The CEO of Bright Funds, an organization that helps companies give back, has written an article for Forbes.com on how to build a workplace philanthropy program. From reasons why it’s crucial to give back to tips on how to build and develop your own program, this article is a great place to start. (more…)
Camp Cranium Empowers Kids Living with Brain Injury to Enjoy Life to Their Fullest PotentialBy: Julie Kirchner
Imagine a world where kids with brain injuries splash in a swimming pool and captain paddleboats around a lake. A world where they fly down the zipline one minute and create works of art the next. Where a kid in a wheelchair climbs a rock-climbing wall. A world where kids of all abilities can dance, ski, and play.
This is Camp Cranium’s fight song, and the impact made by the Pennsylvania-based, volunteer-led nonprofit organization founded in 2008 with a mission of empowering children with brain injury. Camp Cranium is dedicated to providing one-of-a-kind experiences for children ages 6-18 with brain injuries.
Powerhouse Planning Celebrates 10th AnniversaryIf you have followed Powerhouse Planning for any length of time, chances are you know two things about us: We are a totally remote team solution, meeting our clients at their point of need, and we love to celebrate our clients’ successes, big and small. So, naturally, we wanted to celebrate our own 10-year anniversary—and in a spectacularly atypical way for us. For the first time ever, we met in person!
Yes, you read that right. Over our anniversary weekend, we met in Tampa, Florida for a whirlwind of in-person activities and fun, from our kickoff on Friday evening with a Zoom-attire-themed cocktail hour and a team photo in support of R.E.D. (more…)
In honor of Powerhouse’s 10-year anniversary, we asked the team, “What comes to mind when you think about your experience at Powerhouse?” and these are their responses.
While our “Spotlight” blog series isn’t 10 years old yet, we’re excited that Powerhouse Planning is! So, in honor of our 10th anniversary, we’re shining the spotlight on Powerhouse’s “oldest employee,” our founder and president, Jessica Bertsch. We recently sat down with her to reflect on the first 10 years of Powerhouse, lessons she’s learned, the way ahead, and why she chose Powerhouse Planning as the name we’ve all come to recognize as synonymous with successful, remote team solutions.
PH: Ten years is a significant accomplishment. Overall, when you reflect on the first 10 years, what are your thoughts?
Jessica: The first thing that comes to mind is that it’s a lot harder being an owner than it is an employee! Seriously. But I wouldn’t trade it for the world. The benefits of freelancing are so worth it. I’m sure you’ve heard me say it before, but it’s dreamy. Getting to work with people who chose Powerhouse, especially since you are all what I categorize as people who are overqualified and underutilized. Getting to recognize that talent and cultivate it on behalf of our clients makes me happy.
Ashleigh Messmer is delighted to join the Powerhouse team as a client care manager. With six years of experience in the hospitality industry, she is looking forward to using her customer service skills in a remote setting.
Ashleigh currently resides in central Maryland. She graduated with a B.S. in communication studies and a minor in business administration from Frostburg State University. She has since worked as an executive assistant and manager in a variety of small business settings including a bakery, wedding venue, and property management company. As a five-year military spouse, she knows the importance of multitasking, problem-solving, and developing true, authentic connections with those she interacts with. Ashleigh strives to apply these skills to her professional work and is excited to bring these qualities to her work with Powerhouse Planning.
When Ashleigh isn’t running around with her toddler, she loves to work out, watch Marvel movies with her husband, take day trips to Washington, D.C., and drink far too much coffee.
We are thrilled to welcome Randi Cairns back to Powerhouse Planning! Randi is a former (20+-year) military spouse and a national advocate for military families. She’s a nonprofit professional who has dedicated over three decades to advocating for vulnerable populations. She’s also the owner of Randi Cairns Consulting, where she provides nonprofit and small business consulting and freelance writing and editing services. Her favorite title? Proud mama of four of the world’s greatest military kids who she hopes will always have a passion for learning and a heart for changing the world for the better.
Kate is incredibly excited to join the Powerhouse team as a graphic designer. She has six years of experience working in fast-paced agency settings and is looking forward to bringing her skills to this remote creative team. Along with her bachelor’s degree in graphic design, Kate holds a master’s degree in project management. She has a creative eye for detail as well as efficiency and process improvement.
Kate was born and raised in South Florida and then moved to Alaska after graduating college. She quickly fell in love with the mountains. Kate enjoys anything that will get her outside—hiking, camping, gardening, photography, and archery. On any given night, you can find her watching the sun set over the farmer’s field behind her house in Oklahoma. Kate’s husband, Noah, is an active-duty Air Force pilot. They have two huskies that bring much joy, and fur, into their lives.
Danielle is excited to join Powerhouse Planning as a finance specialist. In her 18 years in the financial industry, she has worn many hats. She started her career as a bank teller for a small community bank and quickly advanced into other areas of banking, finance, and tech. Her experience includes roles such as lending operations, project manager, IT support, BSA/AML specialist, internal auditor, and accountant. Prior to the pandemic, she was the senior accountant for Ron Jon Surf Shop but left to homeschool her children and focus on her family. Danielle currently holds a full-time position with Pershing of BNY Mellon in bank and depository balancing.
Danielle lives on Space Coast of Florida in Merritt Island with her husband and two teenagers. In her free time when she is not driving the kids to and from rehearsals or practices, she likes to work on home improvement projects, tend to her ever-growing collection of plants, or work on macrame creations for her side gig, Joy Bus Art. She also loves to travel, so she and her husband purchased a 30-foot 1998 Thomas school bus that they are slowly turning into a tiny home on wheels.
A creative problem solver with a great attention to detail, Danielle is always looking for ways to improve processes to make them more efficient while also remaining compliant to current policies and standards. She is eager to bring these skills to Powerhouse and is incredibly thankful for the opportunity to work with such a dynamic team of positive people with a passion for serving others.
Good Things Happen Over Coffee: How Two Entrepreneurs Brewed SuccessStrong. Bold. Energizing. The words we often use to describe coffee also happen to define the cofounders and co-owners of Alpha Coffee, Carl and Lori Churchill. This entrepreneurial husband-wife team represents what you get when you brew passion with discipline and dedication.
As a 21-year U.S. Army combat veteran, Carl sat down with his wife Lori over a cup of delicious craft coffee roasted by a family member to discuss their future, brainstorm business ideas, and determine what to do next. “In mid-2010, we found ourselves deep into the Great Recession, and the startup I worked for had just gone bankrupt,” Carl says. “Lori had a corporate massage business that also got crushed by the Great Recession. After no luck finding a ‘normal job’ due to hiring freezes and deepening unemployment across the country, we realized we were caught in a financial ambush and were going to bleed out unless we did something bold.” (more…)
Entrepreneurship is on the rise in America. After a steady decline beginning in the 1980s, the global pandemic has helped inspire the current growth trend. (It hasn’t been all bad!) According to U.S. Census Bureau data, the rate for entrepreneurial businesses was 38%, up from 29% in 2018. This growth rate spells great things because entrepreneurship drives economic growth, and according to Forbes.com, “Most job creation comes from companies that are 0-5 years old.”
As Powerhouse Planning celebrates its 10th anniversary, we’d like to remind you about the gifts we have for you. Check out the many free resources available on our website! From starting a small business, to making the most of conferences, to facilitating team building in-office or virtually, and more, our resources are designed to help you wherever you are on your entrepreneurial journey. Curious about how Powerhouse can come alongside you to take your small business to the next level? Contact us today for details.
