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!.
If you have any questions for Kristine or wish to welcome her to YES!, please contact her at [email protected].
