In the last episode of this limited edition series, Rachel Harrison shares her personal leadership journey and the lessons she has learned along the way. She also gives insight into her experience hosting the Leadership Evolution podcast and how it has shaped her own leadership style.

Craig Bedard, Deputy Associate Commissioner for the Office of Strategy, Learning, and Workforce Development at the Social Security Administration, joins the show to interview Rachel and discuss the themes of service and self-awareness that emerged from previous episodes. Hear how the COVID-19 pandemic changed Rachel’s leadership approach, the importance of creating a supportive and trauma-informed work environment, the benefits of collaboration within the community, and the concept of being trauma-informed as a leader. 

About Rachel Harrison:

Rachel Harrison, LCPC, NCC has worked in the field of trauma for 24 years as a therapist, trainer and business owner. After working with clients for over 17 years, Rachel founded Trauma Specialists of Maryland, LLC. Over the years, she realized again and again the root cause of so many issues and symptoms came back to an individual’s trauma.  As such, Rachel has spent many of these years training in different treatment models proven to be most effective at dealing with trauma.  Her vision was to develop a practice where all practitioners were trained in specific trauma therapies and could work as a team to treat individuals most effectively. She is passionate about helping people heal from trauma and about growing and developing leaders. 

About Craig Bedard:

In July 2021, Craig Bedard was named the Deputy Associate Commissioner for the Office of Strategy, Learning, and Workforce Development at the Social Security Administration. Craig began their federal career at the United States Air Force Academy where they earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Basic Academics, with a Concentration in Management.  They also earned a Master of Science Degree from McDaniel College in Human Resource Development and a Master’s Certificate in Intelligence Studies (Counterintelligence) from the National Defense Intelligence College. In the Air Force, Craig excelled as a Missile Combat Crew Member, Instructor, Evaluator, Mission Commander, and Strategic Planner.  Their career arc includes military service, small business owner, financial services, the State of Maryland, and 4 federal agencies (DoD/DIA, HHS/CMS, VA, SSA).  

Episode Timestamps:

• How the podcast changed Rachel's leadership journey
• Themes of service and self-awareness
• Rachel personal journey
• Explanation of EMDR therapy
• Balancing community and team needs
• Challenges faced by mental health professionals during the pandemic
• Trauma and its impact on individuals
• Self-love, trust, forgiveness, and self-care
• Collaboration with other organizations within the community 

“The Leadership Frederick County class of 2023 has been an incredible journey of growth and self-discovery. As the host of the Leadership Evolution podcast, I had the privilege of interviewing my classmates and delving into their leadership journeys. Through these conversations, I learned valuable lessons and gained insights that have shaped my own leadership style.”

Connect with Rachel Harrison:

https://traumaspecialistsofmd.com/

https://www.frederickchamber.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trauma_specialist/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064008974101&mibextid=LQQJ4d

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-harrison-81a4796/

The public library has played a major role in Bryan Hissong’s life for almost 20 years now. He started out doing story times and puppet shows at various daycares, and he continued to grow in his career within the library over the years. Eventually, Bryan stepped into his current role as the Community Engagement Manager for the Frederick County Public Library. This new position was created for him to develop vibrant and quality programming that would be engaging for adults of all ages within the community.

Bryan always wanted to work in a service-based industry, and he believes that good leaders are actually good servants. He enjoys going out and making connections within the community, and beyond. Bryan and the library staff want to continue to be an equitable resource, so everyone can have access to valuable resources they need. Learning and listening is one of the best ways to lead in the community, and truly serve others. Bryan has learned that failing is even more important than success; while it’s important to learn from our failures, we don’t need to dwell on them. 

Bryan has found that embracing an iterative mindset versus staying stagnant in his career and life has been very important. He’s also seen that the ‘typical’ image of the public library has been shifting and changing for a while - it’s no longer a place to only study and be quiet. Tune into this episode to learn more about the innovative work Bryan is doing, and why the public library really is a fun and lively place for all ages!

About Bryan Hissong

Bryan Hissong has worked in public libraries for 19 years, and he is currently the Community Engagement Manager for the Frederick County Public Library. He practices servant-led leadership, and truly cares about serving the people he works with in the library, as well as the community and beyond. Bryan is a member of the Leadership Frederick County Class of 2023, and is an unassuming presence with a great sense of humor.

Episode Timestamps:

• Bryan’s story of working in public libraries for almost 20 years, and his current role as the Community Engagement Manager for the Frederick County Public Library {01:25}
• Finding and making engaging connections in the community and beyond {06:20}
• Bryan’s growth process into leadership over the years {07:48}
• Why failing is even more important than success {09:20}
• A valuable leadership opportunity Bryan experienced, which he now incorporates into his own leadership {11:10}
• How the ‘typical’ image of the library is shifting and changing {14:00}
• How the pandemic affected libraries {16:35}
• The importance of embracing an iterative mindset, and not staying stuck in your ways {19:40}

“It’s from our failures that we learn the most important lessons, and that’s difficult because it's not easy to fail. We can oftentimes be very hard on ourselves, but it's important we realize that growth and change is a part of life. We learn when we fail, so it's an important thing to keep in mind.”

Connect with Rachel Harrison:

https://traumaspecialistsofmd.com/

https://www.frederickchamber.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trauma_specialist/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064008974101&mibextid=LQQJ4d

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-harrison-81a4796/

Not all of us will take the traditional path when it comes to our careers. Life tends to throw us curve balls when we’re least expecting it, and this was definitely the case for Becki Delauter. Her career path was very non-traditional - she found herself needing to get back into the workforce after going through a divorce. After being a stay-at-home mom for several years, Becki started supporting herself and her two boys by juggling multiple part-time jobs. Eventually, Becki landed her current role as the Philanthropic Services Manager for the Community Foundation of Frederick County.

Becki has always been interested in working in a field where she was really helping people, and doing work that mattered. Throughout her career, she’s realized that it’s okay to ask for help and lean on your support system, because we can’t do it all by ourselves. She’s also learned that leadership isn’t a one-size-fits-all. People in leadership lead in different ways, and what really matters is that you’re being your authentic self when you’re leading and working with others.

Becki’s favorite part of her job is the stewardship piece; she truly loves connecting with and staying in touch with donors, so they can really understand the legacy they are leaving. Leading with gratitude is how Becki chooses to start her days now, and she believes that as long as you’re following and embracing your unique path, you are right where you need to be. Tune into this episode to learn more about Becki’s story, and the powerful work she is doing in the philanthropic space!

About Becki Delauter:

Becki Delauter is the Philanthropic Services Manager for the Community Foundation of Frederick County. She has two degrees, one in psychology, and another in human services with a minor in marketing. Becki loves the stewardship aspect of her job; her favorite part is connecting with and following up with donors. She is also a member of the Leadership Frederick County Class of 2023, and is a quiet presence with a lot of great ideas.

www.frederickcountygives.org

Episode Timestamps:

• Becki’s story of a taking a non-traditional career path {01:20}
• Important lessons Becki learned as a single, working mom of 2 while juggling multiple part-time jobs {04:25}
• The incredible work the Community Foundation of Frederick County does {06:10}
• Becki’s role as the Philanthropic Services Manager {08:20}
• Leadership lessons learned along Becki’s journey of growth {09:50}
• How the pandemic greatly impacted the Community Foundation of Frederick County and the work they were doing {12:35}
• Becki’s mindset in her career, and how that’s shifted over time {15:40}

“The thing that I love the most about my job is stewardship, and that's reporting back to the donors. Once the money's gone out and it's done the thing that they were hoping for, it’s taking that story back to them so they can see the impact that it's had. A lot of our funds are started as a memorial to honor somebody who's no longer here. Going back to someone and telling them these things happened because of what you did, and it's keeping your loved one's name alive, is really my most favorite part of my job.”

Connect with Rachel Harrison:

https://traumaspecialistsofmd.com/

https://www.frederickchamber.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trauma_specialist/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064008974101&mibextid=LQQJ4d

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-harrison-81a4796/

Sometimes those around us need a little extra support in their lives, and someone to advocate for them. That’s exactly what Christine Cambareri-Kay did when she began working with adults with developmental disabilities after college. Christine felt like her career ‘found’ her, because she wasn’t sure what her career path would look like after completing her Master’s degree. She’s held various leadership positions over the years, working in human services and the nonprofit sector, with her most recent being the Division Director for the Division of Citizen Services in Frederick County. However, Christine is currently unemployed due to an unexpected situation with her position and department being eliminated.

Christine has always believed in treating others the way you want to be treated. She was always passionate about advocating for the adults with disabilities she was working with. Christine believes that leading doesn’t always look like leading a team, but people who can’t take the lead for themselves. She has learned there are key differences between managing and leading throughout her career. Leading is not just focused on what’s happening today, but the vision for the future, and how everyone you’re working with will be impacted. When she found out her position and division would be abolished, Christine still had to show up confidently for her team.

Change can definitely be bumpy, and Christine is currently experiencing this as she’s going through the process of finding another job. She truly believes she will find the right position to share her skills, value, and knowledge when it’s meant to happen. Christine prides herself on being authentic, and her current mantra is ‘never let success get to your head and never let failure get to your heart’. Tune into this episode to hear Christine’s openness and vulnerability during a unique time in her life, because her story is powerful!

About Christine Cambareri-Kay

Christine Cambareri-Kay is a member of the Leadership Frederick County class of 2023. She is currently unemployed, but has held various leadership positions in human services and nonprofit work. Her most recent position was the Division Director for the Division of Citizen Services in Frederick County.

Christine shows up with a sense of quiet, calm support for those who are lucky enough to interact with her.

Episode Timestamps:

• Christine’s story of her career path and various leadership positions over the years {01:23}
• A valuable leadership lesson for Christine as she was working with individuals with disabilities at the beginning of her career {03:50}
• Key differences between managing and leading {06:40}
• Changes from the pandemic that affected citizen services work {11:10}
• The situation regarding Christine’s current unemployment {13:20}
• Never let success get to your head and never let failure get to your heart {21:10}

“When you sit back and you're leading, you're learning to kind of, give up control, of how things are going, and trusting a team of people to work with you. You start realizing that there's a vision of where you’re going in the future. You can't just worry about today, but what’s coming down the pipe.”

Connect with Rachel Harrison:

https://traumaspecialistsofmd.com/

https://www.frederickchamber.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trauma_specialist/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064008974101&mibextid=LQQJ4d

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-harrison-81a4796/

The arts have always played a major role in Andrea Baker’s life. Whether she was participating in dance and theater throughout her childhood or just living life in a more creative and exploratory fashion, Andrea has continually felt drawn to the arts industry. While she was very comfortable in her previous job, Andrea felt a ‘shift’ when the pandemic happened - especially with having 2 young children at the time. She was ready to come back to the arts, and she found her (now) current position as the Development and Community Outreach Manager for the Maryland Ensemble Theater (MET) in Frederick.

Andrea focuses a great deal on community partnerships and working with people in the community. She loves the variety of change that happens in life and tends to adapt pretty easily, but she tends to be tough on herself - especially as a leader. Self-compassion has been the biggest lesson Andrea has learned on her leadership journey so far. She is learning to focus more on what is going well and amplify those ‘bright spots’ along the way, while also leaning into her team members’ strengths.

It’s important to be prepared and deliberate when it comes to the vision you have for your life. Andrea believes that a skill can be built anytime, but your choices and actions ultimately show who you are. If you’re passionate about the arts or just want to learn more about the industry, you won’t want to miss Andrea’s fascinating story and all of the work she is doing in the arts!

About Andrea Baker:

Andrea Baker is the Development and Community Outreach Manager for the MET, which stands for Maryland Ensemble Theater in Frederick. She is devoted to her work, and has always been passionate about the arts. Andrea is also a member of the LFC class of 2023, and is truly a good human to know.

www.marylandensemble.org

Episode Timestamps:

• How the arts have played a major role throughout Andrea’s career and life  {01:20}
• The impact of the pandemic on the arts industry {03:16}
• Andrea’s role as the Development and Community Outreach Manager for the MET {06:22}
• The unique South and Saints project {07:00}
• What the process looks like for choosing shows that are put on at the MET {08:30}
• Leading in the arts and what it’s like compared to other industries {10:10}
• The biggest leadership lesson Andrea has learned on her journey {11:50}
• Andrea’s mindset when it comes to her vision and the work she is doing {15:30}
• What people should know about the MET {18:10}

“I know that if I'm being hard on myself, then that's going to reflect in the rest of my team. I really need to take that time and just recognize what I am doing right, what I'm doing well, and focus on that really bright spot. I want to focus on those things that are going well, and just amplify them even more.”

Connect with Rachel Harrison:

https://traumaspecialistsofmd.com/

https://www.frederickchamber.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trauma_specialist/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064008974101&mibextid=LQQJ4d

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-harrison-81a4796/

Sometimes it takes another person to show us our true potential when we can’t see it ourselves. After talking with her high school counselor, Mary Geasey decided to go down the path of higher education and pursue a degree in education. Along her journey, she wanted to learn more about how she could better support her students with special needs. Mary soon became recognized as a special educator, and eventually, she was chosen to rebuild the special education services and programs at Walkersville Elementary School. She is now a special education instructor and has been an educator with Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) for 18 years.

Mary is passionate about creating an inclusive environment for her learners, and she loves working with other educators who share her vision - especially in a time when special education reform is needed. She believes shifting our mindsets is key, as well as shifting the way we teach our students. While the pandemic really changed education permanently, Mary was able to come together and help other educators learn and utilize new tools to truly support their students at their own pace. She loves collaborating with others who are creative and innovative, and aren’t afraid to find a way to meet the needs of all students.

When it comes to making positive progress, there is no change in the comfort zone. In order to grow both personally and professionally, it just can’t be done when you’re too ‘comfortable’, and Mary has experienced this firsthand. Tune in to this episode to learn more about Mary’s inspiring story, and all of the incredible work she is doing in the education space!

About Mary Geasey:

Mary Geasey is a special education instructor who’s been a teacher with FCPS for 18 years. Before she joined Walkersville Elementary School, she taught at Middletown Primary and Kemptown Elementary. Mary is a Vanguard Teacher Program alumni, a member of her school's School Improvement Process team, and the Frederick County Teacher Association’s Leadership Development committee. She was runner up for FCPS's Teacher of the Year in 2022 and a Finalist for Washington Post's Teacher of the Year in 2023.

Mary earned a master’s degree in Special Education from Frostburg State University, a master of arts in Elementary Education from West Virginia University (WVA), and a bachelor of arts degree in Multidisciplinary Studies from WVA. Mary is also a member of the Leadership Frederick County class of 2023, and she brings an enthusiastic perspective to those that she leads.

www.fcps.org

Episode Timestamps:

• Mary’s journey of finding her career path in education, and then specifically in special education {01:20}
• Shifting and rebuilding the special education space {12:42}
• How the pandemic really impacted the education space {15:48}
• Leadership lessons Mary has learned on her journey {24:19}
• Why there is no change in the comfort zone {30:27}

“Showing that grace when you do make mistakes, and to be able to say ‘You know what? That didn't work the way I wanted it to, but how are we going to move forward? What can we do differently?’ is important. Every year in education, and really every single day, you have the opportunity to start over, and you learn from it.”

Connect with Rachel Harrison:

https://traumaspecialistsofmd.com/

https://www.frederickchamber.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trauma_specialist/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064008974101&mibextid=LQQJ4d

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-harrison-81a4796/