Vivid Co.

Our team is always excited for the opportunity to help an agency prepare a legislative report. Recently, we started work on a study that aims to address a major accessibility issue in our state. This is one of four legislative reports that our team is currently working on. Reach out to us if we can help you with your legislative report or feasibility study.

It's the season of gratitude, so we'd like to take a moment to reflect on what we're grateful for.   We're thankful that we get to support agencies doing purpose-driven work in our communities.   We appreciate our dedicated, hardworking team, which has continued to grow in 2024.   We are glad for opportunities to partner with other companies who bring their specialized expertise to our engagements.   And we are thrilled for opportunities on the horizon for 2025.   What are you grateful for this week?

Recently, AJ Reardon and Shelli Lackey, MA, CEC, CCMP™ sat down to discuss Shelli's recent certification to become a Growth Zone™ Licensed Partner.

Jenifer Franklin, MA is celebrating two years with the Vivid Co. team! When we asked her what she'd like to highlight about her time with us so far, she said: "I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the aging population of Washington state. As an adult with aging parents of my own, I am well aware of the many difficulties associated with trying to effectively and lovingly care for adults as they age. Supporting the tireless and dedicated staff and leadership of DSHS to develop and implement innovative programs for these and other vulnerable adults is a privilege." Congratulations Jenifer, and thank you for the great work you do for our customers and our community.

We take pride in delivering in projects large and small. Kindra Benavidez, MA, CCMP™ and Tonia Sugarman recently helped a local municipality with a significant change in leadership. This is an example of a smaller project Vivid Co. assisted with to support organizational effectiveness. Contact us to learn how we can assist your team with leadership transitions, improving effectiveness, and other opportunities to enhance team cohesion.

At our most recent team meeting, Sapna D. S. led a great discussion on what we've learned so far in over a year of our DEI Minute presentations, and how we intend to put that learning into practice. For many of us, the natural next step was to make a conscious decision to stop making assumptions, whether it's about someone's intentions, their abilities, or their lived experience. By adopting a more curious mindset, we create better opportunities for learning, communication, and collaboration. Contact us if you'd like to learn more about what Vivid Co. is doing in this realm and how we can help your organization thrive.

We recognize that teams and their leaders are all unique, which is why we don't offer a one-size-fits-all approach to coaching and leadership development. We tailor our offerings to each individual's goals and the obstacles in their path. Our coaching team is trained in a variety of methodologies, including The Five Behaviors® and Growth Zone™. Contact us today to learn more!

AI is on our minds after our recent article on parallels between the dotcom era and the current AI hype. For more perspective, our Executive Assistant AJ Reardon recommends reading Unmasking AI by Joy Buolamwini. AJ says: "This book provides some pretty straight-forward explanations of AI technology, especially in the facial recognition arena; potential harm caused by bias in data sets; and the ethics of collecting and labeling data sets to build such technology. Buolamwini also weaves in the story of her journey through academia and activism, adding a personal touch that keeps the book from being too dry. The audiobook is read by the author which creates additional emotional resonance."   We'd love to feature more books that can have a positive impact on your professional life. Have any suggestions for our team?

We're excited to share the outcome of a recently completed engagement for Pierce County Planning and Public Works!   Kindra Benavidez, MA, CCMP™ and Shelli Lackey, MA, CEC, CCMP™ provided Organizational Change Management services for the Workflow Improvement Project (WIP). By consolidating over 180 unique application types to just 30, and writing new, plain language instructions, the WIP has created a more efficient permitting process both for professional builders and individuals looking to construct or make improvements to their property. Additional project accomplishments included the reorganization of individual reviewing departments into multi-discipline teams organized by product lines to deliver a better customer experience.   This was a very fulfilling project and we're pleased to support Pierce County’s commitment to being the best permitting agency in Washington.

As we celebrate Disability Pride this month, we are reflecting on the contributions and roles that allow people to feel pride. It is easier to feel proud of who you are and what you can accomplish when you feel included, when you feel like you belong, and when you feel like you have choices in where you are and what you're doing. After Marilee Fosbre's DEI Minute presentation during our most recent team meeting, we're all considering what steps we can take to create more inclusion and belonging at Vivid Co. and our customer agencies. Is there anything you'd like to share which has worked in your organization or personal life?