There are four things that I am truly passionate about -- my family, outdoor sports, travel and communicating ideas. Having a career that lets me combine all those things is a dream come true.

The thrill other people might get from landing a big sale or getting a promotion, I get from pulling into a barreling wave, watching my daughters' eyes widen at their first sight of a real castle, or finding just the right words to convey a concept, an image, or an emotion.

I grew up in the Mecca of surfing, the North Shore of Oahu, and added more terrestrial sports to my repertoire during my ten years in Boulder, Colorado -- mountain biking, snowboarding, rock climbing, trail running and backpacking. But I'm not a competitive person, unless, of course, I'm playing Scrabble. To me, outdoor sports are about never having to grow up or grow old.

I've traveled quite a bit, spending several months living and working in such diverse places as Anchorage, Alaska, and Paris, France. During a summer break from college, I hit the road for two months in Mexico with only a backpack and a bus schedule. I can converse fairly well in French and Spanish, and somehow I manage to understand Italian and German, too, if it's supplemented by lots of sign language and animated facial expressions.

 
photo ©Phil Mislinski 

 Now I've returned to my roots in Hawaii, living two doors down from my childhood home in Sunset Beach. With me, I brought my husband and favorite photographer, Phil Mislinski, and his favorite outdoor sports models, our two daughters, Sammy (5) and Katarina (3).

( If you want the nitty gritty details about my work experience, college degree, etc., check out my résumé.)

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