Meet Our Team
Balanced Card Sorts is led by a passionate and dedicated team of counselors, educators, career service providers and business leaders committed to helping people of all ages build happy, healthy and fulfilling careers and lives.
Anush Hansen, Founder
Hi there! I'm a Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified Career Counselor, former public health researcher and Founder of Balanced Card Sorts. I'll be the first to admit that I have a near-obsession with connecting individuals to resources that allow them to build the kind of career and life they want for themselves, and lead a healthy, fulfilling life.
I own a holistic career counseling practice in Kennebunk, Maine where, using a wellness-centered approach, I support clients in finding meaningful, fulfilling work that also allows them to pay attention to the other parts of their lives that matter most to them.
I founded Balanced Card Sorts when I noticed my counseling clients struggling to articulate what specific factors in their lives were leading to their stress, anxiety, burnout, and lack of balance. I set out to create simple but engaging tools to help them untangle these factors, clarify their career and wellness priorities, and live by their values (to learn more about our story, click here).
I hold a Master's in Public Health and a Master's in Counseling Psychology. Prior to my role as a career and wellness counselor, I worked in university mental health counseling centers (University of New Hampshire and Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences), community mental health settings, and in health promotion and public health research and evaluation, where I served as Project Director for dozens of mixed-methods research studies, and led the development of multiple survey and assessment tools.
The combination of my training in mental health, career development, health promotion, and public health is what fuels my commitment to using a holistic, wellness-centered approach with clients, and helped to shape the development of Balanced Card Sorts products.
I live in in Maine with my husband, two children, a very energetic chocolate lab/Aussie mix, and two extremely fluffy cats. Outside of doing work that I love with colleagues I genuinely adore, I enjoy exploring Maine with my family, taking advantage of our beautiful local beaches, getting cozy in front of the woodstove with a great book, and perfecting my favorite soup and home-made pizza recipes.
Rebecca Fraser-Thill, Higher Education Consultant
I’m a Certified Career Coach, the Senior Contributor at Forbes on meaningful work, and owner of Fraser-Thill Coaching & Consulting, LLC. My passion is helping people create greater fulfillment and impact in their work through holistic awareness.
Prior to taking my coaching practice full-time in August 2021, I spent my entire adult life in higher education, first as a developmental psychology grad student at Cornell University, then as a faculty member in the Psychology Department at Bates College for 18 years. At Bates I also led the design of Purposeful Work, an industry-leading approach to helping students launch meaningful careers. I deeply believe that students’ wellness and values orientation are foundational to their success in the classroom, on the sports fields, and in their campus and surrounding communities. I’ve witnessed the power of these fundamentals many times over.
I live in a cheerful yellow house near Portland, Maine, with my high school sweetheart husband and two kids. When I’m not tinkering with my business, I enjoy walking, writing, and being silly with my family.
Beth Corkum, School Counseling Consultant
Hello! I'd describe myself professionally as a passionate educational leader with a background in high school counseling, multi-tiered systems of support and coaching. It's important for me to have a strong connection and sense of belonging with the humans in my life, both personally and professionally.
I thrive in environments where trust, respect, commitment and authenticity are shared values. I believe that kindness and gratitude have the greatest impact on all humans. I enjoy making a difference through learning, sharing knowledge and creativity.
I'm working towards wholehearted living through the balance of efficiency and order with growth, optimism, hope and vulnerability. My two daughters will tell you that "efficient" is my favorite word in the dictionary! When I'm not counseling at Bow High School, coaching youth sports or volunteering on committees of passion, you may find me mountain biking the trails of New Hampshire or coordinating gatherings with friends and family!
Kristin Ryan, Independent School Consultant
As my CliftonStrengths assessment so accurately describes: I am a “developer” passionate about recognizing and cultivating potential in others. I honed this skill during my 20 years as an administrator at an all-girls boarding school, where I created leadership programming to give girls the opportunity to articulate and refine their values and goals, and to understand and OWN their leadership strengths as they worked on building a strong sense of self.
In 2021, I transitioned to the nonprofit sector - and Maine! - where I am dedicated to coaching mentors: helping them to notice, appreciate, and reflect back students' strengths and capabilities, to affirm and reinforce their confidence and healthy self perception. I love creating and cultivating authentic connections - especially when collaborating with other caring, compassionate humans. I am also a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach: Developer ▪ Individualization ▪ Arranger ▪ Adaptability ▪ Maximizer.
In my spare time, I love exploring all things Maine (restaurants, running/hiking trails, the local art and “maker” scenes), long walks listening to podcasts (Brene Brown, Jemele Hill, Angela Duckworth, true crime…), and nerding out over fonts, hand lettering, and graphic design.
Heidi Pauer, Public School Consultant
My favorite word is “possible”. During my 30 years of being an educator, I have always seen the possible in each and every student and colleague. I'm not afraid of trying something new, moving through uncertainty, and taking risks all in the name of creating a safe space for people to explore their authentic selves.
I had the privilege to introduce the Career Values Card Sort and the Student Wellness Card Sort with many of my high school students, and I witnessed students positively impacted by using the Card Sorts…their transformation through reflection was palpable. I knew I had to be part of sharing these simple and powerful tools with others.
Card Sorts also changed my own life by providing clarity to open up my world as a mixed media artist. I blend my creative passions of theater, visual arts, music, poetry, and dance to empower others.
I've been known to give out free hugs, love to laugh, and am most at home in the mountains.
Lily Hansen, Digital Marketing & Media Intern
I am a freshman at Boston University where I'm pursuing a degree in Communications and Film. During my internship at Balanced Card Sorts, I have been able to gain hands-on experience in my areas of study, including video production, directing and marketing.
I have personally used the card sorts to explore my own passions and life values. I used that information to help aid me in planning my college experience and, eventually, my career. I am proud and passionate about the work I am doing for Balanced Card Sorts because I truly believe in the cause. Everyone should have an opportunity to not only find balance between life and work, but also to design a life that excites and engages them.
When I am not working or studying, I enjoy skiing, playing guitar, and going on my own photography adventures in both Boston and Maine.
Chris Wells, Web Developer
I am a co-founder at Redfin Solutions, a trusted team of Drupal experts based in Portland, Maine. We conceive, build, and support custom enterprise websites, making sure the solutions we deliver exceed expectations, with clients including Dartmouth College, Phillips Exeter Academy, Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, MaineHealth, and MIT.
I oversee the development and maintenance of Balanced Card Sorts digital card sort tools, ensuring a reliable and user-friendly experience for users.
I give back to the Drupal community by contributing to Drupal core, maintaining Drupal contrib modules, speaking at Drupal camps, and mentoring other Drupal professionals.
When I'm not working, I have three little ones that keep me plenty busy!
Whit Ford, SCORE Business Mentor
I have been a SCORE Mentor since 2017, after working in Strategic Planning, Financial Oversight, Industrial Marketing, Software Development/Sales/Support, Adult/Secondary Education, and 25 years as a Maine small business owner. My undergraduate degree was in Applied Mathematics/Computer Science, and my graduate degree in Marketing/Finance.
Other interests include playing Irish Traditional and English Country Dance music on flute or whistle, serving on non-profit Boards, helping local high school students with math questions, judging VEX Robotics tournaments, and conversing with friends in France to help each other improve our foreign language skills.