I have over 21 years of experience in higher education. I’ve spent 10 years with Morgan Community College in Fort Morgan as an academic advisor, career counselor and ADA coordinator and Campus Director in Wray, Colorado. I have been with Western Nebraska Community College since 2010, and have held several positions at WNCC including Executive Campus Director at Sidney, Partnerships and Inclusion Executive Director, Community and Business Partnerships Executive Director, and currently the Alliance & Sidney Campuses Executive Director. I was instrumental in developing the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center on WNCC’s Sidney Campus in partnership with Sidney Economic Development and Cheyenne County Chamber. The I & E Center launched successful businesses such as NexGen Outfitters and Karuna Counseling, both located in Sidney, Nebraska. I hold a Master’s Degree in Organizational Development, Bachelors’ Degree in Business Administration: Management, and I have a graduate credit towards a PhD in Higher Education Leadership. I’m a rural Colorado native and married with two children, four stepchildren and seven grandchildren.
In 2017, during one of the toughest economic times Sidney and surrounding communities had undergone, the Chamber of Commerce director, Economic Development director and WNCC came together to develop Business Resource Meetings throughout the panhandle of Nebraska. These meetings gathered state and federal programs and entrepreneurs in one space for a meeting to share the free or low cost resources available to the communities in Nebraska. WNCC also went one step further and created an Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center on the Sidney Campus. Entrepreneurs are give two years free office space and are then mentored to transition to a brick and mortar business after the two years. The I & E Center has proudly helped launch NexGen Outfitters and Karuna Counseling in Sidney, Nebraska.
WNCC’s service area covers 17, 100 square miles in the panhandle of Nebraska. It is my intent to hold Business Resource Meetings and entrepreneurial trainings for individuals throughout our 13.5 counties.
A couple of fun facts about me? I survived Stage 4 cancer at the age of 26 and I raise ‘mini’ pigs named “Pork Chop” & “Pee Wee”.
If I had five minutes to prepare an hourlong lecture, I would love to lecture on “Outlasting the Temporary”. This topic encompasses health concerns, work problems, personal issues that seem to paralyze some people. There is always something GOOD to find in each day. I tell people I’ve never had a bad day, I never let anything ruin a whole day, time is too precious!
Interested in learning more about me and my work? I invite you to check out the following link: