Working with Me

What do I bring to the table?

• Public Affairs

• Public affairs is a skill set that combines advocacy methodologies and strategic communications products. It provides the best of both worlds for audiences looking to move an issue over the finish line.

• Government Relations

• I have spent the majority of the past sixteen years walking the halls of the North Carolina General Assembly and interacting with elected officials across the Southeastern United States. I have been a lobbyist directly engaging on legislation my client supported or opposed and an advocate who encourages others to engage with their representatives through targeted outreach products. 

• Strategic Communications Planning and Execution

• Those who don’t plan are planning for failure. I’ve been fortunate to support and lead the development and execution of numerous strategic communications campaigns focused on engaging diverse populations on important topics. I have dovetailed a lot of this work with my experience in Government Relations to take an advocacy engagement to the next level. 

• Service-oriented leadership

  • Service has been a core component of many aspects of my life from an early age. From Scouting (I am an Eagle Scout) to church and clubs, I have been fortunate to give back to my community in various ways. In my adult life, I have had the privilege to be mentored by numerous service-oriented leaders who have further instilled the importance of community and giving back, which has led me to serve on and lead the boards of multiple organizations, receive and support numerous fellowship programs, and be engaged in the communities I have lived and worked. Check out some of my Community Involvement.

How I Work

While I like structured environments with outlined objectives and having space for deep thinking and creativity, I know that can’t always be the case. I have grown accustomed to the fast-paced environments surrounding legislative bodies and interacting with elected officials and senior leaders, so I easily fall into that rhythm.  

Focused Teammate

• I work best with clear direction and outlined project objectives. While I appreciate the room to explore solutions independently, I welcome team member involvement and brainstorming. I love working on detailed projects that allow me to develop in-depth strategies.

Collaboration & Communication

• I believe in straightforward, strategic communication. I also welcome collaboration and group brainstorming because they help me gain insight into my thoughts on a particular topic or issue. I ask for honest, forthright communication from those I work with. If you disagree with something, speak up. If you have an idea or suggestion, speak up. If a mistake occurs, own it and hold me accountable. 

Adaptable

• I have learned to thrive in fast-paced environments and enjoy the challenge of quickly learning new issues, tools, or methodologies. Each new challenge allows me to apply my expertise creatively and positively.

How to communicate with me?

I have grown to prefer in-person communication for its simplicity and the ability to forge a deeper connection with the person I speak with. However, in a fast-paced environment, in-person communication is only sometimes possible. So, I make myself available via email, phone, and text.

If you are reaching out via a written medium, please be as descriptive as possible to ensure I understand what you are asking. I will never criticize for the length of an email if the ask is clear.

My working cadence

With three young kids (one in elementary school and two in daycare), my days can start before sunrise. They can also require my availability at irregular times to handle school pick-up, events, and other family responsibilities. If illnesses arise, I may shift from in-person to remote work with limited notice. Additionally, I serve on multiple nonprofit boards requiring my presence at meetings, some of which occur during a regular day. These meetings will be reflected on my calendar at least one month before their occurrence, with their appropriate travel time blocks included where needed.

Also, notwithstanding pre-scheduled events or significant emergencies, I am intentionally unavailable from 6 to 8 p.m. to spend time with my family. Emergency protocols are established so senior leaders know how to reach me if something arises. I make an intentional effort to check in after 8 p.m. to ensure that all communications received during this period will receive a response before the end of the day on which they were received. 

My Expectations

I hold myself to a high standard but don’t expect others to match it. My working cadence is likely more aggressive than most, and that’s okay. I work on it regularly to ensure I am not pushing myself to burnout. I am not a perfect team member or a leader. I developed some unhealthy habits early in my career, and it is a continual process of improvement. I ask for grace, and I commit to reciprocating.

My Calendar

I pride myself on having a fully complete calendar that reflects my commitments and availabilities at least one week in advance. I use an integrated product called Motion, which allows me to combine my personal and work calendars while adding a task and project management platform to keep me on track. 

My daily calendar includes blocks of availability and commitments. I intentionally block time for unexpected events or emergencies, though all are subject to change. 

If you want to meet with me, please send me a calendar invite using the email provider based on our relationship (spalmer@nclm.org for work events and seth@seth-palmer.com for everything else). I prefer that you include a simple agenda (including meeting goals/objectives for any meeting in which you request my presence) and give me at least 30 minutes’ notice to prepare so that our time together can be as productive as possible.