My purpose in life has always been to help someone when needed, and I get to do that by working directly with our lenders and business coaches as they assist small business owners in Nebraska. Serving these businesses allows me to stretch my imagination as we explore solutions for them, whether they are starting or expanding. Each day brings a different challenge to ponder or a new success to celebrate.
I have worked my entire career at the Center. In the fall of 1999, I applied for a policy assistant position, focusing on state policy. Politics and the legislative process never interested me, but advocating for small, rural schools was a calling I didn't know I would grow to love. I worked with people who were interested in becoming advocates for themselves and their communities.
Small towns have been a constant in my life, and I always knew I’d want to live in a rural area. Knowing every one of your neighbors has its perks. If we didn't attend an event or church, someone would call us to ensure everything was okay and we didn't need help. My kind of people are the people who stop what they are doing to help someone else out, no matter the cost. I learned that long ago, and I hope to always be that person.
I have continued my agricultural life into adulthood. My husband and my family farm the same land as the generation before them, and we are building a registered Shorthorn cattle herd. Our children have the same rural values and community spirit, and both have chosen careers that reflect that—one as a dietician/educator and one working in agriculture economics.
Q&A
What is one piece of advice you have never forgotten?
“Be comfortable being uncomfortable.” This reminds me that we aren't learning or improving if we aren't stretching ourselves.
What is your dream vacation spot?
Our favorite vacation spot has to be a cabin with easy access to fishing.
What’s something people might not know about you?
I grew up in various places across the U.S., primarily rural. My family has always been involved in agriculture in one shape or another. From the ranching countryside of Montana to a small "hobby farm" in Minnesota where we grew nearly everything we ate. You can say the rural lifestyle is in my bones. I grew up near my grandparents and spent much of my free time with them. My parents taught me to become self-sufficient, raising and preserving our own meat, poultry, and vegetables.
