Suzanne is the coordinator and founder of the Live Well Kalkaska Substance Free Coalition, previously known as the Kalkaska Coalition, which she began coordinating voluntarily in 2014. In 2020, Suzanne joined Up North Prevention, an initiative of Catholic Human Services, as a paid employee.

Suzanne has personally navigated the challenges of supporting a child with a co-occurring mental health condition, substance use, and early childhood adversity. These experiences led her to make it her mission to support others facing similar challenges. She has also experienced the loss of two close family members to suicide after their struggles with substance use.

Suzanne is a strong advocate for compassion and understanding, believing that it is important to meet people where they are on their journey. She also emphasizes the importance of setting healthy boundaries for the well-being of those supporting loved ones affected by substance use.

Suzanne is a core member of the Substance Free Coalition of Northwest Michigan and a trained Hope Not Handcuffs Angel. She also contributes to the Grand Traverse chapter of Families Against Narcotics (FAN) through her work on the fundraising and outreach committees, and by co-facilitating the Kalkaska Stronger Together family and friends support group.

In her personal life, Suzanne is an active member of Living Hope Church in Traverse City, where she receives continued support and encouragement in her mission. She and her husband, Tim, have devoted more than 21 years to their country—Suzanne as a military spouse and Tim as an Aviation Electrician on the F-14 Tomcat and F/A-18 Super Hornet. Tim retired as a Senior Chief Petty Officer in 2009, after serving as the flight deck coordinator for the USS Harry S. Truman. Suzanne and Tim are proud parents of two grown sons and grandparents to four grandsons and one granddaughter, whom they adopted as an infant.