Meet the people behind the mission.

I’m a registered nurse with nearly 36 years of experience, including 25 years working in hospitals. After experiencing burnout in the hospital setting, I discovered blood banking while donating platelets at Vitalant in Redding. I realized it gave me a new way to use my nursing skills while still helping people, so I applied for a position and started a new chapter in my career.

I eventually found the Northern California Community Blood Bank while visiting the coast. I walked in, introduced myself and interviewed on the spot. Two months later, I had sold my home in Redding and moved to Humboldt County.

What keeps me here is the close-knit, family atmosphere. I enjoy meeting donors, working throughout the community and making sure people leave feeling a little happier than when they arrived. Whether I’m helping a nervous first-time donor, having a good conversation or putting my years of nursing experience to work, my goal is always the same: to help people and make every donation a positive experience.

When Laura first joined the blood bank 14 years ago, she was looking for a fresh start and a more dependable schedule. As someone who had donated blood herself, she already understood the importance of the work and liked the idea of being part of an organization that directly helps people in the community.

A familiar face helped make the decision easier. Laura knew Tiffany, who was already working at the blood bank, and that personal connection encouraged her to apply. What began as a new job soon became a long-term career dedicated to serving local donors and patients.

Over the years, Laura has learned nearly every aspect of her role. She values the relationships she has built with her coworkers and enjoys meeting the donors who take time out of their lives to help someone they may never know.

Born and raised in Humboldt County, Laura feels deeply connected to the place she calls home. She prefers rivers, forests and open spaces to crowded cities, and some of her favorite moments are spent near the clear water and sunshine of Trinity County. She especially loves swimming in the river and visiting the peaceful swimming holes around Coffee Creek.

After 14 years, Laura’s journey is a reminder that meaningful careers do not always begin with a dramatic plan. Sometimes they begin with a desire for something better, a friend who opens a door and a willingness to become part of work that matters.

I first came to the blood bank during my senior year of high school. I needed to complete 20 hours of community service for my civics class, and we were given a booklet filled with local nonprofit organizations. As I flipped through it, I saw the blood bank and thought, “That sounds interesting. My dad donates blood, so I know a little about it.”

I showed up for what I thought would be a simple volunteer assignment. Instead, I kept coming back. About a month later, I was offered a job as a phone recruiter. My mom encouraged me to take it, telling me it would be a much better opportunity than working at the mall. I figured I would give it a try.

That first job slowly grew into something much bigger. I learned how to process blood, screen donors and eventually perform blood draws. At the same time, I was attending Humboldt State University because my original plan was to become a teacher. I completed school, earned my teaching credential and fully expected to move on from the blood bank.

Life had other plans. When I finished my credential in 2006, there were very few teaching positions available. I continued working at the blood bank while waiting for the right opportunity. Over time, I was given more responsibility, and in 2009 I became the operations coordinator as part of a newly created donor services management team.

I was still thinking I might eventually become a teacher, but I began to realize that I was good at the work I was already doing. I enjoyed solving problems, supporting donors and helping our team succeed. I was also fortunate to have people who mentored me and prepared me to take on greater leadership responsibilities. Eventually, I stepped into the director’s role.

What started as a high school community-service project has now become more than 20 years of my life. The reason I continue coming back is the people. Our donors are an incredible part of what makes this work meaningful, but I am equally committed to our staff. I will always advocate for them, support them and push them to become the best versions of themselves.

Mentorship has always been important to me. I believe that even when employees only stay with us for a few years, we have an opportunity to make a positive and lasting difference in their lives. Many people come here with little experience, develop confidence and skills, and then carry those lessons into careers in nursing, healthcare and other fields.

One of our former employees recently stopped by with her new baby. She had started here with no experience, later went to nursing school and is now an oncology nurse. She told us that her time at the blood bank helped prepare her for the work she does today. Moments like that remind me why this place is so special.

I may not have become a teacher in the traditional sense, but teaching and mentorship are still a huge part of what I do. I get to help people grow, solve problems and support work that directly affects our community. That is why I keep coming back. And, honestly, I am pretty good at it.

I started working here after receiving a blood transfusion myself. I had friends who worked here, so I first dipped my toe into recruitment before moving into donor services. I quickly realized the phones were not quite for me, but I found my place helping donors directly.

What keeps me coming back is my coworkers — we are genuinely friends both at work and outside of it — and the feeling that what we do matters. Even though I am not always working directly with someone who needs blood, I know I am helping make those lifesaving transfusions possible. I am grateful to be part of that.

I started out here as a private IT consultant. The team was great to work with, and as the need for support kept growing, they asked me to keep coming back every day. Before I knew it, I had become the Blood Bank’s first in-house tech person.

What keeps me here is working somewhere that genuinely considers its impact. I like being part of a team that collaborates on projects instead of just passing tasks around. My role may be behind the scenes, but it feels meaningful to know that the systems I support help the Blood Bank do its job — and ultimately help get blood where it is needed.

I moved to Humboldt County in July 2025 looking for a role where I could put my career experience to work. My background has always been rooted in supply chain management, operations, and compliance. I started out at Fastenal in a large distribution center, learning the nuts and bolts of warehousing from the ground up. Over time, I grew into leadership roles, managing teams and getting a complete view of how an entire operation functions.

That foundation led me into operations management — coordinating people, processes, and systems behind the scenes — and eventually to an international role overseeing global cross-border shipments. Along the way, my work shifted heavily toward quality management and compliance: navigating complex regulations, ensuring accuracy, and keeping standards high.

When I saw this job opening, I knew it was a shift. I had plenty of quality control experience, but never in a healthcare manufacturing setting. Traditional supply chain roles are rare in Humboldt County, but I felt confident that my skills would carry over and that I could bring real value to the organization while learning a brand-new industry. I submitted my résumé, came in to interview, and was thrilled to join the team.

While competitive pay and local stability matter, what truly keeps me here every day is the culture. In corporate America, it is far too easy to feel like just a number on a spreadsheet. Here, you are treated as a whole person.

Your hard work is noticed — even when it happens silently behind the scenes. Whether you are grinding through a tough day or solving a hidden issue, people see your effort and appreciate it. From entry-level team members to the CEO, every voice is respected, and ideas are genuinely welcomed. Management is remarkably approachable and invested in your success; my supervisor has supported me from day one, and everyone is ready to share their knowledge and teach.

What blew me away most is how much leadership cares about people as human beings — even when their career path eventually takes them elsewhere. They pour time and training into every single person, but if someone moves on to a new opportunity, management truly celebrates them.

Every unit of blood we touch directly impacts local patients right here in our community, while also reaching hospitals across the nation when urgent needs arise. Knowing that behind-the-scenes precision directly supports that mission gives my work real purpose. Many of us could probably earn more in a standard corporate setting, but people stay here for something far more valuable: the respect, the incredible team, and the knowledge that what we do truly matters.

My original career path was in art and art education, which eventually led me to spend eight years working at a nonprofit museum in Eureka. That experience in the nonprofit world is really what brought me to the Blood Bank.

The skills I developed there translated naturally into my role in administrative services. I was already familiar with the importance of mission-driven work, supporting an organization behind the scenes, and helping a team serve the community. When the opportunity came up here, it felt like a perfect fit.

Public health has also been part of my family’s story for a long time. My husband’s grandfather was a rural health doctor in the Central Valley and helped establish the Central California Blood Bank, an organization very similar to ours. My own family also has a history connected to public and rural health, so the mission of the Blood Bank feels especially meaningful to me.

One of the things I value most about our organization is that we serve our rural community first. We help make sure local hospitals and patients have access to the blood products they need, while also supporting other hospitals and blood centers beyond our region. It feels good to know that the work we do here can have an impact both locally and across the country.

What keeps me here is also the culture. The people are kind, welcoming, and accepting, and it is truly a great place to work. I feel supported and appreciated, and I know the organization genuinely cares about its employees.

I cannot imagine wanting to work anywhere else in Humboldt. I get to be part of a caring team, support an important mission, and know that the work I do is helping make a real difference in people’s lives.