NDVS/SB APH Coordinator
I grew up in Grand Forks, ND and graduated from Central High School. I went to UND right after high school but didn’t really know what I wanted to do. I spent some time at Northland Community and Technical College and got my associate’s degree. I took some time off and revisited UND years later. I graduated with a master’s in Kinesiology in the spring of 2022.
I’ve held a lot of different jobs. The longest job I’ve held was at a company called Support Systems Inc. in Grand Forks. I worked as Supervisor and Direct Support Professional. I managed a large caseload of clients and staff. I worked with clients in their homes and in the community. I found this work to be extremely rewarding. The most random job I’ve held so far was working at a kiwi factory in California! I worked on a line where I picked the best kiwis to be packaged and shipped across the country!
I heard about a new opportunity that was opening at NDVS/SB and decided to apply. I felt like my professional and personal background met the role requirements and the rest is history! I’ve now been with NDVS/SB for a month in August!
My role at NDVS/SB is APH Coordinator/Administrative Assistant. American Printing House for the Blind (APH) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating accessible educational materials and resources for people who are blind or visually impaired.
My job mainly revolves around anything APH! I’m the main contact for any APH items or questions regarding these products. I track, order, and ship APH products to anyone who may need them in North Dakota. I keep an organized inventory of products and order more if needed. I help with other tasks in the VRC and any administrative duties as they arise.
I’m super excited to be part of this team, and organization. It will be rewarding to know that I am helping people all over the state. Whether it’s providing a product for a child to learn braille or helping an individual learn a new game, APH has so many resources and tools to offer and I’m lucky to be a part of it. If you ever have any APH questions or needs, please feel free to reach out to me at jessica.lembke@nd.gov or call 701-795-3794.
Outside of work, you can find me at the lake, in the garden or on some type of adventure! I live with my wife Sydney and our two cats Mila and Finn! We recently moved back to Grand Forks. We spent three years living on the road traveling across the country in our Class A Motorhome! Sydney works as a Physical Therapy Assistant, which gave us the ability to travel full-time.