All Stars 2018

Meet Derek Powers and 

other ALL STARS who are 

making an impact in the 

region’s business sectors.

CONTENTS 

ALL STAR SECTORS 

ARCHITECTURE, CONSTRUCTION, 

ENGINEERING (ACE) SECTOR 

3 Sam Jones 

4 Derek Powers 

5 Nathan Vanderweide 

ADVANCED MANUFACTURING SECTOR 

6 Chris Biechler 

8 Laura Tietz 

FINANCIAL SERVICE, INSURANCE, 

CUSTOMER SERVICE SECTOR 

10 Linsey Eiben 

12 Diana Rodriguez 

HEALTHCARE SECTOR 

20 Alison LaGrange 

22 Abby Siek 

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SECTOR 

24 Cody Metz 

26 Madison Williams 

TRANSPORTATION, LOGISTICS SECTOR 

28 Chad Peska 

INTERNSHIP 

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT 

No matter where you are from in our seven-county area of Benton, Cedar, 

Iowa, Johnson, Jones, Linn and Washington counties, we’re all part 

of a larger community known as the Iowa City Cedar Rapids Region 

(ICR IOWA). We share many of the same needs that are 

central to the overall strength of our area. A major factor 

behind that strength is our local economy and workforce. 

Kirkwood Community College has always been a 

leader in developing our region’s talent pipeline. Over 

time, that role has grown from technical training to 

modern-day career exploration and advancement with 

proven educational programs. Today, Kirkwood partners 

with industry leaders to develop relevant curriculum for 

Mick Starcevich in-demand careers. Businesses get the well-trained staff 

they need and members of our community get goodpaying 

jobs. It’s a win-win situation. 

These sector board partnerships support important 

initiatives to develop our workforce into a powerhouse 

that strengthens our local economy. The educators, industry 

professionals and community leaders in these groups 

bring their expertise to the table to support career pathways 

that will foster the growth of future All Stars like you 

see in this publication. They volunteer for these important 

Lori Sundberg partnerships, and I thank them all for their dedication. 

As you turn the pages of this magazine, you’ll meet a 

few of the most talented employees in some of the ICR IOWA’s most 

vital industries. Let these stories inspire you. Use them as examples of 

what YOU can do if you put your mind to it. If you’re ready to find YOUR 

future, or know someone who is, you’ll also find information on how 

Kirkwood guides students to reach career goals and how to get started. 

At the end of July, I will be retiring after 15 years at Kirkwood. It has 

been an honor to serve as president of this college – and I will certainly 

miss it. However, I take comfort in knowing that our next president, 

Dr. Lori Sundberg, is ready to continue the great work that has been 

done at Kirkwood for more than 50 years. This community will be in 

good hands for many years to come. 

Mick Starcevich 

President, Kirkwood Community College 

30 Alivea Carnahan 

INFORMATION 

AND RESOURCES 

11 How Can I Be an All Star? 

14 About Sector Boards/Resources 

15 Pathway to an All Stars Career 

31 All Stars Honorable Mentions 

Main Campus, 6301 Kirkwood Boulevard 

Southwest, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404 

(319) 398-5411 • www.kirkwood.edu 

A print product of the 

Corridor Business Journal 

2018 

Shuva Rahim, Writer, Photographer & Video Producer 

Julia Druckmiller, Designer 

Judith Cobb, Media Consultant 

Want to be a future 

All Star? 

Learn firsthand from 

the All Stars about their 

training and career paths 

by exploring videos of the 

All Star award winners on 

the online version of this 

publication, http://bit. 

ly/2018AllStarsICR 

2 2018 ALL STARS of ICR

SAM JONES 

Interior Carpenter 

McCreedy-Ruth Construction 

Riverside, Iowa 

What are your job duties? 

I finish houses. I set doors, cabinets, and do all the 

interior stuff to make the finished home. 

What skills are important to do your job well? 

It’s important to have a strong work ethic and be 

adaptable. Things don’t always go as planned and 

you need to be able to adjust to new situations. 

What is a typical day like for you? 

Every day is different for me. When I’m building a 

house, finishing a house, I’ll usually come to the shop, 

meet with one of my guys, we’ll go to the house and 

work there all day depending on what we’re doing. 

We’re there all day or I’ll be here. I do a lot of finish 

spraying and painting, so sometimes I’ll be here for a 

couple of hours doing that and then I’ll go to my job 

site and work. 

What is the most interesting part of your job? 

I think the most interesting part is being able to create 

something out of nothing and being able to produce 

an end product. I really like to build custom things 

that go into either remodels or new houses. I like to 

build furniture and different kinds of custom aspects 

of the house, such as benches and mantels. 

What is the most rewarding part of your job? 

I think the most rewarding part is to make people’s 

dreams come true and make something they really 

wanted in their home. 

What’s one thing you do with your job most people 

don’t realize? 

Most people don’t realize how involved I am with the 

customers on a day-to day basis. A lot of times it’s just 

me and the customers talking about what they want 

and then us getting it done and making it happen. 

WATCH SAM’S VIDEO 

http://bit.ly/2018AllStarsICR 

What was your career path? 

I started working for a construction company in 

high school and then I decided to go to Kirkwood 

for the construction management degree. I got 

hired by McCreedy-Ruth for my internship my freshman 

year of college and I’ve been here ever since. 

What attracted you to this industry? 

When I started working in construction in high 

school, I really enjoyed it and felt like it was something 

I was good at and I could make a career. So, 

after going to Kirkwood, I kept learning different 

things every day. I enjoyed learning more about the 

industrial and construction industry. 

What advice would you give someone interested 

in going into construction? 

To be successful in the construction industry, you’re 

going to have to be willing to work hard, put in 

some long hours and basically do a lot of different 

things in order to get the job done. You also have 

to be very detail-oriented and produce good quality. 

Every aspect of your job should be your best, 

so the homeowner in the end is happy about every 

little part of the house. H 

ARCHITECTURE, CONSTRUCTION, ENGINEERING (ACE) SECTOR 

2018 ALL STARS of ICR 3

ARCHITECTURE, CONSTRUCTION, ENGINEERING SECTOR 

DEREK POWERS 

Architectural Associate 

& Digital Media Manager 

Martin Gardner Architecture 

Marion, Iowa 

What does your company do? 

We are people and community members who love 

problem-solving and design. We specialize in planning, 

design and creative place-making, and have 

made our home in Eastern Iowa for 35 years. 


I work with architects, project managers and 

our entire design team on various project types 

throughout all phases of design. I work on schematic 

designs, construction document preparation, 

building information modeling and product team 

coordination. I also specialize in presentation drawings, 

architectural renderings, 3-D modeling and 

other various forms of digital media. 


Learning to adapt to various situations and opportunities 

has helped me a lot. I do my best to listen, 

communicate, absorb information and create working 

solutions to challenges. I love that uncomfortable 

feeling of doing something new, and that’s how 

I know I’m learning and pushing to better myself. 


Working with all types of tools and technology to 

produce everything from construction documents 

to high-end renderings. Communicating through 

pictures and drawings is really exciting and challenging. 

With today’s rapid technological evolution, 

there’s always something to learn. 


Getting to meet and work with people from all 

backgrounds of life, and working on all kinds of 

projects and seeing how they evolve and positively 

impact the communities they reside in. It’s a great 

feeling and it serves as an excellent motivator to 

continue to work hard. I couldn’t imagine a better 

WATCH DEREK’S VIDEO 


staff to be a part of and it really feels like working with family. 

In addition, working with the ACE Sector Board – area 

professionals from architecture, construction, engineering 

– to help students find their own path to an ACE career is 

something that I find very rewarding. 

How did your interest in architecture begin? 

In my freshman year of high school I took a class called 

mechanical drafting. I learned about perspective drawing, 

drawing floor plans and a little bit about architecture. A few 

weeks into that class I was hooked and I knew right then 

that I absolutely wanted to be an architect. Throughout high 

school, I was very fortunate to have access to different types 

of architectural technology, from hand-drafting and creating 

real blueprints to 3-D modeling. None of it would’ve been 

possible without a teacher who was an incredible mentor 

and support from my family. Eventually, I chose to go to 

Iowa State for architecture. 

What’s a career obstacle you overcame and learned from? 

When I got to Iowa State, I thought I was prepared. In your 

first year, all students apply into the professional program. I 

didn’t get in the first time. That was a pivotal moment for me 

and reinforced that I really did want to become an architect. 

I worked really hard my second year and eventually I was 

accepted. So, that failure was tough to deal with at first. But 

then I figured failure is a great tool if you decide to use it. 

Overcoming my self-doubt, trusting myself to keep working 

hard and not giving up were important for me. I wasn’t the 

best student at first, but I just try to find a way to learn from 

my mistakes and get myself to where I want it to be. H 


NATHAN 

VANDERWEIDE 

Superintendent 

Iowa Bridge & Culvert 

Washington, Iowa 


We build bridges, culverts, water treatment and 

wastewater treatment facilities for state, county and 

city municipalities. 

ARCHITECTURE, CONSTRUCTION, ENGINEERING SECTOR 


I’m responsible for coordinating with suppliers, subcontractors 

and my crew to make sure projects are 

done safely, on schedule and within budget. 


It’s important to have a strong work ethic and be 

adaptable. Things don’t always go as planned and 

you need to be able to adjust to new situations. 


The most interesting part is seeing the new ways 

engineers and architects are using concrete to build 

innovative, new structures. 

WATCH NATHAN’S VIDEO 



The most rewarding part of the job is knowing that when 

you leave a project, it’ll still be used in 60 years. 

What was your path to get to where you are today? 

I started with the company shortly after graduating high 

school. I got on-the-job training and industry-specific 

training courses. 

What attracted you to this industry? 

I have a lot of family who work here. I have three uncles 

and father who all have over 30 years at the company. 

Two cousins worked for the company and my grandpa retired 

from here. So, I grew up learning about bridges. H 

ACE Sector 

Median Hourly 

Earnings 

$ 

25.18 

EMSI occupation employment data are based on final EMSI 

industry data and final EMSI staffing patterns. Wage estimates 

are based on Occupational Employment Statistics (QCEW and 

Non-QCEW Employees classes of worker) and the American 

Community Survey (Self-Employed and Extended Proprietors). 

Occupational wage estimates also affected by county-level EMSI 

earnings by industry. 



CHRIS BIECHLER 

Production Manager 

Clickstop 

Urbana, Iowa 


Clickstop is a company that owns and operates business 

units of different sizes, serving multiple industries 

and markets. The largest business unit at the 

moment is our US Cargo Control brand. This is the 

brand that I work most closely with. 


I work with a team of people to ensure our customers 

receive quality products on time. It’s my job to 

make sure our team has the necessary equipment 

and resources to complete their job well, and to 

inspire our team to be great every day. 


One of the things I need to do well with each and 

every day is really listening to our team to be able 

to understand their needs and make sure that I 

continue to provide them with the tools or opportunities 

they are looking for in their own careers. I 

support their needs the best I can and am there for 

them to lean on during the day when they’ve got 

ideas or things they need to share – not only workrelated, 

but also in their personal life. 

WATCH CHRIS’ VIDEO 



I appreciate that no day is the same. Each day is a different 

opportunity to tackle a new challenge. Because 

the work varies, it usually leads into something that’s 

new, fun and exciting. 


Really, the most rewarding part of my job is the people 

I get to interact with every day. They challenge me 

to be a better person and better leader for them. I’m 

inspired to be great because of the people I work with, 

and the effort and the commitment they have to the 

success of our company. 

What was your career path to your current position? 

I spent most of my early career in retail management 

within the Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin areas. Clickstop 

was an opportunity for me to be closer to family. 

I started with Clickstop almost three years ago and 

have held various roles throughout the manufacturing 

department. I was excited to work at Clickstop because 

I wanted to work with a team of people that were 

committed to each other and each other’s successes. 

As a young company, getting to know the people that 

were involved in making this happen also drew me. The 


culture is what has kept me here and makes 

me want to continue to do great things for 

this place. 

Why is safety important for your job? 

I have a background of working for a 

company that had safety top of mind at all 

times. So that has been ingrained in me. 

It’s not just being safe here at work, but 

keeping safety in mind when you’re outside 

of work. For example, if you’re working on 

a project at home, you should be wearing 

safety glasses or making sure that you have 

the right tool to perform the job. Those 

behaviors carry outside the Clickstop walls, 

too. But when we’re here, the important 

thing I tell everybody, is that my job is to 

make sure you go home to your family or 

loved ones, in the same way you came in 

that day. H 

Advanced Manufacturing Sector 

Median Hourly Earnings 

Machinists: $20.62 

Maintenance Workers Machinery: $21.33 

Production Workers: $22.46 

Sheet Metal Workers: $22.46 

Millwrights: $25.80 

Welders: $18.12 

CNC operators: $24.19 

EMSI occupation employment data are based on final EMSI industry data and final EMSI 

staffing patterns. Wage estimates are based on Occupational Employment Statistics (QCEW 

and Non-QCEW Employees classes of worker) and the American Community Survey (Self- 

Employed and Extended Proprietors). Occupational wage estimates also affected by countylevel 

EMSI earnings by industry. 

“ 

Growth at Clickstop has been fueled 

by hiring people who work according 

to our values. Chris consistently 

operates according to the values 

of the impact he’s had on 

the Manufacturing Team. 

” 

- Jeremy Meyer 

Director of Manufacturing 

Jeremy Meyer 

Director of Manufacturing 

Chris Biechler 

2018 All-Star 

Advanced Manufacturing Category 



LAURA TIETZ 

Job & Logistics Manager 

Barnes Manufacturing 

Cedar Rapids, Iowa 


We are a metal fabrication and machine shop 

doing everything from small to very large parts. 


My job duties are to write up orders and jobs. 

I order all the materials necessary for the jobs 

and converse with the customers, and I make 

sure that our shops have everything they need 

in order to do the job. When the job is finished, 

I handle all the shipping to get the parts 

where they need to go, including the packing 

slips and bills of lading. I also do general office 

duties. I help out with quoting by getting in 

material and subcontractor quotes. 


I feel I’m detail-oriented and I have a long customer 

service background. My first job was in 

a movie theater in town and I worked there for 

four-and-a-half years. From there, I moved on 

to Ace Hardware in Marion and worked there 

for six years, ending my career there with two 

years in the store management position. 

What is interesting about your job? 

Every day is different. You never know what tomorrow’s 

going to bring. You don’t even know 

what today’s going to bring. You will come in 

thinking you’re going to do this, this and this 

and end up not even getting anywhere close to 

that because something else has come up. 


I love what I do and I don’t see it as work. I 

come to work every day and I’m excited to be 

here and I look back and think, ‘You know, five 

years ago I wouldn’t have ever seen myself 

here doing what I do, learning what I learned.’ 

What are some obstacles you overcame to 

get to where you are today? 

It was a brand new industry for me. I wasn’t 

going to come in the gate knowing everything. 

I would say the biggest one was learning Auto- 

CAD. I had never heard of it, never touched it. 

So, I taught myself from online forums and an 

old book that my boss had. 

What qualities does it take to succeed in this 

industry? 

It helps to be detail-oriented, self-competent 

and willing to learn new things. H 

WATCH LAURA’S VIDEO 



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F OR MORE INFORMATION 

Congratulations, 

Laura Tietz! 

2018 ALL STAR 

barnesmfg.com 

560 31st Street, Marion, IA 

(319) 377-3442 

Custom Manufacturing | Painting and Finishing | Product Development | Capital Equipment Infrastructure | Architectural Steel 


FINANCIAL SERVICE, INSURANCE, CUSTOMER SERVICE SECTOR 

LINSEY EIBEN 

Account Manager 

TrueNorth 



We create solutions for companies to protect and 

maximize their assets, resources and opportunities. 


I assist clients by being knowledgeable in the insurance 

industry so I can answer questions for them in 

regard to their policies. I work with insurance carriers 

and brokers to find the right product for insurance. I 

also work with new and upcoming account managers 

at TrueNorth and the risk management department 

to help them grow in the company and learn 

the industry. 


Being organized is key. I have many different tasks 

during the day and get phone calls so I have to stop 

one thing and do another. As long as I stay organized, 

I can get what is needed in a timely fashion. 

Another quality is the eagerness to learn. TrueNorth 

gives us so many different opportunities to take 

classes or work with carriers to learn about products. 

So, I’m able to help the insured and educate them 

on what they’re purchasing. 


It’s something different every day. One day I can be 

working with a doctor who has decided that he’s 

going to fly across the United States to practice 

medicine and he needs coverage. And then the next 

day I can work with a municipality deciding if they’re 

going to build a $60 million building, so I can work 

with them trying to find the coverage they need to 

stay protected. 


The most rewarding part is helping others succeed. If one 

of our clients gets a new administrator in their office, they 

will call and I go through the insurance they currently carry. 

I can help educate the new administrator on what they 

have so they can explain that to their doctors, who are the 

owners of their company. 

What was your path to get to where you are today? 

I was at Kirkwood in the nursing program and had been 

working at TrueNorth part-time at the front desk. During 

nursing school, I figured out that wasn’t what I wanted to 

do, but I still wanted to be a part of the healthcare industry. 

There was an opening here on the professional liability 

team where I could work with hospitals and physicians 

– just in a different way. So, I finished with my two-year 

degree and then started here working on the other side of 

the healthcare industry. 

What are some community activities you’re involved in 

outside work? 

I was born and raised in Central City; now my husband 

and I are raising our family there. When I was a kid, there 

wasn’t much to get involved in until middle school. After 

I had children, I wanted to change that. My husband and 

WATCH LINSEY’S VIDEO 



I worked to create a basketball 

program for pre-K–second graders 

for eight weeks. After that, 

I wanted to start a running club 

for pre-K–eighth grade. I worked 

with the school to use the track, 

where we meet in June twice a 

week. I created a youth volleyball 

club for girls and boys, pre-K– 

sixth grade. I worked with the 

city and a theater director to put 

on a weeklong camp for third– 

sixth grades. We worked with 

the library and school to create a 

Reading Buddy Program for six 

weeks in the summer so older 

students meet with younger ones 

and read together. This summer 

we will start Central City Youth 

Golf for kids K–sixth grade. H 

How can I be an 

All Star? 

All Stars represent outstanding employees who are between 

the ages of 18-35 and have great stories to tell about their 

achievements. All Star and Honorable Mention winners 

represent careers within one of these industries: 

• Architecture, Construction, Engineering (ACE) 

• Advanced Manufacturing 

• Financial Service, Insurance, Customer Service 

• Healthcare 

• Information Technology 

• Transportation, Logistics 

All Stars can represent any career area within the six identified 

industries and are nominated by ICR, Iowa City/Cedar 

Rapids region employers and partners. Please see page 14 

for contact information. 

TO 

THE ONLY WAY DO 

GREAT WORK 

love 

IS TO 

WHAT YOU DO. 

-STEVE JOBS 

CONGRATULATIONS 

on being selected as an 

ALL STAR by the Iowa City/ 

Cedar Rapids Region Industry 

Sector Boards. TrueNorth is so 

proud to have you on our team! 

LINSEY EIBEN 

truenorthcompanies.com 


FINANCIAL SERVICE, INSURANCE, CUSTOMER SERVICE SECTOR 

DIANA 

RODRIGUEZ 

Recruiting Manager 

Hibu 



Hibu is a leading provider of digital marketing 

solutions to small businesses across the 

United States. We provide a comprehensive 

portfolio of services, including digital listings 

management, website design and development, 

search engine marketing and optimization, 

online and mobile display as well as social 

campaign creation and management. Hibu has 

simplified the digital marketing process, allowing 

clients to partner with a single provider to 

achieve their marketing objectives. Hibu is a 

Facebook Marketing Partner, Google Premier 

Partner, Yahoo Preferred Partner and Bing Ads 

SMB Select Partner. 


I’m responsible for developing and implementing 

recruiting strategies to identify and hire the 

best candidates to fulfill our company openings. 

This includes developing creative sourcing 

strategies and building relationships with 

candidates in the marketplace. I also help build 

community awareness through career fairs at 

universities and events, such as the Cedar Rapids 

Farmer’s Market and Uptown Friday Nights. 

What skills are important for you to do your 

job well? 

One of the most important aspects of my job 

is developing relationships with hiring managers 

and candidates. It is very important for me 

to understand the departments I support and 

provide a best-in-class experience for our candidates, 

from recruitment to onboarding. I also believe 

to be successful you must be determined, focused and 

resilient along with having the ability to multitask. 


There are a variety of exciting and interesting parts to 

my job. Not only do I get to work with top talent in the 

area and share my passion about Hibu, I also get to work 

with candidates who are just entering the marketplace. 

It’s so exciting to see their careers develop and grow 

within the organization. Doing my job well means I can 

effectively change the direction and success of Hibu by 

hiring high-value, diverse and innovative candidates. 

This means our products get to our clients faster and 

the talents of our employees set Hibu apart from the 

competition. 


Apart from hiring great talent and watching their careers 

develop, I also love being part of a company that 

gives back to the local community in a variety of ways. I 

am honored to co-lead our award-winning United Way 

campaign. My team and I are responsible for planning, 

organizing and implementing the campaign in the Cedar 

WATCH DIANA’S VIDEO 



Rapids office. Each year we work hard to come up with new and fun 

events to keep our campaign creative and exciting. In the past six 

years Hibu has raised nearly $1.6 million for United Way’s efforts to 

help local communities like our own. 

What motivated you to pursue your career path? 

My parents instilled a value that education has the power to change 

your life. Because of their constant encouragement – even as a fulltime 

employee of Hibu and having the responsibilities of a single 

parent – I enrolled in the adult accelerated program at Kirkwood and 

subsequently earned my bachelor’s in Business Administration with 

honors from Mount Mercy University. I am proud to say I am a firstgeneration 

college graduate. H 

Customer Service, 

Financial Services and 

Insurance Sector 

Median Hourly 

Earnings 

$ 

17.45 

GROWTH 2018-2022 

Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage: +17% 

Claims Adjusters, Examiners, Investigators: +16% 

Bill and Account Collectors: +10% 

Credit Analysts: +10% 

Personal Financial Advisors: +8% 

Loan Officers: +5% 

EMSI occupation employment data are based on final EMSI industry data and final 

EMSI staffing patterns. Wage estimates are based on Occupational Employment 

Statistics (QCEW and Non-QCEW Employees classes of worker) and the American 

Community Survey (Self-Employed and Extended Proprietors). Occupational wage 

estimates also affected by county-level EMSI earnings by industry. 


ABOUT ICR, IOWA 

SECTOR BOARDS 

Employer members of ICR, 

IOWA Sector Boards work to 

collectively develop workforce 

solutions tailored to an industry 

sector. Workforce solutions include 

developing and sustaining 

a comprehensive regional career 

pathway system that is targeted 

to meet the needs of the talent 

pipeline, employers and workers. 

Sector Boards use data to forecast 

labor needs and identify specific 

jobs and skill needs, develop career 

and training pathway maps, 

and develop workforce strategies 

that address supply and demand. 

These Sector Boards are 

employer-led, and membership 

is comprised of employers as well 

as economic development, workforce, 

education, nonprofit and 

community groups. The region’s 

six Sector Boards include: 

• Architecture, Construction, 

Engineering 

• Advanced Manufacturing 

• Financial Service, Insurance, 

Customer Service 

• Healthcare 

• Information Technology 

• Transportation, Logistics 

Through this partnership, the 

ICR, IOWA Sector Boards are able 

to collectively promote opportunities 

for training and employment 

for the region’s growing 

industry sectors through various 

activities and projects, including: 

• All Stars 

• Job Fairs 

• Industry Tours 

• Employer Panels 

QUESTIONS? 

If you are interested in learning more about 

the ICR Sector Boards, or want to become 

an employer board member, please contact: 

Architecture, Construction, Engineering (ACE) 

Amy.Lasack@kirkwood.edu 

Advanced Manufacturing 

Barbara.Rawson@kirkwood.edu 

Financial Service, Insurance, Customer Service 

Judy.Stoffel@kirkwood.edu 

Healthcare 

Judy.Stoffel@kirkwood.edu 

Information Technology (IT) 

Gary.Vogt@kirkwood.edu 

Transportation, Logistics 

Ashley.Grimm@kirkwood.edu 

This could 

be you! 

Alpla’s success 

is driven by employee 

excellence. 

ALPLA, a place to learn and grow. 

Heather Quigley 

www.alpla.com 

(319) 337-8040 

Alpla’s All Star 

Iowa City EBM 

2258 Heinz Road 

Iowa City 

Iowa City ISBM 

2309 Heinz Road 

Iowa City 


THE ROAD TO GREAT 

CAREERS STARTS AT 

KIRKWOOD 


THERE’S MORE THAN ONE 

WAY TO GO TO COLLEGE 

Career Academies 

Explore careers and earn college credit while in high school! 

Kirkwood Career Academies give you hands-on experience in 

various fields while making progress on a college degree! Talk 

with your high school guidance counselor for more details. 

High School 

Completion 

Looking to earn your high school diploma? Kirkwood has 

many options for you to obtain your diploma and get 

started in your career. Learn more by talking to the High 

School Completion team.

KIRKWOOD GIVES YOU 

MANY OPTIONS TO GAIN 

MARKETABLE SKILLS 

Short-Term Career 

Training Opportunities 

Did you know you can get career training without spending 

a lot of time in the classroom? Advance your career with no 

lost time. Plus, several of the programs offered can go toward 

earning a college degree! Contact the Kirkwood Continuing 

Education or KPACE team for more information. 

Tuition Assistance 

Facing roadblocks to training? The GAP tuition assistance or 

KPACE pathway program are here to help! Contact Kirkwood 

Continuing Education, GAP or KPACE for more information. 

With more than 120 program options, 

plus agreements for direct admission to Iowa, 

Iowa State and UNI, a two-year degree from 

Kirkwood means finding your future has never 

been easier—or more affordable. 


READY TO GET 

STARTED? 

Here’s who to contact: 

Career Academies 

Contact your high school guidance counselor 

or go to www.kirkwood.edu/earncredit. 

High School Completion 

or Equivalency 

Call 319-784-1510 or go to www.kirkwood.edu/hs. 

Kirkwood Community College 

Call 319-398-5517 (toll free: 800-363-2220) 

or go to www.kirkwood.edu/admissions. 

Short-Term Career Training Opportunities 

Continuing Education 

Call 319-398-1022 or go to www.kirkwood.edu/ce. 

GAP Tuition Assistance 

Call 319-365-9474 ext. 31188, go to www.kirkwood.edu/gap 

or email skillstoemployment@kirkwood.edu. 

KPACE Pathway Training 

Call 319-784-1518 or go to www.kirkwood.edu/kpace 

or email kelly.foresman@kirkwood.edu.

IowaWORKS Job Seeker Ad (Outlines).pdf 1 4/12/2018 8:29:43 AM 

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ALISON 

LAGRANGE 

Family Nurse Practitioner 

Vinton Family Medical Clinic 

Vinton, Iowa 


We provide services to all ages of people 

from prenatal care up to hospice and elderly 

patients in the nursing home. Virginia Gay 

Hospital is a critical access hospital and then 

Vinton Family Medical Clinic is a rural clinic, 

which makes us a little bit different from your 

standard clinics and hospitals. 


My primary job duty is to provide primary 

care to people of all ages starting around 

the newborn phase, generally seven days of 

life, up until death. I also provide acute care 

services to patients which involve illnesses, 

injuries, etc. 


job well? 

First and foremost, I grew up in Vinton so I 

know the geographic location, I know a socioeconomic 

status, I know families, I know the 

people who live here. I did an internship here, 

so I knew how the clinic worked and liked it 

before I even started. I enjoy generational 

care greatly, so that has helped me. As far as 

your basic skills, organization and listening 

have really helped me to succeed. 


No two days are the same. No two patients are the 

same. It keeps me on my toes. It keeps me constantly 

learning. Another interesting part is we have a new 

building, so we transitioned from a small clinic to a twostory 

clinic that expanded our ability to have more staff. 

And then the coolest of the things in the last year is we 

have a new scribe service. It’s a virtual scribe service, so 

we wear Google Glass to see our patients and we have 

someone on the other side transcribing in real time. 

So, our charts are done in a more accurate and quick 

process and it takes a lot of stress off of us providers as 

well. It’s really cool. 


The most rewarding part is taking care of patients I see 

in town: friends, family and the family members of my 

friends. I’m starting to, at my age, see my friends’ babies 

as they grow up and through their well-child years. 

What was your educational path that led you here? 

When I was 16 years old in high school, Kirkwood Community 

College partnered with the local school district 

to provide a nursing assistant class. I took that, and 

started working at our nursing and rehab facility until 

I moved to Iowa City. I got into the nursing program 

WATCH ALISON’S VIDEO 



at the University of Iowa getting my BSN and RN and then 

worked in the pediatric intensive care unit at the University 

of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. I then moved away with my 

husband to Washington state and wanted to do more with 

my nursing career. Since nursing is so versatile, I decided 

nurse practitioner was the route for me. I got accepted into 

Georgetown University’s online master’s program. That allowed 

me to move back to Iowa to finish the program. 

Why did you decide to go into nursing? 

My brother was in a motorcycle accident when he was 16 

and spent a while in the hospital. I saw the great impact 

the nurses had on my brother. It just inspired me how many 

people one person can help. H 

Healthcare Sector 

Median Hourly 

Earnings 

$ 

20.27 

GROWTH 2018-2022 

Home Health Aides: +12% 

Nurse Practitioners: +10% 

Personal Care Aides: +10% 

Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks: +8% 

Registered Nurses: +5% 

EMSI occupation employment data are based on final EMSI industry data and final EMSI staffing patterns. Wage estimates are based on Occupational 

Employment Statistics (QCEW and Non-QCEW Employees classes of worker) and the American Community Survey (Self-Employed and Extended 

Proprietors). Occupational wage estimates also affected by county-level EMSI earnings by industry. 



ABBY SIEK 

Acute Adult Float Nurse 

& Nursing Supervisor 

UnityPoint - St. Luke’s Hospital 



St. Luke’s is a 532-bed inpatient hospital. We have 40 years 

of cardiovascular care and open-heart surgery. We’re taking 

care of patients the way we’d like our loved ones to be 

taken care of. 


I provide after-hours and weekend administrative leadership 

to the different inpatient departments and to our 

affiliates in the community. I oversee clinical staffing, 

hospital admissions and act as a team member for our 

rapid response and code blue teams. I also provide patient 

care, nursing support and leadership at the bedside to 

help facilitate excellent patient care, including patient care 

advocacy services. 

What skills are important for you to do your job well? 

House supervisors need excellent communication skills, 

bedside nursing skills and an understanding of how hospital 

operations work. We also need to be able to interact well 

with people and build relationships. Critical thinking and 

problem-solving are part of what we do every day; and, in 

a lot of regards, the knowledge of the hospital policies and 

procedures is one of the most important functions of what 

we do. We provide the expertise to interpret policies and 

procedures into excellent patient care. We also get to know 

our patients both in the inpatient setting and in the community. 

It puts us in a unique position to be able to assess 

what the needs of the patient are to most closely match 

those needs to the services we have at St. Luke’s. 


I know I am going to be challenged every day, and I know 

I am going to learn something. But sometimes the lessons 

aren’t exactly what I would have thought, or sometimes the 

greatest learning opportunities come when least expected. 

22 2018 ALL STARS of ICR 

I really enjoy the fact that I can’t necessarily predict 

the way the day will go. But at the end of the day, I 

have an opportunity to serve other people, including 

the people I work with and members of the 

community. To me, it’s a really awesome feeling to 

come to work every day and know something great 

is going to happen. 


The most rewarding part of nursing is seeing firsthand 

the difference healthcare workers can make 

in the lives of other people. We tell the students: 

‘You don’t study for the test; you study for the day 

that the patient will breathe easier because of you 

or have a better outcome because you were there.’ 

I think when you have the opportunity to make 

a firsthand difference in the life of a patient or a 

family or make the difference for someone who’s 

new to the profession, it gives you a real sense of 

accomplishment to have paid forward the skills and 

opportunities given to you. 

What motivated you to get into nursing? 

I started out working in cereal processing. When 

my mother-in-law became terminally ill, I took 

some time off from work and helped take care of 

her. During that difficult time, I really felt inspired 

to do something different with my life. I took the 

things I had learned about myself and healthcare 

and turned that into a great second career. I have 

learned something every day I’ve been a nurse and 

I’ve never regretted the decision to switch careers. 

I still use engineering knowledge every day. I take 

things apart and I put them back together and 

sometimes I break them in the process. But, I take 

the things I know about operations and combine 

them with the things that I’ve learned about nursing. 

It makes me a different kind of nurse. H 

WATCH ABBY’S VIDEO 

http://bit.ly/2018AllStarsICR

ADVERTISEMENT 

Why choose a career with 

UnityPoint Health - Cedar Rapids? 

As a team member, regardless of your position, 

you will have the opportunity to 

change lives on a daily basis, delivering on 

our vision of Best Outcome for Every Patient 

Every Time. That privilege drives employees’ 

passion for making a difference in the lives 

of our patients, helping them create healthier, 

more rewarding lives. UnityPoint Health 

sets high expectations for team members in 

order to establish a trusted team capable of 

taking on the toughest of challenges. 

Our team members strive to work as one 

through four key values: 

1. Foster Unity 

– We use the skills and abilities of each 

person to enable great teams. 

– We collaborate across departments, 

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diverse thoughts and perspectives. 

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– We connect with each person treating 

them with courtesy, compassion, 

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– We enthusiastically engage in our work. 

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Our Mission: Improving the health 

and lives of communities and 

patients we serve 

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we know our collective actions 

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– We commit to the best outcomes and the 

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celebrating our successes. 

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problems regardless of origin. 

4. Seize Opportunity 

– We embrace and promote innovation 

and transformation. 

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UnityPoint Health team members come for a job, but stay for a career. 

When will you begin yours? 

Career Opportunities 

Our award-winning providers, 

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Pediatrics 

Pharmacy 

Laboratory 

Advanced Practice 

Therapy/Behavioral Health 

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Non-Clinical 

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Billing Office 

Environmental Service 

Finance and Accounting 

Home Medical Equipment 

Human Resources 

Information Technology 

Patient Registration 

Procurement, Supply, Distribution 

And More! 

Come for a 

job, stay for 

a career. 

unitypoint.org/career 



CODY METZ 

Software Developer 

Bio::Neos 

Coralville, Iowa 


We make custom software for life science 

researchers. 


As a software developer, I work on programming 

applications for businesses and researchers. 

I’m also involved in designing and testing 

our applications to make sure they meet our 

clients’ goals. 


job well? 

I think critical thinking and problem-solving skills 

are really important for a software developer. 

Being able to debug the code that you write, 

having the ability to think ahead and anticipate 

problems and planning out how to implement 

new features all require those two skills. 


I think the most interesting part is being able 

to create something from code, being able 

to build something, see it work, and actually 

do what you want it to do. I think that’s really 

exciting. One of my first projects working 

here was to help create a web application for 

researchers to keep track of how their experiments 

run and the results of their experiments. 

So, being able to work on that and then see it 

actually come to fruition was really cool. 


The most rewarding part of the job for me is 

building something that I know other people 

are going to use with the expectation that it 

helps them do their research or accomplish 

WATCH CODY’S VIDEO 


their task, which in turn will hopefully help better other 

peoples’ lives. 

What is one thing about your job most people don’t 

realize you do? 

I think a lot of people think a software developer probably 

just sits at the computer all day. Obviously, that’s a big 

part of the job, but there’s definitely a lot of collaboration 

and communication with my teammates when we’re 

designing something or fixing bugs. 

How did your interest in IT begin? 

I got interested in computer science and programming 

during college. I was majoring in biomedical engineering 

and during my coursework, I took a couple of computer 

programming classes and found that I really enjoyed it. 

As my college career went on, I just took more and more 

electives in computer science. When I got out of college 

and looked around, I struggled to find a job in the 

biomedical engineering field. So instead, I found a job as 

a software tester. After that, I applied to Bio::Neos and 

became a software developer. 


How are you involved in IT 

outside your job and why is that 

important? 

I’ve been involved with Hour of 

Code which is a program that 

runs during Computer Science 

Week, and I’ve had experience 

working with kids at local schools 

around the area and introducing 

them to computer science and 

programming and the logic that 

goes with it. I think it’s important 

to be involved in the community 

because as a kid, I didn’t really 

have the opportunity to learn 

about computer science or tech 

until college. So, I think it’s cool 

giving kids the opportunity to 

learn about that now and they 

can see if they like it. If they do, 

then that gives them a head start 

on their careers. H 

IT Sector 

Median Hourly Earnings 

Software Developers, Applications: $40.22 

Web Developers: $26.81 

Database Administrators: $40.12 

Computer Programmer: $33.69 

Network and Computer Systems 

Administrators: $34.63 

EMSI occupation employment data are based on final 

EMSI industry data and final EMSI staffing patterns. 

Wage estimates are based on Occupational Employment 

Statistics (QCEW and Non-QCEW Employees classes 

of worker) and the American Community Survey (Self- 

Employed and Extended Proprietors). Occupational wage 

estimates also affected by county-level EMSI earnings by 

industry. 

Tara Edmund was 

named Honorable 

Mention from the 

Financial Services, 

Insurance and 

Customer Service 

sector board. 

Congratulations! 

Member FDIC 

7045 C Avenue NE, Cedar Rapids 

2701 Edgewood Parkway SW, Cedar Rapids 

bankiowa.com 



MADISON 

WILLIAMS 

Project Manager 

ProCircular 

Coralville, Iowa 


We are an information security and privacy 

company that offers customized, full-service 

programs to help our customers protect their 

corporate data and client data. We do so by 

identifying, prioritizing and remediating security 

risks within three key areas: People, Technical 

and Compliance. Our goal is to build active 

partnerships with each of our customers that 

uniquely meets their specific needs and wants. 


We’re a startup company, so naturally, that 

means “wearing multiple hats.” The majority 

of my time is spent balancing the duties of a 

Project Manager and a Lead Trainer. For project 

management, I ensure customer deliverables are 

executed according to our quality, scoping and 

scheduling standards. I enjoy working directly 

with customers, creating and communicating 

“game-plans” and tracking our internal efficiencies 

and successes. It’s very rewarding to be 

involved with a project from initiation all the way 

to closure and witness the benefits our customers 

receive. For my training responsibilities, I 

own the delivery of all our end-user training engagements. 

Within this area, I create and share 

unique training programs with customers from 

multiple industries. With every training, my goal 

is to relay a message that is engaging, relevant 

and immediately applicable to the audience. 

WATCH MADISON’S VIDEO 



Something I really love about my job is delivering end-user 

training. As ProCircular’s Lead Trainer, I routinely get in 

front of customers from multiple industries and share the 

importance of cybersecurity from an end-user perspective. 

Technical controls are critical in order to have an effective 

security program; however, you cannot just stop there. It’s 

also extremely important to address the human element of 

a security program. I enjoy the chance to teach users how 

they can play an active role in protecting their company’s 

data and how they can easily incorporate this responsibility 

into day-to-day tasks. To avoid falling victim to cyber and 

social engineering attacks today, you need a solid technical 

firewall and a solid human firewall. 


The most rewarding part is winning the trust of our customers 

and building genuine, ongoing relationships. We 

understand the apprehension or uncertainty that can come 

with trusting a vendor to protect a company’s most sensitive 

data. I love the “shift” when it’s clear that we’ve overcome 

the challenge of uncertainty and when our customers 

begin viewing us as partners, not just vendors. I think 

we gain this trust by ensuring our actions are transparent, 


acked by evidence and expertise, and 

committed to providing the best outcome 

for our customers’ unique needs. 

What was your path into this field? 

I graduated from the University of Iowa, 

where I majored in marketing and management 

with an emphasis in leadership. Prior 

to joining ProCircular, I had never worked 

for a start-up company. However, when 

the opportunity to join ProCircular came, 

I found myself interested in the chance to 

join something brand new and be a part of 

building something from the ground up. I 

didn’t know much about cybersecurity at 

the beginning, but I knew I could learn the 

industry, I knew my skillset would be beneficial 

to a start-up, and I knew I was ready to 

take on the challenge of being a company’s 

sole Project Manager. Over a year later, I am 

still very happy and confident with my decision 

to join the ProCircular team. H 

It’s very rewarding 

to be involved 

with a project from 

initiation all the way 

to closure and witness 

the benefits our 

customers receive. 

Madison Williams 

People are at the 

heart of successful 

cybersecurity. 

ProCircular’s Lead Trainer 

Madison Williams 

No one demonstrates that more genuinely than 

Madison Williams, ProCircular’s lead trainer, 

project manager, and celebrated 2018 All Star 

of the Corridor. 

ProCircular engages your employees as active 

participants in cybersecurity, linking the power of 

their awareness and knowledge directly to your 

success. Through her leadership, poise, and affable 

instruction, Madison is the nexus of that endeavor. 

Congratulations, Maddie, and thanks for all the 

ways you make ProCircular shine! 


TRANSPORTATION, LOGISTICS SECTOR 

CHAD PESKA 

Service Manager 

Papa’s Truck & Trailer Repair 



We are a medium- to heavy-duty repair facility 

of semis and trailers. Our typical workload 

varies week-to-week from 50 units to 

200, depending on what repairs are needed. 


I run the shop day-to-day, managing the 

mechanics and giving them their job duties. 

I talk to the customers about what repairs 

are needed on their trucks and help them 

diagnose what’s going on with the unit. 

What skills are important for you to do 

your job well? 

The biggest thing that helps me with my 

job would be problem-solving. Every day 

there’s a new issue that needs solved every 

minute. There’s always something different 

going on with trucks and trailers. Every day 

we have to put our heads together, really 

think about what is wrong with the unit or 

what we have to do to fix it. There is some 

repetitive work, but every day the same 

unit doesn’t break twice for the same issue. 

My biggest advice for anybody looking to 

be a diesel mechanic is to not get discouraged. 

Things can get chaotic and difficult 

around a successful repair facility. As long 

as you stay focused and consistent in your 

WATCH CHAD’S VIDEO 


work and utilize the resources around you, things will 

work out well. 


Because there are people from all different countries 

and states that come to us, we get to meet many backgrounds 

of people. One day we might be dealing with 

somebody from Texas, another day it might be somebody 

from Turkey. It’s amazing how many people we 

meet. People find out about our company through the 

internet (mainly Google) but word of mouth goes a long 

way in this area as well. 


The saying goes, “If you bought it, a truck brought it.” 

Knowing that with every truck we repair and get back 

on the road, helping necessary goods get from A to B is 

rewarding. 

What’s one thing most people don’t realize you do? 

We have diagnostic software for trucks. We hook trucks 

up to a computer multiple times daily. Typically, people 

don’t picture mechanics as doing “computer work” but 

every day we diagnose problems with large wiring schematics 

all based off a software program. 


Transportation, Logistics Sector 

What sparked your interest in this industry? 

I’ve tinkered with and worked on things with 

engines since I was a boy. I lived on a rural 

acreage and saw my father work on demolition 

derby cars. I looked at the job growth 

and the stability of diesel mechanics, knowing 

that goods are always going to need delivered. 

I thought that was a really good deal 

– that nothing can come in and replace me. I 

went to school at Kirkwood in Cedar Rapids 

and got an associate’s degree of applied science 

in diesel truck technology. 

What motivates you to do your job? 

I’m always thinking about what I can do better 

at my job to help my company. But my 

biggest motivation in life in general is my 

family – my wife and two kids – being able to 

support them by doing something I am passionate 

about is a great motivator. My family 

is everything to me. H 

In 2018, there are 14,293 

jobs in ICR region. 

30 % above national 

average 

Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators, there 

is a 10% growth from 2018- 2022 

Production, Planning and Expediting Clerks, 

5% growth from 2018-2022 

EMSI occupation employment data are based on 

final EMSI industry data and final EMSI staffing 

patterns. Wage estimates are based on Occupational 

Employment Statistics (QCEW and Non-QCEW 

Employees classes of worker) and the American 

Community Survey (Self-Employed and Extended 

Proprietors). Occupational wage estimates also affected 

by county-level EMSI earnings by industry. 

Don Hummer Trucking Salutes the 

2018 

ALL STARS 

Don Hummer Trucking is proud to help Eastern Iowa develop a 

sustainable workforce by offering great career opportunities. We 

believe in developing and fostering local talent to make our region 

more competitive, successful and a better place to work. 

888-323-6115 

donhummertrucking.com 


INTERNSHIP 

ALIVEA 

CARNAHAN 

Certified Nursing 

Assistant 

and 

Kirkwood Nursing 

Student 

Oaknoll Retirement Community 

Iowa City, Iowa 

WATCH ALIVEA’S VIDEO 


What are you doing currently? 

I am currently working as a CNA at Oaknoll and I am 

going to Kirkwood for nursing. 

What are your job duties as a CNA? 

When I get to work, I am assigned a section of the 

nursing home and a specific hallway. I usually have 

about five to six residents I look out for the entire 

second shift that I’m on. I help them with getting 

dressed. I help them go to the bathroom. I help them 

with anything in their daily life. I’m there to help them 

if they are not able to do it themselves. 


In my current position being very open-minded is 

important. One thing you really have to be cautious 

of is always having a positive attitude because when, 

for instance in a nursing home, people see you being 

negative, then they’re going to think negative. You 

just want to be positive and love what you do. 


The most interesting part of my job is there’s never a 

dull moment. Every day is different. I constantly am 

laughing because the residents just put a wonderful 

smile on my face. They’re constantly telling me stories 

about their life in the past or even now. It’s definitely a 

very fun job. 


The most rewarding part of the job I would say is 

definitely seeing the smiles on the residents’ faces. As 

soon as they see you, it’s almost like you’re their own 

family and that’s how they treat you and it makes you 

feel really wonderful. 

What is one thing about your job most people 

don’t realize you do? 

We take care of residents to the ability where they 

aren’t able to do things themselves. Most of the time 

it’s helping them emotionally, not just helping them 

to their room. A lot of them are going through some 

things because they’re in a new place. It’s not their 

actual home and there’s a lot of emotions that go along 

with it. It’s not just the aspect of we’re there to take 

care of them, but we’re also there to be there for them. 

What sparked your interest in healthcare? 

Growing up, I’ve always wanted to help people. I’ve 

had family members in the field. My grandpa was a 


H 

NORABLE 

MENTION 

The following individuals are All Star Honorable 

Mentions and are to be commended for the 

contributions they make to their industry: 

Ram Adhikari 

Raining Rose 

Robert Akerson 

Reinhart Foodservices 

Gabriel Glambo Akpalo 

Raining Rose 

Jess Bertling 

The New Bohemian Innovation 

Collaborative (NewBoCo) 

Janelle Beswick 

Iowa City VA Health Care System 

Chelsey Blue 

ESP International 

Erik Bussey 

Collabrance 

Caley Conry 

Living Center East 

Kyle Cowman 

Ovation Networks 

Tara Edmund 

BankIowa 

Maria Gaffney 

hibu 

Jennifer Germaine 

Germaine Law Firm 

Mallory Gritton 

UnityPoint-St. Luke’s Hospital 

Colton Halder 

Boyens Machining 

Sandra Hawes 

Clickstop 

Geoff Knoop 

UFG Insurance 

Jennifer Lahey 

IowaWORKS 

Anthony Lauber 

Engineered Building Design 

Michael Lyon 

Bio::Neos Inc. 

Casey Martin 

Rockwell Collins 

Michael Nielson 

TSF Structures Inc. 

Dalton Ott 

GreatAmerica Financial 

Heather Quigley 

Alpla 

Michael Rozum 

Benefit Solutions Inc. 

Eric Schmitt 

Rapids Foodservice Contract 

and Design 

Jeff Talbot 

Greiner Buildings 

Courtney Upah 

Kirkwood Community College 

Shamus Veach 

Modern Sheet Metal Inc. 

Aaron Voss 

TrueNorth Companies 

Cory Witham 

Timberline Manufacturing 

general surgeon. My mom’s in healthcare. My dad is, 

too. So, it’s just been running in my family and I’ve 

always looked up to them. 

What is your plan for the future? 

I would like to graduate from Kirkwood with my RN and 

continue to get my BSN elsewhere. I am looking to go 

into labor and delivery as a nurse or pediatric oncology. 

What motivates you to pursue a nursing career? 

There are always people out there who need more 

help and there’s that part of me that says, “I can help 

them.” Every day I just think about before I go to 

work: “I’m going to help someone today, I’m going 

to put a smile on someone’s face.” That motivation to 

think ‘I’m going to make somebody else’s day’ makes 

your own day as well. H

All Stars 2018

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