AvantStay’s Post

This was my first official week as President and CEO of Michelin North America. While I am excited about what lies ahead, right now, I am focused on Michelin’s people and teams who are recovering after Hurricane Helene. As Hurricane Helene has impacted many communities where we live and work, I want to personally acknowledge the challenges some of you may be facing now. Properties are damaged, and thousands are still without power. Most importantly, we have not received any reports of employee injuries. For that, we are very thankful. In the days following the hurricane, I have been beyond grateful to see the outpouring of our people contributing to help others. Employees jumped in to buy and deliver food to our sites and families who don’t have a way to heat or refrigerate. We have been checking on neighbors. I’ve encountered employees who said they were chain-sawing trees to help emergency vehicles access roads. Everyone is pitching in. Michelin is who Michelin is because of the people inside it. I’m beyond humbled to be a part of the team that cares for its community the way we have over the last several days. It’s truly remarkable. Our number one priority is the safety and well-being of our people. Our People also make it possible. Critical and essential services such as first responders or trucks bringing food and gasoline rely on Michelin, and we are grateful to our People who have kept us running. We are committed to supporting our team during this recovery process. We are not out of this yet. If you are looking for assistance or want to help our community, below is a graphic with a few tips. Take Care.

I have a question about Leadership for everyone; Not that this is as important as all the victims in need right now due to Hurricane Helene, but I would love some feedback. I know quite a few people that have just had quite the experience with leadership, or lack thereof, during this Storm (Hurricane Helene). My point is this, the power is out, traveling is dangerous, and the employer knew/knows that power is out at the office and that the office would be closed, yet they never make contact with the employees to 1. Check on them, or 2. To attempt contact by a call, text, or even email to notify the employees that "We will be closed" so don't risk life or property by coming to work. I understand, if you have a thousand employees, this becomes more difficult to touch base with everyone individually (thus website announcements), but smaller companies don't have that excuse. So to my question: Can one consider themself a good leader if they can't reach out to their employees and communicate a simple "We will be closed"?

The time that Charley and Frances become wedding crashers…🌀   In September 2004, amidst hurricane season, a Whitehall, Pennsylvania couple planned to get married in Florida.  But their wedding dreams were dashed not once, but twice, by Hurricanes Charley and Frances.  Hearing about the couple's unfortunate circumstances, a Fort Lauderdale hotel stepped in to help.  The hotel threw the couple an all-expenses paid beach wedding for their closest friends and family.  They also included a honeymoon suite.   I was in attendance, alongside about a dozen local and national news outlets.   This was my first taste of hotel PR and a story going viral.  I was instantly hooked.   Lessons in PR:  Always look for the silver lining.   Adversity can unveil opportunities to showcase your brand's values and earn widespread attention.  Seize unexpected moments to tell your story. It might just capture the hearts of many.  P.S. Hurricane Ivan also threatened the couple’s wedding plans but, luckily, third time’s a charm.   What unexpected event turned into a PR opportunity for you?  #PRStrategy #BrandStorytelling #CrisisManagement #ViralMoments #PublicRelations

The #DeliveringSolutions2024 AHCA/NCAL conference in Orlando was off to a great start, but as Hurricane Milton approached, the difficult decision was made to cancel the remainder of the event. I had the privilege of delivering my session at NCAL day, "Unlocking Trust," on the first day, and little did I know how relevant the message of trust would become for everyone involved. As the storm forecast intensified, trust in reliable information was everything. AHCA leaders, attendees, and vendors had to lean into their trust in weather predictions and emergency services to make the right call. It wasn’t easy to cancel a major event, but it was the best decision to ensure everyone's safety. This experience highlighted how trust isn’t just about people—it's also about having confidence in the information that guides our decisions. (And that also led to a discussion about putting trust in AI - a topic for another time Steve Moran has some info on this!) Trust helps us make tough choices with clarity and conviction. I’m grateful for the opportunity to share my message with this resilient group, and I look forward to continuing the conversation on how we can unlock trust in our teams, even when faced with unexpected disruptions. Stay safe, everyone! 🌟 #Seniorliving #Resilience #Leadership Becca Colbert, MS, CMP LaShuan M. Bethea

🌪️ As hurricane season ramps up, I can’t help but notice how similar it feels to the rush of fall trade show season! 🌧️ Just like prepping for a storm, trade shows require planning, coordination, and the ability to pivot when things get a little wild. With multiple events on the horizon, there’s always a whirlwind of logistics, marketing strategies, and team collaboration flying around. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲'𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴: much like weathering a storm, success comes down to preparation, adaptability, and a strong team. The more ready you are, the easier it is to navigate the inevitable twists and turns. Whether it’s a trade show booth or your home during a hurricane, having a solid plan (and a backup) is key. Stay flexible, stay focused, and don’t be afraid to get a little creative when the unexpected hits. 🌈💪 To all my fellow event planners and marketers—how are you preparing for this busy season? And to everyone in the path of this storm, stay safe, stay prepared, and look out for one another! 💙 #EventMarketing #Tradeshow #Adaptability #MarketingStrategies #Opportunities #Networking #MeetingsMeanBusiness #FieldMarketing

🌀PSA: If you’re in a sales or marketing role and your target company is in the path of Hurricane Milton, it’s okay to still reach out… 🌀What you should do: offer support and be a sounding board for their needs. We’re all human. Even business relationships can strengthen in known hardships so long as Empathy leads the way. Likewise, if the tables turn they more than likely will be there for you, too. 🌀What you shouldn’t do: Start or continue an aggressive outreach campaign. If you do, a once interested contact you need might ghost you (and your company) for years to come. Not an ideal place to be. ✅Place everyday outreach on pause ✅Do the right thing ✅Lead with Empathy Come back in a few weeks to a couple months all depending where the company is post hurricane. Happy Hunting Folks!

The Power of Preparedness in Life and Business. As I walked my dog this morning, I felt like any responsible dog dad—I had two bags with me for the inevitable. Sure enough, he pooped twice, and I used both bags. When we reached the dog waste bin, I saw they had extra bags available. I thought, "He’s already gone twice; I won’t need another." Confident, I walked on. But life has a way of surprising us—just a few steps later, he pooped a third time. I had to retrace my steps without a bag, wasting time I could’ve saved had I grabbed one more. It made me think of Hurricane Helene and how those who were well-prepared weathered the storm with fewer disruptions. No one regrets being prepared for life and business, but plenty of time is lost when we aren’t. Being ready isn’t just about anticipating the easy, expected outcomes. It’s about being prepared for the third poop, the storm, or the business challenge we didn’t see coming. Preparation saves time, resources, and stress—whether a dog walk or a significant business decision. So grab that extra bag. You never know when you’ll need it. #Preparedness #BusinessTips #LifeLessons #Leadership

What is your guiding light? ✨️ As I sat on the beach admiring our recently repaired Sanibel Lighthouse, our symbol of resiliency after Hurricane Ian, I felt a sense of calm and clarity. My guiding principle is to create sustainable, positive momentum for others. I guide them (as a lighthouse does) towards the shores of their dream life and career. They have to do the work (swim, boat, paddle), but I provide the stability and direction until they are back on course and confident with their navigation skills. Once clients better understand their core values and guiding principles, decisions become easier and self-doubt fades. Sure, it still takes work, but it feels a lot better when you know your effort is getting you closer to your goals. No one deserves to spend years lost and circling, unsure of which way to go. Everyone deserves to enjoy this life they are working so hard for. And everyone can use some light and guidance along the way. 💫 #allinclusiveyou #worklifesuccess #guidinglight #clarity #goals

First and foremost, for all of my friends and contacts in Hurricane Milton's path....sending you prayers and warm wishes. Very rough couple of weeks across the southeast to say the very least. This too shall pass. Stay safe. In brighter news, Q3 was an interesting quarter for FPC Riverwood. Very grateful for the new relationships forged and the opportunities supported. At the mid-year point, we shared a close to 60/40 mix between Transportation to Warehousing, a break for historical norms for the office. We are now in a more balanced ~50/50 position and intrigued to see how it all shakes out as we finish the year strong. Activity is most consistent for site leaders (General Manager and Terminal Managers) with P&L experience. Director and some VP-level searches are still out there too. There are 12 more Mondays until year-end, not all of them usable. How are you going to use the time to position your team for 2025? As always, if you can benefit from a no-expectations chat to compare notes / industry trends / talent requirements, let's chat. Thanks, and make it a great week.

As Hurricane Milton moves towards us here in Florida, I just want to take a moment to wish all of our clients, friends, and co-workers in the area a safe and secure next few days. Please take care of yourselves and your loved ones, and know that our team is here to support you. 💙 Being based in Orlando, I feel incredibly blessed to be part of a team (Growth) that truly has each other’s backs. In times like these, it becomes so clear why company culture matters. We’ve built something special here—a culture where people genuinely care, support one another, and jump in when needed, no questions asked. Whether it's covering meetings or tackling tasks on short notice, I know this team can handle it with grace and collaboration. It’s moments like these that remind me how much I enjoy the team I work with—not just because of the hard work, but because of the heart behind it. 💪 At the end of the day, a strong company culture isn't just about hitting numbers or getting things done. It’s about creating an environment where people feel valued, where they know their well-being comes first, and where we celebrate that sense of connection every single day. To my fellow Florida friends, please stay safe, hunker down, and don’t hesitate to reach out if I can help in any way. 🙏 Stay strong, and thank you to everyone on our team for being the incredible, supportive group you are. #companyculture #growthops #teamwork #community