About
Why This Work Matters
I believe effective meetings are where change happens.
Not the performative kind. Not the ones that fill your calendar and drain your energy. The kind where diverse perspectives become unified direction. Where complexity transforms into clarity. Where decisions actually stick.
For over two decades, I've worked with local government leaders—city managers, county administrators, city councils, department heads, boards, and commissions—as well as nonprofit and publicly-facing organizations navigating complex stakeholder landscapes. This work matters to me because I've seen what's possible when the right structure meets the right people.
I trust that you know your community and your context better than anyone.
My role isn't to come in with answers. It's to design the kind of structure that helps you access the wisdom already in your team—and turn it into action.
I'm certified in Technology of Participation (ToP)—a structured, inclusive, and participatory facilitation methodology that helps groups have effective, action-focused discussions. It's the foundation of how I work, but what matters most is this: I create the conditions where your best thinking emerges.
Whether it's a leadership team retreat, a strategic planning process, or a city council goal-setting session, I design processes that move groups from stuck to unstuck. From competing agendas to cohesive strategy. From discussions that circle to decisions that move your work forward.
My Approach
How I Got Here
My path to this work wasn't linear.
My background as an attorney trained me to navigate complexity and guide difficult conversations. But I found my calling in facilitation—creating the structure that helps groups access their collective wisdom and move forward with clarity.
I spent more than a decade leading a statewide nonprofit, where I discovered Technology of Participation (ToP) methods and saw their power firsthand. ToP's structured, inclusive, and participatory approach gave me the tools to help groups move from aspiration to action—and I've been refining that practice ever since.
Now, I work primarily with local government and publicly-facing organizations—places where the stakes are high, the stakeholders are many, and the need for strategic clarity is urgent.
And honestly? I still get goosebumps at the start of every session. I don't have the answers—but I know the group does. And we’re about to uncover them, together.
What It's Like to Work with Me
Here's what I bring to every situation:
Thorough preparation
I don't show up with a generic agenda. I invest time understanding your context, your challenges, and what success looks like for you.
Structured flexibility
I come with a clear process design, but I adapt in real-time as the group's needs evolve. The structure serves the group—not the other way around.
Outcomes, not just conversations
Every session I facilitate is designed to produce something tangible—whether that's a strategic plan, a set of priorities, a decision, or clarity on next steps.
A neutral guide
I have no agenda beyond helping your group do its best work. I see patterns you might miss, ask questions that surface what matters, and hold space for the difficult conversations that lead to breakthroughs.
Credentials + Contributions
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Certified Technology of Participation (ToP) Facilitator
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Woman-Owned Small Business Enterprise, Washington State (OMWBE)
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Certified: Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC)
Professional Affiliations
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International City/County Management Association (ICMA)
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Washington City/County Management Association (WCMA)
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Technology of Participation (ToP) Network
Contributing to the field
Beyond my client work, I'm committed to advancing the practice of facilitation in local government. I provide an annual workshop for the Northwest Women's Leadership Academy (NWWLA), regular conference sessions for WCMA and others, and train in-house teams in facilitative leadership. I've also partnered with WCMA on their strategic planning process and am currently conducting research on leadership team meeting effectiveness across Washington State. I believe in sharing what I've learned—because when we strengthen each other's practice, we strengthen the communities we serve.
