Approach
All my work is evidence-based, meaning I choose processes and tools that have been proven successful by research and my three-plus decades of experience. My university background equips me with the critical understanding necessary to sort the wheat from the chaff when it comes to tools and methodologies.
Everything I do is designed to fit the client—their timelines, goals, needs, and general situation. I strive for efficiency without sacrificing effectiveness, knowing the client’s time and financial resources are among their most precious commodities. I make myself available as needed.
While working with groups, I create a climate of respect, focus, confidentiality (when needed), and shared responsibility among all participants. When appropriate, ease and humor make the work go more smoothly.
Services
Facilitation
I have provided facilitation to more than 100 working groups, helping both small and large groups move through challenging, high-stakes problem-solving and decision-making as well as some of the more routine processes requiring an outside professional’s assistance. In addition, I assist groups with difficult conversations, whether it be clearing the air or reaching agreements about how the future should go. I draw on a variety of processes, adapting them to the individual context.
Strategic Planning
A thorough, “full-blown” strategic planning process might include developing a mission statement and values statement; visioning; environmental scanning; stakeholder analysis; SWOT processes (identifying strengths, weaknesses, threats, and opportunities); creating goals and objectives; tying to budget; assigning tasks and timelines; and re-evaluating. I have experience helping organizations with the entire progression (as I did with, for example, Ashland Fire & Rescue, the Ashland Police Department, the Rogue Basin Restoration Technical Team, Southern Oregon University, and the ashland independent film festival) or specific features (the Oregon State System of Higher Education’s Board and university presidents, the City of Ashland, the Jefferson Regional Health Association, and BLM’s Cascade Siskiyou National Monument planning team, and other organizations or departments). I also coach groups on how to perform this work on their own. You can view SOU’s plan, which I facilitated, here.
Mediation
Always confidential, this is a more structured kind of activity in which two or more parties are seeking certain kinds of agreements. Mediation can be thought of as “assisted negotiation.” Bringing nearly three decades of experience in this field, I have mediated both two-party as well as multi-stakeholder processes in healthcare, environmental conflict, and workplace disputes. I have trained dozens of mediators, taught negotiation, and written extensively about each. I currently serve as president of the Board of Directors of our regional community dispute resolution center, Resolve: Center for Dispute Resolution and Restorative Justice.
Organization Development & Change
“Organization development” is a catch-all phrase for many kinds of activities, both short- and long-term. I have extensive experience with strategic planning; management consulting, training, and coaching; communication, conflict resolution, and prevention work; and long-term, organization-wide development and cultural change (Knife River, Jackson County government, and the Job Council). As a former manager of a sizable university department, I have firsthand knowledge of the professional development services valuable to organizations that are both relatively large (Asante Health Systems, Bear Creek Corporation, Oregon Shakespeare Festival) and small (Professional Tool Manufacturing). I have trained and coached managers in manufacturing, healthcare, nonprofits, and government over both short and long durations. See my Client List for more examples of organizations that have taken advantage of these services.