March 2012

Epilepsy: it matters to all of us

hommage  

We love to draw attention to important causes in our community — and we’re especially excited about one initiative that complements our own company’s commitment to developing tomorrow’s leaders.

Epilepsy matters to us, and it’s intensely personal. CVC co-founder Ann Speer’s son, Brandon, has epilepsy, a neurological disorder experienced by 1 in 10 Americans at least once in a lifetime. Epilepsy and seizures more regularly affect nearly 3 million Americans of all ages, at an estimated yearly cost of $17.6 billion in direct and indirect costs, according to the national Epilepsy Foundation.

We hope you’ll learn more about this condition, which is much more prevalent than many people realize, and support initiatives that profoundly help those who have it. One fantastic way to help kids with epilepsy have hope, make friends, get excited about their future and find their unique and valuable places in the world is to help fund the Jason Fleishman Summer Camp, held each year in the Colorado mountains. The camp is attended by kids from all over the nation and is the beneficiary of proceeds raised by the annual gala hosted by the Epilepsy Foundation of Colorado.

Please consider attending this wonderful — and wonderfully inspiring — evening of live music and dancing, silent and live auctions and decadent foods. The details:

When: 6 p.m., April 14, 2012

Where: Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Denver

Dress: Formal

The striking image on this page was carefully selected to represent this year’s gala. It’s an homage, painted in 1965 by an anonymous artist in homage to Vincent Van Gogh. Titled, “The Red Curtain,” it the  conveys the stark reality of life with epilepsy. The the image doesn’t mask the difficulties of having seizures and also communicates the richness of talent and life that will not be compromised by epilepsy.

We see all the time how young people thrive despite their condition. Among them is Brandon, who will join a select group of teenagers from across the country for “Kids Speak Up” in Washington, D.C., April 1-3. The initiative, sponsored by the national Epilepsy Foundation, gives youth the opportunity to meet with their congressional representatives to discuss epilepsy and push for public funding that helps to care for people with the condition.

CVC Enterprises specializes in nonprofit development and management. For obvious reasons, we especially welcome hearing from organizations devoted to causes related to epilepsy.

 

 

 

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Executives who communicate well make their jobs easier

election  

There’s nothing like a presidential election year to see how vitally important our informed opinions are.

Key word there: informed.

Election years serve as a great reminder that our perception isn’t necessarily reality — or even rooted in it. And yes, there are fantastic reasons why we shouldn’t believe everything we think.

But getting at the truth of a matter can be hard. Really hard. It often requires us to step outside our comfort zones and echo chambers. It requires us to do some homework — and oftentimes, in-depth research. It requires us to engage — and sincerely listen to — people we wouldn’t normally approach (much less listen to). It even requires us to come to terms with information and insight we honestly don’t like.

Truly great leaders — not just the people who are credited with leading well because they make their shareholders big bucks or put their political parties in power — understand the importance of creating environments in which people are appropriately informed of the issues that matter to them. In addition to their commitment to such strong internal communications, these leaders invite — and regularly seek — others’ opinions. When people are fully informed, their opinions about important matters are, too — which makes leadership easier.

Here at Core Values Consulting, we offer executive coaching services that challenge executives to ditch their “my-way-or-the-highway” posture. We challenge them to communicate regularly — and effectively — to build work environments where people are both informed and free to share their opinions and bright ideas. After all, everyone has value and brings something to the table.

We show executives how to:

  • identify and evaluate the unique strengths of individual team members — and then make the most of them;
  • foster positive work environments, where all employees feel valued and, as a result, inspired to make bigger and better contributions;
  • act on employees’ ideas and contributions in ways that advance business goals and make the employees feel heard.

Contact Core Values Consulting to get your company moving in the right directions.

 

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CVC know-how helps lead Douglas Co. Cultural Council

Ann Speer  

I’m Ann, and I’m a co-founder of CVC Enterprises. Sure, our consultancy specializes in executive coaching, corporate team-building and various aspects of project management for companies and nonprofit organizations, but we at CVC are also committed to using our expertise to improve and strengthen the communities in which we live.

For me, that’s Douglas County, Colorado, where I’m so proud to have been appointed by County Commissioner Jill Repella to serve on the Douglas County Cultural Council.

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