Tell me when you first started with Cedar Lake.
November 2013 as the VP of Human Resources.
How long were you with Cedar Lake?
For 6 years. First as the VP of Human Resources to the VP of Administration and then Chief Administrative Officer.
Tell me a little bit about yourself: family, job, hobbies, etc.
I’ve been married for 16 years. We serve together in ministry and like to travel. Our lives are centered around helping others. We travel domestically and internationally; most is centered around ministry work and then vacations are sprinkled in. Vacations are usually by the ocean. Our most memorable trip was Israel.
What is your favorite memory of your time with Cedar Lake?
My favorite memory was one of my very first Cedar Lake moments – it was my first experience out of Corporate America, and it was on Maundy Thursday, leading up to Easter.
A member of the Spiritual Life team at the time went to all locations within Cedar Lake to offer communion to staff and the people that we support.
One of the people that we support is nonverbal and at the time that she was taking communion, she spoke and said, “for me” and took the communion. Not only was that a powerful moment to witness, the bread that was used for communion was made at CLEC by those that we support. It was so powerful to see all that Cedar Lake encompasses: the people that we support, the Christian principles that we were founded upon, which also reminds us that the ground is level at the foot of the cross. This moment embodied all that we are at Cedar Lake.
Another favorite memory was with Michael and Arnold at Park Place. We would periodically go to lunch. In 2019 when I was leaving, I had my last lunch with Michael and Arnold and will always hold onto those memories.
What’s your favorite annual event?
My favorite event is the Employee Awards Banquet. It’s special because we get to celebrate the people that make it all happen.
Anything else you’d like to share?
When the board asked me to come back to help Cedar Lake in this interim period, the answer was absolutely. I will always be willing to do what I can to help Cedar Lake. It’s been heartwarming anytime someone has told me “welcome home” now that I’m back in the doors. That’s what makes Cedar Lake special.
