One to Watch

 

Camille Weber

Grants and Corporate Support Manager
Plains Art Museum

Company and length of time with the company:
3 years            

Brief company description:
Plains Art Museum's mission is to "bring people and art together." We provide the community with high quality art exhibitions, education programs, and special events. We also provide outreach services to rural North Dakota and Minnesota. In 2003, the Museum received accreditation from the American Association of Museums, an honor that only 5% of Museums nationwide receive.

Job responsibilities:
Raise funds through local, state, regional, and national grant proposals to help fund operating expenses, exhibitions, programs, and the capital campaign, There's a Little Artist in All of Us. Secure corporate sponsorships and coordinate community fundraising events that benefit the Museum's educational programs. Editor for Museum publications.

Favorite aspects of your job:
The art! Even on the dreariest of days, I get to walk into the Museum and be surrounded by original art. The artistic talent in this community is astounding. I am fortunate to work in a creative environment with stellar co-workers, creative discussions, and many pieces of art that I am allowed to look at on a daily basis – but, alas, cannot touch.

Why is it important to you to be involved in the Young Professionals Network?
I've always believed in giving back to the community. When I graduated college, I challenged myself to get involved and see what the community had to offer for people in my age group. I found that instead of just looking for activities, I should be involved in facilitating those activities. I'm a social butterfly by nature so it was natural for me to join the Chamber's newly formed Social Committee. Being involved with the Young Professionals Network has opened many doors for me and helped me gain success in my current position at the Museum.

Community activities:
Chair of the Young Professionals Network; Social Committee Chair Chamber's Young Professionals Network; 35 Under 35 Women's Leadership group; Fargo Moorhead Leadership; United Way Community Grant Panel Reviewer; Co-creator and writer for The Fargo Beat; Fargo Park District Lower D/E Sand Volleyball Third Place League Champions (two years running)

What goals do you have for the coming year?
Professionally – Plains Art Museum is in the middle of a capital and endowment campaign. The There's a Little Artist in All of Us campaign will completely transform the face of arts education in this community. The Museum has plans to renovate an adjacent building and turn it into studio classrooms. Virtually every student in the Fargo Moorhead region will have had sequential art experiences at the Museum by the time they graduate high school. As an institution, we would like to finish the fundraising portion of this campaign within the next year and open the building in time for the 2011-2012 academic year.
Personally – In the coming year and beyond, I want to: 1) Learn how to cook as well as my mom. 2) Learn how to tell jokes as well as my dad. 3) Learn how to play guitar. 4) Interview my 93-year-old grandpa and document his amazing life.

Favorite part of living/working in the Fargo Moorhead region?
The mild winters? No, I really enjoy the people who live here. This was awe-inspiringly evident during the 2009 spring flood. I stood in sandbag lines with people who had been throwing sandbags as heavy as me and they were STILL smiling…a week later…while standing in snow…after minimal sleep…and dire daily forecasts. I also love our accent (yes, we have an accent)—it's soothing, comforting, and heavily mocked but we're good folk and take it in stride.

Family:
Parents – Tim and Kim; Brother – Tyler; Sister, brother-in-law, and nephew – Tara, Brad, and Jack; Dogs – Gus and Fletcher. My family lives, farms, and accounts for nearly half the population of rural Borup, MN.

Interests:

Traveling, reading, word-creating, concert-going, lake-lounging, nephew-watching, and volleyball(-dominating).