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YP of the Month – December 2019: Vanessa VanderWeele

Hometown: Waldo, WI
Describe Yourself in Three
Educational Background: Bachelors of History, Lakeland University
Words: Kind, Curious, Hopeful
Place of Employment and Position: Fond du Lac County Historical Society, Executive Director

What do you enjoy the most about your current position?
My favorite aspect of this position is being able to share the stories of the amazing people and places of Fond du Lac County’s past and present through beautiful historic buildings and unique artifacts.

What is the one thing you would do if you knew you could not fail?
I would create an app that would make it easy to capture oral and family histories, saving precious stories for future generations.

How has YPF contributed to your personal and/or professional development?
YPF has given me so many great opportunities to make new connections for myself and FCHS. As a commuter, events like Member Mondays have encouraged me to meet new people and learn about the rich traditions (and awesome food!) of the area. Being part of the Marketing committee has also helped me develop ideas for promoting my organization’s programming.

What are some of the professional and volunteer groups you participate in?
I am a 4-H youth leader in Sheboygan County, member of the Fund Fondy committee and the National Emerging Museum Professionals Network.

What is your favorite thing to do in the Fond du Lac area?
I love attending the numerous events here in Fond du Lac County. There is something to do every single weekend, and for every interest. Whether it’s big like Walleye Weekend or small like an art class, people are always welcoming and fun!

Where do you see the Fond du Lac area in 5 years?
I think we’ll see Fond du Lac County as an exciting place in 2025. I’m hoping that we will have created new collaborations between businesses and non-profits to make our area shine!

What words of wisdom do you have for other young professionals working in Fond du Lac?
Find one way this week to become more involved with our community! It could be shopping at a small business for holiday gifts, volunteering for a non-profit with a mission you support, or taking 5 minutes to find and follow local organizations on social media.