I love to sail. I love being out on the water, feeling the power of the wind, watching the sails fill with air and propel the boat across the waves, and being a member of a crew. When sailing with a crew, I am always impressed by the way the sailors work together. Each person knows what they are supposed to do and takes care of their own role, whether it is taking the helm, hoisting the mainsail, bringing across the traveler, trimming the sails to the wind, or hiking out to balance the boat’s weight.
A good sailor, regardless of their job on the boat, continuously watches for slight changes in the wind, pays attention to the way the boat is riding in the water, and constantly looks to see what the other crew members are doing. Is an adjustment needed? Does someone need help? Is everybody working synchronously to make sure that the boat is on course and trimmed to get the most speed? Is everyone safe? When the boat is heeling well, the sheets are set, the wind is blowing your hair, and your friends are at your side, all is right with the world.
The West Wind team is a lot like a sailing crew. We work well independently. We work well together. We notice when somebody needs support. We keep an eye to projects that are underway and might need some extra effort or adjustment. We listen to each other for opportunities to contribute to the collective work. We solve hard problems together. We laugh together.
The West Wind crew sails well together in good weather and in bad, but our crew is changing. Deanna Hill, Senior Policy Analyst, and long-time team member has accepted a position on the faculty at Drexel University. All of us are extremely happy for Deanna’s success and congratulate her on this wonderful opportunity, but we are also sad that our crew-mate will no longer be at our side on deck.
Deanna has been a tremendous asset to our team. She has a brilliant mind and is a consummate learner – always asking probing questions and seeking new ideas and novel solutions to problems. She is a hard worker, generating work of the highest quality, consistently meeting the needs of our clients, and producing outstanding products that advanced the field of policy analysis and equity leadership. Deanna had a unique way of bringing the best out of the whole team by gently nudging us to think more deeply, challenging our assumptions, and encouraging our growth. Her light-hearted sense of humor brought joy to our meetings and a sense of fun to our day-to-day routines. I learned a lot from Deanna as we worked together and consider her a close friend.
I know Deanna will be fantastic in her new role at Drexel University. She will serve her students well and support her new team of colleagues with the same enthusiasm and grace that she demonstrated on our team. The whole team at West Wind sends her well-wishes for all the best in her future work. My personal wish for Deanna, as she leaves our crew and joins a new one, comes from a quote by Mark Twain. “…throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”