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Many of our regular park visitors get to know our staff, especially our park rangers & our guest services folks, but one person you may never get to see is our new Administrative Assistant Kim Wickersham.
Kim is a huge asset to Pottawattamie Conservation, working tirelessly doing the “boring” jobs like paying the bills & making sure the lights stay on. Kim also works closely with both the Pottawattamie County Conservation Board & the Pottawattamie Conservation Foundation, helping to secure project funding, assisting with board needs, & processing all those annual memberships!
Kim joined our team several months ago & we are so happy to be able to introduce her to you.
What is your personal & educational background?
I am a Wyoming native and my family has always enjoyed being in the outdoors. As a child growing up, our entertainment and trips were going out to the mountains on the weekends, camping, hiking, exploring and having adventures. This is where I learned the importance of taking care of our land and the importance of having the natural areas for people to go visit.
As a senior in high school I earned a 2-year full ride scholarship to McCook Community College for a painting of the Snowy Range and Lake Marie that my teacher suggested I enter in an art competition. This is one of my favorite spots in Wyoming. In 1998 I earned an Associate of Arts degree in Fine Arts from McCook Community College, McCook, NE followed by my 4-year degree at Chadron State College in Chadron, NE. I received my Bachelors of Arts in Graphic Design and Two-Dimensional Fine Arts in the winter of 2000. During college I spent a summer doing an internship with Nebraska Game and Parks in their graphics department.
After college I worked as a graphic designer in Hastings, NE. I moved to Lincoln in late 2001 and shifted career paths to being an Optical Manager, earning my ABO and NCLE certifications which I held for 15 years. While living in Lincoln I met my husband and when we decided to have a family, we moved to Council Bluffs where he was raised. I stayed at home with my boys and worked part time jobs until they were in school.
Where did you work prior to joining the staff at Pottawattamie County?
I was working part-time for Lewis Central Community School District, until a full-time position opened up as the Building Administrative Assistant for Kreft Primary. I worked for Lewis Central for 7 years before making the change to come to Pottawattamie Conservation.
Tell me about a project of accomplishment that you consider significant in your career.
Raising my boys and being able to have spent so much time with them.
When I was Committee Chair of my sons’ Cub Scout Pack I helped to reorganize and grow the pack, with activities, events and in numbers of scouts. With that I was awarded the Cub Scouter of the Year Award by our district in 2016. We have continued to see the Pack grow every year since.
What are you looking forward to the most with your move to a conservation career?
I feel conservation is a much needed and interesting field. I look forward to being able to contribute and help accomplish the goals of the department.
What indoor & outdoor activities do you enjoy in your off time?
I enjoy going camping with my family, working in my flower beds or spending time with family. My other past times are being creative and crafting.
What is your favorite part about your position … so far?
I am still learning all the parts of my position, but I have also started at an odd time with the COVID-19. Which has changed how many of us are operating and working.
What is your favorite Iowa native plant or animal?
My favorite Iowa native plant is the Indian Paintbrush. Not only is it the Wyoming state flower, but the fiery red flower out on the prairie is stunning a stunning site to see.