What have you accomplished in your professional life/career since your 40 Under 40 selection?
Professionally, I became executive director of Middleton Outreach Ministry. I began work at MOM in 2002, and recently celebrated my 18th anniversary with the organization. Throughout my career at MOM, I have served in many different capacities, including volunteer and donor development, operations, program development, and communications. I was honored to be selected to lead the organization that I had been helping develop and for a community for which I greatly care. Since 2017, we have greatly expanded our capacity to serve through increased program services as well as staff supports.
MOM’s mission is to bring our community together to create food and housing security through action and advocacy.
What accomplishments, milestones, or endeavors have you attained in your personal life since your 40 Under 40 selection?
In 2017, I was recognized for being an inspiring, innovative, and empowering woman who enriches the greater Madison area as a Woman to Watch in BRAVA magazine. I was honored for my volunteer work co-creating a free kids coding club called Kids Code Madison.
In June 2017, my creative community partner and I organized and curated FORGE, a public art event and exhibition in the Brass Works building. The art exhibition featuring the work of over a dozen Madison-area artists inspired by the history of the Madison Brass Works building at 214 Waubesa St., its workers, and the elements involved in the transfigurations that took place on this site. The event supported the expansion of the Goodman Community Center.
In 2019, I received the Governor’s Service Award as AmeriCorps VISTA Alumni of the Year. The Governor’s Service Awards honors outstanding volunteers, national service participants, and programs that have helped to address serious social needs in their communities. These honorees have made significant contributions to Wisconsin through their service efforts. Their generous service is impacting the lives of countless Wisconsinites.
I serve as an agency representative on the United Way of Dane County’s Board of Directors. I also am currently serving on the First United Methodist Church Council as chair.
If you were to “do it all over again,” what (if anything) would you do differently throughout your career?
I wish I had learned how to network earlier in my career! What I didn’t realize is that the best way to find someone interesting to talk to is to find the other person in the room looking around, looking for a connection!
How did your 40 Under 40 selection help your career?
The selection gave me the opportunity to connect with people in different circles.
What is something that you have a new passion for since the time of your induction — either professionally or personally?
I spent nearly all of my 30s creating — both large- and small-scale projects, as well as volunteering and putting myself in the mix every chance I could get. I thrived on new opportunities and bringing to life new ideas. As a 40th birthday gift to myself, I chose to end a lot of things I had started over the years. I wanted to give myself space to figure out if new passions might find their way into my life.
Instead, life went a different direction. All of that ending made way for the space I would need for a big new beginning when I was offered the opportunity to be the executive director of MOM.
For the last two years as I settled into my new work and new responsibilities, I gave myself the space to focus on my work and my family. However, after those two years, I recently looked around and realized that I missed so many things I used to do and began thinking about how I could add those back into my life and also discover new joys. It’s an exciting journey, but one that feels very different than when I was in my 30s!
I’ve always had a passion for collaboration and innovative positive change. I’m thankful that my work gives me the opportunity to focus on this in a greater way every day!
Based on your experience, do you have any advice for today’s young professionals (under 40)?
I recently was part of a networking session for younger leaders looking to grow their careers as well as their opportunities to be community leaders. One of the participants asked me what I thought was the most important thing to being recognized as a leader in his circles. My answer to him was a reflection on my own growth over the past years in my new position. The more leadership I’m given, the more questions I ask of the people around me. A day is a good day if I’ve had the opportunity to reach out to people around me to learn from their experiences and to show up even when I don’t already know where I’m going or why I’m there. Never stop asking as many questions as you can.
Also, every day is full of choices and the opportunity to grow and learn. Most days also offer you the opportunity to grasp at balance. It’s oddly often easier to push for the big new thing than to take the moment to step aside and breathe. When life hands you the perfect moment to spend time with your friends, family, or with yourself, take it. Your work will be there tomorrow.
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