Economic & Workforce Development
200 West Oak Street, Suite 5000
Fort Collins, CO 80521
Meet the CareerRise Staff
Dan Gagnon
CareerRise Specialist
(970) 498-6085 | dgagnon@larimer.org
Dan supports the inCompass program, primarily serving the Fort Collins community.
First Job: Rental Technician at a Ski/Snowboard shop
How did you end up here? I started working as Athletics Director for the Boys & Girls Club & substitute teaching in the Poudre School District before landing a job helping refugees from Burma & Somalia find employment in Northern Colorado. This lead me to Economic & Workforce Development here in Larimer County where I worked for over two years with adult job seekers facilitating workshops & providing job search consultation before joining the CareerRise Team.
What do you love most about your job? I love having the opportunity to help young adults explore career opportunities and find their place in the world of work. I also believe early work experiences have the opportunity to teach us so much about ourselves and others. I love that I can help connect young adults to these powerful experiences.
Perks outside of work: Outside of work you'll find me enjoying all things outdoors with my family (running, biking, camping, snowboarding, fishing) and occasionally taking on house renovations that I'm highly unqualified to do.
Funny Quirk: I have an unashamed love for good socks and am a self-proclaimed breakfast burrito connoisseur.
Monica Gingerich
CareerRise Specialist, Team Supervisor
(970) 498-6631 | mgingerich@larimer.org
Monica supports the inCompass program, primarily serving the Fort Collins community.
First Job: I was a hostess at Red Robin. Being at the bottom of the food chain, part of my job was getting into the giant robin costume & parading around the restaurant, scaring the young children.
How did you end up here? My first job out of college was working as a Social Worker in London, England serving young people placed in long-term foster care. Following that adventure, I went back to graduate school to focus more on counseling & career development. A stint at the CSU Career Center & an internship at Project Self-Sufficiency led me back to my passion of working with youth here at Larimer County Economic & Workforce Development.
What do you love most about your job? The best part of my day is getting to be there when the light bulb kicks on for a young person when he/she realizes just how much they have to offer, & all they can achieve given the right support. I get to help people discover their calling!
Perks outside of work: Spending time with my kids & the outdoors! Camping, hiking & working in our yard. Inside I’m always reading a good book, coloring with my daughters, or surfing the internet to gain house project ideas.
Funny Quirk: I have this ‘thing’ with odd numbers. The volume # or station in my car or at home have got to be on an odd number. If I’m in someone else’s car, I have to fiddle with the controls until they’re set just right.
Lindsay McCauley
CareerRise Specialist
(970) 498-6049 | lmccauley@larimer.org
Lindsay supports the inCompass program, serving the Loveland & Fort Collins communities.
First Job: I worked at a petting zoo in a park nearby my childhood home. I fed and cared for the animals (sheep, goats, chickens, rabbits, a pig, a cow, and many more!) and sold tickets for the petting zoo and train ride. I was responsible for giving safety instruction to everyone before they entered and made sure to warn them that the goats like to eat EVERYTHING!
How did you end up here? After college I began working for a Nonprofit Foster Care Agency in Omaha, NE as a Family Coach. I supported youth as they transitioned from foster care into their permanency placement (reunification, adoption, guardianship, or independent living). I collaborated closely with the youth’s foster care team and found so much merit in having the support of a career specialist for older youth. As I started my transition home to Colorado, I was ecstatic to land a position with Larimer County as a CareerRise Specialist. I am now honored to be supporting youth as they realize their educational and career goals.
What do you love most about your job? The best part of my job is being able to support youth as they put together the pieces of their life puzzle. Everyone starts somewhere, and I love to see youth light up as they realize the potential for their future! Additionally, I look forward to growing my own career alongside the knowledgeable and dedicated leaders of Larimer County Economic and Workforce Development.
Perks outside of work: Outside of work, you can find me spending time with my family- I recently became an aunt to my two beautiful nephews! I love the outdoors, and take any opportunity to get my dogs Porter and Miller out for some exercise and a quick adventure. I also love to learn through new experiences and conversation! I believe gaining new perspectives is one of the most powerful tools we have.
Funny Quirk: : I have a faint line on my nose because I used to push my nose up like a pig too much when I was a kid. A lasting impact from childhood silliness!
Alyssa Statz
CareerRise Youth Internship Coordinator
(970) 498-6657 | astatz@larimer.org
Alyssa supports the inCompass program as the internship coordinator and school/community partner liaison.
First Job: My first job was in high school, working at a cheese and ice cream shop. We had over 70 different types of cheeses (and could eat as much cheese and ice cream as we wanted).
How did you end up here? I started my career in Poudre School District, where I taught middle school English, then moved into High School Counseling, and then worked as the Coordinator/Counselor of an Alternative to Graduation Program housed inside Fort Collins High School. I really enjoyed my time in schools and learned how much I love working with youth and young adults. I’m so happy I still get to work with young people in a meaningful way that really helps them get experiences to propel them into their futures!
What do you love most about your job? The relationships you build are the best part of any job! I also feel like helping young people discover their own passions and understand their own potential is really powerful. I’ve also found that learning about different careers and how unique various jobs are is something that really intrigues me.
Perks outside of work: I love being outside. Whether it’s walking my terrier Canyon, hiking, biking, kayaking, jogging, or camping, I’m happiest when outside and love the mountains. I also really enjoy podcasts and reading (and getting hooked into some good shows).
Funny Quirk: I always eat the outside edges/crusts of everything first - so if I’m eating a cookie, sandwich, or hamburger (even pizza), I eat the crust and edges first … the centers are the best part!
Nicole Surber
CareerRise Specialist
(970) 498-6634 | nsurber@larimer.org
Nicole supports the inCompass program, primarily serving the Loveland community.
First Job: I cleaned/stained windows at a company that made imitation stained glass…I left each day smelling like mothballs.
How did you end up here? I went to Colorado State University where I majored in Human Development & Family Studies. While I was in school, I did an internship at Turning Point working with at-risk youth. Shortly after college, I started at Larimer County Economic and Workforce Development. I held a couple of different positions within the department before landing on the CareerRise Team!
What do you love most about your job? I love helping youth and young adults discover their strengths and talents and using them to market themselves to employers through resumes, etc. Its’ the best when the young person is able to step back & see how great they really are!
Perks outside of work: When I'm not at work you'll find me with my 2 kids and husband. I love spending time with friends & family, working out, gardening and watching my kids extracurricular events.
Funny Quirk: I have to have “equal opportunity” for my body. If something happens to one side of my body, I do it to the other side to even it out. Example…if I touch something cold with one hand, I have to touch it with the other as well. Balance is blissful!
