In my spare time, I thoroughly enjoy the company of my husband and three children and during non-business hours, I can often be found at the Gahanna soccer fields, swimming pools, and dance and gymnastics studios. Having grown up as a competitive swimmer and runner, I remain very physically active with weight lifting and various cross-training activities. My family also loves the outdoors, preferring hiking and camping to less buggy pursuits.

Education and Background 
I was born and raised in South Bend, Indiana, and moved to Ohio in 1974. In 1978, I graduated from Miami University of Ohio, with an undergraduate degree in English and Creative Writing. I pursued a very successful career in communications, public relations and advertising, ultimately managing a multi-million dollar communications department for a large health and life insurance carrier. Wanting to pursue work in the legal field, I made the decision to go to law school full time in 1989. I graduated from Capital University Law School in 1992 with academic honors. I have an extremely strong work ethic and put myself through undergraduate and law school by working in retail sales and secretarial positions.

Professional Training and Accomplishments
I have pursued advanced training in collaborative law, mediation, divorce and custody, real estate, wills and estates, public records, open meetings and construction law. I am a co-author of the Home Rule Handbook for Ohio Townships. I am a highly trained and experienced mediator, especially in the areas of families, divorce and custody. I have also been extensively trained in mental health related topics and served as a crisis volunteer for a number of years, helping people deal with substance abuse and addiction, rape, suicide, child sexual abuse, and other personal crises. I have been published in various creative writing magazines and in the Ohio Poet's Anthology, and am a frequent speaker on international adoption.

Areas of Practice

• Family Law
• Matrimonial Law
• Domestic Relations Law
• Mediation
• Local Government
• Public Contract
• Real Estate
• Construction Law

Bar Admissions

• Ohio, 1992

Education

• Capital University Law School, Columbus, Ohio, 1992
  JD
  Honors: Academic Honors
  Honors: Greer Hepburn Award for Composition
  Honors: Dean's List
  Honors: Order of the Curia
  Honors: American Jurisprudence Award for Study of Evidence.
  
  
• Miami University of Ohio, Oxford, Ohio, 1978
  Bachelor of Arts
  Major: English and Creative Writing
  
  

Published Works

• Home Rule Handbook, (Co-Author), Ohio Townships

Classes/Seminars Taught

• Frequent Speaker, International Adoption

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Ohio Bar College
  
  
• Ohio State Bar Association
  
  
• Columbus Bar Association
  
  
• Association of Family and Conciliatory Courts
  
  
• International Academy for Collaborative Law Professionals
  
  
• Ohio Mediation Association
  
  
• Central Ohio Parenting Coordinator Project (approved Parenting Coordinator)
  
  
• Collaborative Divorce Professionals, Inc (past President)
  
  
• Women's Sports Foundation
  
  

Past Employment Positions

• Albers & Albers, Partner, 1991 - 1999
• Scioto Valley Mental Health Center, Promotions Coordinator, 1980 - 1983

Birth Information

• South Bend, Indiana, United States of America