Operations: The behind-the-scenes hero of a successful company

When Carolyn Blaschek, one of Orso’s most tenured team members, gets fired up, she goes all in.

The thing is, it’s often behind-the-scenes.

As Operations Director, Carolyn focuses on optimizing infrastructure and creating efficiency. That red thread runs through to her personal life, too, where the mother of three uses her passion to shore up her church, children’s school, and the deaf community. We gave her the floor here to share more.

How did you start with Orso

Our founder Vince and I go way back, like 2010. I was interning with the Chicago White Sox and the head of my team was starting a digital media subsidiary called Silver Chalice. I ran operations there and they brought Vince in to help build the marketing consulting team. We bonded over our big dreams for the company and even after we both exited we kept in touch. Years later, when he started working with clients, he invited me to collaborate on some projects. I think we both always hoped to work together again, and I think that will always be the end game. I feel like even if I pursue another career down the road, I’d stay involved with the things Vince is involved with.

What’s your role here?

I’m split between internal work and client work. On the client services side, I mainly fulfill smaller, ad hoc requests that come in, but I do work closely with a few of our bigger, ongoing clients. On the internal side, I lead operations. Of course, “operations” is a nebulous word that can mean a lot of things. At our company it includes things like invoicing, managing profitability, reporting and analysis, resource planning, tech stack, and engaging with legal. Plus, I get to do some of the fun HR stuff, like making sure we have continuing education for the team. As our company grows, I’m pulled more fully into that internal work.

What do you most enjoy about the work you do?

I don’t know how to say this and not sound cheesy, but I don’t know how I got here! I feel like I’m 18 and still figuring things out. Every day is so different, with so many different, interesting challenges that keep me ticking. 

One thing I’ve been enjoying recently on the client services side is helping Justin (Orso’s head of development) with clients’ web projects. There’s so much tinkering and problem solving, and I love that part. Justin tells me all the time that websites are living, breathing things. The more I support him, the more I understand that. Sometimes, our clients come to us with a request for what they perceive as a small change to their site. They don’t realize that those small changes are so interconnected with other site components and their brand as a whole. Sometimes the most “simple” changes domino into entire site refreshes.

Let’s talk about outside of work – what do you do?

Well, one kind of cool thing is that I just started going back to school to earn a Deaf Studies certificate! My husband and son are both hard of hearing and September is Deaf Awareness Month so it’s perfect timing. I’m learning American Sign Language and really excited about it. It’s too early to know what comes next, but I’m pursuing a certificate that might be a step toward becoming an interpreter.

On the whole, following the things and people I’m passionate about is a theme for me. I’ve been a part of the same church my whole life and the community there means a ton to me. My pastor has been there for 50 years, his daughter is one of my closest friends, and I’m just so connected to the space. My husband and I were married there, we baptised our children there, and when I lost my mom to cancer as a young mother myself, our church community really supported us. All that to say: I volunteer there a lot.

What kind of volunteering do you do?

I’m closely involved in my kids’ school and the PTO. My mom was a teacher, so contributing in this way keeps me connected to her memory; how we spent every summer setting up her classroom. I feel grateful to have that ongoing sense of following in her footsteps and staying close to her.

She died of female cancer so women’s health is another area that’s important to me, especially right now with everything going on with women’s rights. 

And I do lots of the little, ongoing stuff for my church, but I’ve also managed some significant projects for them. The biggest recent project was renovating the nursery space, and the church gave me a budget and the autonomy to manage it. It’s rewarding because I know that I’ll be a part of this community for the long haul so investing myself today will be a legacy for my children if they choose to stay a part of that community.

Honestly, I never know what’s going to ignite me. But I do know that when something does, I go all in. I pursue, and advocate, and fight for things, and do my best to leave things better than they were before.

Which means, I’ve become someone who attends board meetings and presents on topics I never thought I’d care about. Like – who is this person?!

Does your passion extend to dogs like so many of our Orso team members?

Ha, I think I might be the only Orso team member who doesn’t have an obsession with dogs. I grew up with a dog, I have a heart for a dog but right now I’m too focused (and on the go!) with my small children to add a dog to our household.

Time for the hotseat…

• Fave way to get your caffeine? Triple iced espresso in a venti cup, add a Protein Shake!
• What song always gets you dancing? One that will forever get me on my feet is ‘Don’t stop believing’ by Journey – IYKYK ⚾️
• Best season? I’m a midwesterner so clearly I love them all but hands down, Fall is my favorite!
• Mountain bike or road bike? Mountain bike!

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Carolyn’s passion and deep goodness are an absolute pillar of this company. If we have the opportunity to work together, you’re bound to run into her work, whether it’s the smooth running of our business, or a chat on the phone that you leave with a smile. Thanks for sharing more about your work and passion, Carolyn! Orso wouldn’t be the same without you.