How I help
What to expect when you work with me
You're hiring someone who has sat in your chair, knows what your Tuesday morning looks like, and isn't going to be shocked by anything you put in front of her.
Five months into my county administrator job in Patrick County, I dealt with a major wildfire on the Parkway, a DSS director removal, a hospital scandal that made statewide news, a supervisor resignation, and a special election. My county attorney told me I was checking every local government management box there is. I just did the work.
That's what working with me looks like; less analysis, more starting. Less putting it off, more getting it done.
Services
Implementation Support
The comprehensive plan. The master plan. The strategic plan with no budget tied to it.
You adopted the plan. Maybe you paid a firm a lot of money to write it. The community showed up to the meetings. The board approved it. And then everyone went back to the day-to-day, and the binder went on the shelf.
I help you get it off the shelf. That means building the actual budget line items, breaking the plan into work somebody can finish, figuring out which pieces belong to which staff, and keeping the thing moving when the next crisis pulls everyone's attention.
Fractional Leadership & Organizational Capacity
When the staff is stretched, transitioning, or short a leader.
Executive director left suddenly and the board is trying to keep the lights on. Department head retired and there's a six-month gap before you can backfill. A state mandate landed on a three-person team that's already at capacity. The org chart looks fine on paper, but in practice three people are doing five jobs and one of them is about to burn out.
I step in. Sometimes that's interim leadership while you search. Sometimes it's looking hard at what you already have and reorganizing so the work fits the team you've got, not the team you wish you had.
Economic Development & Strengthening Communities
Not every community needs to chase the same “big fish.”
I help communities take an honest look at their assets, needs, and goals, determine what kind of economic development is the right fit, and build a practical plan to pursue it.
That may include retaining and expanding existing businesses, attracting new investment, strengthening entrepreneurship and workforce development, or advancing tourism, downtown revitalization, energy, infrastructure, and other community-driven opportunities.
Storytelling & Community Communications
Turning the narrative around and surfacing the wins your community already has.
You've got small businesses doing remarkable work, community champions nobody outside their block has heard of, and a story about your place that nobody is telling.
I'm pretty good at this part. I think it's because I spent ten years in restaurants and four running a gym before I ever sat in a government office. I learned how to tell the story about your people in a way that makes other people want to lean in.
Community & Stakeholder Engagement
Building productive conversations among local leaders, businesses, residents, and project partners, especially when the issue is complicated, unfamiliar, or politically sensitive.
I help local governments, organizations, businesses, and project partners build productive conversations around complicated, unfamiliar, or politically sensitive issues.
That may include identifying key stakeholders, understanding community concerns, translating technical information, facilitating meetings, strengthening relationships, and developing an outreach strategy that supports informed local decision-making.
