Her Story
About Loretta
I have a BSN with an RN license and have always had a real passion for serving underrepresented communities, especially in public health and women's health. I did internship work with Birth Detroit, then did licensing and advocacy work, and spent time volunteer traveling abroad in Peru and Guatemala. After that, I spent quite a few years in the hospitality management business, where I was commonly directly managing a lot of young women. I liked the hands-on aspect of being a badass woman, if you will, getting down and dirty in the hospitality business. I started a restaurant two years ago, which I would say is probably my most notable professional experience. I'm currently the Health Promotion Specialist for the local health department in Flathead County, Montana, where I do the promotion and education for breast and cervical cancer screening. We offer free services for eligible women, so I'm usually tracking that data, going to promotional events, and connecting with providers. I really believe in everyone having access to healthcare, so I wanted to work in public health to reach underrepresented and underserved communities. I really wanted to work specifically for women to get them screened for cancer, especially if they're underinsured or don't have insurance at all.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Loretta
01What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
I think it's important to be honest with yourself about what your priorities are and where you're willing to sacrifice. I think people think of the dream job, and then they're in it, and then they're finding all the flaws in it, whether it be the hours, or the schedule, or the working space. I think you have to be honest with yourself about what your priorities are, and then understand the cost and balance of that.
02What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I really believe in the balance of positivity and empowerment. I think that women can be successful, and that can be done with their own right, but I think we can all do that by empowering each other, so I really like to encourage that type of 'we can do it' sort of mentality, whether it's work, life, whatever the balance is. I really just believe in everyone having access to healthcare, so I wanted to work in public health to reach underrepresented and underserved communities. It's really important to me to help women get screened for cancer, especially if they're underinsured or don't have insurance at all.
Keep Exploring
More Influential Women · Missouri
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.