Compass Communications LLC

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Compass Communications is a strategic communications firm, providing training and consulting, with expertise in all areas of communication, especially crisis communications, media relations, and public relations.

Being invited to share honest feedback on the first issue of Insight on Philanthropy was a conversation I appreciated.Am...
06/17/2026

Being invited to share honest feedback on the first issue of Insight on Philanthropy was a conversation I appreciated.

Amelia and Angela from Insight Publications asked for my perspective after I voiced concerns I've heard from both nonprofits and corporations. I value that willingness to listen, especially when the goal is creating something that can inform, connect, and strengthen our philanthropic community.

I'm curious to see what emerges in the second issue and how the publication helps elevate the important work happening across our region.

(And yes, we picked that spot because of the "photo bomber" over Amelia's shoulder!)

Eight months.That's how long it took between an initial LinkedIn message and a dream becoming reality.Last August, Melis...
06/16/2026

Eight months.

That's how long it took between an initial LinkedIn message and a dream becoming reality.

Last August, Melissa Haen reached out after seeing a post where I shared that I wished I had started my business sooner. She told me she had been wanting to start her own business for years and that she needed that final push.

This spring, she did it. She left her corporate role, launched her own business, and is now helping organizations create events and experiences that bring people together.

When we recently connected, I appreciated how thoughtfully she's approaching her new chapter. Building a business is one thing. Building one around creating meaningful experiences for others is something entirely different.

We talked about entrepreneurship, event planning, growth, risk, partnerships, and the reality that as businesses grow, so do the responsibilities that come with them. We even found opportunities where our work may intersect in the future.

Since our meeting, I have also reflected on how many people are sitting on an idea, a business, or a dream that they've been considering for years.

At some point, there is no more research to do. No more preparation. No more waiting for the perfect time.

There is only the decision to begin.

Congratulations, Melissa, on betting on yourself and making it happen. Starting a business takes courage. Watching someone turn "someday" into "today" never gets old.

Recently, thanks to the generosity of my friend Brian, I had the opportunity to attend the Green Bay Charity Softball Ga...
06/16/2026

Recently, thanks to the generosity of my friend Brian, I had the opportunity to attend the Green Bay Charity Softball Game and enjoy a VIP experience that included great conversation, networking, and time with Hall of Fame wide receiver Donald Driver.

Although I admire (and as a Minnesota Vikings fan sometimes regret) what Donald accomplished on the field, I respect how he continues to show up in the community, using his platform to support charitable causes and create opportunities for others.

The evening was a reminder of how much good can happen when people leverage their influence, relationships, and resources to give back.

I also brought my best friend Tara into a part of my world she doesn't often get to see. Watching her enjoy an experience that had long been on her bucket list was every bit as meaningful as the event itself. And I loved that she could get to know my dear friend Alyson as well.

The softball game was fun. The offense beat the defense. I somehow came home with an autographed football. And we managed to get out of the stadium before the rain arrived.

But what I'll remember most is the kindness that made the evening possible and the chance to share it with people I care about.

A couple of recent events confirmed that Gen X may be physically incapable of throwing away a perfectly good notepad.A f...
06/12/2026

A couple of recent events confirmed that Gen X may be physically incapable of throwing away a perfectly good notepad.

A friend recently found and gifted me several Touchpoint Health Plan notepads from our days working there before Touchpoint was acquired by UnitedHealthcare in 2004.

Then at a recent Heart of the Valley Chamber of Commerce VIBE (business leaders over age 40) gathering, Beth handed out notepads from 2010.

And you know what? We laughed, and we understood.

Maybe it's because many of us grew up with parents who washed Ziploc bags, saved wrapping paper, and had a drawer full of rubber bands that might be useful someday.

Or maybe we just appreciate good office supplies.

Either way, I refuse to apologize for using a perfectly functional notepad that's old enough to vote.

In a world that encourages us to replace everything, there's something satisfying about using what we already have.

So yes, I'm happily taking notes in a notepad from a company that hasn't existed in decades.

A few observations from working remotely at my friend Kim's cabin in Michigan this week: • Flannel is business casual in...
06/11/2026

A few observations from working remotely at my friend Kim's cabin in Michigan this week:
• Flannel is business casual in the Upper Peninsula.
• Zoom calls sound better when there's a lake outside the window.
• Some of the best strategy sessions happen after dinner with a glass of wine.
• Staring at the water is an underrated productivity tool.
• Friendship deserves calendar space, too.

For the last couple of days, we sat facing each other in a window nook overlooking the lake, each working away between conversations about life, family, faith, and the people we love.

It was part work trip, part vacation, part reset button.

One of the gifts of entrepreneurship is occasionally being able to move your office somewhere that reminds you what you're working for in the first place.

We ask young high school students to make some pretty big decisions, pretty early, before graduation.Choose a college. P...
06/10/2026

We ask young high school students to make some pretty big decisions, pretty early, before graduation.

Choose a college. Pick a major or a field. Get a job now in a path that may shape the next several decades of your life.

Recently, I met Addison Mahn, who was just days away from graduating high school. I was struck by how intentionally she is already exploring her future. Through internships, work experience, and networking conversations, she's gaining exposure to different careers before stepping onto a college campus.

Our conversation made me think about how much has changed. Students who gain real-world experience early often enter college with greater focus about what they want, what they don't want, and how to make the most of their education.

That's a tremendous advantage.

It also raises questions. Are we expecting teenagers to know too much, too soon? If someone graduates college still figuring things out, are they behind or simply developing on a different timeline?

We also talked about the many paths available today. Four-year universities. Technical colleges. Certifications. Apprenticeships. Increasingly, the question isn't just "Where are you going?" but "What outcome are you trying to achieve?"

I left our conversation impressed, not because Addison has all the answers, but because she's asking thoughtful questions and actively seeking experiences to help her find them.

Congratulations on your graduation, Addison. You're already making an impact, and I can't wait to see where your curiosity, initiative, and hard work take you next.

I'm curious: How early should students be expected to have a sense of their career direction?

Remember the card catalog? That little wooden drawer full of possibilities most people never thought to search?Appleton ...
06/10/2026

Remember the card catalog? That little wooden drawer full of possibilities most people never thought to search?

Appleton Public Library is still that, just with a lot more drawers than most nonprofits realize.

I recently connected with Peter Kotarba, Adult Services and Engagement Librarian, and what he walked me through deserves its own entry in the catalog, filed under "partnerships your nonprofit should already have."

Here's what's cataloged and waiting for nonprofit and service organizations:

🗂️ Community resource tables: a dedicated space inside the library where your constituents visit. Whether your mission touches childcare, health, housing, or any other community need, this puts your resources directly in front of the people looking for them.

📖 Curated book displays: APL features a month-long display tied to your cause or campaign. The Women's Fund for the Fox Valley Region did this during Women's History Month. Visibility, credibility, and community reach, all in one card pull.

🏛️ Meeting and event space: the newly renovated library has a community room that holds up to 315 people, available free for nonprofits and community-focused events. Smaller conference rooms too.

🎨 Artist-in-Residence program: collaborate on arts programming, connect with local artists, and get your work into the library's gallery space.

🤝 Real community partnership: APL isn't just offering space. They want to co-create programming with the organizations doing meaningful work in this community.

The library reopened in February 2025 after a $40 million renovation including co-working areas, creation studios, and spaces built for collaboration.

If you lead or work for a nonprofit in the Fox Cities, flip open that drawer and see what's inside. Reach out to Peter and find out what a partnership could look like for your organization. Email: [email protected]

Your card has been waiting.

City of Appleton Government

Many nonprofits most deserving of support are often the ones you've never heard of.They're small. Sometimes all-voluntee...
06/09/2026

Many nonprofits most deserving of support are often the ones you've never heard of.

They're small. Sometimes all-volunteer. Serving a specific neighborhood, a specific population, a specific purpose, and doing it well. They're not trying to be everything to everyone. They've chosen their lane and they stay in it.

That focus is actually their strength. It's also why they fly under the radar.

I met with Scott Sawinski, new manager of Business & Community Development at Prospera Credit Uniotn. We discussed the reality of small marketing teams inside nonprofits, the increasingly competitive funding environment, and what it takes to tell a story that moves people to act.

We also talked about the organizations that fall through the cracks.

These aren't organizations have loyal volunteers, a clear mission, and strong results. They're not basic needs — not hunger, not homelessness, not healthcare, not transportation, not childcare — so they often don't trigger the same urgency or impact in funders or donors. They're the arts programs, the mentorship organizations, the environmental groups, the niche service providers filling gaps that won't show up in a headline.

And the hard truth is that in a crowded funding landscape, impact alone doesn't win resources. The ability to communicate that impact does. That gap between the work being done and the story being told is where a lot of worthy organizations lose ground.

If you know one of these organizations, they probably need more than you think. Money. Volunteers. Connections. Someone willing to help them tell their story better.

I am a part-time travel agent planning a personal trip to Europe this fall, and I wanted to flag something that could sn...
06/05/2026

I am a part-time travel agent planning a personal trip to Europe this fall, and I wanted to flag something that could sneak up on you.

Starting in the fall of 2026, U.S. travelers will need to apply for ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System), similar to ESTA in the U.S., before visiting many European countries.

🌐 What it is: A quick, online travel authorization (not a visa) that’s electronically linked to your passport.
🌐 Why it exists: It’s being introduced by the European Union to strengthen border security by pre-screening travelers before they arrive.
🌐 How it works:
• Apply online before your trip.
• Answer basic travel/security questions.
• Pay a small fee.
• In most cases, approval comes quickly and is valid for multiple trips over a few years.

The rollout timing has shifted before, so it may not impact every 2026 trip, but it is coming.

When a crisis happens, the time to meet your Public Information Officer counterparts in the region is not right after th...
06/04/2026

When a crisis happens, the time to meet your Public Information Officer counterparts in the region is not right after the scanner goes off.

Back in 2015, my friend and colleague Chad Doran and I saw that gap and started a regional PIO network to connect the crisis communicators — police, fire, EMS, municipalities, counties, healthcare, schools and private sector — across northeast Wisconsin. Life happens, things evolve, and that group faded.

Last week it came back. Better.

I am grateful that Eric Rasmussen, Paula Van De Leygraaf and Daniel Kane, directors of Winnebago, Outagamie, and Brown County Emergency Management, took the initiative to revive and reshape this into the Tri-County Region PIO Group, asking me to join them. We created a mission, a vision and a plan to grow.

Thanks to our first presenter, Lori Blakeslee from Green Bay Area Public School District, who talked about how to validate and respond to negative social media.

Crisis communication is better and more impactful when the communicators know each other, trust each other, and have discussed the hard questions before the hard day arrives.

This group is building that foundation. I am proud to have planted a small seed a decade ago and even prouder to see what it's becoming.

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