We celebrate our rural culture while working on national issues that impact all rural citizens. We live and work rural.
Senior Policy Associate
Rural Nebraska has provided opportunities for the things I enjoy most in life, including spending time with family, exploring the beautiful landscape by kayaking rivers, boating on lakes, and relaxing on sandbars. It has been easy to develop a true appreciation for everything this state has to offer.
Senior Project Manager
A lot of my work involves project management—making sure our grants, trainings, and cohort programs run smoothly. I help connect farmers and veterans to resources, guide them through new opportunities...
Senior Director of Development
As senior director of development, I lead the Center’s individual donor fundraising activities and coordinate institutional funding strategies across the organization. Prior to joining the Center, I...
Loan Specialist
In my role, I work closely with entrepreneurs, particularly women and Latino business owners, to provide resources, training, and guidance that helps them grow and succeed. Whether it's hosting...
Policy Associate
State and local policy issues are my main focus, especially those that affect rural communities and farmers. The Center’s mission to help rural communities and small farmers is very appealing to me...
Chief Financial Officer
I grew up in small towns and have lived half of my adult life in the smaller communities that the Center has a real passion for. I spent almost 20 years in banking, including working in my family's...
Women’s Business Center Director
Empowering women entrepreneurs to grow as business owners, professionals, and community leaders is the best part of my job. As the Women's Business Center director, I oversee the business development...
Senior Project Associate
My job includes supporting beginning farmers with their businesses and production skills, and assisting them in accessing resources to be successful. I also work with teachers, students, and community...
Senior Office & Technology Manager
My main priority is to help the Center run smoothly, and my main goal is to help everyone else achieve their goals. I started my job with the Center in 1998, and have enjoyed my position every day...
Senior Policy Associate
I am primarily focused on addressing energy issues facing rural Iowans and in the Midwest, and am based out of our Nevada, Iowa, office. One of the biggest issues today is assisting county zoning...
Executive Director
At an early age, I learned to care about my community and the world around me from my parents. It was only a matter of time before I became active in my community, engaging in local debates over...
Associate Director of Impact & Development
My work involves making data more accessible to those who need it and continually evaluating systems for usefulness and improvement opportunities. Over the years, I've worked with many nonprofit...
Senior State Policy Manager
The role of the Nebraska state policy manager involves working frequently in Lincoln with legislators and partners to advocate for Center-related policy issues that affect rural communities. The...
Policy Manager
Every day, I advocate alongside farmers who are working to feed themselves and the growing population, while also caring for the environment and their rural communities. As a young girl, I recognized...
Associate Director of Farm and Community
My job is to help people work toward achieving their dreams through training, coaching, and other means, encouraging them to learn, practice, and build their capacity. Initially, that was with young...
Senior Loan Specialist
My job gives me the opportunity to make a real difference in our community while also getting to know people from different backgrounds who are willing to learn about how to start/expand their...
Communications Associate
I’ve always dreamed of finding a place where I could use creativity and storytelling to help people, and at the Center, I’m able to do just that. As a communications associate, I help share stories...
Senior Human Resources Manager
The idea of working in human resources captured my interest when I realized I could help people. Every day, I strive to be able to guide people through their employment, be a listening ear when needed...
Senior Policy Associate
My work focuses on advancing our clean energy portfolio in the great state of Minnesota. Having grown up and worked in rural communities, the Center is the perfect place for me to make an impact. I...
Director of Community Engagement
As the Farm and Community director, I oversee a team that works on projects including programs that assist beginning farmers, Native communities, local meat processors, schools, and much more. My role...
Senior Loan Specialist
As the main point of contact for the Center’s Meat Processing Loan program, I support local processors with their financing and business goals. I also work with other food and farm businesses...
Loan Operations Associate
Working with the Center gives me the opportunity to help entrepreneurs reach their business goals. I collaborate with staff on servicing loans to borrowers, which involves creating closing documents...
Senior Project Manager
My role involves leading several projects that focus on local foods and environmental justice. I appreciate the Center's commitment to idealism and pragmatism, as well as working with rural...
Project Associate
Nebraska state policy is my main focus. I advocate, research, and educate about issues from food access to health care to economic development. I love that I get to work on advancing policies that...
General Counsel
As general counsel, I provide legal and strategic advice to the Center’s leadership and assist in risk management. Day-to-day, that could include drafting contracts, legal research, and mapping out...
Brand Manager
Project management and graphic design are my top priorities at the Center. Staff send me important research and rely on me to bring it to life for public consumption. I also work with the development...
Policy Assistant
My responsibilities are diverse and range from team support to focusing on language accessibility initiatives. Notably, I've been developing a Spanish CDL Resource Guide, aimed at providing crucial...
Director of Policy
In my role as Policy Director, I provide support and strategy for our full policy program, which has a multi-state footprint and focuses on a wide range of policy priorities impacting the vitality of rural communities...
Policy Associate
As a policy associate, I support the Center’s work to engage rural communities and advocate for policies that sustain a strong rural America. My primary focus is on agriculture and conservation policy...
Marketing & Media Manager
Working with the Center gives me the opportunity to share people's stories and inspire others to reach out to us so we can help them. Having a role in communications for the Center includes giving...
Community Organizing Manager
My primary focus is on community development, particularly in the areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as fostering a sense of welcoming and belonging. I work closely with organizations...
Policy Associate
As a policy associate, I support the Center’s work to lift up producers and rural communities through policy advocacy and outreach. My work is rooted in Nebraska, where I focus on agriculture and...
Communications Director
I joyfully lead the Center’s communications strategy and public relations, as well as oversee our online and print content—from blogs to billboards, from press releases to podcasts. Throughout my...
Chief of Programs
My role at the Center currently involves oversight of all non-lending programs. Serving as chief of programs gives me the opportunity to draw on my diverse experiences to advance the Center’s mission...
Associate Director of Lending & Housing Development
My primary responsibility is supporting all of our loan specialists who assist our clients with small business loans or mortgage applications. I also promote the great work the Center does with...
Senior Policy Manager
I am a policy manager, focusing on agriculture, conservation, small business lending, and federal policy. I spend a lot of my time supporting staff and overseeing projects to ensure we remain...
Director of Climate Lending
As the Climate Lending Director, I provide technical and financial assistance to support community, rooftop, and multifamily affordable housing solar projects. I hope to help make a positive...
Senior Executive and Development Associate
In three words, I would describe myself as, "driven, resilient, and observant." I’m proud to assist the executive and development directors, as well as work on development and marketing. I am a native...
Sr. Loan Operations & Accounting Associate
My job includes financial reporting, balancing, and other various accounting duties, as well as ensuring that our loan software program information is in sync with our main accounting software program...
Lending Services Director
My purpose in life has always been to help someone when needed, and I get to do that by working directly with our lenders and business coaches as they assist small business owners in Nebraska. Serving...
Policy Associate
Knowing the Center for Rural Affairs helps those who need it most is very near and dear to my heart. In the words of Mister Rogers, "look for the helpers"—and I've always felt my purpose was to help...
Chief of Staff
No day is ever the same at the Center, no matter what role you’re in. As chief of staff, I have oversight for employee experience, staff and organization-wide initiatives, human resources...
Project Associate
My role gives me the opportunity to work within local communities to promote food production, home and community gardens, and increase the sale and use of local foods. I wanted to make a bigger impact...
Development Manager
I build and strengthen relationships with the Center’s supporters. This includes fundraising, but even more than that, it’s all about showing folks the difference they are making across rural America...
Grant Manager
As grants manager, I serve as a liaison between Center staff members and granting agencies. I partner across the Center to help develop ideas and funding proposals that will strengthen our reach. I...
Senior Project Associate
My work is wide-ranging and diverse, which I love! I collaborate with communities on environmental challenges they may be experiencing and I also work with them on strengthening their local food...
Policy Associate
Clean energy makes up a large facet of my work with the Center. As a policy associate, I support energy policy efforts across all four states in the Center’s coverage area, with a key focus on siting...
Accounting Associate
My days are spent performing many different accounting duties, compiling financials, preparing grant reports, and providing budgetary support to the teams that manage grant spending. There is always...
Loan Specialist
As a loan specialist, I am the main point of contact for clients looking to get a small business or mortgage loan. I also help them with one-on-one business training. I work with clients in central...
Policy Manager
As the Clean Energy Policy Manager, I’m focused on engaging local communities and leaders on topics related to clean energy. I support and work with a great team, and we concentrate on nuanced energy...
Project Associate
My role involves improving food security and expanding local food systems by partnering with farmers, schools, and communities. I work collaboratively with Center staff to support farmers and...
Accounting and Office Assistant
I am the office and accounting assistant, which means I process weekly payables, bi-weekly payroll, donation processing, and other standard office/administrative duties. I have always worked in an...
Policy Associate
Underlying my passion for agriculture is a deep commitment to land conservation for wildlife and water conservation for human health. I love that as a policy associate I work with people who share...
Accounting Assistant
I started my time with the Center in 2008 as a temporary staff member in accounting and became a permanent employee in 2010. In 2020, I transitioned to loan operations and remain in accounting to this...
Accounting Manager
Over the past 10 years, I have discovered so much through my different roles with the Center. I started out as an intern and have been part of almost all the areas in the accounting department. I have...
Project Associate
My work focuses on local foods, farmers markets, and beginning farmers, so I get to work with farmers, market managers, and community members who know the importance of locally grown foods. The...
Chief Lending Officer
Being chief lending officer means I’m responsible for the growth of our loan programs and the development of new areas of lending like solar and clean energy, multifamily housing, and food systems...
Senior Quality Assurance & Compliance Manager
As administrative and compliance manager, I help ensure we are in compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. In 2021, I received my Master in Public Administration degree with a nonprofit...
