As you may have seen, in partnership with Toys For Kids, RedCloud is providing a full year of support to Solid Ground ’s Broadview Shelter & Transitional Housing - in a few different ways. In December, RedCloud delivered new technology for their facility, and during 2021, we’re continuing with ongoing career support for residents with time and expertise from RedCloud team members. To kick off the career support, we wrapped up February with the very first Broadview Career Day - one of many to come in order to help prepare residents for job searching, resume building, and employment support as they re-enter the workforce. Recognizing that the residents at Broadview are in the midst of perhaps one of the toughest spots in their lives, we came prepared by attending a session from Solid Ground in advance. The session helped us understand where the residents are coming from and how we can best speak with them to encourage and cheerlead their career path. So, what did Career Day look like - especially during a pandemic? Our RedCloud team dedicated a full day to Broadview residents in need and advised them during 11 sessions that they were able to sign up for in advance. With help from Broadview’s case workers, the residents completed a questionnaire, enabling our recruiters to understand where the residents are at and where the assistance is most needed. Experts from RedCoud’s recruiting team called each of the residents to discuss their goals. The following sessions will be conducted over Microsoft Teams to enable screen sharing for resume support and guidance. During the sessions, the video will remain off to protect the residents’ privacy. An interpreter was on hand for residents in need of help with the English language. The sessions include a variety of help, whether it be job search assistance, goal setting, or resume revisions. Looking forward, we’re excited to continue offering our helping hands in support of our upcoming March Career Day. Broadview residents are welcome to attend another session (with the same recruiter) to build on the advice provided in session one. In the meantime, residents are also set up and equipped to email the RedCloud team confidentially to answer questions and keep the momentum up before the next Career Day. We’re so excited to be part of this collaborative effort, and we believe that just an hour of our time with each resident goes a long way in helping them on their way to a bright and successful future ahead. Each of them is so strong for taking the step not only to go to Broadview but also to seek our support in their road ahead. Onwards!

Four years ago, our Managing Partner Brett Clifton stepped up to give back to our community focusing on cause close to his heart by joining the advisory board of the University of Washington Foster School’s Consulting and Business Development Center (CBDC). The CBDC takes higher education one step further with real-life experience for students working on their undergrad degrees or MBA’s, giving them invaluable experience to use when they head into the business world upon graduation. As part of Brett’s leadership of the CBDC, RedCloud consultants have played an active role in the past in judging business plan competitions and mentoring students who are learning about consulting and its real world applications. Impact Awards As part of RedCloud’s ongoing support of the CBDC, and as a way to put a bow on 2020, for the fourth year we proudly supported the program’s Impact Awards, which recognizes business, civic, and student leaders who show commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in business. Celebrating 25 years of Impact Awards with an adapted virtual event (So 2020!) - the featured speakers included: Nigel Burton ( Pac-12 Networks & UW Foster Alum), Joanne Harrell (Sr. Director, Microsoft, UW Board of Regents) and local legend Coach Chris Peterson (Former UW Husky Head Football Coach & 2020 Fritzky Chair). A big congrats goes out to Jordan Crawford for being recognized with the Accenture Student Consultant of the Year Award. Despite the virtual nature of 2020, we were grateful to take part in the celebration to honor all that has been achieved during a challenging time. A Year of Mentoring Ahead In November, a team of RedCloud Consultants helped kick off the CBDC’s 2020-21 Business Management Consulting Program via zoom during “Business Advising Day”. The event launched with a chance for all of the participants and their mentors to meet each other and discuss their upcoming projects that the teams of student consultants will undertake starting this month.  Around 90-100 students will be participating in this unique program, forming teams of 4-6 students each.  The RedCloud employee advisors and the client company they will be supporting include:  Marie Mihail (The Athena Group) Sophia Stead (First Metals) Mary Anne (Blake Barber Creek) Scott Morton (Alliance West Insurance) Our mentors are looking forward to giving honest advice and feedback to the students as they embark on a real-world experience. It is with great anticipation that we look forward to the program and seeing the projects come to life in 2021! “I was fortunate to attend UW twice (BA Economics, MBA Foster Executive Program) and am passionate about learning. The thorough approach and organized structure of this program is impressive. Helping others with their educational goals is wonderful. Learning from students and peers is the biggest benefit! I miss school so this is a terrific opportunity to experience the latest academic experiences and innovations. My goal in volunteering is to develop positive mentoring relationships and learn from the business team with whom we are working. My goal for students is to help them see the value of their education and how their studies will create a positive impact on others today and tomorrow.” - Marie Milhail

Happy holidays from our team at RedCloud Consulting! For reasons big and small, 2020 has thrown everything it has at all of us, and we’re fortunate and grateful to see a bright future ahead thanks to our resolute team and our dedicated clients. But we know that 2020 has severely impacted many in our local communities. To that end, starting this holiday season and continuing through 2021, on behalf of our clients RedCloud is adopting Solid Ground's Broadview Shelter & Transitional Housing - a safe haven at a secure location for mothers and kids experiencing homelessness. On behalf our amazing clients, we’re working with our partners at Toys For Kids to support Broadview through: New Microsoft laptops, software, and headphones for children to ensure learning can continue, even if in-person school is delayed or disrupted; Career coaching, job searching and employment support for parents to re-enter the workforce Upgraded high speed internet in the building to boost learning and employment; And so much more as 2021 unfolds! ​For anyone wanting to extend the support to Solid Ground and Broadview, more information and donation opportunities are available at solid-ground.org . Also, on behalf of our clients and employees, we’re proud to have recently awarded the Annual Dave “Hendu” Henderson Educational Scholarship Presented by RedCloud Consulting to a local high school senior on her way to college. Congratulations to Ana and her family, we look forward to tracking her success! At RedCloud, we take these actions to provide tangible resources to those in our community who need it the most and we are proud to make these contributions on behalf of our clients. We thank each of our clients for their business and partnership in 2020 - enabling these important gifts and getting kids and families on the track to success.

The holidays are fast approaching and year-end client projects are getting ready for that final push. This time of year also gets us excited about another annual tradition in our work with the young people of our communities. As part of our ongoing work to empower local kids with access to education and technology, we partner with Toys for Kids - an outstanding local organization who helps children of all socioeconomic backgrounds be better prepared for school and life. Giving back is a core value at RedCloud, staying front and center even when our lives and schedules turn upside down. As we grow, as we navigate the pandemic, as we adapt to working from home more, giving back grows ever important. It’s up to each one of us to extend a helping hand when we can, whether the gesture be big or small. This year in particular, RedCloud’s Brett Alston and Rick Rizz from Toys for Kids were so thrilled to be able to recently surprise winner Ana H. with the 3rd Annual Dave “Hendu” Henderson Educational Scholarship Presented by RedCloud Consulting, at her front door step, big check and all! Ana’s scholarship essay was so inspiring, providing some grounding insights we can all benefit from in these challenging times: ​ ​”Knowledge is a gift. Not because it’s meant to be something out of privilege, but because one can find it anywhere.” ”Who would I be to end my education if I have the ability to take it even further? I hold this close to my heart. I go to class. I smile.” Ana plans to pursue playwright studies. This scholarship will help with the cost of technology, books, travel and more as she takes a big step in her life.​ “Ana is an amazingly humble, yet accomplished young person,” said Brett Alston. “She is clearly a driven and high achieving individual who I have no doubt will go on to do amazing things in life. Talking with Ana provided all of us a great deal of inspiration for the future.” For more from behind the scenes at Toys for Kids and to see the surprise, check out the video below.

We recently welcomed Matt Little, a Senior Associate focusing on our new Digital Solutions team. He’s supporting PowerApps & Power Automate implementation for RedCloud’s clients, as well as developing internal apps, business solutions, and processes for the Data & AI and Digital Solutions Practices. Matt has 10+ years of management consulting experience and was a Digital Transformation delivery lead for teams of all sizes and a practice manager in his past experience. For the past 3 years, Matt has been expanding expertise in and advocating for adopting solutions that use Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, and the Microsoft Power Platform. In his personal life, he enjoys spending time with his 15-year-old German Shepherd, playing hockey or golf, and entering the World Series of Poker every summer. Read on to hear about his favorite quarantine activity! Briefly describe your role and how long you've been at RedCloud I joined RedCloud in late August as a Senior Associate for the new Digital Solutions Practice. My role is primarily building Digital Solutions using SharePoint, Microsoft Teams, PowerApps & Power Automate for RedCloud’s clients, as well as internal efforts to help improve the employee experience of our Associates and Consultants. What was it like to join RedCloud (onboarding process)? I’d say RedCloud has adapted to the pandemic about as well as anyone could hope. The recruiting process was entirely remote, and that might have actually accelerated it. I was contacted by a recruiter on a Monday evening, and by Friday that same week, I had done five interviews and been alerted that an offer was forthcoming. Kudos to the team for a job well done there. As for the actual onboarding, again I was impressed. I had some pandemic anxieties about; whether I would need to go into the office to get a laptop. How many people would I meet there? Isn’t it weird not to shake someone’s hand? What’s the protocol for masks being on/off? etc. However, RedCloud’s onboarding specialist Emily did a great job coordinating with me to ship the laptop by mail and meet with me virtually to take me through all the necessary onboarding activities. Thank you! Given your background and other experiences, what stands out to you with RedCloud? The consistently positive ratings and reviews that current and former employees give RedCloud year-in and year-out. Any concerns I had about joining were quickly put to rest when I poked around LinkedIn and Glassdoor to see the experiences that others have had with this leadership team. You don’t get that kind of overwhelmingly positive feedback without being very good at setting expectations with people and without understanding and empathizing with them. What originally drew you to RedCloud? It was the leadership team’s enthusiasm for the Microsoft Power Platform, and starting up a practice around Digital Solutions. This is a space I’ve been advocating for and championing for the last 3+ years, and I think that the potential for digital transformation with this suite of tools is staggering. It’s a space that’s still evolving, with more and more AI capabilities being introduced; and I’m very excited about the outcomes we’ll achieve together in the months/years to come. Where do you see the future of consulting or the future of RedCloud? A lot of people see or have seen the coming wave of automation, and far too many see it in a negative light. There’s a scary statistic out there about 47% of all the jobs in the U.S. have a high potential to be automated away. They say, where will the jobs come from to fill that void? In my view, that way of thinking is trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. Our goal shouldn’t be to replace the jobs we automate away 1-for-1; it should be to find more ways to compensate people for the services they already innately provide to their friends, families, and communities. The bottom line is that automation is a gift, not a curse. It means more time for people to think strategically, unleash their creativity, and spend time on the parts of work and life that they enjoy most. Name one piece of technology you couldn’t live without and why? I’ve found a renewed love for gaming during this pandemic, so I’m tempted to say an Xbox or Switch, but I bought a Desktop PC earlier this year for the first in many years. Having that makes it feel like there is a whole universe of possibilities at my fingertips, whether for gaming, interacting with friends, or earning a living online. What are you looking forward to the most this year with RedCloud? Like most people, I think the thing I’m most looking forward to about 2020 is it being over. That said, when we do return to a “normal” circumstance where we can congregate in groups again, I’m looking forward to actually getting to know others at RedCloud in person.

Prior to the rapid impacts of the pandemic, which arrived in early 2020, our firm—like many companies in the Seattle area—was on track to have a record year. This was fueled by strong results on behalf of our clients, a growing team of professionals who brought their best every day, and a booming regional economy in need of the services RedCloud specializes in. Of course, the personal, economic, and societal fallout from the onset of the pandemic has touched everyone in one way or another - some far worse than others from a medical and economic perspective. It is safe to say we are all still navigating the pandemic every week or daily. At RedCloud, we’re proudly staying the course in our business, ensuring our clients and employees maintain a sense of stability and results that we have long prided ourselves on. Will the record-breaking year continue? Well, we might have to hit pause for a few more months on that trajectory. However, we’re happy to report on a strong first half despite the challenges in front of us. The SS RedCloud sails on strongly into a headwind! For our consultants, the adaptation to remote work has gone astoundingly well. We recognize that our industry’s reliance (and implementation) on technology makes us fortunate to continue to work and dissemination our decision-making via today’s communications tools - ensuring we stay highly productive on behalf of our clients. We know that RedCloud is fortunate not just to have survived the pandemic to date but to have continued to thrive - building our team and adding new clients and projects. While our firm and projects continue to push forward under the steady eye of our leadership team and account managers, as a company, we continue to learn each day of this unusual life we all find ourselves in and will adapt based on the ups and downs of the pandemic. “We are all in this together” is an oft-used term in today’s society, but could just be the most simple and poignant way to describe our firm’s attitude in the midst of a challenge unlike any other. We thank our clients for their continued trust in our work and as always, our RedCloud team of dedicated professionals that continue to “come to work” and thrive.

Today, we’re connecting with Yan Ma, our new Senior Marketing Manager. Despite joining our team during a unique time in our society and economy, Yan is off to the races with her clients, providing expert-level services based on a career in technology. ​ Yan’s expertise lies in many areas, from digital marketing to vendor management and process improvement. With previous experience at Microsoft as a Product Marketing Manager and a consultant, she’s a natural fit for our RedCloud team, too. We recently had the chance to sit down (virtually, of course!) with her about her RedCloud experience so far. Briefly describe your role and how long you've been at RedCloud. I am a Senior Marketing Manager and have been with RedCloud for three months. I manage and produce go-to-market and readiness communications to support global sales of Microsoft Teams. I collaborate with stakeholders and content contributors across the organization from compete to product investment for advisories, newsletters, pre-reads (for events), etc. What was it like to join RedCloud (onboarding process)? In my experience, it was very streamlined and transparent. I’m not new to consulting companies, so some of the onboarding at RedCloud was industry standard. What I felt was different was their eagerness to meet me, get to know me, and quickly place me. It was a very smooth process for me. Given your background and other experiences, what stands out to you with RedCloud? Their professionalism, personable communication style, and ongoing check-ins/feedback. What originally drew you to RedCloud? After a former coworker at Microsoft introduced me to one of RedCloud’s recruiters, I was drawn to the firm by their approach. The recruiting team was very personable, and they tried to find out what areas of marketing I was interested in for a good match. Also, they had various opportunities for me to explore right away! Where do you see the future of consulting or the future of RedCloud? Hmm…well, working in the age of the gig economy, I’ve seen more and more consulting companies over the past few years pop up, so it’s gotten quite competitive. Due to the flexibility and ability to choose which projects contractors want to (personally) pursue, I believe it will remain an attractive alternative to the typical 9-5. Name one piece of technology you couldn’t live without and why? Hardware – my mobile for obvious reasons; software – Instagram for obvious reasons 😊 What are you looking forward to the most this year with RedCloud? I want to continue growing our relationship with our client and expanding my professional experience with my current role, along with the additional training RedCloud offers.

For this month’s employee Lunch and Learn, we turned inward to learn more about ourselves with the help of our special guest, Executive Coach Todd Calongne . Todd’s background as a senior-level public affairs and communications expert with several prominent U.S. Government agencies makes him a natural leader and experienced executive. He has advised cabinet secretaries, foreign dignitaries, members of Congress, and CEOs. Today, Todd helps companies like RedCloud become more self-aware, encouraging authenticity for success. We loved the sound of this! As a little bit of homework before RedCloud’s session with Todd, our participating team members completed the Advanced Insights Profile personality assessment, which aims to identify What natural talents do you have?, Why are you motivated to use them?, and How do you prefer to use them?. During lunch, Todd explained the various results of our individual profiles, including DISC (measuring our behavioral styles), values, and core attributes. Together, we explored the results of our team and discussed the benefits of understanding each unique personality type. This unique approach was a compelling way for us to learn more about how we think as individuals. Todd pointed out that there are no bad personality types, as each of the four dimensions is important for different reasons. Having a variety of behavioral styles on the same team is advantageous, Todd explained, and we couldn’t agree more with the notion of bringing a diverse set of approaches and insights to a project creates success for our clients. Our Key Takeaway on What makes a person successful? Research conducted by the Innermetrix report we used shows that the most successful people share the common trait of self-awareness. They recognize the situations that will make them successful, making it easy for them to find ways of achieving objectives that fit their behavioral style. They also understand their limitations and where they are not effective and this helps them understand where not to go or how not to be as well. Those who understand their natural behavioral preferences are far more likely to pursue the right opportunities in the right way, at the right time, and get the desired results. ​ Our RedCloud Results? Our team typically preferred the I & S categories - interactive and stability. As consultants, our team is geared towards stability and prefers pacing, persistence, and steadiness. Interacting with and connecting with people is who we are at RedCloud. As our team reviewed our results, many of us could see the connection between our personality types and career paths. A lot of us were “Low Political” or low regulatory in personality style, further confirmation that we are collaborative and prefer to serve as trusted advisors rather than rulers. This edition of our Lunch and Learn Series turned us inward, something that comes with perfect timing as we identify how we handle stress and how we utilize the help of our teams during these uncertain times. We’re so grateful for Todd’s expertise in helping us grow stronger as a unified team. These are lessons our entire team can take forward to improve our team and, ultimately, the work we deliver each day to our clients! Onward!

With all that has happened in our community and society since November 2019, it seems like much longer ago than just seven months when we proudly awarded Madison from Stanwood High School our annual RedCloud Consulting Scholarship. Alongside our community partners at Toys For Kids, this tradition is one of the most impactful for us—a tangible benefit of our team's hard work throughout the year. We always love to track the impact of our community programs and, in particular, to see how our scholarship winners take this boost to the next level in their educational careers. To that end, we recently caught up with Madison, who is wrapping up an anything-but-usual senior year of high school via remote learning through the pandemic. Still, with a positive attitude she is known for. Here is a quick update directly from Madison, along with some truly valuable advice for the next scholarship winners: Madison - 2019 Winner “I am graduating from Stanwood High School and will attend Skagit Valley College, where I will also play basketball. This scholarship has made a huge difference in my college experience, as it has lifted a lot of stress off of my shoulders. I definitely feel very fortunate to have this opportunity and am looking forward to seeing all the good it will bring. I plan to earn a bachelor's degree in nursing and later specialize in pediatrics. Some advice I would give the newest scholarship winners would be just to enjoy the experience. It is a blessing to have the chance to meet and connect with the amazing people who make up this foundation. I advise the newest winners to lay out a good plan for themselves and to choose a college where they'll be able to succeed the most. The new way of going to school will definitely take some adjusting but I have been able to cope by using the time to be with family. On the education aspect, I've been preparing for college by taking advanced and college preparatory classes and developing better studying habits. On the social aspect, I have been preparing by continuing to get to know my future teammates and coach. I'm very grateful for the Toys for Kids Foundation, donors, and all of those who make it possible to help the community as well as students.” We can’t wait to see Madison’s continued journey, as we’re sure she’ll make a positive impact in the world! Join us in congratulating her on graduation and the next steps!

At RedCloud, community is everything. It’s one of our North Stars, and serves as a guiding value we keep close to our business in all we do. We believe our success is in part due to a healthy, vibrant community in which we operate, and a driver for why we partner with a group of organizations who help children in our region. ​ One of the organizations we’re proud to support is Toys for Kids , who helps children of all socioeconomic backgrounds be better prepared for school and life. As part of our year-round support for this amazing organization, we recently checked in with TfK and in particular on how COVID-19 is impacting the families and children they support through school readiness and gift giving. As perhaps expected, TfK shared how now, during the peak of COVID-19, many families and children in our region are in need of essentials. With school suspended, jobs lost, and parents working at home, the needs are greater and the support TfK provides becomes critical.  As it’s in their DNA as an organization, TfK has truly stepped up their efforts in the face of the pandemic to help meet a set of needs that is burying families and children. Including ongoing support from RedCloud, TfK has made an incredible local impact with $31,000 in donations that lead to the delivering of essentials to local families including: ​ 21,000 diapers 35,000 baby wipes 1,000 lunches 20 Lenovo ChromeBooks to help with remote learning Financial assistance with rent and utilities for those in need through the Issaquah Food Bank 26 Self-care packs to domestic violence victims Stories like that of TfK gives us all hope that even in the hardest of times, we can pull together and support each other. Thank you, TfK for all you are doing during challenging times and for all of your hard work in making sure our local families get what they need to carry on!

At RedCloud, community is everything. It’s one of our North Stars and serves as a guiding value we keep close to our business in all we do. We believe our success is partly due to a healthy, vibrant community in which we operate and a driver for why we partner with a group of organizations that help children in our region. ​ One of the organizations we’re proud to support is Toys for Kids , which helps children of all socioeconomic backgrounds be better prepared for school and life. As part of our year-round support for this amazing organization, we recently checked in with TfK and in particular, on how COVID-19 is impacting the families and children they support through school readiness and gift-giving. As perhaps expected, TfK shared how now, during the peak of COVID-19, many families and children in our region need essentials. With school suspended, jobs lost, and parents working at home, the needs are greater, and TfK's support becomes critical. As it’s in their DNA as an organization, TfK has truly stepped up its efforts in the face of the pandemic to help meet a set of needs that is burying families and children. Including ongoing support from RedCloud, TfK has made an incredible local impact with $31,000 in donations that lead to the delivery of essentials to local families, including: 21,000 diapers 35,000 baby wipes 1,000 lunches 20 Lenovo Chromebooks to help with remote learning Financial assistance with rent and utilities for those in need through the Issaquah Food Bank 26 Self-care packs for domestic violence victims Stories like TfK's give us all hope that even in the hardest of times, we can pull together and support each other. Thank you, TfK, for all you do during challenging times and for all your hard work in making sure our local families get what they need to carry on!

Recently, and for the 4th year in a row, a team of RedCloud consultants and HQ staff spent a day as elementary teachers for our annual “JA Day” in partnership with Junior Achievement of Washington . JA of Washington is a non-profit with a mission to support and inspire young students to succeed in their future endeavors. This program focuses on enhancing standard schooling by having professionals, like our RedCloud team, instruct students with a curriculum that focuses on developing lifelong skills like workplace readiness, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship. According to JA of WA, 49% of U.S. employers recognize that talent shortages impact their ability to serve clients and customers. An overwhelming 91% of millennials wish for greater access to entrepreneurial education programs. These are a few reasons why RedCloud partnered with JA of WA almost 5 years ago! For this JA Day, 23 RedCloud team members made their way into 16 classrooms at Redmond Elementary to interact with dozens of students. For our team, stepping into a classroom can feel a bit nostalgic, bringing us back to the times in our lives when we dreamed of what we would become as adults. These familiar feelings encourage us to share our “real-world” experiences with these bright-eyed students to empower them in their futures. A few themes that came out during this year’s instruction included: The importance of being part of the communities around us, The jobs within those ecosystems to care for others and The financials involved with being independent The students have a basic understanding of these topics but talking through them with real-world examples while providing an outside perspective helps to solidify these learnings. A big part of JA Day is allowing students to have space to dream out loud and talk about what kinds of businesses and jobs they want to have someday. When we talk realistically about their dreams in business and entrepreneurship, students begin to think about various financial implications for themselves and the local community. By educating students, we will empower the younger generations to overcome challenges they face later in their careers. One of our team members, Karen Middaugh, reflected on the day spent in the classroom: “The kids were creative, smart, and already so aware of the outside world. I think we learned as much as they did! Thanks to RedCloud for providing such a wonderful and inspiring opportunity.” The students and our team members learned so much along the way, and we always look forward to the next JA Day on our calendar. Junior Achievement of Washington spreads inspiration throughout our region, and we are proud to call them partners with RedCloud.