Some personal news. Today is the day: Hello to my retirement.
Ready to cross the finish line
I joined CFPB in 2016, about one month after my husband retired. I had 11 years of federal service, including time on the Hill, and leadership roles organizing public info at DHS and DOE on their websites. (That plus more than a decade outside government in campaigns, non-profits, and running a boutique consulting practice.)
I came to CFPB because of its mission to put the government on the side of consumers. Professionally, it was also an opportunity to make a lateral move in my digital comms career.
I shifted from managing enterprise websites to stretching my wings as a knowledge manager in the contact center arena. My goal was to master this new skill, build a strong KM program, and then leave the federal government after 20 years of service.
Fast forward to 2026, and I am ready to cross the finish line as planned.
The climate changed, CFPB will survive
There were times during this past year (including a court-reversed RIF) when I thought I would be what a union colleague called a “bitter ender,” staying till our last breath. There has been a lot of chaos in government this past year, but recently, for CFPB, the climate has changed.
In late January – in between the bookends from this regime of kidnapping the president of Venezuala and moving to indict the chairman of the FRS in criminal charges — with the tragedy in MN in between — there was a ray of light for this bureau: Acting Director Russ “Red Coat” Vought sent a letter to district court saying he would ask the FRS for a portion of CFPB’s funding. Staring down a probable contempt of court ruling and backup lawsuits by allies in CA and OR, he blinked and backed off his bid to bankrupt the agency by starving it of funding he is required to ask for (Ever hear of the oath of office about “faithfully executing the law”? It’s that one).
I believe this development means CFPB will survive this age of turmoil. However, the drama in the courts seems likely to last several more months while these cases play out.
And this development has also created a rare opportunity for people like me who are eligible to retire. It opens a window to an orderly retirement by making our jobs safe again. Jobs are safe since Funding means there is no longer a chance for an administrative furlough, and our Preliminary Injunction remains active while an appeal to the US District Court awaits the Feb 25th hearing date. Watch for this case to snake its way to SCOTUS. I believe consumers will win.
A victory: finishing on my own terms
So it’s time for me to use this window to retire on my own terms and take a breather from the chaos.
I gave my notice, said my good-byes, and my retirement starts on Feb 9th. I’m not superstitious by nature, but I learned that in numerology, the number nine has special powers. It is said to symbolize completion, wisdom, and the end of a cycle as the last single-digit number.
There is also some poetic justice that the day marks exactly one year since the infamous “stop work” email pinged on all the CFPB computers, marking the start of Vought’s attempt to usurp the power of Congress and shutter the bureau. Because of the hard work of our allies to keep CFPB alive. I made it to 20 years of federal service in November, and now I am planning to retire. By finishing on my terms, I feel like I’ll achieve a victory.
For many positive reasons, now is the right time:
- Our team has recently wrapped up a significant project that expanded our KB match Ask CFPB consumer finance education on the website. We are omnichannel ready.
- Our program is mature, steady, and positioned for a strong future with the next generation of knowledge managers.
- I know with Senture’s content team at the helm, CFPB is in great shape. Together with all the content specialists before us, we delivered a best practice KB that we can all be proud of.
I want to thank everyone who made this part of my career so rewarding, especially those who helped build a top-notch KM program. The KB has over 2000 articles with 10.8 M historic views. So when consumers call CFPB with a complaint against shady business practices, they can get accurate and true consumer information.
A new act begins
So into the sunset I go. A new act will begin.
My boutique consulting biz stayed open on the side during Trump 1.0 and 2.0 as a blogging platform where I occasionally took on pro bono work. And although retirement means downshifting — and I am not seeking another full-time job — Emerald Strategies remains open for more of the same. (Who knows? I may be inspired to add some selective fee-based projects or training workshops to this mix.)
What is ahead? I am ready to start a new life chapter. I will let my days unfold in a way that inspires personal growth, alignment with my values, and a healthy dose of joy and fun.
Thanks for the memories. I’ve shared some favorite snapshots of this work era of mine below. The grand adventure continues!!
