You may already know me as Amy Biedermann Halm, founder of Desert Drug Dog, LLC. Maybe you have seen me following drug dogs around your school or business! But what you don’t know is that the journey to get me there has been anything but easy. This my story
I was raised on a dairy farm in the Midwest, with a stay-at-home mom and a dad who worked days in the educational publishing business. My first job, which I started at age 14, was in a commercial greenhouse and flower shop. All throughout high school and young adulthood, I stayed in that field, loving every minute, although I struggled to support myself on the wages, which drove me to attain my degree in advertising at age 28 as a single mom. From there, I attained corporate communications jobs and traveled around the country and the world in the field of high tech, experiencing different cultures, customers, employee partners and friends. (oh, and food!)
Who has Influenced your life the most?
My parents. They took so much joy in the work of raising a family. Dad took us to his job on Saturdays when he could. As a family, we grew and preserved almost everything we ate. We loved the animals, the garden, the seasons and our many neighbors who lived the same life—that of hard work, family, faith and patriotism. We all did it together, and to me, work became fun—you put in some effort, and saw great results.
What are your proudest achievements?
Getting my degree at age 28 as a single mother, so that I could pursue a career—and the best moment was when my university gave my 7-year old daughter an “honorary degree” for sitting through so many classes when I couldn’t afford a babysitter. It hangs in her office with her two Masters’ degrees today! Needless to say I am very proud of her.
Who Inspires you?
Honestly, the people who care for the most vulnerable people inspire me the most. Whether it’s sick or injured people, homeless people, addicted people, lost people, elderly people, or people in hospice. I do not have what they have. I do what I do, but I think they do much more and sacrifice more. They inspire me greatly.
What advice would you give someone pursuing a career in what you do?
Cultivate and nurture your relationships, both in your personal and your professional life. Do not burn bridges. Keep your negative opinions to yourself. (yes, it’s hard.) Do not judge others. Attend conferences and networking events to meet the people who do what you want to do.
People always say (ALWAYS) – “Oh, I love working with animals, you must love your job!” Yes, I do. I work with drug dogs. It takes constant training to keep up with the new drugs being used. It’s not just training and certification, it is like being on a team where you train every day. But also, and importantly, my job involves an enormous amount of human interaction. Some of it is extremely sensitive, such as when a person has overdosed, (some are deceased, thankfully, not all), and I am with the family in the place where it happened. I turn into a counselor and referral source as I have many connections into the healing community. If the family member survived, I provide Narcan for them to have on hand. I make sure they are connected with a counseling service that is a good match – affordable, close by, etc. So yes, I work with animals, and I love them, but the truth is, all jobs, no matter what they are, require a person who knows their clientele and has respect for them. There is no room for judgment in the field of drug and alcohol abuse.
What makes an inspiring woman?
Integrity, openness. Believe in something bigger than you (for me it is my faith in a loving God leading me), and go where you are called. It might seem crazy, but in prayerful meditation it might become crystal clear. I never thought I would be working in the field of addiction with drug detecting dogs. I LIKED my high heels and pretty business suits! But that is where I believe God wanted me. So…it’s cargo pants and tennis shoes. I don’t think it’s about ME. I think it’s about where I can best serve, and it’s not always where I imagined.
Tell us five things no one knows about you?
- I am a farm girl. I thrive on solitude and silence. There is a lot of that on a farm. It recharges me and helps me sort out all the chaos I often have to work through on my job.
- My job at a county hospital was the most incredible career move I ever made, and was totally unexpected. I learned in a very visceral way, “There but for the grace of God, go I.” I learned to never judge, to have compassion, to try to help, in the most awful situations.
- I have not had a TV for over 20 years.
- I love these silly but amazing dogs, and I spoil them immensely. Don’t tell my trainer.
- I do love my Chardonnay at the end of a hard day’s work!
