Hi there, I'm Angie! I’ve always been someone who builds things: ideas, connections, and communities. It started on a former tree farm in rural Ohio, where I spent my childhood planting acorns and creating homemade brochures to sell oak seedlings and saplings to friends and family. Even though I’ve always been quiet and a little shy, I’ve learned to lead in my own way by listening deeply, showing up consistently, and creating space for others to grow.
From a young age, I loved turning small ideas into something rooted and real. As a teenager, I followed that instinct and created a charity that eventually distributed more than 7,000 CDs to teens in hospitals across the country. It was my first experience organizing something bigger than myself, and it taught me the power of bringing comfort, joy, and humanity to people who need it.
In my early twenties, knowing I wanted more but lacking direction, I typed “how to live abroad and make money” into Google. One bold leap later, I moved to South Korea with nothing but two suitcases and $200. That decision shaped everything that came after. Living abroad taught me resilience, curiosity, and humility. It pushed me to grow in ways staying home never could.
While abroad, I discovered how much I loved helping people while working as an academic advisor. I became an expert in military education advising, guiding service members and their families through complex transitions. I presented at national and international conferences, something younger me could never have imagined.
Still, after returning to the U.S., I wanted to stretch myself in new ways. Craving more technical challenges, I pivoted into engineering cost estimation in the construction industry. I learned how to think with precision, analyze complex systems, and manage estimates for multimillion-dollar projects.
But eventually, I missed the human connection my previous career provided. So I built something again: a community outreach program at my company, from scratch. I brought employees together to volunteer, give back, and reconnect with what matters. It reminded me that meaningful work is always about people.
Today, I’ve found a healthy balance. As a program manager for Habitat for Humanity, I blend technical expertise with compassion. I help homeowners stay safe, healthy, and secure in the place they call home. It’s work that challenges my mind and feeds my heart.
What’s next? I want to help create a ripple effect of giving by supporting people as they support one another, strengthening companies and communities from the inside out. My journey has taught me that small seeds grow into forests, small acts grow into movements, and courage grows into change. So, how can we make an impact together?