I was fortunate enough to have brought on Andrea Garson to support me as a CEO during the unprecedented period known as the “Great Resignation” where post-covid triggered a ubiquitous labor shortage. Andrea brought in a true and comprehensive “people” strategy to the Board, the executive team, and I – and given ‘people’ was and continues to be our biggest asset, such a strategy proved invaluable as we fought the war for talent, retention, culture, and performance. She took what has historically been a “defensive” strategy and turned it into an “offensive” one as we endeavored to build a world-class HR operation under her heavy and intentional influence.