Brandi Graham

My career has been a journey of discovering how to transfer skills across industries and meet people at their point of need. I've worked in the sign and graphics field on and off for 20 years, and about 5 years ago I entered healthcare. My current role as a meetings manager came about unexpectedly when I started a wedding planning business with a lifelong friend on the side. I didn't think I would enjoy event planning, but I discovered I loved being able to take my project management and operations skills and apply them in new ways. Now I work for a healthcare company that serves as the bridge between community oncologists and pharmaceutical companies, helping advance cancer treatment. Although I never see a patient directly, I know I'm part of helping people get better care. I've learned that you don't have to be the MD or the provider to make an impact - you can still be part of someone's progression to the best outcome possible. What excites me most is being a resource to my team, whether that's answering questions about Dynamics 365, improving processes to make the on-site team's lives easier, or just making sure people feel comfortable in their roles. I don't look at my job as task-driven - I look at it as how I can be a resource to the team today. Beyond my day job, my heart and passion is the historic church restoration work I do. I'm a member and trustee board member of a small church built between 1892-1895 that was at a crossroads about whether to close, move, or sell. I started asking questions and realized this building is historically significant but no one was really doing anything to preserve it. It started when the pastor said he wanted the church painted, and I sat outside praying and felt like there should be more - more looks like foundation work, historical designations, making sure people know the significance of what was built. I recently secured a local historic designation for the church, which to me represents changing the mindset of a group of people who never saw this entity the way it could and should be seen. I drive 2 hours each way at least twice a week because if something is worth doing, you'll figure out a way. I'm working toward my Lean Six Sigma green belt and black belt certifications because I want to help other nonprofits and churches become more efficient in the future.