Administrator grows through tall talk

   If you met Katrina Stone, you would perceive her to be the most morally upright, competent person you ever met. Having worked ten years as educational coordinator at Gwinnett Medical Center, she oversees the rehabilitation center, the nursing home and the behavioral health program. She works with the staff to improve education, competency and performance and also tends to the nit-picky details for accreditation. It's all pretty serious stuff.
   Her coworkers have nothing but wonderful things to say about her character and her professionalism.
   "She's a visionary who sees something needs to be done and goes after it," said Mona Lippitt, Director of the Joan Glancy Rehabilitation Center. "She helps people look at the best in themselves and constantly challenges herself to grow her skills."
   A brief glance around Katrina's office bears witness to Lippitt's observations. Carefully arranged bulletin boards display her professional agendas. You get the impression this woman is all business, super serious and incapable of doing anything less than prim and proper. But those who work with her would be shocked if they ever heard her whole story.
   Katrina Stone has publicly confessed that she has a criminal record. It wasn't a premeditated offense. Normally, she never would have done such a thing. But it was rainy and she was shopping in a hurry. She knew she had eleven items in her basket. She knew what she was contemplating was wrong. But she did it anyway. She entered the fast lane where a lighted sign clearly stated, "Ten items or less." Within seconds, red lights flashed. A Rent-a-Cop pulled a gun on her and shouted, "This store has a zero tolerance policy!" Stone was convicted of express lane fraud and sentenced to 1000 hours of Publix service.
   Now as I said, this is her story. The story that won her first place in the area Toastmasters Tall Tales Contest.
   "This is so outside the box for me," said Stone. "I never perceived myself as funny and I never thought it would go this far." 
   Doing something so out of character surprised everyone. Taking first place surprised no one.
   "She gave her talk to the staff and we couldn't believe it was her," said Lippitt.
It took Stone ten years to muster up the courage to call Toastmasters, then another two years to join. Two years later, Stone now belongs to three clubs and has just started another one at Gwinnett Medical Center, where she mentors. The club is open to the public and meets Mondays at 5:15 p.m. (Info: 678-584-6796)
   "It's developmental personally. You tell your story and people empathize. Then you listen to others tell their story. It's doing something much bigger than yourself."
   Stone will represent Gwinnett's Horizon Club in the final Tall Tale Contest this weekend in Athens. Winning at that level is a tall order. But Stone obviously excels at stretching the truth. And her limits. 

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