – then we gather on New Year’s Eve to read each one as a reminder of all the ways we experienced good things that year. Sometimes it’s easy to forget the little things that happen that are really such good reminders to be grateful. This helps reset us for the new year.
What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
Movie popcorn. With just the right amount of melted, dripping butter. My kids have been known to come home from dates with a refilled popcorn bucket just for me….major teenager points.
Who inspires you to be better?
My children. You can’t teach kindness, sacrificial love, or tolerance by being unkind, selfish, or intolerant. It’s a life long challenge to both be authentic and have a desire to grow.
What is one or two of your favorite smells?
I love the smell of honeysuckle because it reminds me of being outside as a kid…playing in the woods and riding bikes along country roads. I also love the smell of sunscreen because it reminds me of carefree summer days and being at the pool with friends and family.
Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Peace. Love. Laughter.
