Shannon is an ordained minister, coach, and consultant. She brings deep experience and proven expertise to churches, non-profit, and for-profit organizations. Clients come to Shannon for her 15 years’ experience as an ordained minister combined with 25 years as a management consultant, business writer, marketing manager and product development executive. These careers all require strong listening skills, an empathetic ear, and a helping heart. Recent projects include spearheading significant revisions to the bylaws of a large Congregational church; reviving a dormant fundraising effort and helping a team raise an additional $300,000 for a roof repair on an historic building; and coaching a person being promoted to a new academic position who wanted to gain confidence and build skills she would need for the new role. Words are the throughline of these various pursuits. Shannon believes strongly in the power of words to inspire and connect us to a higher purpose, to one another, and to our best selves.
More about Shannon: My superpower is “next.” I always have new projects that intrigue and motivate me. The last several years I have been immersed in genealogy and family history, discovering fascinating details about my father’s side of the family (many of them Methodist preachers in Arkansas married to strong, powerful women), and my mother’s side in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania (my 2nd great grandmother was one of the first female enumerators of the U.S. Federal Census in 1910).
Fun Stuff I’ve Done: I toured the Alps on the back of a motorcycle (mostly fun—see “nervous passenger” below), officiated at my son’s marriage to the most wonderful woman, and spent several winters in California learning about the wines and marveling at the scenery.
Stuff I Love: A new love is coaching—what a useful, life-changing process! I love to walk, cook, and needlepoint (especially in the car—I’m a nervous passenger). I love Christmas Eve (my son’s birthday), books, books, books, seeing my actor friends do amazing things on stage and screens, and having “Fridates” with Larry.
Still Yet To Do: Travel around the world. My husband Larry and I started out on a cruise from Sydney to London just when the pandemic hit. We did a boomerang trip to Australia instead.
Favorite Accomplishment: Presenting The Gospel of Mark from memory; reading scripture in the amphitheater at Chautauqua when Bishop Gene Robinson was preaching; writing and publishing two business books; acting in The Crucible three times—including playing Mary Warren at the Williamstown Theatre Festival; and cooking tasty special meals for friends and family.
Guiding Philosophy: “Your playing small does not serve the world. . . We are all meant to shine, as children do. . . and as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.“ — Marianne Williamson.
My Motto: “A wild patience has taken me this far.” – Adrienne Rich