Description

Sail YP Academy (Session 2)

Don't forget your homework assignment for Session 2:  Please go to www.ViaMe.org and take the 15-minute Free Profile. Bring the print out on March 19.
 

"Strengths-Based Leadership" 
Presented by:  Laurie Crawford

Understanding your strengths results in a more effective you at work and at home, helps you build strong and diverse teams, and leads you to your full potential. Research shows that investing in strengths, understanding others’ needs, surrounding yourself with the right people, and maximizing their skills are key to effective leadership.
 
This workshop will help you tap into and leverage your natural talents, align your strengths with the right projects and get results that positively affect work culture, innovation, productivity, and ultimately the bottom line.

About Laurie:

Laurie Crawford was raised in Manitowoc and Two Rivers Wisconsin. She became a mom shortly after graduating from high school and followed her new husband out east where he was stationed in the Marine Corp. Just shy of twenty years old, Laurie became the mother of her second beautiful daughter.
 
Laurie’s career began in Northern Virginia working for two associations; the Boone & Crockett Club and the National Spa & Pool Institute. Following was a position with Contel Federal Systems, an information technology government contractor. Laurie thrived and enjoyed working in the government arena, and after eight years decided it was time to return to her roots in Wisconsin.
 
Upon returning, Laurie began working at Point Beach Nuclear Plant and enrolled in college. She was now a single mother and working and going to school full-time. Shortly after, Laurie started working for Manitowoc County as a program assistant at the UW-Extension office. She graduated from Silver Lake College in 2000 with a degree in Human Resource Management and in 2002 with a master’s degree in Management and Organizational Behavior.
 
After five years of working for the County, Laurie was promoted to director of the UW-Extension department. It was during this time that Laurie broadened her life view by becoming a community activist and organizer.  Her activism and professional drive were recognized with a scholarship to the UW-Madison LaFollette School of Public Affairs Women’s Leadership program. Following this experience, Laurie became active with Wisconsin Women in Government – the organization that sponsors the leadership program.
 
When Laurie married her husband Kevin, of 5 ½ years, he was winding down a twenty-year career as Mayor of Manitowoc. Laurie helped Kevin transition successfully into the private sector where he is currently serving in a leadership capacity with an energy company.
 
Laurie’s most recent career took her into the universe of non-profits where she was executive director of the United Way of Manitowoc County. After 4 ½ years, Laurie’s highly charged, fast-paced life led her to the decision to take a one year personal and professional hiatus to determine the direction of the next scene in her life’s journey.
 
During the past year, Laurie has enjoyed traveling, learning, reading, relaxing and spending time with friends and family, especially her two adult daughters, now 27 and 25, her three adult stepchildren and four granddaughters, ages 2 to 6.
 
Laurie has now emerged as a life coach, seasoned with extensive education and professional experience. As a life coach, Laurie helps clients develop solutions and strategies to achieve positive results in areas where they feel stuck, whether in their personal or professional lives.