What I didn’t know until I came to work at Literacy Texas was how that magic happened. Even now, I’m not sure I know all the magic behind it, but I do know two of the magicians – Kathryn Bauchelle and Lindsay Robbins. 

Kathryn is our Communications and Training Specialist, and her fingerprints are on every aspect of the conference experience. She designs the signage that guides the way, crafts social media posts that build excitement, and organizes our conference program. She fiercely protects the Literacy Texas brand, approaching every decision and every detail with care. Her quiet wisdom influences countless behind-the-scenes decisions that ultimately create the very best experience for every conference attendee. 

Lindsay, our Administrative Manager, keeps everything running smoothly behind the scenes. She is the queen of registration, accounting, coupon codes, and billing questions. She coordinates with the venue, manages contracts, and somehow always has the perfect spreadsheet ready for the task at hand. Lindsay never shies away from a challenge. Instead, she is constantly refining systems and processes so that attendees can enjoy a seamless experience from registration through the closing session. 

Although Kathryn and Lindsay bring very different talents to the team, watching them work together is remarkable. They lean into one another’s strengths, genuinely enjoy solving problems together, and share an unwavering commitment to excellence. I wish every team were fortunate enough to have women like Kathryn and Lindsay. 

People are often surprised to learn that a conference of this quality is produced by such a small staff, but they would not be surprised if they knew Kathryn and Lindsay like I do. Excellence isn’t measured by the size of a team but by the dedication, care, and talent of the people on it. I would trust these women with any project, anywhere, anytime, because I know the level of excellence they bring to every single thing they do. 

The next time you attend the Literacy Texas Annual Conference and notice how smoothly everything runs, take a moment to appreciate the countless details that made that experience possible. Much of that magic began long before the doors opened before the opening session thanks to two extraordinary women whose impact is felt by every person who walks through our doors.