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Our associates are extraordinary consultants in their own right. Take a look:
Andrea Howe, President and Founder
 Andrea started her 15-year consulting career working for American Management Systems (AMS), a $1B+ technology consultancy, which is where she discovered her work passion: consulting made extraordinary. Andrea spent many years supporting external AMS clients, including senior-level leaders with the Department of Defense, in a variety of roles: client relationship manager, program manager, project manager, business analyst, facilitator, and software developer. She demonstrated her ability to combine these competencies while working on one of AMS's highest visibility projects: developing software to be used by over 30,000 procurement staff across the entire Department of Defense. As a leader in the two-year proposal effort for this work, Andrea contributed directly to the award of the $340m contract - the largest contract ever won by the company. Her consulting acumen, and gift for developing people, led to her next big role: Director of leadership development for the 9,000-person company. Andrea managed a $1+ million budget for a variety of staff development programs supporting four leadership levels and four key AMS roles. Andrea is an extremely gifted speaker, facilitator, and instructor who has planned and/or executed hundreds of off-sites, workshops, focus groups, presentations, training events, and keynote speeches. She has worked with groups as small as five and as large as 5,000.
Some Credentials: MS in Organization Development from American University. Certifications in team development, collaborative problem-solving, and action learning. BBA in Computer Information Systems from Texas A&M.
Sarah Agan, Executive Consultant
Sarah started her 10-year consulting career after having owned a small business, where she learned the connection between profitability, building relationships, and understanding customer needs. As a consultant, she contributed directly to the success of two global professional services firms, American Management Systems (AMS) and Touchstone Consulting Group, in a variety of client-facing roles: from business analyst to client relationship manager to engagement manager. Sarah is an accomplished relationship builder and knows how to bring stakeholders together to deliver results. In her last consulting role, Sarah worked with leaders from a military organization to help instill pride in their organization. The results of the latter engagement were so profound the Senior Army client provided congressional testimony as to the project benefits. Sarah has experienced first-hand that, regardless of role, the key to extraordinary consulting lies at the intersection of head, heart, and soul: any one without the others may deliver value, but all three combine to create remarkable client experiences. By living her beliefs, Sarah has increased the value of key client engagements by as much as three times their original contract value.
Some Credentials: Graduate-level certificate in Organization Development from Georgetown University. Certification in team development. BA in International Studies and BA in Political Science from Virginia Tech.
Alison Barlow, Executive Consultant
Alison has been working collaboratively with organizations experiencing change for the last 11 years. As a Principal Consultant with American Management Systems (now CGI-AMS, Inc.) and SRA Touchstone Consulting Group, she has designed and facilitated hundreds of group events ranging from 5 to 130 participants. She excels at guiding groups through the exploration of complex problems to ensure the agreed upon outcomes are achieved. Alison has demonstrated expertise in strategy development, organizational alignment, change management, and business process reengineering while working with corporate, federal government, and non-profit clients. Alison is dedicated to being an extraordinary consultant. She builds lasting partnerships with her clients and is often sought out when they encounter a new challenge. Alison has instilled her love of consulting with others through her development and delivery of consulting skills and facilitation training for colleagues at both CGI-AMS, Inc. and SRA Touchstone, and students at the American University.
Some credentials: MBA in Management of Global Information Technology from the American University. Certifications in the Drexler/Sibbet Team Performance (tm) Model and the Axelrod Conference Model(r) for large group facilitation. Lecturer for the American University MBA program. BS in Hospitality Business Administration from Florida State University.
Emily Crespin, Executive Consultant
Emily has focused her career as a consultant on shepherding numerous complex organizations through difficult change. In working with sophisticated clients facing difficult problems, she has developed an expertise in designing and delivering high-impact group sessions based on principles of purpose, creativity, engagement, and action. Emily’s clients have benefited from her energy and passion for leading senior executives through strategy development, organizational design and governance, performance management, and strategic communications. Her practical experience includes work for the American Red Cross, the Department of Homeland Security, the Departments of the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps, and serveral public and private companies. From her field-tested consulting experience, Emily has also developed and delivered a series of training courses for other experienced practitioners on strategy, consulting-skills, communication, and facilitation.
Emily is a member of the BossaNova network and a Senior Principal with SRA Touchstone Consulting Group. Prior to joining Touchstone she served as a senior business analyst at Pivotal Insight LLC, a senior manager at Guardian Life Insurance Company, and an associate consultant at American Management Systems. Throughout all of these roles she has consistently delivered a sought after level of strategic consulting that delivers effective and lasting transformation for clients.
Some Credentials: BA in Organizational Psychology from the University of Virginia, certified Axelrod Conference Model large group facilitator, member of the training faculty for Touchstone Consulting Group
Barbara Dammann, Executive Consultant
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Exuberant, caring, funny, passionate about developing others and achieving results. |
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Coach, relationship-builder, change catalyst, tennis buff. |
barbara@bossanovaconsulting.com |
Barb has a 29-year track record, across a variety of industries and roles, making significant contributions to clients' and corporations' bottom lines. She has consulted in business transformation strategy and planning, coached executives, built learning and leadership development programs, led business development and sales efforts, and driven team coaching and team effectiveness. Barb is a consultant at heart and has always used a consultative approach in managing people to achieve results and to bring out their best. Her greatest strengths are: inspiring leaders to envision and drive change, coaching leaders to achieve greater effectiveness, engendering trust and confidence, building dynamic organizational teams, and helping people plunge ahead in the face of ambiguity and the seemingly impossible.
Some Credentials: Masters-level certificates in Organization Development, Change Leadership and Executive Coaching from Georgetown University; Business Transformation Consulting and Collaborative Problem-solving from IBM; and Managerial Styles/Organizational Climate from They Hay Group. Bachelor of Science in Education from Valparaiso University.
Barry Edwards, Executive Consultant
Barry began his career in training and
organizational development at Stromberg Consulting,
a NY-based change management firm working with such
organizations as Nielsen, British Petroleum (BP) and
Pfizer Pharmaceuticals. He also created and
facilitated management and employee trainings for
Continuum Health Partners, the largest hospital
consortium in New York City. Barry's specialty was
working with hospital staff to ensure excellence in
customer service.
Prior to working in training & organizational
development, Barry worked in sales and marketing for
some of the top cable television networks including
A&E Television Networks, MTV Networks and Comedy
Central. He was critical in the launching of The
History Channel, the fastest growing cable
television network at the time.
Barry is passionate about creating engaging
experiences when facilitating management and
employee trainings. He is currently a student of
improvisational comedy performing a number of times
at the DC Improv.
Some credentials: MBA in Industrial/Organizational
Psychology from City University of New York Baruch
College. BS in Marketing from University of
Delaware.
Sara Keenan Rohling, Executive Consultant
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Exuberant, fun, passionate about effective teams and managers. |
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Coach, entrepreneur, traveler, stained glass maker. |
sara@bossanovaconsulting.com
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Sara served as a performance consultant and finance manager for 6 years at Booz Allen Hamilton, an 18,000+ international strategy and technology consulting firm. She managed staff, projects and a successful high volume, quality-driven call center during that time frame. Sara supported Booz Allen's intelligence business and led the design of the firm's college accredited intelligence analysis certificate program. The certificate remains highly popular with Booz Allen employees and has led to additional intelligence business for the firm.
Prior to Booz Allen Hamilton, Sara worked in International Government Relations for Westinghouse Electric Corporation. She continues to work with international, finance, high tech and professional services firms in a coaching and consulting capacity. Sara's passion is for creating great teams led by strong managers ensuring that employees want to stay in an Organization and enjoy the experience working there while delivering outstanding results.
Some credentials: Post graduate level certificates in Organization Development and Leadership Coaching from Georgetown University. Masters Degree in International Law from Queens University, Belfast. BA in European Business Studies (focus language: French) from the University of Ulster at Coleraine, Northern Ireland. Certified in Myers Briggs, Profilor (360 feedback) and Apter International's AMSP (motivation assessment).
Linda O'Connor, Executive Consultant
Linda has over 25 years of experience in management and consulting - as a consultant, a manager of consultant teams and groups of consulting teams, and consulting practice lead at American Management Systems, a $1B+ technology consultancy. She has managed multi-million, multi-year contracts that covered a diverse set of projects from strategic planning to IT software development. Her client list is extensive and includes large federal agencies, Fortune 500 companies, and non-profit organizations. She also has significant experience in consultant and executive development, acting as Human Capital Development Manager and Director of a Leadership and Consulting Institute. Linda has over 10 years of experience coaching leaders and professionals. She coaches executives in the private sector, government officials and non-profit directors.
Some Credentials: Masters-level certificates in Organization Development and Change Leadership and Executive Coaching from Georgetown University. Accredited in Emotional Intelligence and action learning. BS in Mathematics from Chestnut Hill College and post-graduate work in business administration at George Washington University. Member of the International Coach Federation.
Cary Paul, Executive Consultant
Throughout his 14 years of consulting experience,
Cary has helped dozens of commercial and government
clients not only plan for the future, but enjoy the
process of doing it. He has developed strategic
plans, led decision-making off-sites, and created
dynamic and exciting facilitated sessions. Sample
clients include Chevron, Siemens, Booz-Allen, and BE
Aerospace, plus public sector clients such as the
Department of Defense and Department of Justice.
Cary is a BossaNova associate and the founder of The
Village Circle Company, a consulting firm focused on
creating specialized, facilitated experiences and
providing professional spokesperson services. Prior
to founding the Village Circle Company, he worked as
a Senior Consultant at HuthwaiteGroup, American
Management Systems, and Booz-Allen Hamilton. Cary
worked as a senior facilitator and
engagement/project manager in each of those
organizations, delivering expert guidance and
support to the teams he served.
Cary is highly passionate about creating and
delivering great experiences for the people, teams
and organizations he serves. During Summer breaks in
college, Cary worked as Davy Crockett at Walt Disney
World. As a performer and guest host, he had a
unique opportunity to hone his entertainment and
service talents.
Some Credentials: MBA in Organizational Behavior and
Information Technology from George Washington
University. BS in Industrial Engineering from Penn
State. Instructed and mentored by management expert
Jerry B. Harvey, author of the well-known concept of
the Abilene Paradox.
Marisa Sanchez, Executive Consultant
Marisa brings 17 years of consulting experience in organization development, strategic planning, business process reengineering, and program management. Marisa is known for being results-oriented, productive, highly organized, and proactive. She combines her unique experiences in business, information technology, and organization development to understand her clients’ business needs and help them get results. Marisa has worked in the corporate, federal government, and non-profit arenas.
As a Principal consultant for 14 years with American Management Systems (now CGI-AMS, Inc.), she consulted to clients on a variety of engagements, including performing an organization design for the consumer banking division of the Australia New Zealand bank, defining services for an emerging business at AT&T, managing quality processes at the world’s first Internet-only bank, and developing a strategic business plan for an IBM subsidiary. She is highly skilled in project management, particularly involving large multi-initiative programs and information technology development/implementation life cycles.
Some credentials: MBA in Finance from Georgetown University. Masters-level certificate in Organization Development and Change Management from Georgetown University. Additional certifications in the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and the Drexler/Sibbet Team Performance ™
Model. BS in Computer Science and Psychology from Duke University.
Alison Welch, Executive Consultant
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Values driven, committed, passionate about social justice. |
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Strategic advisor, community builder, yoga instructor, volunteer Big Sister. |
alison@bossanovaconsulting.com |
Alison began her 10-year consulting career working with executive-level clients as part of American Management Systems (AMS), a $1B+ technology consulting firm. Alison's focus on higher education and state and local governments has fueled her passion for building communities and strengthening education while at the same time helping organizations realize their strategic goals. Just seven years into her consulting career, Alison became the strategic advisor to the dean of the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, leading the development of the School's strategic plan and supporting sustained organizational change. Alison is known as a strong facilitator, effective consensus builder, and successful mediator. She specializes in building the capacity for people and organizations to live and work authentically in a multicultural society. Alison was recently recognized by the Organization Development Network (ODN) for her pioneering work as a white anti-racist promoting diversity and social justice across the consulting industry.
Some Credentials: MS in Organization Development from American University and BA in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania. Certification in team development.
Shawn Westfall, Improv Guru
Born and raised in Indiana, Shawn Westfall has performed improvisational comedy for over 10 years with a number of professional improv troupes, including Loose Screws in Honolulu, Hawaii and The Oxymorons, a nationally recognized improv troupe in San Antonio. A former member of both DC ComedySportz and DCUPS (DC Unscripted Players), Shawn founded a sketch comedy troupe, Pretentious Actors Collective (P.A.C.), which played to audiences in Northern Virginia and Washington, DC. Most recently, he was the founder and creative director of bright young things, an improv troupe specializing in long-form improv that played to audiences in Washington, DC (headlining at the DC Improv) and New York City. Shawn has also performed stand-up comedy in Texas and throughout the Washington, DC area, and has opened for comedian Adam Ferrara at the DC Improv.
He’s been the exclusive teacher of improvisational comedy at the DC Improv for over three years, where’s he taught classes in beginning improv, advanced short-form and long-form improv, as well as improv workshops focusing on character, long form, and non-traditional improv techniques. His classes (and the numerous DC Improv shows they’ve generated) have been featured in the pages of The Washington Post, The Washington Post Express, Washingtonian magazine and The Georgetowner, as well on Washington Post Radio, DC 101, and WTOP Radio.
Recently, his monthly student showcase at the DC Improv sold out one week in advance.
By day, Shawn is a writer and editor whose work has been published in newspapers, literary journals and magazines in Utah, Texas and Hawaii. Currently, Shawn works as a copywriter for a prominent DC lecture agency, and lives in the Columbia Heights section of Washington, DC.
Some Credentials: B.A., English, University of Maryland; M.A., English, University of Texas at San Antonio.
Vickie Turley, Executive Administrative Assistant
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Uplifting spirit, outgoing, passionate about relationships. |
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Entrepreneur, encourager, wife, mother, friend, voracious reader. |
vickie@bossanovaconsulting.com |
Vickie’s career spans more than 25 years in the corporate workforce, beginning at entry levels of office tasks and computer technology and working her way up to the top levels in numerous organizations. Her expertise encompasses the administrative and secretarial assistance, bookkeeping, virtual assistance and project leadership fields. Her experiences include educational organizations, construction companies, educational facilities, medical facilities, insurance companies and attorneys. Vickie’s number one goal is to integrate today's technologies with yesterday's professionalism to help raise the business acumen to the next level. She is a highly sought-after professional and continuously expands her fields of knowledge through Internet webinars, teleconferences and local seminars. She is strongly interested in seeing her field represented to the highest caliber and expects the same commitment of others in her profession. Vickie’s most cherished talent is that of providing administrative support with an uplifting spirit, which creates an all-encompassing level of support. She resides in Kentucky with her husband and four boys. As a community servant, Vickie has enjoyed volunteering at the United Way, Child Watch organization and the Paducah Summer Festival, a local week-long festival in Paducah.
Some Credentials: Conducted team management courses, time management seminars, and software trainings. Continues education through webinars, teleconferences, teleseminars and ecourses. Member of Virtual Assistance Chamber of Commerce, Virtual Assistant Networking Association and Legal Secretaries of Kentucky.
Aletha McManama, Web Administrator
Aletha’s experience as an administrative
professional spans more than 17 years in the fields
of Executive Assistance to CEO’s, Office Management
and Human Resources, working in a variety of
industries such as fund management, property
management and a renowned scheduling software
company. Her vision is to continually grow her own
entrepreneurial business as a successful and sought
after Virtual Assistant, targeting those individuals
in need of assistance in web design and management,
e-commerce solution integration, eBook compilation
and online marketing assistance. It’s also her
passion to also see others succeed in their
entrepreneurial endeavors, advising and providing
resources for office automation solutions. Aletha
resides in North Carolina with her husband, two
children and two Labrador Retrievers. She is an
active member of her community, most recently being
a local team leader for the nationwide campaign to
educate and to advocate the cure for Multiple
Sclerosis.
Some Credentials: Received certification in various
Microsoft products. Has also received certification
in e-commerce solution integration. Also continues
education through webinars, teleconferences,
teleseminars and ecourses. Member of Virtual
Assistance Chamber of Commerce, Virtual Assistant
Networking Association and the Southeastern Virtual
Assistants Group. |
