Leadership

Christine Landa President - Leadership

About me
I have spent over three decades learning and leading at Junior Achievement and I am excited about our organization's next chapter. I love spending time with my family, I'm the biggest fan at my children's sporting events, and I love the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Are you a JA alumni?
No

What is your favorite program or event that JAEI does, and why?
My favorite Junior Achievement program is the one that I am teaching. I really don't have a personal favorite as I have found enjoyment with each one.

Why did you choose to work for JA?
After volunteering in a classroom, I fell in love with the mission of the organization.

Do you have any "hidden" talents?
I am a certified scuba diver.

What's your favorite weekend activity in Eastern Iowa?
I'm a bleacher mom! I love watching my kiddos compete in sports.

Erin Kurt Senior Vice President-Operations - Leadership

Email
LinkedIn Profile
(319) 862-1100

About me
I have been at JAEI since 2005 but previously I worked in college admissions. I am an Iowa gal, born and raised but have had the opportunity to travel the US and Europe. My husband, Robert, and I live in rural Coggon and we are having fun making some changes to our forever home. Three of our four kids are already out of high school so we are finding more time to get things done. When we aren't in the middle of a home improvement project, you will find me gardening, cooking or reading.

Are you a JA alumni?
No

What is your favorite program or event that JAEI does, and why?
I love how the Career Inspire event creates the opportunity for students to discover careers that they never knew about or had never had the chance to explore hands on. And seeing the volunteers working with the students and getting energized about their careers is awesome!

Why did you choose to work for JA?
I love the variety that working at Junior Achievement provides for me. Working with the board members, classroom volunteers, educators is so fulfilling while also getting to work on trend-setting projects like longitudinal study design, the launch of 3DE and JA BizTown Mobile, and working with the talented staff keeps me on my toes.

Do you have any "hidden" talents?
Maybe home improvements? I can tile a kitchen floor using a wet saw, I consider myself an expert painter, and can sew curtains and pillows to complete a remodel. I love making a home unique and personal.

What's your favorite weekend activity in Eastern Iowa?
Anything that includes spending time with family and friends.

Nate Klein Vice President- Education - Leadership

Email
LinkedIn Profile
(319) 862-1100

Nate Klein serves as the Vice President for Education at Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa, where he supports the content & curriculum, experiential learning, 3DE, and workforce initiative teams. His work centers around partnering with educators and community leaders to inspire students to lead choice-filled lives.

Nate’s JA journey began as a student and later as a college volunteer teaching the JA Company Program at Metro High School. This experience sparked a deep passion for the JA mission, eventually leading to an internship where he supported programming and accounting during a regional office consolidation. After earning his degree from Mount Mercy, Nate held leadership roles at Aflac headquarters in Georgia before returning to Eastern Iowa as a business professor and Vice President for Student Success at Mount Mercy University. In 2023, he officially joined the JAEI team full-time—nearly two decades after his first JA classroom visit.

Nate holds a business degree from Mount Mercy University, an MBA from Emory University, and a Doctorate in Interdisciplinary Leadership from Creighton University. He’s also earned a Six Sigma green belt from the American Society for Quality.

What keeps Nate motivated? The students, of course—but also the dedicated colleagues, volunteers, and educators he collaborates with daily. He finds particular joy in bringing JA to life for his own kids and recalls one of his most rewarding experiences: helping students run a real business through the JA Company Program, which sold handmade candles in a downtown storefront.

Outside of work, Nate and his wife Jenny have explored over 35 countries and visited all seven wonders of the world. He’s a proud dad of four, a youth sports coach, an Amazon #1 best-selling children’s book author, and an active community volunteer. Nate currently serves as the leadership facilitator for the Metro Economic Alliance’s Leadership for Five Seasons program, is a member of several local boards and councils, and stays engaged as a leadership coach.

Whitney Schreder Vice President - Finance - Leadership

Email
LinkedIn Profile
(319) 862-1100

Whitney Schreder is the Vice President of Finance at Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa (JAEI), where she works closely with the Regional Board Treasurer, Finance Committee, and JAEI Foundation Board members to ensure the organization’s financial health and align resources with its strategic direction. Whitney joined JAEI in 2012, bringing experience in public accounting, nonprofit coordination, and private accounting. Drawn by her passion for mission-driven work, she found the perfect fit at JA—a place to combine her love for finance with her commitment to empowering students.

Over the years, Whitney’s role has evolved from Operations Manager focused on accounting data entry to expanding into human resources before returning to her finance roots. She especially enjoys collaborating with colleagues and board members, crediting them with inspiring her to become more involved in causes she cares deeply about. A strong advocate for financial literacy, Whitney values JA’s ability to provide all students with the tools they need to make informed choices and build their futures—regardless of background.

Whitney has volunteered across JA’s programs, from elementary classrooms to experiential learning at the middle school level and 3DE™ case challenges in high school. She particularly enjoys the energy and excitement at JA Career Inspire®, where students get hands-on opportunities to explore career paths.

Outside of JA, Whitney is a certified yoga instructor and incorporates meditation practices into her daily routine. She is most excited about the future potential of JAEI, knowing the organization has accomplished so much during her tenure yet still has limitless opportunities to empower students to lead choice-filled lives.

Michelle Waldron Vice President- Human Resources - Leadership

Email
(319) 862-1100

Hello! My name is Michelle Waldron and I am the Vice President of Human Resources at Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa. I have lived in Cedar Rapids for most of my life and graduated from The University of Iowa. My husband Mike and I have three children, Annah, Sam, and Sophie. All three of them have had Junior Achievement in school and I am thankful that I was able to teach a lot of their classes!

My favorite

Part of my job: The JAEI Team! I feel very lucky to work with a team that is so passionate and works so hard to make Junior Achievement successful in Eastern Iowa.

Spot in Eastern Iowa: My house! I love spending time with my family.

Quote: Choose to be optimistic, it feels better. Dalai Lama

Things to do after 5pm: Take my dogs for a walk or catch up with my family about their day.

Julie Parisi Vice President-Development - Leadership

Email
319-862-1100

Julie Parisi is the Vice President of Development at Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa (JAEI), where she leads the development team with a focus on growth and deepening community connections across Eastern Iowa. Julie joined JAEI in August 2025, inspired by her own experiences as a JA classroom volunteer where she witnessed students’ “light bulb” moments as they connected lessons to real life. She is especially passionate about JA Career Inspire®, valuing the way it blends experiential learning with opportunities for students to engage directly with industry professionals.

Believing strongly in the importance of financial literacy, Julie knows that teaching students about money early equips them to handle real-world challenges with confidence—from buying their first car to making long-term financial decisions. She also brings a personal perspective, having learned firsthand the impact of student loans and now prioritizing financial lessons she can share with others.

Originally from Long Island, Julie is a proud second-generation Italian whose family roots trace back to Southern Italy. Today, she enjoys spending time with her kids, gardening, and giving back to the community she calls home. What excites her most about JAEI’s future is the opportunity to serve more students with programs that make a lasting difference, and she encourages community members to get involved by volunteering and sharing their experiences with the next generation.