Natalie was born in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, but spent her childhood moving across the United States and Germany as an “Army Brat.” Growing up in so many different places instilled in her a love for community, a deep appreciation for diverse experiences, and a desire to serve people wherever she landed. Those early years set the foundation for a career centered on helping young people, families, and communities navigate challenges with dignity and hope.
Natalie earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Oral Roberts University and stepped into an 8.5 year career serving tribal populations. There, she supported youth and families in multiple roles—case manager, youth coordinator, and young child wellness coordinator—executing grant deliverables, designing new tools, strengthening partnerships, and coordinating community efforts that expanded access to care. These early experiences sparked her passion for collaboration, systems improvement, and thoughtful project leadership.
Natalie later taught evidence-based sexual health curricula in the public school setting, and coordinated a city wide program serving runaway and endangered youth. She managed a network of more than 200 sites, improved operational workflows, strengthened volunteer and partner engagement, and grew the program’s capacity through detailed data tracking and process evaluation. It was during these years that Natalie discovered how much she enjoyed grant writing, reporting, and turning complex ideas into sustainable, well-run programs. 
To strengthen her ability to serve communities at a systems level, Natalie earned her MBA in Healthcare Management from Western Governors University. She then brought her administrative and project management skills to another youth serving non-profit, where she oversaw budgets, financial forecasting, grant development, performance metrics, and internal workflows—ensuring programs had the resources and structure they needed to thrive.
Natalie currently leads a citywide initiative aimed at reducing the impact of opioid use by coordinating implementation plans, managing contracts with community partners, developing key performance indicators, and guiding the project’s grant compliance and reporting. Her work blends her passion for community wellbeing with her strengths in program evaluation, cross-sector collaboration, project design, and strategic planning.
Across her many years of experience, Natalie has built a career at the intersection of service and strategy. She loves bringing people together, turning grant opportunities into meaningful action, and creating systems that help communities flourish. At the heart of her work is a simple commitment: to uplift young people, support families, and build healthier, more connected communities.