What is your title and department?
Director of Business Development in the Advancement Department. I oversee our Learning Grove at Work program.
What is your favorite Learning Grove core value and why?
Got your back. I have always believed in helping people. I love that as an organization, we have a value that not only represents the person I strive to be but also that I can rely on others in the organization to be there for me when I need it.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I love traveling and hiking, so I try to explore as much as possible! My favorite thing is spending time with my dog, cat, and husband; we love watching The Office and relaxing.
What’s your favorite part of your job?
I love being able to meet new people and connect with them. Through this role, I have had so many amazing opportunities to meet people around NKY/Cincinnati and learn about their careers and personal life.
What’s the most unique part about working here?
The culture, and everyone here is so welcoming. Learning Grove truly cares about their employees on an individual level and on a professional development level as well. I also love how Learning Grove is willing to explore new and innovative ideas to support those in our community. Of course, it also doesn’t hurt that Learning Grove allows people to bring in their dogs so I can play with all the pups!
How have you grown professionally while on our team?
I have grown so much since starting here in more ways than one, and it hasn’t even been a year yet. Prior to working here, I was in customer service/retail roles, so I like to say this is my first “real professional” job. I have gained knowledge about how a non-profit organization works and early childhood education. I have also become a lot more comfortable with networking. I would never imagine myself attending events with over 100 people and connecting with people (or speaking in front of them). I have always been used to and loved one-on-one connections but not big crowds. So overall, that experience has allowed me to grow personally and professionally.
What was your favorite part about being a child? Or favorite childhood memory.
My favorite part was all the adventures my family and I went on. It’s the reason I love traveling now. From camping to beach trips to going out west, I was open to new experiences and cultures. For example, when I was in 6th grade, we went to the Grand Canyon, Sequoia National Park, Kings Canyon National Park, etc. Even at that age, I was in awe of how incredible those places were. I will forever be grateful for those experiences.
How does the Learning Grove mission connect to your work?
The Learning Grove at Work program is an employer-sponsored child care program. So, this program would not only support businesses, it would support working parents, children, our community, and our workforce in the NKY and Cincinnati area by giving families more access to exceptional child care.
