YES! is welcoming a new member to our staff – Kristine Madsen is the newest YES! Coordinator. We are excited for Kristine to share her expertise and enthusiasm with the YES! Program!
Here is a little more about Kristine:
I grew up in Fergus Falls, MN. My dad was the Midcontinent Waterfowl Production Manager and because of this I was exposed to being one with nature since I was a small child. As I grew, I loved my summer job, working for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in the Youth Conservation Corps.
I earned a Liberal Arts degree from Minnesota State Community & Technical College in Fergus Falls, as well as degrees in Graphic Design and Art History from St. Cloud State University (SCSU). During my college years I was active in theater, peer tutoring, fast pitch softball and was elected captain of the women’s hockey team at SCSU. I also worked as a supervisor at the Phoenix Youth Center in Fergus Falls where I had the opportunity to teach what I love to underprivileged teens; hunting, fishing, softball, camping and feeling the beauty of nature.
After graduating from college, I worked for South Dakota State University as a Website Administrator, and at Minnesota West Community & Technical College as a Website Specialist/Graphic Designer. I also own my own freelance business, Madsen Graphics & Photography, where I help clients with advertising, graphic design, marketing, planning, and photography projects. My work history also includes Marketing Director, Custom Framer and Cab Driver.
I was a resident of Brookings, SD for many years which is where I raised my two sons: Luke, a retired U.S. Army veteran and art student at Minnesota State University–Moorhead, and Johnathan, a recent welding graduate and musician. When I wasn’t sitting in my office, I caught a lot of fish in the Missouri River, hunted pheasants and deer, coached girl’s high school hockey and was involved with my sons’ activities.
I recently returned to the place where my heart is-where I call home-central Minnesota. I have become an avid bicyclist and continue to have a passion for camping, hiking, fishing, motorcycling and natural light photography. I enjoy volunteering my time teaching art lessons at nursing homes and playing guitar for terminally ill patients at hospitals. I am currently writing a book called “Hear Here”, a compilation of my volunteer photography work of local and regional artists and musicians with publication goals set for late 2016.
I feel very fortunate to be a part of the YES! program and I look forward to sharing my experience and talents, but most of all, learning and growing with YES!.
