Happy Anniversary to Me.

It’s my 2-year anniversary with LearnPlatform by Instructure and I just need to get some things off my chest.??

(It’s also my 42nd birthday next week, and being in your 40s, you come to really appreciate certain things).

Since it’s my work anniversary and my birthday soon, I going out on a limb and politely asking that if we’ve ever interacted in the past in some way, and you care at all about this post, please share it far and wide!??

Here it goes: I’ve spent the last two years working in a sales role at LearnPlatform in the Pacific Northwest, Colorado, and other Western States.?

It has been a true highlight of my career and I’m extremely grateful.?I want to share why:

I work for a company that genuinely cares about their customers. Where customer success and sales go hand-in-hand, in action. Every. Day.

I work for a company where we know people by name, face, and district (ESA, SEA, and other organizations) without hesitation.

I work in a role where I am always learning - from my team and from my customers.?

Our little company is now part of Instructure, and it’s opened up doors to wonderful new colleagues, and endless opportunities for more successful partnerships.

The best, best, best part though, is the people I get to work with. I’m going to call out some people here and really hope they don’t mind because I didn’t ask in advance about tagging them. (Ping me if you do mind, and I'll remove your tag!)

I was hired 2 years ago, and have since then been both challenged and supported by one of the most inspiring, thoughtful, and intelligent leaders in Jonathan Doney .

I got to participate in and watch our company grow and flourish alongside - and because of - the contributions of my very smart, knowledgeable, and dedicated sales peers in Rob Residori , Hillary S. , Cristina Brown , and Carl Vellenga , as well as others like Kerry Maxedon and Carl Moore , who have since moved on but who were huge in supporting my own growth in those earlier months.

I witnessed and benefitted from brilliant leadership in Salma Ibrahim as she helped guide us all to succeed and prosper in our own roles while our "little" company was propelled into new levels of growth and through an acquisition.

I was inspired by Ebony Haywood, M.Ed., SPHR as she gracefully guided us through many new changes and complex processes. Knowing that she is a single momma like me, I cannot help but be extra inspired by her.

I’ve been able to build networks based on successful customer partnerships alongside my CSMs in Madra Cherubini and Elizabeth Olsen Stretti , and alongside my Implementation colleagues in Karla Sison and Jody Addeo .

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Being passionate about Customer Service and Sales, I’m in awe on a regular basis about the passion with which our Customer Success Team is lead by Erin Curran (She / Her) .

Our Product, Engineering, and Enablement teams are led by exceptional people who are always open and interested in taking the customer experience to the next step. Kara Virgallito Marolt , Kelsey Zielinski , ?? Lauren Auchter and Rico Garcia - that's you. Nathan Naramor , your work and your influence have not been forgotten.

One of my original colleagues and someone who was part of the decision to hire me, Gregory Terry , has since stepped up in his role and responsibilities, assuming his seat at the table with a lot of new pressure and a ton of grace. He continues to support me.

Ron Lestock, MBA has also stepped into a new level of responsibility and even though we don't work together directly that much, I know he always has my back if a need arises.

I have an exceptional boss in Dena Mapes .?She is my colleague, my superior, and my friend, and I’m really happy with the arrangement. I actually love when she tells me what to do because I know she listens to me and values my feedback, always. There is 100% mutual respect, and it gives me pleasure to deliver results for her. This wasn't always easy, but we worked together to achieve this relationship very quickly, and it's one of the most rewarding relationships I've ever had.

I've gotten to reconnect and work again with an older colleague, Krissy T. who I’ve (re)discovered is a partner in collaboration and we complement each other's work well.?

I even discovered that a colleague from my first #edtech job ever at Compass Learning (now Edgenuity Inc.) is now at Instructure too. This wasn't any old job, this was the OG EdTech job, the one that started everything! Much Love to you, CompassLearning! And, Martin Rodriguez , that's you I'm talking about, Friend!

I’ve experienced the excitement as the the OGs of LearnPlatform by Instructure ?– Karl Rectanus , Daniel S. Stanhope , Amanda Cadran, PhD - through their work, their craft, and their brilliance - created an entirely new category product and service for the K12 EdTech market. Now, Mary Styers, Ph.D. Styers is at the helm of much of that work, and it’s incredible to have a seat during this explosion of growth.

I get to interact with dedicated and passionate K-12 district and ESD leaders on a regular basis, and learn from them.? Melissa Riggs , Allison Reid , Marlo Gaddis , Liza (Leeza) She/Her Francisco Voss , Kris Hagel , you come to mind here.

My job is hard, Sales is hard, but I love my company, my job, my people, and this network.

Happy Anniversary to me!

--Amanda