A year ago today, I started my first job out of college at the BBB Midwest Plains. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but one thing I never could have anticipated was how much the people I’d meet here would impact my life.
Josh Planos, APR, my direct supervisor, has been the mentor, friend, and cheerleader I didn’t know I needed. From day one, he saw potential in me that I hadn’t even recognized in myself. He respected my ideas, encouraged me to grow, and set an example of leadership that I strive to follow. When he realized I had an interest in working with data, he gave me the space and support to explore it; ultimately leading me to pursue a Master of Science in Data Analytics at Northwest Missouri State University and work with data every day at the BBB. His belief in me changed the course of my career, and for that, I’ll always be grateful.
Thomas Kastrup, who first reached out to me about this role, has been a constant source of encouragement, humor, and inspiration. He has a way of making any challenge feel manageable, whether by offering advice when I’m stuck or helping me think bigger about the possibilities of a project. When I worked on the retention analysis project, I thought I had wrapped it up multiple times—until Thom would push me to take it further, seeing opportunities I hadn’t yet considered. Beyond that, he’s simply someone I enjoy being around, and he genuinely cares about the people he works with.
Jenni Tekesky made me feel like part of the team from day one. She is one of the most caring and thoughtful people I’ve ever met—whether it’s making sure to ask how I'm doing or bringing Scooters coffee for me in the morning. She always goes out of her way to support others, and she also makes me feel like the funniest person in the world. Sharing an office space with her has been such a joy.
Liz Plath, who I’ve had the chance to collaborate with on a few projects, is now a close friend of mine. We often find ourselves chatting longer than we mean to because she's so easy to talk to. She’s an incredible leader to her team and has an eye for improving processes in a way that I deeply admire. Any project we’ve worked on together has been better because of her insight, and I always walk away having learned something.
Honestly, if I were to name everyone who has made an impact on me at the BBB, this post could be a novel. I’m beyond grateful for the people I’ve met and the experiences I’ve had here, and I can’t wait to see what the future brings!
