I know I wasn't elected, but that doesn't mean I don't care about my community and what happens to it. In fact, it's painful to watch years of work being derailed. 

FEMA approved the Civic Centers Commons grant application. Twice. The properties around the park get flooded. Often. In 1985 we had a flood that pushed the tenants of the Hynds building out. That building is still vacant as we all know. More flooding without storm water mitigation will continue to have negative effects on our community. The storm water drainage is needed. Yay for us for trying to make it look nice with park elements and an amphitheater.

We voted on and passed this project as a community. What this article doesn't say is that the City intends to divert our 6th penny funds to other road projects and likely are trying to avoid ongoing maintenance costs of a new park.

Just a few of my questions: What is Jim Voeller's relationship with this consulting firm from Denver? Has he worked with them previously? How are they able to weigh in on this without visiting our community or conducting all of the necessary tests? Who was involved in selecting this firm? Was a public RFP sent out?
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More than 19 million dollars of private investment and 53 plus jobs are at stake. That increased revenue alone will pay the ongoing maintenance costs and contribute to the tax base for other projects. FEMA has approved this application. They are not going to come back for their funds if the storm water is provided as outlined.

I applaud Pete Laybourne, Rocky Case, Richard Johnson, and Mark Rinne for their efforts to see this project to success. I sincerely hope the rest of the City Council will stand up for this project and others that will lead to progress in our community.

​Yesterday was the first day of school…I mean, of my new job.
 
I am now the Aeronautics Administrator of the State of Wyoming.
 
Never in my wildest dreams when I was doing digital rectal bowel program stimuli (exactly how it sounds) did I think I would deviate so far form my career path to become an Executive in Wyoming. I was trained to write nursing care plans and now I write strategic plans. I barely know how to spell aeronautics. Not joking.
 
Lexie made me a beautiful new black briefcase that I “moved into” the morning of. I met with HR and signed up for all sorts of crazy benefits like vision and disability. In healthcare, such benefits don’t exist. At least not in my career. In fact, I have never even had a salary or vacation time in my twenty year career as a Nurse Practitioner. In medicine, I have always been hourly or commission (eat what you kill mentality) and I have loved every second because I have always had as much time off as I wanted. I just didn’t get paid for it.
 
I know you would think that my suit and fancy title equals a higher paying job than being a clinician, but it doesn’t even come close. I would earn more as a Nurse Practitioner. And I would have more time off (unpaid :)). Other than the benefits, why do it?

I asked my self that same question for over a month. Between yoga classes and meal planning, I keep coming back to one answer: I have to.
 
I have to for all of the women in Wyoming. We need women in leadership to set examples and inspire others to achieve. We need women in leadership to show that there can be work life balance and ideal workers aren’t the only ones who succeed. We need women in leadership to show that it’s okay to pivot in life.
 
I have to for my kids. I have to show them that failure can lead to success and that losing sometimes is winning. And that no matter what, life goes on.

I have to for our State. We actually need air service to recruit and retain our workforce: something I believe passionately about. If WYDOT and Bill Panos felt I could help move this along, then I should use my talents to do so.
 
And I have to for me. Today is a new day. One in which an end is a new beginning.