I was born and raised in Rhode Island, the Ocean State, a state with a simple but powerful motto: Hope. Our state symbol? An anchor. Maybe it’s no surprise, then, that my work has always been about anchoring people—helping groups stay grounded through challenges, navigate conflict, and find their way forward together.

I’ve always loved people. I love the energy that comes from bringing different voices into a room, the way ideas spark and build off one another. But I also know that working in groups isn’t always easy. People disagree. Tensions rise. And when conflict isn’t handled well, it can take over—turning what should be a strong, steady ship into something tossed around by the waves.

I first learned this in a fourth-grade classroom, where I was both a teacher and a learner. My students showed me that the only people who can truly solve a problem are the ones facing it. My role wasn’t to step in with all the answers—it was to create the conditions where they could find solutions together. And if that was true for children, I knew it was even more true for adults.

For the past 10 years I have supported groups of people to work well together. I’ve trained and consulted school districts in restorative justice, helping educators become the anchor their students need. I’ve worked with faith-based organizations to build structures rooted in their values so their communities can collaborate with trust and purpose. I’ve coached leaders, facilitated tough conversations, and helped nonprofit organizations move through conflict in ways that strengthen—not break—them.

If conflict is like water, then groups are like ships. At its worst, conflict turns into a storm, making the waters too rocky to navigate. My job is to help keep the boat steady—not by avoiding the waves, but by grounding people in relationships strong enough to weather them. When we build trust, when we approach problem-solving collectively and democratically, when we stay anchored in what truly matters—there’s no storm we can’t get through.

Let’s build something strong together.