Years ago, she was asked to use her many contacts to book shows at the Oregon Express Bar and Restaurant at 336 E. 5th St., where she continues to give musicians of all levels a stage to express themselves. The single mother of three wears a lot of hats, but has no intentions of slowing down.
What do you do?
I am a supervisor in Catering at the University of Dayton, a bartender and booking agent at the Oregon Express, as well as a bartender for Kohler Catering and a DJ for Radio Pure Gently.
What superpower would you love to have?
Most people think I can read minds, but I can't. Not the superpower I would really want anyways. I would like to transport myself to different places so I could see all the people around the world that I love.
What do you love about life in Dayton?
I love the fact that I can walk down a few blocks and see lots of friendly faces that I know.
What’s your favorite spot in Dayton?
Any place in the Oregon District. It’s where I am most comfortable.
>> RELATED: Neighborhood Guide: Oregon District
>> RELATED: What we LOVE about the Oregon District
Why did you decide to settle in Dayton?
I transferred to the University of Dayton from another college my junior year. Years later, when I was married and living in Florida, we decided to move back up north. He wanted Pittsburgh and I wanted Dayton. I won.
How did you get involved with your line of work?
For which job?! I love all my jobs and I am very lucky that I have the best employers. How many people can have as many jobs as I do in Dayton and love and appreciate their boss...all of them? I started at an entry level position for most of my jobs, shop worker, server etc. I worked hard, showed up on time , did my job and I have been able to move up.
If you could change or bring one thing to Dayton, would it be?
There are two things that I would like for Dayton to work on. The first is appreciating our music scene. We have a large amount of incredible talent in this city musically. With my radio show, I have been able to reach people in other countries who love Dayton music. Not only do they love it, they envy the support the local establishments give to the local talent. I see many places around the world where the Indie music scene struggles. Places that supported original music are closing down. It would be nice for more recognition of the talent we have here.
I would also love to see a train system between cities and around Dayton. I travel to Scotland quite often, and it’s so easy to get from one large city to another using the train as well as getting around places like Glasgow. I feel with a transportation system that didn't cost the regular person a lot of money, or have to worry about finding a place to park, downtown would see more business.
What do you think Dayton will look like in 10-15 years?
I have learned to never try and predict the future. I hope that our colleges continue to grow and attract some of the best students. I also hope that small local businesses thrive and, of course, that our amazing music scene is recognized as the hub of original music internationally.