Hobby: I helped organize, edit, and publish three cookbooks.

What inspired you to write a cookbook? When my mom passed away, I promised her that I would share her recipes and traditions with my children. This led to my first cookbook, which included 500 recipes from five generations with family history woven throughout.

How did the two other cookbooks come about? After I gave copies of the cookbook to my family, I sold the rest and donated the proceeds for breast cancer research. I became a public library director and created two more cookbooks that we published and sold for fundraising projects.

Why are cookbooks important to you? Cooking, mealtime, and celebrations are what bring families and friends together. Recipes that have been passed down from generations are a wonderful way to share memories and family history.

How did you hear about the job at Allamakee- Clayton? I saw the job posting in one of the local newspapers.

What were you doing before joining the co-op? I was a teacher and then a library director. After that, I worked for the state of Iowa.

Why did you want to work at Allamakee? My parents were members of a neighboring co-op, and they spoke highly of it. After my interview, I was so impressed with ACEC and knew that if I was hired, it would be a place that I would retire from some day.

What do you like most about your job? Developing relationships in the community is very rewarding. I also enjoy my colleagues and appreciate the work/life balance that I have.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Northern Iowa.

What else do you enjoy doing? I like to travel, and I enjoy photography. Northeast Iowa is a beautiful place to kayak, hike, fish, bike, picnic ,and spend time with family and friends.

Know someone who could be profiled in New Employee Spotlight? Contact Megan McAtee at megan.mcatee@nreca.coop or 703-907-6105.