About

Growing up in St. Louis as a gymnast, I spent a good portion of my childhood upside down. Turns out, the skills I learned in gymnastics – agility, stamina, and creativity – prepared me well for a career in the nonprofit sector.

Now, I am an independent consultant and co-dependent organizational development geek who benefits from the wise counsel of colleagues in a serious-but-humor-filled learning community. I like to work with people who aren’t afraid to tackle big, hairy issues or ask hard questions, and I think strategic planning can be fun. My varied interests have led to work in all kinds of organizations and government agencies addressing justice, social and health services, housing, the environment, arts, and philanthropy. I’ve held just about every job imaginable in an organization – from front-line volunteer to board president, and administrative assistant to executive director.

I work primarily in the Portland, Oregon, region, a beautiful land that feeds my soul and rests on the traditional village sites of the Original People and multiple Indigenous nations, including Bands of Chinook, Clackamas, Cowlitz, Kalapuya, Kathlamet, Molalla, Multnomah, Tualatin Kalapuya, Tumwater, Wasco, and Watlala. I honor the people, the elders, and the land of these nations.

But enough about me. Who are you, and how I might I help with your mission?

Mission

I work to make the world a better place and have as much fun along the way as I can.

How? By helping nonprofit and government leaders achieve their missions.

More specifically, by working in partnership to strengthen organizational culture, infrastructure, and processes; hone strategic focus; and accomplish big goals – while making sure we take time for rest, celebration, and fun, too.

Values

It’s important to me to work with people who share my values.

• Belief that we all have a role to play in building bridges between our respective communities and making the world a better place – and that together we can.
• Justice – for real! – beyond equity and inclusion, showing meaningful respect for varying identities, life experiences, and perspectives; honoring intersectionality; creating a genuine sense of belonging; and striving for co-liberation and transformative justice. (For people from under-represented communities who take exception with "belonging": I hear you.)
• Continual learning (and unlearning) about our work, society, and ourselves, adapting for ongoing improvement.
• Care of our earth home, our communities, the people and organizations we serve, our colleagues, and ourselves.
• Enjoyment of the work – cherishing relationships, celebrating success, and laughing whenever we can!

Personal Manifesto

Basically, me giving myself a pep talk about how I want to live my life.

• Practice radical kindness. Be generous. Cultivate love. Radiate grace.
• Spend time with family, friends, and colleagues who ground you and lift you up. Be there for them.
• Be ever curious. Get to know people who are different from you. Seek new experiences. Listen deeply.
• Use your privilege as a force for reparations and justice.
• Be idealistic.
• Remember that we – all living things – are dependent on our interconnected whole: community, ecosystems, nation, humankind, earth, universe, and whatever mind-blowing entities are beyond that.
• You’re highly imperfect. Get over it. Be humble. And confident.
• Say you’re sorry. Forgive people. Forgive yourself.
• Be choosy about the important stuff.
• Take good care of your mind, body, and soul. Find yourself among old growth, at the ocean, and above the treeline.
• Practice gratitude. Appreciate people. Appreciate this wondrous thing that is life.
• Work hard. Make a difference. Be a good ancestor.
  
• Play hard. Rest. Hike. Ski. Read. Turn up the volume. Dance. Wander. Hike more.