Graduate Green Bay Southwest High School; BS University of Wisconsin-Madison; graduate certificate, University of Wisconsin-Madison La Follette School of Public Affairs.

Environmental consultant. Former communications and planning director; municipal and county grant writer.

Member- Wisconsin Council on Domestic Abuse; Education Commission of the States; Council on Workforce Investment; Legislative State Supported Programs Study and Advisory Committee; Wisconsin Artistic Endowment Foundation; Great Lakes/St. Lawrence River Legislative Caucus (chair); National Caucus of Environmental Legislators (state lead); Family & Childcare Resources of Northeast Wisconsin (vice president); Green Bay Area Crime Stoppers (board member); Van Handel Foundation for Families of Children with Special Needs (board member); VFW Auxiliary; Knights of Columbus.

Former member- Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (board member); Small Business Regulatory Review Board (former chair); Wisconsin Small Business Environmental Council; Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board; Council on Tourism; Golden House Domestic Abuse Shelter Community Leadership Council; Wisconsin Higher Educational Aids Board; Wisconsin Association of Municipal and County Assistant Managers; National Association of Local Government Environmental Professionals Grants Management Taskforce.

Recipient- Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence Legislative Champion Award; Wisconsin District Attorneys' Association Legislator of the Year; VFW Wisconsin Legislator of the Year; American Legion Wisconsin Chapter Legislator of the Year; Wisconsin Electric Cooperatives Legislator of the Year; Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin Legislator of the Year; Wisconsin Independent Living Network Relentless Badger for the Disabled Award; Wisconsin Counties Association Outstanding Legislator Award; Pro-Life Wisconsin Legislator of the Year; National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Guardian of Small Business Award; Wisconsin Family Council William Wilberforce Freedom Award; Brown County Crime Prevention Foundation Crimefighter Award; Manitowoc County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition IMPACT Recognition; Wisconsin Coalition of Virtual School Families Shining Star of Education Reform; Phillips Foundation Distinguished Young Conservative Leader of the Year; Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce Legislator of the Year, Future 15 Award, and 25 People You Should Know; Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Legislator of the Year; Oral Health Partnership Children's Health Champion; Wisconsin Towns Association Friend of Towns; Wisconsin Professional Police Association Legislator of the Year; Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association Legislator of the Year; U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform State Legislative Achievement Award.

Elected to Assembly 2010-2016. Elected to Senate since 2018.

Member of Building Commission, Education Commission of the States, Legislative State Supported Programs Study and Advisory Committee, State Capitol and Executive Residence Board, Transportation Projects Commission and Wisconsin Artistic Endowment Foundation