Joanne graduated from Kenmore High School, Kenmore, NY and earned a B.S. degree in 1955 from Michigan State University, East Lansing Michigan.  In the intervening years before the 1970’s, she was a “traditional” housewife and mother with two children.

In the 70’s as colleges were opening doors to
“returning adult students”, Joanne entered Michigan State University’s graduate program. In 1975 she received a M.A. in Communications and in 1979 a
PhD in Education Administration. While a graduate student at MSU, she was employed as Director of the MSU Women’s Center.

After graduation, Joanne moved to upstate New York taking a position in the Continuing Education Division at Mohawk Valley Community College, Utica NY. In 1981 she became Dean of the Division. While in Utica she also developed and presented personal growth workshops and became one of the founders of the Mohawk Valley Business Women’s Network. In 1987 she received the Utica BPW “Women of the Year” Award.

In 1989 Joanne moved to Glen Arbor MI. where she and her partner operated a B&B and later bought a motel “Duneswood”. She continued to give motivational presentations on business and self development for Northwest Michigan College, Traverse City MI. She also created wood folk art and cottage signs in her garage workshop.

In conjunction with running Duneswood , Joanne designed and developed her first web site. She found she loves the challenge and excitement of creating websites for a varied cliental. She is able to utilize the artistic, marketing and communication skills she has learned over a lifetime. Today her web business, Designs by Joanne includes more than thirty five ongoing customers as well as custom digital photography. The photography was originally started to fulfill web customer needs but has expanded to include local news coverage and individual requests.

During her years in Michigan, Joanne also became a founding member and first president of the Women Business Owners of Leelanau County. She is presently a Board Member and the Webmaster for the Glen Lake Chamber of Commerce and has developed a promotional slide show for the Chamber.