Loftis Partners Launches in 2020
Happy New Year! Are you ready to get rid of 2020 or what? Wow, I never could have imagined what the last 12 months would hold for our world. You have been on my mind and in my heart as we as a global community have entered a new world and a constant wave of loss and change. Many of us have lost loved ones to COVID-19 this year. It's a year that I will not soon forget. I am sending much love from the NC mountains.
I am reaching out today to share some exciting news. First, I graduated with a Masters in Science of Organization Development (MSOD) from Pepperdine University in August 2020. Thank you to everyone who supported me along the way, especially the ones who live with me. My thesis focused on pay equity in the nonprofit sector with specific action research at Penland School of Craft. I am passionate about living wages for front line workers, so this thesis was an incredible opportunity to explore and expand on the topic. You can listen to me discuss my thesis findings on my friend Patton McDowell's podcast: "How Can We Address Compensation Gaps in the Nonprofit Sector?" - Episode 64.
My second bit of good news is the launch of my consulting practice, Loftis Partners. Loftis Partners is a human resources consulting firm that provides virtual services for your business needs. We work with businesses of all sizes to build sustainability. I serve as the Managing Director, working alongside colleagues that bring collaborative virtual capacity to our projects. Loftis Partners offers services in business strategy, organization design, human resource processes, training, and coaching. Here are some ways that we've worked virtually this year:
Guadalupe Neighborhood Development Corporation (Austin, TX) engaged us to help with board development for a new nonprofit in their neighborhood.
AMY Wellness Foundation (Spruce Pine, NC) contracted with us for a strategic planning retreat.
Health Leads (Boston, MA) employed us to co-design and facilitate focus groups related to food insecurity in the Boston area.
Center for Trauma-Resilient Communities (Winston-Salem, NC) commissioned us to design a capacity building and onboarding process for new contractors.
I am also partnering with two organizations to continue my passion for equity and inclusion work. I serve as a Navigator for Wayfinding Partners, a justice-driven consulting firm dedicated to individual, organizational, and community transformation. I am also a consultant for Brook Graham, an English firm that develops diversity and inclusion strategies for clients across the globe.
Finally, I have returned to one of my first loves - writing. You can find me as a regular contributor on LinkedIn, follow my blog, and read my article about equity & inclusion in the Winter 2020 issue of the Organization Development Review, a quarterly journal that combines theory and practice backed by the latest peer-reviewed research.
That's a lot of news in one spot! Thank you for your encouragement and support over the last 12 months, as I have transitioned to a new phase in my career. I wish you and yours a season of rest and gratitude as we close out 2020. Stay safe -