Training and Consulting

Debra works in focused engagements with a range of philanthropy, nonprofits and social enterprises.  She designs her work based on client needs, yet always with an eye toward improving results for the target populations.  

Debra is currently engaged with a range of clients including strategic partnership with a large foundation to develop shared outcomes, a multi-year data plan, and strategic and tactical continuous improvement efforts for an educational institution and a domestic abuse agency. Past work ranged from assessing an endowment program to a collective impact education initiative, strategic planning for a small-town library, and discovery work for a mental health initiative for children.

In her decade running The Center for What Works, she gained experience in areas from early childhood cohorts to food systems, rural development to affordable housing, performing arts to advocacy. 

Debra works using a systems approach and has a solid understanding of how to connect dots from strategy to implementation, to efficiently and effectively find solutions. 

"Debra is a focused and effective consultant. She quickly understood our needs and provided a concise project plan to meet those needs. She kept our project on track and on the timeline. Debra facilitated great discussion among our project team, challenging ideas and encouraging new thinking. Her style energized our team and moved us from a fairly stuck spot into a productive, creative work mode."