About
KSC helps new, aspiring, and growing supervisors develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence you need to become thriving leaders. Through our trademarked framework, Lead With Your MINDⓇ, we will help you and your staff transform from struggling to thriving.
We support all managers, supervisors, and leaders with a focus on those working in the nonprofit sector particularly in youth development.
Our business is located in Baltimore, Maryland, and we proudly serve clients all across the country.
Mission Statement
To help new, aspiring, and growing supervisors become thriving leaders through:
- One-on-One Coaching
- Mentoring
- Training
- Team Building
Values
- Leading others is a privilege & responsibility.
- Relationships are at the core of management.
- Integrity is essential for leading others.
- Growth and learning never end.
- Management is as much internal as external.
- Effective leadership requires a combination of mindset, skills, investment and desire.
Why We Do What We Do
We know what it’s like to struggle as a supervisor. We know what it’s like to be supervised by a struggling supervisor. It is our mission to empower you with the skills and confidence you need to manage your team effectively and create positive impact and results.
*Katherine Spinney is a Master’s level teacher and social worker, a certified AYD trainer, a certified PQA external assessor, and was voted a Top 5 Executive Coach in Baltimore.
*KSC is proud to provide ICF-certified services and maintains the highest standards of confidentiality and integrity.
Emily Arkuss
At the core, I am a client advocate, cultural consultant and trusted coach. My history includes recruiting executives and top technology talent, partnering with internal customers from a Talent Development and HR perspective, and advising Talent leaders as an HRTech Client Success Manager. The common thread: my passion for authentic relationships and bringing the best out of others and building healthy cultures drives everything about me personally and professionally.
Outside of work, I love all things performing arts. I spent many years onstage in musical theater productions and am currently an avid supporter of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, where my husband plays the tuba. We’ve been lucky to travel across the world for both music and fun!
Julia Capallo
Creative problem-solving and effective communication are key components of the work that I do. I have built these skills through my background in art education and graphic design, and I support others in utilizing these skills in various ways. My other work experiences include mentorship and educational leadership through a lens of equity, mindfulness, and SEL. I’m a big advocate of using feedback and reflection as ways to learn, grow, and improve in all aspects of my life, especially in my roles as a small business owner and mother. I started my business A Marvelous Spark (Creative Studio), LLC in 2023 after teaching art for over a decade.
Besides art and education, my interests include writing, gardening, going to concerts, and traveling. I’m passionate about building community, and I frequently volunteer my time with local organizations in the Baltimore vicinity.
KSC Around The Web
Top 15 Coaches in Baltimore
Influence Digest+
Program Fundamentals: Getting Started
School: After Hours Podcast
Managing From Home
Yes, I Work From Home Podcast
The Value in Involving Your Team in the Hiring Process
Joanne Oppelt’s Blog
Mind Over Matter
Interview with NorthStar Solutions
Hiring High-Quality Staff
Ohio Afterschool Network Podcast
Becoming an Effective Leader
Good Advice Podcast with Blake Binns
The Systemic Disregard for Frontline Staff
Collaboration with National Afterschool Association
Fallback to Reading Series
Debbie Laskey's Blog
Coach Feature: Meet Katherine Spinney, MT, MSW, ACC
Monthly featured coach at The Coaching Tools Company
5 Best Executive Coaches in Baltimore
Kev’s Best List
Social Work Month Conversations with Nicki Sanders, CEO
Nicki Sanders Social Work Month Series
Leadership is ALWAYS About Those You Lead
Debbie Laskey’s Leadership Blog
Leadership Development
Nonprofit Vision Podcast with Gregory Nielsen
The Importance of Group Processing Skills
Learn24 Newsletter
TweetChat Highlights: How to Improve Leadership Readiness during the COVID19 Crisis
Debbie Laskey’s Leadership Blog
Supporting the Youth We Serve by Supporting the Staff Who Serve Them
Afterschool Today
How Can Leaders Help Employees Exceed Expectations? It’s All About the Culture!
Guest Post on Debbie Laskey’s Blog, International Marketing and Management Expert
Have You Ever Participated in a Leadership Book Group?
Debbie Laskey's Blog
Spring Leadership Series
Debbie Laskey's Blog
KSC Conference & Workshop Presentations
Mindful Communication
IAA Keynote Address (2024)
How to Invite More Disagreement
Nevada Afterschool Network (2024)
Leadership through Modeling
SkillsUSA (2023)
How to Be the Supervisor Your Staff Need
Hawaii Afterschool Association (2023); Pennsylvania ELO Conference (2022); School’s Out Washington Bridge Conference (2021); Arizona Afterschool Network (2021); Ohio Afterschool Network (2021); Beyond School Hours (2020)
Addressing Difficult Conversations
Georgia Afterschool & Youth Development Initiative (2024); PowerUp (2024); Connecticut Afterschool Network (2023); Montgomery County Collaboration Council (2021)
Challenging the Ten Most Common Leadership Myths
Family League of Baltimore (2023)
Innovative Leadership
CSIU (2023)
Time Management
Y of Central Maryland (2023); Family League of Baltimore (2022); Communities in Schools NC (2022)
How to Build a Positive Feedback Culture on Your Team
Ohio Afterschool Conference (2022)
Self-Care as Organizational Care
Baltimore's Promise (2022); `Michigan Afterschool Conference (2021); Connecticut Afterschool Network Conference (2021)
Planning Your Program Day
Nevada Afterschool Network (2021); Arizona Afterschool Network (2021; 2020)
Making the Transition from Staff to Supervisor
Montgomery County Collaboration Council (2021; 2018)
Got Imposter Syndrome? Learn How to Make it Work for You
Montgomery County Collaboration Council (2021)
Virtual Team Building
Montgomery County Collaboration Council (2021)
How to Hire and Develop High-Quality Staff
National Afterschool Association (2020); 21st Century Community Learning Centers Grant Program Summer Symposium (2020); Ohio Afterschool Network (2020); Maryland Out of School Time (2019); Virginia Partnership for Out of School Time (2019), NCCAP (2019)
The Future of Leadership
4IR and the Future of Work: A Global Perspective- NorthStar Solutions (May 2020)
Leading Through the Crisis: Emerging Stronger Than Before
Family League of Baltimore (2020)
A+ Communication
Maryland Out of School Time VISTA Program (2019)
The Challenges, Importance and Best Practices for Staff Retention in OST Programs
Summer 2019 Learn 24 Network Conference (2019)
How to Effectively Give and Receive Feedback
Community of Practice Youth Development and Mentoring Symposium (2019); InvestED (2017)
Strengthening Your Supervisory Skills
Montgomery County Collaboration Council Strengthening Champions for Youth Success (2018)
Goal Setting: Past, Present and Future
Greater Baltimore Leadership Association (2018)
Facilitating Meetings People Can't Wait to Attend
Creative Mornings (2024); Nevada Institute for Children's Research and Policy (2024); New York State Network for Youth Success (2024); Hawaii Afterschool Association (2023); Family League of Baltimore (2021; 2020; 2019)
Identifying and Developing Leadership Potential
UAN Jumpstart (2024); Georgia Afterschool & Youth Development Initiative (2024); Access Art (2024); Arizona Center for Afterschool Excellence (2024); SkillsUSA (2023); Family League of Baltimore (2023)
Clarifying Team Expectations
Kansas Enrichment Network Plenary (2024); NYSAN (2025); 21st CCLC Summer Institute (2024); Arizona Center for Afterschool Excellence (2024); PSAYDN (2023); Family League of Baltimore (2023)
Problem Solving and Decision Making
ELO (2024); EveryMind (2023); Family League of Baltimore (2022); Communities in Schools (2022)
Professional Development for the Youth Development Professional
MD4Y (2024); Family League of Baltimore (2024); UAN Jumpstart (2024); 21st CCLC (2023); Communities in Schools, NC (2020)
Emergent Leaders in Supervision Series
Illinois Afterschool Network (2022)
Project-Based Learning
Massachusetts Afterschool Partnership (2024); Pennsylvania ELO Conference (2022);Family League of Baltimore (2022)
Good to Great: Taking Your Afterschool Program to the Next Level
New Mexico Afterschool Leadership Institute (2022); North Dakota Afterschool Network (2021); Family League of Baltimore (2019)
Amplifying Youth Voice and Choice
APOST (2024); New Mexico Afterschool Leadership Institute (2022); Montgomery County Collaboration Council (2021); Arizona Center for Afterschool Excellence (2020); Family League of Baltimore (2020)
Using Coaching Skills to Support Your Staff and Youth
CollegeTracks (2024); Baltimore's Promise (2022); Nevada Afterschool Conference (2022); Michigan Afterschool Conference (2021); Montgomery County Collaboration Council (2021); Connecticut Afterschool Network Conference (2021)
Lead With Your MIND
Women in Health Regional LeadHERship Summit (2021); ELU, United Way Central Maryland (2020); NCCAP Synergy Conference (2020)
The Organized Leader
Center for Schools and Communities (2025; 2021)
Acknowledging, Confronting and Overcoming Your Fear of Feedback
Montgomery County Collaboration Council (2021); United Way Central Maryland Emerging Leaders United Young Professionals Conference (2018)
More than Free Labor: Developing and Leveraging Strong Volunteer Programs
Family League of Baltimore (June 2020)
We Need to Talk: Feedback, Coaching and Other Important Communication on Your Team
Montgomery County Collaboration Council (2020; 2019)
What to Expect When You’re Expecting to Be a Supervisor
Virginia21 Summer Leadership Institute (2019); United Way (2019); Montgomery County Collaboration Council (2018)
Coaching Your Staff to Success
Community of Practice Youth Development and Mentoring Symposium (2019)
Using Self-Assessments to Strengthen Yourself as a Leader
Montgomery County Collaboration Council (2019; 2018)
How to Manage Your Afterschool Staff More Effectively to Help Reduce Turnover
Maryland Out of School Time Network: Opening Doors. Transforming Lives (2018)
