Think Local, Live Global
Trans-Atlantic Leadership FAQ
What's up with Portugal?
It's a beautiful country with friendly people and a fascinating history. I live in wonderful Coimbra, right near a university that is older than the US. (!!)
How do we handle the legalities of paying someone living in Europe? Are there tax implications for us?
Absolutely not a problem. I am U.S. citizen with an active U.S. tax home in Illinois, meaning that I can be paid exactly like any other domestic employee or independent contractor. I handle the taxes.
If a sudden operational crisis hits our local staff or building during our afternoon, you’ll be off-the-clock or asleep. How do we handle emergencies?
As a former Executive Director, I know that crises don't keep a schedule. My availability is built around your core operating hours. While my 'deep focus' work may happen in my morning, my overlapping window with your team runs well into my evening, meaning I am actively online and available via phone, WhatsApp, and Slack during your main operational day.
Furthermore, part of my First 30 Days framework is establishing a clear local chain of command for physical emergencies (like building issues). If a digital or financial crisis occurs later in your afternoon, I am instantly reachable via my dedicated U.S. phone number. I have spent decades managing crises, and a few time zones will not prevent me from providing steady, immediate leadership when it counts.
Our team is used to an on-site leader. Will a remote director hurt staff morale or feel disconnected from our culture?
I am very familiar with working remotely, and on the job as your Interim Executive Director, I work US hours. I synchronize best with the ET and CT zones. Board meeting at 6p Central on the third Monday of the month? I'll be there.
I find that what hurts staff morale most isn't a remote manager—it's broken tools, messy databases, and administrative chaos that keeps them from doing their jobs. When a CRM is buggy or policies are unclear, staff gets burned out.
My goal is to be a highly visible, supportive partner via regular video syncs, but my primary value to morale is structural. By taking the burden of fixing messy data silos, overhauling workflows, and rewriting board handbooks off their plates, I am removing their daily frustrations. I clear the administrative path so your on-the-ground team can focus entirely on the mission they love. I build culture through operational excellence and by making their daily work lives easier.