How did you get roped into doing this, and what was your first thought when asked?

Amy Newport mentioned it to me last year and I assumed she would forget. Lesson learned - NEVER underestimate Amy Newport! She remembered and asked me again this year. Every part of me was saying "Me? No way!" That whiskey I had in my glass said otherwise.

 

Why did you say yes?

The only thing keeping me from saying yes was my own anxiety about the event itself. At the end of the day, it's not about the Catwalk; it's about the Boys & Girls Club. I was fortunate enough to grow up with really amazing role models in the form of parents and other family members that pushed me to always work hard and to never let anybody tell me I wasn't capable, or more importantly, make me doubt my own ability and worth. I felt that supporting the Boys & Girls Club could be my way of helping another child learn to believe in themselves no matter the obstacle.

 

What is your official job title?

General Manager - Heritage Distilling Co.

 

How would you describe your job to your mother?

She's pretty familiar and supportive of what I do. As a former manager, she's also given me some really great advice along the way.

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What is your favorite part of your occupation?

All of us at Heritage Distilling Co (HDC) have really bought in to our vision and mission. As a company we not only talk about company wide goals, but also our own personal goals during yearly planning sessions. It's an incredibly hard working yet supportive company culture from the part time employees to the Executive team. The only ceiling in Heritage Distilling is the one you create for yourself.

 

All families are unique, tell us about yours:

I'm half Caucasian and half African American and Native American. My grandmother was born on a reservation just east of Klamath Falls, OR. I was born and raised in Eugene, my younger sister currently works for the Oklahoma State Athletic Department, and my parents retired from the Eugene Police Department in 2012 and moved to Bend, OR.

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Tell us about your personal passions, talents, and/or hobbies.

#GoDucks for life. I grew up in a family that was always watching and/or playing sports. I had a father who took his vacations during bowl season, a mother who took her vacations during March Madness, and my sister was almost born at Autzen Stadium. I still stand by the fact that my dream wedding would have something to do with Gameday at Autzen Stadium, preferably with a win over UW. I played golf in high school and still play sparingly. Aside from the golf course, you can also find me watching any movie, but it's most likely going to be Jurassic Park. I love the overall experience of a concert and seeing my favorite artists perform. Over the last year I have seen Beyonce, Travis Scott and Dierks Bentley. I have an array of music moods :)
 

What is something that you swore you would never do as a parent before you had kids that you do now?

I've always envisioned myself being a mom to a couple Labrador Retrievers. I have family friends who have younger kids and it's been fun watching them grow up. When I would babysit them, I always said I was not going to let them talk back to me. That rule still applies.

 

Who inspired you when you were growing up, and why?

My personal hero was and will always be The Duck, no question. With that said, I'm at an age where I can look back and realize how hard my parents worked to build a life for my sister and I. They were strict but I now know that was for our own benefit. During my 20's I had the good fortune of working for someone during probably the roughest time of his life. I watched him go through a divorce that was long and stressful. I also watched him work so hard to continue to build a life for his kids while being the mom and the dad. I worked for someone who woke up, saved lives everyday, provided for his family, and still valued his own personal non-financial growth. At the end of the day, I was watching what it means to be successful in every aspect, no matter what life throws your way.

 

If you could go back and talk to your 12-year-old self, what would you say?

Ignore the noise. Don't let other kids tell you what you can and cannot do. Also, when you turn 13, you're going to want to cut your hair really short; don't do it.

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