Meet the Board
Monique Farmer, President
APR – University Professor and PR Consultant
Monique Farmer, APR has spent more than 20 years as a communication strategist and adviser. She is an accredited public relations professional. Farmer runs a PR/communications consultancy and teaches PR courses for the University of Texas at Austin. Farmer holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration (Public Management) from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, a Master’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communications (Media Studies) from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism (Advertising and Public Relations) from Midland University. Her experience spans internal and external communication, leader communication, issues management, reputation management, crisis communication, media training and media relations. Farmer serves as President-Elect for PRSA Nebraska, as well as on the board of Project Harmony.
Pamela Skidmore, Vice President
Senior Director of Operations, Valmont
Pam Skidmore is originally from Puebla, Mexico and moved to the Unites States with a tennis scholarship for the University of Nebraska – Lincoln where she graduated with her Bachelors and Masters in Industrial Engineering. Pam has worked in manufacturing for over 15 years where she has a diverse portfolio of experience which includes supply chain, analytics, finance and operations. She is currently the Senior Director of Operations for Valmont Industries for the Irrigation Division. Sports have been integral to Pam’s personal and professional development and creating these same opportunities and experiences for younger generations is something very close to her heart. She is passionate about the importance and application of life lessons gained from sports such as developing a strong work ethic, team cohesion towards a common goal, adaptability in fast moving situations and last but not least, winning and losing with grace
Pam currently resides in Gretna with her husband and two boston terriers who really call the shots in her home.
Sara Going, Treasurer
Senior Manager, Corporate Philanthropy, FNBO
Sara Going graduated from Creighton University and Creighton School of Law and is currently the Senior Philanthropy Manager at First National Bank of Omaha. In this role, she is part of a team responsible for the bank’s philanthropic activities and nonprofit partner relationship management. Highlights of previous work experiences include: federal and state advocacy and government relations, starting a health sciences high school program for economically disadvantaged youth at an academic medical center, launching an integrated health program addressing physical health needs of children with mental health challenges at a child welfare agency in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, serving as a radio color analyst for Creighton women’s basketball games. She also serves as a Board Member for New Visions Homeless Services and City Sprouts, and as a mom to three children.
Yesenia Valenzuela, Secretary
Community Relations Coordinator, City of Omaha
Yesenia Valenzuela has many years of experience working alongside wonderful leaders and agencies that do their best to serve folks with respect and with special attention to the underserved. Much of her career has been serving both North and South Omaha in various capacities from direct service at the Learning Community Center to Operations Manager for OneWorld Community Health Centers. Prior to that, her main priority for years was to improve youth guided programs by building on their strengths and ensuring a path for success. Through her involvement in many youth focused organizations such as Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska and Boys & Girls Club of the Midlands, Yesenia’s contributions have included curriculum building as well as expansion of programs across the metro area.
Dalhia Lloyd, Board Member
Program Specialist, Buffett Early Childhood Institute
Dalhia Lloyd graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) in 2001 with a BS in Family Sciences. She received her MS in Early Childhood Studies in 2014 and is currently enrolled in the Child, Youth, and Families comprehensive doctoral program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Dalhia has been working in early childhood education since 2001. Presently, she is the Family and Community Program Specialist with Buffett Early Childhood Institute. Dalhia is one of the cofounders of North Omaha Building Brains in Barbershops and she also volunteers as a horizontal jumps coach for the North Omaha Boys and Girls Club of the Midlands. In 2014, Dalhia was selected as the recipient of the Midlands Business Journal 40 Under 40, in 2018 she received the Young, Black, and Influential award, and in 2019 she was selected as the Boys and Girls Club Volunteer of the Year.
Tahnee Markussen, Board Member
Foundation Program Officer, Lozier Foundation
Tahnee Markussen has served as Program Officer for the Lozier Foundation since October 2015. A passionate advocate for a variety of causes, Tahnee spearheads multiple initiatives throughout Omaha. Her diverse portfolio includes working for organizations such as Metropolitan Community College and the Women’s Center for Advancement in addition to supporting programs that focus on the success of women and girls. Prior to her work in non-profit and philanthropy, Tahnee held multiple positions during her ten years with First National Bank Omaha.
Tahnee’s passion drives her to serve her community and affect positive, societal change. She is a board member for the Urban League of Nebraska and Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska. She is also a member of the Omaha chapter of The Links and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc.
Sharon Lockridge, Board Member
Retired, Senior Fraud Prevention Specialist, FNBO
Sharon Lockridge has been employed at First National Bank for the past 32 years working in the credit card area and various departments during her tenure. She is currently a Sr. Fraud Prevention specialist at the bank. Sharon graduated from Omaha Burke High School in 1980 and obtained her Business Administration degree from Dana College with a minor in economics. Sharon was the Lady Hawkettes Basketball Coach for 31 years before retiring in 2015. She has been involved in multiple community activities over the years, including serving as a Peer to Peer Trainer and Coach for YMCA Basketball; Kids at Work; Fairfax Neighborhood Association; First National Bank Reading for Kids Program; secretary for New Era State Convention of Nebraska, Inc.; and secretary for the Woman’s Auxiliary. Sharon is also active in her church with various projects.
Kimberly Bailey, Board Member
Head of Marketing, Alpaca
Kimberly Bailey, originally from Lincoln, NE, is a skilled marketer and visual storyteller currently serving as the Head of Marketing at Alpaca, a startup focused on making it easier to support teachers. Prior to her role at Alpaca, Kimberly led creative production at Omaha-based software company, Flywheel.
During her time at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Kimberly pursued a Journalism degree with a focus on PR/Advertising. Alongside her academic pursuits, she excelled as a student-athlete, making her mark as a standout DI volleyball player for the Mavericks. Her skills and dedication earned her numerous accolades, including Defensive Player of the Year in 2015 in the Summit League, and she was honored as UNO’s Female Athlete of the Year for the 2015-2016 academic year.
Beyond her professional pursuits, Kimberly is passionate about empowering women and girls through her photography work and is a fierce advocate for equality for women in sports.
Darcie Willie, Board Member
Darcie Willie is a dedicated professional with a diverse skill set and a passion for making a positive impact. With 17 years of experience at Dingman’s Collision Center, she held positions as Director of Human Resources and Director of Marketing, contributing to the company’s success and growth.
In 2007, Darcie earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Management of Human Resources from Bellevue University, equipping her with a solid foundation in organizational dynamics and people management. While excelling in her professional endeavors, Darcie’s most cherished role is that of a dedicated mother to her two young girls. Recognizing the importance of work-life balance, she recently made the decision to step back from her position at Dingman’s to prioritize her family and explore new avenues to give back to her community.
Driven by a strong sense of philanthropy, Darcie has developed a deep passion for creating unique ways for small businesses to contribute to the Omaha community. Understanding the transformative power of collective efforts, she aims to inspire and guide other small businesses in discovering how they too can make a meaningful impact.
Join the Board
The EPIC for Girls Board of Directors accepts applications for board and committee membership throughout the calendar year. Onboarding of new members occurs once per year at the EPIC for Girls Annual Meeting.
The role of a board/committee member is critical to the growth and sustainability of the organization. We ask all interested parties to complete an application, submit a resume’, and interview to determine alignment with the mission.
If you are interested in applying for a board or committee position, please review the Board Characteristics Infographic, Board Member Job Description and complete the Board Member Application. Should you have any questions about this process, please email EPICBoard@epicgirls.org.