Jen enjoys the outdoors, especially hiking and kayaking. She has lived in Erin for over 20 years and has loved raising her family here. Jen has a Bachelor of Applied Science degree from the University of Guelph. She worked a buyer for Sysco Foods, but wanted to have more time with her kids, so she has run a daycare from her home for the last 17 years. She joined school council at Erin Public, and was a member for many years and the chair for 2. For her dedication to the school with council, fundraising, and work in the school gardens, Jen was selected for an everyday hero award in 2016 from the Upper Grand District School Board. Meeting the trustees and director Dr Rogers that night was her first step towards wanting to become a trustee. Jen joined school council at Erin District High School as her kids moved up, and also went to Parent Involvement Committee meetings at the board office. In 2018 Trustee Kathryn Cooper asked Jen if she would replace her as Erin's trustee and a new journey began. Jen was acclaimed and has spent the last 4 years serving The Town of Erin, Guelph/Eramosa, and East Garafraxa, listening to parents, bringing their questions forward and helping to shape the direction of the board. Jen has been on committees such as Parent Involvement Committee, Special Education Advisory Committee, Upper Grand Learning Foundation, Every Day Hero Selection Committee, Environmental Education and Management Committee, and helped to create and co-chair the Trustee Climate Emergency Committee. Improvements that Jen has helped to make at the board level that are the most important to her are the addition of consideration for the environment to the guiding principals of the board, and Leading Through Sustainability as a pillar in the new Multi Year Plan.