Jessica Bertsch, Author at Powerhouse Planning

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.

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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|

GIVING BACK & GETTING INVOLVED

All Learning Begins with Connection

By: Julie Kirchner

Talking about building connections is a love of Jonnah Buchanan’s. “Truly, all learning begins with connection,” she enlightens. Jonnah is the executive director of Launch Learning Preschool, an innovative new nonprofit in Merritt Island, Florida, offering a unique whole-family education framework designed to strengthen families in raising happy, healthy humans.

“We know from brain research that connections on the outside—like when we physically connect with someone face-to-face—literally build the connections in the wiring of our brains,” explains Jonnah.

Brain-based research is at the heart of Launch Learning’s program design, including their monthly Parent Connect education classes for parents. “That’s why, from the beginning of the day, we get down eye-to-eye with our kids, and we are intentionally doing fun hand games and greetings with them . . . it’s because that first immediate connection with them actually helps strengthen the neural connections within their brains,” Jonnah says. These kinds of connections form a strong foundation for early childhood brain development and help build cooperation, impulse control, and other social-emotional skills like empathy.

For Florida’s Space Coast (home to the Kennedy Space Center), it’s probably totally appropriate for a preschool to sound like rocket science. This preschool has some serious local roots, too. Launch Learning is a legacy program modeled after the Eastern Florida State College (EFSC) Lab School founded in 1967, a program that served more than 7,500 children and 14,000 parents over 55 years. During the pandemic, the EFSC Lab School program closed, and a new opportunity came to light.

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Jessica Bertsch2023-03-20T21:22:56-04:00January 1st, 2023|Giving Back & Getting Involved, PowerTips e-newsletter|

Spotlight on Powerhouse’s Amanda Thurn

Time flies when you are having fun. And from celebrating Powerhouse’s 10^th anniversary, to sharing the goodness, to getting prepped for the holidays, we have been having a blast! The celebration continues as this month we shine a spotlight on the amazing Amanda Thurn.

Amanda has the distinction of being one of the first Powerhouse clients to also become a Powerhouse freelancer. Amanda worked for two of our nonprofit clients, The Children’s Hunger Project and the Space Coast Basket Brigade, and it was, as they say, meant to be when six months ago Amanda brought her talents to Powerhouse itself. (more…)

Jessica Bertsch2022-11-07T13:28:25-05:00November 7th, 2022|Spotlights|

CEO SPOTLIGHT

PILLAR: Supporting Military Families, One Deployment at a Time

By: Julie Clark

We’re excited to feature the founders of PILLAR in this month’s newsletter. As an organization dedicated to supporting military families, PILLAR is near and dear to many at Powerhouse Planning because we are comprised of veterans, military spouses, retired military spouses, and super fans of military families. PILLAR’s next digital retreat is coming up soon, and our very own Jessica Bertsch will be speaking once again this year. Needless to say, it’s the perfect time to talk with PILLAR founders Joanna Guldin-Noll and Becky Hoy.

PH: As far as leadership, do you feel you both were natural-born leaders, or did you fall into this role and find it suited you to lead, inspire, and support others?

PILLAR: We stepped into our roles to support military families (Joanna with Jo, My Gosh! and Becky with Brave Crate) to fill specific needs we saw in the community. We came together to work on PILLAR for the same reasons.

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Jessica Bertsch2023-03-20T21:25:03-04:00October 1st, 2022|CEO Highlight, PowerTips e-newsletter|

POWERHOUSE: OUT & ABOUT

If you read our CEO Spotlight, then you know that Powerhouse President and Founder Jessica Bertsch will be speaking again at PILLAR’s 2022 Digital Retreat for Deployment, November 4-6. Following up her presentation last year, “Finding Joy Even When You Count Down,” she’ll be sharing even more tips, tricks, and lessons learned from her experience as a Coast Guard spouse, mom, and entrepreneur.

PILLAR’s absolutely free digital retreat is a great way to find inspiration, resources, and real-life tips from seasoned military spouses. If you or anyone you know would like to participate in three days of fun, great advice, and tons of giveaways, sign up here. Want to listen to Jessica’s presentation from last year? Access the recording here.

Jessica Bertsch2022-10-02T16:52:31-04:00October 1st, 2022|PowerTips e-newsletter|

DID YOU KNOW?

Since the COVID-19 pandemic became our new “normal,” more than $119.2 billion has been donated on a global scale. In fact, according to Zelle’s Consumer Payment Behaviors reports, just about 3 out of 4 Millennials have donated money since 2020. With Millennials making up half of the work population these days, it’s important for employers to understand how passionate the generation is about making philanthropy an everyday part of their lives. Gen Z isn’t far behind Millennials with a 66% give rate. Clearly, if companies want to be relevant and relatable to their employees, they need to implement robust philanthropic enterprises.

Philanthropy in the workplace makes sense. Not only do businesses have an opportunity to support their local communities, but they can also build a work culture that fosters employee engagement and make work a place people want to be. Moreover, charitable giving generates great business value and enhances consumer relationships. When people see businesses actively engaged within their communities, public image soars.

Curious about how to up your philanthropy game? Continue reading for more tips and suggestions. Or contact us today to see how Powerhouse can help you hit your giving game out of the park.

Jessica Bertsch2022-10-02T16:52:31-04:00October 1st, 2022|PowerTips e-newsletter|

MARKETING BUZZ

Aligning Your Philanthropic Program with Your Company’s Mission

By: Meredith Flory

For many companies, philanthropy and marketing are tied together. Employees wear company branding at volunteer events, and monetary contributions are posted on brochures and websites. There’s nothing, at first glance, ethically wrong with these practices. It makes sense that companies would want their customers to know about their efforts to help the community, and many consumers want to support companies whose work aligns with their values.

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Jessica Bertsch2023-03-20T21:24:14-04:00October 1st, 2022|Marketing Buzz, PowerTips e-newsletter|