Welcome to Around the Table, a regular series where we talk to people in our network and share the incredible work they are doing in their industry. Pull up a chair and join us for conversation and connection.

Name: Patrick Frank

Company: Patchbay Media

Where to Find You: LinkedIn, Twitter

How did you become a videographer?

I started making videos in high school with a Sony Mini-DV camcorder. I would film little movies with my friends and siblings, and I LOVED editing with iMovie. One time, I missed an entire week of physics class because I was editing my submission to the school’s foreign film festival.

I went to college to study music production, but my projects always seemed to involve video. I did sound and music for student films and had a job as a campus reporter for an editorial startup focused on university news and sports.

My first job out of college was doing podcast production for NPR. But I was watching YouTube’s massive growth in the late aughts and realized that the best opportunities for me were with video. I took the first boring job that was offered to me at the height of the recession — filming events for a think tank on K Street.

I started Patchbay Media in 2013 when my freelance workload was enough to leave my day job.

You recently wrote a book, Zoom Out: The Video-First Playbook for Becoming More Efficient, More Productive, and Making Remote Work for You. What inspired you to pick up the pen instead of a camera?

Without being able to film in-person, my business changed significantly in 2020. I was excited by all these new tools and opportunities to create video content in different ways that didn’t require professional cameras and crews.

I also realized that while we’re all sick of Zoom, it’s not Zoom’s fault! I wanted to learn how entrepreneurs, speakers, educators, and others were using video in interesting ways that support remote teams and flexible schedules. I also wanted to share my experience embracing remote video production and give readers and idea of how to create a video-first mindset in their businesses. There are so many ways to deliver a thoughtful, personable experience with video that isn’t just another Zoom call.

What were your biggest takeaways after writing your book?

One of the biggest takeaways was learning how to write a book. Authors don’t pull up a Google doc and write “Chapter 1” and start writing, that’s not how it works.

I took a book writing class affiliated with Georgetown University. For the first few weeks of the class, the assignment was to just go find interesting stories and write 300-500 words about them. After a few months, I had 30 or so of these stories and, with the help of an editor, was able to pair them together to create chapters.

I’ve historically been a terrible reader. I don’t think I finished a single book in 2020! But after working on my own book, I find books much more approachable because I understand how they’re constructed. I also bought a Kindle which has been a gamechanger. I’ve read around 20 books this year which is a record for me by a longshot.

You’re now taking what you learned and have launched a new consulting service. Tell me about what that offers.

Our consulting services are focused on helping companies identify opportunities and incorporate video into everything they do: sales and marketing, training and onboarding, and more.

For instance, we’re working with a company that is now adding video into their proposals and sales presentations. Some of these videos are evergreen and reusable edits about products and solutions, but some are specific to that client and that proposal. They’ve gotten a great response and have closed more deals because their proposals are way better than their competitors.

We also train speakers on new video-first platforms like Prezi Video. We’ll even convert PowerPoint slides to use with Prezi.

What’s the best advice you’ve received in your career?

“Stop trading your time for money.”

Over the past year or two, I’ve stopped doing most of the actual video-making and have teams in place for the projects that we get hired for. It’s not a perfect system, but I feel good about the progress I’ve made to bring on skilled team members to handle the execution. This frees up my time to pursue new opportunities and partnerships. Ideally, my company should be able to run without me and that’s the goal I’m currently pursuing.

When you aren’t working, what do you like to do?

I love playing the drums with my bands, going to rock shows, and hanging with my 4- and 6-year-old sons.

If we were literally “around the table” right now, what food would you have brought to share?

One of my favorite foods in the world is Xiao Long Bao aka soup dumplings. Not sure how well they would travel if I was bringing them to a party at your house, but I always love introducing people to this delicacy!

In support of our Veterans, Avid Core is donating to the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), which offers compassionate care to all those grieving a military loss. We encourage you to join us to see where you can help—financially or otherwise—and to seek help when you need it.

We’ve become accustomed to seeing “Thank you for your service” posts flooding our social media accounts on November 11 each year. You’ll most likely scroll through hundreds of American flag images without reading the captions honoring our military members on Veterans Day. Media outlets will cover the ceremonies and parades taking place in local communities. But what happens on November 12?

Attention tends to turn away from our heroes after Veterans Day. Social media posts transition from red, white, and blue to shades of red, yellow, and orange as people prepare for Thanksgiving and other holidays. But the harsh reality is that our Veteran community requires consistent support to be able to succeed.

After working with and for Veterans for the past decade, I realized that there are so many simple yet impactful ways to support our military members, their spouses, and families. Recently, our Avid Core team explored inclusive hiring best practices and discovered new methods to reach military talent for job opportunities.

I was inspired by Tim Best, CEO of RecruitMilitary, to think of new ways to be a part of the solution. In Search & Employ magazine, he encourages us to “go the extra mile” and open communication lines. As a business owner and an Army Veteran himself, Best understands the importance of recognizing Veterans. The RecruitMilitary platform has served as a resource for more than 1,000,000 registered job seekers interested in connecting with organizations across a variety of fields.

While all of us may not be in a position to hire a Veteran, there are numerous ways to contribute your time to make a difference beyond November 11. A few ideas I’ve gathered from my personal experiences:

• Distribute cards, gift cards, or artwork to a Veteran
• Donate used goods to Veterans organization, such as Purple Heart Service Foundation
• Volunteer at your local Veteran cemetery to lay wreaths, maintain the grounds, and clean tombstones
• Spend time by listening to someone share stories about their military experience
• Post a message of gratitude whenever a friend on social media posts a memory from their time serving in the military
• Send toiletries, your leftover Halloween candy, or care packages to your local Veterans hospital
• Go out of your way to say, “Thank you for your service,” when you cross paths with a person proudly wearing Veteran apparel
• Support Veteran-owned businesses by becoming a patron and/or partner

We expect this list to continue to evolve as we gather more ideas directly from our Veterans and military families. You are welcome to submit additional recommendations and we will update this list throughout the year!

The MarCom Awards announced Avid Core as a 2021 Platinum winner, the highest honor in the international creative competition for marketing and communication professionals.

We were recognized for the Community Engagement Strategy we created for PlanRVA, a regional convener and planning agency for the nine localities in the Richmond Region.

We are so honored to have received this prestigious award. People are at the heart of our work and this recognition would not have been possible without the incredible collaborative partnership we have built with the team at PlanRVA and the many members of the Richmond community that gave their time and energy to us during the process.

The 2021 competition received more than 6,000 entries from the U.S., Canada, and 39 other countries. Our strategy is the very first Platinum winner in the Community Engagement Program category.

Our approach for this work was rooted in feedback from a diverse group of stakeholders, including Tribal Nations, community groups, and minority-owned businesses. Using the information gathered, we created a comprehensive strategy that provides PlanRVA with a strong framework for the future.

We appreciate all the support we received in this endeavor, and we look forward to continuing to see the strategy’s impact in the Richmond Region in the months and years ahead.

Learn more about our award-winning work with PlanRVA.

Avid (adjective) – having or showing a keen interest in or enthusiasm for something. It’s more than just our company’s namesake. Passion for our work and for the things we love is part of our core values. Each month we’ll share some of the things we’re Avid Fans of with you. 

With autumn comes the red and orange leaves, pumpkin flavored items, sweaters and scarves, and the spooky season. There are so many scary movies, Halloween candies, and pop-up costume stores to choose from. This month we wanted to share our team’s most memorable costumes. Read on, if you dare!  

Angel – SpongeBob  

As a child, I was obsessed with the anime TV show Sailor Moon. I was destined to be Sailor Mars for Halloween while my older sister strived to be Sailor Jupiter. What two young girls didn’t want to be crime-fighting female superheroes with control over the elements? So, we begged and begged our dad to buy us Sailor Scout costumes to which he happily agreed. Trick or Treat time came around and we went to our dad’s house to put on our costumes. My dad pulls out our costumes and my face of pure excitement quickly changed to one of despair and confusion. My dad pulls out two large SpongeBob SquarePants costumes. Due to the language barrier, my dad did not understand exactly what we wanted to be and honestly thought we wanted to be SpongeBob and Squidward for Halloween. My sister was so upset the Squidward costume fit her well!  

Ashley – Netherworld Waiting Room 

I never pass up an opportunity to get into character and I’ve had many memorable costumes through the years. But I really stepped it up for Halloween 2020 because I needed to find a way to distract myself from the pandemic. A friend of mine decided to throw a backyard movie night on Halloween, setting up the projector to watch Beetlejuice, and I knew I needed to make sure my outfit went with the film.  

I went as the magician’s assistant who was sawed in half. I threw myself into crafting, trying to figure out how to create a “couch” that would hold the fake legs without being too heavy. I spent a whole night watching scary movies and shoving stuffing into blue pantyhose. While they didn’t go the crafting route, my husband and dog also joined in in the waiting room theme, going as the diver who died in a shark attack and a member of the football team that died in a bus crash. Beetlejuice is a seasonal favorite of mine and our Netherworld Waiting Room costumes will always stand out in my mind.  

Trevor – The Dreaded Skunk  

In my family, tradition is everything. From what we eat on Thanksgiving to the clothes we wear during a New Year’s celebration, the traditions have become endless. While most of these traditions are fun and exciting to remember, there is one tradition that all children in my family dread and shudder to remember. Instead of a classic pirate, ninja, or butterfly costume during our first memorable Halloween, the selected child would have to wear something stinky. Our black and white skunk costume became a tradition almost 50 years ago to showcase the newest addition to our family’s trick-or-treating party. Now this memory seems funny, but in the moment, I could not help but dread walking from house to house in such a worn down and smelly (no pun intended) costume that unfortunately became a beloved tradition.  

Amanda – Squirrel Girl  

In 2018, theme bars were all the rage. Someone created a mediocre pop-up bar with a Marvel theme, and I chose to go dressed as Squirrel Girl. I first learned of Squirrel Girl through the LEGO Marvel Superheroes game. She has the amazing ability to summon squirrels to do her bidding, and, as she is one of the more powerful characters in the game, I knew I wanted to be her for this outing. While the bar was somewhat of a bust, I had a blast with my friends and ended up using the costume a bunch of other times. Whenever I wear it, I get stopped for pictures by those who know Squirrel Girl is the best Marvel superhero. 

Virginia – Edward Scissorhands  

I have to admit that I’m not very festive in general. I can count on one hand how many times I’ve donned a costume for Halloween as an adult, or for any occasion for that matter! So, I really have to dig deep and channel the creativity around me to ensure my kids aren’t deprived of Halloween or the appropriate season’s holiday fun! Thankfully my friends are much more creative than me and the one costume that goes down in Halloween history (even six years later) is my dear friend’s daughter, Frankie Simone as Edward Scissorhands! Her mom is one of my favorite people on this planet and it’s no surprise that her magic manifests through her mini-me!  

Tremayne – Little Pumpkin 

Halloween is right around the corner, and that means it’s time for adorable baby costumes. My daughter’s first Halloween last year was a difficult one because of the endless costume choices. I spent a lot of my time searching for that right outfit. Although I don’t think I found the perfect costume, I think any tiny human dressed up as a Disney character or furry animal is adorable. We ended up choosing a pumpkin costume for the added insulation on a cold night of trick-or-treating, and I think it was the cheeks that made the outfit. 

Stephanie – Superheroes 

Since my husband Bevan and I met at a Halloween party many years ago, it was inevitable that our kids would love themed costumes for the whole family. My daughter Isabelle was going through a Girl Power Superhero phase which meant she (also known as Super Girl) assigned costumes to each family member. Bevan was Captain America and carried Batgirl Sophie around for her first Halloween. I had the privilege of dressing as Wonder Woman, which meant I got to hold the golden leash for TJ the Wonderdog. 

While we can take some lessons from the characters of Mean Girls, Avid Core is firmly anti-bullying and is donating to PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center in honor of National Bullying Prevention Month. We encourage you to join us to see where you can help—financially or otherwise—and to seek help when you need it.

Sunday is Mean Girls Day, otherwise known as October 3.

This iconic teen movie has always been a favorite of mine, and I was thrilled to discover that one of its main characters has relevance to my work.

When I’m developing key messages, I like to think of Regina George and the way she tailors her messaging for each person she is trying to reach. She begins by really understanding her audience.

Consider the first time she met Lindsay Lohan’s character, Cady Heron. After inviting her to sit down, her first question is, “Why don’t I know you?” She has such handle on the various audiences at school that her first task is to identify and categorize anyone new. 

You also see it in the way Regina interacts with all of the different cliques and adults in the film – her sickly sweet and vulnerable messaging to the principal, the compliments on the skirt of a classmate, and the phone call she makes to break up a couple she doesn’t like.

In every instance, she changes her word choice, her tone, and her body language to ensure her goals are achieved.

At Avid Core, treating everyone with respect is one of our core values, so we don’t agree with Regina’s end goals or bullying tactics, but we can learn from the way she seeks out what will resonate with her audience.

We start with research. Try to answer:

• What is the demographic of my audience?
• How do they like to receive information? How often do they want to receive information?
• What does the audience already know about my subject matter? What information gaps exist? Is there misinformation to overcome?
• Does my message need to be detailed and technical or presented in plain language?
• Are there cultural sensitivities to account for?
• What are the needs of my audience? What are their interests and concerns?

It’s impossible to create effective messaging without knowing your audience. Even if the overall message is the same for different audiences, you often must shape it in different ways for it to land with the various groups. Armed with information, you can make the decisions you need to tailor each line.

In Mean Girls, Regina George is positioned as a bully, but she’s not a bully who attacks by force. She uses audience identification and targeted messaging to achieve her goals.

Let’s take this messaging lesson and apply it to our own work and better causes.  

Interested in tailoring your message and learning what works for your audience? Avid Core offers personalized trainings on message development and delivery. Contact Amanda Roberts to learn more.

Avid (adjective) – having or showing a keen interest in or enthusiasm for something. It’s more than just our company’s namesake. Passion for our work and for the things we love is part of our core values. Each month we’ll share some of the things we’re Avid Fans of with you.

Depending on where you are in the world, fall is a time for cold weather, the lingering smell of pumpkin spice, and the warm embraces of friends and family. During the fall, there are countless traditions — both widely known and individually created — to foster the beauty and relaxation of fall. Whether this time of year brings out memories of an old family vacation, the changing colors of leaves, or just the colors orange and yellow, these traditions make the time of year special. Let us share with you some of our team’s favorite fall traditions and the experiences that have stood out in our lives during the autumn months. 

Trevor – Trans Allegheny Lunatic Asylum 

You would think something with a name so terrifying and mysterious as an insane asylum would be the farthest thing from a favorite fall tradition, but for me, going to the annual haunted house and seeing the illuminated asylum in the background is exactly my cup of tea…or should I say apple cider? Every year, a group of friends and I travel down the interstate to Weston, West Virginia in search of an adrenaline rush like no other. Once inside the doors of the Asylum’s haunted house, we have a blast screaming and running through the dimly lit hallways and spending much-needed time together. The Asylum itself has a rich history in West Virginia and is nestled right in the middle of a small town that is often overlooked. However, the tradition only continues once out of the haunted house as we always stop for dinner at a local restaurant before heading home. 

Angel – Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month 

Although a fairly new one, my fall tradition is a form of self-care for me! I like to spend this time alone reflecting on myself and my family and kick off Hispanic Heritage Month which is September 15^th. For a nightcap, I would go home, do a face mask and watch Disney Pixar’s Coco on the first day of Hispanic Heritage Month! I usually order (or cook if I have time) one of my favorite Dominican, Puerto. Rican, or Latin dishes and desserts and end a long busy day with a great movie and great food!  

Stephanie – Apple Picking

When the air is just crisp, my family piles into the car in our favorite flannel and we drive deep into the Maryland orchards to pick apples. It sounds so basic, but it is fun for all ages. At the risk of sounding like Bubba from Forrest Gump, there’s so much you can do with fresh-picked apples: eat them as a healthy snack at soccer games, dip them in honey, make pies, throw them in the Instapot to make apple cobbler topped with ice cream, great gifts for teachers and essential workers, bake apple bread, spread peanut butter on them for a healthy treat, add to salads needing a bright crunch or cut them into slices for hikes. The possibilities seem endless.

Ashley – Pumpkins at Nall’s Produce

The first thing that signals fall to me is the pumpkins at Nall’s Produce, a grocery store near my home that is celebrating 60 years in the community. Every year they create a pumpkin wall for photos and design Pumpkin Hill, a place to play and marvel over the many different types of pumpkins and gourds. I kick off my fall season by capturing a picture at the photo wall with family and/or friends and by buying some apple cider and at least one pumpkin spice treat!

Amanda- Markoff’s Haunted Forest

Markoff’s Haunted Forest is a seriously scary event. You walk through a dimly lit forest trail with three of four other people and explore different scenes—a graveyard full of zombies, a pitch-black maze with monsters, a demented circus, among others. It culminates in being chased away from the forest by people with chainsaws. It has a great production value, and they are experts at catching you off guard even if you’ve been in past years. One year, I was running away from some dark creature towards a tree, and then the tree moved and also started chasing me! Over the years, it’s become more popular, which means more crowds, but also more scary things. It’s always a good time, and it benefits a good cause; the proceeds from the haunted trail go to Calleva, a nonprofit that provides youth outdoor educational programming.

Tremayne – Decorating a Fall Tree

There are so many reasons to enjoy the fall season. The weather finally cools down, the scenery changes color, and it is the start of the holiday season. My family and I have always been excited to put up the Christmas tree and wrap gifts to place under it. We couldn’t wait one year, and it was still only October, so we decided to put up a “fall” tree that started a new family tradition. I think it turned out perfectly because it matches the colors outside and makes the house a little cozier.

Virginia – Birthdays!

Birthday celebrations keep our fall weekends busy! My nephew kicks off the fall birthday celebrations this week followed by our oldest son (Nico), our three-nager (Selena), my dad, my husband, my brother, my mom, and close family friends! Fall also always reminds me of transitions and fills me with the nostalgia for a more “care-free” time living in New York City in my early twenties. I moved to NY in the fall of 2005 and the brisk weather brings back fond memories of the wonder, excitement, nervousness, and newness of moving to and exploring such a diverse and dynamic city….a time and place that was critical to my never-ending self-love and discovery journey.

Welcome to Around the Table, a regular series where we talk to people in our network and share the incredible work they are doing in their industry. Pull up a chair and join us for conversation and connection.

Name:  Jennifer Martin

Company: KLT Group

Where to Find You: LinkedIn

What drew you to the world of environmental consulting?
I am one of the few lucky people who knew my calling at a pretty young age. My family would take weekend camping trips and I would be in awe of the nature around my playpen! Growing up, I spent time writing to the President on environmental issues, thanking major consumer brand names for using recycled products, and asking to “adopt” wildlife for Christmas gifts.  I celebrated Earth Day like it was my birthday (and like to think I still do).  When pursuing environmental science in college, I was encouraged by amazing professors and other students, and found my passion in policy and environmental law.  It became clear that environmental consulting was the perfect avenue to begin my professional career in the environmental field.

KLT Group has been able to pivot and innovate in the face of our primarily online world. Can you tell me about VirtualNEPA and what you hope your clients are able to get out of it?
VirtualNEPA is truly the brainchild of the principal/CEO of KLT Group, Kelly Lyles. When I came aboard at the firm, the foundation of the platform had been developed and in the piloting phase. I have enjoyed teaming up with Kelly and others at KLT Group for a collective brain trust of ideas on how VirtualNEPA can improve and streamline the environmental review process. We have been very fortunate to support a variety of clients with their NEPA work and have a deep bench of experience to rely on – what was working and in what areas the process could improve. The end goal is and will always be to deliver quality work for our clients while improving the review and commenting of agencies and the public.

How do you ensure Environmental Justice is incorporated into all your work? Environmental Justice has always been at the forefront of both internal and external work at KLT Group. Relying on the expertise of KLT Group staff such as Brandi McCoy, we challenge ourselves to “dig deeper” to ensure low-income and minority populations have full and equal opportunity for participation in the decision-making process for a project.  KLT Group is also heavily involved in climate change/resiliency planning for our clients, and through that work, one of our goals is to ensure that Environmental Justice communities do not bear a disproportionate risk to a changing climate.

What’s the best advice you’ve received in your career?
In my 20 years of professional experience, I have been lucky enough to have a wealth of advice from trusted colleagues, bosses, and clients.  One that has always stayed with me is quite simple – stay organic. Stay true to yourself, your work, your abilities, and the rest will happen organically.  Kelly has also always reminded me to maintain a healthy work/life balance. Work hard, but enjoy what life has to offer, too!

When you aren’t working, what do you like to do?
As the mother of two teenagers, I’m knee deep in college tours, marching band competitions, and white-knuckling driving lessons. Free time is spent hanging by a campfire with the family, trivia night with friends, or binge-watching shows and playing golf with my husband.

If we were literally “around the table” right now, what food would you have brought to share?
Perhaps the simplest question yet – Mexican food. My husband and I met in a Mexican restaurant and re-create menu items almost on a weekly basis. Burritos, chimichangas, enchiladas, you name it.  We once made fried ice cream for an annual family bake-off and took home the prize!

From the moment I joined Avid Core, I’ve learned how this small company lives up to its name and showcases its core values through action. The entire Avid Core staff is deeply passionate about their work and their clients’ projects, makes themselves accessible to clients and staff at all levels, and works to empower all stakeholders – just as they empowered me throughout my internship.

The inclusivity I felt from the entire team began as early as my interview process, and the relationship has only grown to this day. Although the staff is classified as my superiors by job title, they never made me feel as if any hierarchy existed; I always felt like an equal contributor. When I needed guidance and constructive criticism to grow as a communications professional and create content to meet Avid Core standards, I received those tools and wisdom from well-informed experts who not only made themselves accessible to me, but genuinely cared about my development and made sure I gained value through their experiences and learning process.

My “bosses” never felt like senior officials when we teamed up internally; they made the environment comfortable, and input was always welcomed and encouraged. When it came to making mistakes, their inclusive approach and everyday engagement made participating less intimidating. Instead of criticizing, they guided me in the right direction.

Working with Avid Core exposed me to new fields across transportation, government, education, and non-profit institutions and challenged me to learn an array of terminology, concepts, and acronyms. My favorite experience was working with a non-profit client because I felt like I was making a difference, helping an organization share their story and deliver on their mission.

I had the opportunity to lead a project with that non-profit that will help shape the new organization’s communications strategy as it launches. Being able to take on this initiative expanded my project management skills and pushed me out of my comfort zone while allowing me to find my voice. 

I joined Avid Core at a very notable time in the company’s history. In just my three months , Avid Core has been awarded new contracts, been recognized as the Best Government Contractor in Prince William County in 2021, and received its certifications as both a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and a small, woman-, and minority-owned (SWaM) business from the Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity. Playing a role in their journey helped me discover my own “Avid Core” and I hope to continue my communications career path alongside others who share the same philosophy as this company: a close-knit group of talented communications specialists dedicated to their craft, their clients, and their staff.

Michael Chan-Lok is a communications graduate of George Mason University and formerly a team writer for the Washington Spirit. Find his bylines and connect with him on LinkedIn.

Welcome to Around the Table, a regular series where we talk to people in our network and share the incredible work they are doing in their industry. Pull up a chair and join us for conversation and connection.

Name: Natalie Garramone

Company: ONE EIGHTY

Where to Find You: LinkedIn

Your LinkedIn features a quote from your stepdaughter about what you do – You “help people talk to each other.” Tell us about what that means and how it plays out for ONE EIGHTY.

Yes! I think it’s such a to-the-point way to describe what I do — what a natural marketer that little Chloé is, right? When people bring me in for support, it’s usually for one of two reasons: either they are being proactive about skill development, or something’s gone awry and they need help.  Regardless, my role is to listen – even if they’re not in a place to listen to each other. When that happens, I work to clear some of that emotional debris, as I call it, and get them listening and talking to each other again. So often in the midst of tension and conflict we just stop listening, and that’s really detrimental to constructive dialogue. Sometimes you need someone to look at the situation from the outside.

What drew you to this work?

I actually studied Business Administration, Marketing, and minored in Legal Studies thinking I would go into the field of law (cue laughter). As life goes, I ended up finding my way into organizational development, culture strategy, and change management consulting and had the opportunity to work for leaders and teams all over the world on so many different types of projects. One thing kept coming up though. No matter the team or the company, there were so many individuals who felt like they weren’t being listened to at work. I can’t tell you how many board rooms I sat in and just listened while people poured their hearts out about their hopes and fears and all the reasons they stay at a company and the hundreds of reasons they think about leaving. It struck me when it was time for me to figure out what was next that I might want to further explore what it would look like to actually do that – listen, help people talk to each other – for work. Again, as journeys go, I met someone who opened my eyes to the world of mediation and the rest is history. I really love being able to create safe spaces for people to figure things out; to hash out issues; to come to better solutions together.

What sets your approach to conflict resolution and mediation apart from other firms?

My mediation certification is in Juvenile & Domestic Relations, meaning my formal training is in mediating family issues – child support, custody and visitation, divorce. Heavy stuff. Paired with my organizational development background, it proves to be a solid foundation from which to view workplace conflict situations from a variety of angles and – most importantly – to support the actual human beings who are working through difficult situations every day at work. I often say that organizations are like big families (though I do have an opinion about that saying), so there is a lot of overlap in the process and approach to humanizing conversations, which I believe the people who work with me appreciate.

What’s the best advice you’ve received in your career?

When I was transitioning from working for a consulting firm to working for myself, I met with someone who told me, “Do what’s easy for you. Not in the sense that it’s not challenging, but what you’re naturally gifted at.” And I have to tell you that it forced me to ask people, “What do you think I’m really good at?” The answers I got helped guide me exactly to what I’m doing now.

When you aren’t working, what do you spend your time doing?

“I’m always working and I’m never working” is a phrase I use often because I seriously love what I do, and it doesn’t ever feel like work in the sense that I’m not motivated to do it. But that’s not the answer you’re looking for, right? 😉

Seriously though, when I’m not working, I love reading in my hammock on my front porch, cooking and trying out different recipes, hanging out with my friends, and traveling to visit family between New York, DC, Miami, and France. I do really enjoy working out and one of my best COVID lifestyle purchases was my elliptical, but when I’m not on that you can find me on a treadmill or at a boxing class or hosting little get-togethers at my house. I love any reason to put a charcuterie board together.

If we were literally “around the table” right now, what food would you have brought to share and why?

Of course, what a great question. Ok, well I sort of set some high expectations with my answer above… BUT, I would bring homemade pasta – probably pappardelle – and my (family recipe) red sauce (pronounced mah-duh-nahd if you’re putting an Upstate NY Italian American twist on it).

Interested in building a relationship and joining us around the table? Let’s connect.