Today we’d like to introduce you to Heidi Christensen.
Hi Heidi, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
As a Colorado native I love everything about Colorado. We have beautiful landscapes, compassionate people, year-round activities, and great universities. What more can you ask for? I was born and raised in Denver and I completed my education in 2006 at the University of Colorado with a degree in International Business Management. I’ve been working in the communications industry for the last 10 years.
I started volunteering with Rocky Mountain Alliance Children’s Foundation in 2016. RMA is a 501C3 charitable organization that raises money to support community programs for at-risk children and youth. I was looking for an opportunity to share my skills and experience with an organization that benefited women and children in the Denver community. I knew several members and loved attending the events, so it ended up being a perfect fit that became my passion.
I joined the board as Marketing Director in 2019, then went on to become Vice President in 2020 and served as President in 2021. I now remain on the board as Past President and advisor. Serving on the board has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life because we work as a team and RMA has given me the opportunity to meet some of the strongest and most influential women in Denver. There was no way to foresee the unique challenges that leading a group of volunteers through COVID but our organization persevered and 2021 ended up being one of our highest-grossing fundraising years on record.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
RMA is comprised of women in their 20’s and 30’s and we raise funds for programs that serve children in Denver. Part of our mission includes building philanthropic women and a large part of our success and retention is the bond we form through service. It was difficult to fundraise and maintain engagement when we were forced to switch to remote meetings and events in 2020. Many of our members are front-line workers and several also lost their jobs.
We saw a decline in membership going into 2021 but our members proved their dedication to our mission. For me personally it was a challenge to find the right balance and decide where to focus my energy. We had a lot of trial-by-fire and needed to stay flexible with the changing environment. We didn’t have much guidance on how to sustain the organization but “all in” became our motto and we survived.
This year we are focused on building our membership. Now that we can revamp the organization and how we operate, we are looking for the kind of selfless, overachieving women that like to have fun, want to meet people and help children.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I started out as a project manager at a small company in Boulder before switching over to product management. I am now a Senior Product Manager at Spectrum. I have been managing our customer email platform for about 8 years.
I am known for being an expert in my line of work and for bringing levity and humor to my interactions. I joined the board for Women in Cable Telecommunications the same year I joined RMA’s board and managed a 6-month leadership program available to WICT members.
I am particularly proud of my transformation from entry-level analyst to mentor and leader within the industry. I wear multiple hats, lead a team of 13 people and deliver a critical communication software that people relied on to stay in touch throughout COVID.
What sets me apart is the same quality RMA looks for in all our members: the drive to make a positive impact on the lives of others.
We love surprises, fun facts, and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I love to travel and have been to every continent twice (except Antarctica). Throughout my life, I have studied 4 languages and have used them to get out of some pretty dicey situations abroad.
I also spent a couple years training as a competitive axe thrower and at one time was one of the best female axe throwers in the state. I didn’t win any tournaments, but I do have a custom axe with my nickname (Code Red) etched into the blade.
Pricing:
- RMA Membership Dues: $256
- RMA Event attendance: $30 – $150 depending on the event
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.rmacf.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rmachildrensfoundation/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RMAChildrensFoundation
- Other: https://www.rmacf.org/donate
