Shining a Spotlight on Powerhouse’s Maria Mitchell
Welcome back to one of our favorite blog series where we get to shine a spotlight on some of the incredible (and incredibly talented) freelancers who make up our total remote team solutions. This time, we’re turning that spotlight on Maria Mitchell, who in her almost three years with Powerhouse has already worn a few different hats.
Maria first interviewed with Powerhouse back in 2019 when a friend and colleague suggested it would be a great fit for her. Let us pause for a moment to loop you in on the inner workings of Powerhouse. We are always looking for great talent, but we make sure that our current freelancers have all the work they wish to handle before we bring on another talented team member. This means it can sometimes be a bit of a wait between interviewing with Powerhouse and signing your first contract to work with Powerhouse. That’s exactly what happened to Maria.
Eventually, she happily joined her first Powerhouse contract working as a project manager for one of our clients and quickly adding another role as part of one of our grant-writing teams, researching funding opportunities and assisting with grant writing for our nonprofit clients. It was a case of we-never-looked-back! Over the last three years, Maria has served as our operations director, as a project manager, and as a team manager, overseeing the smooth coordination of teams to deliver high-quality results. She excels with every hat she wears for Powerhouse, utilizing her marketing background to expand and develop her skill sets to meet client needs. “I had to adapt to working with a larger organization than I was used to, but I’ve gained invaluable insights into federal grants and contracts along the way,” Maria says. “My time at Powerhouse has shown me the true value of teamwork and collaboration. I’ve learned that when you place people in roles wherethey can thrive and feel fulfilled, it not only creates happier teams but also leads to stronger, more successful outcomes. It’s been rewarding to step away from being a one-person show and embrace the power of working together,” she adds.
Maria is one of the many military spouses who has found a remote career home
with Powerhouse. “I’ve been a military spouse for four years this month!” Maria proudly told us. Her husband, Jason, has served in the Air National Guard for almost 12 years and is a full-time firefighter at the military base near their home. She’s also a proud military mom, earning that title when her daughter recently joined the Air National Guard where she is currently participating in student flight while waiting to attend her basic military training. “We’re a family that includes three children, a 10-year-old rescue dog, and a grand dog,” Maria says with a laugh. The grand dog may be her current favorite, even if the almost one-year-old puppy does test the patience of her older, more laid-back dog. When she’s not hard at work for Powerhouse, or spoiling her grand puppy, Maria can most often be found playing family videographer and unofficial pit crew for her husband and son, who are avid BMX and motocross riders. Sometimes she even enjoys the family’s other favorite pastime, bowling. “I’m still working on improving my score!” she tells us with a laugh.
What she doesn’t need to work on is finding her professional work home. Maria believes that Powerhouse will continue growing and attracting more large, long-term clients, which means she’ll be able to build out her work schedule to be as robust as she wants it to be. “Powerhouse genuinely cares about both its clients and its freelancers,” she says, “which is refreshing and rare in today’s business environment. I especially love the culture at Powerhouse. Everyone’s unique strengths are celebrated, and freelancers are regularly recognized for their contributions. We come together to celebrate new babies, share moving advice, and genuinely support each other through life’s changes.”
Powerhouse’s team culture is unique, dynamic, and lends itself to incredible flexibility. “That’s the best thing about Powerhouse,” Maria explains. “Its flexibility allows you to build a meaningful career no matter where life—or the military—takes you. Plus, we’re always continuing to strengthen team collaboration and innovation, making sure everyone’s voice is heard.” That lets Powerhouse become even more efficient and better able to serve our clients, which Maria appreciates. Remote work is ideal for military spouses, and the Powerhouse model brings the best of remote work and a supportive community to lean on during moves and deployments, according to Maria. “You can build and maintain a career, but you also have that community you need for the major life milestones. Take moving, for example. Chances are someone on our team has been stationed where you’re headed and can provide inside tips like where to find the best spots,” she says. Or, if you just need to take time to focus on that move or that life event, you can rest easily knowing your Powerhouse community has your back.
For long-time readers of this blog series, you’ll know that we always like to ask our freelancers to share something that not many people know about them. Maria immediately went back to her interview with Powerhouse. Remember how she didn’t get a contract right away? “Over the two-and-a-half years between my interview and my first contract, I jokingly say I casually stalked Powerhouse,” she recalls. “I followed their social media; I shared updates on my certifications and new skills. I basically did everything I could to gain number-one fan status until they finally found the perfect role for me. I really was that person.”
We’d say her “stalking” paid off, and we love having Maria as an integral part of our total remote team solution. Now excuse us as we scamper off to create some Powerhouse’s number-one fan bling for Maria. Because every fan deserves a little love now and then.
