WELCOME TO AT THE STARTING LINE
I want to welcome you to At the Start’s inaugural At the Starting Line Newsletter. I’ve been quietly building At The Start (ATS) for the last two years and I’m ready to start talking about and sharing our work with my network and community.
I started this business in 2017 as a side coaching consultancy for teens and young adults. It became my full-time focus in mid-2023, with a shift and broader focus on internal communications, HR strategy & consulting, and executive coaching—drawing on my career experience, while still providing coaching support for young adults and new professionals.
Over the last two years, the business has evolved, as has the world at large and the ways of working. In this world of uncertainty, so much is out of our control. Yet, there are still things we can control and influence to bring about the change we want to see, to create the world and lives we want to have. I’m a strong believer that people can do and be so much more than they believe possible. And that extends to leaders and organizations. That sentiment fuels the work we do at ATS.
OUR MOTIVATION
I know that work can be meaningful and fulfilling and that there are great companies that provide the type of challenging environments where employees can work, grow, and thrive. I know this because I’ve worked at great places. My goal is to help people and organizations to find and build these work experiences.
WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO
Managing the Great Place to Work® process for an iconic consumer brand, enabling significant advancement on the 2025 Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For® list
Supporting employee communications as two public health departments (mental/behavioral health and substance use prevention and recovery) combine into one
Advising multiple organizations through CEO change for retention and understanding
Establishing foundational internal communications systems and practices for global manufacturing companies
Acting as interim Chief People Officer for a growing organization to retain culture and performance as it scales
Partnering with C-suite leaders and managers through executive coaching
Recruiting for marketing communications roles
Creating core HR materials for a NY-based non-profit
MEET THE TEAM
As you can see, it’s been busy. And it’s only possible because of our small and mighty team, composed of the best humans who have deep speciality skills and a drive to help others.
Sarah Sanzari is an HR and recruiting expert who I have worked with for 10+ years. We are close colleagues and even closer friends. Here’s what she has to say about her work:
“My passion lies in relationship building and helping people find their perfect fit. At ATS, my focus is on talent acquisition and providing general HR support for our clients. It’s so rewarding to connect talented people with opportunities that align with their skills and career aspirations. Looking ahead, I’m excited to see ATS continue to grow. Whether it’s expanding our client roster or bringing in more talented team members, I can’t wait to see what’s next. I’m grateful to be part of such an incredible journey.”
Olivia Corey, MCCN and I were connected through a colleague (shoutout Isabel!) in 2023. Her background in leadership consulting and organizational design complements our services in just the right way. Here’s her take:
“What excites me most? The variety. No two projects are the same, and every day brings a new opportunity. Whether it’s making performance management more transparent, rolling out a company-wide change initiative, or improving how teams collaborate, I get to work on projects that have a real impact and hopefully make it better for those involved.”
Finally, this year we officially became a family business when my daughter Isabella Ramos came on board. Isabella is a recent college graduate with a degree in communications. While her life passion most likely lies in live music and social justice, she’s finding her place on our team and learning along the way. In her words:
“I am grateful to be working on a team of like minded people who are really in the business of helping to make a difference in people’s lives. It is obvious through our conversations that the team here is just as motivated by that aspect of the work as I am, and for that I am very grateful.”
Along the way, I’ve also had the incredible support and partnership of Lia LoBello Reynolds. Together, we’re a dynamic duo on client work. One lesson I’ve learned on this journey is that when you do work you love, with people you love, everything else falls into place.
WHAT COMES NEXT?
As I close out on this opening message, I’d like to share a final thought inspired by our logo—a bird in flight from a distinct point. It represents growth, movement, potential, and getting started from wherever you are. That is where At the Start will meet you, and where I hope this newsletter finds you. I would love to share more of our journey, expertise, and experience with you in this newsletter and to connect with you separately. Feel free to subscribe or reach out!