Susan Nickerson Email & Phone Number

Grand Island, Nebraska

Engaging with local government, housing, and long-term recovery groups in NE with the $108.9 Million federal allocation through CDBG-DR grants for 2019 flood and storm infrastructure, housing, and economic revitalization projects.

Greater Nebraska-88 Counties

KS/TX/AR

• Provide support and assistance to Good Samaritan managers and staff of Senior Housing with Services and Assisted Living Centers at 22 Good Samaritan Society campuses in Kansas, Texas and Arkansas. Training new staff.
• Advocacy for Seniors through managers of direct care at 22 locations and by involvement and communication with legislators during state events organized by LeadingAge
• Change management for implementation of new procedures, sensor monitoring technology, addition of services (private duty and home health) and new regulatory requirements
• Conduct training of new senior living and assisted living managers in company policy/procedures, state and federal housing laws and regulations
• As key liaison between corporate and field, serve as problem resolution manager for senior housing and assisted living issues at 22 senior living communities in three states
• Monitor budgets and trouble shoot with managers and administrators, collaborating with accounting specialists for improved financial performance

Kansas

• Work with companies delivering workforce solutions, training grant funding, assistance with recruiting, retention, assessment, trainng and retraining. Also work with post-secondary to deliver quality customized.
• Involvement with advocacy prep meetings for Annual Day at the Capitol for western KS ED reps, providing facts, data, and assistance with talking points
• Liaison with county economic developers (ED) and partners for Commerce assistance and growth incentives
• Represent KS strengths to site selectors and industry prospects in high-stakes meetings/presentations
• Assist with development of national underground technology training for Ditch Witch Corporation with North Central Kansas Technical College
• Serve on task forces for renewable energy manufacturing and construction, value-added agriculture, and rural ED certificate development for Western Kansas Rural Economic Development Alliance

• Work with companies on recruiting, retention, training and retraining projects, utilizing grant funding provided by KS Dept. of Commerce to qualified business projects. Coordinate training needs with post-secondary.
• Identify demand for key business services among corporate partners including recruiting, assessment, training and retraining
• Supervise and oversee business services strategies throughout central and western Kansas
• Coordinate referrals from private industry training needs to post-secondary institutions, providing grant funding for training
• Marketing strategy development and implementation for recruiting, retention and training services
• Administer staff and training programs in 62 county area at nine KANSASWORKS workforce centers

24 States; Corporate Office In Sioux Falls, SD

• Advocacy for Seniors through meetings with legislators on Capitol Hill
• Developed a collaborative partnership with AARP to create solutions for senior isolation
• Provided guidance for legislative liaison to drive touchpoints with legislators in the 24 states with GSS presence as well as facilitating communication between lawmakers and local campus Administrators and Management.
• Studied, planned and executed transformation to policy governance style of board/organizaiton management
• As National Board Chair, achieved the $1 Billion benchmark
• Maintained status as the largest not-for-profit senior care and housing organization in the US

• Served as Director for the FHSU Small Business Development Center, responsible for business consultation and training for start up businesses and existing business growth. Coordinated with SBA and other funding and.
• Coordinated Annual Day at the Capitol meetings with legislators and rotunda display to honor regional small business winners
• Attended legislative breakfasts, coffees, listening tours, and 1-on-1 meeting with legislators to discuss support of small business
• Recruitment of small business owners to attend legislative events, including follow up communication with legislators and key staff members
• Establish demand-driven seminar series for business needs in western Kansas counties
• Presentation selected for national SBDC association workshop

Trade Show CoordinationNational AdvertisingNational Public RelationsSpecial EventsFDA Applications for New Product ClearanceHiring, Management, and Education of National Sales RepresentativesMedia RelationsDesign and Promotional Campaigns

Advocacy for ongoing funding supportPublic RelationsFund RaisingSpecial EventsPlanned GivingNewsletter PublicationPublic PresentationsGraphic DesignInternal and External Public Relaitons

Instruction of journalism courses including Mass Media in a Free Society, Interpersonal Communication, Advertising, Public Relations, Advertising Campaigns, Advanced Design, various summer workshops on yearbook techniques, newsletter writing and design, advertising, public relations topics and special events. Started and coordinated a student internship.

M.S., Communication, Public Relations

B.A., Communication-Journalism

B.F.A., Art, Graphic Design