Suzanne in downtown Nashua (photo by Jack Nowicki).Professional Life
Suzanne thinks of her work as a legislator as a third chapter in her career. Her first was in publishing, where after earning her stripes in various ediorial positions, she was appointed editor of a business and marketing magazine for the pharmaceutical industry. There she interviewed presidents and CEOs of drug companies for cover stories and oversaw all the editorial content, including regulatory, legal, and financial columns, for each month's issue. Prior to that she'd been on the editorial staffs of childen's books and magazines and a trade magazine for the cosmetic industry.
The next industry to challenge Suzanne was continuing medical education (CME). As project director she was responsible for the kinds of programs that physicians and other healthcare providers participate in for the education credits required to keep their professional licensure up to date. In this capacity, working with expert medical faculties, she produced programs aimed at cardiologists, family physicians, emergency physicians, pharmacists, and nurses.
Family and Values
Suzanne with her mom, grandmother, and great grandmother celebrating her great grandparents' 50th wedding anniversary.Suzanne's family was from New York, where her dad was a salesman and then district manager in the record business and a professional musician and her mom stayed home to care for her. Her maternal grandparents, never farther than an apartment away, were like second parents to her. Her grandfather's first love was bike racing and made a name for himself as a promoter of 6-day bike races. When her dad's job took them to New Jersey, Suzanne attended junior high and high school in Teaneck and then went on to Boston University for two years and further undergraduate work at the New School in NYC.
The values instilled in her by her parents left Suzanne with a lifelong passion for social justice issues--concerns not only for those who are less fortunate in life but also for those who just need a hand to help themselves. Over the years, many political campaigns--for both candidates and issues--compelled Suzanne to participate in civic activities. Her most satisfying experience was chairing a diversity weekend in her town when a bias incident in a neighboring municipality spurred her to action. She believes that the more folks participate in issues, the stronger our communities become, and she encourages people to identify what resonates for them and to "get involved."
L to R: Husband Ed, daughter-in-law Randi, son Cody, and Suzanne in Montana for July '07 wedding (click on photo to enlarge).Before joining the legislature in January 2005, Suzanne volunteered her time with various organizations in Nashua. She drove cancer patients to their medical appointments through the American Cancer Society's Road to Recovery Program; she tutored adult students in reading and English as a second language through the Adult Learning Center; and she was a member of the city's Ethnic Awareness Committee.
Suzanne lives in Nashua with her husband Ed and her mother Sherry. Her son, Cody, and new daughter-in-law, Randi, live in California. Suzanne gleefully awaits the birth of her first grandchild early in 2009.