Team player Sharon Tewksbury-Bloom enjoys tackling business problems, supporting others.
Building Strong Teams
In her facilitation business, Tewksbury-Bloom strives to build a healthy team atmosphere, especially among new and experienced members, and then develop strategies for the next one to two years that align with their mission and vision.
“I like to work with intact groups, groups of employees or a board of a non-profit and give them an amazing experience that helps them feel reconnected and reenergized to do their work,” she said. “You know, we’ve all been through a lot [with the pandemic], so sometimes they are just in a rut or they’ve lost that common vision.”
She says facilitation gives teams greater confidence in their decisions about how to move forward. “They also gain a better understanding of what motivates their team and what they need from each other.”
Connecting with Nature
Before starting Bloom Facilitation, Tewksbury-Bloom managed the AmeriCorps program in Flagstaff. Her job included a project atPicture Canyon Natural and Cultural Preserve, an Open Space area behind the Flagstaff Mall that is protected by the City of Flagstaff.
“It’s called Picture Canyon because of the amazing petroglyphs on display here, just hundreds of them, and it’s an area that has a lot of other evidence of indigenous communities passing through – old squash plants are also visible here where people were harvesting. There’s just a lot of rich cultural history.”
Picture Canyon also is known for its riparian habitat that attracts wildlife like elk, deer and songbirds, including the red-winged blackbird. And it is home to Flagstaff’s only waterfall.
“I had the honor of hiring someone to be an Open Space coordinator,” she said. “They were designing all those educational materials and the map at the trailhead to help people understand what they were seeing here. We also did volunteer projects, because this area for a long time had been the place where people were dumping trash.”
Tewksbury-Bloom’s appreciation for nature set her off on an 800-mile journey across the state on the Arizona Trail, which Picture Canyon is part of. Her mother in-law, Cindi Holt, asked her to join her for some overnight backpacking.
“She started section-hiking the trail when she turned 50. She wanted to see her state close up. She was nervous about her first overnight trip, so she asked me to go along with her.”
One of Tewksbury-Bloom’s favorite areas on the trail is Alamo Canyon, between Kearny and Superior. “That was my first solo section – backpacking four days by myself. I thought of so many things to be nervous about and also so many beautiful rewards like the sunrise. The first day I was so nervous I was dropping things and thinking paranoid thoughts. As soon as I got over that, it was just glorious. I loved it.”
Another favorite stretch is the area around Patagonia, about 50 miles into the trek, north of Mexico. “I think there’s some wonder about starting at the Mexican border and hiking north. I did it during the very beginning of the pandemic. It was really amazing to be out in nature and seeing such beautiful things while having stressful things happening in the world.”
Tewksbury-Bloom appreciates the beauty in humans as well. Her podcast, “Do Good, Be Good,” showcases service and volunteerism. “I like to feature the stories we don’t hear, how doing good can be complicated and sometimes make us question ourselves internally about whether it was the right thing to do, like switching degrees in college that may lead to making less money but doing something more meaningful.”
A Path with Meaning
Tewksbury-Bloom herself seems to have been destined to live a life of meaning and helping others. At 2 years old, she became a bone marrow donor for her sister, who was diagnosed with leukemia as a baby.
“She had gone through radiation and chemotherapy, but by the time she was 4, my parents and the doctors had run out of options. They decided a bone marrow transplant made sense,” she said.
As siblings are often the best fit genetically for such a procedure, little Sharon, a toddler, was the obvious choice. “I don’t think I really remember it, but I think that it was a really powerful experience and something I knew just from family stories. I was, of course, very grateful to have that ability to save her life.”
Three years ago, Tewksbury-Bloom was alerted that she was the best match for someone else, a stranger, in need of a bone marrow transplant. Although the surgery can be painful and requires a six-week recovery period, she answered the call again.
While she helps others on their paths, hers continues through Arizona’s wild spaces. With just 190 miles to go, Tewksbury-Bloom plans to complete the Arizona Trail within a year.
My No. 1 Hiking Tip
I am fair-skinned and it’s difficult to protect myself from the intense sun. That’s my main goal. I use a sun umbrella and always wear long sleeves, long pants and sunblock when I’m hiking. Shade and hydration are really key.
How I Relieve Stress
I tackle teenagers. This is my eighth year playing on the LadySharks Rugby Team. We practice twice a week and play games on Saturdays. It’s a lot of fun. Almost all the players are NAU students who are half my age.
Where I Want to Visit
There are only three states I haven’t been to yet. I would love to go to Alaska to do some whale watching and see the beauty.
Character Qualities I Appreciate
I look for people who want to be part of the solution, whether they know the answers or not. No matter what their background or skills are, anyone who comes to the table to solve problems together, that’s who I like to associate with on my team and as my clients.
Where I See Myself in Five Years
I hope to still be running my own business and being very active. I am so grateful for all the things in my life and I want to continue to find ways to support others. I also see myself retired from rugby. QCBN
By Bonnie Stevens, QCBN
For more information, visit
www.BloomFacilitation.com.
To hear more from Sharon Tewksbury-Bloom-Bloom, visit Zonie Living at StarWorldwideNetworks.com, https://starworldwidenetworks.com/episodes/exploring-world-travel-hot-spots-lesser-known-gems-and-the-solitude-of-the-arizona-trail-video.
Courtesy Photos: Founder of Bloom Facilitation, Sharon Tewksbury-Bloom is hiking the Arizona Trail in sections. She finds solace and beauty across the 800-mile journey from the border with Mexico to the border with Utah. She has less than 200 miles to go.
