Friday morning felt normal. Happy, even.
I drove to work and learned that a long-time team member had passed away the day before. Lung cancer. Diagnosed on Monday. Gone by Thursday.
It happened fast. That was her way.
We worked together during an ISO implementation project. She owned the documentation process and served as an internal auditor. She had a rare work ethic—proud, sharp, and deeply committed.
She asked the right questions.
She didn’t stop until she fully understood the scope.
Once clear, she moved fast. Very fast.
In ISO 9001 implementation and internal auditing, documentation alone does not build a strong Quality Management System. People do. Accountability does. Ownership does.
She embodied that.
I’m writing this to thank Tracey—not just for her technical work, but for showing me what a real teammate looks like.
High-performing teams aren’t built through workshops alone. They’re built through individuals who take responsibility seriously and collaborate without ego.
I’ll think of her often during my High-Performing Team-Building sessions. You can’t build teams like that without people like her.
I only wish I had known her beyond the work.