Mary’s Message
Looking Back and Moving Forward at UMA
Happy New Year! As we wave goodbye to 2023 and say our tearful goodbyes to a beloved member of our UMA family, we begin the new year with overwhelming gratitude for you – our UMA members and business partners. The UMA Board of Directors and staff appreciate your support for, and engagement in, UMA. We…
Mary’s Message
Curiosity May Lead Us to an Innovative Path Forward Have you ever experienced a time where an unusual topic has come up often in a short stretch of time? I’m not talking about the ongoing, expected conversations like workforce shortages. I’m talking about the stranger, more mundane conversations that you have with folks casually, when…
Mary’s Message
As UMA leaders head into fall with a renewed focus on creating healthy workforce cultures, can we learn something from the high school marching band? At 7:00 AM sharp, on a stroll through the neighborhood, I heard the sounds. Nearly two miles away, through the trees and over the hill, I heard the hallow rumble…
Mary’s Message
The first thing you need to do is look, she said. Huh? I had never been bird watching before but, having been a long-time recreational, backyard bird watcher, I felt sure I knew what I was doing. I could identify finches, nuthatches, flickers, cooper’s hawks, wrens and other Maryland birds. So, when our guide said,…
A Reflective Time
Time expands and contracts in ways we don’t always comprehend. These past two years in particular, time’s rhythm has altered for many of us. Yet, certain milestones invite us to pause and reflect on where we have been and the progress we’ve made. Most of all, it offers a chance to stand still, be present…
Patience and Trust
What a delight to see so many members gather virtually for our Annual Business Meeting and EAGLE Celebration of Excellence this month. It was truly uplifting that so many of you joined your peers to recognize their accomplishments. Your smiling faces and dedicated engagement inspire us to be patient as we await the time when…