What do you do as part of the Esprit de Merci team?

I collaborate with the team to research, develop and refine the tools use with our clients. I also arrange logistics, support with facilitation, and coordinate pre- and post-workshop activities with our participants.

What do you seek to support through your work at EdM?

Communication seems intuitive, but can be quite complex. People speak, listen, and hear in many different ways, and those ways do not always come together as intended. I hope to help people understand how they communicate best, therefore effectively getting their message and intentions across to others.

What is your top CliftonStrengths™ strength, and how do you leverage that?

Adaptability. My mindset is to do the best you can with what you've got. Being adaptable and flexible allows me to problem solve and think on my feet.

What other experiences and skills do you bring to your work?

I started my professional career as a middle school English and reading teacher, then transitioned into a stay-at-home mom for 15 years. With two boys, one being a severely delayed special needs child, those years outside formal employment were spent navigating the healthcare and school system. Effective communication was key in achieving the educational and physical goals for our family.

Also, I have been president of the board for our local food pantry, helped start a private Christian school, and served on the board of the Virginia Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Program. In recent years, I have been working part time in Human Resources with a private family practice office.

What and where do you most associate with your early years?

Much of my time as a kid was spent in the Varina Branch Public Library. I loved books and was a voracious reader. One of my claims to fame was winning the Summer Book Reading contest four years in a row. I am an only child and we lived in the woods in the days before cell phones and cable television; reading was a wonderful way to explore the world.

What was the first group or team you ever chose to join?

The yearbook club in 6th grade. As a younger child I did all the “expected” activities - ballet classes, piano lessons, softball team, recreation league cheerleading squad. The yearbook club was my first foray into an independent choice of activities, and I continued on with creating yearbooks until my senior year in high school.

What's a hobby you enjoy today (and/or wish you had more time for)?

Reading and traveling - love doing both and would love to do more!