I work for Unitus Community Credit Union as a Financial Education Specialist. I am a lifelong Oregonian born and raised in Salem, and I'm a first generation Latina. I live in Portland with my dog, Luna (it's short for Lunatic), and enjoy running and knitting.

What inspired you to start volunteering with Financial Beginnings?
I started my career working in banking while I was in college, and I've worked at three different financial institutions. In my time working with people of all walks of life I realized how much financial education is needed, and how much harder it can be to navigate the financial system when you come from a different country or when there are language barriers.

What motivates you to continue volunteering with us?
Everytime I get to interact with youth is my favorite, making sure that they have some tips and tools to make smart financial decisions as they get older and become young adults. Sharing pieces of information that I wish I had learned before starting to make personal financial decisions myself.

Can you share a moment when you saw firsthand how personal finance education can change someone's life?
I was presenting workshops with Easterseals Oregon, and I had a lovely woman attend all of the workshops in the series. She was going through a difficult time with her finances so one day after one of the sessions she asked me a question about getting out of debt and some of her options. I was able to suggest some options and after she deliberated she decided to sell her car. This was not an easy choice but she didn't have a huge need for it. She used the funds to pay off her debt and become debt free. She hopes to continue saving and maybe get a more affordable car for herself in the future.

While selling a vehicle is not an easy decision for anyone to make, given her circumstances it made sense for her, and now she can celebrate being debt free! She was also able to help her grandson set up a youth savings account at her credit union, setting him up for success and helping him save towards his goal of attending a 2026 World Cup game.

What's one piece of financial advice you love sharing with others?
My favorite thing to share is that we shouldn't buy things we don't need with someone else's money. Credit cards are a great tool to have but we have to understand that it is not our money. Everytime we use one we are borrowing money. It is so important to only purchase things with credit that we can afford to pay off.

I'm also passionate about encouraging others to volunteer and join this incredible organization. Whether it's through sharing my experiences or showing the tangible difference these lessons make, I want to inspire others to get involved.

A fun fact about me is that I'm competing for the title of Miss Nebraska this June as Miss Elkhorn! Along with my passion for financial education, this journey has given me the opportunity to combine my love for helping others with my goal of empowering individuals to take control of their financial futures. Whether I'm volunteering in the community or preparing for the stage, I'm always striving to make a positive impact and inspire others to reach their full potential!

What inspired you to start volunteering with Financial Beginnings?
I first became passionate about financial education in college when I realized that my own knowledge didn't measure up to that of my peers. This realization motivated me to do more than just speak out on the issue - I wanted to make a tangible impact in my community. That's when I discovered Financial Beginnings, which offered the perfect pathway for volunteers to take action and make a real difference. Through this organization, I found an opportunity to help others gain the financial knowledge they need to succeed, and I'm eager to continue contributing to this cause.

What motivates you to continue volunteering with us?
As I continue my volunteer journey with FB, I'm excited to expand beyond teaching and observing the Budgeting Level 1 module. I love working with middle and high schoolers but I would love to try working with elementary schoolers.

I'm also passionate about encouraging others to volunteer and join this incredible organization. Whether it's through sharing my experiences or showing the tangible difference these lessons make, I want to inspire others to get involved.

Can you share a moment when you saw firsthand how personal finance education can change someone's life?
One of the most impactful moments I've experienced as a volunteer happened during a Level 1 budgeting lesson, where we focused on setting life goals. A high school student shared with me her dream of owning a laundromat and community center. As we discussed her goals, I had the opportunity to guide her in breaking them down into realistic, actionable steps. Together, we explored different pathways she could take, such as saving strategies and further education pathways, to help her turn her dream into reality.

It was incredibly powerful to watch her think beyond the classroom and start to envision a future where she could make this goal happen. Helping her feel empowered to take those first steps toward her aspirations was a moment that truly reminded me of the importance of what we're doing, showing young people that their dreams are within reach, and giving them the tools to pursue them.

I am fortunate to be a part of the team at First Fed Bank in Clallam County, where I hold the position of Learning & Development Manager. Being a lifelong resident of Clallam County, I take great pride in making a positive impact in the communities we serve.

What motivates you to continue volunteering with us?
I have been actively volunteering with Financial Beginnings for two years. I continue to volunteer and inspire others to join in because Financial Beginnings provides straightforward, fun, and engaging materials that are suitable for participants of all ages in any classroom setting.

Can you share a moment when you saw firsthand how personal finance education can change someone's life?
I have witnessed firsthand the transformative impact that financial education, especially budgeting, can have on the lives of young individuals. By initiating these discussions early, we prepare teenagers for future success by making the realities of managing expenses clear. It's always wonderful when parents participate in conversations about the life lessons they wish they had learned at their children's age.

What's one piece of financial advice you love sharing with others?
Working in banking, we encounter a significant amount of fraud, which is why I am passionate about educating others on fraud awareness and prevention. My top pieces of advice are: "Don't click on that!" and "Your bank won't ask for that."

Tell us a little about yourself

I am passionate about my work, my family, and my community. For 20 years I've built a Financial Planning business that I absolutely love. I jealously guard my work/life balance so that I can coach all my kids' sports, lead Cub Scouts, and support their schools. I'm an active volunteer and leader in my community as a Rotarian. I married my high school sweetheart and we are raising our 3 kids in the town we both grew up in.

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What inspired you to start volunteering with Financial Beginnings?
When I first joined Rotary 5 years ago I was having trouble getting excited to jump in with one of our club's existing programs. That changed when the opportunity came up to reinvent our Financial Literacy program. The first thing we needed was a new curriculum and that led me to Joanne and Financial Beginnings. The partnership has been wildly successful and is now one of my proudest achievements.

What motivates you to continue volunteering with us?
I already love teaching people about how to manage, enjoy, and find success with their money. The ability to do that for young people in my home town is extremely fulfilling. I particularly enjoy developing new facilitators to teach the classes. It's difficult, but the results are rewarding.

Can you share a moment when you saw firsthand how personal finance education can change someone's life?
My favorite story came out of a routine trip to a Starbucks. Two of the baristas had taken my class the previous semester and immediately recognized me and reminded me who they were. One of them took a break to sit down with me and proudly show me pictures of his new apartment on his phone. He bragged about how after splitting the rent with his roommate, the cost fit within his monthly budget. He was going to accept a supervisory role at another Starbucks location with higher pay, allowing him to save more money, and he was already saving 20% of his paycheck. After telling him how proud of him I was, I went to leave, but as I did, the other barista yelled out, "Oh... and I just opened up my Roth IRA!"

What's one piece of financial advice you love sharing with others?
"Pay yourself first!" I always tell kiddos that before paying any of their bills or expenses, they need to save their 20% first.