Contact
...............................
The Aldo Leopold
Foundation
P.O.Box 77
Baraboo, WI 53913
608.355.0279
608.356.7309 fax
mail@aldoleopold.org
Staff Profile: Jennifer Anstett
Name: Jennifer Anstett
Job Title: Member Services Associate
What is your educational and professional background? I went to UW Platteville for a year working towards a degree in the Criminal Justice field but decided that was not the career path I wanted to follow. I came back home and helped my parents run their family owned hardware store until they closed their doors. With my retail background I came to Baraboo in search of something closely related and was hired by Maurice’s Inc., a fashion retailer owned by the Dress Barn Inc. I started there as they were in the process of building the new store in Baraboo and was able help them get the new store set-up and ready for business.
After feeling a little “retail burn out” working weekends, nights and holidays I felt it time to move on. From there I went to work for Pace Industries in Reedsburg as a Customer Service Representative. Pace Industries is a plastics extrusion company making custom sheets and rolls for various industries including medical. I worked with customers and suppliers along with quality control to make sure customers got exactly what they were looking for. Pace Industries is designated a Green Power Company because they use wind turbine power as an alternate energy source. They also focus on reducing, re-using and recycling their products.
After a few years there I soon found myself in the dairy industry working for Foremost Farms USA at the corporate headquarters in Baraboo as an Administrative Assistant to the Vice Presidents and Division Managers. Foremost Farms is one of top 10 dairy cooperatives in terms of milk volume and is member owned. They have locations in Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin. They are 3,000 members strong and have approximately 1,500 employees. There I worked with the Vice Presidents, Division Managers, Plant Managers, Milk Haulers, Patrons/Members (Farmers), and Field Service Staff in many different capacities.
As I had my second son, my life was becoming consumed by family needs and activities and felt the pressure to get away from the 40 hour work week. I was then hired by the Baraboo School District as an assistant to the Special Education Department at the High School. I had reduced hours and summers off which was nice while my children were young. Within my district position I assisted staff and students in various ways including helping out in the classroom. I found myself spending a lot of time in the computer lab with the Computer Science classes assisting those students that needed extra help. I really enjoyed working with the students and computers seemed to become a strong area for me. From that position I moved into being a Computer Assistant at an elementary school where I assisted staff with computer lesson plans, taught keyboarding and many software applications to students in grades Kindergarten through 5th grade. During my time there I also enrolled at Madison Area Technical College to take some business and computer courses.
Since my children have gotten older and slightly more self-sufficient I decided it was time to put some of my customer service and computer skills to work which is what has lead me to work at the Aldo Leopold Foundation as their Member Services Associate. In addition to working full-time here at ALF I am still continuing my education at MATC along with spending time with my husband and going to all the sporting events my 2 sons are involved in.
What brought you to work in the environmental field? I really wanted to work some place where I could be a “part” of something, not just a “job.” Somewhere that I felt I could help make a difference.
How long have you worked for ALF? I started at the beginning of 2007.
What is your favorite part of your job? I’d have to say I have many favorite parts of my job. I like meeting the members and visitors that come here. I love the see the expressions on their faces as they visit the Legacy Center and Shack. Everyone seems to be so inspired when they come here and amazed at the beauty and size of the new center. It was also exciting to get to meet Nina, Carl and Estella Leopold.
What is the biggest challenge? So far everything has been a challenge for me. I am new to the non-profit area as well as the environmental area (other than doing the typical recycling at home). Not only am I still learning things with my new position here, I am also continuing to learn about development and fundraising along with the activities happening on the other end with ecology and stewardship. I am really enjoying every minute of it.
How has working for ALF changed your thinking? I have realized that even one person doing little things can help to save our natural world. From changing light bulbs to the compact fluorescents to continuing my avid recycling and re-using habits at home. I can help make a difference in preserving the environment. Reading some of Leopold’s essays and other writings has truly inspired me to do my part in conserving.
What is your favorite Leopold quote/essay? So far I have 3 favorites and each of them contain a common word… “Community.”
“When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.”
"A thing is right only when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability and beauty of the community; and the community includes the soil, water, fauna and flora, as well as the people."
"The land ethic simply enlarges the boundaries of the community to include soils, waters, plants and animals, or collectively: the land."