As I’m working in my home office, the snow continues to fall outside, turning the landscape once again into a wintry wonderland. Was it really just two weeks ago we were in sunny San Antonio, land of a hundred margarita variations and fresh, piquant salsa at every meal? (Foodies, see the recipe which follows!)
For those of you who were unable to attend, you did miss a special weekend. Aside from the sun-kissed strolls on the River Walk and the fabulous Mexican food, the M&D Retreat itself was quite remarkable. I’ve attended this GALA event for five years running, and I don’t recall any that felt as collegial and upbeat as this one.
The highlight of the weekend for me was the reminiscing Dennis Coleman and Willi Zwozdesky shared as we gathered together in song (thank you, Jane!) to toast GALA’s 30th Anniversary. It was a poignant reminder of just how far we have come. On the heels of hearing about Robin’s warm welcome as luncheon speaker for Chorus America’s recent board meeting, Dennis reminded us how years ago, a choir could not perform at ACDA if it had “gay” in its name.
Much more significantly than enhancing musical excellence, growing membership, and bolstering sustainability, it is increasingly clear that our voices ARE being heard – the world IS changing.
From my perspective, we are solidly and uniquely positioned for even greater impact in creating a world where all voices are free – both within our own borders and beyond. If you have a brainstorm or see an opportunity, please let us know. We are listening.
Dare to dream BIG and have a great 2014! Yours in song – Mindy
Several of us had the good fortune of dining at Acenar in San Antonio. I’d hoped to secure the chef’s recipe for their amazing duck chalupa, but understandably she’s reluctant to share it. (I do have it from a reliable source that the secret rub ingredient is Chinese 5-spice powder!) Chef was willing to share her recipe for Jicama Shrimp Tacos. Enjoy!
Jicama Shrimp Tacos
Marinade for shrimp
- 12oz. Chipotle in adobo sauce
- 4 oz. Tomato Salsa
- ½ bunch Cilantro
- 4 oz. Fresh Garlic
- 2 T. salt
- 16oz. Blended Oil
- Blend all ingredients except oil. While blending, slowly add oil; set aside .
- Cut 2 lbs. of shrimp into small pieces and add the marinade to shrimp and allow flavors to incorporate. This procedure can be done a day in advance.
For the Tacos
- 1 ea Jicama
- 1ea Leek, Julienned and fried
- 1 oz. Tamarindo Puree
- 4oz. Pico de Gallo (mixture of diced onions, tomatoes, jalapenos and cilantro)
- ¼ tsp. Garlic Puree
- 1T. Chipotle Butter (mixture of 4oz. butter and 1oz. chipotle sauce)
- 1 T. Blended Oil
- 1 T. White Wine
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- Peel Jicama and slice into thin slices using a slicer or a mandoline. Add sliced jicama to ice water to keep the texture crisp. Set aside.
- Sautee shrimp with oil in a heated skillet. Add Pico de Gallo, garlic and white wine.
- Finish with chipotle butter. Season to taste.
- Remove Jicama from water and dry. Add the shrimp mixture and top with fried leeks and Tamarindo puree
Highly skilled at working on both the individual’s personal growth needs and the organization’s needs to advance its business agenda, she assists talented professionals to better connect with their unique qualities and life journeys, and to leverage that awareness to achieve personal and professional life goals. With employers, she applies sensitivity to the challenges of today’s marketplace with her expertise in human dynamics and current leadership strategies to optimize executive talent for sustainable organization success.
From 2001 to 2008 Mindy was co-founder and principal consultant with CorporateHOPE, a management consulting and leadership development firm serving a variety of professions across the corporate, public and nonprofit sectors. CorporateHOPE’s hallmark was an advanced four-day program for executive and high potential professional women which produced breakthrough, transformational development through a uniquely designed process of discovery. Prior to CorporateHOPE, Mindy provided leadership coaching and organization effectiveness intervention as a Vice President in the Philadelphia region of Manchester Consulting. She co-directed an international change management intervention during the merger of two global pharmaceutical firms, and was a key developer of a pilot venture to merge one of Manchester's leadership coaching and development programs with a global leader in technology solutions for colleges and universities.
Mindy held two human resources leadership posts during seven years with UNUM Corporation, spearheading the creation of competency-based recruiting and development processes, creating an internal Career Development Center, and co-designing UNUM America’s assessment-based Leadership Development Process. She also led the collaborative effort to make UNUM a learning organization, which contributed to the company being named one of “ten best U.S. companies to work for” by Working Mother magazine.
As head of human resources for insurance and real estate development firm Morse, Payson & Noyes, Mindy achieved internal pay equity and greater labor market competitiveness, which contributed to a 25% reduction in employee turnover in less than two years.
In her responsibilities for performance improvement interventions at Kimberly-Clark, she played a key role in the successful start-up of a $22 million Automated Storage and Retrieval System, and designed a Train the Trainer course that defined a new standard for training quality.
Mindy has completed a variety of professional development programs, including two years study towards certification with the Pennsylvania Gestalt Institute. She earned a Master of Education from the University of Oregon and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Kansas, where she was selected a Watkins-Berger Scholar and graduated with “Highest Distinction”.
Continuing her life-long passion for music (piano and voice), Mindy sings in the Anna Crusis Women’s Choir, America’s longest continuously operating women’s choir, which focuses on promoting social justice through music. Mindy serves as president of the Board of Directors for GALA Choruses. She is active in Cencibel, a Philadelphia-based women’s group dedicated to the appreciation of fine wine and food, and is also an avid ornamental gardener. She resides in Wayne, Pennsylvania, with her husband Bill and their cats, Layla and Rosie.
- Anniversary Whirlwind - July 19, 2015
- From Board President Mindy Taylor - February 10, 2014
