About

My Story

Rooted in Community, Inspired by Connection

I was raised in rural upstate New York by a mother who worked three jobs to support our family.  She made many sacrifices to ensure my sister and I could have more opportunities and taught me the value of hard work, resilience, and community. I was raised by a village—extended family, close-knit neighbors, and a sense that we all looked out for one another. I learned to be resourceful, independent, and creative.

I spent impressionable summers on construction sites, where my dad and grandfather built houses from the ground up. I spent hours watching them work, learning to measure, cut, and problem-solve with my hands. In those early years, I developed a builder’s mindset. When something is broken, my first instinct isn’t to replace it but to take out my toolbox and fix it. That sense of resourcefulness and hands-on problem-solving has shaped how I approach challenges in every aspect of life.

Nature was my playground. I spent my childhood exploring the forests of the Hudson Valley, foraging, fishing, and learning life skills from my grandmother, including baking, gardening, and sewing. Those early years taught me the importance of self-sufficiency, tradition, and passing down knowledge across generations.

At 15, I moved to San Francisco with my mother and sister. The transition from a small town to a vibrant, diverse city was a bit of a shock, but it also expanded my world in ways I couldn’t have imagined. I learned to navigate change, embrace different perspectives, and find beauty in the unfamiliar. San Francisco shaped my love for cross-cultural experiences, deep conversations, and the magic of human connection.

When my husband and I left the city 14 years ago, we wanted to be sure our children had a global perspective. We prioritized travel, cultural experiences, and language immersion, ensuring they grew up with an appreciation for different ways of life. We call Davis home today, where we live with our children, a golden retriever, and two cats.

Spending foundational years in both a small town and a big city helped me develop a unique perspective on people. I’ve come to see that no matter where we come from, we all seek belonging, purpose, and connection. I want to live in a world where we recognize our shared humanity while celebrating the differences that make us uniquely beautiful.

Elissa