Every challenge is a story waiting to be told.From early on, I rose to the challenge to tell a different story than the one that was handed to me. I grew up in abject poverty in the most rural part of a rural state - Vermont - where getting out isn't always a guarantee. Books became my refuge and those stories expanded my horizons and inspired me to re-imagine my own story. And, so I did: A first-generation college graduate, an award-winning investigative journalist, a media entrepreneur, a listener.Perhaps you, too, have a challenge like the mission-driven book publisher where, as editorial director, I created community across multiple reader channels through a digital content strategy that offered tips and tactics to live more sustainably, helped authors connect with readers, and sold books direct (all firsts in the industry). I also had fun editing books, including one New York Times bestseller.Or, perhaps you face a challenge like the Pulitzer-Prize winning online news organization that turned to me to help them create a membership engagement program and end-of-year fundraising plan to help turn its passionate readers into recurring donors. Or, you're a nonprofit organization growing so quickly that you need to scale and integrate your public outreach and membership campaigns faster than anticipated. That's where I helped envision and strategically build the core communication systems, including content management and direct audience engagement, and oversaw leadership training and hiring of staff necessary to meet this unexpected, but desired demand. Or, maybe you need someone who understands what it's like to take an idea and turn it into a business. That's what I did when I built a trailblazing news site that pushed the boundaries of how media should engage with the public - online and offline - and create a civic community of readers through member-only discussion boards, exclusive content, and events. Communication is, first and foremost, about listening. I've listened to national and regional nonprofits, civic leaders, mission-driven businesses, and advocacy organizations to hear both their challenges and goals and help them map a strategy to meet, or exceed, those aspirations. As with the organizations listed above, and others, I wield my toolbox of communication skills to help individuals and organizations tell their particular stories to the world and build systems that will sustain that message for the long haul.So. What's your story? I'm ready to listen.