The end of an era: Cire Omni Solutions closes its offices.

It is strange and bittersweet to be writing these words but Cire Omni Solutions will be closing its offices in 2018. More on that in a moment.

What an enormously busy year for my team. I couldn’t be more proud of the work they have done for our clients and the public. It’s funny, when I started this little business nine years ago, I never imagined where the journey would lead. Up until two years ago, the company really was about me: my knowledge of Human Resources, my talent as a radio guest and public speaker, my ability to draw in clients. Even as I assembled a solid team behind me, I still held the reins tightly, as the face of the company, my name and my “voice” were on every service and product that went out the door.

Then, near the start of 2016, I committed to an opportunity that had me commuting weekly to Chicago before finally moving there later in the year. Suddenly, I couldn’t make every decision on my own, I couldn’t drive down the street to see with my own eyes what was happening. I had to give up some control - and I had to do that while finding my own way in Chicago. Not easy for someone who likes control and who never thought he would leave Washington, DC (unless he was married and following his husband).

But you don’t grow from doing what is comfortable. Things stay the same because you stick to the same routines; you stay in your lane. So I put [most of] my focus on Chicago. I still green-lighted projects and red-penned documents. I still lent my name and reputation to client acquisition...but I let my talented COS team do what I hired them to do. The team in DC struggled with the new found freedom to act on their own. (Initially.) It wasn't long, however, until our regular check in calls turned from 10% update and 90% asking my advice to 65% update, 20% asking advice, and 15% client acquisition planning. We soon opened an office in Dallas, taking on a major client there.

As many know, not long after the Dallas office opened, an order came from the White House, banning transgender Americans from serving in our military. There were other initiatives around ACA, immigration, and wages - things on which I personally advised the previous administration in multiple talks I gave at the White House - that were now being threatened, risking the well being of our country and our people.

In response, I sent my whole Dallas team to Washington to support the team there in their efforts to research, build strategy, and respond. I became more involved again, my team and I working closely with some former political contacts and lobbyists. I have said before that I will likely never be asked to speak at this White House but I can tell you with certainty: they know my name. They know the hard work of my team. My team knows that even if we did not win the wars, we won a few battles and, more importantly, we stood for what is right.

In the end, it wasn’t easy for “my kids” to return to Dallas. Even as they were heading back to family and friends (and clients!), I know that they felt they were leaving before finishing what they came to do but I am proud of them. I am proud of both teams.

About six weeks ago, I made my first visit to the new COS office in Dallas. (I know what you are thinking. No, I am a bad boss...I had not visited up until this point.) The DC team - primarily my amazing head of operations - had been responsible for getting things off the ground and though I interviewed and gave final approval on the staff, we had never met in person. Despite their obvious nerves [how could anyone be nervous around me???] they were so proud as they took me on a tour of the little office in downtown Dallas. We had breakfast in the office, talked about plans, growing client base and energized by their public policy work, more ways to serve/give back. All in all, it was an incredibly fulfilling day.

Strange then that, 30,000 feet in the air, somewhere between Dallas and Chicago, I started making plans to shut down both the DC and Dallas Cire Omni Solutions offices. (Maybe that is why my plane caught on fire...)

And so, after several weeks of planning, it is official: I will closing the offices in 2018. Not an easy decision after seeing how the company has evolved and grown over the last nine years. Growing up, I always wanted to live in DC and opening my first office there brought a huge feeling of success. So to see that little Cire Omni Solutions sign come off of my doors is not going to be easy. (Actually, it still says "Cire Solutions" because I never updated the sign when I rebranded to recognize the broader public speaking and executive, career, and life coaching services.)

It is, however, a new age and who am I if not someone who believes in reinvention? So, offices will close...but it is not the end. It is a new way of working. We are getting with the times, so to speak. Starting in 2018, my teams will be working from their homes. So much of what we do has the team visiting client spaces and much of the day to day work itself is accomplished through phone, video, and document sharing. Closing the offices means we can continue to do what we do while freeing up resources to serve our clients better.

Freeing resources also means having additional capital for programs that are very important to me. In 2018, we kick of my community mentoring program: working with my own teams and local businesses to help young people learn about business, management, teamwork, and integrity. I have always believed in developing future HR talent...we will now expand to help communities build leadership talent in our youth.

We are also going to increase our giving programs. Taking care of others has long been a personal project for me but in 2018, with capital that would have gone to maintaining an office presence, we will kick into high gear efforts to support autism awareness, children’s medical, animal welfare, our LGBTQ community, and more. This summer, we will work to give away ten pairs of Enchroma glasses to help the color blind and we will broaden the work I started, coaching military veterans and their families on interviewing techniques.

So while closing the offices feels like a step backwards - something with which I just need to come to terms - I project that it will only propel the company forward, truly living up to the name Cire Omni Solutions and our commitment to helping people and companies be better.

To my team, for who I am grateful, thank you, and thanks to all of our clients and friends. Happy holidays and happy New Year! Looking forward to working with all of you in 2018!