The Spark Mill

09/11/2026

As Jaymes wrapped up their internship with us, they reflected on a summer of community engagement work and the lessons it taught them. 💡 Read the blog here:

When I started at The Spark Mill this summer, I was really excited to get to do community engagement. I knew that as an intern I would have a variety of tasks in the office, from transcribing reports to filing and even making store runs. Apart from that, I also knew I was going to get the chance to

09/09/2026

Our search work with Communities In Schools of Virginia continues — this time for their next Administrative Coordinator! ✨ If you're a detail-driven, independent operator who thrives keeping a lot of moving pieces on track, check this role out. 📍The application is now open through October 7th. 🔗 Apply & learn more: https://www.thesparkmill.com/blog-posts/hiring-admincoordinator-cisva

09/08/2026

Our September newsletter hit inboxes this morning! 📬 Read & subscribe: https://mailchi.mp/thesparkmill/september2026?e=21834597f6

09/03/2026

The Spark Mill is Hiring! 📣 Our team is looking for an experienced Consultant to lead client engagements from design through delivery. ✨ If you thrive on relationships, bring an equity lens to your work, and want a job where your growth is tied to the growth of TSM - we’d love to hear from you! 📍Position open thru Sept. 30th. 🔗 Apply & learn more: https://www.thesparkmill.com/blog-posts/hiring-tsmconsultant

09/02/2026

Research from the Chartered Management Institute found that 82% of people entering management positions have not had any proper training. That same research linked accidental management to nearly one in three workers walking out the door. 💡 Read more from Sarah:

 "I was great at my job, then they made me a manager." This was an actual comment made during a training this week. If you have ever thought this, you are not alone. It's one of the most common conversations we have in coaching. Someone was the best case manager, the best progr

08/28/2026

At TSM, we think about marketing and communications support as an ongoing relationship rather than a one-time deliverable. A plan is like a blueprint; the ex*****on is a practice. 💡Read Piper's blog:

Somewhere in your shared drive, there's probably…maybe.. a marketing plan. Perhaps it came out of a board retreat, a strategic planning process, or a burst of new-year ambition. It has goals, target audiences, even a content calendar. And at some point, maybe a few months after it was finished, it...

08/20/2026

Everyone can point to their strategic plan and say, "this is where we're headed." But the part that's hardly talked about is implementation. 💡 Read Victoria's blog:

Strategic planning is usually what we talk about most — it's the big, shiny thing everyone's waiting for at the end of the 6-8 months we've spent together, because there's finally direction. Everyone can point to it and say, "this is where we're headed." But the part that's hardly talked a

08/17/2026

Full circle moment with our 2024 Strategic Planning client Williamsburg House of Mercy at their staff retreat last week - getting to see progress on their roadmap, celebrating wins of the past year, and gearing up for the new goals ahead! ✨

📌 Mid-plan and wanting to re-center on what’s next? We can facilitate check-in retreats with past clients that help foster momentum & energize your team! Reach out if that’s you!

08/11/2026

Avi has been spending a lot of time keynoting rooms of leaders recently. In those rooms, he has been sharing the same idea - when you want to carry everything, you end up carrying things you were never meant to carry. 💡Read the full blog:

I spent time recently with two groups of leaders. About 400 people in all. Between the two groups we kept coming back to one main idea. The significance of what we carry. Every leader in those rooms wanted the same thing. They want to do everything possible for their clients, their stakeholders, an

08/06/2026

Last month, Virginia had its most significant wave of employment legislation since 2020. Sarah recaps the big things & highlights the do-nows in this blog. Read here:

This post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Employment law is complex and fact-specific — we strongly encourage you to consult with a qualified Virginia employment attorney before making changes to your policies, agreements, or HR practices based on the infor...