NORFOLK, Neb. — When Katie (Grimm) O'Brien graduated from ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï in 2006 with a degree in animal science, she didn't expect her career to lead from agriculture and human resources to entrepreneurship and community service.
While her work today is not directly tied to her field of study, O'Brien said the leadership experience, relationships, and confidence she gained at ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï continue to shape her personal and professional life.
“ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï impacted me in so many ways beyond my degree,” O'Brien said. “It taught me how to step outside my comfort zone, build relationships and become involved in my community.”
A Fremont native, O'Brien chose ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï because it offered an affordable education close to home while allowing her to explore career options.
“I wasn't completely sure what I wanted to do,” she said. “ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï gave me the opportunity to figure that out without taking on a huge financial burden.”
As a student, O'Brien embraced campus life and the opportunities it offered for leadership and connection. She served as a resident assistant and Vice President of Student Government, experiences that helped shape her leadership style and commitment to community. She also formed friendships and meaningful relationships that have continued long after graduation. One of those lasting connections is with Liz, her former Residence Life Director, who remains a friend and joins O'Brien on the golf course for tournaments—a fitting reminder that the relationships built on campus can last a lifetime.
One of her favorite memories involved helping organize a welcome-back event featuring a large slip-and-slide outside the residence halls.
“As a Residence Life Committee, we thought that the idea to have a ginormous slip-and-slide would have been shot down for a social event by the college. We discussed the idea, stepped outside our comfort level, asked and were actually able to hold the event. The slip-and-slide was well attended, exciting, and past residents/friends still talk about the fun we had today,” she said.
O'Brien also credits animal science instructor Mike Roeber with making a lasting impact during her time at ºÚÁϳԹÏ.
“He genuinely cared about his students and wanted them to succeed,” she said.
Today, O'Brien and her husband, Josh O'Brien, also a ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï graduate, remain strong supporters of community colleges. Together, they are raising four children and balancing family life, careers, and community involvement.
O’Brien considers her role as a wife and mother her most important one and credits the support of her family, especially her husband, for giving her the confidence to pursue opportunities that allow her to make a difference in her community.
After building experience in agriculture, human resources, and public power, O'Brien discovered a passion for community development. That passion led her and business partner, Dr. Kathleen Ritzmann, to open Little Lyon Coffee Company in Madison, a business designed to serve as a gathering place for residents.
“Our goal was to create a welcoming place for the community,” O'Brien said. “A place where families can make memories, students can study, friends can gather, and everyone feels like they belong.”
O’Brien’s interest in development began through residential real estate projects, where she acquired, improved, and resold properties. That experience sparked a broader vision for revitalizing communities through commercial real estate, with plans to acquire and redevelop commercial properties, create thriving spaces for local businesses, and provide attainable opportunities for individuals and families to invest in property and put down roots in their communities.
Her commitment to the community extends beyond her business. O'Brien helped establish a parent-teacher organization in Madison, launched a local Dolly Parton Imagination Library program, substitutes in local schools, and supports educational and civic initiatives. She works hard to homeschool her children and is building a homeschooling support group through the Little Lyon Coffee Company.
O'Brien said the involvement opportunities she pursued at ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï helped prepare her for leadership roles later in life.
“Being involved on campus taught me how to work with people, solve problems, and help others feel comfortable,” she said.
Her advice to current students is simple: get involved.
“Don't be afraid to ask questions, try new things, or step outside your comfort zone,” she said. “The connections you build will stay with you for the rest of your life.”
Twenty years after graduating, O'Brien said she still sees ºÚÁϳԹÏ's influence in her life through the relationships, experiences, and leadership opportunities she found as a student.
“ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï shaped me in every sense of the word,” she said. “It wasn't just about earning a degree. It was about finding confidence, building relationships, and learning how to make a positive impact wherever life takes you.”
ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï encourages all alumni to share their stories by visiting northeast.edu/giving/alumni. Alumni are also encouraged to join the ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï Alumni Association group on LinkedIn by visiting .
