Experience

Black Hawk College
• United States
• Higher Education
• 300 - 400 Employee
• Horticulture Instructor

  • Dec 2012 - Present


Whiteside County Public Schools

• Substitute Teacher: grades pre-k – 12

  • Sep 2011 - Present

  Education, proficiency, and prior experience: • Environmental Science • Horticulture • Ag Education • Special Education Education, proficiency, and prior experience: • Environmental Science • Horticulture • Ag Education • Special Education



Quad Cities Food Hub

• United States
• Food and Beverage Services

• Board President

  • Nov 2010 - Present

  Composed agency mission, vision, and core values. Assisted with grant writing. Planned, scheduled, and led supply group subcommittee meetings. Fostered community partnership. Collaborated with team members to develop an education, aggregation, and distribution center to serve the Iowa and Illinois Quad City region. Composed agency mission, vision, and core values. Assisted with grant writing. Planned, scheduled, and led supply group subcommittee meetings. Fostered community partnership. Collaborated with team members to develop an education, aggregation, and distribution center to serve the Iowa and Illinois Quad City region.



H.A.L.O.

• France
• Advertising Services

• Volunteer Program Coordinator

  • Jan 2005 - Present

  Founded and directed social club for youth and adults with special needs. Guided members in activity planning. Identified accessible recreational opportunities for individuals with special needs. Advocacy and participation. Founded and directed social club for youth and adults with special needs. Guided members in activity planning. Identified accessible recreational opportunities for individuals with special needs. Advocacy and participation.



Gloria McKenna Family Farm

• Project Manager

  • 2002 - Present

  Responsibilities included: • Fruit and vegetable production • Orchard maintenance • Assist with small livestock production • Landscape design and maintenance • Integrated Pest Management (IPM) • Brand Development and Marketing • Business Plan Development Responsibilities included: • Fruit and vegetable production • Orchard maintenance • Assist with small livestock production • Landscape design and maintenance • Integrated Pest Management (IPM) • Brand Development and Marketing • Business Plan Development



Illinois Department of Natural Resources

• United States
• Environmental Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Intern

  • May 2011 - Aug 2011

  • Natural resources management • Ethics training • Safety, risk, and crisis management • Policy and procedures • Annual plan of work and time keeping • Neighbor relations and agricultural leases • W76D funding and hunting programs • Preventative maintenance • Interpretation • Managed (3) seasonal staff • Concessionaire lease agreements and relations • Natural resources management • Ethics training • Safety, risk, and crisis management • Policy and procedures • Annual plan of work and time keeping • Neighbor relations and agricultural leases • W76D funding and hunting programs • Preventative maintenance • Interpretation • Managed (3) seasonal staff • Concessionaire lease agreements and relations



Western Illinois University Student Recreation Association

• Student

  • Aug 2009 - Jul 2011

• President

  • May 2010 - May 2011

  Scheduled and led organization meetings. Delegated committee responsibilities. Coordinated planning of organization activities. Maintained contact with organization advisor and affiliated department. Prepared and filed reports.



University of Illinois Extension

• United States
• Higher Education
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Extension Staff / Extra Help

  • Apr 2010 - Jun 2011

  Extension Staff - Local Food 2010 - presentSpecial Needs 4-H LeaderRepresented Extension in professional settings. Coordinated, scheduled and facilitated meetings. Presented on local food, agriculture, and horticulture. Identified producers local to the Quad Cities and developed the Illowa Local Food directory. Assisted with development, planning and execution of farmer's market and Extension related events. Established community partnerships. Fundraised. Grant writing and marketing. Educated youth on horticulture and agriculture topics. Formed, managed, coordinated and facilitated inclusion based 4-H group designed for children and adults with special needs. Show less

• Liaison: Small Farms - Local Food

  • Apr 2010 - May 2011


Erie Athletic Boosters Board Member
• Board member

  • Jan 2007 - Jan 2010
• (Intern) Manager - Organic Land Lab

  • Apr 2009 - Oct 2009

• Project Manager - Organic Land Lab

  • Apr 2009 - Oct 2009

  Composed project vision and mission statement. Developed and maintained project blog. Researched National Organic Practices and prepared USDA organic certification. Kept project records, documented progress, and purchased supplies. Hired field assistants. Developed work schedule. Supervised students. Identified and located markets best suited for organic crops. Planned and implemented community education / field days. Coordinated with marketing department. Represented project and Black Hawk College in professional settings. Show less



K & R Greenhouse

• United States

• Production Assistant (Intern)

  • May 2009 - Aug 2009

  Assisted in production and sales. Created and installed landscape designs. Facilitated Community service for therapeutic horticulture activity at local nursing home. Assisted in production and sales. Created and installed landscape designs. Facilitated Community service for therapeutic horticulture activity at local nursing home.

• Manager

  • 2007 - 2009

  Work study) Guided students in greenhouse crop selection process. Developed production and work schedules. Created floriculture designs and assisted in annual plant sales / fundraising activities. Inventoried and organized supplies. Prepared production orders, identified plant disease and pests. Monitored weekly watering / fertilizing schedules. Work study) Guided students in greenhouse crop selection process. Developed production and work schedules. Created floriculture designs and assisted in annual plant sales / fundraising activities. Inventoried and organized supplies. Prepared production orders, identified plant disease and pests. Monitored weekly watering / fertilizing schedules.



Prophetstown School District

• United States
• Primary and Secondary Education
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Paraprofessional

  • Aug 2006 - Aug 2008

  Collaborated with classroom teacher, special education coordinator and related staff in development of individual education program for identified students. Prepared and modified curriculum to meet student needs and ensure educational success. Identified and implemented best practices for recreational and social activities for student with Autism. Initiated and team taught classroom arts and crafts. Collaborated with classroom teacher, special education coordinator and related staff in development of individual education program for identified students. Prepared and modified curriculum to meet student needs and ensure educational success. Identified and implemented best practices for recreational and social activities for student with Autism. Initiated and team taught classroom arts and crafts.



White Oaks Therapeutic Equestrian Center

• United States
• Wellness and Fitness Services

• Director

  • Jan 2002 - Aug 2005

  Planned, coordinated, supervised, and implemented daily operations and client services. Instructed students. Developed and maintained annual budget. Grant writing and fund development. Prepared annual United Way allocation request. Maintained agency national accreditation. Safety, risk, and crisis management. Conducted volunteer training. Hired and evaluated employees. Assigned employee and volunteer duties. Planned, coordinated, supervised, and implemented daily operations and client services. Instructed students. Developed and maintained annual budget. Grant writing and fund development. Prepared annual United Way allocation request. Maintained agency national accreditation. Safety, risk, and crisis management. Conducted volunteer training. Hired and evaluated employees. Assigned employee and volunteer duties.



Self employed

• Real Estate
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Business Owner - Artist

  • Jan 1993 - Jan 2002

  Created art work. Identified best markets and distributed products in four state area. Purchased and inventoried supplies. Maintained financial records. Planned and executed annual arts and crafts fair. Created art work. Identified best markets and distributed products in four state area. Purchased and inventoried supplies. Maintained financial records. Planned and executed annual arts and crafts fair.

• Volunteer

  • Jan 1996 - Jan 2001