A Holiday Message to My Work Families: Gratitude, Growth, and the Stories That Shaped My Career

To All the Teams Who Traveled This Road with Me

Remembering the Magic of Early Christmases

At this time of year, I always find myself thinking back to how magical the Christmas season felt when I was growing up. My parents created an environment where I felt safe, loved, and wrapped in wonder. My brothers, sister, and I shared moments that still make me smile. Christmas always felt like it would never arrive—and then disappeared far too quickly.

A Tribute to My Many Work Families

But this post is really a tribute to my Work Families—and there have been many.

I started by making a list of all the people I’ve worked with over the years. When I hit fifty, I realized that wasn’t going to be the best approach. So instead, consider this a comforting, heartfelt remembrance for everyone I’ve had the privilege of working alongside. Since venturing out on my own over the last year, I find myself missing the camaraderie that naturally comes with larger teams and shared office life.

I’ve been fortunate to work in Lexington, Fort Mitchell, Frankfort, and Bardstown in Kentucky—and in Memphis, Alexandria, and Miami outside of the Bluegrass. I’ve also had the pleasure of collaborating closely with peers through IACVB, TTRA, STS, the Bluegrass Region, KTIA, BGT, and many other “alphabet soup” groups. Each connection added new perspectives and strengthened my work in ways I’m still discovering.

Honoring the People Behind the Moments

Every career has milestones, but mine also came with a cast of characters and stories that deserve their own Netflix series. Before I dive into the bigger lessons of this season, I want to pause and honor the people who made the journey unforgettable — the teammates, partners, and friends who showed up through long days, tight deadlines, and the shared “you can’t make this up” moments that truly shaped me.

The work was important, sure. But these are the memories that still make me smile — the moments that remind me how much joy, resilience, and humanity live behind every project:

• the snake dancer in Los Angeles

• the many “last evening dinners of the conference” and dancing on the table (yes, really)

• that unforgettable Bourbon Festival year when…

• Friday night deliveries from The Rendezvous for the entire team

• 

  working 12–14 days straight and still going out for Happy Hour at the end of the stretch with the same group of crazies who worked with you side-by-side

• the boss who wandered around the office with a tray of champagne because he kept a bottle in his car for “champagne emergencies”

• "more working less talking" moments

•  the moment thousands of our programs vanished into the hands of eager volunteers, and my team responded with a “don’t panic” photo that made everything better

• cleaning up after the big Halloween event and racing out of the woods “lickety-split” when the wild animal sounds got a little too real

  

I also want to acknowledge the incredible PR managers and communications partners who shaped my writing throughout my career. In past roles, I could hand over a rough outline or a few bullet points and watch them return as something truly spectacular. That kind of creative partnership — the sharpening of ideas, the thoughtful edits, the collaborative polish — is something I miss in this new solo chapter. And when I say “you,” I mean all of you I’ve had the privilege of working with over the years. As Dorothy said to the Tin Man, “I think I’ll miss you most of all.”

These snapshots aren’t about the tasks we accomplished — they’re about the people who turned the work into something bigger, something meaningful, something fun. They’re a reminder that even in the busiest seasons, the best parts of the job are almost always the humans standing beside you.

When I think about what actually fueled our momentum during those years, it wasn’t caffeine, color-coded plans, or even those “champagne emergencies.” It was the people — the willingness to laugh, show up, improvise, and keep moving together. That spirit is the heartbeat of sustainable growth, and it’s exactly what I want to explore next.

The Camelot Years… and the Dark Ages

Throughout my career, I have been blessed to work with incredible Work Families who stood by me through the Camelot Years and those who survived the Dark Ages with me. I learned something from nearly every person, every organization, every chapter.

Why This Season Feels So Reflective

Maybe it’s the Christmas season pulling me into a reflective mindset. Maybe it’s the realization that I’m in the later years of my career—standing in that quiet shadow between being asleep and waking up—when memories tend to bubble up more freely.

Whatever the reason, I find myself deeply grateful for all of it. The laughs, the challenges, the shared victories, the hard lessons, the friendships, and even the “frienemies,” who often taught me just as much as anyone else.

With Gratitude, This Holiday Season

To all of you who were part of my journey: thank you. I would not be the person—or professional—I am today without you.

I hope this walk down memory lane brought a smile or sparked a memory of your own. Wishing each of you a truly wonderful Holiday Season.

As I continue this new chapter with Synergetic Strategies, I carry all these lessons—and all of you—with me.

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