Et cetera : AmeriCorps NCCC Class 19 Team Leader Spotlight: Martha Mickelson

By: Rebecca Bigler

Martha Mickelson, from Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, is the Support Team Leader for the Cedar and Hickory units in NCCC’s Class 19. She arrived in Vinton on January 3, 2013, to start her 11-month service term supporting a total of fourteen teams based out of the North Central Region.

“I needed a change in industry,” Martha said. She had been previously working at Wells Fargo as a Loan Servicing Specialist. “This program allowed me the chance to greatly build upon my leadership skills, while still being able to make a difference in my community. The amount of project management, supervisory, and service learning experience this program provides is a tremendous chance to develop myself as a leader, an individual, and as a citizen.”

Martha has many skills that she brings to the role of Support Team Leader. She has previous leadership skills and experience in a team-based setting. She also has skills in counseling, which will help in her relations with the teams out in the field.

Prior to joining NCCC, Martha graduated from Simpson College in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. She also graduated from Sergeant Bluff-Luton High School in 2006. After finishing the program, she hopes to get a master’s degree in business administration with a focus on economic, social, and environmental sustainability.

The Cedar unit consists of seven NCCC traditional teams, which are currently deployed in the following places: Minot, N.D.; Wapello, Iowa; Valparaiso, Ind.; Hamilton, Ohio; Bemidji, Minn.; Jackson, Mich.; and Custer, S.D. The Hickory unit consists of seven NCCC FEMA Corps teams, which are currently deployed in Denver; Milford, Conn.; Hyattsville, Md.; Philadelphia; and Chicago.

Some fun facts about Martha:

Q: What was your first job? Hostess at Outback Steakhouse

Q: What is your favorite movie? The Shawshank Redemption

Q: What will be your first words of advice for your team members? “Stay open-minded and learn as much as possible.”

Q: What is one place in the world that you really, really wish you could visit? Athens, Greece

Q: What is your favorite candy? Midnight Snickers bar

Q: If you could come back as an animal, which animal would it be? Dragon

Q: Are there any sayings your parents repeated over and over that you can still remember clearly? “They can’t hit you and they can’t take away your birthday.”

Q: What do you like to do in your free time? Nap or talk to people.

Q: Could you give us one reason to join AmeriCorps NCCC? Leadership