About Deborah Knox
Deborah Knox is a consultant, seminar leader and author specializing in life transitions. She is the co-author of Life Work
Transitions.com: Putting Your Spirit Online (Butterworth Heinemann, 2000) and the companion website www.lifeworktransitions.com.
Deborah has been successful at helping thousands of individuals make meaningful lifework transitions – career changes, starting a business or finding vocational fulfillment – through Deborah L. Knox & Associates. Previously located in the Northeast, she relocated to Tucson, AZ, in 2001, and has refocused her business to serve the needs of those wanting to make significant mid-life changes. She addresses such issues as Mid-life Strategies, planning for phased retirement, relocation, finding meaningful volunteer and service activity, and creating new forms of self expression.
On relocation: “This move to the Southwest was the best thing I ever did for myself. I have been able to apply what I’ve learned over the years with clients and through my own journey of introspection to enhance my lifestyle and achieve balance. These were two aspects of my life that needed attention and I’m thrilled to have taken the leap of faith required to begin a new life. Relocation may be the best kept secret for acquiring a new lease on life and developing a life truly worth living.”
“I am more in awe than ever of the transition process and how by learning to listen – being patient and persistent – we are guided to our rightful place. The journey is endless and to have focused a career and life transition successfully … well after the age of 50…gives me great joy. And a bit of a jolt! It can be done.”
Deborah achieved another of her goals when she became an employee at the Microbusiness Advancement Center www.mac-sa.org. This non-profit organization also served the special needs of women business owners as the Tucson Pima County Women’s Business Center www.sba.org. This economic development organization provides training and referrals to small businesses. She provided consultation and assessment to guide the decision-making and planning efforts of hundreds of small business owners annually. Her passion for Tucson and the sustainable challenges it faces as a community were expanded by working with local entrepreneurs and the exciting networks that exist here.
On mid-life employment transitions: “I enjoyed the challenges inherent in working within an organization since I previously had only the experience of being self employed. Working for two different styles of management provided many insights and much of what I knew about leadership development helped me work within the organizational structures. I think it’s a challenge for organizations to support the passion that employees bring to their work, and I know that how we treat our employees says a lot about how we hold and envision our customers.”
Deborah also was involved as a consultant with Career Services Unlimited in a project researching a guidebook for the United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona. This project entitled: Transforming Retirement with Extended Life Options is available as a PDF on her website. The group is currently offering a series of workshops through the Tucson Pima Public Library system http://www.library.pima.gov on creating a more balanced Wheel of Opportunity. This program is cosponsored by Pima County Employee Wellness and is part of our Fit for Life 50+ series and is made possible by the Friends of the Pima County Public Library.
Deborah also served the needs of corporate clients for over 10 years at Polaroid Corporation. She facilitated workshops on increasing organizational effectiveness and designed and presented outplacement services. She is an exceptional facilitator who reaches her audience in ways that provide inspiration and motivation. She also provided career counseling services to employees at Qwest through their Pathways Program
Deborah was co-founder of the Individual Career Counselors’ Consortium and served as Program Coordinator for International Association of Career Management Professionals (IACMP – Boston Chapter). She was instrumental in developing four major career development programs in the 1970’s and ’80’s. She holds a BA from Elmira College and completed graduate work in Adult Education at Boston University. She completed The Coaches Training Institute Program in 1997.
