A north Fargo native, Schwinden grew up playing at Edgewood and El Zagal Golf Courses and began her golf career at Edgewood. From 2005 to 2021, she held the position of Head Golf Professional at Osgood Golf Course. Since 2022, she has served as the Director of Instruction at Fargo Country Club, where she led comprehensive player development and instructional programming for all ages and skill levels.