About
About Danielle
Early Life and Education: A Foundation in Discipline
Danielle grew up in Andover, Minnesota. She was active early on. She danced competitively at Stage Door in Coon Rapids. She played coed soccer in high school. She joined DECA and followed business trends as a self-described sports super fan.
“I liked being part of a team,” she says. “Dance taught me discipline. Soccer taught me how to rely on others.”
She graduated from Andover High School in 2014.
Her college path started at Florida Southern College. She studied economics and finance. She was also a member of Gamma Phi Beta sorority. After her freshman year, she transferred to the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul.
There, she focused on business management with an HR emphasis. She graduated in 2018.
During college, she volunteered as a reading and math tutor in Powderhorn Park in Minneapolis. She also interned as an HR intern at Village Automotive Group.
“That internship showed me how much HR shapes a company’s culture,” Danielle says. “It’s not just policies. It’s people.”
First Roles: From HR Intern to Generalist
Danielle’s career started where she interned.
She joined Village Automotive Group as an HR intern. She was later promoted to HR Generalist. From 2017 to 2019, she supported teams in Wayzata and Maplewood.
That role gave her hands-on experience. Hiring. Employee relations. Day-to-day support.
“I was close to the front lines,” she says. “You see what employees deal with. You learn to listen first.”
The early years shaped her leadership style. She focused on trust. She focused on clarity.
“People want to know where they stand,” Danielle says. “Clear communication solves most problems.”