Today we’d like to introduce you to Kate Nielsen.
Hi Kate, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I graduated from Mount Holyoke College in Western Massachusetts in 1997 with a degree in International Relations and Women’s Studies and lived on the east coast for a few years. A job as an organic farm intern brought me to Kansas City in the late 1990s which evolved into an AmeriCorps position as an environmental justice advocate for Bridging the Gap.
After an eight-year career in the not-for-profit and social work sector, I taught myself to code to help a friend launch a small website for their business. I began building websites on the side and taught myself the foundational elements of Search Engine Optimization. I eventually earned a certificate of web design from Johnson County Community College and was recruited by a local software company to join their front-end development team. After holding roles as a Developer, Business Analyst, and Project Manager, I founded On Tap in 2013. Since then On Tap has grown by referral only and has been able to put together an extensive portfolio of websites found at https://www.beontap.co/recent-work/.
On Tap emphasizes a holistic approach to website development that is integrated into their client’s marketing and operational strategy and focuses on long-term growth and sustainability. On Tap strives to never oversell services to clients and match their growth stage with superb ongoing support.
I am passionate about giving back to my community and served on the board of directors Waldo Area Business Association for several years, as a board member at large and then in all Executive Committee roles including President. I was also the honorary mayor of the Waldo neighborhood in Kansas City in 2020 (not a fun year to be Honorary Mayor!).
I currently serve on the Board of Directors for the Mid America LGBT Chamber of Commerce, working to increase the number of LGBTBE certified businesses and developing programming and corporate partnerships for LGBTBE companies to help grow an equitable Kansas City economy. My other volunteer efforts include three years on the task force for the Habitat for Humanity Pride Build in Kansas City and serving as an informal mentor for the Kansas City Women in Technology organization, coaching women on career transition opportunities in the technology field.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My team has gone through a lot of transition and we lost a young team member to suicide in 2020. We also have had young people of color on our team and racial tension and conflicts arose during George Floyd’s murder, the explosion of the Black Lives Matter movement and varying understanding of white privilege. We hired a consultant to support us with conflict resolution, but a remote culture in COVID proved hard to cultivate.
Two team members moved on and two had to be laid off.
We have a smaller team now, and I am learning how to balance team culture with profitability goals. Authenticity and caring are important to me as a team, and the past two years have been a strain on former and current members of my team.
I have had to fire clients along the way that we’re not a cultural fit for us and learn from mistakes in sales and operational growth. All clients aren’t good clients, adhere to the 80/20 rule and focus on your strongest client relationships and place for growth/impact.
As you know, we’re big fans of On Tap. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
On Tap is a website design and development firm in Kansas City offering excellent design, development and ongoing website support and maintenance. On Tap emphasizes a holistic approach to website development that is integrated into their client’s marketing and operational strategy and focuses on long-term growth and sustainability.
On Tap has recently launched Web Accessibility audits as a service in order to help make the web a more accessible arena for all humans.
On Tap provides excellent hosting, maintenance and ongoing support for websites small and large so companies and organizations can evolve and grow their web presence along with their bottom line.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Authenticity, empathy, excellent listening and communication skills.
A passionate desire to learn, grow and evolve.
A strong desire to create a positive work environment and have a meaningful impact on people’s lives.
A strong desire to impact the community in positive ways, with a focus on giving a voice and opportunity to under-served and unseen populations.
Desire to connect and help anyone I can.
Contact Info:
- Email: kate@beontap.co
- Website: www.beontap.co
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/KateNielsenkate
Image Credits
Morgan Miller Photography
