Scott Cutlip

When I first met Scott Cutlip, I really didn’t know who he was and how famous he was. He was so down-to-earth and approachable. I was a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison walking down the hall on the 5th floor of Vilas Hall, when he happened to call me into his office. He was a professor and had that rumpled, elder statesman look. I was a journalism major who wrote for the Daily Cardinal, a kid in t-shirt and jeans.  He sat me down and asked me if I’d ever considered a career in public relations. I answered that I didn’t even know what public relations was. And, he handed me a brochure called “Why Girls…

Dad

My dad was a bridge builder. He was a character too. Anyone who met him always remembered him. He had that kind of personality. What I’m most grateful to my dad for is his sense of adventure. He was a risk-taker. And, he lived life to its fullest, whether diving or flying. If not for my dad, I might have stayed in the Midwest my entire life. Because of him, I had the courage to step out of my comfort zone, and go on adventures around the world. Thanks Dad!

Mom

My mom was a teacher. To teach is to touch a life, and my mom touched lots of lives, myself included. She dreamed of being a dress designer, made many of her own clothes, and even created her own Florida casual wear resort line called “Doodlebugs by Dode.” Her parents encouraged her to get a teaching degree to fall back on. She took their advice, and never looked back. A home economics graduate, she taught hundreds of teenagers how to cook and sew. In her spare time, after her children were raised, she taught adults, primarily women, the lost arts that she knew so well: embroidery, knitting, and needlepoint. She gave me so many gifts, too many…

Welcome

Welcome to the Heartland…where the rivers flow on with creativity…and bridges span the waterways…connecting people and closing gaps with words. Right now, with the spring thaw, the river is surging and bubbling up over its banks on the verge of cresting. Come with me for a walk along the shore. We can watch the eagles soar. Or join me in a kayak…riding the waves, going with the flow, and paddling…just barely…with the ducks. In my heart, I am a communicator. Listening. Processing. Soliciting Feedback. Through the twists and turns of my career, communications has been at its core. Along the way, mentors have guided me, and I’m grateful. This is my story; enjoy the ride.