*I’m an ex-teacher turned Chief of Staff. *I used to give my best ideas to 12-year-olds, and now I present them to a CEO. *This was the plan all along 😊. My background, while extensive, is not traditional. I dove into the Emergency Management industry just before the Covid-19 pandemic and as our small company grew exponentially, so did my role and its accompanying responsibilities. If I were to describe my role in a series of short, quippy statements, I would say that I: • Advise and implement new policies and procedures.• Deliver the company’s strategic priorities.• Oversee and implement employee-focused and culture enhancing initiatives.• Oversee culture and diversity initiatives.• Advise and lead philanthropic and corporate giving.• Connect a remote staffing model and prevent silos through strategic communication and cross-divisional outreach.• Serve as a trusted advisor to the executive team and confidant to the CEO.• Serve as a high visibility strategic partner for effective decision-making.• Align internal processes and direct multiple teams through effective organizational change.• Enhance decision support and present considerations to relevant stakeholders.My tenure in this role has presented me with an opportunity to focus on strategic and operational projects that don’t always fall into the traditional realm of a corporate structure. I’m able to derive value from unconventional challenges and take ownership of the remarkable thought leadership within our company that drives innovation and growth. I’m incredibly proud of the work that we do and our commitment to providing competent, caring, and connected services to our clients and the impacted communities that we serve.I currently reside in a suburb of Dallas, TX with my daughter and an American Staffordshire named Bogart. A former collegiate athlete, I’m a professed soccer fanatic, and follow the U.S. Women’s team and Liverpool FC. I also love traveling and playing chess!My advice to those who are seeking leadership or mentorship roles in any industry is, to paraphrase Bluey, to “Find your ears before you find your voice.” Be open-minded, willing to learn, and seek out new perspectives. Change is growth.