Sharon Roe Anderson

Sharon Roe Anderson has 30 years of experience developing programs for people at all levels in the educational, political, community, and business arenas. Her background includes extensive public affairs work in executive and professional development, strategic positioning and planning, international and intercultural relationships, and leadership education. Sharon obtained her B. A, from St. Olaf College and her Masters from the University of Minnesota.

Contact Sharon at: sharonroeanderson@comcast.net

Aurora Consulting

Aurora Consulting's mission is to work in partnership with organizations and people in order to develop helpful knowledge and skills that remain in the organization. Their four service areas are: (1) Leadership, (2) Coaching, (3) Strategic Development and (4) Facilitation. Aurora Consulting provides training, project management and problem-solving services in each of these areas. Julia Classen is Aurora Consulting's primary consultant.

On-line at www.auroraconsult.com

Catalyst Consulting Group, LLC

Catalyst Consulting Group, LLC was founded in 2001 to help organizations grow and excel through improved workplace performance, customized learning opportunities for their employees and clients, and the preservation of institutional knowledge. We provide organizational development, instructional design, and knowledge development services to nonprofits, businesses, corporations, and government agencies. Our aim is to enhance and strengthen workplace functioning while building the capacity and skills of our clients.

Our services include:

• Organizational needs assessment and the analysis of work processes, job design, organization structure, internal communications, and others systems leading to recommendations for performance improvements and efficiencies.
• Institutional knowledge protection through the capturing of all “thought-assets“ or specialized knowledge, succession planning, and development of documentation, such as manuals, guides, and other tools.
• Customized trainings, workshops, and educational programs including “soft skill” topics like team building, communication, HR, time management, and technical skills like software training for organization-wide implementations. We also develop curriculum for educational institutions and nonprofits.
• Management coaching in needs analysis, project management, program evaluation, instructional design, documentation, and other skills.
• Program evaluations for nonprofit organizations.

See Catalyst website at Twin Cities Consulting : Catalyst Consulting Services Twin Cities Minnesota

The Ritter Group, LLC

Gregory H. Ritter founded The Ritter Group, LLC in 1999 with the mission of advancing nonprofit missions. He has served in both senior staff and consulting positions in the development, strategic planning and Board training fields for more than 25 years. His areas of expertise are major gift development, annual and capital campaigns, planned giving, office audits, staff search, Board and staff training. His most current work involves job transition mentoring for development professionals who would like to move into the world of consulting and become their own boss.

Before serving clients on a full-time basis, Greg was Vice President for Development of the Presbyterian Church (USA) Foundation. He had previously served as Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Augsburg College (Minneapolis, Minnesota) for eight years. He was president of a consulting firm in the 1980’s, and served dozens of clients including the University of Minnesota, Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota, Presbyterian Homes of Minnesota, the Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota, and others. He began his career in fund raising serving for eight years as Vice President for Development of United Theological Seminary (New Brighton, Minnesota).

He holds the Bachelor of Science degree (with distinction) from the University of Minnesota and a Master of Divinity (with honors) from United Theological Seminary. He is a member of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, the Association of Fundraising Professionals, and the Minnesota Planned Giving Council.

To learn more click here: www.therittergroup.com

Strategy1 Consulting

Founded in 2002, Strategy1 is a management consulting firm specializing in assessments of business and IT operations. Focused on maximizing the effectiveness of the strategies, people, processes and technologies that impact our client's bottom-line, we have successfully helped our private and public sector clients answer two basic questions - "Are we doing the right things, in the right way, with the right resources?" and "How do we know?"

Adhering to the core values of integrity, hard work and honest relationships, Strategy1's creditability is proven in the reality that experience really does matter. By providing knowledgeable, veteran subject matter experts, Strategy1 has successfully demonstrated that by rethinking the fundamental relationships between operating strategies, business processes, technology and the talents of those doing the work, it is possible to resolve today's competitive challenges and implement solutions that truly provide bottom-line value.

Determined to provide better service at a better price, Strategy1 has coupled more than a quarter century of "been-there-done-that" business and consulting experience with the disciplines of our proprietary Vision-Map methodology to offer a full range of consulting services including:

• Operational and IT Assessments
• Regulatory & Industry Compliance Assessments
• Business Process Management/Process Improvement
• Requirements Definition/System Selection Projects
• IT Security Audits
• Disaster Mitigation and Recovery Planning
• Strategic Business and Information Systems Planning
• IT Project & Executive Management

For more information contact Brent Willi at brentwilli@strategy1consulting.org.

Jay Kiedrowski

Jay Kiedrowski is a senior fellow with the Public and Nonprofit Leadership Center at the University of Minnesota's Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs. He teaches courses in public management, leadership, and financial management. Mr. Kiedrowski has decades of experience in public service and with the private sector having held positions as vice president of mutual funds, senior Vice president of personal trust and executive vice president of Norwest Investment Management and Trust (now Wells Fargo). Before joining Norwest, Kiedrowski was Commissioner of Finance and Chief Financial Officer for the State of Minnesota under Governor Rudy Perpich. Prior to that, he was the Budget Director for the City of Minneapolis under Mayors Hofstede and Fraser. He started his career working for the Minnesota Senate in urban and tax research.

Jay Kiedrowski holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical/industrial engineering and a master's degree in public affairs, both from the University of Minnesota. He also completed Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management executive development program and Columbia University's financial strategies program. He earned a Doctor of Education in Leadership from St. Mary's University of Minnesota in June 2005.

He serves as an advisory board member of the University of Minnesota's Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs and Carlson School of Management, a member of the Minnesota State Board of Investment Advisory Council, a director of Project for Pride in Living, Inc., a member of the Greater Metropolitan Housing Corporation, and treasurer of the Guthrie Theater Board. Kiedrowski also has been active in the Twin Cities United Way Campaign.

Contact Jay at: kiedr003@umn.edu

DeYoung Consulting Services, LLC

Karen DeYoung is the President/CEO of DeYoung Consulting Services, LLC, a consulting company that works to provide performance improvement and organizational development for a variety of organizations, including government agencies, corporations, non-profit entities, and schools. Ms. DeYoung has worked as an instructional design and performance improvement consultant since 1996. She works to analyze organizational performance needs and to design and develop solutions (systems, training manuals, workshops, self-study guides, job performance aides, etc.) that effectively address those needs. She specializes in customized, rather than out of the box, solutions and provides clients with a particularly comprehensive performance analysis process that identifies and offers recommendations for both training and non-training related challenges. Ms. DeYoung also works with her clients to implement those solutions. She received a BA in Broadcast Communications from American University and an M.Ed. in Instructional Technology from the University of Minnesota.

Link to DeYoung Consulting at www.deyoungconsultingservices.com

Jules Goldstein, M.A.T.

Jules Goldstein has more than thirty years experience meeting the information needs of K-12 education in Minnesota. He has a broad background in design, analysis and reporting at school, district, region and state levels. He has a B. A. in mathematics from Macalester College and an M. A. in teaching from the University of Saint Thomas.

He says, "I most enjoy the feeling of discovery when an unexpected link is found, the point where data becomes information."

Jules has served on numerous community boards and committees and currently serves as President of the United Jewish Fund and Council.

Jules Goldstein's email address: julesg@theimprovegroup.com

Laing Design, LLC

An energetic one-person studio that excels at targeted, communication strategies with straightforward clean design solutions. Darby Laing is a graphic designer with 16 years of experience creating corporate identity, web sites, and publications. Darby has a talent for being able to bridge communication challenges into solutions that are direct and clear, while striving to adhere to the business requirements of her clients. Maintaining brand consistency, creating engaging print and online experiences, and managing and collaborating with a variety of people are all part of the package with Laing Design.

To find out more about Laing Design please use the following link:www.laingdesign.com

The Word Applied

Linda Garrett Johnson is President and CEO of the The Word Applied a professional training & coaching business. Her consulting company has a vision to "illuminate pathways to effectiveness and contribute to developing organizational capacity to sustain intended results." Linda has 17+ years of combined corporate and non-profit experience in change management, strategic planning, and organization development, with a, Linda specializes in assisting corporate, nonprofit and public sector organizations with a variety services including strategic planning to identify long-term goals, emerging leadership development to enhance individual performance, preparing for and leading organizational change efforts, and designing infrastructures and processes to sustain intended results. Linda uses training to develop capability and has designed and led a variety of workshops including understanding and planning for organizational change, visioning and planning, building partnerships, leadership development, board governance, and team development.

www.applytheword.com

Mindshift Technologies/Orbit Systems

Mindshift Technologies/Orbit Systems delivers total IT outsourcing solutions. We do everything from gathering requirements to procurement, implementation, and ongoing maintenance; in effect, we act as a virtual IT department for small and medium-sized businesses.

To find out more about Orbit Systems, visit: www.orbits.net

Canopy Design

Canopy is a full-service brand, marketing and interactive design firm serving clients world wide. We are proud to partner with the Improve Group and support the mission of serving organizations that seek to make the world a better place. Find out what Canopy can do for your organization.

Visit the Canopy web site: www.canopy-inc.com

Prodigy Research, LLC

Ben Van Hunnik founded Prodigy Research in 2006 to help research projects achieve low attrition rates with their longitudinal research studies. The Prodigy Research system is based on Ben’s experience using innovative strategies ranging from the technical to the human to locate the hardest-to-find people. Services include training, consulting, internet research and field tracking.

During his time with the University of Colorado, Ben’ s tracking system produced an 82% follow-up rate for a ten-year longitudinal study of illicit drug users. As a result of his work, the National Institute of Health asked him to present his tracking system at conferences in Maryland and Albuquerque. Also, his efforts were documented in the article entitled "Computerized Tracking and Follow-up Techniques in Longitudinal Research with Drug Users," which appeared in Health Services and Outcomes Research Methodology. He continued training research professionals all over the world including the Ukraine, Colorado and Missouri.

After moving back to Minnesota, Ben’s passion for the work led to the creation of Prodigy Research. Along with offering his services, he enjoys providing tips and advice through the Prodigy Research blog, which reflects his belief that integrating the human elements of rapport building and humor into your project produce the best follow-up results.

www.prodigyresearch.com

Visual Voice

Helping you visually synthesize complex information to make it meaningful to stakeholders, decision-makers and clients. Working with you to sort out and identify the critical pieces of information and key messages using sophisticated visual tools and contemporary design. Together we transform your work, produce results and powerfully inform decisions.

Graphic and Information Design Services Include: Static & Animated Infographics; Educational Literature, Policy Brief & Report Designs; GIS Mapping

Visual Voice’s principal consultant Elissa Schloesser holds a Masters Degree in Urban and Regional Planning with an emphasis in Community Development from the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota and a Bachelors of Science in Design from the University of Wisconsin Madison. She specializes in working with nonprofit organizations to advance education, advocacy, and marketing efforts through effective information design.

Learn more and see project examples at: www.myvisualvoice.com

Olive Grove Consulting, LLC

Olive Grove Consulting, LLC, is a full-service consulting firm that works with nonprofit organizations, social entrepreneurs, coalitions, philanthropists, government entities and businesses who want to improve their community and deepen their civic engagement. Our vision is “A vibrant and just society” and we select clients who are just as serious and motivated about that vision as we are. We typically begin our partnership at a point of inflection (a new strategy, a merger, significant growth, leadership transitions, governance or structural shifts, etc.), and are able to leverage our extensive network of experts to meet emerging and shifting needs as they arise and toward transformative results. Our network of dozens of consultants and firms provides highly customized, strategic consulting services nationally. More information – including a description of services, representative clients, consultant bios, and testimonials – is available at www.olivegroveconsulting.com

Tom DeCaigny

Tom DeCaigny is an independent consultant, strategist and facilitator with over fifteen years of leadership experience in the humanitarian sector. He currently works nationally on projects related to program evaluation and improvement, policy development, fundraising strategy, governance and organizational innovation. He brings specific field expertise in the areas of arts and culture, education, youth development and LGBT community services, and enjoys working across communities of practice to foster critical connections and broaden spheres of influence.

Tom previously served nine years as Executive Director of Performing Arts Workshop, a San Francisco- based organization dedicated to helping marginalized young people develop critical thinking, creative expression and basic learning skills through the arts. While at The Workshop, he led three U.S. Department of Education research projects examining the impact of the arts on educationally disadvantaged youth; organized broad-based coalitions to advocate at the local, state and national levels for the role of the arts in improving public education; and managed the sustained growth of The Workshop’s annual revenue despite the economic downturn – from $529K in FY 2003 to $1.4 million in FY 2011. Tom has presented extensively on promising practices in program and organizational management as well as on intergenerational and emergent leadership in the independent sector.

Prior to his role as Executive Director, Tom managed The Workshop’s Robeson and Rivera Academy, an arts-intensive middle school and treatment program for repeat juvenile offenders. He has also managed the AIDS Memorial Quilt’s National Youth Education Program, served as Director of Actor Training for the University of Minnesota’s Adolescent Actors Teaching Project, and conducted research for the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy. He is a 2007 alumnus of the LeaderSpring fellowship program and a current member of the LeaderSpring Dialogue Series, an initiative dedicated to exploring the role of social benefit organizations in society. Tom has appeared on CNN International and was invited to present, along with Leah Goldstein Moses of the Improve Group, at the first-ever UNESCO World Conference on Arts Education in Lisbon, Portugal.

Tom currently serves on the California Alliance for Arts Education’s Board of Directors and statewide Policy Council. His prior board service includes two terms as Board Co-Chair of LYRIC, an LGBTQQ youth community center in San Francisco; Secretary of the SFUSD Arts Education Master Plan Advisory Committee; Host Committee Co-Chair of the National Guild for Community Arts Education’s 2010 annual conference in San Francisco; and Steering Committee Chair for Making Art, Making Change, a 2006 conference dedicated to examining the relationship between art and social change. Tom has a B.A. degree in Dramatic Arts from Macalester College in St. Paul, MN and currently resides in San Francisco, CA.

Contact Tom at: tomd@theimprovegroup.com