Words From the Hive
Don't take my word for it — here's what the people I've worked with have to say.
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"I STILL use the phrase 'cut the cake!' from the Leadership Tompkins session that illustrated how part of leadership is taking initiative and being the first one to step forward. Deb has a sharp eye for seeing the bigger picture when you're having trouble seeing past the trees, as well as readily offering workable solutions to try. Her incredible depth of experience is not only valuable, but reassuring. Beyond that, Deb is also just a lovely, warm, fun person and she is a joy to spend time with."
Kerry Barnes
Executive Director
Tompkins County Public Library Foundation
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"Deb's ability to lead workshops and facilitate team building sessions is unparalleled. She is a total natural and makes it approachable and fun. Even a half day staff retreat, which would ordinarily make me groan in anticipation, flew by because we were up and moving and doing various activities."
Rebecca Evans
Director of Sustainability, City of Ithaca
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"Deb led a half-day Gallup Strengths training for the management team in my department. What we all learned from the training gave us a common language to tackle management issues, clearly identified the skills we needed to recruit, and made us function more effectively as a team. As the supervisor of this team, I better understood what motivated them and how to support their growth."
Lisa Nicholas
Director of Planning & Development, City of Ithaca
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"Deb is an inspiring leader and steadfast cheerleader! She uses her experiences to open the door to include others, and she is a mentor by nature. I have always felt like I can rely on Deb for advice or wisdom whenever I need it!"
Leah Tompkins
Assistant Director of Student Activities, TC3
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"Do not hesitate! Deb is a tremendous leader who will find the best approach to bring you and your team to the next level in a way that will leave you feeling positive, empowered, and confident."
Kellea Bauda
Administrative Director
Tompkins County IDA
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"I would highly recommend Deb as a consultant for organizational leaders who are looking to grow both their impact and effectiveness. She brings a powerful combination of big-picture thinking and practical execution — helping leaders not only envision what's possible, but also develop clear, actionable steps to get there."
Gregg Houck
Youth Bureau Director, City of Ithaca
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"With a career of experience in municipal and community leadership, Deb can help provide an effective management solution to cultivate business partnerships through enhanced communication and solid teamwork. These values help develop a sense of ownership and pride elevating both performance and morale."
Scott Gibson
Assistant DPW Superintendent, City of Ithaca
Have we worked together?
Good experiences should be shared. If we've worked together, I'd love to hear your story.
"Deb facilitated a brainstorming session to help our group strategically plan a time-sensitive project. She was very organized, inclusive, and asked just the right questions to encourage deeper thinking. By the end of the day we were ready to jump in and move forward."
— Caryanne Keenan, (she/her) Higher Education Professional