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Who's
Who at Spread the Word Nevada
Part
of what makes Spread the Word Nevada
so special is its staff. These are some of the people that
make Spread the Word Nevada such
a success.
Laurie Hartig, Founder/Special Projects
Lisa
Habighorst, Executive Director
Sherry Walker, Director
of Development
Cynthia
Hensel, Program
Manager
Richelle Rice,
Marketing Director
Trang Dang, Communication
Coordinator
Libbi Erickson, Books
& Buddies Coordinator
Natalie
Algeyer, Administrative Assistant
Carmen Choto, Program
Assistant
Diane Bedell, Program
Assistant
Tricia
Frazer, Program Assistant
Alison Johnsen,
Program Assistant
Debbie Sandusky,
Volunteer Coordinator
Henry Dionne, Book
Delivery Specialist
Laurie
Hartig, Founder and Director of Programs
 Laurie
Hartig is a retired elementary school librarian. Laurie graduated
from Southern Methodist University with a B.A. in Education
and a Masters Degree from UNLV in Curriculum and instruction,
specializing in Library Science.
During
her 16 years working with at-risk children, she realized the
impact that ownership of books made in the lives of her young
students. Although inspiring children to check out books from
her library was her goal, when she could provide youngsters
with a book of their own from her discarded library books,
this was when she saw the magic of book ownership. Her students
sparkled—they stood taller and prouder.
At
Spread the Word Nevada, Laurie promotes
the program through speaking engagements and other outreach
efforts, and oversees all the different program aspects of
Spread the Word Nevada.
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Lisa
Habighorst, Executive Director
 Lisa
Habighorst was a middle school mathematics teacher for 12
years. She earned her undergraduate degree in Education at
Oregon State University and a Masters Degree in Education
Administration from UNLV.
Being
a believer in literacy and an avid reader, she jumped at the
chance in July 2001 to coordinate the Spread the Word Nevada program.
Lisa
is responsible for the overall management of Spread the Word Nevada. She oversees all employees and financials
as well as the daily operation of the program. Lisa spends
a large amount of time on growing the program through Board
relations, strategic planning, vision and stability.
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Sherry
Walker , Director of Development
 Sherry
is a graduate of Miami of Ohio in Oxford, Ohio. She has a
B.S. in Business and Marketing. She worked for 10 years as
an international flight attendant out of JFK airport in New
York.
Sherry
has been involved with the Early Childhood program in Clark
County schools and has seen what a difference early intervention
can make in a child's life. She believes Spread the Word Nevada can make a huge impact in the lives of
children by helping them develop good reading habits at an
early age.
On
behalf of Spread the Word Nevada,
Sherry cultivates relationships within the corporate, nonprofit
and grassroots communities, enlisting their support through
donations and sponsorship opportunities.
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Cynthia
Hensel, Breakfast With Books Program and Book Drive Coordinator
 Cynthia
Hensel graduated from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN with
a major in biology and minors in chemistry and psychology.
She returned to college to become a science teacher for grades
7-12.
After
teaching for six years, she entered the medical field and
became a cytogenetic technologist. Cynthia is a mother of
two boys. She volunteers in her children's school and works
part-time for the Spread the Word Nevada literacy project. She is very
passionate about helping to facilitate literacy learning opportunities
for all children.
Cindy
organizes book drives, oversees the monthly book distributions
to adopted schools, and manages book pick-ups and drop-offs.
She is also responsible for the "Breakfast with Books"
program for Spread the Word Nevada,
as well as planning, scheduling and organizing, soliciting
sponsorships and raffle prizes for the monthly events.
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Richelle
Rice, Marketing Director
 Richelle
Rice is an Emmy Award-winning communication professional with
experience in all areas of marketing including video production
and social networking. Richelle is a southern California native
with a broadcast journalism degree from the University of
Oregon. As a TV news producer she has covered stories with
an international scope. She also created nationally-viewed
police training videos while managing the video production
unit for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. As
a new mom, Richelle was excited to join Spread
the Word Nevada in 2012 as the Director of Marketing.
She will not only help grow our outreach and influence in
the community but she will also coordinate our large events
like the annual Storybook Gala and
Suitcase
Party.
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Trang
Dang, Communication Coordinator
 Trang
earned a Bachelor's degree in Human Services (major) and Child
Development (minor) at California State University, Fullerton,
and a Master's Degree in Social Work at the University of
Southern California. Before relocating to Nevada with her
husband and two daughters, Trang worked as a clinical social
worker in an outpatient behavioral health clinic in California.
She served children with emotional, behavioral and special
needs and provided mental health evaluations of children designated
under special education in local school districts.
Trang
joined Spread the Word Nevada as
a part-time staff member in August of 2007 and currently works
with media sources to promote the program, oversees communications
efforts, and assists with other program management responsibilities.
She will also facilitate book cleanings at other community
centers, assist with program promotion, and facilitate book
drives.
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Libbi
Erickson, Books & Buddies Program Coordinator
 Libbi
graduated from Montana State University with a degree in Business
Marketing and a minor in Business Management. She last worked
18 years ago in the Military Personnel Office at the Uniformed
Services University of the Health Sciences, and has been a
stay-at-home mom to her three kids since 1991. She volunteered
at her children's schools and with the PTA until they finished
elementary school. She now volunteers with high schools where
needed and with the National Charity League for the past three
years, which is how she came to Spread
the Word Nevada. Years of volunteering in the classroom
and with PTA programs have made her a passionate advocate
for children's literacy, and she is excited about the opportunity
to "spread the word." Libbi coordinates our Books
& Buddies program, and is a facilitator for our Breakfast
with Books program at a number of schools.
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Natalie
Algeyer, Program Assistant
 Natalie
Algeyer has a degree in Early Childhood Development. Natalie
has previously worked in the Clark County School District
as the First Aid Safety Assistant and as a Safekey Instructor
for the City of Henderson. Natalie enjoyed being part of the
PTA at her children's school in previous years. Natalie has
two young boys who are active in lacrosse and marching band.
Natalie enjoys being a part of young children's lives and
seeing the difference that you can make in someone's life
with the smallest gift of kindness. Natalie oversees weekly
book cleanings at the Boulder City Senior Center. She works
in the office and helps with numerous administrative duties
and promotes Spread the Word Nevada
at community events.
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Carmen
Choto, Program Assistant
 Carmen
E. Choto moved to the U.S. 27 years ago from El Salvador,
Central America. Carmen is a wife and full-time mom of four
children. As a bilingual speaker (of Spanish and English),
Carmen worked for the St. Anne Church as the head of events
and planning of the Pastoral Ministry. Carmen has also volunteered
for more than four years at St. Rose Dominican Hospital, aiding
in retail services. Lately, she has been working in childcare
at St. Thomas More Church.
With
more than two years of psychology study under her belt, from
the Jesuit University in El Salvador, Carmen has a unique
understanding of how reading helps in the development of children.
Carmen's drive and enthusiasm for Spread the Word Nevada was inspired
by a realization of how—growing up in El Salvador, and seeing
how any type of literature was hard to come by—books were
gifts and that many children are still incapable of obtaining
the magic and wonder of reading. Through her work, Carmen
shows her true appreciation of the amazing unity between books
and children.
Carmen
oversees weekly book cleanings at the Henderson Senior Center.
She works with our "Breakfast with Books" program
as a facilitator at a number of schools and helps promote
Spread the Word Nevada at community
events.
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Diane
Bedell, Program Assistant
 Diane
was born in Orange, California. She was married in December
of 1995 and moved to Henderson Nevada in 1999. She worked
in the service industry for several years, then took time
off to raise her two boys. She stayed very busy volunteering
and working closely with the PTA. During her volunteering
she spent her time helping groups of children including her
own, learn sight words and shared her love of reading. Now
that her boys have moved on to middle and high school she
still wants to help the young ones get a good start. She started
working for CCSD as a Paraprofessional in September of 2011.
As well as working with us at Spread The Word Nevada in October
of 2011 as a part time employee.
Tricia
Frazer, Program Assistant
 Tricia
is a retired elementary school educator with a B.A degree
in English from California State College, Los Angeles and
a master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a specialization
in Literacy from Lesley University. She has more than 30 years
of teaching experience working with at-risk students ranging
from preschool through the sixth grade as well as eight years
of experience as a Literacy Specialist and Second Language
Specialist with the Clark County School District. Her passion
has always been to increase literacy and to teach children
of all ages the love of reading. Tricia is implementing the
new preschool story time outreach with Spread
the Word Nevada at several local preschool centers.
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Alison
Johnsen, Program Assistant
 Alison
Johnsen is a new addition to the Las Vegas area. Originally
from England, Ali has recently moved to warmer climes from
Fairbanks Alaska, and is thrilled to be working for Spread
the Word Nevada. Ali served in the Royal Air Force
for nine years as an Air Traffic Control Officer, and is completing
an Associate of Arts degree in English from the University
of Alaska.
Ali
is an avid reader, and can't imagine a day without a story.
She believes reading opens up the imagination and allows us
to step into new worlds, or to learn more about the world
we live in – all from the comfort of our sofas. Ali also
believes every child should be given as much opportunity and
encouragement as possible to explore their imaginations through
reading, and is hoping to help children to love reading as
much as she does.
Alison
oversees book cleaning at Lieburn Senior Center and prepares
the books for distribution, coordinates Breakfast with Books
programs at three schools, and is also involved in the Books
& Buddies mentoring program.
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Debbie
Sandusky, Volunteer Coordinator
 Debbie
was born and raised in Queens, NY. She moved to Las Vegas
in 1989 and was married to Mark in 1990. She worked in a doctor's
office in the billing department for a couple of years until
the first of their three daughters was born. She has been
a stay-at-home mom since 1991. Debbie was always active in
PTA during her girls' elementary school years, volunteered
in the library at middle school, and still volunteers at their
high school for marching band and choir.
Debbie
started working part-time for Spread
the Word Nevada in April 2011. She oversees the
weekly book cleanings at the Boulder City Senior Center and
helps out whenever needed at other book cleanings and events.
Raising
three wonderful and intelligent daughters, Debbie knows how
important reading is to their education and personal development.
She is proud to be a part of such an awesome organization
as Spread the Word Nevada.
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Henry
Dionne, Book Delivery Specialist
 Henry
served in the Navy for four years, right out of high school.
Upon returning home, he worked as a pipefitter for Portsmouth
Naval Shipyard where they built nuclear submarines. In his
later career days, he moved to Las Vegas and worked for Ethel
M Chocolates until he retired in 2003. Henry
is in charge of all book deliveries and pick-ups. He ensures
that each school receives their monthly book selections and
picks up books that have been donated to our program.
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