Senior Spotlight: Meet Kymm Nelsen

By Hilary Almers

Kymm Nelsen’s professional success is a tribute to her perseverance and dedication to her family. When she realized she would become a single mom with three children to support, Kymm was determined to find work that she could do at home, so that she could continue to provide the nurturing environment her children were accustomed to. This included home schooling for all three offspring, which was no mean feat in itself!

Friends told her she would have to look for regular employment, but Kymm was not willing to accept this option, since she knew that would mean giving up on her family values. Having taken most of the courses required for a degree in education, she knew she wanted to write and she was clearly a self-starter with plenty of initiative. She had already done some editing work, had taught herself HTML and created her own personal Web site at a time when scarcely anyone else had one. A career as an independent contractor therefore seemed the obvious choice.

One day John Hedtke happened to visit her site and read an article by Kymm on the art of writing, so he contacted her to ask her if she had ever considered becoming a technical writer and whether she had heard of STC. This was the start of a long-lasting relationship with STC Willamette Valley Chapter and Kymm began volunteering for the chapter. She started to find independent contracting opportunities through other members, and began to develop a business based on Web design and development.

The pace of her life increased considerably as she began taking technical writing courses at PCC, worked on assignments for clients and at the same time continued to home school her three children while remaining active in STC and the home schooling movement. How did she find the time and energy to do all this? Kymm is a can-do sort of person and always ready to tackle new challenges, but even so she admits it was hard. However, she saw her business starting to take off as one referral led to another, and this gave her momentum.

Kymm feels it is important to remain positive when faced with a negative situation: “Don’t be bound by the facts,” she advises, “I choose to create my own reality.” Her vigor in pursuing her own goals and finding a solution to her own problems has enabled Kymm to assist her clients in making decisions that substantially affect their business development. Often Kymm will be asked to help design a new Web site or redesign an old one, only to find that she is really needed for a completely different reason; namely, to help with clarification of goals and strategic planning that will help grow her client’s business.

Kymm still enjoys teaching, even though she has seen each of her children go on to public school; her daughter will be the last to make the break from Mom’s homeroom this year. Kymm meanwhile has taken up college level teaching; her courses include technical writing, HTML, and Dreamweaver. She first taught adults at STCU, an informal training program started under the auspices of STC by her mentor and friend, the late Margot Beutler. Since then, Kymm has worked as an instructor at Washington State University and an adjunct at Clark College in Vancouver, WA. She continues to find a great source of satisfaction in being effective as a trainer and helping students achieve their academic and vocational goals. Kymm’s style as a teacher is very personal and supportive. She inspires her students with enthusiasm and confidence and constantly checks their understanding of the material learned.

STC has benefited enormously from Kymm’s energy level and her ideas. She contributed to the initial launch of the chapter Web site, then became the chapter’s Web manager. She has worked continually on the board helping with a variety of programs and became 1st Vice President in 2001. Last year she took on the office of President at a time when the downturn in the economy was causing havoc in the ranks of STC members, many of whom have since left the area or have been forced to change careers. This has resulted in a string of resignations from the board. Dealing with constant change and turmoil was not easy, but Kymm has managed to maintain her poise and her enthusiasm, while strengthening communication among members and stabilizing the leadership through personal encouragement and leadership training.

Once her term as President is over, Kymm plans to move to Vancouver WA, to be closer to Clark College, where she will teach a course entitled “Web Site in a Week.” She will also offer a 2-day class, “Concept to Click,” and while continuing to grow her own business, she intends to make contact with STC members in Vancouver and encourage them to get involved in the chapter. One thing is sure: she will not be sitting around waiting for something to happen. That is just not the way Kymm operates!

Kymm has achieved her goal of becoming self-sufficient without disrupting her children’s life style. Luckily for us, she has also found a way to help pass on her secret of success to her students, her clients, and to our organization.

Hilary Almers is a technical writer and instructional design specialist looking for contract work in the Portland area. Before coming to Oregon three years ago, she worked for SAP in Germany. She recently completed the CIW Web technology and design courses taught by Kymm Nelsen and Linda Gentry at Clark College in Vancouver, WA. Hilary can be reached at hilary_almers@yahoo.com.