After graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1991 with a BA in Journalism (public relations and advertising), Stephanie worked in marketing communications at several local health care companies, including 3M Health Care and Medtronic. She also worked at a small advertising agency before she and her husband started a family. 

Since 2002, Stephanie has been a self-employed communications consultant.

Stephanie lives on Lake Minnetonka with her husband and two children. In her free time, she enjoys running, biking, pilates, reading, skiing, and boating.