Paula Krage was born and raised in Winona, Minnesota. After graduating from Cotter High School, she attended the University of Saint Catherine in Saint Paul, Minnesota. After graduating, Paula moved to Faribault, MN, where she worked at a group home for adolescent boys and as a high school social worker. She moved back to Winona in 1982 and joined the HCO family the following year. Over the years, she moved up the ranks within HCO before becoming a Program Services Director in 1993, a position she would hold until her retirement in 2021.
Paula has always been proud of her long history with HCO. Throughout her career, she shares that the agency has always been person-centered, value-driven, and stable – both morally and financially. She feels so fortunate that she had the opportunity to watch the agency grow over the years while remaining true to its original purpose. “I think the Winona area community has great respect for HCO, the individuals and families it serves, and the staff it employs,” she shares. “The staff are so well trained and supported throughout their careers. Their training reflects everything they do with individuals in the community.”
After retiring, she knew she wanted to stay connected to her HCO family. So, when an opening on the agency’s Board of Directors became available, she knew it would be an excellent opportunity to support an agency she loves and stay connected to her HCO family. “I am very proud to be able to serve with the current Board of Directors because they are dedicated and passionate about the mission of HCO,” she shares. “They work so well as a team and are always willing to help me as a new member. By serving on the Board of Directors, I am fulfilling my dream of continuing my service to HCO.”
If she could use her own experiences to tell current HCO employees one thing, it would be to listen and learn from the individuals they support. “Value the relationships you build with individuals and families. You will gain so much more than you give. You’ll look back and learn from these life lessons.”
