Healthcare Consultant, Eide Bailly, LLP
Q: Tell us about yourself.
A: For the past three years, I’ve served as a Healthcare Consultant with Eide Bailly, helping healthcare organizations enhance their medical coding accuracy and provider documentation to ensure appropriate medical necessity and compliance
Outside of work, I’m a devoted mom to my three-and-ahalf-year-old daughter, Cirilla, and a proud “fur mom” to two senior cats and a ninety-pound German Shepherd. When I’m not chasing after my little one or my pets, you can often find me in the kitchen perfecting recipes, out on my motorcycle, enjoying a good movie or TV show, or spending quality time with friends and family.
Giving back to my community is also a huge part of who I am—I’ve proudly volunteered as an EMT with the Kindred Area Ambulance Service for the past three and a half years.Giving back to my community is also a huge part of who I am—I’ve proudly volunteered as an EMT with the Kindred Area Ambulance Service for the past three and a half years.
Q: What inspired you to get involved in your community at a young age?
A: I began my Girl Scouts journey in Kindergarten as a Daisy and continued all the way through high school, earning my Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards along the way. Community involvement has always been a core part of who I am, and I’m passionate about making a positive impact wherever I can. Although I’m no longer active in Girl Scouts, I now volunteer as an EMT with the Kindred Area Ambulance Service. Serving my community while putting my medical training to use is something I truly enjoy.
Q: Who has been the most influential mentor in your life, and why?
A: My Health Information Program Director at the North Dakota State College of Science, Geralyn, encouraged me to run for the Education Co‑Director position with the North Dakota Health Information Management Association (NDHIMA). I was elected and went on to serve two terms. During that time, I led planning for our annual conferences, connected with incredible professionals, and significantly expanded my network—experiences that ultimately helped lead me to my dream job.
Q: What community issue do you feel deserves more attention?
A: Currently, in my community and across rural North Dakota, there is a significant shortage of volunteer first responders. Some rural communities rely almost entirely on volunteer fire and EMS services. Response times are increasing, and the remaining responders are stretched thin. Emergency calls have risen sharply over the past decade, putting even more pressure on an already strained system. As volunteerism declines statewide, many communities risk losing timely access to lifesaving care, making this shortage not just a staffing problem but a serious public safety concern.
Q: What’s a lesson you’ve learned that you wish you had known earlier in your career?
A: The biggest lesson I wish I had understood earlier in my career is that failure isn’t something to fear—it’s one of the most powerful ways to learn. Every misstep, setback, or imperfect attempt has taught me far more than getting things right on the first try ever could. Failure forces reflection, builds resilience, and sharpens skills in a way success simply doesn’t. Looking back, I can see that the moments I once viewed as mistakes were actually the turning points that pushed me to grow, adapt, and ultimately become better at what I do.
Q: Why is our local United Way important to you?
A: The United Way of Cass-Clay matters to me because it strengthens the very fabric of the community I care about. It brings people together—families, local organizations, and volunteers—to tackle the challenges that no one can solve alone, from supporting children and families to improving access to essential resources. Its work creates real, measurable change for the people who live here, ensuring that our neighbors have the support they need to thrive. Knowing that an organization is so deeply committed to lifting up the community makes its mission personal to me, because when our community is stronger, every one of us benefits.
Q: What is a hope you have for our community?
A: I carry a hope for volunteer first responders that comes from seeing firsthand how essential they are to the safety and strength of North Dakota’s communities. I hope for a future where these volunteers feel supported, valued, and never alone in the work they do. I want to see more people step forward to join them, not just to fill shifts, but to share in the sense of purpose and service that defines this role. Most of all, I hope that every volunteer—current and future—has the resources, training, and community backing they need to continue answering the call, because their dedication truly holds rural communities together.
