Age: 34
Occupation: Executive Director, Indian Creek Nature Center
What’s the best advice you ever received: Take every opportunity to step outside your comfort zone and learn something new.
What do you consider your greatest professional accomplishments: I have two professional achievements for which I am especially proud. The first is starting a new Boy Scout program for at-risk youth, which had over 800 participants meeting monthly throughout the Corridor. The second is setting a vision to build the most sustainable building in Iowa. While still under construction, the vision set a challenging course for Indian Creek Nature Center’s future, motivated our team and allowed a multi-million dollar capital campaign to exceed its goal, both in dollars raised and in time to do so.
How do you ensure a balance between work and your personal life: It’s about priorities. I may go to work early and work after the kids are in bed, but I always make it home for dinner and always make school meetings and activities for my kids. Technology ensures our ability to be mobile and work from anywhere at any time, thereby making it easier to prioritize.
What’s something people should know about your generation in the workplace: Impact matters. Doing something because it’s “always been done that way” is our worst enemy. My generation has to know why we are doing something and see the direct benefit of our work.
If you had $1 million to give, what causes would you support: Scouting, the outdoors, youth education and church – but only if the organizations are high performing, can show their impact, and are focused on long-term financial and operational sustainability.
Who are your local mentors: David Blankenship, senior vice president with TransAmerica; Anne King, assistant professor of marketing, Mount Mercy University; and my parents, John and Marcia Myers.
