About Me
I'm a fire wife, mother to a 17-year-old son, two pugs and one cat, business owner, avid volunteer and community organizer, Long Lake Park Board member, and proud Long Lake resident.
People-Powered Purpose
I've always been an extrovert who loves bringing people together. I enjoy getting to know my neighbors, finding common ground, and building the kind of connections that make a community stronger.
My husband, our son, and I moved to Long Lake in 2015. Not long after we arrived, my husband joined the Long Lake Fire Department as a firefighter. At the time, I was focused on my career and raising our family. I remember joking with him, "If you want to be a firefighter, that's great, but I don't have time to get involved."
The joke was on me.
It didn't take long for the members of the department to become like family. Before I knew it, I had joined the Auxiliary, started volunteering whenever I could, and found myself deeply invested in supporting the people who dedicate themselves to protecting our community.
When it became clear that the future of the department (and the firefighters I had grown to care so much about) was at risk, I stepped up. I launched the Figure Out Fire campaign to advocate for a solution that would keep our firefighters together, provide a cost-effective, fiscally responsible solution and ensure a strong future for public safety for our community.
I went into Figure Out Fire thinking, "If I can just help people understand the issue, this will be a quick and easy campaign." Boy, was I wrong.
What I thought would take a few weeks became a two-year community education effort. The issue was complicated, and there were thoughtful, passionate people on every side of the conversation. I spent countless hours listening, researching, asking questions, sharing information, and bringing people together. I learned that leadership isn't about having all the answers—it's about doing the work to understand the issue, communicating the facts clearly, and helping people make informed decisions.
In the end, our community came together and reached a positive outcome. While I was grateful for the result, I was even more proud of the way Long Lake worked through a difficult issue.
That experience showed me how much I enjoy serving my community and working alongside my neighbors to solve problems. I wasn't ready to stop. I joined the Parks Commission, where I've continued to learn, listen, and serve.
Now, I'm ready to take the next step.
I'm running for City Council because I believe Long Lake is at its best when we work together, communicate openly, and make thoughtful decisions that strengthen our community for today and for the future.
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My Family
Josh and I have been together since high school and will celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary this December. We're also proud parents of our 17-year-old son, Griffin.
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Dog Mom
You’ll definitely spot us around Long Lake with our famous four-legged sidekicks, Bruce Pugsteen and Stevie Van Pug, by our side.
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The Clauses
In 2024 and 2025, my husband and I traded in our everyday roles for a little holiday magic as Mr. and Mrs. Claus at the Long Lake Tree Lighting Ceremony.
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Business Owner
I am the co-founder and co-owner of Red Mood Marketing. We recently celebrated five years of incREDible clients, meaningful work that continues to inspire us.
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Fire Wife
Being a fire wife has given me a deep appreciation for the sacrifices made by first responders and their families. I’m proud to stand alongside my husband and all who serve our community.
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Community Organizer
I believe we are better together. One of my greatest joys is bringing people together by creating spaces where neighbors feel seen, heard, and empowered to get involved.
Neighbors Helping Neighbors
Together, we can accomplish so much. I have been most successful in my community service because I have surrounded myself with people who are committed to making a difference. When neighbors come together to serve one another, there is no limit to what we can accomplish.
Commited To Community
I have always been an active volunteer because I believe the best communities are built by people who get involved. Giving my time to causes I care about is one way I help keep our community safe, connected, and moving forward together.
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It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
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For several years, I volunteered as the marketing, public relations, and social media consultant for the Long Lake Fire Department, using strategic communications to support recruitment efforts and build stronger connections with the community.
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When a neighboring city proposed changes that would have broken apart our fire department, I launched the Figure Out Fire initiative. For two years, I worked to educate residents, simplify complex information, and encourage community involvement because protecting the people who protect Long Lake matters to me.
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I felt called to become a Woman of Impact after my dad unexpectedly passed away from a heart-related event. Losing him inspired me to raise awareness about heart disease and encourage others to listen to their bodies and advocate for their health.
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Served as Marketing Board Chair for the Orono Foundation for Education, helping promote the Foundation's mission of mobilizing community support to provide Orono Schools with the resources needed to sustain excellence and empower all students to thrive.
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Before becoming the Shoreline Fire Auxiliary, we were the Slow Burn Brigade. Our mission has always been the same: to serve alongside the fire department by organizing community events that bring people together, foster connections, and celebrate the generous, close-knit community we are proud to call home.
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For more than ten years, I have volunteered with Golf for the Gift, an annual golf tournament founded by adoptive father and nine-time Sports Emmy Award winner Rod Simons. The event raises awareness and support to help create forever families through the gift of adoption.
MN Strong
Grassroots campaign offers support to those affected by I.C.E.
When communities face uncertainty, neighbors have a choice: stand by and watch, or stand together and help. In Long Lake, residents chose to stand together.
As immigration enforcement activity and community concerns reached beyond Minneapolis and into suburbs across Minnesota, one Long Lake family found themselves facing an unimaginable situation—the sudden detention of a husband and father after months of fear and uncertainty.
“When I received a call from a friend who was desperate to support this family, he asked what we could do,” said Kelly Grady, a Long Lake resident and creative director at Red Mood Marketing. “We knew we had to act fast.”
Drawing on her experience organizing community action through Figure Out Fire and her background in marketing and communications, Grady partnered with her Red Mood Marketing business partner to create an event that would provide financial support while bringing neighbors together in a powerful message of compassion and solidarity.
Just five days later, through word of mouth alone, more than 400 people gathered on the frozen surface of Long Lake to literally stand together and spell MN STRONG—a visual reminder that Minnesota communities show up for one another.
The event raised nearly $10,000 to support local Minnesota families experiencing financial hardship due to ICE activity or family separation.
“People want to help, but they might feel uncomfortable going into Minneapolis to protest,” said Long Lake resident Paul Morse. “This was something they could do with their community. We’ve all been impacted, and it’s important to remember we aren’t alone. Everyone can do something.”
The gathering was captured by Red Mood Marketing strategic partner SuperBird Studios, which donated its time and talent to document the powerful display of unity and resilience.
“I wanted to create a clear call to action—to give people a way to show up and stand together for their neighbors,” said Grady. “The response proved what we already know: when communities come together, meaningful change is possible.”
“Everyone Can Save a Life” Hands-only CPR
One of the most meaningful initiatives I led during my American Heart Association Woman of Impact campaign was creating the Everyone Can Save a Life Hands-Only CPR Training in partnership with the Long Lake Fire Department.
After losing my dad unexpectedly to a heart-related event, I wanted my campaign to be about more than fundraising. I wanted to equip people with the confidence and skills to save a life. Together with the Long Lake Fire Department, we hosted a free, family-friendly Hands-Only CPR training during American Heart Month, making this lifesaving education accessible to the entire community.
As the wife of a firefighter, I understand that when someone performs CPR, they are most often trying to save someone they know and love, whether that is a spouse, parent, child, friend, or neighbor. That reality became deeply personal when my mom found my dad collapsed and immediately began CPR while waiting for emergency responders to arrive. Although we lost him, that experience reinforced my commitment to raising awareness about heart health and empowering others to act in a crisis.
This event embodied everything I hoped my campaign would achieve: bringing people together around a meaningful cause, creating lasting community impact, and reminding others that anyone can make a difference. Every person who left with the knowledge of Hands-Only CPR was another member of our community better prepared to help save a life.
People-Powered
I believe the best decisions are made when residents have a seat at the table. Explore this people-powered campaign and use the form to share your vision for Long Lake.