Working with the Center gives me the opportunity to share people's stories and inspire others to reach out to us so we can help them. Leading communications for the Center includes overseeing all public-facing outreach—the newsletter, website, social media, advertising, publications, and more. I ensure the quality is up to the Center’s standards and that we keep our audience in mind and the value of everything we release.
I get to support work that directly impacts rural communities. Rural America is often overlooked, and that's why it's important to work at a place like the Center. We stand up for rural and make sure voices are heard. There's no other organization like ours.
I’ve known of the Center’s work my entire adult life because I grew up in Lyons, Nebraska, where its main office relocated in 2004. After interning at the Center during college, I fell in love with its mission and values. I stayed on through my senior year, working on policy part-time.
When I graduated from Wayne State College and got my first journalism job, I was asked to serve on the Center’s Advisory Committee. In 2011, I was asked to be a part of the Board of Directors, and shortly after was asked to be on the Executive Committee. In 2016, I resigned from the Board and applied for my current position. I started as communications manager in May 2016.
My career in journalism spanned several years, first working at a high-pressure large weekly newspaper in northwest Iowa, then as the editor of the Creighton News in Creighton, Nebraska. There I covered local government, sports, features, and more while taking photos and designing the paper and ads. I went on to work in Rapid City, South Dakota, for four years, where I led communications for three nonprofits: Destination Rapid City, Main Street Square, and the Rapid City Downtown Association.
I love to spend any spare time I have hiking and camping, especially with my two Cairn terriers, Abby and Mira.
Q&A
What (or who) inspires you?
Nature. No matter what is thrown at it, it's resilient. If it is wiped out, it grows back. I love seeing trees growing their roots around rocks, or flowers growing in sidewalk cracks. Some trees even link roots to support each other. And, some grow out of fallen trees, called nurse trees.
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you choose, and why?
Northeast Nebraska to be near family. I enjoyed living in Rapid City, with its beautiful scenery, but here I can get to my brother's house in 15 minutes and visit my sister in 25 minutes. I visit my parents often as they live where the Center's home office is. My extended family is also close—eight of nine cousins, all of my aunts and uncles, and numerous second and third cousins are within an hour drive.
Are you a morning person or a night owl, and what is your favorite thing about that time of day?
I am a morning person. There's nothing better than showing up at a trailhead at dawn when there are no other cars in the lot, or hiking to an overlook in time to see the sunrise. I get satisfaction out of being the first on a trail and clearing the cobwebs for the rest of the hikers. When I'm not hiking, getting through emails or finishing up a project before everyone starts their work day is very nice.
