Compass Communications LLC

I am back at UVA Health in Charlottesville, Virginia, for my third Enduring Excellence Executive Seminar with my client Value Capture.

I’m looking forward to another opportunity to learn from healthcare leaders, deepen my understanding of the principles of habitual excellence, and experience firsthand the power of go and see.

It’s also wonderful to finally meet our chief of staff Courtney in person and spend time working alongside Ken and Lisa again.

I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of these conversations, continue learning and seeing the work our clients are doing to transform healthcare.

What happens after the tornado, the emergency operations center closes and the immediate crisis passes? The learning continues.

This week, I participated in an After-Action Review with approximately 50 representatives from Winnebago County Emergency Management and Outagamie County Emergency Management and the broader counties and our response partners, reflecting on the July 27 tornado and the months of response and recovery efforts that followed.

I've served as the public information officer supporting Winnebago County throughout this disaster. From the first days of emergency response to ongoing FEMA assistance and recovery efforts, communication has played an important role in keeping residents informed, coordinating across agencies and responding to rapidly changing circumstances.

An After-Action Review gives everyone an opportunity to examine what worked, identify gaps, and strengthen plans, processes and relationships before the next emergency.

For me, it was also an opportunity to reflect on the role of public information, the importance of coordination across jurisdictions and the lessons we'll carry forward. I'm proud to have been part of this work and grateful for the trust Winnebago County has placed in me and Compass Communications.

“It’s like the English language took color.”

What a beautiful way for a young student to describe learning to read with dyslexia. I attended the Dyslexia Reading Connection, Inc.'s 20 Years of Impact Gala for the first time, thanks to Kim, who purchased a table and then couldn't attend herself! 😂

I joined Heather and met several others at our table (Emily, Maren, Holly and Chad) for an evening that was both fun and educational. One message from the organization's leadership: students may start out behind, but they graduate ahead. Another message: Dyslexia affects more than reading; learning to play music is also challenging. Hearing directly from students and their tutors, and even a mother, about their experiences and the difference this organization has made gave me a greater appreciation for its work.

Congratulations to Dyslexia Reading Connection on 20 years of helping students learn, grow and succeed!

Happy Boss’s Day to me! 😂

Being my own boss has been one of the most rewarding, challenging, and occasionally ridiculous adventures of my career.

I’m proud of the business I’ve built, the clients who trust me, the relationships I’ve developed, the amount of coffee I have consumed, and the opportunity to do meaningful work on my own terms.

Of course, my boss can be a little demanding. She expects a lot, has trouble saying no, works some questionable hours, and occasionally schedules meetings over lunch.

On the bright side, she lets me wear jeans, encourages coffee meetings, and approves all my vacation requests. (Getting her to actually take the vacation is another story.)

Happy Boss’s Day to all my fellow business owners. Give yourselves a little credit today. We’ve earned it! 💜