About Us

     Active Learning Connection began with a simple idea born out of the COVID-19 pandemic. The shutdown of in-person trainings led to increased requests for reduced-fee services. So, Marti, our founder and Executive Director, took action to form a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. ALC is committed to state-wide accessible lifelong learning, providing trainings, community education, and related services at below-market rates for nonprofits, animal shelters, veterans, seniors, and especially those in rural or poor areas. Our approach ensures quality and dedication to supporting lifelong learning and community support.

     Marti has many years of experience leading nonprofits and being hired as an internal change agent to help troubled nonprofits transform and manage change to emerge stronger and more stable. Most recently, she completed three certificates through Cornell University's eCornell program. Her certificates are in Human Resources, another in Nonprofit Finance, and a third in Leadership Essentials.

     Marti loves lifelong learning! She earned her Ph.D. from UW-Madison in Adult Learning, a M.S. from Cardinal Stritch University in Management, and a B.S. from UW-LaCrosse in Health Education, to provide a well-rounded approach to her work. And she has another certificate, the Professional Certificate in Online Education, from UW-Madison Continuing Education, to apply her technical skills to create online versions (on the Canvas platform) of ALC trainings.

     Marti managed Head Start preschools, taught K-12 ESL/English as  a Second Language as well as ESL for adult learners, and taught K-12 Health Education. Then she taught business management for adult learners at the associate's, bachelor's and master's levels. And most recently, she taught Mexican culture for statewide teacher outreach. 

     Marti has published newspaper articles, an article for NONPROFIT WORLD on monitoring nonprofit financials, a chapter for a book related to the history of adult education in the U.S., a collection of love stories on Kindle, short stories based on interviews about how real couples met and fell in love. And she is is publishing two other books on Kindle within the next year -- one is a collection of short stories about growing up in Wisconsin, and the other is a guide to being an in-home caregiver for a loved one.