The middle layer of most organizations is breaking — and most leaders don't realize it until the cracks are already showing.

Middle managers are underdeveloped, under-supported, and over-asked. They carry everything downhill from the executive team and everything uphill from their people, with little of the intentional support that would help them actually lead. The result? Disengaged teams, stalled execution, and a culture that erodes quietly — often before anyone at the top sees it coming.

This isn't a people problem. It's a systems problem. And it's fixable.

In this free, 60-minute interactive session, three practitioners who have spent their careers in and around the messy middle will share what's breaking, why it keeps breaking, and what it actually looks like to fix it. Expect honest conversation, real frameworks, and practical takeaways you can use immediately.

You'll walk away with:

• A clear picture of what an under-equipped middle is actually costing your organization

• The five non-negotiables for manager growth — built from 20 years of leadership development experience

• Practical tools for building accountability, closing capability gaps, and creating the conditions for sustainable change

Your Speakers:

Andrea Butcher — Executive coach, leadership development expert, and co-founder of Abundant Empowerment

Tony Sanders — Leadership development expert for fast-growing companies and author of the upcoming book, The Growth Trap

Jamie Scarcelli— Former CEO of Aero Industries and The Vine Group, now advising leadership teams navigating the messy middle

Most organizations have values. Fewer have cultures where those values actually mean something.

The gap between "what we say we stand for" and "how we actually show up" is one of the most common — and costly — challenges leaders face. And it rarely gets fixed by adding values to a wall, a website, or an all-hands slide deck.

In this CoLab Conversation, we'll explore what it actually takes to turn values into behavior — so your culture becomes something people experience every day, not just something leadership talks about.

You'll leave with:

• A clearer sense of where the gap between values and behavior lives in your organization

• Practical ways to make values visible in everyday decisions and interactions

• A starting point for building a culture that doesn't require constant reinforcement

This is a free, one-hour interactive session designed for leaders who are ready to move from intention to action.

Join us on April 22, 2026 at 2:00 PM (ET) for an eye-opening session where we dive into why collaboration sometimes fails and what you can do to turn things around. Whether you’re working remotely or in-person, this event will give you practical tips to boost teamwork and get everyone on the same page. Don’t miss out on learning how to fix those common communication hiccups and build stronger connections!

Register Here

Why Does Everything Feel Harder Than It Should Be?

When progress slows or feels heavier than it should, leaders often assume they need more:

More effort. More or better people. More or better systems.

But more is rarely the answer.

The real constraint usually lives in one of three places:

• Structural systems that no longer work

• Identity patterns that make it hard to let go

• Leadership capability gaps around trust and influence

The challenge isn’t that these issues exist.The challenge is knowing which one(s) you’re actually dealing with and where to start.

In this interactive session, we’ll introduce a simple diagnostic lens to help you identify where your real bottleneck lives - and where to start if you want momentum to return.

You’ll leave with:

• Questions to test whether the friction is structural, identity-based, or influence-driven

• A clearer understanding of your current constraint

• A practical starting point for reducing unnecessary complexity

Because when you solve the right problem, progress feels lighter. And when leaders diagnose accurately, teams move faster - with less friction and less force

Learn More and REGISTER HERE for this free workshop!

Join us for an in-person evening designed for coaches, consultants, and independent business owners who want to work smarter — not just harder.

In this Growth Lab session, the Founder of ANSA Solutions will share practical ways artificial intelligence and automation can simplify your workflows, reduce manual tasks, and create more capacity in your business.

This is not a technical deep dive. It’s a conversation about how small, intentional systems shifts can free up time, improve clarity, and support sustainable growth.

Who This Is For

• Coaches and consultants building or scaling their practice

• Solopreneurs juggling operations and client work

• Service-based business owners curious about AI but unsure where to start

• Leaders who want practical tools — without the overwhelm

With a limited group of attendees, this session is designed to be interactive, relational, and immediately applicable.

What to Expect

• A practical session on AI and automation for service businesses

• Real examples of how to eliminate manual work

• Time for Q&A and discussion

• Networking with other local founders and practitioners

• Hors d'ouerves, beer and wine

• Parking: ClubWorks has a free parking lot where attendees can park. It is lcoated to the left of Burn Boot Camp.

This event is a collaboration between ANSA Solutions and CoLab, bringing together practical AI expertise and a community of independent leaders committed to building better businesses.

REGISTER HERE

As we begin a new year, it’s easy to stay caught up in day-to-day demands—especially for HR and people leaders guiding others through constant change. Vision to Action - Lead with Clarity: Your Personal 2026 Leadership Vision is a live, interactive workshop designed to help you pause, reflect, and intentionally shape what comes next.

In just 60 minutes, you’ll create a clear, values-aligned vision for 2026 and translate it into meaningful, achievable goals.

Through guided reflection, practical exercises, and peer insight, you’ll leave with clarity, confidence, and a simple framework to move from big ideas to focused action.

What You’ll Gain

• Clarity on your 2026 vision and priorities

• A practical 4-step framework to turn ideas into action

• Time and space for reflection, planning, and alignment

• Inspiration and momentum to start the new year strong

Sign Up Now!

Apply a 4-step process to transform your 2026 vision into a clear, achievable plan for business growth.

As you look ahead to 2026, it’s easy to stay caught up in client work, delivery, and the next opportunity—leaving little time to focus on your business. CoLab Growth Lab: Vision to Action — Designing Your 2026 Business Roadmap is a live, interactive workshop created for solopreneurs, coaches, and consultants who want to pause, refocus, and set a clear direction for growth.

In just 60 minutes, you’ll use a practical 4-step framework to define your 2026 business vision and turn it into a focused plan. Through guided reflection, practical tools, and conversation with peers, you’ll leave with renewed clarity, measurable priorities, and momentum to take intentional action in the new year.

What You’ll Gain

• Clarity on your 2026 business vision and goals

• A practical 4-step framework to move from ideas to strategy

• Dedicated time to step back and align your focus for growth

• Connection and shared learning with fellow entrepreneurs

Sign Up Now!

Save the Date for our next Being [at Work] Community and Connection event, this time, we are heading to Tampa!

Feel free to contact us for more information!

Abundant Empowerment will be well represented at this year’s NWI SHRM Conference in Michigan City, IN. Andrea will be keynoting the luncheon, while Nick will be presenting on burnout and change management during a breakout session.

Join us: https://shrmnwi.org/meetinginfo.php?id=133&ts=1749226347

Andrea Butcher will provide her keynote on The Power in the Pivot. Attendees will also receive a copy of Andrea’s book, The Power in the PIVOT.