As I write this, I'm reflecting on ROAM's journey from those early days in 2013 when I was covering client work for my mentors in a tiny beachside home office, not knowing that this temporary arrangement would become the foundation of a 12-year (and beyond!) adventure. Fast forward to today, and what I'm most grateful for: the privilege of being part of other people's most important professional journeys.
The numbers tell one story: we've supported clients announcing more than $1 billion in funding, coordinated communications around nearly a dozen acquisitions, and had more than a dozen clients reach out when they settle into new roles to see how we can work together again.
But those relationships tell the real story. One current client will be celebrating four years of work together in September. Our longest client worked with us for five of our 12 years. And one early client that was supposed to be a three-month engagement turned into 39 months, resulting multiple friendships and partnerships that continue today.
What I'm most grateful for are the relationships that have evolved far beyond traditional vendor-client dynamics. That’s how ROAM works best. The CEO who brings comms to the table before making major strategic decisions, not because communications is directly involved, but because they value the perspective. The founder who still reaches out for advice years after our formal engagement ended. The executive who asks for counsel on work-life balance because they know I understand the challenges of building something meaningful while attempting to maintain personal priorities.
These relationships remind me why I started ROAM: to be the communications partner that companies wish they had internally but can access externally.
One of the most significant developments this year has been the continued evolution of ROAM's informal network model. Rather than building a traditional agency with full-time employees, we've maintained relationships with a trusted group of seasoned PR professionals who step in to support clients when needed.
This flexible approach has allowed us to offer strategic expertise across multiple disciplines while maintaining the personal attention and agility that clients value. More importantly, it's created a community of professionals who support each other's success while maintaining independence to pursue their own entrepreneurial goals.
I'm grateful for colleagues who share ROAM's commitment to working smarter, not harder, on behalf of clients. Their willingness to collaborate and step in during critical moments—especially during my maternity leaves—has made it possible to build a sustainable business that adapts to life's changes while consistently delivering exceptional results.
This year marked several personal milestones that have influenced how I think about business and leadership. We said goodbye to Millie, one of my original office mates from those early SoCal days, last August. Then two months ago, I unexpectedly lost my dad. Both losses—alongside the everyday joys of watching my children grow—have reinforced that authentic relationships are everything.
The clients who reached out during difficult personal moments weren't just being polite—they were demonstrating the kind of genuine partnership that makes this work meaningful. Similarly, the way our informal network rallied to support client work when I needed to step away reminded me that we've built something much stronger than a business model; we've created a community.
This philosophy has shaped how we approach client relationships. Rather than pitching a standard set of services, we listen to understand what each situation truly requires and then build solutions around those specific needs. The flexibility to adapt our approach based on client needs has been one of ROAM's greatest strengths.
Over the last dozen years, some of the most meaningful work has come from unexpected directions. These pivots and expansions remind me that the best client relationships are built on trust and capability rather than narrow service definitions. When clients know they can rely on your strategic thinking and execution capabilities, they're willing to bring you into increasingly complex and high-stakes situations.
I'm grateful for clients who see ROAM as a strategic partner rather than just a communications vendor. It's made the work more interesting, more impactful, and more personally rewarding.
While external recognition isn't the primary measure of success, it's gratifying when the industry acknowledges the work we're doing. Several clients received significant awards and recognition this year and ROAM itself was also honored with an Inc. Power Partners award.
More importantly, we've seen concrete business results from our communications work. Clients have reported increased website traffic, improved customer engagement, and strategic partnerships that originated from PR initiatives.
These outcomes validate the strategic approach we've taken from day one: communications work should drive measurable business results, not just generate media coverage.
After 12 years of building ROAM, I've learned that success isn't measured primarily in revenue or client count, though those metrics matter. Real success is the ability to do meaningful work with people you respect while maintaining the personal life and values that matter to you.
Success is having clients who trust your judgment enough to seek your counsel on decisions that extend far beyond communications. It's building a business model that can adapt to life's changes—both joyful milestones and unexpected losses—without sacrificing quality or integrity. It's creating something that adds genuine value to the world while providing the flexibility to be present for your family and personal priorities.
Most importantly, success is understanding that business is ultimately about people—the trust they place in you, the expertise they bring to collaborations, and the mutual respect that develops over time.
The gratitude I feel for the opportunity to do work that matters with people who inspire me has become the foundation of everything ROAM represents.
As I conclude this reflection on ROAM's 12th year, the thank you that matters most goes to my family—my husband who has supported every crazy idea and late-night work session, my children who have grown up understanding that mom helps companies tell their stories, my parents and siblings who haven’t always fully understood what I do for a career but are there to push me forward when I have my doubts, and yes, even the five dogs who have served as office companions, stress relievers, and constant reminders over the years that sometimes the best response to a challenging day is a good walk around the block.
ROAM exists because they've made space for it in our lives, and it thrives because they've understood from the beginning that meaningful work requires sacrifice, dedication, and the occasional disrupted dinner for an urgent client call.
As we head into year 13, I'm filled with excitement about the opportunities ahead. The communications landscape continues to evolve, creating new challenges and opportunities for companies that are willing to think strategically about their external and internal messaging.
But mostly, I'm grateful for the foundation we've built over 12 years. Strong client relationships, a clear understanding of our strengths and values, and a sustainable business model that allows for both professional growth and personal fulfillment.
The core mission remains unchanged: to be the strategic communications partner that companies trust with their most important messages, during their most critical moments, with the personal attention and strategic expertise that makes the difference between good outcomes and exceptional ones.
Thank you to everyone who has been part of ROAM's journey so far. Here's to whatever comes next.
