Rae Ann Prasnicki – WKS Alumni

I think most of us have met someone who we have felt a connection with immediately. Rae Ann is one of those people for me. Her obvious love for her children, adventurous nature, work ethic, and love of discovery is admirable. She is living her dream and has documented it.

Rae Ann Prasnicki (Class of 1985), the third of four children born to her parents, is exciting, energetic, and eager for adventure. She said she was rebellious as a child, and was anxious to leave Silver Bay after graduation. Rae Ann is not sure if this early desire to leave home was in part an explanation for her need for travel but regardless of the reason, travel has been and remains a priority in her life.

After her high school graduation, Rae Ann enrolled in the nursing program at the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, Minnesota. (She distinctly recalls a thought she had while driving to college her freshman year: “I can be whatever I want to be!”) Rae Ann worked hard. She became a Mayo Clinic nurse and later, a United Healthcare utilization nurse. She obtained two Master’s degrees in Business and Human and Health Services Administration at St. Mary’s University in Winona, Minnesota.

Having a desire to travel but lacking a travel companion motivated her to ask a date if he would go on a vacation with her….to Europe….for a month. He said yes readily, and a traveling companion (and future spouse) was found. After her two daughters were born, Rae Ann realized the desire to travel was still in her and she created a plan to see all 50 states before her children left home. She was successful! Her blog (drivingthedream.com) is a great summary of their travels and if you like road trips, as I do, you’ll surely pick up the names of places you will want to visit. The blog is a hoot to read. After just a taste of it, I had to interview her to find out more about her.

Rae Ann worked for herself doing various jobs such as building websites, organizing and cleaning homes for years keeping a schedule that allowed her to travel for weeks at a time. A recent divorce and real life economics, however, required her to do some soul searching while keeping traveling a priority. She networked with over 180 people before she found her niche through Barriers to Entry, a program that was designed to recruit and train nontraditional tech workers from the ranks of the underemployed, veterans and stay-at-home moms. Today, she contracts with Patterson Companies using her project management skills to help process and supply dental and veterinarian clinics in North America and the United Kingdom. While she enjoys her work, she hopes to “find a job that would allow me to travel to other locations for extended periods of time (one to two years) until I can officially retire. And at that time…..just travel, travel, travel.”

Always active, volunteering is a priority for Rae Ann. She recently placed flags at Fort Snelling National Cemetery with her children for Memorial Day, spearheaded the fundraising for auditorium chairs from her graduating class, has been an Election Judge for years and will be heading a new Theater Booster group for her daughter’s high school starting this fall. A friend recently described her as “beautiful, smart, hilarious, truthful, organized, generous and the most thoughtful and caring woman in my life”. She loves theatre, music and books….helping others….and travel.

Read her blog. You’ll like it.