River City 6: Brenda Christensen
The mission of the Council Bluffs Community Education Foundation is to provide support to individuals and families in ways that contribute to their ability to learn. Brenda Christensen is the CEF Administrative Manager & Finance Director for the CB Community Education Foundation.
Tell us a little about your organization. – The CB Community Education Foundation is a non-profit that supports the Council Bluffs Community School District and the greater Council Bluffs learning community. We sponsor Kids & Company school-age childcare, the CB Alumni & Friends Network and STARS Scholarship, along with serving as fiscal agent to a number of high school scholarships.
How did you get started in the organization? – I started out of high school as a site director for Kids & Company in 1993. The before and after schedule allowed me to attend my college courses and work around my class schedule. Newly married, I had my first child and decided to stay with Kids & Company so I could be home with my children more. I’ve now been here 22 years.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? – I came to work in the office when my middle child started school so I could be home outside of school hours and was shortly promoted to office manager. My responsibility in the finance area continued to grow as new executive directors came to our organization. I was an English major, so finance and numbers were not exactly my area. Over the years I have learned a great deal about non-profit finance and accounting (often the hard way), but sometimes trial by fire is necessary to develop valuable expertise.
What has been your most important achievement professionally? – I’ve spent the last 22 years making sure I leave work at work and not take it home with me. There are days when I have to make exceptions and stay late, or come in outside of hours now and then, but in this day and age when people are connected virtually 24/7, my family knows when I’m home that I’m all theirs, and when I’m at work I get the job done.
Tell us a little about your family. – I have been married to Arlo for 22 years and have 3 daughters. My husband works for OPPD, as does my 21 year old, Taylora. My 18 year old, Jennifer, attends Iowa Western Community College, and Bailey is a 7th grader in Council Bluffs. My girls are talented and beautiful and, after my wonderful husband, are the greatest blessing God has ever bestowed upon me.
What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life? – The birth of my first daughter changed my entire life’s ambitions. I always considered myself a tough, independent woman with career aspirations, but when that little girl was born, everything changed and all I wanted to do was be a mommy.
What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? – You can probably guess by now, my days off usually focus around my girls. I also enjoy my garden and am a professional photographer on the side.
What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know? – I like to hunt and fish.
If you had a theme song, what would it be? – The Alabama song, “I’m In a Hurry and Don’t Know Why.” Seems like I’m always rushing, but really this is a modern day society theme, is it not? I have learned to slow down a bit as I’ve gotten older.
If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? – Via email at bchristensen1@cb-cef.org or visit our website at www.commedfoundation.org.