Mary began her public service career in 2001 when she was elected to the Kalamazoo City Commission where she served until her appointment to the Kalamazoo County Treasurer in 2007. She served as the county treasurer from 2007 until 2020.

While serving on the City Commission, Mary saw firsthand the effects of residents who were living in poverty and who were housing challenged. Thus began her passion and interest in affordable housing and community development. In 2008 she formed the Kalamazoo County Land Bank and received NSP II funding to stabilize blighted properties. In 2020 the voters in Kalamazoo County passed a county wide housing millage which levied .75 mills raising around $8 million dollars a year for 8 years. The county formed a new Housing Director position and hired Mary to lead the charge.

Mary is very active in the community and has served on the boards of the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission, Kalamazoo Neighborhood Housing Services, the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), and the Kalamazoo County Land Bank Authority. She is currently serving on the Kalamazoo Christian School Foundation Board, the local Sturgis Bank Community Board, the Foundation for Excellence Board, and the SPCA Board.

Mary is a Western Michigan University graduate with an accounting degree and has lived in Kalamazoo County her entire life.