The Mission Control podcast is where nonprofit stories and leadership lessons take center stage. Hosted by **Paul J Schmidt**, each episode offers candid conversations with leaders who are making meaningful change in their communities. In this episode, Paul welcomes his friend Beth Read, founder and executive director of **TWIGS**, a Michigan nonprofit dedicated to easing the daily burdens of families navigating cancer.

Beth’s warmth, humor, and authenticity shine throughout the conversation. Even her loyal dog, Murphy, makes a cameo, reminding listeners that nonprofit work—like life itself—is rarely polished but always real.

—

## The Heart Behind TWIGS

TWIGS exists to *lift everyday burdens from cancer patients and their families so they can concentrate on healing and spending time with loved ones.* This mission is both practical and deeply personal for Beth.

The name “TWIGS” carries a story of its own. An acronym for *to work in grateful service,* it was also Beth’s mother’s high school nickname. Beth founded the organization in her mother’s honor—not to mark her illness, but to celebrate her spirit of giving.

Beth’s mother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and given a year to live. She fought for nearly three years, which gave her family more time to make memories. Beth’s family had access to support systems that eased their daily lives. But she quickly realized many families in her community had no such help. TWIGS was born out of that awareness: a way to extend support services like rides, housekeeping, yard work, and errands to families who need it most.

—

## Starting Small, Growing Steady

Beth’s leap into nonprofit leadership came during the pandemic. Though she had zero nonprofit experience, she brought a strong background in business, real estate, and management. She leaned into her research skills, asked plenty of questions, and surrounded herself with people who knew more than she did.

“Let’s help one person and see what this looks like,” Beth recalls. That philosophy shaped TWIGS’ early growth. By focusing on one family at a time, TWIGS built trust and found its rhythm despite COVID delays and unexpected setbacks.

Collaboration was crucial from day one. Friends, colleagues, and board members like Kate—who brought both personal cancer experience and professional expertise—helped transform Beth’s vision into a functioning nonprofit.

—

## Leadership Lessons Along the Way

Beth is the first to admit she learned nonprofit leadership by doing. She drew on past business experience but also adapted to the unique challenges of running a mission-driven organization.

Her leadership style is grounded in empathy and example. “I’ll never ask you to do something I won’t do myself,” she says. In TWIGS’ early days, Beth personally cleaned homes, weeded gardens, and drove patients before inviting volunteers to join.

Key takeaways from her leadership journey include:

* **Lead by example**: Show willingness before asking others.
* **Practice empathy**: Volunteers give their time freely; respect is non-negotiable.
* **Fill your gaps**: Surround yourself with people who bring skills and knowledge you lack.
* **Stay accountable**: Use mentors, coaches, or peers to help manage time and energy.

Beth also highlights the importance of passion. “You have to really believe in your cause,” she says. Without that conviction, burnout comes quickly.

—

## The Volunteer Journey

For grassroots nonprofits, building a reliable volunteer base is often the turning point. TWIGS was no exception.

At first, Beth handled nearly every task herself. Gradually, volunteers joined, especially to provide rides to medical appointments—a critical service for cancer patients. Many of these volunteers had personal connections to cancer, which helped build trust with clients.

A local news feature gave TWIGS wider exposure, sparking a wave of new applications, especially from retirees. Today, Beth says volunteers “fight over shifts” to help. She describes them as “amazing humans” and emphasizes her deep gratitude: “I could hug every one of these people.”

—

## Challenges and Growth

Like any young nonprofit, TWIGS faced hurdles. Some families were hesitant to accept help. Gaining trust in the community took patience. And fundraising—always an uphill climb—sometimes felt uncomfortable.

Still, TWIGS persevered. Nearly 100 people have been served in just four years, a testament to steady growth and unwavering dedication. For Beth, every donation, every volunteer, and every family supported is a milestone worth celebrating.

Looking ahead, her goals include securing sustainable funding to support paid staff, expanding programming, and ensuring TWIGS can continue meeting the needs of families for years to come.

—

## Beyond the Hustle: Finding Balance

Running a nonprofit while juggling family life and a career in real estate leaves little downtime. Yet Beth emphasizes the importance of self-care. Long walks with Murphy, yoga, coffee dates with friends, and fiction reading provide balance and renewal.

“You need someone who’s going to hold you accountable for your time,” she explains, crediting her business coach for helping her stay focused and organized.

—

## Collaboration Over Competition

Beth is quick to point out that nonprofits thrive when they work together. TWIGS partners with local foundations and other organizations like Child and Family Services, Helping Women Period, and the Davies Project. For her, there’s no sense of competition. “There’s enough love to go around,” she says.

—

## Final Thoughts

Beth Read’s story, shared on the Mission Control podcast with **Paul J Schmidt**, is a testament to what happens when personal passion meets community need. TWIGS proves that even the smallest beginnings—one ride, one yard mowed, one errand run—can grow into lasting impact when fueled by empathy and persistence.

Her journey offers a roadmap for aspiring changemakers: start where you are, lean on your community, and never underestimate the power of small, consistent acts of service.

To learn more about TWIGS, visit **[www.twiginc.org](http://www.twiginc.org)**.

The Mission Control Podcast has always been a space where nonprofit leaders, executive directors, and community changemakers share their journeys. Hosted by Paul Schmidt of UnoDeuce Multimedia, each episode uncovers the stories behind organizations that keep communities strong. In one recent conversation, Casey Cooper, Assistant Director at the Tri County Office on Aging (TCOA), shed light on her path into nonprofit work, the evolution of aging services, and why community-centered leadership matters more than ever.

From Greenville Roots to Lansing Leadership

Casey’s journey began in Greenville, Michigan, a small town outside Grand Rapids. After completing her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work at the University of Michigan, she set out to find her place in the nonprofit world. That first role—fundraising and volunteer specialist at TCOA—turned out to be more than just a job. Eight and a half years later, she has grown into the role of assistant director, supervising staff, strengthening partnerships, and advocating for older adults.

Her longevity at TCOA speaks volumes. What started as an entry-level position became a calling. As Casey herself explained, the mission “sucked her in”—showing her how vital aging services are for individuals and communities alike.

The Mission Behind TCOA

At its heart, the Tri County Office on Aging exists to promote and preserve the independence and dignity of older adults, caregivers, and people with disabilities in Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham counties. This means helping people remain in their homes and communities for as long as possible, on their own terms.

Programs like Meals on Wheels, congregate dining, in-home support, caregiver respite, and wellness workshops anchor the agency’s services. Each is designed not only to meet physical needs, but also to reduce isolation, provide education, and foster connection.

As Casey put it, “Everything that we do at TCOA is to help older adults and caregivers and adults with disabilities get connected to programs and services that could help them age in their own homes and communities or wherever they call home in a safe way.”

Growing a Career in Nonprofits

Casey’s decision to enter the nonprofit sector wasn’t accidental. During college, she interned with an organization that supported cancer patients and discovered a love for event planning, fundraising, and direct service. That experience revealed the power of nonprofits to transform lives—and inspired her to pursue the field full-time.

Her passion was also shaped by her own childhood. Growing up in a family that benefited from social services, she experienced firsthand how access to resources creates opportunities. That memory continues to drive her: “That changed my life… and I want that for other people.”

Clearing Up Misconceptions About Aging

A big part of Casey’s work involves breaking down myths about aging. She often encounters assumptions that seniors inevitably end up in nursing homes, that aging equals isolation, or that services are only for low-income individuals. TCOA challenges those misconceptions daily by showing that most older adults can and do remain independent with the right support.

“We’re all aging,” Casey often reminds people, stressing that services are open to anyone with questions or concerns about aging. Planning ahead and connecting early can make all the difference.

Building Community Through Fundraising and Engagement

When Casey first arrived at TCOA, her role revolved around fundraising. She quickly learned that success in development isn’t just about securing dollars—it’s about building trust. Community members needed to believe in the mission, not just in her as an individual.

Over time, she discovered that fundraising could also mean rallying volunteers, cultivating champions, and building partnerships. From volunteer drivers to advisory council members to passionate donors who created lasting fundraising traditions like annual golf outings, engagement at TCOA is about relationships first.

Adapting in Times of Change

Like many nonprofits, TCOA faced extraordinary challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. But the crisis also sparked innovation. Carryout meals were introduced to meet demand and have since become a permanent offering. Older adults began embracing technology, using Zoom, FaceTime, and texting to stay connected with loved ones and services.

Casey recalls moments when seniors proudly shared selfies they learned to take with the help of volunteer tech coaches—proof that stereotypes about seniors and technology no longer hold true.

Leadership, Advocacy, and the Road Ahead

Now serving as Assistant Director, Casey supervises a team of seven while focusing on broader community engagement. Her work includes attending health fairs, strengthening advisory councils, and representing TCOA in advocacy efforts from Lansing to Washington, D.C.

Engaging lawmakers is increasingly essential, since much of TCOA’s budget relies on public funding. Casey views this part of her role as another form of relationship-building—ensuring that policymakers understand the real needs of older adults.

Her broader vision is to shift how society views aging itself. Rather than treating it as something to fear, she wants communities to embrace aging as a natural stage of life, worthy of respect, resources, and celebration.

Life Beyond Work

Nonprofit leadership can be demanding, but Casey is intentional about finding balance. She decompresses by gardening, keeping detailed notes on her plants, and spending time outdoors. Hot baths and planning new garden projects in winter provide additional outlets for stress relief. For her, balance is both a personal and professional necessity: leaders can only serve effectively when they themselves are restored.

Final Thoughts

Casey Cooper’s story reflects the very best of nonprofit leadership—rooted in service, sustained by relationships, and driven by a clear sense of mission. Her nearly decade-long journey with the Tri County Office on Aging illustrates how commitment, creativity, and compassion can shape stronger communities.

For anyone inspired to connect, TCOA remains a vital resource for older adults, caregivers, and families across mid-Michigan. Their website, tcoa.org, offers ways to volunteer, donate, or simply learn more.

The Mission Control Podcast conversation with Casey is a reminder that aging is universal, and that supporting seniors is, ultimately, supporting ourselves. As Casey wisely put it: “We’re all aging, right? We all hope to be an older adult.”