Meet Kelsey, our Senior Accountant! Kelsey started at the community foundation as a temp in 2020 and soon joined the finance team full time. Since then, she’s played an integral role supporting the finance and operations team in their day-to-day work by making sure the bills get paid, grant checks go out the door, and so much more. But Kelsey brings more to the table than her finance savvy alone! Whether she’s cheering on the Denver Nuggets, boldly backing her CSU Rams in the heart of Buff nation or cheering on her fellow staff members on the daily, Kelsey brings team spirit to all that she does. Learn more about Kelsey, her work, and what she values most about working at the community foundation.
Can you start by telling us about yourself?
I am a proud Colorado native. I grew up in Eaton where a lot of my family still lives. I went to Colorado State University and graduated with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance in 2013. [chant] I’m proud to be a CSU Ram, I said I’m proud to be a CSU Ram!
I currently live in Johnstown with my husband, son, and our two dogs, and will soon be joined by another son. In my free time, I enjoy watching sports, spending time with my family, and traveling.
Why the community foundation?
Community Foundation Boulder County was originally a temporary assignment for me when I was working with Robert Half as an accounting consultant in 2020. My prior assignment was cut short due to Covid, so I was fortunately available when CFBC needed help with their annual audit.
The foundation decided it needed a permanent position for an Accountant/HR Administrator and I was invited to apply. I was admittedly hesitant since I had just moved to Johnstown and even though it was fully remote at the time, I understood I would need to commute to Boulder eventually. However, the staff was supportive, family oriented, and I was drawn to the work the foundation does and interested in being in the nonprofit space. With these considerations, I applied for the position. I was offered the position and although I had been hesitant, I knew this is where I wanted to be.
There has been a lot of change over my four years with the community foundation, including for my own position, but I deeply value the experience gained and the knowledge that the work of the foundation ultimately benefits the community.
What do you like best about your work in the finance department?
It might sound cliché but my favorite thing about the finance department is the team. I’ve benefited from exposure to people with a variety of backgrounds and a team that has grown over time which has allowed me to learn and build upon my own skill set. I have always loved numbers, which is why I pursued a degree in finance. Seeing the meaning behind those numbers in processing gifts and grants is something I truly enjoy.
Which of our values most resonates with you and why? (humanity, trust, collaboration)
This is a difficult choice between humanity and collaboration but I find myself doing the most value shoutouts around collaboration in our staff meetings, so I will choose that. Working with staff and board members to come up with these values as part of our strategic plan was a meaningful process for me as well as being one of the best examples of collaboration at the foundation. While I like all of our values, collaboration resonates most for me as I don’t believe we would have a clear mission without it.
Any favorite community foundation memories you’d like to share?
The annual friends party is one of my favorite events at CFBC. Additionally, I absolutely loved spending time with everyone and singing karaoke at the staff/board holiday party this last year.
What’s your favorite activity in Boulder County?
I have really gotten into farmers markets this summer. Lunchtime walks with coworkers are great too. We are lucky to be in a great location with so many awesome food options and beautiful scenery.
