From Disengaged to Devoted: My America First Path
I was raised in Largo and settled in Hernando County 25 years ago. As the third of seven children from a homeschooling family, I now proudly parent two grown sons, Billy and Barry, who have blessed me with three grandchildren: Lillian, William, and Donavan.
I recently graduated from the University of Florida with a double major in Political Science and International Studies, focusing on the Middle East. Before college, I was disengaged from politics, avoiding news entirely during the Obama years, as it felt disheartening coming from a military family witnessing the country’s decline [When I wanted to know who to vote for, I would have to call Elizabeth Witherell]. That changed with Trump’s 2016 AIPAC speech, and of course his amazing election victory, which reignited my political passion and gave me a sense of real “hope and change.” Inspired to contribute to America’s de-transformation, I eagerly pursued my degree. Since then, I’ve worked on Kat Cammack’s and Ron DeSantis’ re-election campaigns.
A Little About the Past
Twenty-five years ago, after moving to Hernando County, I founded Tel Aviv Messianic Fellowship (Tel Aviv meaning "Spring Hill" in Hebrew), a church focused on the Hebrew roots of Christianity. I later led a similar church in Dallas, Texas. These experiences honed skills that enabled me to outshine others in a future role as chair of the Hernando County Republican Executive Committee. One key skill is event planning; my ministry hosted Christ in the Passover dinners for hundreds, collaborating with other organizations and pastors for inclusionary, successful events. I also organized camping trips and Emmaus encounters as part of the ministry’s regular activities.
Entrepreneurial & Interpersonal Skills
To support homeschooling my children, as I too was homeschooled, I taught myself web design and founded an online store selling anointing oils, prayer shawls, books, Bibles, and other items from Israel, and traveled across the country to sell at Christian conferences. This experience, combined with years of counseling seminars and providing counsel to church members, has honed my ability to connect with people, discern their nuances, and strengthen my leadership and organizational skills.
America First Politics: My Dedicated Career Choice
Many business professionals smartly take on leadership roles at their local REC to grow their businesses, which is both a strategic and respectable decision. For me, America First politics is my dedicated career: it’s what I’ve trained for and fully committed to.
