Allyson is the Executive Administrator of The Heartland Institute of Financial Education.  She achieved a Bachelor of Science in Journalism with an emphasis in Business Communications from the University of Kansas in 1992. Allyson had a successful career with Starbucks Coffee Company from 1999-2008. At both Store Manager and District Manager levels, she gained valuable experience in managing all aspects of operations, opening new stores in the Denver area, and developing and promoting staff; she was responsible for roughly $10M in sales. Before joining the Heartland Insitute, she left retail in 2008 to broaden her knowledge by embracing the financial services industry. Allyson focused on protecting people as a life and health advisor for 4 years, and she also obtained her P&C license. She and her husband currently live in Denver, CO.