For as long as I have been a business owner, I have never made the correlation that National Small Business Month and Mental Health Awareness Month occur in May.  I don’t know how or even why I put it together this year, but I did. Being a business owner has placed so much stress on my mental health that at times I thought, “Denise, you may not make it out of this one.” The constant worries about staffing, payroll, business development, our reputation, competition – the list goes on and on. Yet through it all, like Elton John said, “I’m still standing – looking like a true survivor, feeling like a little kid.”

In April, Herd Strategies is celebrating National Volunteer Month by highlighting volunteer organizations and opportunities, showcasing ways we can use our time, talents and treasures to #giveback and uplift our communities. This week’s feature is Fred Payne, president and CEO of United Way of Central Indiana, a lifelong volunteer who helps remove barriers and provide resources so Central Indiana residents and communities can live out their true potential. 

In April, Herd Strategies is celebrating National Volunteer Month by highlighting local volunteer organizations and opportunities, showcasing ways we can use our passions, values and skillsets to #giveback and lift up our communities. This week’s feature is Darcie Kurtz, executive director of Friends of Indianapolis Dogs Outside (FIDO), who has improved the lives of thousands of local, outdoor pets since founding the animal welfare nonprofit.