December 2025 Employee Spotlight

Policy, Analysis, and Communications (PAC) is pleased to announce the December 2025 Olmsted County Employee Spotlight recipient, Lara Peterson.

Lara is a lead eligibility specialist in the Family Support & Assistance division. Her nominator describes her as great example of someone who works to support the clients she comes in contact with. They also said she often goes above and beyond to help and guide clients to the best outcomes. 

In an interview with Olmsted County Communications Specialist Darian Leddy, Lara shared more about her role, experiences, and a little bit about herself. 

What inspired you to join Olmsted County, and what keeps you here?

More than 20 years ago, I was working for the State of Minnesota processing MinnesotaCare. For our kids, my husband and I wanted to move to Rochester to be closer to our families as we were both born and raised in Rochester. I loved my job and wanted to continue to do something similar and processing Medical Assistance was about as close as I could get! I stay because I am passionate about helping others.

What’s something about your role that might surprise people? 

Policies and procedures are constantly changing for Public Assistance programs. So, one day we could be processing eligibility one way and in a month, it could be completely different.

How would you describe your team in three words? 

Amazing, knowledgeable, and supportive.

What's a recent project or moment at work that made you proud?

It makes me proud every time a new co-worker has been trained and is able to start working on their own! It’s fun to watch their confidence grow and to see them become independent in their work.

What’s a challenge you’ve faced in your role, and how did you overcome it?  

It’s always a challenge and never fun to deliver bad news to people. For example, if a client isn't eligible for or becomes ineligible for Medical Assistance or other programs. I’m not sure it’s something I’ll ever overcome; it happens all the time in this position. This is just part of the job but always hard to do.

Tell us about a time when you saw one of Olmsted County’s values in action (Thoughtful, Principled, Inclusive, Service-Focused, Collaborative)—whether through your own work or a colleague’s. What impact did it have? 

Eligibility Workers receive a lot of calls about prescriptions not being covered due to various reasons. One day, I received a call where a person wasn’t able to get their medication for their cancer treatment. We did a conference call to the pharmacy and the insurance company. It turned out that a prior authorization for the medication was needed, and they needed to contact their doctor to start that process. This person was so grateful for the extra step of calling with them and understanding what needed to be done to get the medication.  Eligibility Workers change people’s lives every day and I am so honored to be able to have that effect on someone’s life. 

What’s a fun fact about you that most people don’t know? 

I have a degree in Horticulture, but I think I’m better at killing plants than keeping them alive.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? 

When work gets overwhelming because there is so much to do, someone once said, “Just breathe, one thing at a time.” So that’s been my motto for a very long time.

What would you say to someone thinking about joining Olmsted County?

Do it! Olmsted County is a wonderful employer and supportive of the staff and our community. I’ll have been with Olmsted County for 23 years in 2026 and have no intention of leaving.

What should they know about working here?

Olmsted County offers so many opportunities to grow and learn. If someone is needing a change in their work, there are multiple departments for a person to work in. There is also wonderful diversity among staff; it’s fun to learn about different cultures and communities. I’m proud to work for such an inclusive employer!