Join Madison Area Business Consultants

MABC Monthly Coffee Club!

Heather Dean has kindly organized this standing event -- a virtual Monthly Coffee Club for our MABC members. Thanks to feedback from MABC members, we’re going to EXTEND our discussions around Artificial Intelligence, and keep our Coffee Club focus on AI.

Our next virtual get-together will be held Thursday, February 20 from 8:00 am – 9:00 am CST. So, join in and share your ideas, questions, and thoughts around utilizing AI in everyday business life.

MABC members can join this virtual get-together to connect outside of our regularly scheduled program meetings. There is no agenda and no to-do. All you need to do is simply join in, sip your coffee, and chat. Hope to see you there!

Full details are below.

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What: MABC Monthly (virtual) Coffee Club

Date: 3rd Thursday of every month | February 20

Time: 8:00 am to 9:00 am CST

Location: Zoom 

This is a Members Only Event. Cost to join MABC is only $90 per year.  To Join this MABC Coffee Club, click here at 8am on the actual program date.

We look forward to seeing you there!

MABC Meeting | Intersectionality in Practice: Advancing Equity in Consultancy

When: February 13, 2025, 8:00 AM
Where: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86929399807

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86929399807

Meeting ID: 869 2939 9807

Deborah Biddle - Madison Area Business Consultants Member Profile

With a calm, level-headed approach, keen listening, insightful questioning, and a passion for individual and organizational belonging and thriving, Deborah Biddle influences individuals and teams to successfully rethink and redo the ways they engage with people and make decisions.

Deborah is a Certified Diversity Practitioner, Certified Diversity Professional, Certified Talent Management Consultant, and a sought after Trainer and Speaker. She leads the diversity, equity and inclusion consulting, assessment, training, coaching and practitioner certification firm, The People Company Consulting GRoup. Deborah works with organizations that want to leverage the power of change to heighten development and performance for their people. She designs and delivers thought-provoking and challenging experiences that help people THINK better, DO better and BE better at what matters most.

Deborah serves as board president for Madison Youth Arts Center, advisory board member of Africasong Communications, Inc, Personnel Committee member of United Way of Dane County, Community Health Impact Committee member at UnityPoint Health-Meriter, and member of Madison Downtown Rotary. She is a Golden Life Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and a Charter Member of the Schaumburg-Hoffman Estates Alumnae Chapter.

A graduate of Keller Graduate School of Management at DeVry University, Deborah holds a master of business administration degree and a bachelor of arts degree in finance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Deborah is the devoted wife to Lloyd and mother of two adult sons, Jason and Jared.

Services

Consulting

Deborah leverages multiple experiences to provide custom Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) strategies and solutions based in her knowledge and understanding of how gender, race, ethnicity, generation and culture impact individual and team performance. Taking into account your past achievements and focusing on your current and future goals, her process starts with defining your vision of success, so we can move to developing your unique strategy for development. Deborah’s training combined with D&I coaching ensures employees at all levels understand how D&I factors into their work, decision making, problem solving, business opportunities and business growth.

Coaching

Whether executive or career coaching, working with Deborah will produce long-lasting results that heighten your awareness, improve performance, increase job satisfaction, strengthen leadership effectiveness and better working relationships with direct reports as well as immediate supervisors, peers, and clients.

Training

Deborah creates impactful keynotes, one and two-hour break-out training sessions, half-day and full-day training seminars designed to meet your specific needs customized for your unique audience.

Speaking

In today’s ever-changing business environment, many organizations seek ways to take time to inspire and encourage to their employees toward greater effectiveness. That’s where Deborah comes in. She has expertise in service, manufacturing and non-profit industries to offer helpful insight and tips that will inspire employees to take action toward greater efficiency, teamwork and purpose Deborah’s work with your team will serve as a catalyst for change by presenting new and objective ideas that spark momentum.

Below are examples of the training speaking topics Deborah presents in conferences, meetings and seminars.

Diversity and Inclusion

- Defeating Unconscious Bias

- Cultural Alignment & Engaging Your Diverse Team

- For Women Only: Internalized Sexism

- Age, Relevance & Workplace Effectiveness

- Inclusive Leadership: Unconscious Bias, Trust and Decision-Making

- Exploring and Addressing Generational and Cultural Biases in the Workplace

- Improve Work Relationships & Company Culture by Conquering Hidden Bias

- Diversity Strategies for Small Business Leaders

- Why Race and Culture Matters In The Workplace

- Overcoming Race and Achieving True Team

Leadership Development

- Lead With Emotional Intelligence

- Visionary Leadership

- The People Side of Leadership

- Intentional Leadership

Background Info

Deborah Biddle, business and organizational consultant, certified coach, trainer, compelling speaker, has expertise in diversity and inclusion, leadership, management/supervisory development, appreciative inquiry, emotional intelligence, gender and generational difference and personal effectiveness. She has a proven track record in consulting and developing managers and executives in small businesses, universities, non-profits, and corporations.

- National Diversity Council Certified Diversity Professional

- National Speakers Association Member

- Intercultural Development Inventory Administrator (IDI, LLC)

- MBTI Certified Practitioner (The Myers & Briggs Foundation)

- Racial Justice Course (Madison YWCA)

- Gender Based Analysis+ Certification (Status of Women Canada)

- Nurtured Heart Approach Certified Trainer (Children’s Success Foundation)

- Certified Talent Management Consultant (Career Partners International)

- Certified New Horizons/Life Options (Career Partners International)

- Interactive Style Self-Profile Mini Certification (PPS International Limited)

- Online Faculty Certification Course (Edgewood College)

- Activity Based Costing Certificate (Kellogg Graduate School of Management)

- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace Certificate, University of South Florida, Muma College of Business

- Master of Business Administration (DeVry University, Keller Graduate School of Management)

- Bachelor of Arts, Finance (University of Illinois)

Deborah is an accomplished vocalist, movie lover and enjoys painting, jewelry making and greeting card design.

Intersectionality in Practice: Advancing Equity in Consultancy

with Deborah Biddle, The People Company

In this session, we'll explore the intersectional dimensions of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in consultancy practice, equipping consultants with the tools and knowledge needed to address the complex and interconnected nature of social identities.

Learning Outcomes:

**Understanding the concept of intersectionality and its implications for consultancy work.

**Applying intersectional frameworks to analyze and address systemic inequities within organizations and client engagements.

**Integrating intersectional perspectives into DEI strategies to ensure inclusivity across diverse identities and experiences.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER

Deborah Biddle

Deborah is a Certified Diversity Practitioner, Certified Diversity Professional, Certified Talent Management Consultant, and a sought after Trainer and Speaker. She leads the diversity, equity and inclusion consulting, assessment, training, coaching and practitioner certification firm, The People Company Consulting Group. Deborah works with organizations that want to leverage the power of change to heighten development and performance for their people. She designs and delivers thought-provoking and challenging experiences that help people THINK better, DO better and BE better at what matters most.

Hope to see you there!

February 13, 2025      8:00am - 10:00am CST

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Agenda

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8:00-8:30 a.m. CST  - Open Zoom Networking

8:30-9:00 a.m. CST - Meeting opening remarks

9:00-9:45 a.m. CST - Program

9:45-10:00 a.m. CST - Questions & Answers

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Program Logistics

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Who. For all B2B consultants craving collegiality, collaboration, and real conversation. Guests welcome!

What. Monthly program providing networking, relevant education, and personal and professional growth opportunities. 

When. Thursday, February 13 • 8:00 AM–10:00 AM CST

Where. Zoom Meeting ID will be in your registration confirmation email

Cost. Free for Members & Guests

RSVP. Register Today!

Guests always welcome!

Membership Statement: Guests are welcome to attend up to 3 events in any format for free. Membership is then required to access programming, networking, and special projects or events.

Congratulations to Stuart B. Fields on receiving the 2024 Walter Jankowski award!

Established in 2022, the award honors the legacy of former member Walter Jankowski who passed away suddenly in 2021. While he specialized in process improvement, metrics, and change management, Walter will be remembered for the gracious way he volunteered his time. And for the unforgettable joy he exhibited when sharing his knowledge and mentoring others.

An expert facilitator and business

coach guiding professionals on

their path toward abundant

success.

Stuart partners with business managers and teams around the world to to identify and delivery personalized learning solutions. These solutions expand their ability to transform setbacks into the stepping stones on their path toward achieving abundant success.

More specifically, these learning and training solutions help his clients:

• Enlarge the vision of who they are and what they can achieve.

• Look at situations from different perspectives to see possibilities not previously considered.

• Narrow the possibilities to the most effective solutions.

• Move forward along a path of continual development.

• Build resiliency so they bounce back from setbacks and prosper.

Stuart has delivered a broad array of over 50 different educational programs to audiences ranging in size from 2 to 502. When companies partner with Stuart, they benefit from his:

Extensive toolbox of learning and training solutions

A lifelong learner, Stuart’s gathered and mastered leadership development exercises, trainings, assessments and processes for more than three decades. He often uses this extensive toolbox to adapt an experience or exercise in the moment to meet the needs of the person or group he’s guiding.

In addition to having a master's degree in adult learning and leadership, Stuart’s a certified:

• DDI Leadership Program facilitator for target selection (behavioral-based interviewing) and more than 60 soft-skill leadership courses

• Trainer in Jack Canfield's Methodology and the facilitation of individual and group transformation through the experiential teaching of Canfield's principles of success

• Technical Trainer (CTT+) by the International Bureau for Standards in Training and Performance Improvement Board (IBSTPI)

Stuart's also been certified in Business Writing (Brainbench) and holds many proprietary certifications through Hewlett-Packard, Agilent Technologies and The Schwan Food Company.

Global perspective on the benefit of working with people of diverse cultural backgrounds

Living, working and training around the world shaped Stuart’s appreciation for diverse cultural backgrounds and the global perspective he provides. With an academic background in intercultural communication and management, Stuart spent 10 years working overseas in Europe and Asia-Pacific. And, he often partners with global learning and development consultancies to adapt and deliver training materials for U.S. based employees.

This global perspective Stuart provides brings a unique understanding of contrastive views to most situations. As a result, Stuart’s able to guide teams to explore possibilities in ways many others may not be able.

Personal Experience

Stuart shares personal stories of resiliency to provide the encouragement his clients need to keep moving forward during challenging time. Like many, he’s experienced several setbacks in life, and he knows first hand it’s possible to come out stronger on the other side of a challenging situation. By learning the skills to see possibilities instead of problems, Stuart was able to transform these obstacles into opportunities and reach greater levels of success. He's committed to helping others do the same in their lives.

Have questions?

Email info@stuartbfields.com

Call the office at +1 (608) 644-9999.

MABC NEEDS YOUR HELP in 2025!

The MABC Board of Directors and Team Leaders are busy planning for 2025. Part of our goal is to continue to engage our members in all our initiatives!

While there's no shortage of opportunities to showcase your talents to the MABC membership, there are two significant ways for you to get involved. You can:

1. Join an MABC Team

or

2. Volunteer for tasks at an MABCLive! event.

OR you can do both!

 For our small non-profit professional organization, we all can lift a little so no one sinks!

Thanks for a great 2024 filled with professional growth and learning opportunities, and here's to a prosperous 2025 for all of us!

Contact Heather Dean with any questions!

Take a look below for more details and 2025 sign-up links!

JOIN AN MABC TEAM

Marketing Team (Wendy Herrmann)
Membership Team (Laura Beck)
Programming Team (Lee Johnsen)

The teams have two meetings per year (January/July) to brainstorm ideas and take on tasks.

Most members of a team take on one small job to do throughout the year, making it very manageable for all of our busy schedules!

MABCLive! VOLUNTEER SIGN UP 

MABCLive! are our in-person meetings and events. We need help with different small tasks (greeter, set up, snacks, etc.) for just that event. You can sign up for one job, one time or multiple jobs, multiple times.

Lee Johnsen - Madison Area Business Consultants Member Profile

Most of us have limited experience leading remote teams and yet, now most, if not all of our teams, are working from home. We’ve all had to jump in with both feet and just try to figure it out as we go along. Lee Johnsen is the author of Literally Virtually: Making Virtual Teams Work. Lee is an expert in helping virtual team leaders and members feel like they're working in the same room--when they're not.

He specializes in helping global and virtual teams navigate the challenges and opportunities of working in a virtual world. He has worked and spoken internationally to assist organizations and their remote workforce. He is a proven expert in the fields of leading the remote workforce, including leadership training and coaching, management and organizational development.

Lee has a 30-year record of successfully guiding organizations toward improved productivity and enriched work relationships resulting in significant growth. His broad practical experience in consulting and strategizing with corporate learning and development managers, as well as his technical knowledge, have served him well in creating winning strategies and achieving optimal results.

Lee has held officer and management positions in Fortune 500 corporations and government agencies. His expertise encompasses executive coaching, strategic planning, leadership and management development training, performance improvement, change management, and sales and service development.

Specialties:

Virtual team and remote workforce development

Executive development

Leadership training

Management and organizational development

Workplace learning and performance consulting

Services

Consulting to identify workplace performance obstacles and methods to overcome them. Specialized development of virtual team leaders and members. Lee is an expert at helping virtual team leaders and members feel like they're in the same room--even when they're not!
Customized leadership and management development training.
Customized training design, development and delivery. Executive coaching and team building.

Background Info

Partners in Development is the leading virtual team consulting firm, committed to strengthening the skills and performance of your team’s leaders and members. We design our services to build long-lasting solutions to the challenges of virtual team management.

We are a network of experienced performance leaders, committed to helping organizations raise their industry position and profitability. We work with you to establish best practices and processes to improve virtual team excellence. We offer a variety of performance improvement solutions

Consulting Specialties

·        Leadership
·        Management Consulting
·        Coaching & Personal Development
·        Performance Improvement
·        Organizational Development & Planning

Frances Parker - Madison Area Business Consultants Member Profile

Frances Parker spent over 25 years as a corporate manager and director within four major pharmaceutical companies. She held positions in a multitude of disciplines including merchandising, marketing, sales, pharmacy affairs, operations, customer service, distribution, regulatory, project management and quality. During that time, she focused the development of key skills: effective communication across all levels; complex, cross-functional problem solving; strategy development and implementation, and leadership. Frances is known for her engaging and inclusive style, her inquisitive and optimistic nature, and her innate ability to connect with people.

She is best known for finding unique, resourceful solutions to multi-faceted issues while also thinking through the intricate details of implementation. She is passionate about the coaching and
mentoring of others to achieve their personal and professional goals and aspirations.

Frances has both a BS and MS degree from the College of Pharmacy at The University of Texas at Austin. In addition to her degrees, she is a certified Project Management Professional. Frances is a continual learner and enjoys adding new certifications to her list of credentials on a frequent basis. Frances became an Executive Agenda Group Chair in 2021.

When not working, you can find her loving her family fiercely and extravagantly, finding something to create in her overabundance of art supplies, or spending time outdoors in nature. She and her husband, Doc, reside in Madison, WI and their daughter Sydney attends The University of Minnesota.

 

EXECUTIVE COACHING:
I lead executive peer groups in the greater Madison, WI area that offer deep professional and personal growth and development. Called Executive Agenda, each group consists of 12-16 hand-selected, non-competing executives from all business disciplines and from various industries. Working with leaders who are passionate about what they do and have a variety of opinions, backgrounds and job functions brings me great energy and joy. We meet quarterly in a safe, trusting environment to help address each person’s issues and opportunities, offer guidance around potential next steps, and hold members accountable for follow-up on each action item. During our individual 1:1 sessions, I listen intently and ask probing questions so that you discover what is at the root of your issue and find creative solutions. Through these processes and discussions, participants grow to become even greater exceptional leaders.

ACCOUNTABILITY COACHING:
https://francesbparker.podia.com/coaching


Background:
Frances Parker spent over 25 years as a corporate manager and director within four major pharmaceutical companies. She held positions in a multitude of disciplines including merchandising, marketing, sales, pharmacy affairs, operations, customer service, distribution, regulatory, project management and quality. During that time, she focused the development of key skills: effective communication across all levels; complex, cross-functional problem solving; strategy development and implementation, and leadership. Frances is known for her engaging and inclusive style, her inquisitive and optimistic nature, and her innate ability to connect with people.

She is best known for finding unique, resourceful solutions to multi-faceted issues while also thinking through the intricate details of implementation. She is passionate about the coaching and mentoring of others to achieve their personal and professional goals and aspirations. EXECUTIVE COACHING: I lead executive peer groups in the greater Madison, WI area that offer deep professional and personal growth and development. Called Executive Agenda, each group consists of 12-16 hand-selected, non-competing executives from all business disciplines and from various industries. Working with leaders who are passionate about what they do and have a variety of opinions, backgrounds and job functions brings me great energy and joy. We meet quarterly in a safe, trusting environment to help address each person’s issues and opportunities, offer guidance around potential next steps, and hold members accountable for follow-up on each action item. During our individual 1:1 sessions, I listen intently and ask probing questions so that you discover what is at the root of your issue and find creative solutions. Through these processes and discussions, participants grow to become even greater exceptional leaders.

ACCOUNTABILITY COACHING: https://francesbparker.podia.com/coaching Background: Frances Parker spent over 25 years as a corporate manager and director within four major pharmaceutical companies. She held positions in a multitude of disciplines including merchandising, marketing, sales, pharmacy affairs, operations, customer service, distribution, regulatory, project management and quality. During that time, she focused the development of key skills: effective communication across all levels; complex, cross-functional problem solving; strategy development and implementation, and leadership. Frances is known for her engaging and inclusive style, her inquisitive and optimistic nature, and her innate ability to connect with people. She is best known for finding unique, resourceful solutions to multi-faceted issues while also thinking through the intricate details of implementation. She is passionate about the coaching and mentoring of others to achieve their personal and professional goals and aspirations.

Services

Wendy Herrman - Madison Area Business Consultants Member Profile

Hi! I’m Wendy and I believe you have the ability to build the life you want, personally and professionally.

Sometimes you need a little help along the way. I became a professional coach to combine my experience as an educator, consultant, mentor, and leadership developer.

My calling is to help you learn about yourself, define your goals, and support you on your path.

My Background, Education, & Training:

After 20+ years in the professional world, I discovered I had built a diverse and helpful portfolio of skills. The one thing they all have in common? Helping others connect to their passions and life paths.

I am a born and raised Midwesterner, currently living in rural Wisconsin. My educational background includes political science/policy, English literature, interpersonal communication, and educational leadership. I have a master’s degree in education-focused counseling, am facilitator-trained, and always seeking learning opportunities.

I am a Certified Professional Coach through the Certified Life Coach Institute (CLCI).

I am open minded and open hearted and bring compassion to our work together.

Bring it to the table – get to where you want to be.

Let’s talk!

Wendy Herrmann is an experienced coach, facilitator, and educational consultant. An open-minded lifelong learner who enjoys new challenges, she has spent most of her career in training & development and higher education. With the belief that personal growth is professional development, she is passionate about helping others learn and grow.

Her educational background covers political science and policy, literature, student counseling, and educational leadership. Her latest endeavors include people and organizational culture development, creating leaders at all levels, and bringing positive psychology to the workplace.

Wendy lives in rural Wisconsin with her farmer husband, Jon, and chocolate lab, Penny. She enjoys reading, podcasts, Dave Matthews Band, camping, outdoor walks, and puzzles of all types.

Services

Organizational & Educational Consulting (including DEI & Culture)
Facilitation (Workshop, Retreat, Special Session)
Leadership Development
Personal Growth
Coaching

Background Info

Wendy Herrmann is an experienced coach, facilitator, and educational consultant. An open-minded lifelong learner who enjoys new challenges, she has spent most of her career in training & development and higher education. With the belief that personal growth is professional development, she is passionate about helping others learn and grow.

Her educational background covers political science and policy, literature, student counseling, and educational leadership. Her latest endeavors include people and organizational culture development, creating leaders at all levels, and bringing positive psychology to the workplace.

Wendy lives in rural Wisconsin with her farmer husband, Jon, and chocolate lab, Penny. She enjoys reading, podcasts, Dave Matthews Band, camping, outdoor walks, and puzzles of all types.

Consulting Specialties

Organizational Development & Planning

Learning and Development

Coaching & Personal Development

Diversity & Inclusion

Leadership