Brittney grew up in a little farm town in Southwest Michigan. She spent most of her free time building forts in the woods, catching frogs and fish, climbing trees and playing sports. Shoes were mostly optional and sunscreen was mandatory. Not much has changed, except for the understanding and commitment she has developed to protecting the wild spaces and farms that are so important to our wellbeing. She earned a degree in education, with a science and literacy focus. She spent most of her career advancing in administrative leadership within the environmental education sector, which led her to Thrive. She looks forward to working with neighbors and community members to create policies and land-use decisions that continue to preserve our valley.