A Full-Circle Journey: From House Parent to Board President

posted by Guest Author on Monday, September 21, 2026

In 1994, I was a 23-year-old college student trying to figure out what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. I was one year away from completing my bachelor's degree in Social Work, but I had no clear vision of where that path would lead. Then, EPI entered my life.

One week after an interview at EPI headquarters, I found myself standing outside the doors of Porter House with a week's worth of clothes, plenty of uncertainty, and a head full of nerves. I had been hired as a "house parent," an antiquated title for a role that involved working one week on and one week off while supporting individuals in a residential setting.

At the time, Porter House was known as the "kids' house," a vibrant environment filled with activity, challenges, laughter, and more than a few sleepless nights. It was there that I learned some of the most important lessons of my career. I discovered what it meant to be an advocate, a teacher, and, perhaps most importantly, a servant leader. The individuals I served quickly became more than clients; they became the people who helped shape my understanding of purpose and service.

What began with the thought, "What am I doing?" soon transformed into "This is what I was meant to do."

That first real-world experience at EPI became the foundation for what has now been a 33-year (and counting) commitment to serving people through community-based care. While my roles and responsibilities have changed over the years, the values and mission-driven focus I learned at EPI have remained constant. Independence, dignity, and belonging continue to serve as the cornerstones of both my personal and professional beliefs.

Throughout my career, I have been privileged to work alongside individuals, families, and organizations striving to ensure that people receive the support they need to live fulfilling, independent lives. Those early experiences at EPI continue to guide my work and fuel my passion for advocacy today.

That is why joining EPI's Board of Directors, and now serving as Board President, is such a meaningful full-circle moment. The opportunity to help lead the very organization that played such a pivotal role in my personal and professional development is an incredible honor. Serving EPI in this capacity allows me to give back to an agency that helped shape who I am while continuing to champion the principles that have guided me for more than three decades.

Few career milestones carry the significance of returning to where it all began. For me, serving as Board President is not just a leadership role. It is a chance to honor EPI's mission, support its future, and help ensure that generations to come experience the same sense of purpose, belonging, and opportunity that I found standing outside the doors of Porter House all those years ago.