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Tuesday, June 11, 2024

63+ Miles... A Critical Cause!


As a lifelong Chicago Bears fan, I vividly remember where I was on that unforgettable Sunday afternoon in 1986 when Da Bears finally won the Super Bowl. That year was magical—Ditka and Buddy Ryan in the national spotlight, the iconic Super Bowl Shuffle, The Refrigerator Perry, Payton and his Roos, Jimmy Mac with his sweatbands (despite the fines from the Commish), and of course, that incredible 85 Defense. It's a cherished memory for every Bears fan and a moment all football enthusiasts will remember.


On September 22nd, 2024, my family is embarking on a journey that fills me with immense pride, and I feel compelled to share it with you and ask for your support. My wife Jennifer and our two boys, Dryver and Stryde, are taking on the incredible challenge of hiking from daybreak to sunset across the Grand Canyon from end to end (Rim 2 Rim). This hike spans over 22 miles (x3 people), beginning at 8,000 feet elevation and involving thousands of feet of climbing and traversing. It's a tremendous feat that demands both physical and mental endurance.

Why take on this challenge? I asked myself the same question. It's to support a vital cause: ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. This devastating neurological disease causes nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord to degenerate and die. By embarking on this treacherous hike, we aim to raise awareness and funds for the prevention and cure of ALS.  You can help...

ALS is a terminal disease with no cure, one that relentlessly destroys a person's muscles, with an average survival time of just 2-5 years after diagnosis. Notable individuals who have battled/battling ALS include theoretical physicist and author Stephen Hawking, actor David Niven, singer Roberta Flack, "SpongeBob SquarePants" creator Stephen Hillenburg, and Steve McMichael from that legendary '85 Bears defense.  We are traveling to Canton this summer to see Mongo finally be inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame.

mcmichael.misty

This disease affects countless lives, impacting people of all cultures, ages, incomes, and locations. Your generous donation directly supports scientific research aimed at preventing and curing Alzheimer's and ALS. Our partners at the MIND lab work in a unique collaborative environment, encouraging cross-disciplinary research into various neurodegenerative diseases. You can make a difference...

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for any support you can offer to this cause. Every dollar you donate brings us closer to finding a cure and gives hope to future generations. Your generosity means the world to us and will impact many lives...



Tuesday, July 13, 2021

Top Takeaways from the 2021 Ragan Crisis...

#crisiscommunications #leadership #internalcomms

Top Takeaways from the 2021 Ragan Crisis...

Hundreds of comms pros gathered at this recent event to regroup and share new ideas to manage the “always-on” approach that has become the crisis comms model in our new disrupted world. Don't miss these highlights from Dynamic Signal's own communication strategist, Becky Graebe.
Dispatch

Wednesday, June 23, 2021

Top Takeaways from the 2021 Ragan Crisis...

#crisiscommunications #leadership #internalcomms

Top Takeaways from the 2021 Ragan Crisis...

Hundreds of comms pros gathered at this recent event to regroup and share new ideas to manage the “always-on” approach that has become the crisis comms model in our new disrupted world. Don't miss these highlights from Dynamic Signal's own communication strategist, Becky Graebe.
Dispatch

Sunday, June 13, 2021

Change Management in the Age of "You" - W2O Group

From a change management perspective, the Age of “You” means organizational transformation is a team sport spanning beyond the office or manufacturing facility or lab. This approach translates awareness to understanding, understanding to behavior, and behavior to results.

Change Management in the Age of "You" - W2O Group

With virtually everyone possessing a “voice,” change management has never been more democratized, dispersed or difficult. Leading up to now, change was seen as a fairly finite experience. Organizations identified areas for improvement or new opportunities to explore. Leaders, managers and communicat
Dispatch

Monday, May 24, 2021

UPS Browntail fuels imaginations

For 31 consecutive years, UPS Airlines has been a presenting sponsor of Thunder Over Louisville, one of the largest air shows and fireworks displays in North America.

UPS Browntail fuels imaginations

All-Black flight crew delivers inspiration from the cockpit at Thunder Over Louisville
UPS Stories Share Center

Earnings climb as strategy gains traction

UPS announced better-than-expected results across all segments of the business for the first quarter of 2021.

Earnings climb as strategy gains traction

Better not bigger framework leads to records
UPS Stories Share Center

Wednesday, March 10, 2021

Happy Lunar New Year!

​Happy Lunar New Year to all our DySi colleagues and their families. We hope this year brings you and your loved ones good fortune! #DySi #TeamDySi

Happy Lunar New Year!

Happy Lunar New Year to all our DySi colleagues and their families. We hope this year brings you and your loved ones good fortune!
Dispatch

International Woman's Day 2021 💜🤍

Happy International Woman's Day to all the wonderful woman of DySi! ✨​ Here’s to strong women. May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them. (Michelle Obama)

International Woman's Day 2021 💜🤍

Happy International Woman's Day to all the wonderful woman of DySi! ✨ Here's to strong women. May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them. (Michelle Obama)
Dispatch

Tuesday, March 09, 2021

Monday, February 08, 2021

2021 Edelman Trust Barometer

Edelman's 2021 #TrustBarometer exposes a new era of information bankruptcy while affirming that three-out-of-four say communications from “my employer” is still the most trusted source of information.

2021 Edelman Trust Barometer

The 2021 Edelman Trust Barometer reveals an epidemic of misinformation and widespread mistrust of societal institutions and leaders around the world.
Dispatch

Monday, January 25, 2021

10 Simple Things to Make You Happier At Home

10 Simple Things to Make You Happier At Home

10 Simple Things to Make You Happier At Home

It’s amazing how a few tweaks to our daily habits can become a catalyst for meaningful, positive change. Since so many of us are WFH these days, these tips might be extra helpful in adding a bit of happiness.
Dispatch

Saturday, October 03, 2020

COVID Shows the Way: Companies Must Be Prepared...

Even in the face of a global pandemic, companies can succeed, but they must be ready to pivot on a dime.

COVID Shows the Way: Companies Must Be Prepared...

As current events have shown, today’s successful companies must be ready to turn on a dime. Sometimes, there’s a silver lining in crisis; after all, with change comes opportunity.
Dispatch

Thursday, September 17, 2020

Covid-19 and Return to Workplace; We Have a...

Edelman's latest #TrustBarometer Special Report: Workplace Trust and the Coronavirus underscores the trust problem we face as companies seek a safe return to the workplace and what businesses must do to address it.

Covid-19 and Return to Workplace; We Have a...

“Houston, we have a problem.” Commander James Lovell issued this famous line when his spacecraft malfunctioned during the Apollo 13 mission in April of 1970. This is the situation facing the world now six months into the Covid pandemic, as we seek to return to the workplace and to a more normal existence, while the disease continues its inexorable spread across the planet.
Dispatch

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

What Businesses Should Take From The Military

Diversity and Inclusion leader and Army veteran talks about what one initiative businesses should takeaway from the military to help teams be more successful. #diversity #inclusion

What Businesses Should Take From The Military

The military and business worlds are different. After spending many years in both, I believe there is one thing that businesses can take from the military to make teams more successful; diversity and inclusion.
Dispatch

Monday, May 11, 2020

Plant-based recipes to try during the...

It's important to remember every day is Earth Day. Here are some plant-based recipes you can try during the coronavirus pandemic, courtesy of Earth Day Network's Foodprints for the Future team. #EarthDay2020

Plant-based recipes to try during the...

To nourish your body, and protect the planet, we encourage you to try eating at least one plant-based meal each day for a week. Below are some easy recipes to try, brought to you by Earth Day Network’s Foodprints for the Future team.
Dispatch

What is your carbon footprint?

What is your carbon footprint? In honor of #EarthDay2020, you can find out with The Nature Conservancy's calculator. (And then take some steps to improve!)

What is your carbon footprint?

Use this interactive calculator to find out—and pledge to take action.
Dispatch

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

How a Small Toyota team made Bold Decisions To...

Toyota on the fast launch of its Dynamic Signal platform: “Sometimes we just need to move quickly and accurately to drive our business forward.” #Toyota #CrisisComms #InternalComms

How a Small Toyota team made Bold Decisions To...

How a small Toyota team made big, bold, timely decisions to make internal communication more effective using the Dynamic Signal platform.
Dispatch

Monday, April 13, 2020

Melinda Epler: 3 ways to be a better ally in...

"There's no magic wand for correcting diversity and inclusion," she says. "Change happens one person at a time, one act at a time, one word at a time." Even in this time where people are WFH or on the front lines, connection, belonging, and inclusion are incredibly important and we can all do our part.

Melinda Epler: 3 ways to be a better ally in...

We're taught to believe that hard work and dedication will lead to success, but that's not always the case. Gender, race, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation are among the many factors that affect our chances, and it's up to each of us to be allies for those who face discrimination.
Dispatch

Sunday, April 05, 2020

Nurses


My stepmom, Sue, died a few years ago from lung cancer.  She never smoked and was a very healthy woman.  We think it was from the radiation treatments she received 40 years before while in college at Indiana University.  She was diagnosed with stage-4 Sarcoma and given 6-months to live.   About 4-years later she was still alive and going through the trials and struggles of many different types of surgeries, experimental treatments, and chemotherapy.

I was really lucky to be able to spend time with her over this four-year period.  It is time I will cherish for my entire life. One of the most important things I learned through her many years of going to see doctors; visit specialists; receive treatments (including chemotherapy); working through physical therapy, and having invasive surgeries.   I learned that the nurses she dealt with and that helped her were all remarkable caring people, and this wasn’t just a few nurses, it was every single one of them.  They all had personalities, they were all different people, and all were able to be firm and caring at the same time.  They all were doing their jobs and cared about doing their jobs, but overall, they really truly cared about Sue.    

I am not a very spiritual person, but when I would see and hear the stories of these nurses it made me think that these people are doing something for other people that goes above and beyond what is comprehensible to me.   I saw it firsthand when I took Sue to one of her treatments or appointments.  When I wasn’t able to be with her at these appointments, she would share stories about the nurses that would take care of her.  Every time they would do things that go beyond, way beyond.  She shared a story of a young man that had worked in a white-collar job in the marketing department of Burger King for 15+ years, he had a good 9-5 job with a great salary but decided to quit and move into nursing because he wanted to help people.  She would talk about the nurses at the chemotherapy that knew her name every time they saw her and took the time to listen to the stories Sue had since they last saw each other.  She would talk about how the nurses were amazing people.  Up until her last days in hospice, the nurses were there for Sue, not just available, but there for her physically, emotionally, and as a friend.  One of the nurses told me that Sue had shared with her how scared she was of death but didn’t want any of her kids to know.   Another nurse told me that Sue had shared with her the emotions of knowing she wouldn’t be able to see her grandchildren grown-up; and how she knew that Sue was so proud of all of the kids and that she would talk about how much she really loved all of us. 

Doctors are critical, and we all highlight how many of them are on the frontlines today helping out with this global pandemic.   Doctors are Amazing!  I can tell you that I am astonished whenever I meet a doctor because they are such brilliant people doing things that I could never imagine doing. We all realize how much we need doctors, but I never understood how important nurses were.  Don’t get me wrong, of course, I knew they were very important, but never knew how much nurses do as well as how many people they touch.  How many people they connect with or comfort or just become friends with every day.

The treatments she received from doctors; the surgeries she underwent lead by some of the world-renowned surgeons; the strategies she would get from the oncologists, and the diagnoses she heard from some of the best specialists in the world, all didn’t matter if it wasn’t for the compassion and caring of the nurses that helped her every day and cared for her every night.   As we go through this COVID-19 pandemic I only can hope we all recognize that we have to do everything we can by supporting our healthcare workers, and realize that the doctors are critical to us all being well, but the nurses are what will save us. 

Please do everything you can to help out every healthcare worker.  Stay at home.  Wash your hands.  Keep your family safe.  Donate to healthcare workers to keep them safe.  Of course, do whatever you can to support these amazing people!

Images: Flickr CC Rights by NIHClinicalCenter

Thursday, March 12, 2020

Creating A Family Culture at Bacardi

Creating A Family Culture at Bacardi

Creating A Family Culture at Bacardi

Internal communication specialist Natasha A. Schoultz explains how the Dynamic Signal platform helps add spirit to the Bacardi company experience.
Dispatch

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