Transition Tea

For this week’s episode of Transition Tea, our CEO, Kelly Guzman, welcomes Deborah Wayne, an exceptional Project Specialist for Yellow Brick and a seasoned Registered Nurse. Over a cup of delightful David’s Tea flavored iced tea with fruits, spices, and beetroot, Kelly asks Debbie how she decided to pursue Nursing as a profession and why she considers it “the best career, ever!” As a nurse leader, Debbie shares her priceless strategies for effecting change management and her advice for nurses looking to amplify their professional development. You don’t want to miss this!

We are thrilled to have Sicy Simoes, Project Manager, Facilities Development and Real Estate at El Camino Health, join Yellow Brick President and Founder Kelly Guzman in our latest episode of Transition Tea. Over a steamy cup of creamy rooibos Alpine Punch tea from David’s Tea, Sicy talks about her passion for working with healthcare facilities to create new or renovated environments. While a non-healthcare construction project aims to deliver a project on time and within budget, a healthcare facility construction project’s end goal goes beyond and is more in tune with what Sicy is looking for in a career—reaping immediate benefits for the end-user while keeping the project on track and within budget brings no greater satisfaction. With a background in engineering technology specializing in construction and an offer from a VP of a healthcare facility to be the in-house owner’s rep, Sicy kickstarted her career in healthcare construction management and hasn’t looked back since. Enjoy the conversation as Sicy and Kelly delve into the skillset necessary to be in the healthcare construction field. Take in Sicy’s thoughtful advice for those contemplating entry to the field, and finally, listen as Sicy shares how engineering/construction management has come a long way, especially for the women in this area of expertise.

Yellow Brick welcomes you to another episode of Transition Tea, where our President and CEO, Kelly Guzman, engages in a refreshing conversation with colleagues in the healthcare realm. Joining Kelly in this episode is Vincent Pena, an accomplished registered nurse, and educator, and a Yellow Brick project specialist and facilitator for Yellow Brick’s Dress Rehearsal and Move Events. While indulging in a heartwarming cup of Hazelnut Chocolate Tea from David’s Tea, Vince looks back on his start as a healthcare professional. He dispenses his nuggets of wisdom on “letting your guard down” and keeping humble to learn something new - asking the questions, engaging with the people you work with, and leveraging technology in your current workplace or adapting to a changed work environment.

We are delighted to have Connie Senner, Director of Design and Construction at Torrance Memorial Medical Center, grace our latest episode of Transition Tea. Over sips of delicious Blueberry Fields Forever from David’s Tea, Connie and Kelly Guzman, Yellow Brick’s President and Founder, talk about Connie’s journey from a cardiovascular surgeon’s office to becoming one of a growing number of select female executives in the construction field. As a non-clinical professional working in a healthcare environment, Connie offers an interesting perspective on her approach to project management and construction (“it’s like planning a wedding”) and change management. Her essential project management tools are indispensable for a smooth and fail-safe Day 1 activation.

Welcome to another episode of Transition Tea, an avenue of conversation with intelligent and inspiring nurse leaders in the Transition and Activation Planning expanse. Yellow Brick President and Founder Kelly Guzman join Stephanie Dremel in a discussion about pursuing a meaningful career that allows a direct connection with people. With that thought and while enjoying a cup of toasty Let It Snow tea from David’s Tea, Steph talks about her decision to pursue nursing. Steph began her career in a Peri-op setting as a pre-op and recovery room nurse leader. Being a nurse leader for nineteen out of her twenty 20 years of Nursing experience and with a Master’s degree in Health Informatics, Steph embarked on another career pursuit in project management, informatics, and clinical expertise consulting in support of healthcare facilities. Listen in and find out how nurses’ skills in handling stress and being good critical thinkers and planners have helped Steph become a successful consultant in the Informatics arena. Steph’s words of wisdom: be open to new ideas, figure out your passion and listen to your inner voice.

We are excited to have Kathyrn Gallagher, Clinical Liaison for the new Pavilion of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, join Kelly Guzman, President, and Founder of Yellow Brick Consulting. In this episode of Transition Tea, Kathryn and Kelly sip the brown sugar sweetness and toasty chestnut flavor of Roasted Chestnut from David’s Tea.

Kathryn has been with Penn Medicine her entire nursing career and has achieved numerous career milestones at the prestigious healthcare organization. One that stands out for us is the opening of the new 1.5 million-square-foot Pavilion, where the Yellow Brick team had the excellent opportunity to work with her. During her conversation with Kelly, Kathryn speaks about what led her to a Nursing education and career, her role as a Clinical Adviser/Liaison, tips on helping end-users acclimate to their new environment (e.g., the staff for their 2-level ED), and the skills needed to become a Clinical Liaison. When asked for her advice to nurses aspiring to become clinical liaisons or contemplating a career in Transition and Activation Planning, Kathryn shares these inspirational words: “Everything we do in life leads us to something else.”

Thank you for stopping by for another episode of Transition Tea. This week, our CEO and Founder, Kelly Guzman, is joined by Erica Dickey, Clinical Practice Education Specialist at City of Hope in Duarte, CA. Listen in as Kelly and Erica discuss a wide range of topics as they enjoy a hot cup of apple cider tea inspired by a favorite seasonal beverage.

Belonging to a family of healthcare professionals, Erica had a front-row seat early on that provided an up-close view of the field. While working as a Transition and Activation Planning Project Manager, she learned and understood how to “put the pieces together,” anticipate the needs of her team and hone her skills for her next career moves. Erica touches on what sparked her interest in nursing and talks passionately about her current role as a Clinical Practice Education Specialist. Erica shares sensible tips on working effectively with your team and clients, integrating work and home life, finding the process that works for you, and being more intentional with your time.

Yellow Brick is excited to have Kim Scurr, Vice President for Operations for UCSF Health join Yellow Brick CEO Kelly Guzman in our latest episode of Transition Tea. Kim led the UCSF Mission Bay project in its Transition and Activation efforts culminating in the move across town from the facility in Parnassus to the new campus in Mission Bay. Listen in as Kim shares how she managed this huge project by keeping the focus on patient-centered care, using clear and concise communication, instilling the team spirit, facing and resolving challenges, learning from wonderful mentors, and lastly but certainly not the least - being her authentic self.

For this episode of Transition Tea, we are thrilled to have Kim Roberts, Senior Director of Clinical Services at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, join Kelly Guzman, President & Founder of Yellow Brick Consulting. Over a cup of heartwarming Moringa Mint tea, Kelly and Kim plunge into a refreshing discussion of Kim’s tools and strategies in project management. Kim oversees a wide range of departments at Scripps while in the role of Transition lead for Scripps’ expansion of department workspaces and the construction of new patient towers. With her 30 years of experience, Kim offers valuable advice for those aspiring to or on their way to becoming administrators and project managers for their facilities.

Watch the full video here.

On this episode of Transition Tea, Kelly sits down with Andy Stringfellow, Director of Planning at Keck Medicine of USC, to talk transition over Early Grey tea.  During the conversation, the two discuss strategies for navigating the regulatory requirements and governing entities in California related to healthcare facility activation.  Andy shares tips about his go-to tools for ensuring all requirements are met and best practices for preparing frontline staff for interactions with surveyors.

Andy has been working in healthcare for many years and, over the last ten years, has been focused on strategic, facility, and program planning for healthcare projects at Keck.  His road to transition began in graduate school, where he studied neuropsychology and linguistics, eventually leveraging his research and analytical skills to manage the complexities of healthcare facility planning projects.  Over his tenure, he has been instrumental in Keck’s expansion of services across Southern California.

To watch the video click here.