A 6th generation Texan and a modern renaissance woman, born in Corpus Christi, her experiences draw from living and working in heavenly destinations such as Aspen where she worked as a Sales Manager for a four star hotel, Scottsdale working as a donor coordinator and bookkeeper at Make-A-Wish Foundation, and in Maui as a Realtor and owner of a construction company.

She cultivated her leadership skills at the early age of 13 when she served as President of her youth group at the United Methodist Church in Kingsville.  She continued to pursue service through leadership when elected Vice President of her Freshman Class at Westlake High and continuing serving on the Student Council throughout her high school years.  Overcoming the affliction and stigma of her learning disability, dyslexia, ignited in her a commitment to education. Candace pursued a commercial art degree at Texas State San Marcos and later received an Associates Degree with Honors at Brazosport Jr. College in 1991 where she was initiated into the International Scholastic Honorary Society, Phi Theta Kappa.  

She interned for Comptroller Bob Bullock and returned for a permanent position at his Tax Publications Department.  A close family friend, Bob also designated Candace the title of a Yellow Rose of Texas during his tenure as Secretary of the State of Texas.