I've always been interested in what sustains, both humans and systems.

Growing up in Wisconsin, my most cherished memories are in nature and in spaces that celebrate our connection to it. I vividly remember landscapes, light and shadows, the soundscapes within and between seasons. I also remember being blindly ambitious, seeking opportunities to break away from the simplicity of my childhood even as my heart and soul often pulled me back.

Now on the East Coast, my quest for connection to my surroundings and community has expanded and shapeshifted as I've, for lack of a better term, grown up. I've dedicated my career to social impact work in spaces big and small, complex and straightforward. In whatever role that takes (leader, manager, board chair), my obsession and focus is understanding and then creating the conditions needed for people to do their best work and sustain it over time.

These conditions extend beyond "the work" and into our personal spaces, our mindset, and our homes. The spaces that hold us deeply impact our daily experiences and should both delight and bring deep comfort. I've always, on my own time, been obsessed with refining "home" for myself and others. It wasn't until COVID that I explored this as something beyond a side interest. I've worked with a handful of clients since then and want to do more of this work with people who understand that connection.

In this journey, what I keep coming back to is this: we can't take on the systems that desperately need our attention (education, equity, climate, justice) if we're not rooted ourselves. Strategy and space interplay with one another. Both shape our capacity to stay grounded enough to do hard things.

I named this practice Thimble House after the thimbleberry, which grows at the intersection of forest, water, and light, and only in the places that have been most sacred in my life. That's what I want to build with others: spaces and strategies that, together, let durable and meaningful work take root.

I take on a select number of clients through Thimble House for leadership coaching, strategic consulting, and interior design. I also continue my social impact work in the C-suite of Education Reform Now. I'm an ACC-ICF certified coach, LEAN Six Sigma trained, and an AutoCAD advanced intermediate user. You can find more about my background here.

If this resonates with you, if you're looking to build the conditions where your best work can take root, I'd love to hear from you.