Mikena VanLiere - EmBe

The CEO Column: April 2021

Mikena VanLiere2021-04-23T14:36:23-05:00

(Sioux Falls, SD, April 23, 2021) - Empowering you to be…. Not surprisingly, these words keep running through my mind like a cadence, a mantra and a challenge since joining EmBe. That, in conjunction with a recent Slack post asking, “when what would your occupation be if you followed your childhood dreams,” has me reflecting. When I was a child, I didn’t have the same aspirations as most kids did… well, beyond wanting to be a Solid Gold Dancer, I wanted to grow up to be my dad. He was the Adult and Community Education Director in my hometown. Yep [...]

The CEO Column: April 2021Mikena VanLiere2021-04-23T14:36:23-05:00

Alex Helvin: South Childcare Site Manager

Mikena VanLiere2021-04-16T15:25:29-05:00

We are so excited to highlight and welcome Alex Helvin, our new South Childcare Site Manager, to the EmBe team. As the Childcare Site Manager, Alex provides daily management to the childcare site, leadership, supervision and development of childcare staff, along with parent communications and admissions. Alex is certainly not "new" in the sense of joining EmBe's team. Helvin started at EmBe when she was young and grew up within the company. "I have learned and developed both personally and professionally through my experiences with EmBe," Helvin started. "A lot of the foundational skills stem from what I built with [...]

Alex Helvin: South Childcare Site ManagerMikena VanLiere2021-04-16T15:25:29-05:00

EmBe Announces 2021 Tribute to Women Winners

Mikena VanLiere2021-04-15T19:46:00-05:00

(Thursday, April 15, 2021 - Sioux Falls) Eight honorees were selected from nearly fifty nominations on April 15 for EmBe’s 48th Tribute to Women awards. The event was held virtually on EmBe’s Facebook and YouTube pages. Tribute to Women is the longest-standing award honoring the achievements of women in the region. “Tribute lifts the good work being done in the community,” said Jennifer Smith Hoesing, EmBe’s Chief Development Officer. “It has never been more important to shine a light on the people who work to make our community strong and resilient.” Firmly rooted in its foundation as the YWCA’s Leadership [...]

EmBe Announces 2021 Tribute to Women WinnersMikena VanLiere2021-04-15T19:46:00-05:00

EmBe Announces 2021 Tribute to Women Nominees

Mikena VanLiere2021-03-29T11:32:57-05:00

(Sioux Falls, March 29, 2021) – Forty-nine women and men have been nominated for EmBe’s 48th Tribute to Women awards. Tribute to Women is the longest-standing award honoring the achievements of women in the region. “Tribute to Women celebrates the work people do to empower our community. For 48 years, Tribute has honored those actively transform our community, making it thrive. Especially after this past year, it’s a great way to come together and celebrate the accomplishments of these outstanding nominees,” said Kerri Tietgen, EmBe CEO. The honorees were nominated in one of the following categories: Business Achievement, Community Service, [...]

EmBe Announces 2021 Tribute to Women NomineesMikena VanLiere2021-03-29T11:32:57-05:00

Shelby Norgaard: Curriculum & Staff Development Coordinator

Mikena VanLiere2021-03-25T16:36:29-05:00

Shelby Norgaard is the Curriculum and Staff Development Coordinator in our Childcare & School Age Care department. Shelby is the backbone of the department by helping train staff, support the Site Managers and Teachers in any way she can to ensure they have what they need to carry out lesson plans and ensuring teachers and children are safe. "There is nothing like walking into a classroom and having children shout out my name," Shelby stated. "Hugs and fist pumps are the highlights of my day. It is always an adventure to figure out a way to sit ten children on [...]

Shelby Norgaard: Curriculum & Staff Development CoordinatorMikena VanLiere2021-03-25T16:36:29-05:00

Volunteer Highlight: Sam Ryckman

Mikena VanLiere2021-03-09T09:33:05-06:00

FIRST LEGO League Alum and Volunteer: Sam Ryckman My interest in engineering and science started the same way it likely did for many: playing with Lego. From age eleven to eighteen, I participated in FIRST Lego League (FLL) and later FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC). These programs sparked my interest in science and engineering through exciting challenges and fun competitions. I learned how to design, program, and build robots. But more importantly, I learned the importance of teamwork, communication, and hard work. I am now attending college at South Dakota Mines pursuing degrees in mechanical engineering and computer science. After graduating, [...]

Volunteer Highlight: Sam RyckmanMikena VanLiere2021-03-09T09:33:05-06:00

EmBe Selects New Chief Executive Officer

Mikena VanLiere2021-03-08T16:28:50-06:00

(Sioux Falls, March 8, 2021) — Today, the EmBe Board of Directors is proud to announce that Kerri Tietgen has been named the organization’s new Chief Executive Officer. Tietgen will begin her new role on March 22. Tietgen, of Sioux Falls, has 20 plus years of experience in executive leadership roles and most recently was the founder and operator of KT Consulting. In this role she served as a consultant to a range of organizations of all sizes, and from private, non-profit and for-profit sectors. She earned her Master’s Degree from the University of South Dakota. Her expertise encompasses leader [...]

EmBe Selects New Chief Executive OfficerMikena VanLiere2021-03-08T16:28:50-06:00

Megan Willroth: School Age Care Site Coordinator at Freedom

Mikena VanLiere2021-02-19T16:07:07-06:00

Megan Willroth is an After School Care Site Coordinator at Freedom Elementary in Harrisburg. Each day she makes sure that programs are running smoothly and EmBe's values are reflected through the things we do and teach on our offsite locations. "I try to make the before and after school program a safe space for the kids." Megan starts, "I am proud of the kids every day when they enjoy the things I have planned for them and choose to be vulnerable with me after a hard day at school." We are so fortunate for our childcare and school age care [...]

Megan Willroth: School Age Care Site Coordinator at FreedomMikena VanLiere2021-02-19T16:07:07-06:00

Help as Needed: Dress for Success Sioux Falls Mentorship

Mikena VanLiere2021-03-05T16:32:27-06:00

Janet sat across the table from me, a warm cup of coffee in each of our hands as I welcomed her to share a little more about herself. This was the beginning of a six-week mentorship in which I, a thirty-something, came to learn more about a fifty-something who found herself unemployed following decades of hard work. Janet, a mother, widow and college graduate with a host of experience, was already working with an employment specialist at the Department of Labor. Her resume was impeccable. Her letters of reference provided insight into her exceptional work ethic. We met weekly, in-person [...]

Help as Needed: Dress for Success Sioux Falls MentorshipMikena VanLiere2021-03-05T16:32:27-06:00

EmBe proudly announces renovations to downtown location

Mikena VanLiere2021-01-26T08:40:14-06:00

(Sioux Falls, SD, January 25, 2021) - EmBe’s renovation will bring facilities into alignment with community needs identified in our recently adopted 2021-2024 strategic plan. “EmBe is building on our 100-year legacy of serving women and families in the community. The time is right for EmBe to invest our resources in this project. The form has followed the function, and we have the opportunity to align our historic 1951 facility with 21st century priories and needs,” said Anne Rieck McFarland, EmBe Interim CEO. “EmBe has transformed many thousands of lives right here in the heart of downtown Sioux Falls. This [...]

EmBe proudly announces renovations to downtown locationMikena VanLiere2021-01-26T08:40:14-06:00

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About Mikena VanLiere