Staff Spotlight: Katie Langrehr, Experiential Learning Director

Author: Cathy Essick
Financial Literacy
Published: Monday, 05 May 2025

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Image caption: Katie Langrehr, Experiential Learning Director

If you’ve ever stepped into a Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa (JAEI) student event—whether it’s a bustling career fair, an energetic JA BizTown® Mobile simulation, or an inspiring day with career speakers—you’ve likely seen the fingerprints of Katie Langrehr all over it. As our Experiential Learning Director, Katie is the force behind many of the hands-on experiences that bring Junior Achievement’s (JA) mission to life beyond the classroom walls.

Katie joined the JAEI team nearly four years ago, shortly after moving to Iowa from the UK. At the time, she hadn’t heard of Junior Achievement—but a quick call to her stateside family changed everything. "Everyone I talked to had something positive to say—either they had volunteered with JA or they remembered being a student in the program," she recalls. “It felt rare to find an organization that had made such an impact across generations.”

Starting as a part-time program coordinator, Katie balanced work with new motherhood and quickly found herself captivated by the mission. “I drank the Kool-Aid,” she laughs. “I wanted to learn more, do more, contribute more.” When JAEI began its Mobile Experiential Learning Center initiative, she knew she wanted to be part of it—and today, she leads the charge in shaping those experiences for thousands of students each year.

What keeps Katie going? The stories. The small moments. The “warm and fuzzy” feeling that comes from knowing JA’s impact is real and lasting. “Every time I walk into a classroom or watch a JA BizTown® Mobile simulation unfold, I see kids doing things they didn’t think they could,” she says. “Watching a fifth grader deliver a speech in front of 120 peers—those are profound moments. That’s confidence. That’s growth. That’s JA.”

Image caption: Meet Katie Langrehr, Experiential Learning Director at Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa! Katie leads hands-on student experiences like JA BizTown® Mobile, JA Career Inspire, and more—bringing real-world learning to life across Eastern Iowa.

Katie is especially passionate about financial literacy and the importance of starting early. Growing up in a household with financial struggles shaped her own relationship with money and fuels her drive to empower students with the knowledge and confidence to forge a different path. “We can’t expect adults to be financially secure if we’re not giving them the tools as kids,” she explains. “It’s not just about understanding money—it’s about practicing with it, talking about it, and building self-efficacy.”

Among all the programs she oversees, Katie holds a special place in her heart for JA More than Money®, which allows fifth grade students to explore entrepreneurship and decision-making in fun, creative ways. And of course, JA BizTown®Mobile stands out as a transformational experience—one that, in her words, helps create a “core memory” for students.

Looking ahead, Katie is thrilled by the direction JAEI is headed. “Our expansion, our integration with districts, our ability to walk with students from kindergarten through graduation—it’s powerful,” she says. “I’m excited to keep growing, keep innovating, and keep bringing real-world learning to life.”

When asked how the community can support JA, Katie is quick to offer a call to action: volunteer, invest, and talk to the young people in your life. “Volunteering doesn’t look the same as it did five years ago—we have so many options now that we can personalize the experience. And asking students what they learned through JA can spark amazing conversations. It’s how we keep the learning going long after the program ends.”