I was born and raised in La Crosse, Wisconsin. I received my B.A. from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1990. While at St. Thomas, I was a four-year letterwinner in men's basketball, serving as captain during the 1988-89 and 1989-90 basketball campaigns. After graduating from St. Thomas, I coached college basketball at St. Mary's University in Winona, Minnesota from 1990 to 1994. During my tenure at St. Mary's, I also worked in the admissions office and served as director of alumni relations, actively involved in St. Mary's recruiting and fundraising efforts. In 1995, I left St. Mary's to attend law school at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I graduated from Marquette Law School in 1998. Since graduating from law school, I have practiced exclusively in the area of personal injury litigation with a statewide practice. I have handled cases throughout the state, trying numerous cases to verdict in Milwaukee, Waukesha and surrounding counties; as well as Dunn, Wood and Brown Counties. I am an active member of the Wisconsin Association for Justice, currently serving as a member of WAJ's Board of Directors. I have also served as Chair of WAJ's Program Committee and currently serve as a member of the Editorial Board of "The Verdict", WAJ's seasonal publication where I review a book for the organization in each issue. I have served as the chair of WAJ New Lawyers Division and served on the Wisconsin Civil Justice Education Foundation Board of Directors. I have spoken to various groups throughout the state, including students, paralegals and attorneys, about personal injury matters and the civil justice system. In 2006, 2007, and 2008, I was selected as a "Rising Star" by Wisconsin Super Lawyers & Rising Stars; a magazine published by and for Attorneys. From 2009 through 2020, I was elected a Super Lawyer by my peers. The selection process for such an "award" identifies qualified candidates by using a multi-step evaluation process that incorporates peer recognition and professional achievement. I am board-certified in Civil Trial Law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA). A National Board of Trial Advocacy Certified Attorney has demonstrated skill and expertise in a particular field and has proven it through trial experience, rigorous examination and testing by the NBTA. This designation is held by a small percentage of attorneys in Wisconsin. I am AV "Preeminent" Rated by Martindale Hubbell Peer Review Ratings, advertised as "the gold standard in attorney ratings" that recognizes lawyers for their strong legal ability and high ethical standards. I am a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Association for Justice, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, and the American Association for Justice. I am a self proclaimed "wine snob," a music aficionado (enjoying the spectrum of music from Classical to Sinatra to Foo Fighters; and everything in between) and chef extraordinaire who enjoys traveling; especially to the ski slopes in the winter.