Alison grew up on Dove Street in the City of Albany. She attended Boston College where she received her undergraduate degree. Immediately following college, she worked for the Lyons Group in Boston for over seven years and was the corporation's liaison to the City of Boston's Mayor's Office of Consumer Affairs and the City of Boston's Licensing Board. She moved to New York City for graduate school at the State University of New York's Fashion Institute of Technology and then worked in Manhattan specializing in marketing and communications.
She was previously employed by the Town of Colonie Supervisor's Office as an Aide to the Supervisor where she specialized in constituent services. She was also a founding member and chairwoman of the Farmer's Market at the Crossings board and managed the market for over three years.