
I grew up surrounded by the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Oconee, South Carolina—but my early life was far from easy. My mother passed away when I was a baby, and my father raised me and my three brothers on a minimum wage income as a single parent. Those childhood experiences taught me resilience, resourcefulness, and the value of compassion—lessons that have guided every step of my life and career.

I began my professional journey as a social worker, spending 11 years with the Department of Social Services. Most of that time was devoted to working with children in foster...