Dana was born and raised in Southern California surrounded by animals. Dana began competing in equestrian parade competitions while in 4-H and later became a champion at endurance trail ride competitions on horseback. Transitioning from 4-H to FFA, she worked as a veterinary assistant throughout high school with the dream of becoming a large animal vet. Life would take Dana down another path and in 1988 she moved to Arizona. After years of working in different industries, mostly in project management, and desperate for a change, in 2010 Dana was accepted to The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC). Dana and her husband, Steve, packed up and moved with their four 8-yr old cats (Pepper, Precious, Ruby and Merlot) from Gilbert, AZ to Chicago, IL. Following graduation, Dana was hired by SAIC’s Photography Department. As a Photo Facilities Manager, Dana was responsible for the department’s multiple darkrooms and digital labs, staff liaison for evening and weekend faculty, and the staff advisor for the annual department catalog. As an artist, Dana’s primary medium of choice is photography, focusing on the inter-connectivity of women through personal and universal experience. Besides Dana’s art ventures, she is a mobile notary and Notary Signing Agent. Dana’s interests include art, photography, bookmaking, everything Disney, and of course, animals! In fall of 2020, Dana and Steve began looking into moving back to Arizona, and honestly, stumbled across PebbleCreek. So once again, they packed up moved back to the desert, this time with their two 2-yr old cats; Buttercup and Coco. Since moving to PebbleCreek Dana has become involved with The Women's Giving Circle of PebbleCreek and is an approved petsitter with the PC Pet Companion Club, not to mention adding to their family with two more feline siblings (Madmartigan and Kaiya). Dana has a way with both dogs and cats but seems to have a special knack for winning over cats. Family and friends have nicknamed Dana, "the cat whisperer".
