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 – Executive Vice President – 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
(319) 862-1100

Pronouns: He/him/his

About me
Short Version: Husband - Father - Educator - Servant Leader

Medium Version: Jenny and I met on the dance floor at a wedding in 2007 and this year will be celebrating 12 years of marriage. We have four kiddos, Lily (7), Ellary (6), Tobin (2), and Riggs (8 mos) and they keep us quite busy along with our pup Lincoln the Labradoodle.

I grew up in Shueyville, IA and attended Prairie before Mount Mercy where I studied business, played soccer, and interned at Junior Achievement! After graduating, I moved to Georgia for 5 years to work at Aflac's HQ then to South Carolina for 2 years.

I finished my MBA from Emory University in an evening program in 2012 then completed my EdD (Doctorate of Education in Interdisciplinary Leadership) at Creighton University in 2014. We moved back to Iowa in 2014 to begin the adoption process and be closer to family, which is also when I started teaching at Mount Mercy University eventually becoming the Vice President for Student Success.

I have served on several local not for profits including the Catherine McAuley Center as chair, the United Way, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society State Board, and currently as a board member/coach with the Benton Youth Soccer Association. I am a 2017 grad of the Economic Alliance's Leadership for Five Seasons Program where I have served as the facilitator for leadership development the last five years.

Jenny and I love traveling with (and without) the kids both in and outside of the United States. I have had the good fortune of visiting all of the 7 wonders of the world, went running with the bulls in Pamplona, sky diving out of a hot air balloon on my wedding day, bungee jumping in Victoria Falls, and overall like adventurous things!

Are you a JA alumni?
Yes!

What is your favorite program or event that JAEI does, and why?
The Company Program - Back in 2005, I had the opportunity as a part of the Mount Mercy SIFE (Enactus) team to partner with Metro High School to bring this project to the school.

I will say, the first meeting, myself and our advisor had three students sleeping at the end of our "overview presentation" and at the end of the two years we spent together, I was honored to be named volunteer of the year for Metro and gave their commencement address.

I appreciated the time we spent together, the real-world application I was able to provide the students (and they provided me), and to see their face light up when we opened a physical location to sell their goods, The Heart of Downtown. We sold stock options, we partnered with a local soy candle maker to create Community Candles of Hope, students interviewed for jobs, managed the cash flow, and saw their dreams come true.

Why did you choose to work for JA?
To continue to have a positive impact on the youth of our community through education ... and have fun!

Do you have any "hidden" talents?
I have no cartilage in my nose, so it's fairly squishy.

What's your favorite weekend activity in Eastern Iowa?
Coaching Lillary (Lily + Ellary) soccer with Benton Youth Soccer, Team Goldfish.

Whitney Schreder – Vice President - Finance – Leadership

Email
LinkedIn Profile
(319) 862-1100

Pronouns: She/her

About me:
I’ve been with JAEI since 2012. I am an Eastern Iowa native (Mount Vernon) and a University of Iowa alum (Go Hawks!). I live with my family in Sutliff and enjoy traveling in our camper van, music festivals, boating, cheering on our kids at their music/theater/sporting events and being outside when we can!

Are you a JA alumni?:
No

What is your favorite program or event that JAEI does, and why?
JA Our Nation - I love talking to the students about aligning their interests and skills with a possible career path as early as 5th grade. It's fun to hear their ideas and help them identify their own unique skillsets.

Why did you choose to work for JA?
My role has morphed over the years and I love learning and growing with each new challenge! I love the opportunity to be in the classroom with the students and I think I learn just as much from them as they do from JA! We are a tight-knit team and work well together to problem-solve but also know how to have a good time together!

What's your favorite weekend activity in Eastern Iowa?
Love all the seasonal farmer's markets in the area and the live music opportunities!

Michelle Waldron – Vice President- Operations – Leadership

Email
(319) 862-1100

Hello! My name is Michelle Waldron and I am the Vice President of Operations at Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa. August of 2023 will mark my 12th year with JAEI! 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 will be a senior and Sam will be a freshman, both at the University of Iowa. My youngest, Sophie, will be in ninth grade at Prairie in Cedar Rapids. 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.