Reflections

What a whirlwind! The first week of classes after a long break is so hectic and chaotic!

It’s been one of those weeks where I feel like I’m bouncing between completely different worlds – meetings, planning, dreaming big, and back to classes! Two projects are taking shape, and even though they look nothing alike, they both come back to the same thing: community involvement and the people who make it awesome.

1. Giving Big Brothers Big Sisters a Digital Refresh

This week, I sat down with the amazing team at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Washington County to talk about giving their website a much‑needed refresh. Their mission – connecting mentors with kids who need them – is powerful, and they want an updated digital space that reflects that impact. I am currently working on their scope and waiting for confirmation of background clearance (this comes with any work involving youth). 

This is a volunteer internship for me; BBBS is a non-profit, and I feel honored to help an organization that changes futures every single day. A new website is just the beginning of great futures for so many!

2. Taking Farmer Dan Online

I also spent some time with Dan Zuehlke, a local farmer/rancher with a mission and a great philosophy! Dan is a leader in regenerative agriculture – think grass-fed beef and his “Sea of Green” philosophy. He’s been focused on the soil for years; now, we’re focusing on his digital foundation.

He’s been nurturing his land for years, and now we want to build him a digital space that can grow right alongside the farm. A clean, professional website, a Facebook Business page, and his story about his approach and why it matters. We’re also thinking ahead. Dan’s goal is to leave his Milwaukee day job and make the farm his full-time love. Everything we are building now needs to scale – e-commerce, more social content, bigger engagement, and reach.

This is my first paid project, so I’m curious (and a little eager) to see how well my scoped plan matches the actual workload. Whatever the outcome, it’s a milestone I’ll be proud of.

These projects bring me closer to the goal I set when I first started classes, using technology to support the people who make our community better. Helping small businesses, nonprofits, and local entrepreneurs show up online with confidence – and do even more good with a strong digital presence behind them.

Stay tuned for more updates!