Details
Nutrition Services Director, Aging Resources of Central Iowa
Des Moines, IA
Age: 26
Education: Iowa State University
Years at organization: 3
Why Selected?
According to Anthony Lee, aging information specialist, Kate has made a difference at ARCI by:
- Going out of her way to assist in activities, even those that go beyond the scope of her job
- Starting a nutrition newsletter that is distributed to all ARCI meal sites
- Furthering her education by earning her Certified Dietary Manager credential within two years of joining ARCI
Get to know
Being given the opportunity to work in my current position. I am so blessed to work for such a great organization doing something I truly enjoy.
Q. What would you say you excel at over more seasoned colleagues?I love analyzing current processes and then finding innovative ways to simplify them. I’m not afraid of change.
Q. What's the best career advice you've been given?Don’t spread yourself too thin. It’s better to excel at a few things than to be mediocre at many.
Q. What's been the biggest challenge you've had to overcome?Overcoming my shy and accommodating personality. Since I’m young and relatively new to my position, it’s even more important for me to be assertive and self-assured.
Q. What's been your most rewarding moment?Being offered a position [at ARCI] after my internship.
Q. What's been your funniest on-the-job disaster?Last year, we made some changes to the monthly reports our contractors fill out. My supervisor was gone the week the reports were due. The reports were a mess, and I was pulling my hair out. After a few months, the contractors got accustomed to the new reports and it wasn’t nearly as difficult as I originally thought.
Q. What can you look back at now and laugh at?When I look back at the odd jobs I did as an intern I can’t help but laugh. I did random tasks from administering phone surveys to cleaning toilet seats.
What would you like to accomplish in your career short term?
I would like to increase attendance at the congregate meal sites in central Iowa.