I was young—so young I can’t remember my exact age. But I do remember the feeling: that spark of passion catching fire. I was sitting cross-legged on the floor in my parents’ room, watching a 13-inch television. Sesame Street was on. The screen dissolved to the image of a stage. From house right, a ballerina in a long, white romantic tutu stepped out. She did a piqué arabesque. I was hooked.

It was the first time I had ever seen a ballerina.

From that moment, I begged my mom to let me take dance. In Springfield, Tennessee, there was a ballet school with huge windows—you could see the classes from the street. We drove past it often because my mom worked nearby. Money was tight, but my mom made it work. She picked up extra jobs cleaning, sewing, and doing things I’ll probably never fully know about. She made it happen.

Dance stayed with me well into adulthood. Performing with a ballet company where we built our own sets and costumes taught me creativity, resourcefulness, and teamwork. Eventually, I began teaching at a ballet school and spent 10 years shaping young dancers.

At the same time, I worked for a medical billing company—a stable but creatively draining job. Then, one day at church, they asked for volunteer camera operators. I thought, I can do that. I had no experience, but I learned quickly. Six months later, I was hired as a part-time intern. Six months after that, I became the broadcast manager. That’s where I discovered my next passion: filmmaking.

After a few years, I wanted to see more of the world. I joined CBN as a traveling videographer. Over 12 years, I documented stories around the globe, married a photographer, learned still photography, and picked up advanced graphic design skills.

Today, my work blends creativity, storytelling, and service. I serve on the board of Middle Tennessee Youth Ballet, where I mentor dancers and oversee media and marketing. I’m also on the board of Beyond the Call, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving the first-hand accounts of WWII veterans. We’ve traveled the world to record over 25 veterans’ stories, many of which are now available for the public to watch.

From that first piqué arabesque on a small TV screen to telling stories that matter on a global stage—my journey has always been about passion, creativity, and making things happen.