Staff Profile: Mary Jo Bellinger,  Financial Services Coordinator

How long have you been at MICC?
I’ve been working at MICC part-time for 2 years.
 
Why did you choose to work at MICC?
Having worked at a number of nonprofits in the past, I know how important it is for me to feel excited about and connected to the mission of the place I work. And even though I don’t work directly with the students and participants, I like knowing that I’m using my organizational skills, time and energy towards something that matters in people’s lives and to our community.
 
What do you like best about your role at MICC (if possible, what other roles have you had at MICC)?
I’m kind of odd in that I like coming into a really complex, disorganized, and even chaotic situation and make sense out of it. I like being able to find the most efficient and effective way to do things. And in my new role I really like the fact that I get to work with families more to figure out their waivers for MICC.
 
Tell us more about the development of your role.
My role evolved out of billing for our students and participants becoming more and more complex, especially as related to waivers and 3rd party billing. Waivers are an amazing benefit for our families, but as they all know too well know from having gone through the approval process, getting a waiver and then billing, it is a very complex process that varies greatly from student to student.
 
What are the various roles you have held in your tenure at MICC?
I first started at MICC as the Development Database Coordinator. I enjoyed coming into a system that really needed some restructuring and consistent standards to be established or re-established. It was almost like working a puzzle each day for a while, looking at the minute detail and how it needs to function in a larger system, as well as what MICC needed. Once I got the database cleaned up and new standards of entry set, I was excited to have the new challenge in my current role. I guess I enjoy and thrive being in the ‘fixer’ role!
 
What are your responsibilities at MICC?
I manage our student and participant financial accounts. This includes family and waiver billing for our students and our Community Member participants, developing and maintaining systems for billing and serving as a resource for families and other third party funders for their student’s accounts.
 
How has MICC changed while you've been here?
In just the 2 years I’ve been here it’s been amazing to see our student population grow so much. And as a result of that growth, our staff and campus growing as well.
 
Could you share one of your favorite moments while at MICC?
I really enjoyed it last spring when I was able to bring several parties together related to waiver billing that was really complex and challenging, get everyone on the same page, and bring forth a solution together. Because of that work and those relationships I started then, it made waiver billing that much easier for the fall.

I loved the opportunity to meet individually with all of our college families this fall during New Family Orientation weekend. I’d communicated with everyone already by email, and some several times, in trying to work through waiver billing questions, but it was great to meet face to face. It was a great opportunity to meet the parents and students and clear up any questions they had or that MICC had and to further establish that relationship with our families for the years to come. 

What do you like to do outside of MICC?
I like to hang out with my husband and my two sons, ages 10 and 13. We keep pretty busy with lots of sports activities and family outings. During my rare quiet times, I like to go for walks with the family dog and read. 

Staff Profile: Luke Ekelund,  Advisor

How long have you been at MICC?
6 years.

Why did you choose to work at MICC?
I wanted to work in an educational setting that is non-traditional and I came across MICC.
​
What do you like best about your role at MICC?
I like the one on one connection that I get to have with our students as an Advisor. During Advisory sessions, I get to see a different side to our students that not everyone gets to see. I appreciate making connections with families and share jubilation when students make progress.

Tell us more about the development of this program/position.
Advisor is not new to MICC, but the role has become more specialized. The Advisory Pod consists of individuals with a diversity of academic backgrounds, which allows for more comprehension in providing viable options to our students' independence. My background is in School Counseling, so having a supervisor that is more specialized in Occupational Therapy encourages me to think more analytically when faced with student scenarios.

What are the various roles you have held in your tenure at MICC?
Evening Instructor, Job Coach, Work Readiness Coordinator, Advisor.

What are your responsibilities at MICC?

• Partake in the continuous development and implementation of an advisory program that focuses on and promotes students’ success
• Meet with students or student groups to mentor and support them in their MICC experience
• Ability to respond effectively to the needs of a diverse student group
• Establish and communicate clear objectives for all advisory learning objectives
  
  

How has MICC changed while you've been here?
There has been a lot of changes. The biggest is that MICC has been more intentional with creating more systematic policies and specialized employee roles into Pod formats. Having specialized Pods allows for more detailed lessons and integrated individualized plans for students to utilize. The systematic policies create more efficiency in and around the organization as a whole.

Could you share one of your favorite moments while at MICC?
One of my favorite moments was at a MICC Homecoming kickball game a couple of years ago. Students, members, parents/guardians and staff combined to play a massive kickball game. It was neat to see everyone come together and cheer each other on during the game. If someone didn't want to play, then that was okay and they conversed with peers or family on the side. It was a nice way to see the MICC community come together.

What do you like to do outside of MICC?
I like to visit my family and friends around the country. I like to be outdoors doing activities like hiking, camping or exploring a state park. These activities fulfill me from within and give me a healthy rejuvenation for life.

Friends of MICC,

MICC prides itself on being person-centered, inclusive and safe for our students, graduates and staff. We also hold this to be true, as we gather our community to celebrate at MICC's annual gala. Historically, we have had record crowds and high participation at the event and the funds generated helped us to live out our mission “to transform the lives of individuals and families affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder and learning differences."

Over the past month we have been monitoring the growing concern over the COVID-19 virus and its devastating impact around the world. While the State of Minnesota has not yet issued a moratorium on large group gatherings we feel it is necessary to make a decision in the best interest of our guest safety. It is with a heavy heart that I inform you that the 2020 MICC Gala at The Depot has been cancelled. 

In light of the cancellation, we are working to quickly coordinate an online opportunity for you and others on Saturday. Stay tuned for how you can still participate in ways such as:

• Live and Silent Auction: Items will be available online for bidding.
• Fund A Need: Every year we ask for our community’s support through online giving, check, stock or donor advised fund. We hope you will join us and show your support by donating.
• Social Media: Use the hashtag #MICCMasquerade to post photos showing your support of MICC in light of the situation. 

We look forward to your continued support!

Sincerely,
Amy Gudmestad
Executive Director

Star Tribune names
Minnesota Independence College and Community
a 2019 Top 150 Workplace
 
 
Richfield, MN June 17, 2019—Minnesota Independence College and Community has been named one of the Top 150 Workplaces in Minnesota by the Star Tribune. A complete list of those selected is available at StarTribune.com/topworkplaces2019 and will also be published in the Star Tribune Top Workplaces special section on Sunday, June 16.
 
Produced by the same team that compiles the 28-year-old Star Tribune 100 report of the best-performing public companies in Minnesota, Top Workplaces recognizes the most progressive companies in Minnesota based on employee opinions measuring engagement, organizational health and satisfaction. The analysis included responses from over 140,000 employees at Minnesota public, private and nonprofit organizations.
 
The rankings in the Star Tribune Top 150 Workplaces are based on survey information collected by Energage, an independent company specializing in employee engagement and retention.
 
Minnesota Independence College and Community was ranked 67th on the small company list.    
 
Star Tribune Publisher Michael J. Klingensmith said, “The companies in the
Star Tribune Top 150 Workplaces deserve high praise for creating the very best work environments in the state of Minnesota. My congratulations to each of these exceptional companies.” 
 
Minnesota Independence College and Community (MICC) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit vocational and life skills training program for young adults with learning differences and autism spectrum disorders. Since our founding in 1996, MICC has remained dedicated to helping our students make successful transitions towards independent living and self-sufficiency.
…………………………………
 
To qualify for the Star Tribune Top Workplaces, a company must have more than 50 employees in Minnesota. Over 2,000 companies were invited to participate. Rankings were composite scores calculated purely on the basis of employee responses.