For nearly 20 years, Kim Preston has been part of the Center for Rural Affairs team. During that time, she has taken on different roles, and made each one her own.

In 1999, Preston started her career with the Center in the policy and research program. Fourteen years later, she was asked to become the administrative assistant for the small business program, Rural Enterprise Assistance Project (REAP). In five years, she has gained a broad knowledge of the loan making process, and has worked directly with technical assistance specialists providing services to clients.

A couple decades ago, a movement for tolerance wove itself across the nation. A few years ago, everything needed to be “politically correct.” In 2016, implicit bias moved to the top of political conversations.

From political affiliations to spiritual beliefs, and from generational gaps to ethnic diversity, the one thing we have in common is that our conscious and nonconscious bias play a role in the choices we make every day.

From big cities to small towns, from corporations to small businesses, biases limit the potential of growth, innovation, and success: