Heather graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo (BA Political Science - Magna Cum Laude) in 1991. Four years later, Heather received a law degree with honors from Southwestern University School of Law, Los Angeles. After passing the bar, Heather worked for 15 years as a Deputy City Attorney for the City of Torrance. Her primary areas of practice included municipal law, land use, transactional law, civil litigation and criminal prosecution. The last ten years of her service with the City of Torrance were spent as legal adviser to the City’s Planning Commission. Heather assisted the City’s Community Development Department, Planning Commission and City Council through the real estate boom of the late 1990’s and early 2000’s.

In addition, Heather successfully completed numerous civil and criminal court and jury trials. She also handled specialized litigation matters such as writs of mandate.

With fond memories of the Central Coast, Heather was finally able to relocate to the Central Coast in 2009. In 2010, Heather joined Carmel & Naccasha LLP. Heather currently serves as Deputy City Attorney for the City of Arroyo Grande and Assistant District Counsel to the Mission Hills Community Services District.

Heather frequently provides training to public agency staff, appointed and elected public officials, on the Brown Act, Land Use Laws, California Environmental Quality ACT (“CEQA”) and Ethics- AB1234.

Heather is a member of the San Luis Obispo Bar Association and the San Luis Obispo Women Lawyers Association.