Today we’d like to introduce you to Debi Mitchell

Hi Debi, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.

As I look back on my life at 52, I can honestly say I am where I am today because of the strong women in my life. My mom is the strongest of them all and has always stood behind me and beside me in supporting everything I have set out to accomplish. Her best friends, whom I call “The Aunties,” are all strong, independent women who have been and are still amazing mentors. Because of them, I’m a confident, independent, and self-driven woman who feels like I can do anything I set my mind to, which I have. I started my career with the State of California at 19 years old as an office assistant and have worked myself up through hard work and dedication. I took every opportunity to learn all I could to enhance my skills and knowledge. During the past 30-plus years in state service, I have earned a respectable reputation and am now a senior manager. Because of my dedication and thirst for learning, I’ve accomplished all this without a college degree.

I am looking forward to retiring from state service in the next two years and dedicating all my passion to the nonprofit I created with four other amazing women, Mama Bears Fighting Childhood Cancer. We are all moms with a child diagnosed with cancer. During our child’s cancer treatment experience, we identified a gap in parent support. We chose to make a difference by creating an organization that provides desperately needed support for parents and caregivers. I am blessed again in my life to have an opportunity to work with strong, independent women!

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?

Life is never a smooth road. You learn from the challenges and rough spots along the way. If life were smooth, you would never work harder to accomplish your goals. As a person without a college degree, promoting was not always easy. I knew I had to work hard, prove myself to my managers and peers, and build a reputation within the work community that showed I was a person management could rely on to get the job done. I did not always get every job I applied for, which was ok. The experience of trying is what led me to my next accomplishment. Throughout my 30-plus years of working full-time, I have also had the support of a wonderful husband and my three children. Working full time, being a full-time mom and wife, is not easy, but it’s definitely rewarding!

Being raised by strong women, having the most fantastic sister by my side always, and an amazing husband and two strong-minded daughters when my son was diagnosed with cancer gave me the strength to remain strong for my son throughout his cancer treatment. My son being diagnosed with cancer changed my entire perspective on life. I knew I wanted to do more in giving back. I took this rough patch in the road and decided to turn it into something positive. When I shared with my family and friends that I wanted to start a nonprofit in addition to all my responsibilities, they said if anyone can do it, you can. I said to my mom recently, I’m blessed. God gifted me with enough energy to concur all I want to do in life!

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?

My entire career in state service has been in consumer protection. I have worked for a couple of different consumer protection boards under the Department of Consumer Affairs. Regardless of which board you work for, the mission is the same: protect the California consumers. Working in a place where you know you are making a difference has always been important to me. When I retire in two years, I will leave knowing I have worked hard and made an impact in protecting consumers and knowing that I have made lasting relationships with the people I have worked alongside. I believe I’m most known for my positivity. In every situation or problem, you can choose to see the glass as half full or half empty. I always see the glass as half full. Hence, this is why, during the roughest time in my life, when my son was diagnosed with cancer, I saw an opportunity to help others and not just myself. My positivity, high energy, and ability to see the good in every situation set me apart from others.

What I’m most proud of in my life is my family. My husband, who is by my side always, and our three children, Skylar 23 who graduated from college with honors and has a wonderful family and nine-month-old son, Savannah 21 is independent, loves to travel, and works in mental health helping others. Austin 15 is in remission, a sophomore in high school, and working hard to get into the entertainment industry.

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?

I love Northern California. There is something for everyone, whether it’s San Francisco, Sacramento, or the foothills. I’m not sure if there is anything I like least about our city. If there is something you don’t particularly care for, you can do something else reasonably close to it in Northern California. We have access to the beach, mountains, or valley, all within an hour or so from each other.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mbfcc.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mamabearsfcc/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mamabears.fcc