Biography

While my parents were originally from this area, I was half of a pair of identical twins born on Norton Airforce Base in California after my dad enlisted and served in Vietnam and the Philippines.  After the Airforce, both parents worked for the San Bernardino California Sheriff’s department before we headed back to North Dakota where my Dad became the Chief of Police for Northwood. This history gives me a great appreciation for all service families.

Our family then moved to East Grand Forks, Minnesota where my Dad opened a gas and service station with his brothers and that is where I graduated high school. I am a University of North Dakota graduate in Communications and Public Relations. Upon graduation, I moved to Bismarck to work for the North Dakota Newspaper Association, later returning as their executive director after other jobs at a newspaper, an ad agency, and also as the first executive director of the North Dakota Water Coalition. 

It was my job with United Blood Services that moved me to Fargo where I have lived for the past 20 years. For the last 15 years, I served as vice president of brand and marketing communications for Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota. Now, I am a recent retiree making it possible for me to run for public office for the first time in my career, a passion finally realized.

My family are all proud Fargo South Bruin graduates. My husband, Dave Kolpack, works for the Associated Press and is in the Fargo South Hall of Fame. My son, Andrew, and daughter-in-law, Siri, returned here after college at UND to set down roots in West Fargo.