I was born in CA to a Filipino immigrant father and Native American mother. I grew up in a small rural town in the Sierra Nevada foothills where I learned that Family above all else, is most important. I was the first in my family to graduate from College with a BS in Geology. I went on to the Masters program in Geotechnical Engineering. Before completing the MS program I was presented an opportunity to join a lending company as a Loan Officer. I realized that my skills with numbers fit very well in finance and decided to make the transition.

In 2004 I left the MS program and joined a lending company. I quickly began closing loans and earning awards including Top Loan Officer of the month several times and being rewarded with company trips and prizes. None of the accolades and recognition meant as much as the many thanks and appreciation from the families I helped save money and reach their financial goals.