I’m a freelance journalist who has been covering all things Williamsburg since 2001. I started out my career in Virginia as a reporter for the Virginia Gazette and won multiple Virginia Press Association Awards for my coverage of the courts/crime and education beats. Now, as co-founder and editor of Peninsula Chronicle, I enjoy sharing the stories of local business owners and news that impacts the local economy.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I am probably one of the few people who is actually what I wanted to be when I grew up. I’ve always wanted to be a writer. In elementary school, I would ask my teachers if I could stay inside at recess and work on my “books” while all the other kids went outside to play on the playground.
What is a typical day like for you?
My job is definitely not a 9am to 5pm job. Even though my kids are in high school now, I am a mother first and foremost, so I tend to work around the family schedule. I am up super early checking email and working on stories, then once the kids are off to school, I’ll run errands or workout. I am back at my desk after lunch writing or editing until the kids are home from school. I also tend to work on the weekends for a bit, particularly on deadline.
What does your perfect day off look like?
Books, beach, a bike ride, some good food and a glass of wine or a beer to end the day.
Do you have any hidden talents?
I am eerily good at time management, right down to the minute. No, it is not a “talent” but it is definitely a skill a good worker should have, especially when you are one facing deadlines.
What do you like about living and working in Hampton Roads?
We’ve been residents of Virginia since 2001. It’s all our kids have ever known and it is home for us. Being from the Northeast, we love the weather. Hampton Roads is a wonderful place to raise a family and there is lots to do. We’ve been here for more than 20 years and still continue to find something new and fun to explore.
What is the best advice you’ve ever received when it comes to business?
As a child, I remember my mother telling me “No matter what you do, make sure you are happy.” Not every workday is great, but I can honestly say I love what I do, and, at the end of the day, that’s all that matters.