Rep. Coffia grew up in a rural, working-class community. Her mother, who cleaned homes for a living and spent her free time volunteering, all while raising four children, instilled hard-working values in her. Rep. Coffia began her career at 19 years old as a newspaper reporter and served six years as a weekly newspaper editor. She eventually left journalism to go back to school, working three jobs to get through college, including several years as a Traverse City Area Public School classroom employee and special education assistant. Before Coffia joined the Legislature, she was a Head Start social worker for dozens of families and five child care centers in Leelanau, Benzie and Grand Traverse counties. Rep. Coffia was elected to serve two terms on the Grand Traverse County Commission. She has built a reputation as an effective bipartisan policy maker and a voice for transparency.
