(From March 2021 NWCCOG Newsletter — From the Director’s Desk)
I’ve recently written letters to both of my children and read them aloud expressing how grateful I am to each for who they are and what they’ve brought to my life. The exercise was more impactful than I expected. Even if you have appreciation for those around you, it is likely that you express that appreciation less often and not as clearly as you think. I don’t self-identify as one who withholds praise, but I do if I am not mindful about it. We have become an organization that is more active and more systematic about feedback thanks to some consulting from Angelo Fernandez who is now at Eagle County. Even being systematic is not enough. I am coming around to understand that a practice of expressing gratefulness is important in one’s work life too.
I am grateful for the people in the NWCCOG organization, for their spirit and energy. I knew before I arrived at NWCCOG that it was a purpose-driven entity with a startling array of siloed programs and roles. In starting my job 4.5 years ago we surveyed members and it was soon obvious that though well respected, even our most fervent supporters didn’t know much about what we did, who did it or who we impacted. We were an organization with many untold stories and un-sung public servants. We are driving hard to change that.
We have just launched our third member survey since I started, and I am hoping that it reveals that we are a little better understood for what we do than before. If it arrives in your in-box, please know that your response is important to shaping our future. In the coming weeks we will be launching a new website that is geared to tell those stories more clearly. Forgive us in advance for our excitement about that. The new website will expedite those who know exactly what they want to find it. For those who want to browse, it will be much more engaging. The site highlights the people who do the work, highlights who we serve and will tell a bit more about what we do in less-bureaucratic lingo. I’m eager for you to see it and maybe rediscover NWCCOG.
When I started, I feared that I may not be cut out for a quiet organization that does a lot of background support services the way it always has. I like to innovate. I like to envision. I like to grow. I’m very excited to learn from our members, and to share that back out in hopes that it we can each learn a bit from each other. What I have discovered is that the people at NWCCOG were ready for that as well.
I’ll end with a few shout outs.
I’m grateful to Elaina, our office manager who has embraced and brought excellence to everything she has taken on including managing the benefits side of HR including introducing us to an on-line HR platform. She brings the same energy to our safety and wellness programs. I couldn’t do what I do without her.
I’m grateful to Becky, our fiscal assistant, who is geared to take on a lot more responsibility soon after brining an eye to efficiency to every system she touches. She has brought us a new app for managing credit card receipts and bank statements, among other innovations. I’m grateful to Mike, our fiscal officer who has quietly, competently managed our very complex financials for decades.
I’m grateful to Doug and Nate S in our Energy office who have added three new services that leverage the team’s weatherization skills while diversifying the programs’ revenue structure. They have been recognized for excellence by their partners at the state, and are sought after by the institutional partners they’ve cultivated to take on new projects that add tremendous value to the customers they serve.
I’m grateful for Erin and her team at Vintage, who rebranded, and then adapted just about everything they do with their local partners to continue to serve older adults through the COVID crisis. She continues to build a top-drawer team of individuals. Erin has recently been recognized nationally for her role and is becoming a sought-after leader in her field.
I’m grateful for Nate in our broadband program who was recently recognized by the Governor’s office. Developing Project THOR with him has been a public-service career highlight for me. Hardly a week goes by without hearing some way he has found to add value to one of our many local partners broadband efforts.
I’m grateful for Anita and Scott at the Northwest Loan Fund who bring a passion for those business owners they fund, who stepped up in the fall to screen, process and distribute Energize Colorado Gap funds across the region when it wasn’t apparent, they had any additional capacity available from their usual work.
I’m grateful for David in our Elevator Inspection Program who transformed our program from the State doghouse into a pillar of excellence. He and the team he manages are sought after to train others.
To Torie and her team at QQ, to Rachel in EDD who has stepped up to manage hundreds of dollars in programs during COVID recovery, to Kim at NWAHEMR and Addy at NWHCC who have supported their constituents who’ve been at the front line of this past year’s crisis. I’m grateful to Judi who has supported a doubling of our Newsletter output this past year with the COVID series, and Jodi in GIS who puts us on the map, literally.
I’m grateful to the many clients who share back their stories to keep our teams energized. I’m grateful for the local jurisdicitons we serve and the NWCCOG Council that supports us and allows us the latitude to innovate and adapt.
If this sounds a bit like a good-bye, it shouldn’t. I’m just really grateful, and I feel so much better for getting that off my chest. Try it.
