As of September 19th, there is a new director of Wagner Area Growth, Margaret Doom. Margaret will be full-time in her role as Wagner Area Growth Director, unlike her predecessor, Michele Juffer, who was part-time in the position. What really drew Doom to wanting to take the director position was that she would be able to return to Wagner, which she had been hoping to have the opportunity to do and the beautiful bicultural diversity that embodies Wagner. She sees the unique blend of Czech and Native American cultures in Wagner that has created this community and wants to help strengthen this blend of cultures to make Wagner an even better place to live.

Wagner Area Growth is a non-profit development corporation that is dedicated to boosting the local economy and strengthening the Wagner community. Kelsey Doom originally wrote the grant in 2015 to get the organization started in Wagner.

Margaret sees her position as the hub that can connect people to the right resources. In her role she can help potential and current businesses apply for grants, find the resources they need to begin or expand their business and facilitate the right connections that are needed to begin or continue a business in Wagner.

Doom’s goal in her first year as the Wagner Area Growth Director is to listen; to listen to the community’s needs and help facilitate the resources and connect the right people and or businesses to get those needs met. She comes back to the community with no opinions, just with open-mindedness and the desire to hear what the community needs and wants. Margaret has already been receiving feedback from community members. She has found that there is a need for more childcare and elder care in Wagner.

Margaret was born and raised in Wagner, and Wagner is a special place to her. She has a special love for Wagner that helps her see the potential that is just waiting to be unlocked here. Before moving back to Wagner and taking this position, Doom worked for the non-profit organizations, Call to Freedom for ten months and Horsepower for four years. She is the daughter of Todd and Amy Doom. Her husband, Noah Benson, is currently in medical school in Vermillion. Margaret has a love of animals and has a dog and horses. Some of her hobbies include oil painting, writing, playing the violin and guitar, and being an avid horse woman. She is a dressage rider and rides five or more days a week.

Margaret has an open-door policy and welcomes all community members to stop by her office on Main Street and talk with her to share any concerns or thoughts with her on what Wagner needs in order to better serve the community and its citizens.

Welcome back to Wagner, Margaret, and the community cannot wait to see what the future holds for it in your ever capable hands.