For HR pros, CEOs, and anyone interested in viewing the world of work through my lens - a career-long HR leader focusing on Distribution, Manufacturing and other Frontline companies. If you are interested in diving into actionable insights and stories that inspire organizational change and foster a thriving workplace culture, you are in the right place. Oh, and there will be some coffee too!
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Tracie Sponenberg's Work. Community. Coffee - October 27, 2025
Published 3 months ago • 5 min read
Tracie Sponenberg LLC
November 3, 2025
Welcome!
As I write this, I'm sitting in my room in Nashville, prepping for my keynote tomorrow, and procrastinating by writing this letter first!
Remember my big announcement from last week? Read more under "Community."
I've been including a lot of practical tips in the "work" section, but I do love sharing stories, so this week I'm back to storytelling with a fun one.
And one more thing before we jump into it - I had the honor of stepping in for the incredible Theresa Fesinstine last week at Strategic HR Mount Washington, when she got sick. Pulling together a keynote in a few hours was a bit of a challenge, but I actually had a lot of fun (and a keynote ready to go I was able to edit a bit.) More people need to know about this conference! If you are an HR leader, I hope to see you there next year. If you are a CEO, send your HR team next year!
Aside from a few trips when I worked for UPS in the first few years out of college, I didn't travel overnight for work until about fifteen years ago or so. I was new into a job I absolutely loved, and spent a ton of time traveling when my son was with his dad. I remember the first time I went to California for work (and first time in California, period) - probably the first time I ever stayed in a hotel room alone! I was in my late 30's, got there, and was like, this is THE BEST. That feeling didn't last too long as the grind of work travel set in. I still loved it, but I settled into it being part of my job.
At The Granite Group I stayed overnight as well, though mostly I drove unless I was attending or speaking at a conference. My first time speaking at a conference where I had to fly to get there was in 2017 at HR Tech. I was SO nervous, but it went extremely well. And that was the first of many, many presentations that led to my first keynote in 2020, and led me to today - I'm in Nashville for a keynote at the inaugural Women in Pressure Sensitive Tape event. I can't wait to meet everyone, and talk about personal branding. But a bit of a different spin - we're weaving in a bit of Predictive Index.
Anyway, the main story.... Dave joined me (more on why in the next section) and we flew in REALLY late last night. Between the time zone change and the time change, my body has no idea what time it is! I think we got to the hotel after 11PM, and got up to our floor. We walked off the elevator and saw a refrigerator on the floor. Weird, but ok. We thought probably some kind of hotel perk (it's a pretty nice hotel. And spoiler alert - it wasn't a hotel perk.) So we helped ourselves to a bunch of water and Dave grabbed some Gatorade. Then we saw a table with a laptop and clipboard and a guy dressed in a really spectacular multicolored track suit. He asked us if we were grabbing some drinks for the room, we said yes, and he asked if we were staying on the floor and we said yes. He then said he was security for the Titans and he doesn't usually dress like that, and we shouldn't be staying on the floor. We had no idea what to believe and asked if we should go back to the front desk. He said no, you're fine. So we went to our room.
Turns out, he was telling the truth. And we were the only non-Titans on this floor and the one below us.
Fun fact - they remove all the contents of the minibar for the players the night before the game (we found out when we returned to the room today and someone was filling our minibar that we didn't know we had.) The players we met were very nice, if a bit confused why we were staying on their floor. They lost today (again) unfortunately.
And that's how we ended up inadvertently stealing water and Gatorade meant for football players preparing for their big game.
Work and speaking travel is sometimes glamorous, but more often it's just work travel. But it's always fun - especially when I get to bring my husband. More on that....
When I started my own company nearly two years ago, I knew I wanted to be a solopreneur. To learn all aspects of the business, from my bookkeeping to running it to building systems to doing the work. And I have loved it. And I've been fortunate that my business is doing well.
So it was time to decide - what next? For me, I needed someone to help with the business side. To build me a CRM. To manage my books. To hold me accountable.
And I happen to be married to the best fractional COO and CFO, who happens to specialize in small businesses!
So, you're the first to hear that Dave Sponenberg is joining me as my (part-time, fractional, contract) COO and CFO!
He officially started November 1, so he joined me on this trip, and will join me on my next. In between, we'll be planning for 2026 and beyond. When he fits me in between other clients and his new LLC, One More Dig (he's also an expert metal detectorist with one of the top metal detecting podcasts in the world.)
No one knows me better - personally and professionally. (We worked together for years many years ago.)
Three coffees in Nashville today, all three were great.
This one was from Elixer, and it was delicious.
Shot of espresso over ice, splash of cream, as usual.
And fun to return to a spot I visited with my friend Melissa when I was last in Nashville, for ASA Women in Industry last year!
Have a great week ahead!
ETC....
Here are a few random things....
The job market is incredibly tough right now for so many. If you can support those looking in any way, especially by making connections, please do. And if you are looking and there is any way I can support you, please let me know.
Are you a Distribution or Manufacturing CEO? I'd love a few minutes of your time to test a few ideas I've been working on. Grab some time on my calendar here:
For HR pros, CEOs, and anyone interested in viewing the world of work through my lens - a career-long HR leader focusing on Distribution, Manufacturing and other Frontline companies. If you are interested in diving into actionable insights and stories that inspire organizational change and foster a thriving workplace culture, you are in the right place. Oh, and there will be some coffee too!
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