Jessica Bertsch, Author at Powerhouse Planning

GIVING BACK & GETTING INVOLVED

Redefining Support for Military Kids

By: Julie Kirchner

With April being the Month of the Military Child, it feels significant to raise awareness of an incredible volunteer-run nonprofit organization providing experiences to help change military kids’ lives in a positive way.

Several Powerhouse team members recently had the privilege of meeting Sommer Houser, founder of Salute the Kids, a nonprofit organization dedicated to recognizing and supporting military kids through free weekend camping adventures.

What truly captivated our hearts was learning the story that inspired Sommer—a civilian—to begin a nonprofit journey that would impact so many military lives to come.

So often, we hear stories of incredible veterans and military spouses working in support of the military community. It is rarer that we take a moment to recognize civilian heroes who reach beyond the limits of their own experiences to help support and uplift military children and families.

What’s the inspiration behind Salute the Kids? What inspired your focus on military kids and families?

Since 1998, I worked in the nonprofit field focusing my efforts on issues including domestic violence, child abuse, mentorship, and youth leadership. In all of these efforts, I had the opportunity to work with the military community.

While working for Big Brothers Big Sisters in Fairbanks, Alaska, I had the opportunity to mentor a military child. While I had developed an appreciation for the military community through my work and personal friendships, this was the first time I personally got to know a military child and see life from her perspective. As a dual military family, her parents’ deployments overlapped by three months, and she was referred to the program for mentor support while her grandmother stepped in as her and her siblings’ primary caregiver.

As a civilian myself, with limited knowledge about the intricacies of military life, I was shocked to learn that both parents of a military family could deploy at the same time. I was inspired by this family’s grit, resiliency, and openness to reach out to their community for support, but I was mostly inspired by this incredible military kid. This sweet, brave girl was navigating middle school, enduring both her parent’s deployments, and preparing for an upcoming PCS (permanent change of station—or move to a new location) in the near future. Her load was heavy. She carried a lot at the tender age of 13. I wondered, does the civilian community know these kids exist and how they are truly serving our country too? Do people know what these kids and their families do for all of us? Do people know what they go through? From that point on, a passion and interest in military kids and the connection between the military and civilian community continued to grow in my heart, and Salute the Kids was born. (more…)

Jessica Bertsch2023-04-04T10:06:26-04:00March 9th, 2023|Giving Back & Getting Involved, PowerTips e-newsletter|

BUSINESS RESOURCES

As we are getting more and more back to normal after the COVID-19 pandemic, the return to in-person events is happening with greater and greater regularity. If you have gone on an event hiatus over the last few years, need a refresher on how to plan in-person events, or just want to learn more about event facilitation, check out some of these online resources.

Need to get started on planning an event, but don’t know where to start? Check out Enhance Entertainment’s article on what event facilitators do and how to choose the right one for you.

Still working with hybrid event conditions? While the event facilitation world seems to be returning to either fully in-person or fully remote events, some just aren’t there yet. SessionLab’s guide can help you with all the practical tips and information you need to plan your next hybrid event.

Want the top tips for planning a successful event? Check out the Brighton School of Business and Management’s Top 10 Tips here.

Want more? Powerhouse Planning can help. From free resources, such as planning for conference attendance, to full-scale event facilitation services, we’ve got you covered. Contact us today for more information.

Jessica Bertsch2023-04-04T10:06:32-04:00March 9th, 2023|Business Resources, PowerTips e-newsletter|

Powerhouse 2022 Year in Review

Jessica Bertsch2024-01-26T13:48:52-05:00January 11th, 2023|Powerhouse News|

CEO SPOTLIGHT

Showing Up

“Vulnerability is about showing up and being seen.”
– Brené Brown

By: Nicole Keeny

Jennifer Hacker lives her life in vulnerable spaces. As a life coach and grief specialist, Jennifer walks hand in hand with those who need to be seen—in their grief, in their challenges, in their darkest moments. Because if anyone knows the landscape of grief, has seen the darkness of it deeply, has felt its sharp edges with her fingers, it is Jennifer herself.

As the owner and founder of her own private coaching company and the founder of a nonprofit organization, Jennifer spends her time immersed in coaching individuals who are dealing with some of the toughest parts of their lives, not only because she cares deeply for her clients but also because she herself has been there. “I help people in grief heal and transform their lives after loss—to let go of their pain without letting go of their connection to their loved one. And I know a lot of people in grief kind of push back on that because they don’t think that’s possible. But I know from experience that it is,” Jennifer says.

Jennifer has not always worked in this arena. “I was a CEO and CFO of a construction company, so I basically ran the whole place except for the crew. While I worked for that company, that was when my son passed away in 2003,” she says. “Life was just totally different. There’s the before and there’s the after, and I had to go figure out how to live in the after.”

In the wake of losing her three-month-old son, Jennifer came face to face with a realization. “My business job was not going to satisfy me or my new passion or my new interests, so that’s what set me off on this path,” she says. She admits that her initial approach to her nonprofit and her business may have been a bit unconventional. “First, I actually started a nonprofit organization, which is totally backwards because you’d think the coaching would come first. But I was just so called to help women going through all of the most difficult things alone. So, I started a nonprofit organization because I was like, ‘I’m going to help these ladies. I just don’t know how.’ And then I figured out the how. I went to get my certification to be a life coach, and that was what made me go, ‘This is what I was born to do and now I know how,’” Jennifer says.

(more…)

Jessica Bertsch2023-03-20T21:18:55-04:00January 1st, 2023|CEO Highlight, PowerTips e-newsletter|

DID YOU KNOW?

Remote work is the “new normal.” According to statista.com, 17% of people reported working from home five or more days a week pre-pandemic, a statistic that jumped to 44% during 2021. By the end of 2022, Forbes was reporting that roughly 25% of the workforce worked remotely, with that number expected to increase throughout 2023. An estimated 70% of the workforce will be remote five or more days per week by 2025!

It’s clear that a “societal shift” is occurring and that remote work, or a hybrid in-person/remote model, will shape how Americans work for the foreseeable future. That means we need to shift our thinking in how we cultivate and serve our clients. Luckily, Powerhouse has been in the remote client business for, literally, our entire existence. We know how to grow successful remote client partnerships.

Want to know more about building remote client partnerships? Check out the Powerhouse website to snag our free resources and to find out how we can help you bolster your remote client relationships with our proven remote team solutions

Jessica Bertsch2023-01-03T01:13:59-05:00January 1st, 2023|PowerTips e-newsletter|

MARKETING BUZZ

Positive Client Relationships — Near or Far

By: Julie Clark

Creating and maintaining client relationships is a must, not only for the success of your client but for your success as well. Client retention depends on connection. Your clients need to feel like they are your one and only, even if they aren’t. So, how exactly can you grow connections, benefit from brainstorming, and foster responsibility and commitment to a common goal from afar, especially in today’s post-pandemic workplace? Here are five tips for building positive client relationships, near or far.

Get to know your clients. Just because you can’t sit down in their offices face-to-face does not mean you can’t make them feel special and important. Know their companies’ histories; study their products and services; dedicate time to learning their names, roles, and families. Only then will you be equipped to not only acknowledge but also help them celebrate business and personal milestones. Consider asking your clients and their teams to participate in a survey or team-building exercise or simply asking them questions when you have time.
Schedule monthly, bimonthly, or quarterly video meetings. Instead of only using emails or phone calls, suggest your clients meet you face-to-face on Zoom, Google Meet, or FaceTime. Not only does this check the box for helping you forge a personal relationship, but it also feels more professional and shows your clients you are willing to carve out time, regularly, just for them.

(more…)

Jessica Bertsch2023-03-20T21:13:05-04:00January 1st, 2023|Marketing Buzz, PowerTips e-newsletter|

BUSINESS ETIQUETTE

Building Connections with Remote Clients

By: Meredith Flory

While a variety of factors have led businesses to be able to have both remote workers and remote clients, those relationships and teams still need to grow authentically and create connections that lead to long-term relationships. Whether you are providing a service or creating a product for your clients, there are some ways to use technology creatively and purposefully to make the miles separating you feel like much less.

Tailor communication to the client. Our ability to have remote clients is in part due to the amount of technology at our fingertips, but there are so many options, you need to play it smart in deciding which communication technologies work for you and your clients. If you use too many, it makes it easier for communication to be missed or misinterpreted. Find a video-calling, calendar, and shared document system that works for both you and your clients and stick to those resources. If you want to change what you are using, consider testing with a particular project or client who is open to new things before asking all your clients and employees to make the switch.

Be sure to maintain notes on your clients’ communication styles. Due to a myriad of factors such as age, type of project, comfort with technology, and needed accommodations, you may need to adjust. How you are handling internal communication channels matter as well. If multiple staff members are working with a client, they need to have a plan with each other so that they do not contradict one another or contact the client about the same issues simultaneously.

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Jessica Bertsch2023-03-20T21:22:30-04:00January 1st, 2023|Business Etiquette, PowerTips e-newsletter|

CLIENT PROFILE: HR Executive Forum

“The best parts of working with Powerhouse Planning were their friendly and professional team and their prompt, skilled deliverables. They were always on time or ahead of schedule, which helped keep us moving. We hope to work together again in the future.”

– Sarah Waite, Board President, HR Executive Forum

HR Executive Forum is a member-run nonprofit operating in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis-St. Paul) area. Established in 1991, HR Executive Forum is designed “to serve and support the professional development needs of senior-level HR professionals in [their] community.” With an extensive network of HR professionals, a robust online library of resources, and timely programming, HR Executive Forum is a valuable tool for those working in HR. For more information, please visit their website: hrexecutiveforum.org

Jessica Bertsch2023-01-03T01:15:18-05:00January 1st, 2023|Client Profile, PowerTips e-newsletter|

BUSINESS RESOURCES

The shift to more remote work has necessitated a “tweaked” philosophy in how we approach our client relationships. It’s not always as easy as a face-to-face meeting these days to cultivate healthy professional relationships. While tools like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet have given us a semblance of the old in-person meetings, the challenges of building remote partnerships go beyond virtual meeting needs.

For five quick tips on how to successfully transition to remote client relationships, check out this article from Forbes. The tips might seem basic in the extreme, but building a solid foundation will serve you well as you navigate those remote waters.

(more…)

Jessica Bertsch2023-01-03T01:15:45-05:00January 1st, 2023|Business Resources, PowerTips e-newsletter|

Share the Goodness Update

One of the reasons Powerhouse came into being is because founder Jessica Bertsch, a proud Coast Guard spouse herself, wanted to provide portable careers for military spouses. In 2023, Powerhouse is doubling down on our commitment to military spouses with a brand-new Share the Goodness initiative: a military spouse career kickstart program! Be sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn throughout the year for more information and exciting opportunities.

Jessica Bertsch2023-01-03T01:13:35-05:00January 1st, 2023|PowerTips e-newsletter|

About Jessica Bertsch

Redefining Support for Military Kids

Showing Up

Positive Client Relationships — Near or Far

Building Connections with Remote Clients