Experience and Community Involvement
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20+ Years Financial Management and Leadership Experience
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20+ Years working on teams, soliciting and listening to all points of view, reaching a consensus that represents a win-win for all stakeholders.
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Successfully worked with diverse personalities and goals – as a product manager for a high tech company had to bring together sales, marketing, technical developers, finance, and customer service to create products and services that delivered value to the customer.
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Career spent in technology will come into play relative to using technology effectively and appropriately in the learning process
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Over the years through various employers has worked on United Way campaigns, Habitat for Humanity projects, and other volunteer projects.
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Sponsored a child at Ahn Linh school in Ho Chi Min city for 4 years. Helped build Bridges to
Learning website.
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Ran communications for successful 2004 referendum campaign.
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Taught marketing for two summers for an Entrepreneurship camp at Eden Prairie H.S.
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Served as lead consultant for Habitat for Technology project where Eden Prairie H.S. students built websites for small businesses.
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Steering committee member for Citizens for Eden Prairie Schools.
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Coached soccer for 4 seasons for Eden Prairie Soccer Association
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Volunteer at daughter’s school
Education
I’m proud to be a native Minnesotan. I grew up in the northern suburbs of St. Paul and graduated from Mounds View High School. My family valued education and I was the first in my extended family to graduate from college. I attended the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities campus and graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Business with an accounting major.
Early in my career I was a public accountant and a controller for an export company. I then moved into the high tech industry as a help desk agent for an accounting software company. I moved through various positions in that company including training, product management, ending my tenure there as Director of Marketing. When I moved into product management, I found that I enjoyed marketing and went back to school to earn my Masters of Business Administration from the University of St. Thomas with a major in marketing.
After earning my degree I held senior positions with a number of technology companies including Director of Marketing and President of a small financial software company. My professional experience has taught me how to think strategically, manage budgets, and work effectively as a member of diverse teams.
 On the personal side, I’ve been fortunate to travel the world and experience other cultures. Later in life, after many adventures and rewarding professional experiences I was fortunate to have my daughter Braden. She is an energetic, curious first-grader that has brought a blast of energy and joy to my life. Braden and I share a love of reading, crafts, and enjoyment of the great outdoors.
Before Braden was in our schools, I began my Eden Prairie schools related volunteer work. I ran communications for the successful 2004 referendum campaign. I was the lead consultant for a Habitat for Technology project that teamed high school students with professionals like me to build websites for small businesses. I also taught marketing at a summer entrepreneurship camp at the high school that helped students learn how to make their dreams to start their own businesses a reality. I have also served as a steering committee member for Citizens for Eden Prairie Schools and volunteered at my daughter’s school.
I believe that combination of my personal and professional experiences along with the perspective of a mother of a first-grader will bring a unique perspective to my work on the board.
Thanks for taking the time to learn more about me. I respectfully ask for your vote on November 6.
Kim Ross |
