As part of our annual Champions Breakfast event, we honor our MICC staff who are celebrating milestone years of service. MICC CEO Amy Gudmestad shared, “These awards are very special to me, as I believe that MICC has the very best employees in the ENTIRE world. They are all extremely talented and caring individuals who are committed to bringing MICC’s vision to life each and every day, no matter how hard yesterday was or how challenging tomorrow may be.”
Amy’s comments for each staff member are shared from the Champions Breakfast event below.
Celebrating 5 Years of Service:
Chris Nelson has been a dedicated part of the MICC team since 2019 (just hit 6 years as of September). By day, Chris serves as a Branch Manager at a credit union; he was first introduced to MICC while partnering on the Budgeting & Banking class. He was so moved by the mission that he decided to join the staff part-time! Whether he is baking with participants, hitting up the mall, or simply spending time connecting with them, Chris loves mentoring students and watching them grow. Thank you, Chris, for making a genuine difference in the lives of everyone around you.
Nate Keating is MICC’s Electives Instructor who oversees MICC’s semester-long social electives, where participants practice the social skills they’re learning in classes through fun, interest-based experiences. Nate just surpassed 6 years of service in August. Nate regularly connects with participants to gather feedback and ensure our offerings align with their passions and goals. Nate leads our Rock Band club and works directly with the participants who play at our MICC Gala every year. He is very loved by our participants and brings fun and energy to every room he enters. Thank you, Nate, for creating an engaging and supportive environment where participants can grow, connect, and thrive.
Jena is MICC’s Transition and Resource Manager, just reached 6 years of service this October! When a family needs resource support, Jena is the person they turn to. She brings calm, care, and expertise to every conversation—helping families navigate the often-complicated process of securing resources such as SSI, waivers, and other vital supports that promote independence. She and her team also work diligently to guide families through the transition process—both when joining and when graduating from MICC—helping them plan, prepare, and celebrate each milestone. Jena consistently goes above and beyond—providing valuable training not only to MICC families but also to the broader community, and offering steady, compassionate guidance through every challenge. Jena, your attention to detail, compassion, and unwavering commitment to our mission make a lasting difference every day. We are so grateful for all that you do—congratulations on five amazing years at MICC!
Celebrating 10 Years of Service:
Today we celebrate Tim and his remarkable 10 years of service to MICC. As our Chief Financial Officer, Tim has guided this organization with integrity, precision, and a steady hand—leading us through perfect audits year after year. His creativity shines in how he approaches challenges, always finding solutions that balance both financial responsibility and innovation. Beyond his technical expertise, Tim leads with kindness and calm—qualities that have earned the respect and trust of everyone who works alongside him. For me, Tim has been an incredible partner in leadership. We balance each other perfectly—he takes the details while I focus on the big picture—and together we’ve built something strong and impactful organization. MICC has been the longest place Tim has ever worked, and I like to think that’s because this community values him as much as he values us. Tim, thank you for a decade of dedication, excellence, and heart. MICC is better because of you.
We are also excited to recognize Danielle Friedland this morning. Now, this isn’t technically her 10-year anniversary—it’s actually her 11th year at MICC. And yes, due to a process she didn’t create, we missed celebrating her milestone last year. I’m so glad she stuck around one more year so we could recognize her properly today! My world completely changed when Danielle entered my life. I met her when I was hiring an Executive Assistant—a role that was notoriously hard to fill. There was one essential skill that wasn’t on the job description: you had to be able to read my mind. Danielle did that perfectly from day one. She brought calm to chaos, organization to complexity, and partnership to leadership. I knew immediately I would never find another person quite like her. After 5½ years, Danielle’s exceptional work earned her a well-deserved promotion to Associate Director of Administration and Compliance—a role that continues to expand with her talent and capability. Today, Danielle oversees our day-to-day compliance, every one of our accreditations, our Board governance, and, truthfully, just about all things operations. She is the quiet force behind so much of MICC’s success—steadfast, reliable, and brilliant at what she does. I can say with complete honesty that I don’t know where I—or MICC—would be without her. Danielle, thank you for 11 years of dedication, excellence, and unwavering partnership.
Thank you again for your incredible dedication to MICC and for the work you do every day to support our mission!
Interested in working at MICC? Learn more about how to join the team here.