News & Events

Karee Nielsen
Food Service Director
Ashland-Greenwood Public Schools

I was born and raised in Alliance, NE. After my high school graduation, in 1992, I moved to Lincoln, NE, and studied early childhood education for a year and a half at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. I then transferred to Southeast Community College and earned my associate’s degree in office technology with a legal specialization. While attending Southeast Community College, I met my wonderful husband, Chip, and we wed in 1998. We have four amazing children: Christopher (24), Cody (23), Ivee (22), and Bree (16). In 2013, we became grandparents to our amazing grandson Carter. We love being grandparents!

I started working in food service, while I was in high school, at the Good Samaritan nursing home in Alliance. After moving to Ashland, I was able to get back into food service. I worked at a local nursing home as a head cook.  In 2005, a cook position opened up at Ashland-Greenwood Public Schools and I applied. I have been fortunate enough to have worked at AGPS for 11 years, five years of which I have been the food service director. I am very lucky to have a strong team of six; we all work very hard to make sure our students have an enjoyable cafeteria experience. I feel that we are all very blessed to have an organization, like NSNA, that wants to help us all take pride in our positions and provide nutritional meals to our students. I really appreciate this opportunity to possibly serve as vice president. Thank you!

 

My name is Lora Harders; I graduated from Wood River Rural high school and Eastern Wyoming College. Thirty-three years ago this September, I married my High School sweetheart Craig, who is a farmer.  We have been blessed with 4 children, 3 of whom are married, and 2 grandchildren.

Our daughter Jessica is an ELL teacher at Crete Middle School, is married to Ryan and they have Silas who is 2 years old. Our son Keith farms with us, is married to Sheyanne  and they have Adelyn who is 6 months old.  Our son Kevin is a Structural Engineer for Olson Associates in Omaha.  Our son Kurt is a Science teacher at Gretna High School, and is married to Danielle.

I worked in the school kitchen as a middle school/high school student to help pay for my meals. I started working in that same kitchen in 2004 as a sub, in 2005 was hired as a dishwasher/server, in 2006 became a cook and took on the duties of serving and training as well.  Then in 2008 was promoted to head cook/foodservice manager.  I am now the Director of Nutrition Services (DNS) in this same school working for Opaa!  I enjoy my job, especially the students!  I have been a member of the NSNA and SNA since 2007.

I would like to fill the position of Vice President for you and our association. My plans are to continue to be the DNS at the school, and to continue to improve my knowledge of this great association.  If you as members of the association choose to vote for me as your Vice President, I will do my best to fulfill your expectations of me and of the job at hand.  I would like the chance to work with all of you as we continue making our association great.  I know that we all have some great ideas, and I would like to take these ideas and make them a reality for all of us, working together to improve our schools, our jobs, and our association!

I want to thank you for considering me for the job and don’t forget to vote!