Who are you?
Alicia Heun. My husband, Adam, and I live in rural Jefferson, Iowa.
What is your cooperative and job title?
I work for Paulsen, a full-service agency. We work with a variety of farmer-owned cooperatives and electric cooperatives in the Midwest. My title is Director of Engagement.
How long have you worked with cooperatives?
I spent more than seven years working for Iowa’s largest farmer-owned cooperative and was a client of Paulsen’s. I’m excited to get to work with a variety of other ag and rural cooperatives in my new role.
Describe your role.
Along with the rest of the Paulsen team, I am here to help cooperatives create brand plans that help them meet their business goals. It may be creating an email campaign to generate new leads, it may be helping two cooperatives communicate through a unification, identifying new and exciting ways to position your cooperative in an increasingly competitive marketplace, or providing new employee recruitment marketing assistance.
What do you enjoy about working with cooperatives?
When your customers are your bosses it changes the business dynamic. The customer is always right. Cooperative communicators are also some of the most creative and resilient because we often have limited budgets (and time!) and a big to-do list. I love helping bring some of those “nice to have’s” to life and move the business forward.
When did you join CCA? Why?
I joined CCA my first week at Paulsen! At my previous role, our team was always a member.
Did anything surprise you about CCA upon joining?
Honestly, it’s a little lonely being listed as a South Dakota member. There are so many cooperatives in Iowa and South Dakota and I was hoping more of my peers would be involved. Good motivation for recruiting, right!?
What’s been your favorite thing about CCA?
The annual contest is always a highlight. My previous team always entered to get feedback on our projects (but bringing home a few trophies was nice, too!) Thanks to everyone who makes that a reality.
What are your hobbies and interests?
Living on an acreage, we have a never-ending list of garden and landscaping projects that we enjoy. We are working with my in-laws on transitioning their cattle herd ownership. We also spend a lot of time with family.
Do you have a “bucket list”? What are some of the things on that list?
My husband and I have a goal to visit every National Park together. We’re about halfway through the list of 63. I’d love to tell you about my favorites!!
Give us something about yourself that is surprising or that most people don’t know.
I am the fourth generation to have purebred Charolais cattle in the herd. My dad ran a seed stock business for years. At county fair time, my sisters and I always swept the Charolais heifer and cow/calf classes; we were the only entries!
Email Alicia here.
