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What drew you to this new position with the Fort Des Moines Museum and Education Center?

I worked with Joe Nolte part time when he was at the African-American museum in Cedar Rapids. We just were synergistic in terms of doing what that museum needed to make its mission accomplished successfully and when he became the executive director here, we ran into each other at lunch one day and he said, “I have a position for you,” and I said, “OK.”

Was this a huge transition for you?

It is in the way that I’m not having crying babies and handing out diapers and personal items to people every day. But this is an opportunity to really advance the education and awareness of the history that is right here in our city. With what happened with black military officers (being) commissioned right here in Fort Des Moines, it really places us on the map worldwide for history. For the women to come in 1942 and train and serve for World War II is just another mark in history for diversity. Our mission here is to preserve that history, and we work to achieve that by having as many young people come through here. We have about 5,000 students a year and we’re working to secure funding to keep that continuing.

Is that your biggest goal starting out?

We have a lot of big goals right now. Preserving the history is the primary goal, and educating and creating the awareness of the history.

What attracted you to nonprofit work?

It’s my passion for people and also my commitment to women’s and children’s issues.

Have you always worked with nonprofits?

When I was 25, I opened up an insurance agency in River Grove, Ill. I did that until we moved here in 1992 because of my husband’s job. It was supposed to be for a two-year project, but he just exceeded all of the goals so much that we were still here after two years. I decided that I wanted to do something that my heart was in, and I decided to go back and earn a teaching degree. I really never worked in a classroom, but I worked in the schools for seven years. Then I went to a national tobacco prevention organization and became a health advocate for the African-American community because it was being targeted by Big Tobacco. Then I was part of the “Fight Kool” campaign, and this was a campaign that basically shut down a marketing campaign that was designed to sell (cigarettes) to children. I spent the summer of 2004 in Chicago flying back and forth. That is when I decided I needed to find something where I got home every night.

What are your primary duties here?

Raising money and creating awareness about the museum.

How will the money be used?

It will go toward our exhibits; we would like to keep the exhibits transformational so that people continue to come back. It will go toward the schools and it will support the museum in general, operating expenses as well as programming.

What do you like to do outside work?

I love to read and volunteer.

Have you read any good books lately?

I’m reading “The Power of People” by Dr. Verna Price and “Fight Like a Girl” by Lisa Bevere.

Is there a piece of advice you live by?

Justifying your existence on the planet by making change for the better.

How did you make your first dollar?

My brother and I earned our first dollars by selling nuts off our trees. That gave us candy money.