Monica Nieves

Vice President of Special Events & Communication
Iowa City/Coralville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
AGE: 31

Best advice you ever received?

“If you can’t be good, be careful.” – Bill Whitmore, my grandpa.

Biggest break?

My biggest break was definitely quitting a position that I was unfulfilled in and accepting the position at the CVB a year and a half ago. I have the pleasure and opportunity to work in and for a community that I love.

What’s something people should know about your generation in the workplace?

We want to be in a career that helps us develop and strengthens our existing talents – and if we aren’t getting that in our current position, we’ll go find it elsewhere. That gives us a bad reputation as job jumpers, but ultimately we want to work for a company that recognizes and appreciates our skills and will give us the opportunity to grow.

What is the biggest issue facing the Corridor?

If I have to pick one, I would pick early literacy in our schools. Due to opportunity gaps, nearly a quarter of the children in our schools don’t score above a third-grade level according to standardized tests. More importantly,many children don’t have access to quality children’s books in which their lives, experiences, families and communities are reflected or see themselves as readers. All children deserve our support to excel as readers.