Nice to Meet You: Katie Tellus

Meet Katie. She is passionate about blood donor recruitment and proud of the impact her work has on her community. Learn more about her role, how she spends her time and what fuels her commitment to her work.

Katie (center) with her husband and son.

Q: Could you explain what your title means and take us through your workday, or what projects you work on?

A: As the donor recruitment supervisor for the Omaha donor recruitment team, I serve as both a creative and operational resource, guiding the team in the development and execution of effective recruitment plans and programs to ensure blood products are available where and when they are needed. I collaborate closely with management to design and implement annual and long-term recruitment strategies, driving initiatives that strengthen community engagement and support the organization’s lifesaving mission. No day is ever the same in donor recruitment. I am either in meetings working with our team or out in the field meeting with donors, sponsors and volunteers.

Q: How long have you been with the Red Cross? Is this your first position with the Red Cross? If not, what was it?

A: I have been with the Red Cross for six years. I started as an account manager covering southwest Iowa and then moved to another territory in the Omaha Metro (Bellevue, Offutt, LaVista, Papillion). In July, I started my new role as donor recruitment supervisor.

Q: What do you like about your work?

A: The part of my job I love most is building lasting relationships with donors, community partners and my team. Every connection we make strengthens the community and helps ensure lifesaving blood products are there when they’re needed most. Seeing people come together for a common purpose is what makes this work so meaningful.

Q: What do you like to listen to during the workday?

A: Right now, my Spotify playlist is a mix of Hudson Westbrook, Megan Moroney and Forrest Frank. But between the end of October and December, it will be nothing but Christmas music!

Q: In what part of the region are you located, and what do you enjoy about your community?

A: I grew up near Minden, NE, and moved to Omaha in 2008 for college. I love living in Omaha because it offers the best of both worlds. It has the energy and opportunities of a bigger city, while still maintaining the welcoming, close-knit feel of a smaller town.

Q: How do you spend your time when you aren’t working?

A: When I’m not working, you’ll usually find me hanging out with my husband, Chase, our son, Beau and our energetic dog, Sully. We love spending time outdoors, making the most of every sunny day (or snowy one!). I’m a diehard Pittsburgh Steelers and Penguins fan, and I also love curling up with a good book, experimenting in the kitchen with baking, getting my hands in the garden or just enjoying quality time with my boys.

Q: What has most surprised you while working for the Red Cross?

A: What surprises me most about working for the Red Cross is just how vast and varied its impact is every single day. People often think of us primarily as a blood donation organization or a disaster relief organization, but the Red Cross is involved in so many other areas. It’s incredible to see how one organization can touch so many lives across so many different areas, often behind the scenes, and make a real difference every single day.

Q: What is a Red Cross moment that sticks with you?

A: I will never forget my first blood drive at AHSTW High School in Avoca, IA. I had the privilege of meeting Charley Falkena, who was back at school for the first time in weeks after undergoing cancer treatments. She walked right over to me and thanked me for helping ensure that kids like her had the blood products they needed. That moment hit me hard. Everything we do in donor recruitment is for patients like Charley.