Michelle was born and raised in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and had lived in Los Angeles, CA over fifteen years until moving to the Pacific Northwest in 2008. Known to many in Southern California as the founder of the Foothill Arthritis Connection, Michelle has over 20 years experience in event production, fundraising, non-profit management, and media communications.  Michelle holds a communication’s degree and has applied her education and expertise to helping businesses, organizations, and families of missing loved ones obtain visibility through the media, community relations, and the Internet.

Michelle has sat on numerous boards and committees including the American Cancer Society, Soroptimist International, Azusa Chamber of Commerce, Irwindale Chamber of Commerce, Glendora Chamber of Commerce, Temecula Chamber of Commerce, Congresswoman Hilda Solis (now the U.S. Secretary of Labor), Hillary Clinton for President Campaign, YWCA, and the National Fibromyalgia Association. Michelle has been an Ambassador for the Arthritis Foundation, the publicity chairperson for the annual Human Trafficking forum in Clark County Washington, she serves on the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Advisory Board for Take25, she is trained on Human Trafficking through CASE and Gems.

Michelle is owner of Helping Heroes, which has taken a different path from traditional clients to helping families of missing children keep their child’s face and case visible through national media outlets including HLN’s Nancy Grace Show, “Issues” with Jane Velez-Mitchell on HLN, Fox News, Cnn’s Larry King Live, and People Magazine to name a few. 

In her spare time, Michelle is the host of “Voices for Justice” on BTR, the Public Awareness Chair for Soroptimist International Northwestern Region and the Region Chair of the Northwest Coalition Against Trafficking.

Michelle is a member of Soroptimist International, NCLR and is a member of Society of Professional Journalists.