With a blink of an eye it is over; another Conference has come and gone. The 21st annual Association of Professional Piercers Conference was my sixth, and these six years have been quite the journey. I have gone from apprentice and Al D. Scholar to Board Member. This year’s Conference had me wearing more hats and running more steps than ever, but it also came with the chance for me to share what I do with my two daughters (and show them off a bit). Being able to share the one week of the year that makes me feel the most alive and like myself with the two people that I love more than words; I have to say it was the most rewarding experience. It was an honor to introduce them to a wonderful group of people, my community, my family, the most beautiful people I know. After all they say it takes a village to raise a child, and I belong to a great village.

I consider myself very fortunate to have grown up in a household with a mother that is not only educated, but owned her own business, travelled the world, and can change a tire or build a deck. She set me up for success without even realizing it. She allowed me to learn from my own mistakes while still showing me compassion. She may not have agreed with all of my life choices, but she always supported me. As a female leader in our community, I feel that I have a responsibility to be supportive, compassionate, and to encourage the growth of those around me.

I am so fortunate to be one of just a handful of women to have served the APP as a member of the Board of Directors. My way has been paved by powerhouses like Bethrah Szumski, Alicia Cardenas, Elayne Angel, and Ash Misako. This gives me some very big shoes to fill. These amazing ladies have shown that intelligence, hard work, determination, and perseverance will succeed. So I want to take this opportunity to say how fortunate I feel to have had the support of these fierce ladies in my career. It is no secret that our industry has been a male dominated industry since its inception (as with the majority of industries). Now that I have the opportunity to set an example for generations of young ladies, it is difficult to find words to express my appreciation. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to be my best, both personally and professionally.