35 years 
Current position: Financial Administrator at Children’s Inn

Tell us about your family.
I moved to Sioux Falls when I was four.  I lived with my mom & dad and younger sister. My Dad taught science at Washington HS and my mom was a stay-at-home mom. They both still live in Sioux Falls. My sister Jean lives in Arizona.  

I’ve been married to Steve for almost 37 years. We have 2 sons and 2 daughters-in-law. Nate & Alyssa have a 16 month-old-daughter Taylor, which makes me a proud Grandma. They live in Madison, Wisconsin. Trevor and Izzi live in Sioux Falls. Some of you may know Izzi because she works at SFCH at Van Demark Up.

If you could do anything you want on a day off—with no obligations of any kind—what would you do?
I’m always up for a day of geocaching. I also like to take our boat to the lake. 

What are your 3 favorite movies?
The movie I have probably watched the most is The Sound of Music. I liked the Back to the Future series. The Ultimate Gift is a movie I like to recommend. 

What is your favorite sports team?
Minnesota Vikings.  Sioux Falls Storm & Stampede. 

What are some of the biggest changes you have seen over your years with CHS?
The Children’s Home Shelter for Family Safety’s bookkeeping system was originally all on paper. All checks were typed or handwritten. I had ledger books and payroll reports that had to be balanced with a calculator. Later, we purchased an accounting computer program, which made it more streamlined. When Children’s Home Shelter for Family Safety merged with Children's Home Society in 1998, the Children’s Home Shelter for Family Safety’s accounting records were incorporated into the Children's Home Society’s system. That system wasn’t Y2K ready, so plans to convert to Financial Edge were made. Annual budgets have also grown a lot. 

When I started at Children’s Home Shelter for Family Safety, we had a 4-bedroom house on Grange Avenue. The administrative office was in the attic on 3^rd floor. We were excited to move into our new 14-bedroom building on Western Avenue in 1991. We added a large addition to our building in 2005, which gave us 24 bedrooms. We are now planning for a new facility that will have around 37 bedrooms.

Do you have a memory or two that stand out from your time with CHS?
When I was hired, I was asked to commit to at least a year of employment—promise kept. 

The day I started at Children’s Home Shelter for Family Safety, we did not have any clients staying in shelter. That was really rare.

What has been your reason/motivation to stay at CHS?
The “Good Work” that we do is rewarding. My co-workers are the best. 

If you hadn’t chosen this as a career, what would have been your second choice for a career?
In college, I took a course in non-profit accounting. I really connected with that class and knew I wanted to work in the non-profit sector. 

What advice would you have for newly-hired employees?
The work is hard, but rewarding.