Carmen started in the fire service in 1988 as volunteer firefighter. She worked her way up to a part-time position in 1993 and then became a career member of the West Chester Township Fire Department, Local 3518 in 2000. She has been one of few women on most of the departments she has worked for which has given her a slightly different perspective. Through her own personal experiences she has seen the best and the worst that the fire service has to offer. Feeling the need to change the stigma surrounding mental health in the fire service and having he desire to help those around her navigate through tough times, she has become heavily involved in taking care of our own.