Rachelle Lipker has been a member of the Red Cross for over 20 years. She began as a volunteer, and she is now an executive director. Her positive demeanor and willingness to engage anyone and everyone about Red Cross work make her great at her job. She sat down and answered some questions about her Red Cross experience in the hopes that others will be encouraged to join the organization.
Q: What does your title mean and where are you based?
A: Executive Director, which means I have the best job, ever! As an Executive Director, I get to work with everyone. If you have ever met me, you know that I know no stranger and I love to talk to everyone. My chapter territory is Central and Western Nebraska. I get the privilege to work in 65 counties in Nebraska.
Q: How long have you been with the Red Cross?
A: I am getting ready to celebrate my seventh year as a paid staff member. However, I was a volunteer for 13 years, teaching first aid and C.P.R. classes.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: The thing I love the most about my job, is that no two days are ever the same. It is the people that I work with such as community partners, co-workers, peers, donors and volunteers that make my job fun and exciting!
Q: Can you take us through a typical work day for you? What are you working on?
A: There is no “typical” day for me, as every day is different. Currently, I am working on board recruitment and onboarding, in addition to attending community events to talk about all the great things the Red Cross has to offer.
Q: What do you do when you aren’t working?
A: I am often doing one of three things:
I am making memories with my grandbabies. I have 10 of them, ages ranging from 12 to 3.
My husband, Tony, and I are remodeling our home.
I am hanging out with my two dogs, Larry and Carl. Larry is a one-and-a-half year old Labradoodle, and Carl a three-month-old Labrador.
Q: What is your favorite thing about where you live?
A: I live in a little sub-division west of Hastings. My favorite thing about where I live is that it has all the conveniences of a larger town but with the feel of a small town.
Q: What has most surprised you while working at the Red Cross?
A: I thought I knew the Red Cross when I was a volunteer. I was shocked at how much I did not know once I became a staff member.
Q: What is a Red Cross moment that’s stuck with you?
A: Gosh, where do I even start? There are so many Red Cross moments that are embedded in my heart, but I think the one that sticks out today would be knowing that smoke alarms that the Red Cross installed have saved almost one thousand lives!
Q: What do you wish people knew about working at the Red Cross?
A: Working at Red Cross is so fulfilling! I love that every line of service is either saving lives or improving lives. I feel so honored to be a part of such an amazing organization. I love that I can make a difference in the lives of people I may never meet.