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From the Editor

When I first moved to the Coulee Region, I was first struck, as many are, by the beauty of the area. Having visited-and even lived in-many parts of the country, I firmly believed our bluffs and coulees, our rivers and green spaces could easily hold their own against other areas. But once I'd lived here a while, I came to see that natural beauty wasn't all we had going for us.

La Crosse and its neighbors-Viroqua, Winona, La Crescent and more-had something going for them that much larger cities possessed. They were humming, thriving communities with citizens very much active in them. As I spent more time here and progressed through various stages of life, I witnessed firsthand how these constituents held up their values and lived them out. I watched them stand up for the environment and for human rights. I watched them participate in and fiercely defend their schools, and I saw the students-from kindergarten through college-benefit from their passion. I saw what a handful of deeply committed people could achieve together, and I saw whole communities rally around what they hold dear. What a wonderful place to live; what a wonderful thing to be a part of.

And not lost on me was the impact women in particular were making in their cities and communities. I feel so lucky to be in a position where we actively seek out and highlight these women not only making changes in their communities-but also simply making them work. In nearly every industry, every nonprofit, every school and every walk of life, women are making life in the Coulee Region hum and thrive. They're starting businesses, running nonprofits, teaching children and so much more.

In this issue, we celebrate "life in the Coulee Region" and all that women do to make this area a beautiful, functional and caring place to live. We've invited in doctors, chefs, artists, educators, farmers, business owners and corporate players of all stripes to show you just a sampling of the women who make life in the Coulee Region go round, every single day. We hope you'll enjoy meeting them as much as we have (and if you think life in the Coulee Region is vibrant, wait till you're in a room with a good number of the 15 women on our cover!).

As you read their stories, remember that the Coulee Region would be a slightly different place without you here, too, and know that all you bring to life in the Coulee Region-regardless of position or occupation-makes an impact. For all it has going for it, it's an even better place with you in it.

Betty Christiansen