Accounting major works at College Nannies + Sitters + Tutors while going to school

Hollie Price, 26, is earning her Accounting Transfer Pathway Associate of Science (A.S.) at Inver Hills Community College. Hollie had to interrupt her studies at Inver Hills due to the illness and death of her father. She is excited to back at school and has tentative plans to graduate with her A.S. degree in fall 2021.

Hollie works while going to college as the learning center coordinator at College Nannies + Sitters + Tutors (CNS+T) in St. Paul, Minnesota. She started at CNS+T as a tutor at the company’s office in Woodbury, Minnesota.

Julia Ruohomaki serves as the role model manager at CNS+T in St. Paul. Julia works with Emily Johnson, the director of career development at Inver Hills, to give students employment opportunities at CNS+T, which is ranked #50 on Glassdoor’s 100 Best Places to Work 2020.

“Hollie does so much for CNS+T all while balancing her education at Inver and her personal life,” Julia said. “We are very much a small business and each of our roles here has a crucial function.”

Emily reported that the Center for Career Development and Community-Based Learning receives multiple inquiries each year from community members wishing to hire Inver Hills students for childcare roles.

“We always redirect these inquiries to College Nannies + Sitters + Tutors because they are a trusted resource with a screening and training process that gives parents peace of mind,” Emily said. “Formalizing a care-provider position offers our students a quality resume booster along with a learning path to many different careers. CNS+T roles also afford a flexibility that fits with a student’s ever-changing life schedule.”

Emily added that experts estimate 61 percent of entry-level jobs require three years of experience. “CNS+T provides an opportunity for our students to start gaining that experience while they are going to college,” she said.

About College Nannies + Sitters + Tutors

Building Stronger Families^®

With nearly 200 territories in 29 states, College Nannies + Sitters + Tutors is the nation’s most respected, complete and professional resource helping busy families raise smart, confident, well-adjusted kids.

Since 2001, local professional teams across the country have helped hundreds of busy parents carve out time for themselves with a sitter, have help on hand with a part-time or full-time nanny or get their college-bound student the tutoring they need to succeed.

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More about Hollie…

Originally from Woodbury, Hollie graduated from Woodbury High School, Class of 2012. She sang in the Inver Hills Choir for four semesters when she first attended the college in 2014–2016. She served as the choir’s president, vice president and section leader. She participated in the LGBTQIA+ Club and ran a club event on Student Success Day. Hollie also volunteered as a peer tutor for math below precalculus for one semester.

After graduating from Inver Hills, Hollie plans on transferring to a four-year institution to complete her bachelor’s degree in accounting. Her career goals are centered on becoming a certified public accountant.

“I want to work as a CPA for a small businesses or an accounting firm,” she said.

In her free time, Hollie enjoys sewing, singing, reading, baking, and spending time with her family and friends. “During non-COVID times, I like to go out and attend/do things like concerts, escape rooms and traveling,” she said.

Hollie resides with her family in Woodbury.

One word that best describes your experience at Inver Hills:

ACCOMMODATING

Hollie Price • Q & A

Why did you choose Inver Hills?

I chose Inver because my sister, Rita, did her EMT training here before going on to nursing school at Winona State. I also have a lot of family on my dad’s side who attended, like he and his brothers. My mom also did some courses at Inver Hills. It seemed like the logical step when considering a community college, and I was especially excited to see that the college was part of the MN Reconnect program for adult learners.

What do you like best about the Accounting program at Inver Hills?

I like that it’s very different from anything I’ve studied before, and that it’s relating to what I’m doing in my current job as a learning center coordinator at CNS+T. I’m learning a lot more about the details of running the business than when I was just tutoring, so it’s very exciting!

What do you like best about your role as the learning center coordinator at College Nannies, Sitters + Tutors?

I love being able to connect with tutors and families about how to best help a student succeed. One of my favorite aspects of our service when I was tutoring, was that it’s all one on one, so you really get a chance to connect with people and get to know them to help them better.

Three words that describe you as a college student:
BUSY. FOCUSED. ORGANIZED.

What skills are you learning at CNS+T that complement your education at Inver Hills?

I’m learning a lot about what it’s like to work in an office setting as opposed to the food service and retail industries, where I held my previous jobs. I’m using a lot of the applications that are part of my accounting courses of study, and I’m also starting to apply new things I’ve learned in classes to my job like application management and optimization.

How do you manage the challenge of balancing college, work and your personal life?

It’s definitely challenging, but working from home and doing online classes has made it easier to find time and flexibility to create that balance. I typically schedule homework and social time around my work hours, utilizing my weekends to catch up with family and friends as well as my assignments. Having a planner to track everything is also crucial for me so that I can see deadlines, work obligations, and schedule time for family.

What is the greatest challenge facing your generation?

Given the current situation, and even before COVID, the job market has really been tough for my generation to enter outside of retail, food service, and other hospitality/service jobs. Making the leap to a trade or corporate job can be daunting as well as challenging given the need for experience, competition for few positions, and education needed for these occupations. There is also the added burden of student debt and loans, which cause a great challenge for our generation and those younger than us.

Where do you see yourself in 20 years?

In 20 years, I hope to have my own business, home and family. Things feel so uncertain when I look that far ahead, but ideally that’s where I will be.

Inver Hills Choir

Purpose: To build new friendships and learn more about the music of the world in a safe, inclusive space. Participate in concerts and rehearsals while learning more about your vocal technique and general musicianship. Members of this group join the Inver Hills choir students to perform music of all styles.

Jennifer Parker
Music Faculty
651-450-3730

Julia Ruohomaki: Employer Perspective

What transferable skills can students learn via their roles at CNS+T to prepare them for their future careers?

CNS+T teaches so many transferable skills. First and foremost, we are a business about people. Our Role Models develop empathy, communication skills, collaboration, conflict resolution and adaptability. Those skills together, when mastered, can take you just about anywhere. In addition, the roles at CNS+T reinforce dependability, organization and time management.

Hollie started working as a tutor in our Woodbury office. Over the years, she mastered and honed her skills as a tutor, and was ready to step into our Learning Center Coordinator role near the end of 2019.

In her current role, she is learning additional skills such as hiring an interviewing, employee scheduling, and how to manage people. As Hollie works towards her degree, I have no doubt the skills she has learned at CNS+T will springboard her to wherever she would like to go.

Are positions with CNS+T limited to students seeking careers in the field of education?

Not at all! While we do have many Role Models who plan to pursue education, we love to hire individuals who have a passion for being a Role Model, regardless of their future path. Some of our Role Models know they want to do something outside of education or childcare, but they love working with youth. Our flexible positions allow them to pursue their long-term goals, while maintaining a fun and rewarding job.

As a college student, how does Hollie Price contribute to CNS+T’s success and well-being?

Hollie is our only part-time manager—that alone could pose a challenge to some. We are a bustling business and there are a lot of moving pieces behind the scenes. Hollie understands how to prioritize responsibilities, manage her time, and ask for help when needed. In addition, her can-do attitude and strong leadership skills ensure a recipe for success.

More about Julia Ruohomaki…

Julia has been with CNS+T since 2017. Prior to working at CNS+T, she earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from Metropolitan State University and worked for a nonprofit for eight years.

“I am honored to build stronger families through leading and coaching imaginative and quality childcare professionals,” Julia said.

Hollie Price gallery

More about Accounting at Inver Hills…

The Accounting program enriches the learning of diverse students in a collaborative environment through vigorous curriculum with a global mindset to lead a value-driven and ethical life.

The Accounting mission is crystallized in two key ways:

• Membership in the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), a leading specialized accreditation association for business education
• Active participation in DECA , a student business organization that prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in colleges around the globe

Accounting Transfer Pathway A.S. Degree • 60 credits

The Accounting Transfer Pathway Associate of Science (A.S.) offers you a powerful option: the opportunity to complete an A.S. degree with course credits that directly transfer to designated accounting bachelor’s degree programs at Minnesota State universities.

The curriculum has been specifically designed so that you can complete this pathway degree and transfer with junior-year status to one of the seven Minnesota State universities.¹

Accountants and Auditors

Interpret budget statements in order to give financial advice.

WAGE

This is a very high-wage career that pays well above the statewide median of $21.49/hour

Minnesota

Median: $33.06/hour
High: $40.61/hour

Seven-county Twin Cities metro

Median: $34.10/hour
High: $42.18/hour

OUTLOOK

This career is currently in very high demand and seeing high growth compared to other careers. Growth rate in the U.S. is 9.4 percent.

There will be a need for about 30,295 new Accountants and Auditors to meet market demand between 2016–2026. This includes the demand due to replacement (workers leaving the occupation or retiring) as well as growth.

— Minnesota State CAREERwise Education

Learn more about the Accounting program at Inver Hills by contacting:

Yohannes Agegnehu
Business and Accounting Faculty
651-450-3250

Admissions Team
651-450-3000
College Center

Learn more about the Center for Career Development and Community-Based Learning (CCD+CBL) by contacting:

Emily Johnson
Director of Career Development
651-450-3241

Shannon Williams
Community-Based Learning Coordinator
651-450-3244

¹ The Accounting Transfer Pathway A.S. gives you the opportunity to transfer as a junior to the following universities:

• Bemidji State University: Accounting B.S.
• Metropolitan State University: Accounting B.S.
• Minnesota State University Mankato: Accounting B.S.
• Minnesota State University Moorhead: Accounting B.S.
• Southwest Minnesota State University: Accounting B.S.
• St. Cloud State University: Accounting B.S.
• Winona State University: Accounting B.S.