Stand up. Stand out.

Flamingo Strategies is a classic start-up tale—of quest and rebirth. Of voyage and return. Of overcoming the monster.

These archetypes (and a few others) apply to every story ever told.

In this story, there's drama, empathy, and a heroine.

I make the world a better place through telling and sharing stories of generosity, and impact.

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During 20 years as a leader in higher education communications, I created and shared stories of innovative teaching, brilliant research, and successful outcomes. I set messaging strategy, managed crises, and made sure that great content reached the right audiences.

But more responsibility meant more time in meetings. And that meant fewer opportunities to put words on the page.

In search of more creative freedom, I started Flamingo Strategies LLC—a business wholly dedicated to helping clients stand up and stand out.

Though skills and common sense mean more than my degrees, I don’t mind mentioning that I earned a BS in journalism from Northwestern University and an MFA in creative writing from the Bennington Writing Seminars in Vermont. My short stories and author interviews have appeared in Writer's Digest, Glimmer Train, The Writer's Chronicle, various literary journals and university alumni magazines, the Denver Post and elsewhere.

Check out my Hacking Away at Happiness blog. That’s where I try to set a brave example for how to live fully and creatively, while also earning a living.