Randi is a nonprofit expert, writer, editor, and master storyteller who uses stories as a vehicle to activate audiences and drive change. She has dedicated more than 25 years to providing support for and service to vulnerable populations including the military community, the special needs community, families in crisis, and the mental health community. Each of these communities faces unique challenges and obstacles. And working with each, Randi has successfully customized voice, messaging, and storytelling to deliver the communications and development outcomes necessary to sustain operations and advance missions.

As a writer, Randi masterfully uses her words to educate and inform, rally volunteers, build partnerships, secure funding, and engage the right stakeholders for each opportunity. As an editor, she ensures that all messaging is clean, aligned with brand, in the right voice, and on target for its intended audience.

Proposals and grants, prospect research, website content, articles, newsletters, press releases, e-blasts, blog posts, content development, copywriting and copyediting, and ghostwriting are all in Randi’s repertoire. She believes that words change the world in ways large and small. Her goal is always to put her clients in the best possible light with every word written or edited.

In the military space, Randi is a former (20+ years) military spouse and a national advocate for military families who is known for her ability to successfully bridge the military-civilian divide. She founded and ran a nationally recognized nonprofit for military families for almost a decade, served on the inaugural advisory board of the Military Family Advisory Network, was a co-author of Stories Around the Table: Laughter, Wisdom, and Strength in Military Life, and has been a sought-after writer and speaker on military and military-family-related topics.

Randi earned a BA in psychology from Rutgers University and an MS in human services with a specialty in nonprofit management from Capella University. A Chapel of the Four Chaplains Legion of Honor awardee, Shield of Sparta Heroine of the Infantry recipient, and Harlequin More Than Words “Real Life Heroine,” her favorite title is proud mama of four children and BuNana to the world’s greatest grandbaby.

Natalie is thrilled to join the Powerhouse team as guest services manager! Possessing a diverse background of experiences and relentless problem-solving skills, she will serve as a strong asset amongst the Powerhouse staff. 

Born in Arkansas, she received her B.A. in health education from the University of Central Arkansas. Continuing on her educational journey, she is expected to graduate with her Master of Arts in exercise science within the upcoming year. 

As a proud military spouse of seven years, she currently resides in Tucson, Arizona with her husband and daughter. 

In her free time, she enjoys pursuing fitness, cooking, reading books, and having a flavorful cup of coffee.

Kimi is an Army spouse of 18 years and is thrilled to be a part of the Powerhouse design team! She has B.A. in graphic design and fine art from the University of Hawaii, where she also played for the women’s soccer team. She has over 20 years of experience in the graphic arts and has owned and operated four of her own successful businesses. Moving with the military has taught her to have an abundance of patience and resiliency—and that there will always be a solution to any given problem, even if it seems excessively unconventional. She is a natural-born nerd and can generally be found with a cup of coffee (black, thank you) and a good book whenever she is not shuttling her three boys around to athletic events or throwing a ball for her dogs.

Mónica is a dynamic data analyst and IT marketing professional with over five years of experience leading cross-functional teams and driving strategic growth for nonprofits, tech startups, and national brands. She holds dual master’s degrees in IT project management and leadership, with certifications in Power BI, Google Analytics, and Scrum. As both a CEO and consultant, Mónica blends technical insight with creative branding to boost engagement, donor visibility, and operational efficiency.

Alison is both excited and grateful for the opportunity to join the Powerhouse team! She holds an undergraduate degree in elementary education and special education along with a master’s degree in reading. Alison is eager to apply the skills she’s gained from teaching as she joins the Powerhouse team. She resides in Pennsylvania with her husband and two children. In her free time, Alison enjoys spending time with her family, being outdoors, cooking, and reading.

“The tests confirmed that you do indeed have MS, and that’s why you’ve lost sight in your right eye.”

Those are words I never thought I would hear.

In February 2024, I started my multiple sclerosis (MS) journey.

My husband and I decided early on that we were going to be very open about the process. We took one month at a time and developed a theme to get through each month, starting with “Operation: Get My Eyesight Back” and then moved on to “Operation: Change My Diet.” Each month was an adventure, and we navigated new challenges month after month.

Just recently, I sat down and reflected on what MS has taught me about leadership. Leaders are supposed to be stoic, untouchable, and unbreakable. Thanks to MS, I believe I am all of those things and more. Here are a few more lessons on leadership MS has gifted me:

Be authentic. When I was first diagnosed, I had to decide how “real” I was going to be about the journey I was on. Should I tell my Powerhouse Planning team and clients? Would people still view me as a strong leader? I rolled with yes and haven’t regretted my decision. I learned that when you live as a genuine, authentic leader, you can also live as a model, showcasing that living in your realness is okay. There is no perfect human, and when your team and clients start to see you being real, they sense a space where they, too, can be seen.

Empowering people is key. Immediately, when I told my leadership team about my diagnosis, I explained that I wasn’t sure what this journey would be like but that I would always be open and honest with them. I asked if I could lean into them more than ever, and they committed to being fully in. They took over meetings and scheduled breaks for me each day until we had a medical plan in place. When I say I empowered them, it’s only part of the picture. They helped me drive and grow the company without missing a beat. My diagnosis allowed me to see where they could shine when given the opportunity to take on new roles.

Leaning into strengths has become essential. In the fall of 2024, I became a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach. Throughout the certification process, I’ve learned to lean wholly into our team based on their top strengths. There’s no need for anyone to become something they’re not, and we have learned to celebrate who each team member is. MS taught me to embrace our team’s DNA and actively involve them based on what they were born to bring to our world—not to have a company culture that shapes people into something they weren’t even created to be.

Be still. With MS, you are forced to slow down. But I have learned that’s not such a bad thing. That need for stillness requires me to turn down the volume of life and listen. The world is full of hustle and bustle, but when you’re calm enough to breathe in your surroundings, you hear and see things that would have otherwise passed you by. Being still is an art I’m perfecting, even now—sometimes by force.

Silent diseases exist in our workforce, and health and wellness should be a priority. I can tell you that having MS and being in a leadership position has taught me that silent diseases and mental health and wellness problems are entrenched in every team. All people need to know your company is a safe place to land and fall—and there’s a team ready to pick you up as needed. It’s simple. People have hard things happening in life, and we’re called to be there and show up with kindness and compassion.

Powerhouse Planning turns 13 this year, and you would think I would have learned most of what I needed as an entrepreneur by now. But 2024 showed me that being vulnerable and authentic makes our team strong, even when my body wasn’t.

Now go on. Be authentic. Empower the people in your corner of the world. When we live in a community mindset and own our truth, we will see people grow and transform. And isn’t that what true leadership is all about?

__________

(For those of you wondering about my MS journey, know that my eyesight fully returned after about a month and a half, and I’m on a 90% organic/anti-inflammatory diet as well as much more.)

Jessica Bertsch currently serves as the president of Powerhouse Planning. At Powerhouse, she aims to provide career opportunities for military spouses and veterans worldwide. Jessica is wife to Fritz (a U.S. Coastguardsman) and mama to Quint (13 years old), Gracie (10 years old), and Auvie (9 years old). You can also find her raising money for MS because we still need a cure, and she will indeed be part of it!