After twenty years of public service, I decided to start my own company. I spent five year in the U.S. Army and fifteen years in various positions at the State of Nevada, building skills and relationships that would help me serve others meet their goals. I have also been fortunate enough to study public policy and administration in graduate school, allowing me to provide insights and data-driven analysis for potential clients as well.
While starting my own firm has long been a dream of mine, taking this step was a daunting task. Everyone who decides to go out on their own faces many of these same concerns, trying to determine how their product or services meet a client’s need, determining how to reach new clients, and even how do the basic work necessary to establish a new business. These challenges aren’t unique to me and my decision to start a business, but they were new and unknown to me when I started out. In a sense, they still are.
But I knew that I needed to leave public service eventually, and I was presented with the opportunity to do so in June of 2022. Although I had never started a business without having a day job before, I knew that my experience in public service had provided me with valuable experience and perspective. And I knew that hard work and adaptability would benefit my efforts as well.
I decided early not to specialize. I had experience with writing grants, strategic assessments and plans, running policy initiatives, working with public and private entities, and managing projects. Throughout my career, I had worked in economic development, veterans and military policy and programs, emergency management and homeland security, and higher education and workforce development. For fourteen months during the global pandemic, I also worked in the public health space. My public service career allowed me to work with numerous partners and in various policy spaces, and I decided that the lessons I had learned throughout could benefit a number of my clients in Nevada and around the country.
I also decided early on that I wanted to focus on all of Nevada. Nevada’s more populous communities have unique challenges and opportunities, but the challenges and opportunities in rural Nevada are just as complex, though sometimes in different ways. Partnering with rural communities, with larger communities, and with the state and federal government would allow me to help partners across the state achieve their goals.
I also decided early on that I wanted my work to lead toward building more resilient systems in our state. Through my work in emergency management and through my academic studies, I learned the importance of the concept of resilience when applied to public policies and programs. As a concept, it provides an important framework for building coalitions, improving collaboration, ensuring sustainability, and overcoming crises. Though it is often derided as a buzzword, I am convinced that resilience is necessary for improving outcomes in our communities, our state, and our country.
Since founding Arc Dome Strategies in June of 2022, I have been pleased with the response to my approach. I have had the opportunity to write grants for local communities in our state, write strategic assessments and plans, and even assist in developing Nevada’s first rural, multi-county public health district. I have also been able to work with clients in the public and private sector to find ways to partner with government entities to develop policies and programs that serve communities in our state.
I am going to provide updates on this venture through this blog. I look forward to sharing stories of the collaborations and outcomes that we achieve, and also the challenges and opportunities we face with you here. I hope you’ll follow along.
