Born and raised in California and Chicago, I moved to the Twin Cities in 1975 to attend the University of Minnesota, where I majored in Art and English. I am married to Paul Koller, a glassblower, and am the mother of Laurel (a sophomore at Boston University) and Ian (a freshman at Cornell University).

Prior to selling real estate, I managed a restaurant, sold fresh fish from Alaska, and baked at the Walker Art Center, among other things. One of my great passions is women’s and girls' ice hockey. One of my favorite roles has been as a volunteer with local girls hockey organizations since the late 1980s, helping girls realize their dreams of playing hockey. I am especially proud of my daughter, who plays Division 1 women’s hockey at Boston University.