Experience

Black Hills Works

• United States
• Individual and Family Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Director of Culture and Professional Development

  • Jun 2021 - Present

  What does it mean to support a healthy culture? It includes looking at systems to ensure they are setting our staff up for success. Asking the next curious question in the pursuit of understanding before solving. Helping us all find our a-ha moments. Using a lens of safety, transparency, clarity, and empowerment to help create a workplace where staff and the people we support thrive. It means looking at how each of us plays a role in reaching our shared goals. It’s pretty cool!

• Director

  • Nov 2018 - Present

  In my role as Director of Credentialing at Black Hills Works, I am honored to be able to work with the National Association of Direct Support Professionals to develop a credentialing program that truly supports our staff! The valuable work of a Direct Support Professional (DSP) is highly rewarding, but also incredibly challenging. Our credentialing program takes a holistic approach, focusing on the technical skills and knowledge necessary to do the work of a DSP, while also cultivating… Show more In my role as Director of Credentialing at Black Hills Works, I am honored to be able to work with the National Association of Direct Support Professionals to develop a credentialing program that truly supports our staff! The valuable work of a Direct Support Professional (DSP) is highly rewarding, but also incredibly challenging. Our credentialing program takes a holistic approach, focusing on the technical skills and knowledge necessary to do the work of a DSP, while also cultivating highly critical "soft skills," such as communication, problem solving, emotional intelligence, resilience, and teamwork. We aim to support DSPs so they can not only be effective in their roles today, but will be satisfied and successful for years to come. I could not be more honored to be part of something that is helping the helpers of our world. Everyone deserves to feel safe, connected, and valued! We are in this together... whether we are a helper or the one needing help in the moment. We need the skills, support, and belonging to face this world regulated and ready to shine!



Connections

• Belgium
• Travel Arrangements
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Consultant and Trainer

  • Sep 2018 - Present

  Together we are stronger. I believe in the power of connection... supported through shared conversations, understanding, and respect. Our communities are facing complex issues that require us to come together to make changes on multiple levels. This requires us to be humble and curious, while simultaneously recognizing our own personal power. By adopting trauma-informed practices, our education, child welfare, and criminal justice systems can help individuals heal and thrive.… Show more Together we are stronger. I believe in the power of connection... supported through shared conversations, understanding, and respect. Our communities are facing complex issues that require us to come together to make changes on multiple levels. This requires us to be humble and curious, while simultaneously recognizing our own personal power. By adopting trauma-informed practices, our education, child welfare, and criminal justice systems can help individuals heal and thrive. Resilient individuals will support healthier families, which in turn will contribute to stronger communities. It is time to kick-start the cycle of resiliency! Interested? Let me help you start a conversation around trauma and resiliency! Show less Together we are stronger. I believe in the power of connection... supported through shared conversations, understanding, and respect. Our communities are facing complex issues that require us to come together to make changes on multiple levels. This requires us to be humble and curious, while simultaneously recognizing our own personal power. By adopting trauma-informed practices, our education, child welfare, and criminal justice systems can help individuals heal and thrive.… Show more Together we are stronger. I believe in the power of connection... supported through shared conversations, understanding, and respect. Our communities are facing complex issues that require us to come together to make changes on multiple levels. This requires us to be humble and curious, while simultaneously recognizing our own personal power. By adopting trauma-informed practices, our education, child welfare, and criminal justice systems can help individuals heal and thrive. Resilient individuals will support healthier families, which in turn will contribute to stronger communities. It is time to kick-start the cycle of resiliency! Interested? Let me help you start a conversation around trauma and resiliency! Show less



ACE Interface

• ACE Interface Master Trainer

  • Jan 2018 - Present

  Creating a common language is the first step to creating positive change in our community. Each training explores the background and implications of the Adverse Childhood Experience study, how trauma impacts the brain, and how everyone can support resiliency. If you interact with humans this training is for you! Creating a common language is the first step to creating positive change in our community. Each training explores the background and implications of the Adverse Childhood Experience study, how trauma impacts the brain, and how everyone can support resiliency. If you interact with humans this training is for you!



Children's Home Society of South Dakota

• United States
• Individual and Family Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Advocacy and Prevention Program Director

  • Sep 2003 - Sep 2018

  I called Children’s Home Society of South Dakota “home” for 15 years; overseeing recruitment and licensure of foster parents, as well as an emergency shelter/assessment foster care home during that time. I served as Advocacy and Prevention Program Director, overseeing the Children’s Home Child Advocacy Center, as well as statewide awareness and education campaigns. I love macro work and am ready to focus on community change on a larger scale. Looking forward to helping build resilient… Show more I called Children’s Home Society of South Dakota “home” for 15 years; overseeing recruitment and licensure of foster parents, as well as an emergency shelter/assessment foster care home during that time. I served as Advocacy and Prevention Program Director, overseeing the Children’s Home Child Advocacy Center, as well as statewide awareness and education campaigns. I love macro work and am ready to focus on community change on a larger scale. Looking forward to helping build resilient communities across our state! Show less I called Children’s Home Society of South Dakota “home” for 15 years; overseeing recruitment and licensure of foster parents, as well as an emergency shelter/assessment foster care home during that time. I served as Advocacy and Prevention Program Director, overseeing the Children’s Home Child Advocacy Center, as well as statewide awareness and education campaigns. I love macro work and am ready to focus on community change on a larger scale. Looking forward to helping build resilient… Show more I called Children’s Home Society of South Dakota “home” for 15 years; overseeing recruitment and licensure of foster parents, as well as an emergency shelter/assessment foster care home during that time. I served as Advocacy and Prevention Program Director, overseeing the Children’s Home Child Advocacy Center, as well as statewide awareness and education campaigns. I love macro work and am ready to focus on community change on a larger scale. Looking forward to helping build resilient communities across our state! Show less



Lutheran Family Services

• United States
• Hospitals and Health Care

• Community Outreach Coordinator

  • Aug 2000 - May 2002

  recruited potential foster parents; worked with media, congregations and community groups; presented throughout community; developed, implemented, and evaluated Asset Building Program; developed and implemented children’s group curriculum; recruited, trained, and supervised volunteers and interns; led local fundraising efforts; worked as part of foster children’s treatment team recruited potential foster parents; worked with media, congregations and community groups; presented throughout community; developed, implemented, and evaluated Asset Building Program; developed and implemented children’s group curriculum; recruited, trained, and supervised volunteers and interns; led local fundraising efforts; worked as part of foster children’s treatment team



Turning Point Center for Youth & Family Development

• United States
• Mental Health Care
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Counselor

  • Jul 1998 - May 2002

  provided support and supervision in a residential setting with adolescents; led life skill and education groups; engaged in one on one with clients; charted progress notes; communicated with in-coming staff; dispensed medication provided support and supervision in a residential setting with adolescents; led life skill and education groups; engaged in one on one with clients; charted progress notes; communicated with in-coming staff; dispensed medication



Asset Building Coalition of Larimer County

• Asset Coordinator, Intern

  • Sep 1999 - May 2000

  trained groups on Asset Building Model; developed and disseminated written materials; facilitated groups; engaged in strategic planning; collaborated with, and mobilized community members; designed and carried out program evaluation; planned special events; encouraged others to use strengths approach trained groups on Asset Building Model; developed and disseminated written materials; facilitated groups; engaged in strategic planning; collaborated with, and mobilized community members; designed and carried out program evaluation; planned special events; encouraged others to use strengths approach



Kent Mountain Adventure Ctr

• United States
• Mental Health Care

• Intern

  • Feb 1999 - May 1999

  supervised and facilitated group of youth during growth-oriented wilderness outings; trained participants in wilderness skills; created an atmosphere conducive to positive personal and social growth supervised and facilitated group of youth during growth-oriented wilderness outings; trained participants in wilderness skills; created an atmosphere conducive to positive personal and social growth



Children's Comprehensive Services

• United States

• Counselor

  • Jan 1995 - Jun 1998

  worked with children ages 4-18 who experienced trauma; worked with interdisciplinary team to develop treatment plans for clients; planned and implemented therapeutic groups; charted progress notes; assisted in the development of a school-based treatment program worked with children ages 4-18 who experienced trauma; worked with interdisciplinary team to develop treatment plans for clients; planned and implemented therapeutic groups; charted progress notes; assisted in the development of a school-based treatment program