“Our session with Ann accomplished a great deal. We made many important decisions, the most important of which had been tabled for far too long and had become pretty divisive. Ann kept our noses to the grindstone, but in a nice way, and we never got bogged down. The entire day was extremely well crafted. It was very impressive. In the end, the Board felt renewed, energetic, and more committed than ever. Ann’s relentless focus on outcomes leads to getting far more done than I’ve ever seen with other consultants.” Andy Pollock, President, Hampshire Regional YMCA
“I would highly recommend Ann. She quickly understands the issues, gets down to business, keeps a group on task. She was very effective in leading our group to consensus on many important decisions. We got just what we needed.” William D. Grinnell CPCU, CIC, President, Webber and Grinnell Insurance Agency
Ann, our day with you was a positive and transformative experience for the whole management team. It was highly focused, intense in the best possible way, and it felt great to be pushed as a team. I am completely happy with everything – from your style, to your process, to the pace of the meeting, to the outcomes. When budgets are tight, Executive Directors might say “we can’t afford a consultant”. I’m glad I said “we can’t afford not to have one.” Your assistance was not a luxury, it was a necessity. The day was worth every penny of your fee and then some. I am not exaggerating when I say “we couldn’t have done it without you.” We look forward to another opportunity to work with you. Ellie Donovan, Executive Director, Plimoth Plantation
Ann raised the bar, broke down old patterns, and shifted our culture. We have new tools, new shared language, and new non-threatening processes coupled with new group norms of acceptable and unacceptable behaviors. We are solving problems more easily and more collaboratively, utilizing our time more efficiently, communicating more clearly, and interacting in healthier, more productive ways. In addition, the silent minority have found a voice and a greater willingness to step up. Early in the process, Ann looked at our whole structure and quickly identified blockages and ways to free up our potential and energy, while also increasing our efficiency and accountability. I could go on; she has helped us in so many substantive ways. Several things set Ann apart from other consultants. One is her keen intellect, her ability to assess complex situations with many different dimensions and inputs and synthesize them into a cohesive and simple whole. Another is that she does not use a preconceived approach. She looks objectively, asks lots of questions, makes adjustments along the way, and is open to ideas and feedback so that she not only utilizes her own talent and insights, but also those of the people around her. Another unusual characteristic is that she is empathetic and caring but doesn’t let that cloud or prevent deep examination and difficult conversations. Furthermore, she has shown me that empathy and caring without clarity can be extremely detrimental to the organization. Personally, I really enjoyed Ann’s direct and honest feedback. Her no-holds-barred mirror and the tenacity to be heard led her to rephrase and explain until I got it, whatever it was. And while direct, clear, and persistent, she is also a pleasure to work with because of her humor and humanity. Ann is a true partner and really takes ownership of achieving… read more →