Tess has been performing for as long as she can remember. Her earliest audiences were the stuffed animals arranged across her bedroom floor. She stayed active on stage through childhood and college, where she last appeared on stage as Aunt Eller in Oklahoma!

She spent 16 years as a television news reporter before shifting careers to return to acting with fresh enthusiasm and a particular passion for voiceover work. Tess also teaches at the University of Kansas and runs a boutique public relations/communications business where she supports clients with social media, writing, and media outreach. She also stays closely involved in her children’s schools and various nonprofit organizations.