Christie spent the first 6 years of her life in St. Paul.  When she was 3 years old, her sister was born and then her parents divorced.

At age 6, Christie’s mom remarried a man who was an electronics technician on the U. S. Navy’s nuclear submarines.  The family moved to Groton Naval Base in Connecticut.  Thereafter, they moved to Naval and Air Force bases in Satellite Beach, Florida, Hampton, Virginia, and back to Connecticut. As a result, Christie learned to adapt to new situations and create and maintain new relationships quickly.

Christie went to high school in Oakdale, Connecticut.  For her first 3 years, she played soccer, basketball, and softball and was a flag twirler.  Starting during the summer after her junior year, she worked as a waitress at Bee Bee Dairy Restaurant, a family restaurant that is located in nearby Waterford.

In 1991, Christie moved to St. Paul, MN to attend college and be near family members.

In 1995, Christie earned a B.A. in Political Science Public Service with a minor in Legal Studies at Hamline University, with a 3.74 g.p.a.   She was on the Mock Trial Team.  She also interned in the MN Senate.

In 2009, Christie earned her Paralegal Certificate at Hamline University.  In Fall, she interned at a law firm in Apple Valley, learning about several areas of law.  She completed the certificate program summa cum laude, with a 4.0 g.p.a.

Christie was in a romantic relationship with her late-husband Karl Thompson from 1993 to 2009.  They met when she was 20 and she was 23. It wasn’t love at first sight, but Karl was such a good and kind and interesting man that it didn’t take long for Christie to ask him on a date. Yep, Christie asked him out. It was the best gamble that she ever took! 😉 Karl unexpectedly died of a heart attack at age 39 in 2009 due to poor life choices and heredity. Sadly, you can lead a husband to water, but you can’t make him drink.

Karl and Christie have 2 kids. Their son Alexander, 25, died at age 22 on November 30, 2020 from an accidental fentanyl overdose. Alexander had suffered from multiple severe mental health issues after his dad died. Then, he became dependent on opioids after being introduced to them by “a friend” between 11th and 12th grade. Then, he became blind from a rare hereditary disease in December 2019. Lastly, the COVID-19 pandemic was really tough of his extroverted self. Their daughter Megan, 19,  works part-time and is going to college part-time to become a mental health and/or substance abuse counselor. She also distributes free fentanyl testing strips to places that people who are addicted to drugs are likely to be and educates people about drugs, ways to start being in recovery, and fentanyl testing strips.

Christie added her kids’ first 2 dogs, Belle and Beau, to the family 9 and 8 years ago.  However, Belle died tragically in 2018.  As  a result, Prancer, a bull arab, joined their family.  They’re from Australia; they protect humans from 400 pounds wild boars there. He’s a lot bigger and more full of energy, so he is like a bull in a china shop! 😉

Christie has volunteered in the community in a variety of ways.  

First, Christie volunteered on the Cottage Grove Human Services Human Rights Commission from 2004 to 2013.  She was the Vice Chair of The Commission from December 2013 to October 2016.  She was a member from October 2004 – March 2008 and March 2011 to November 2013.  She lead the fundraising subgroup from 2012 to the end. The Commission facilitated communication between the citizens and the City Council and raises the citizens’ awareness of human services and human rights issues.  She participated in many Commission activities as a group and individually.  In Winter 2007 to Spring 2008, she helped plan the production of The Commission and South Washington Telecommunications Commission’s award-winning program to educate the public about Yeshiva High School, the Hasidic Jewish boys’ boarding school that existed in Cottage Grove at that time. In 2013 and 2014, she brought the Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Human Rights, Kevin Lindsey, J.D., to Cottage Grove to speak about his priorities for the legislative session.  She has written and had published in the local newspaper many editorials in support of The Commission’s goals.  She lead the fundraising committee and planned and executed 4 fundraisers at Carbone’s Pizza, Culver’s Restaurant, and Cub Foods.

    

Second, Christie volunteered for Beyond The Yellow Ribbon Network of Cottage Grove, Minnesota Steering Committee from February 2011 to May 2014.  Beyond The Yellow Ribbon Network is a non-profit organization that helps the families of deployed Service members and veterans by doing practical work for them, such as lawn mowing, snow removal, and home and car repairs.  As a member of The Network’s Steering Committee, Christie had a variety of duties, some consistent and some project-oriented. In Spring of 2011, she was the leader of the silent auction for a spaghetti dinner fundraiser, our first fundraiser.  In Summer 2013, she brought to Cottage Grove “The Echoes of War” presentation, which is an eye opening and highly emotional presentation about the long-term emotional and physical effects of combat on Service members, i.e. post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI).  She was 1 of the managers of the organization’s Facebook page. Lastly, she recruited people to volunteer to do awork for the deployed Service members’ families and veterans.

Third, Christie was a member of Washington County Community Corrections Advisory Board from September 2004 – December 2005.  She received info. on and provided Washington County Community Corrections with public opinion regarding various corrections issues, along with several other members.

Fourth, Christie was the lead volunteer at God’s Closet on the first Saturday of the month from 2006 to May 2014. God’s Closet is a charity in St. Paul’s East Side that provides free clothes, household goods, books, and toys to low-income people who live in or near the area. Christie was the lead volunteer on the first Saturday of the month. She ensured that the environment was safe and welcoming, recruited and lead the group of volunteers who organized donated inventory and provided customer service, maintained records, and shut down the store.

         

Christie’s favorite recreational activities are dancing, singing, walking or sitting in nature (when warm), boating, playing board and card games, playing basketball, volleyball, and soccer, attending cultural events, and spending time with friends and family.

Christie’s least favorite non-work activity is workingout.  😉

Christie is alignable.com’s Woodbury Business Owner of the Year for 2023!