Leading the Way: Uniting a Community in the Face of Disaster with Angela McCaulley
Thu Feb 05 2026
In this deeply moving episode, we sit down with CMBA Associate Principal Angela McCaulley to discuss the power of community resilience following the historic 2024 flooding in Northwest Iowa. After witnessing 80% of her hometown of Spencer suffer damage, Angela and her husband recognized a critical void when a local non-profit thrift store was unable to reopen. They stepped in to found Fresh Start Market & Boutique, a 501(c)3 organization that has transformed over 20,000 square feet of retail and warehouse space into a hub for recovery. We discuss the logistics of managing a massive donation and voucher system, the emotional impact of having their entire family involved in the effort, and how their commitment united the community. Join us for a conversation about how leadership goes far beyond the drawing board when a community needs a place to start over.
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In this deeply moving episode, we sit down with CMBA Associate Principal Angela McCaulley to discuss the power of community resilience following the historic 2024 flooding in Northwest Iowa. After witnessing 80% of her hometown of Spencer suffer damage, Angela and her husband recognized a critical void when a local non-profit thrift store was unable to reopen. They stepped in to found Fresh Start Market & Boutique, a 501(c)3 organization that has transformed over 20,000 square feet of retail and warehouse space into a hub for recovery. We discuss the logistics of managing a massive donation and voucher system, the emotional impact of having their entire family involved in the effort, and how their commitment united the community. Join us for a conversation about how leadership goes far beyond the drawing board when a community needs a place to start over.