When people are not able to make their own good, responsible medical, personal and financial decisions, (most often because they have a disability, disease such as dementia or have been incapacitated in an accident), I help by getting a substitute decision maker appointed, or developing a less restrictive strategy that will make sure they are safe and protected. I am passionate about helping elderly and disabled people get the help that they need.  I was born and raised in Minnesota.  I went to Omaha, Nebraska for college, earning a business degree from Creighton University in 1993.  I then returned home for law school, earning a Juris Doctor from the University of Minnesota School of Law in 1996. After law school my first job in the legal field was in Buffalo, Minnesota, clerking for Wright County District Court Judge Bruce R. Douglas. When my clerkship ended, I began practicing law in Buffalo, Minnesota at Johnson, Larson, Peterson & Matt, P.A., becoming a shareholder after four years.  I have 22+ years of courtroom experience, in a wide variety of areas, including civil litigation, family law, probate, guardianships and conservatorships, personal injury, business transactions and estate planning.  My law practice is now almost exclusively guardianship and conservatorship work. My passion, outside of the law, is long distance running.  Running is my "me time".  I've completed 15 marathons and am likely training for the next one now!