Stuff We Love
We love so much stuff! Cool projects we are working on with clients, cool stuff the orgs we love are working on, interests of our team, and so much more! This is the spot to check out all of the stuff we love right now!
DIY Natural Products
Matah Marcellus, Project Manager
One of my favorite pastimes is creating DIY natural beauty products. Whether it's body butters, face creams, or hair conditioners, I am always looking for new ways to improve my methods and techniques.
Since as far back as I can remember, I have always been fascinated with the cosmetic benefits of botanical properties. My passion for creating natural beauty products is matched only by my enthusiasm for sharing my solutions with others. When asked about my DIY products, I am always delighted to provide a detailed rundown regarding research, routines, and “secret” ingredients.
I have found that there is nothing more empowering than to identify a challenge and diligently develop a solution. This is true for both my personal and professional life. In the words of novelist E. M. Forster, "One person with passion is better than forty people merely interested."
Carrington Reynolds
Project Associate
I love music; music is very therapeutic and relaxing for me. My favorites are late 80’s and 90’s R&B classics. Some of my favorite musical artists include Toni Braxton, Whitney Houston, Fantasia, Anita Baker, and Boyz2Men. My favorite songs by these artists include “Breathe Again” by Toni Braxton, “End of the Road” Boyz2Men, “I Have Nothing” Whitney Houston, and “Free Yourself” Fantasia. I recommend listening to each of these songs at least once all the way through and reflect on how it speaks to your soul. At work, riding in the car, at home cleaning or wherever I love these timeless hits and music in general. I’m grateful for it!
Click the title to hear one of my favorite songs!
I love music; music is very therapeutic and relaxing for me. My favorites are late 80’s and 90’s R&B classics. Some of my favorite musical artists include Toni Braxton, Whitney Houston, Fantasia, Anita Baker, and Boyz2Men. My favorite songs by these artists include “Breathe Again” by Toni Braxton, “End of the Road” Boyz2Men, “I Have Nothing” Whitney Houston, and “Free Yourself” Fantasia. I recommend listening to each of these songs at least once all the way through and reflect on how it speaks to your soul. At work, riding in the car, at home cleaning or wherever I love these timeless hits and music in general. I’m grateful for it!
Click the title to hear one of my favorite songs!
Looking back to look forward
Aria Camaione-Lind
Principal, ARIA Strategies LLC
Where are you going? Where do you want to be in 5-10 years? What drives your excitement? Your passion?
These are the questions that get me excited every day. I am a planner, a forecaster, and I love planning transitions. I love being in the space of knowing we have left behind who we used to be, but we aren’t quite who we’re going to be in our next iteration. There’s so many things to love about transitions: Identifying the assets at hand. Identifying barriers that may throw us off course. Understanding where we’ve been and where we want to go. I love all of it- the excitement, the anxiety, the frustration, and the process of becoming who we want to be.
Where is your organization going in the next 5-10 years? Who will drive your mission and vision? These are ever-present questions when we think about and act to preserve the longevity of our organization. Over 70% of not-for-profit executive-level leaders are expected to retire in the next 10 years. It may happen; it may not. But if it does- are you ready? How is your organization thinking about leadership transitions? How are you talking about it? Where do you want to go, if you could go anywhere, with your mission?
New Life
Christopher Camaione-Lind, Chief Financial Officer
Giving new life to old things has always been something that has inspired me. The act of giving something special a new place, and a new chapter of its existence, is cause enough for reflection, but one particular object is just starting on this journey with my family and I can’t wait to see how this unfolds.
We are in the process of building the family mountain retreat that has been a goal nearly our entire adult lives. As we approach the stage of building a more permanent shelter to extend our relaxing visits even later into the cooler seasons, we have learned that an old wood burning stove that a beloved late grandfather stewarded through his adulthood, without ever having a home for it, will come join us at camp. It is no longer a family treasure hidden in the back corner of a back yard shed. This stove will be the fixture in our cabin that provides our shelter with gentle glow, and comforting warmth—the perfect representation of his love for his family.
Leadership Training: Helping Boards Reach Their Potential
We get to work on the coolest projects with our clients! One of the most fun initiatives we have supported is play in the city of Rochester. Our team worked with teams from the Greater Rochester Health Foundation, HealthiKids, Playworks, and the Rochester City School District to make changes and improvements to how and where kids play.
Click on "recess" to read more!
Developing volunteer leadership is one of our passions. Each organization we work with has something unique and important to contribute to their community. Our clients develop leadership at all levels- staff, C Suite, volunteers, board members- and we love passing along great resources like
this!