A Letter from our Founder
Hello, everyone,
Dropping in to offer some Valentine’s Day sappiness, the latest happenings, and crystal ball predictions.
It’s been a while since you all have heard from me, and I have some shit to say. (Kellen just freaked out a little, thinking I broke my promise… haha.)
2024 was a wild ride—both personally & professionally and the theme that kept showing up was sustainability.
Last year, we experienced significant team staffing changes and changed our BPO relationship offshore. This change was necessary to sustain our growth offshore and create more opportunities for our international teammates. We also expanded our Filipino team—welcome Ellaine & Lea! We created a new permanent position, adding Megan to the team to support me & Kellen here in Washington. Megan has also taken on leading our marketing efforts and company culture—and she’s AMAZING! We added some fantastic new clients to our portfolio and intentionally grew into non-profit tax services. We also welcomed Kellen to the team—more on that in a few paragraphs. 😊
On a Personal Note
My health journey took some tough turns. Smart doctors finally uncovered root causes, and we settled on what will be a lifelong treatment plan for CVID-B Cell with Sjogren’s. I’ve been pretty transparent about this journey—I just don’t know any other way. I really hope that someday-someone will benefit from my story sharing. Advocating for your own health takes unwavering support from loved ones, grit, tenacity, and massive amounts of research. My days now are filled with primal screams, snarky sarcasm, IV tubes, dog snuggles, brutal medication, and lots of couch time.
So—how the hell do I keep doing it all? Well, the answer is—I just can’t, and if I’m being honest, it took me a while to get there. And… if I care about the future of Ironwood and all that it supports, I have to focus on its sustainability too. I talk a lot about leading with empathy—sometimes this means making hard decisions that impact things far bigger than me or my ego.
Enter Kellen Jemeyson
The smart, kind, and empathetic human who I was serendipitously introduced to almost two years ago when he moved to Olympia after selling his accounting firm in Dallas. We joke that I “coaxed him” out of retirement, and we both realized that Ironwood was a fantastic fit for him—and vice versa. He believes in what I have built—a place for EVERYONE to succeed, grow, and learn. I have always said the universe takes care of me and my family when I create space to let her in, and she came through pretty big this time.
At the end of December 2024, Kellen and I signed the papers—formally selling him my equity shares in Ironwood. It was oddly anti-climactic, a bit “quiet,” and there were lots of logistical details to work through. It also took me some time to write this—I was so excited about what I knew Kellen could accomplish and the energy he brought to what Ironwood stood for, yet I was also wholly pissed off at my body for failing me—for forcing me into a decision I wasn’t ready for.
So Now What?
Well, Ironwood remains fully intact, thriving, and growing, and I am staying on within my now-limited capacity. I am so grateful that I get to focus on the things that bring me joy and keep my brain engaged—cultivating relationships & community, problem-solving, new sales, and checking in on the people I care so much about.
Kellen is settling in and leading with positive intent. I’m sharing lots of history and institutional knowledge, the team is learning and supporting each other, and Ironwood’s future is pretty damn bright.
As always, I am in awe of all that we have accomplished together, grateful for your support, and excited to celebrate YOU.
It has been my great honor and privilege to serve ALL of you, and I look forward to checking in with you throughout the coming year.
♥️ Lynda