Recently, my husband James and I were discussing a situation involving one of our former employers. The organization is not doing well and layoffs are imminent. A number of management employees have already been terminated. James asked our friend if he was going to start looking for something new. He stated, ‘No, I’m going to … Continue reading Please advocate…for yourself →

Wow, what an incredible March Madness this year! It was so much fun to watch. It always reminds me of when my youngest daughter, Emily, was born in mid-March and we spent 4 days in the hospital watching basketball. Such a great time of the year. I was disappointed that both the men’s and women’s … Continue reading Lessons Learned for Business from March Madness →

I have traveled quite a bit over the past few years. I am always in awe of employees in the hospitality industry. Who else loves wonderful service when you’re traveling or patroning a restaurant or hotel??? I believe high quality customer service is something we all value. I just returned from the HR Conference Cruise. … Continue reading Could we please cancel ‘tip’ culture? →

It is interesting to me how much controversy comes from the Super Bowl each year. When I was younger, I never noticed it. I was focused on who was performing at halftime and who was singing the National Anthem. But now I’m older and on social media, so it can’t be avoided. The backlash from … Continue reading Judgement →

Something miraculous occurred recently and I want to share it. Actually, I want to shout it from the rooftops. After 13 years, my daughter Emily has a true diagnosis for her condition. She has Pitt-Hopkins syndrome. How did this miracle come about? Back in 2016, a global autism research study called SPARK was launched with … Continue reading Miracle on My Street →

This is one of my favorite songs by my all-time favorite band – I hope you enjoy! Wow, I have done a lot of flying this month! I have been to Boston, Charlotte, Madison, Philadelphia, Atlantic City, and New York – that equates to 12 flights total. And I am grateful for every moment. I … Continue reading It’s Time for Me to Fly →

I recently completed my 10th Dri-Tri challenge at Orangetheory Fitness. This event is held twice per year and is their version of a triathlon. It includes the 3 core components of Orangetheory – rowing, weight floor, treadmill. In the 6 years I have been a member, I have only missed 2. It’s fun. I like … Continue reading My ‘I Get To’ Moment →

My oldest daughter Avery entered the workforce this summer and I could not be more thrilled. She has joined the team as a barista at our local Starbucks. As a mom in HR, I am so excited for her to be experiencing first-hand the highs and lows of the world of work. She is learning … Continue reading First Jobs →

Alright, my fellow HR pros, here it is – mid-July. Welcome to the annual 3rd quarter slump. You know exactly what I’m talking about – everyone is out of the office and no one wants to work on anything. Meetings keep getting pushed. More than likely, you’re not starting any new initiatives right now. You … Continue reading 3rd Quarter Slump – 2023 Edition →

Can you believe we are into June already?!? 2023 is half over. I find myself reflecting on the year to date and reviewing what I have done (and not done!) so far. Have I mentioned that I wrote a book?!? Okay, not an entire book…but I contributed a chapter to People Fusion which was published … Continue reading Authorship is Cool →

I did it. On Sunday, April 23rd I accomplished a personal goal of completing a half marathon. As my friend Jon Thurmond says…bananas. I have had a love/hate relationship with running for years. Start and stop. Couch to 5K. I remember pulling out ‘how to start running’ plans out of Shape magazine. I tried it … Continue reading Running Down a Dream →

https://youtu.be/ZJL4UGSbeFg March is Women’s History Month! I am taking this opportunity to reflect on all of the amazing women in my life who have helped shape me. There are some powerful female forces in my family. First, my grandmother who is tenacious. Many years ago, she decided she no longer wanted a wall in her … Continue reading Let’s Go, Girls! →

Anyone who knows me knows that I love Chipotle. I go at least once every week. When I was pregnant with my girls, it was the only food I could keep down. And now they both love it too. I make friends with the staff at my favorite locations. Avery and I choose a designated … Continue reading We Have to do More with Less →

Can we please normalize ridding our world of the phrase ‘job hopper’?!? It’s ridiculous. Are we really going to put a negative label on, ridicule, and criticize people who make career moves that best align with their aspirations and values? Who take advantage of opportunities to provide for their families? I have had several different … Continue reading Job hopper!?! →

2022 – wow, what a year! Ups, downs, twists, turns…truly one for the books. Choosing a ‘word of the year’ has been a recent trend – one that I have embraced. For 2023, I have chosen the word ‘connection’. My 2022 was chock-full of amazing experiences with fellow HR people. I spoke at various conferences … Continue reading Connection →

Scenes from Elf the movie – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UggyEAjSBY I love Christmas. The holiday season is awesome, and I strive to enjoy every minute of it. I find joy in decorating my house, choosing the tree, seeing the lights and blowups in my neighborhood – it all puts a smile on my face and fills my heart. … Continue reading Presents are my Favorite! →

November 26th is Small Business Saturday. (It is also THE GAME – OHIO STATE v. XICHIGAN!) As many know, small business is near and dear to my heart. I have dedicated my career to supporting the small business community, and I love that we now dedicate a day during the holiday season to highlight this … Continue reading Ode to Small Business →

On Monday, we had a beautiful night for trick-or-treat. Even though my girls have outgrown the tradition, we love passing out candy to kids and seeing all the cool costumes. This year there was a young man dressed in a Detroit Tigers baseball uniform! (This is a rarity in Central Ohio. We gave him extra … Continue reading This past week has been awesome! →

My September is off with a bang! The first half of the month has been wonderfully busy and fun!! First, I took my sister and my oldest daughter to see Lady Gaga in concert. A-MA-ZING! I love concerts and I have been to a lot of them. This was one for the books. The energy … Continue reading Gaga, Kentucky, and a podcast – oh my! →

Today is National Bloggers Day! I honestly did not know that was a thing until today. Wishing all the bloggers out there a wonderful day!! I am taking this opportunity to reflect on why I started my blog in the first place. At Orangetheory, one of the mantras is ‘remember why you started.’ This helps … Continue reading Why I Blog →