Experience

Sun Prairie Area School District

• United States
• Primary and Secondary Education
• 200 - 300 Employee

• Community Schools Program Coordinator

  • Mar 2020 - Present



United Way of Racine County

• Philanthropy
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Community Schools Manager

  • Apr 2016 - Mar 2020

  My main role as community school manager is to establish the framework and place-based impact model for Racine County community schools program. I currently serve as on-site coordinator for all school-based community programs at Racine’s first community school, while also building and maintaining cross sector partnerships in support of programs and projects that achieve community identified goals and outcomes. To identify those goals and outcomes, I have organized and facilitate volunteer community action and advisory committees. Long term sustainability is key to this work. In addition to organizing social capital, I have also assisted in writing, managing and executing over $500,000 in local, state, federal and private grants. I currently serve on the steering committee for the Wisconsin Coalition for Community Schools, as well as the city-wide planning committee for community events, including the Week of the Young Child Celebration and Racine Unified School District’s Family Empowerment Day. Show less



Circa Celeste Cafe

• Downtown Racine, WI

• Co Owner - Manager of Operations

  • Dec 2013 - Jun 2016

  I worked with my partner to establish a strategic vision for and effective management of our slow foods cafe and its employees. While steaming lattes and making from-scratch, made-to-order food, our goal is to help our fellow community members to slow down and connect with the moment. In Circa's intimate setting, patrons take the time to talk to one another and engage in the issues of the day. In 2015, Circa Celeste Cafe was named one of the top ten vegetarian restaurants in the state of Wisconsin. In summer of 2016, we successfully sold our business as we made the decision to move down a new path in our careers. Show less



Lake Valley Camp

• United States
• Program Development

• AFS Scholarship Program Coordinator

  • Dec 2013 - Aug 2015

  My role is to establish and facilitate selection process with local volunteers and national American Field Service (AFS) staff, coordinate international program requirements with selected participants, organize fundraising campaign for scholarship program, and manage all communications among local, national and international partners.

• Leadership Training Program Director

  • Oct 2010 - Dec 2013

  With Lake Valley Camp, I established a three-year leadership development and workforce readiness program, including curriculum and assessment tools, for low-income, high performing teens in Milwaukee. These year-round youth-empowering programs includes study abroad, local food production and food service training, and academic support with area universities.During the school year programs, I recruited, trained and managed a small staff of 1-2 full time employees, 5-6 part time employees and volunteers. During summer programs at resident camp, I assisted in the training and management of 30+ seasonal full time employees. Show less



Small World Montessori School

• 1001 High Street, Racine, WI

• President, Board of Directors

  • Feb 2013 - Aug 2015

  Small World Montessori School (SWMS) is a private school that serves families with children ages 2-6 years old. Celebrating 40 years in the Racine community, our school aims to nurture and inspire the natural curiosity and love of learning in the children we serve. My first month as President was overseeing the search for, hiring and training of a new school Administrator. With a new board and new school leadership, we were able to increase school revenue by nearly 60% (in one year!) and increase wages for all staff for the first time in five years. This was due to increased enrollment, restructured incentive and bonus packages for school leadership, a re-branding campaign and more focused fundraising initiatives. Show less



River Bend Nature Center, Faribault, MN

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Teacher Naturalist

  • Sep 2008 - May 2009

  Out on the trails and knee deep in waders, all four seasons of the year - this is how I spent my time with River Bend. I helped to develop youth programs and led programs to help young people connect with the natural world while also applying the concepts they were learning in school. These integrated and dynamic programs helped me to continue to cultivate a broad array of skills, most specifically effective public speaking - anyone that has led elementary school students while competing with the squirrels and bugs for attention will understand. I also helped to write grants for our programs, support marketing and outreach efforts and assist in the management of a robust group of volunteers. Show less



Milwaukee Area Technical College

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Service-Learning Coordinator

  • Aug 2006 - Aug 2008

  I served MATC for two years as an AmeriCorps*VISTA. In that time, my team (comprised of a Dean, three instructors and another VISTA member) effectively institutionalized service-learning across all four campuses. I was responsible for establishing and implementing a strategy to take this pedagogy from a brand new, rarely used concept to a fully institutionalized practice. This included establishing a physical office space; creating all forms and processes for students, faculty and community organizations; establishing partnership agreements with community based organizations; training faculty and staff; and presenting to executive leadership of the college. In addition, I was also responsible for writing and managing private, state and federal grants to support our work. I also supported the work of the Southeastern Wisconsin Service-Learning Coalition (SEWSLC) by creating print and outreach materials, writing and managing grants, and facilitating outreach programs, including a state-wide training for K-16 faculty and the Environmental Survival Challenge, a three-week program that integrated urban, suburban and rural middle school students to engage with environmental issues. I also organized R.I.S.E. Up Wisconsin, the Ride to Inspire Student Engagement with a fellow Americorps member. We established all funds for this ride, established all logistics of the tour and produced a short documentary. Show less



Reeve Memorial Union

• University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh

• Marketing Assistant

  • 2004 - 2006

  As an undergraduate, I worked directly with the Marketing Director for all student programs and student outreach media. I managed a team of three graphic designers - as a collaborative team, we effectively re-branded the student union and designed all promotional materials. Our team won national awards for our print material every year. My primary responsibilities were market research, drafting and editing all copy for materials and manage deadlines for all materials. As an undergraduate, I worked directly with the Marketing Director for all student programs and student outreach media. I managed a team of three graphic designers - as a collaborative team, we effectively re-branded the student union and designed all promotional materials. Our team won national awards for our print material every year. My primary responsibilities were market research, drafting and editing all copy for materials and manage deadlines for all materials.