Staff Spotlight - EmBe

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 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

Kerra Wallace: Lead Teacher in 2C

Mikena VanLiere2021-01-20T10:58:38-06:00

Kerra Wallace is the Lead Teacher in 2C at EmBe South and has done amazing things to continue to evolve our curriculum and ensure our classrooms are a fun and safe environment for the children. Her job entails seeing over the children and daily activities of her classroom. Creating lesson plans, craft prepping, recording information about each child in KidReports and so much more! "I love seeing the kids explore through daily play and watching the lightbulbs turn on when they figure something out," Kerra said. EmBe has helped Kerra in my professional development by giving her the opportunity to [...]

Kerra Wallace: Lead Teacher in 2CMikena VanLiere2021-01-20T10:58:38-06:00

Jennifer Hoesing Named EmBe’s Chief Development Officer

Mikena VanLiere2019-03-19T09:09:05-05:00

EmBe is announcing that Jennifer Smith Hoesing has joined the organization as their Chief Development Officer. She began her role on February 4, 2019. Hoesing is leading the development function, defining strategy and direction at a pivotal time, as EmBe plans for its 100th anniversary in 2021. "Jennifer brings incredible energy and passion to our work serving women and families in our community," said Karen Lundquist, EmBe's CEO. "Her unique perspective as a parent who utilizes EmBe childcare and as a woman advancing in her career adds powerful insight to all that she does on our behalf." Hoesing, of Sioux [...]

Jennifer Hoesing Named EmBe’s Chief Development OfficerMikena VanLiere2019-03-19T09:09:05-05:00

Meet Our Twos Teacher: Miss Zhenya

Mikena VanLiere2019-03-07T10:28:38-06:00

Classical music drifts through the halls at EmBe Downtown. If you follow those notes to their origin, you’ll find yourself in the Twos - a bright, lively room full of culture and thoughtfulness. And at the heart of it is Miss Zhenya Lukyanova, the lead teahcer and person responsible for creating such a unique learning environment. Her Time At EmBe Miss Zhenya has been with EmBe since April 2013. She began as a float at EmBe South and since March 2016 has been the lead teacher in theTwos. She spent her years before moving to America as a Professor of [...]

Meet Our Twos Teacher: Miss ZhenyaMikena VanLiere2019-03-07T10:28:38-06:00

See Us Movement Celebrates One Year

Mikena VanLiere2019-02-08T10:35:53-06:00

EmBe is a proud sponsor of the See Us movement. “It was time to fight for something I am passionate about. I feel like female empowerment is looked down upon by many people, and I wanted to fight for the women that aren’t willing to speak up, while also creating a platform for women that do want to come forward,” said Courtney Place, Augustana University senior volleyball player and founder of the See Us movement. Spreading Awareness The See Us movement works to spread awareness about female athletes being underrepresented, sexualized, and judged based on appearance rather than ability. Founded [...]

See Us Movement Celebrates One YearMikena VanLiere2019-02-08T10:35:53-06:00

EmBe Announces New CEO

Mikena VanLiere2018-10-09T11:12:55-05:00

SIOUX FALLS (Oct. 9, 2018)— Today, the EmBe Board of Directors is proud to announce that Karen Lundquist has been named the organization’s new Chief Executive Officer. Lundquist will begin her new role October 24. Lundquist, of Sioux Falls, has 20 plus years of experience in leadership roles in a broad range of organizations, and has most recently worked as an executive for the Amputee Coalition, the largest non-profit serving the 2 million people living with limb loss in the United States. In addition to earning a Master’s Degree from the University of St. Thomas, she has also worked at [...]

EmBe Announces New CEOMikena VanLiere2018-10-09T11:12:55-05:00

Meet Miss Sarah

Mikena VanLiere2018-10-02T14:11:38-05:00

We want you to get to know the great childcare workers we have at EmBe. Childcare jobs are essential to a strong workforce and the people that care for our kids are doing amazing work. Name: Sarah Watts Site Location: South Years of Service: 6 years What's the best part of working at EmBe? I love working at EmBe because of all the wonderful children and the supportive parents. What benefits set EmBe apart from other employers? As a single mother, I love the understanding from the management that it’s important to be an active part of my son's activities [...]

Meet Miss SarahMikena VanLiere2018-10-02T14:11:38-05:00

Staff Spotlight: Stacy Stahl

Mikena VanLiere2019-04-24T09:15:21-05:00

“Look at what I can be.” You might wonder if that’s Stacy Stahl’s personal mantra or if it’s the underlying theme to the programs she directs at EmBe. The real answer is that it is both. As the Youth Development Director, Stacy has repeatedly shown what she, and her programs can be, by taking on new challenges and roles in her 11 years at EmBe. Before coming to EmBe, Stacy was already paving the way for herself and her community. Taking a job in Japan as an English as a Second Language teacher, Stacy pushed outside of her comfort zone [...]

Staff Spotlight: Stacy StahlMikena VanLiere2019-04-24T09:15:21-05:00