Ms. Ponko hails from northern Indiana and served as an Operations Specialist for the United States Navy from October 2009 until her honorable discharge in July 2014.  She received a Bachelor of Political Science (BA) from California State University Channel Islands in December 2018.  In August 2019, Ms. Ponko began working with the Texas Department of Family Protective Services and served as a qualified Child Protection Conservator until November 2021. In November 2021, Ms. Ponko began with the Weld County Department of Human Services as a Child Protection Caseworker and maintained a senior level certified caseworker status through September of 2025.  Ms. Ponko began working as a case consultant in October of 2025 for Vario Law and provides consultation, evaluation, and administrative services.

Ms. Ponko has completed a combined 949+ educational and on-the-job training hours in child protection assessment and on-going work for areas including child development, trauma assessment, conservatorship, domestic violence, substance abuse, and mental health issues.  Ms. Ponko has been qualified as an expert in Child Protection Casework for the 19^th Judicial District of Colorado.

In her spare time, Ms. Ponko enjoys completing home remodeling projects, exploring new mountain towns and hanging out with her French bulldogs.