I am a Nashua native, one of two daughters of Rene and Annette Desjardins. I grew up in a hard working French Canadian household that emphasized personal initiative and accountability. Dad was a self-employed carpenter and mom worked in the local shoe factory. At age 15 my first job was waitressing at Roland's Variety on Kinsley Street. Following that I worked at Soucy's Market on West Hollis Street until college graduation.
I attended Nashua High School where I met my husband Tom. We graduated in 1980 and were married in 1986. Our son Patrick and daughter-in-law Felicia are both teachers in Massachusetts.
I attended Saint Anselm College in Manchester, NH where I graduated in 1984 with a B.A. in Business and Economics. Within one week of graduation I was very fortunate to start work at BAE Systems (then Sanders). Thanks to the company's generous tuition reimbursement program I earned an MBA, attending night school at Rivier University (then College) here in Nashua. Years later I earned a Master's Degree in Theology, attending night school, at Notre Dame College in Manchester, NH.
I have worked for BAE Systems for 34 years in numerous Program Management, Finance and Production Control positions. In addition to my daily responsibilities I am also serving as a Local Ethics Officer at BAE; this involves addressing employee concerns regarding the Company Code of Conduct, discrimination, harassment and conflicts of interest.
I also serve as the BAE representative to the Nashua United Way Board of Directors and volunteer at many United Way events. Other community engagement includes the Nashua Citizens Academy, and service to my church community at Saint Joseph the Worker Parish as a religious education volunteer for adults and children, and more than fifteen years on the Finance Committee.
