Most days, Mindy Plumlee is a bit of a magician, making change by trying to minimize it for the customers she serves—families with a sick child who have traveled from their homes for treatment and are staying at the Ronald McDonald House. Plumlee, a marathon runner, is built for endurance—she's worked to keep thousands of families together at Ronald McDonald House Charities for more than 16 years.
What is the change you are trying to make in the world?
I am fortunate to work in the world of social services—delivering support by providing a home away from home to families with ill children.
Are you disrupting a market through innovative products or new ways of doing business?
Actually, ours is just the opposite—we provide a safe and caring place for families whose lives have been disrupted. What we do is very basic to human nature—we care for people during a very stressful time in their lives when they have a sick child.
What's the biggest change you've made in your professional career?
Moving away from our family and across the country with my husband and two young kids to take a job in Boise. I have never regretted it.
What's the biggest change you've made in your personal life?
I hope it's yet to come…something to always strive for.
Change is hard—do you have any tricks you'd like to share for making it easier?
Acceptance. The only thing that is certain is change. If we never change, we never grow, never expand our understanding or have new experiences.
If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be?
That people would be more understanding of one another.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I would be more adventurous.
What's the best thing about your current job?
The people I meet: the families and kids who stay at the Ronald McDonald House, the volunteers who give of their time, the supporters. Being around people who have such a strong purpose really puts things in perspective.
Do you volunteer?
I am a lifelong volunteer. I believe it's our responsibility to give of ourselves to others. Right now, I divide my time between OneStone (great organization that engages kids on so many positive levels), the Idaho Women's Charitable Foundation (I love the idea of pooled giving and educated philanthropy) and a couple of professional organizations. Oh, and I just joinedRotary.
What are you reading right now?
I just finished Dave Eggers' The Circle (are people really that naïve??), and am reading Ayn Rand's Anthem as another view of dystopian fiction.
Listening to?
The Zac Brown Band, really enjoy The Grohl Sessions.
Watching?
I'm a big fan of action movies, but I did just binge watch the first five seasons of True Blood.
Who inspires you?
My kids. I see so much promise and potential and we should always keep that ideal as we grow up.
Favorite color?
Black.
Rock, paper, or scissors?
Rock.
Who are you following online?
I love reading Vu Le's blog, nonprofitwithballs.com. He's the executive director of a nonprofit in Seattle and has a wicked sense of humor about life in the nonprofit world that I can really relate to.
Who's the most progressive nonprofit or business leader you know?
Choose just one?! There are so many in our community and I feel fortunate to work with many of them. It will seem kind of goofy, but my husband, Dr. Don Plumlee. He's doing some very progressive things at Boise State in the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
What's one question you'd like to ask yourself—and answer?
You keep saying, “this is the last marathon you will run”—why do you keep signing up to do another? Unfortunately, I don't know that answer.