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“We strive to provide a great experience for our team, leading to great experiences for our clients.”
Steve McQuin, Co-Founder and CEO
Aaron is an experienced project manager, team leader, and IT consultant. He’s led teams as large as 50 or more, and he’s successfully delivered project and operational results across a variety of organizational settings. As a result, Aaron is comfortable in fast-changing and ambiguous environments. His calm demeanor helps his teams stay organized, focused and on track to achieve targeted results.
Not surprisingly, his experience has helped Aaron pick up an excellent list of business skills.
- Agile and Scrum project management methods
- Software testing and implementation
- Enterprise resource planning (ERP)
- Waterfall project management methods
- Database management and data migration
- User acceptance testing (UAT)
- Common project tools including MS Project, Visio, and SharePoint
In terms of formal education, Aaron earned his AS Degree in Communications from the University of Wisconsin – Fox Valley. He also has a BS Degree in Strategic Management of Information Systems and Business from Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee. He’s a Certified Scrum Master (CSM), a Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), and he has Lean Six Sigma White Belt certification.
His personal life philosophy is to “always have a beginner’s mindset.” “When you keep yourself open to a new concept, process, or solution, you may find it works better than the original,” he said. He went on to observe, “And even if it’s worse than the original, at least now you know more than you did!”
Away from work, Aaron loves the outdoors and he’s an avid mountain biker. Plus, he does volunteer trail maintenance and upkeep so more people have access for a better outdoor experience. Aaron previously worked as a professional bike mechanic, and he continues to service road and mountain bikes for people in his area.
Advisor
Amita guides teams to achieve project success, primarily in industries where quality and safety are top priorities. Over the past 17 years, Amita has worked to create and execute strategic plans. The plans maintain consistent team engagement and momentum at each stage of the effort. Amita’s clients know she's dependable and collaborative. And, she takes the time to ensure her team members get the support and recognition they need. These skills energize her teams towards success, no matter what they're working on. It could be global approval of engineering technology, safe biochemical manufacture, design of a GMP manufacturing facility, implementation of a configurable information management system for a laboratory and more!
Amita’s areas of proven experience include:
Amita received both BS and MS degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the Ohio State University. She's also certified as a Project Management Professional (PMP) and Six Sigma Green Belt.
Amita lives by the motto, “Do your best and leave the rest!” “I love what I do and believe in being my best every day,” she said. “This speaks to me because it helps me focus on what I can control and avoid being consumed by things that aren't in scope.”
Apart from work, she spends time with her husband and two children. They play board games, read together, hike, and travel. Because Amita has food allergies, she maintains a blog to provide helpful information to others who face similar issues.
Advisor
With a focus on collaboration and communication, Andree Fredrick is known for leading by example and valuing teamwork. She has effectively engaged with a wide range of business and technology stakeholders at all levels of an organization by maintaining an approach of understanding, sharing information, and openness. Andree has embraced various roles, allowing for a diverse and adaptable skill - no matter the challenges and opportunities that arise, she can remain flexible and adaptable.
Using her talent for “connecting the dots,” Andree helps others understand how their work aligns with strategic goals. She translates technical topics into business terms and synthesizes details, ensuring comprehensive and well-rounded solutions. By building consensus, finding common ground, and fostering a shared sense of purpose, she can prioritize the organization's and team's broader interests to help them produce their best work.
Professionally, Andree is guided by Henry Ford’s wisdom: “You don’t build a reputation on what you’re going to do.” Each day, she aims to contribute meaningfully and to help facilitate the productivity of others. Personally, she lives by the mantra of “Have faith, not fear,” emphasizing the importance of letting go of uncontrollable factors and trusting that things will work out.
Andree enjoys spending quality time with her family - including her husband, two adult sons, and baby granddaughter – and with her wide circle of friends. Her hobbies include reading, biking, golfing, savoring a French 75 or a unique craft cocktail, and exploring new places.
Advisor
Andrew is a talented, experienced and versatile change leader. He can adeptly align operations, IT, change management, Agile thinking, and process improvement to deliver positive results. Andrew has first-rate team leadership skills, can translate high-level strategic direction into manageable steps, and he clearly explains complex issues and technology.
His roles across a wide range of business settings have given Andrew a wealth of useful knowledge.
Andrew earned his BA degree, with Honors, in English Literature from the University of London. He also has an MBA from the UW-Madison Graduate School of Business, and he's a certified Change Management Professional (CMP.)
He knows everything in business and in life runs on feedback loops, which, in turn, hinge on trust and honest communication. For feedback loops to deliver maximum value, we need to build trust and always speak the truth.
Andrew has lived in the U.S. for 25 years and became a citizen in 2019. He and his wife have two daughters. His interests outside his family show him to be a genuine Renaissance man. Andrew writes fiction and business books and operates his own small publishing company. He wrote an opera in collaboration with the Fresco Opera Theatre group, The Queen of the Night, and he’s authored numerous shorter works.
Advisor
Ashley is a detail-oriented and personable professional with a focus on excellence. Her friendly demeanor fosters relationship-building within the team, creating an environment of trust and collaboration.
In her personal life, Ashley leads an active lifestyle. She enjoys activities like running, working out, and playing ultimate frisbee, which reflects her passion for staying fit and healthy. She loves to explore the outdoors through hiking, camping, paddleboarding, kayaking, and travel.
As an alumna of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Ashley enjoys attending Badger games and experiencing the camaraderie of cheering on her alma mater.
Guided by the personal philosophy that "you have survived 100% of your worst days," Ashley approaches challenging situations with composure and resiliency, even in seemingly stressful circumstances.
Ashley believes in giving back to the community. She has completed two marathons, directing the proceeds towards supporting the ALS Association, and showcasing her commitment to making a positive impact.
Operations Specialist
Brian's experience crosses several industries and initiatives. He applies his advanced advisory skills to complex projects, strategic planning, program management, and operational transformations.
Not surprisingly, Brian has lots of practical business skills.
Brian earned a BS degree in Biomedical Engineering from Marquette University and an MS degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. In addition, he has a Masters, Project Management certification and an Advanced Masters, Project Management certificate from the same school.
His personal philosophy is simple. “Be honest, and be transparent. Without trust, everything is lost.”
Away from work, Brian spends time with his family and friends. He also enjoys travel, both domestic and international. When he's not globetrotting, he restores homes and tends to his garden. And when he's done for the day, he likes to have a glass of good wine paired with an appropriate cheese.
Advisor
Carol is an experienced change management, organizational development, and human resources professional. Her project team members know she supports them and does what it takes to make them successful. Together, they make the initiative succeed. She knows successful change initiatives require coordination, alignment, and collaboration among people at all levels.
Her experience at different organizations equips Carol to excel in her role. Her talents and skills include:
- Change impact analysis and stakeholder alignment
- Organizational readiness assessment
- Communication planning and implementation
- Organization change management (OCM) and program management
- Training and professional development
- Workshop facilitation
- Talent attraction and retention
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) program development
Carol received her BS degree in Management from Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee. She has a Human Resources Certificate from the same institution. Carol’s also a Prosci Certified Change Management Practitioner (CCMP) and she’s earned her Everything DiSC Workplace Certification from Everything DiSC.
Her life philosophy is simple. “Always treat people the way I want to be treated,” said Carol. “It’s a privilege to work with people who aren’t like me. I get to learn about them, and they have the opportunity to learn about me.”
In her time away from work, Carol enjoys social activity with family and friends. She also likes to attend movies, listen to live music, laugh at comedy clubs, and cheer for her favorite sports teams.
Advisor
Catie McDonald is a trusted strategic partner and leader passionate about the credit union movement. Known for her ability to ask thought-provoking questions and listen intently, Catie leverages her communication skills to drive successful outcomes in her work.
Throughout her career, Catie has collaborated closely with CEOs, executive leadership teams, and various Boards, bringing clarity to strategic vision and aligning stakeholders to produce remarkable results.
Known for her facilitation skills, Catie consistently receives feedback for her ability to make strategy sessions engaging and enjoyable. Participants are often surprised by how much fun they have while discussing critical matters, a testament to Catie's talent for creating a collaborative and energizing environment.
Outside of work, Catie is focused on giving back to her community. She actively participates in her neighborhood association, previously organizing the vibrant Eken Park Festival. Additionally, Catie serves on the Madison Board of Park Commissioners and the board of the Madison Parks Foundation. She is driven by her belief in fairness and has a track record of promoting and contributing to DEI initiatives at previous employers. This includes starting a Martin Luther King, Jr, Day of Service – allowing employees to take a “day on not a day off” in their community. She finds joy in gardening, reading, traveling, and hosting events. Catie's love for fostering connections and creating a sense of community is evident in all aspects of her life.
This passion is reflected professionally in her leadership on the Financial Well-being for All program while at CUNA – helping Boards and credit unions understand how to serve their members better and incorporate financial well-being and diversity, equity, and inclusion into their strategic plans.
As a strategic partner and leader, Catie McDonald combines her expertise in the financial services and credit union industry, exceptional communication skills, and a genuine passion for making a difference. Whether guiding organizations through strategic challenges or giving back to the community, Catie's dedication, facilitation prowess, and commitment to excellence shine through. By working with Catie, you can unlock the full potential of your credit union or organization and create a lasting impact in the communities you serve.
Advisor
Charyl is an experienced process improvement and operations management leader. She has nearly two decades uncovering solutions for business challenges. She’s meticulous, methodical, and focused on the desired end results. There’s no problem too complex or too big such that Charyl can’t identify practical and achievable solutions.
Her different professional experiences have given Charyl a strong list of business skills and tools.
Charyl earned her BBA degree from Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. She’s a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and is certified as a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt and a Professional Scrum master I (PSM I.)
Advisor
Chris Bordewyk is a culture-focused agile transformation leader who centers his time on outcomes and building strong relationships. Through his experiences, he’s learned the value of staying focused on positive goals, celebrating even the smallest successes, and having a strong support network.
Chris is often complimented on his thoughtful approach to his work, which helps him effectively navigate complex situations and encourage collaboration. One of his proudest achievements is being able to create positive cultures within teams that leave a lasting impact. Though it can be difficult in the moment to know if the right steps are being taken, having the opportunity to step back and see the results over time is rewarding.
His personal philosophy of “just be a good person,” guides Chris to create a positive difference in the world through his interactions. He believes that while the world is full of uncontrollable variables, the way we relate to others and the individual impact we have is within our control.
In his free time, Chris is an enthusiastic writer, reader, and movie watcher. He also enjoys hiking, golfing, gaming, and playing his drums when it won’t keep anyone awake.
Advisor
Chris is an information, technology, and project management professional with a broad range of skills from account management to troubleshooting. He enjoys working with a team and demonstrates his passion for people in every environment. Many of his peers have said he’s easy to work with, and fun!
Guided by a personal philosophy of, “Love God, Love People,” Chris makes it a priority to treat everyone with honor and encouragement to ensure they can be their best selves and achieve their highest potential.
Outside of work, he is the proud father of three daughters and a husband of 25 years. He enjoys playing his guitar in a country rock band and leading worship at his church in Sauk City, as well as riding his motorcycle and spending time with his family. He is also quite the outdoorsman, with a passion for camping, hiking, and hunting, and he and his wife have recently begun their journey into woodworking.
Advisor
Christine has ten years of experience in Marketing, Communications, Customer Service and Event Planning. She is a highly organized team player that really enjoys getting to know people. She approaches projects with a can-do attitude and always tries to find a way to improve the process!
Christine has her BA degree in Mass Communications and Public Relations from UW - Eau Claire. She completed her Master of Science Management from Cardinal Stritch. In addition to her Public Relations and Communications experience, Christine knows quite an array of operational tools and displays soft skills, too:
Christine’s personal philosophy is simple – be kind. You never know what people are going through and it is much easier to be nice to one another!
Outside of work, Christine enjoys spending time with her husband and three-year-old son, Cole. They are always visiting family and friends and spending time together. When there is some free time, Christine usually finds a home improvement project for them to work on!
Marketing Manager
Corrie comes to FarWell as a people and culture advocate who leads with empathy and understanding. She believes in building relationships based on trust, deep listening, and shared vulnerability. This, in combination with her innate desire to understand people, things, and situations on a deeper level allows her to tackle large initiatives and projects from a unique perspective. She is well-known for her ability to balance the bigger picture with the task at hand as well as her level-headedness and steadiness throughout change and discomfort. She also brings experience in:
The mantra, “Breathe and Be” reminds Corrie daily that you can get through anything if you just breathe and reconnect with yourself. She believes it’s also a reminder that being who you are is more than enough, and that we all grow and evolve every day. “When you realize that we’re all just learning our way through life, it’s a lot easier to lead with love and kindness.”
On the side, Corrie runs her own event planning business, including weddings. Outside of the work, she is a voracious reader and creative, with a never-ending stack of books in her “to be read” pile and a knack for making polymer clay jewelry. She’s also a big foodie and loves trying new foods and restaurants before trying to recreate her favorite recipes at home.
Advisor
Craig’s clients know him to be an experienced project manager. He's also skilled in business analysis, and an ace at delivering technical solutions. Craig understands business operations, which means he can develop sound, practical business ideas and options. He communicates clearly and uses relationship skills to build alignment across project teams, stakeholders and executive leaders.
He genuinely enjoys complex problems and collaborating with clients to generate options and solutions. Craig applies an impressive array of business skills and tools for the benefit of his clients:
Craig has a BS degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire. He also has an MBA in Finance from the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater. He’s taken significant additional coursework in computer information systems and is a certified web developer. In addition, Craig has a Master’s certification in Project Management from the University of Wisconsin – Madison.
His primary business philosophy is simple. “Luck favors the prepared.”
Away from work, Craig immerses himself in a wide variety of activities. In his own words, “I’m a real-estate investor, guitar player, avid bicyclist, and globetrotter.”
Advisor
Cynthia is an experienced marketing and communications professional. She knows how to help organizations develop internal communication strategies designed to propel complex change strategies forward. An effective communication plan will build trust and momentum for an initiative and create change champions and engaged users.
As you might expect, her professional experience has given Cynthia an impressive roster of organizational skills.
- Internal communications and brand awareness
- Content management and social media
- Process improvement
- New product development and product launch
- Technology implementation
- Integrated marketing and automated workflows
- Planning and budget management
- Digital marketing campaign management
Cynthia earned her BA degree in English Literature at the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater. She also has an MBA in Marketing from Aurora University in Aurora, Illinois.
Her basic life philosophy is to be curious, not judgmental. “If you stay curious, you have the potential to discover many things about others and about yourself,” she said. “Curiosity is the engine of disruption and innovation. It unlocks new perspectives, builds knowledge, and uncovers innovative ideas.”
In her personal time, Cynthia fosters dogs for a local animal rescue program. She also likes to do D-I-Y projects around the house. She says, “If there’s a YouTube video on it, I can probably figure out how to do it.”
Advisor
Dana Otto is an accomplished change management professional who has mastered the art and science of helping people move through change. Throughout her career, she has distinguished herself as a passionate executive that approaches change management as realistically as possible. She recognizes that change is not always easy to move through, and sometimes success is as small as helping people dislike change a little less. Dana has a true passion for helping people move through these transitions and engages directly with them to learn what excites and scares them about the process.
Some of Dana’s proven areas of expertise include:
While facilitating weeklong Lean Kaizen events, Dana came across the philosophy, “Don’t let perfect get in the way of better.” This has stuck with her ever since. She likes the emphasis it has on fostering innovation and adapting to changing circumstances, which are both key when it comes to helping others move through change.
Outside of work, Dana considers herself a true Midwestern girl. She enjoys snowmobiling at her cabin in northern Wisconsin, cheering for the Packers and the Badgers, partaking in a good ol’ fashioned Friday night fish fry, and spending time with her two adult daughters.
Advisor
When FarWell clients engage Dave, they get a high-energy, hands-on project manager with more than 15 years of relevant experience. They appreciate how he quickly understands the dimensions of complex projects and comes up with practical and achievable solutions. Dave is good at working with people at all levels of the organization and he knows the value of good and diverse cross-functional teams.
His professional experience has given him a wide range of business skills.
Dave earned his BS degree in Mechanical Engineering and Technical Communication from the UW-Madison. He’s also certified as a Project Management Professional (PMP) and as a Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I.)
His professional philosophy rests on honesty and trust. “Open and honest communication and building trusted relationships with team members will get you a long way toward project success,” Dave said.
Away from work, Dave is an avid and dedicated outdoorsman. Depending on the season and the weather, you might find him hiking, backpacking or camping. Or all three. He’s also an enthusiastic travel buff.
Advisor
Dawn’s clients appreciate her exceptional interpersonal skills and how they’re matched by her business experience and project management abilities. She knows how to manage programs and deliver results, from the early idea-generation phase all the way through final execution. Dawn’s a motivational leader and she inspires loyalty and commitment from her teams.
She also has a solid assortment of practical personal skills and knowledge of business tools.
- Strategic plan development
- Program and project management
- Distribution and logistics
- Agile and scrum project methods
- Software introduction and rollout
- Team leadership, professional development, and motivation
- Office 365 tools including
* MS Project
* MS Teams
* MS Visio
Dawn earned her BBA degree from American Intercontinental University (AIU.) She is also Scrum Fundamentals Certified (SFC.)
The shorthand for her business philosophy is the three I’s – Intelligence, Intensity, and Integrity. “I love to surround myself with people who are intelligent, intensely passionate about what they do, and who always put integrity first,” Dawn said.
Away from work, she gravitates toward outdoor activities to help herself stay fit. Dawn likes to bike, hike, and engage in almost every type of exercise. Indoors, and when time allows, she’s an active reader.
Advisor
Dawn is an experienced and innovative leader with particular experience in process improvement and customer experience optimization. Her collaborative approach to problem solving has helped her teams deliver successful business outcomes in project after project. She drives change initiatives, helps team members navigate past obstacles, and creates clear paths to project success.
Her business career spans several organizations and has provided her with a broad arsenal of useful skills and tools.
- Process optimization and continuous improvement
- Customer experience strategy and customer journey mapping
- Change initiatives
- Project management and team leadership
- Lean and kaizen project strategies
- Budgeting and financial reporting
- Coaching and personal development
Dawn earned her BS degree in Animal Science at Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. She’s also certified in Lean Process Improvement and has her Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification.
In terms of her life philosophy, she agrees with this famous Maya Angelou quote: “People will forget what you said and forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” “You can never go wrong or be unsuccessful if you lead with this thought in mind,” said Dawn.
Away from work, Dawn likes to do just about everything she can while outdoors. It could be fun on the water, a round of golf, exploring a new bike trail, or a simple hike. Or it could be gardening, yard work, or a D-I-Y fix-it task. In her words, “If it gets me outside in the fresh air and sunshine, I’m game!”
Advisor
Dean is a motivated, focused, value-oriented professional. He manages high-priority projects and coaches his clients on ways to apply Agile business principles. These skills lead to consistently successful organizational results. His cheerful, calm, and easy-going nature builds rapport and client credibility.
He thinks big, learns by doing and has fun along the way. His mindset makes him a strong collaborator. He brings 20+ years of IT and project/program management experience and eight years of Agile/Scrum experience to the table. He knows how to assess, plan, and execute virtually all types of business and technical projects.
As you might expect, he’s picked up a fair amount of useful expertise along the way.
- Agile/Scrum/Kanban project management approaches
- Customer obsession
- Strategy development and tactical planning
- Complex technology deployment
- Process analysis and process improvement
- Vendor management
- Requirements gathering
- Budget development and results reporting
- Business analysis and quality assurance
Dean earned his BS degree in Economics from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. He’s a Professional Scrum Master, and recently earned his Professional Scrum Master II (PSM II) certification.
In terms of his personal philosophy, he said, “Don’t be afraid to try new things and be sure to have fun along the way.”
Away from work, Dean picks up another form of practical hands-on management experience. He’s part of an active family that includes his wife, four energetic children and three dogs. When he can, he also likes to go camping and share a brew with family and friends while they root for the Chicago Bears.
Advisor
Dennis brings an enviable mix of deep technology skill and human change expertise to the table. This combination makes him a successful change manager able to deliver creative and insightful solutions. He understands business challenges, complex system development, and how to integrate and focus all the elements into productive organization outcomes.
His experience across multiple different industries and organizations has enabled Dennis to pick up a wide range of skills and knowledge of business tools.
Change management and project management
- Risk analysis and mitigation
- Negotiation skills and relationship management
- Training and development
- Standard CM and PM tools, technology, and applications
Software integration and automation
- Business intelligence and analytics
- Application development systems and controls
- C# .NET, HTML/CSS, and SQL servers and reporting
Dennis earned his BS degree in Computer Science from the University of Wisconsin – Platteville. He also has an MA degree in Organizational Leadership from Gonzaga University. In addition, he’s a certified Professional Scrum Master (PSM I.)
When we asked him about his personal life philosophy, he replied with a Winston Churchill quote: “Success is not final; failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts.” Dennis frames this as: “Enjoy your successes, but not too much. Mourn your failures, but not too much. And then, always, move forward.”
Away from work, Dennis is an avid reader. He enjoys collecting signed editions of books, preferably when he can meet the authors in person. Otherwise, he and his wife enjoy travel, especially to international destinations, which Dennis documents extensively with photographs.
Advisor
Elizabeth, or “E.B.,” as she prefers to be called, is a skilled and experienced project leader and Agile coach. She’s built large technical teams and coached them to deliver the results her clients want. And she’s achieved these team outcomes in complex, ambiguous environments.
Her clients and teammates like to work with E.B. They know her to be collaborative, always open to new ideas, and eager to learn more. And they like the fact they can count on her to deliver high-value solutions.
E.B.’s varied experience has equipped her with a broad array of practical business skills and knowledge of business tools.
- Agile project methods, scrum, and Kanban
- IT project and portfolio management
- Business analysis and reporting
- Process improvement
- Enterprise technology and resource planning
- Waterfall project methods
- Coaching and team leadership
- Jira applications
- Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) project practices
- Clear communication to all project constituencies.
She earned her multi-discipline BS degree in Microbiology, Chemistry and Psychology from the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse. E.B. also has a Certified Scrum Master (CSM) certification from the Scrum Alliance.
When we asked E.B. about her life philosophy, she said, “Treat others how they would like to be treated. It’s like the Golden Rule, but a little different. Not everyone comes from a similar background to mine. I want to learn what’s important to them. Then we can build a strong relationship based on mutual respect.”
Apart from work, E.B. says her time revolves around family, home, and dogs. Several dogs. They have three right now, a two-year-old Scottish Deerhound, a four-year-old Borzoi, and a nine-month-old Borzoi. She has her sights set on plans to open a small breeding program for both breeds. And it already has a name, “Trillium Sighthounds.”
Advisor
Ellen has unmatched skill as an Agile leader and coach. This skill appears in the performance of teams she coaches. The teams tend to think creatively, act differently, and deliver positive project outcomes. Ellen tailors her coaching style to her team members and does everything she can to support their professional growth.
Not surprisingly, thanks to her extensive experience, Ellen has picked up a wide assortment of useful business skills.
Ellen’s professional certifications confirm her strong Agile skill set. Currently, she’s a Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSPSM), a Certified Scrum Professional Product Owner (CSPPO), a Professional Scrum Product Owner (PSPO), a Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I), and a Professional Scrum Master II (PSM II.) And she’s working toward two more certifications!
In terms of professional philosophy, Ellen’s believes in setting and achieving goals. And in true Agile spirit, she knows it’s okay to alter the path toward a goal based on new information.
Away from work, Ellen and her family pursue outdoor activities, at least during the warmer months. She’s not a big fan of the colder Wisconsin months. In addition, she’s an active volunteer. She fosters dogs and serves as a mentor to teen parents.
Advisor
Heather has delivered business results for more than twenty years. She analyzes complex issues, identifies opportunities, and develops steps to reach the targeted results. Even when her focus is trained on a desired outcome, Heather takes care to build stakeholder support and work productively with people in every role and at every level.
As you would expect, Heather’s commands an enviable array of business skills.
Heather earned her BA degree in Liberal Arts from Hanover College in Hanover, Indiana. In addition, she has MA degrees in Executive Coaching and Organizational Psychology, both from William James College in Boston. She’s also a Senior Certified Professional by the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM-SCP.)
Heather helps make work a place people want to be. “We spend too much time at work for it to be a place that doesn’t enrich us or encourage us to be the best version of ourselves,” she said.
She leads an interesting life apart from work, too. In addition to being an avid traveler, Heather is the editor-in-chief of her family newsletter, The Beecher Family Bulletin. It's so popular they've published the newsletter regularly for more than 20 years. “My family is vast, connected, and active with one another,” she notes.
Advisor
Henry’s clients know they can count on him to successfully manage multiple projects, even when there’s the additional hurdle of geographically dispersed teams. He develops and executes solid project plans, stays on schedule and uses his strong communication skills to keep stakeholders and leaders well informed. Henry’s polished relationship skills help him establish productive relationships with people at all levels of the organization.
His work experience has also given Henry a respectable array of technical business skills and tools.
Henry earned his BA degree in Data Processing from Roosevelt University in Chicago. He later also picked up an MBA degree from DePaul University. Henry has his Fellow, Life Management Institute (FLMI), Project Management Professional (PMP) and Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I) certifications.
When he’s not working to help FarWell clients achieve greater business success, he says he and his wife are avid international travel aficionados. “My wife and I try to travel to a new overseas destination every 12-18 months,” he said.
Advisor
Jackie Jackson is a dedicated Project Manager known for her positive attitude and willingness to find solutions that make even the most challenging tasks manageable. She is known for her proficiency in translating complex technical topics into uncomplicated terms, ensuring seamless communication between technical teams and business partners.
Guided by the philosophy, “How can I help?” Jackie approaches every problem as an opportunity for collaborative problem-solving. Even when placed under tight timelines, she has successfully led the implementation of several high-stakes projects and achieved positive outcomes for both end users and clients. Jackie’s focus on listening and teamwork ensures the right solutions are found and applied effectively, benefiting all parties involved.
Outside of work, Jackie enjoys spending time at the dog park with her two rescue dogs from Aruba, attending high school sporting events, and staying active by playing softball, volleyball, and golf. She is also passionate about giving back to the community and serves as a volunteer coordinator for Sleep in Heavenly Peace and as a Court Appointed Special Advocate at the Canopy Center.
Advisor
Jason is FarWell’s co-founder and CEO. He embodies servant leadership and personifies the firm’s core values of humility, collaboration, and accountability. His focus is the longer-term growth of the company. This work involves analyzing potential entry into new markets, expansion of our solution offerings to meet emerging needs, and paying attention to the overall financial health of the company.
He got valuable business experience when he led large-scale projects and programs for organizations ranging in size from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies. This expertise enables Jason to act strategically, see through the clutter to visualize larger implications, and translate knowledge into actionable business plans.
On the relationship front, Jason treats others how he wants to be treated. He listens critically, communicates clearly, and acts in the best interests of his clients and his team. He encourages all FarWell team members to use their unique strengths and abilities in order to thrive in their work.
Jason earned his BA degree in Mathematics from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. He’s also certified in Scaled Agile, and he has his CSM (Certified Scrum Master) designation.
When he isn’t leading the FarWell team, Jason and his wife Heather enjoy the time they spend with their two teenage daughters. He also likes to watch team sports, where he cheers for the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Cubs.
Co-Founder & Chairman
Jed leads cross-functional teams to deliver complex product and project implementations. He excels at aligning stakeholder and operational needs. It’s largely due to his calm demeanor and ability to communicate clearly.
His years of business analysis and project management have taught Jed how to drive initiatives forward. He knows how to tease out requirements, define problems clearly, redesign business processes, and support software implementation.
Jed thrives in a project’s execution phase. He’s at his best when he is given an abstract vision. He develops a plan and inspires his team to work together to create a tangible business solution or innovative product.
Jed earned his BS in Mechanical Engineering and a Technical Communication Certificate from the University of Wisconsin – Madison.
In his personal life, Jed likes to stay active. He plays tennis, soccer and enjoys inline skating. In their free time, his family likes picking up new experiences through international travel. They moved to southern Spain for two years when their boys were in elementary school. The adventure gave the family a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in a different culture.
Advisor
Jeff is a leader, facilitator, mentor, and coach to both FarWell clients and team members. He creates business value and maintains a high standard of quality control. He keeps his composure and professional focus even during a crisis or the most chaotic changes. Simply put, he's a pro.
His background experience includes:
Jeff is 100% present with the people and projects in front of him. He believes if we do the fundamentals well, we will produce consistent positive outcomes in any setting. He’s a dependable, systematic and results-oriented leader.
He holds Project Management and IT Service Management certifications in addition to a number of other IT and leadership certifications. He’s also a Professional Scrum Master (PSM.) Jeff has studied Business Administration and Management from Edgewood College in Madison.
Outside of work, Jeff likes to cook, garden, fish, hike and mountain bike with his boys. When they can, they also enjoy geocaching and playing board games. And after the outdoor portion of the day is done, he often shares good food and wine with friends. Jeff appreciates art and architecture, and he's an avid reader of business management books, history, and science fiction.
Advisor
Jen is a seasoned change practitioner, with more than 25 years’ experience leading process improvement and organizational change. She guides leaders through complex change with intentional strategies designed to inspire and engage. Jen leans heavily on emotional intelligence and agile principles to develop conscious leadership that drives positive change.
She values connection, kindness, and creativity. With these principles in mind, Jen shares the following wisdom from Swami Chetanananda:
“It is the experience of what resides deeply in your heart that gives rise to an illuminated mind – a mind filled with wisdom and knowledge, with understanding and compassion. You can think all you want and get nowhere. It is the heart that illuminates the mind, not the other way around.”
Jen is a certified Professional Scrum Master and Prosci Change Management Practitioner. She has an MS in Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences from Northwestern University and a BA in Mathematics & Computer Science from St. Norbert College in DePere, Wisconsin.
Jen is a Certified Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT) and a long-time yoga and mindfulness meditation teacher. She leads individual and small group sessions and offers yoga therapy programs designed to alleviate pain and cultivate resilience.
Jen cherishes time with family and friends. She enjoys live music, singing, cooking, playing in nature, and learning more about neuroscience and human anatomy.
Advisor
Jill Golon is a dedicated Scrum Master and Project Manager known for her strong technical foundation and ability to foster collaborative environments. With a reputation for keeping a positive mindset and being willing to go the extra mile, she consistently delivers exceptional results in her work.
Jill lives by two guiding philosophies. The first is, “There is always a story; you just have to listen,” a principle that underscores her empathetic nature and commitment to understanding others. She also believes that “Every day is a day to start anew,” which inspires her to embrace each day with a fresh perspective and renewed energy. Her adaptability and resilience have been key to her ability to lead teams through complex projects and dynamic environments.
Outside of her professional life, Jill is an avid reader who cherishes time spent with her family – especially her husband and two, teenage daughters. She takes pride in watching her daughters dance and spending time at their cabin or on the lake.
Advisor
Jillian’s clients look to her to help them identify business issues and propose ideas and solutions to resolve their business challenges. Her experience and skills enable her to drive toward successful solutions for a wide variety of problems. As part of this, she also introduces and promotes best practices to help ensure the solutions gain long-term traction and deliver the expected results.
Her business experience has given Jillian specific expertise in these areas:
She earned her BS degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Illinois. She also has an MS degree in Management Information Sciences from Northern Illinois University. Jillian is also a Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP.)
Jillian’s business philosophy is based on the principle that there are no silver bullets. “The newest shiny technology toy isn’t always the right solution,” she says. “Be flexible and consider all available techniques, methods and tools as you look for the best fit.”
Away from work, Jillian admits to being an avid traveler. She’s been to Japan and Italy, and now invests time learning both languages because she hopes to return to both countries someday.
Advisor
Driven by a deep sense of passion, Joe Rady excels in his work because he truly cares about the impact he makes. For him, the key to success lies in doing meaningful work that drives both personal fulfillment and positive change. This mindset has been the cornerstone of his two-decade career, during which he has mentored numerous individuals who have gone on to flourish in their own leadership positions. Joe believes that the true mark of successful mentorship is when those you’ve guided are ready to move beyond your team and into new opportunities.
Whether navigating challenging projects or interactions, Joe’s colleagues appreciate the way he leads with empathy, and how he always brings a positive attitude to work. He also believes in taking a straightforward approach to communication. By choosing to focus on the intent behind messages rather than overanalyzing, Joe fosters an environment of mutual respect.
Outside of work, Joe enjoys traveling with his husband both internationally and on RV trips. They like to embrace the fun and comfort of “glamping” in their RV, always finding joy in new experiences.
Advisor
John is a consummate senior-level change manager. He puts his team first, communicates clearly, and ensures change efforts are achieved with the participation of impacted employees, not overlaid on top of them.
Not surprisingly, his varied experience has equipped John with an impressive array of business skills and expertise.
- Change management tools and techniques
- Strategic planning and organizational design
- Sales process training and sales enablement
- Business process improvement
- Data analysis and reporting
- Financial management and reporting
John earned his BA Degree in Communication Arts from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. He has also had Strategic Leadership Immersion training.
In terms of life philosophy, he builds his based on the words on the back cover of the final issue of the Whole Earth Catalog: “Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.” For John, “stay hungry” means always take opportunities to learn, meet new people, and improve himself. And he says, “stay foolish” means take chances, fail quickly and learn, take the road less traveled, and pursue the solution less obvious.
Away from work, John is a bit of an exercise buff. He works out daily, and he either runs, bikes, or lifts weights. Otherwise, he and his wife Shannon love to travel. They prefer to go to warmer destinations during the cold Wisconsin winter months. And in the Summer, they enjoy regular dinners at one of the many traditional supper club restaurants in central and northern Wisconsin.
Advisor
Karen’s clients know her to be an experienced, skilled advisor they can trust to handle large complex programs. She sees the big picture, creates a vision, and leads the team to deliver valuable results. Her success stems from an enviable combination of simple and clear communication, empathy, and coaching expertise that engages senior leaders in strategic partnerships.
She also has a substantial tool bag of business approaches, methods, and knowledge to complement her softer skills. This is a sample.
Karen earned her BA degree in Communication from the UW–Parkside and her MBA from Cardinal Stritch University. She is a Certified Scrum Master (CSM), ITIL certified and a Six Sigma Green Belt. She has a Mid-Management Certificate and a Technical Leadership Certificate from UW Executive Education.
Her philosophy revolves around servant leadership. “My personal and professional perspective is about purpose and giving back,” she says. “As a consultant, my main goal is to serve the client and their teams, so they can perform as highly as possible and grow professionally.”
When outside of work, Karen is usually off on an adventure. She has an Up North Wisconsin cabin where you can find her biking or boating. She is fond of vintage homes, up styling antiques, designing gardens and riding in her classic Jeepster. Karen is also an accomplished chef and avid reader.
Advisor
Kelly’s role with FarWell involves a high degree of collaboration and facilitation. She understands the best way to deliver the results her clients want is to optimize her team’s performance. Kelly knows she’s part of something larger than herself so she approaches each day with excitement and gratitude.
Kelly has a military background and has served in a combat zone. This vivid experience taught her to make do with what was available. She knows no challenge is too difficult and strong teamwork is the path to success.
She acquired more traditional business skills when she worked in defense contracting. The skills include:
Kelly has a BS degree in Geography and she has also earned her Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree. She received her Project Management Professional (PMP) certification in 2019.
Away from work, Kelly’s most important activity is to spend time with her dogs. “I love all animals, but my dogs are my best friends. They come first,” she said. She also likes to kayak and, when time permits, to remodel her home.
Advisor
Kim is a problem solver who loves collaborating with others and has a wealth of experience in managing technology-oriented projects. Her expertise in IT has given her the opportunity to lead and participate in several strategic planning initiatives where she showcased her skills in development and presentation.
Some of Kim’s specialties include:
Kim believes it is important to leave things better than they found them. She places a strong importance on improving how she does things as well as the result. This creates a benefit for the person who either uses what has been created or plans to take it to the next level.
Outside of work, Kim loves to ride her bike, create crafts, garden, and visit with her family and friends.
Advisor
Lisa brings an exceptional ability to build relationships built on trust and open communication. Her experience across the technical, operational, and leadership sides of business allow Lisa to envision holistic short and long-term solutions for clients. Having worked as a project manager spanning business transformation, journey mapping, technology implementation, leading scrum teams, and operational enhancements, she brings a breadth and depth of knowledge along with her sense of empathy that keeps her focused on bringing results and meeting client goals.
A firm believer in hard work, Lisa has followed a “Keep on Keepin’ On” philosophy. It has helped her consistently focus on goals and strive to deliver results both personally and professionally. Brought to her by a mentor years ago, the saying even helped her coach her son as he progressed though the Industrial Engineering program at UW-Madison. She continues to live this as a member of the Women in Technology Board, where she aims to help others make meaningful connections to support their careers and knowledge growth.
Outside of work, Lisa loves to travel with her husband and spends time at the lake in Wisconsin as well as their home in Franklin, TN. She rarely sits still for long as she enjoys staying fit, riding her Harley, and spending time on the water (kayaking, paddle boarding, boating, etc.). When she does take downtime, you can find her with a glass of wine and soaking up time spent with family and friends.
Director - Client Solutions
Liubov is a Prosci-certified change management professional. In this role, she creates and implements change management strategies and plans. These plans drive faster adoption, wider use, and greater proficiency with the changes. She’s adept with the applications, tools and techniques necessary to guide project teams to achieve expected benefits.
She understands the big picture and can translate it into realistic action steps. And because she’s attracted to challenging projects, Liubov has picked up an enviable set of business skills.
Her personal philosophy is summed up by this Dan Zadra quote: "Worry is a misuse of the imagination." “So many people spend their lives worrying,” Liubov said. “I choose to identify solutions and take action instead. Action is progress. And often, the best way to learn is by taking action.”
Liubov has lived in the United States for 15 years. She became a citizen in 2013. Prior to this, she had lived in many different places. Her familiarity with multiple cultures and environments gives her a well-rounded world view. She still loves to travel, and perpetually looks forward to her next opportunity to satisfy her wanderlust. When she's not at work, Liubov is an avid gardener and active bicyclist.
Advisor
Lucas has honed his candidate experience chops as a talent acquisition leader for more than 10 years. He’s applied his talents and skills for a wide range of organizations, from startups to Fortune 500 giants. Lucas acquired a life-long belief when he worked at the Park Hyatt in Chicago early in his career. He learned that to deliver a consistently memorable experience was the best thing he could do to keep guests coming back repeatedly. This wisdom continues to pay off for him today.
Talent acquisition is the quintessential form of a true “people” business. Lucas has been in the profession long enough to know that trust and transparency are they key elements of every productive business relationship. He thrives on being able to help candidates connect the dots and realize how their experience and business knowledge may fit in well with both FarWell and our clients.
When he’s not at work, Lucas displays his passion for dogs. He’s especially fond of Pitbull and Bully breeds. His current dog, El, was a rescue he found about eight years ago. Lucas hopes to rescue many more.
He’s also found a way to combine his love of photography and his love of dogs. He volunteers at the Dane County Humane Society and captures images to show the bond of love between people and dogs.
“I like nothing better than to watch a beautiful sunset with a well-made Manhattan in my hand and my best friend – my dog – at my feet,” said Lucas.
It’s a beautiful image. We agree.
Candidate Experience Manager
Mario’s clients recognize his passion to deliver results. He stays calm and positive, even in stressful or difficult situations, and he takes initiative to make things better. Mario follows the principle of “seek first to understand.” He enjoys people and openly encourages feedback and transparent communication. This helps him get beyond the problem identification phase of a project and move quickly into finding useful solutions.
His experience has given him solid skills in these valuable business traits:
Mario earned his BS degree in Business Economics from Edgewood College in Madison, and he has an MBA degree from the University of Phoenix. He’s also a Certified Quality Improvement Analyst, a Six Sigma Green Belt, a PROSCI Certified Change Practitioner and he has a PHR certification through HRCI.
He sums up his personal philosophy as, “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always gotten.” Mario observed that, “Looking at things differently has allowed me to become flexible and resilient. It’s given me an open mind and pushes me to know more is possible."
Mario enjoys an active life away from work, too. He’s a runner and a soccer player when the weather accommodates it, and he likes to fish. Indoors, he spends as much time as he can with family and friends and he’s an avid reader.
Advisor
Megan Church is an experienced and passionate change manager and business leader with a unique combination of professional attributes. She views problems as opportunities and has a remarkable talent for turning complaints into productive discussions and leveraging those discussions to drive positive change. Her optimistic and forward-thinking mindset enables her to identify hidden potential in challenging situations and transform it into valuable outcomes.
Megan’s diverse background has allowed her to refine and obtain several skills such as:
Her personal philosophy centers around the belief that failure is an opportunity for growth and learning. She understands that mistakes and failures are inevitable in any journey, but it is through owning those mistakes and failures that true growth is achieved. Megan firmly believes that by embracing failures, learning from them, and seeking opportunities within them, individuals and organizations can continually evolve and grow.
Outside of work, Megan enjoys reading and exploring different literary genres, which broaden her perspectives. She values spending quality time with her family, finding it both relaxing and meaningful. Megan also embraces outdoor activities such as hiking, kayaking, and gardening, finding stillness and rejuvenation in nature.
Advisor
Megan is an experienced and dedicated professional who abides by a “people first” approach. Her service driven mindset allows her to focus on listening with an empathetic ear and building trust so she can exceed expectations and provide excellent support. She’s not afraid to roll up her sleeves to help anyone out and believes that being prepared is the best way to face challenges (especially if it involves creating a good checklist)!
Relationships hold great importance for Megan, whether they be in her personal or professional life, and she takes pride in the meaningful connections she has formed throughout the years. She enjoys hearing about the experiences of others and has a talent for communication. Not only does she enjoy crafting the perfect message, but she also doesn’t mind getting up in front of a crowd.
Megan is guided by a personal philosophy of “Living Big.” She aspires to solve complex problems, accomplish ambitious goals, and make every day count. Her mission is to always celebrate life, and while she keeps her eye on the “big picture,” she never forgets the significance of small details.
Outside of work, Megan prioritizes spending time with her family and friends. She loves a good game night in, exploring different restaurants, volunteering at her local YMCA, and cheering on the Packers at Lambeau Field. She also spends time in the kitchen experimenting with whatever ingredients she has on hand and listening to all kinds of music from Led Zeppelin to Taylor Swift.
Client Solutions Specialist
In her role of Customer & Advisor Experience Officer, Mel leads FarWell’s customer-facing activities. This includes business development, client solution delivery, advisor engagements, marketing, and communications. Mel leads by example and encourages team members to work together to deliver optimal experiences. Her dedication to positive client experiences ensures our partner organizations get the support they need to achieve their business goals.
She values trust, integrity and a servant-leader mindset. Her leadership style is to listen first and probe with questions to collaboratively solve complex challenges.
Mel earned her BS degree in Finance from the University of Maine in Orono, Maine. She also has her MBA in Management from Thomas College in Waterville, Maine. She's certified as a Professional Scrum Master, a Prosci Certified Change Practitioner, and a Customer Experience Specialist (CXS).
Two ideas guide Mel's personal philosophy. “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care,” she said. “Trust and integrity are core values that guide me every day,“ she went on, “Doing the right thing for the right reasons will always prevail over personal gain.”
Outside of work, Mel can usually be found spending time with family and friends, reading an enjoyable book, or walking her dog. She likes to hike and ride her bike on local Wisconsin trails. She’s a Maine native, so her some of her favorites are predictable: fresh seafood paired with an exceptional wine, the Patriots, the Bruins, the Red Sox, and the Celtics.
Customer & Advisor Experience Officer
Michael Pike is an efficient and highly organized project management specialist with extensive expertise across diverse industries, cultures, and time zones. She firmly believes in the power of leveraging diverse opinions and experiences within teams to achieve results and she understands that there are often multiple paths to success.
One of her proudest moments was moving to a foreign country, where she had to forge her path without the safety net of familiar surroundings. She thrives in environments where uncertainty reigns and leverages her intuition and analytical skills to make informed decisions that drive the process.
At the core of her personal philosophy is a steadfast belief in trusting her instincts and standing by her choices. This principle has guided her through countless experiences, ranging from professional opportunities to new adventures and personal connections. She also believes that our biggest regrets stem from opportunities left unexplored. You miss 100% of the trips you don’t take.
Beyond the realm of work, Michael has a wide range of interests and hobbies. Whether it’s exploring hiking trails, diving, cherishing moments with loved ones, or embarking on new culinary adventures, she welcomes any opportunity to enrich her professional journey and personal growth.
Advisor
Michelle wears many hats. She's a change leader, a project manager, and a business analyst. Her teams admire her leadership style and her boundless optimism. As a result, people look forward to working with her. Michelle's collaborative approach and critical listening skills help her see situations from multiple perspectives. She builds good relationships with people at all levels of the organization, and she builds positive team dynamics. This helps ensure her teams deliver the desired outcomes.
Her experience has given Michelle a strong array of practical business knowledge and skills.
- Stakeholder analysis and strategic planning
- Organizational change management and stakeholder alignment
- UX and Voice of Customer (VOC) research
- Organizational communication and training
- Requirements gathering and management
- Business analytics
- Process improvement
- Data management
- Sales tracking and reporting
- Vendor management
Her formal education includes both a BS degree in MIS and Marketing and a BA degree in Spanish from the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh. In addition, she's a Prosci-certified Change Management Practitioner.
In her view, a positive attitude makes all the difference between an ordeal and an adventure. “A positive attitude helps gain confidence as you go through every experience,” she said. “Fear less and wander more. As Frida Kahlo once said, ‘Feet? What do I need them for when I have wings to fly?’”
Away from work, Michelle is always up for adventures, planned or unplanned. She likes to discover new experiences. But, she always includes a few Wisconsin favorites, too. She likes hiking, fishing, or dinner at a traditional supper club.
Advisor
Mike Muckerheide, is a dedicated project manager with a proven track record of delivering high-quality projects on time and under budget. With a passion for process improvement and taking challenges head-on, Mike excels at identifying opportunities for optimization and implementing new practices across multiple internal departments.
As a skilled project manager, Mike has developed and refined project processes that resulted in clearer scope definition and budget estimation, leading to increased stakeholder engagement and improved communication. His practical skills and knowledge encompass a wide range of areas including:
Moreover, Mike's personal philosophy of always approaching work with a team mindset has deeply resonated with him. He firmly believes that the success of any project hinges on fostering collaboration, trust, and open communication within the team. By prioritizing the well-being and growth of his colleagues, Mike cultivates an environment where everyone feels empowered to contribute their best. His dedication to building strong, cohesive teams translates into smoother workflows, increased productivity, and a positive work culture.
Outside of the office, Mike embraces an active lifestyle. He finds joy in participating in various sports such as volleyball, rugby, football, golf, and running. Additionally, Mike has a passion for motorcycle riding and makes it a point to embark on adventures across the United States. Whether it's cruising along scenic routes or exploring new destinations, he values the freedom that motorcycle trips offer, aiming to broaden his horizons and create memories along the way.
Advisor
Nate Bossow is a certified project and change management professional who employs behavioral science and pragmatic strategies when delivering his projects. His diverse range of experience in the utility, manufacturing, and insurance industries has given him the knowledge to exercise a wide range of best practices. With an emphasis on outcomes over outputs, Nate displays a commitment to delivering impactful solutions.
Coworkers and clients have said Nate’s can-do attitude and ability to simplify complex information are what makes him an asset to any team. His collaborative nature and adaptability shine particularly during setbacks, where he is able to navigate challenges with resilience and creativity. This is complimented by a commitment to curiosity and continuous learning in which Nate believes that asking the right questions is key to unraveling the solution to any problem.
One of his proudest achievements is his international travel experience, having visited over 20 countries and completing a semester abroad at the Vienna School of Business. This has enriched him with a deep appreciation for a diverse range of cultures and perspectives.
Unsurprisingly, Nate has a passion for travel, and enjoys exploring new countries and landscapes. New Zealand and Ireland are two of his favorite destinations.
Advisor
Pam brings a wealth of experience and skill to her clients. She’s a senior communication and change management strategist with a strong business and financial background. This combination enables her to build rapport quickly with project teams, employees and organization leaders. Pam knows that well-managed change efforts coupled with consistent communication to impacted employees is the direct path to project success and business value.
She boasts a solid roster of practical change management skills and strategic communication strengths.
Change management
Strategic communication
Pam earned her BS degree in Accounting from the UW-LaCrosse, and she is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA.) She’s a Fellow, Life Management Institute (FLMI) and she is a Prosci Certified Change Practitioner (CCP.)
Her business philosophy is built upon listening to understand. “By listening and seeking to understand, I can bring value, be valued, and continue to learn and be challenged,” Pam said. “It’s a win-win for my team and for me.”
In her free time, Pam enjoys being with her family and playing with their dog. Otherwise, she says she loves to run, walk, golf, go out on their boat, snowmobile, travel, play games and watch sunsets from the comfort of her hammock.
Advisor
Quinn Lightfoot is a dedicated professional who has pursued her education and professional development through the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, where she obtained her bachelor’s degree in marketing with a minor in communications. Additionally, she received certifications in several areas, such as social media, email marketing, display ads, and analytics, demonstrating a commitment to staying current in the ever-evolving marketing field.
Quinn’s exceptional organizational skills have been instrumental in effectively managing workloads, and she believes that keeping items orderly not only enhances productivity but also contributes to overall success in projects and initiatives. When working on a team, her ability to communicate fosters cohesion and facilitates the achievement of day-to-day functions as well as long-term company goals.
Many opportunities require taking risks, and Quinn is no stranger to stepping outside of her comfort zone. Guided by her philosophy, “If you want something you’ve never had, you must be willing to do something you’ve never done,” she recognizes that taking risks and embracing challenges and growth opportunities are essential for personal and professional advancement.
Outside of work, Quinn enjoys staying active by taking hikes and partaking in other outdoor activities. When she travels, she loves to lay out on the beach with a good book.
Marketing Coordinator
Rachel serves as FarWell’s Senior Advisor and Practice Lead. In this role, she’s accountable to maintain knowledge of emerging trends across our portfolio of core services. She engages and collaborates with advisors on opportunities to leverage our approach and expertise to help clients achieve their goals and improve our practices. Rachel also works closely with the Customer Experience team.
She’s a servant leader focused on delivering value. Rachel thinks strategically and can break complex change initiatives into bite-size pieces. Her strong collaboration skills and clear communication style help clients ensure sustainable change. No matter what the situation, she always radiates positive energy.
Rachel seeks opportunities that lie outside her comfort zone. As an avid sports fan and life-long learner, she follows hockey star Wayne Gretzky’s wisdom, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” Her willingness to take risks has served her well throughout her career. For example, as a broadcast intern, she was the first woman to enter the Denver Broncos locker room.
Rachel earned her BS degree in Communications from Northwestern University. She also holds an MBA from Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, California. She’s a Prosci Certified Change Practitioner and Professional Scrum Master. She is also certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR,) Society for Human Resource Management Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) and Project Management Professional (PMP.)
Away from work, Rachel spends her time with her husband, their two daughters and an adorable dog. She enjoys watching sports and is active within her community. And, she has rarely met a form of chocolate she didn’t like.
Advisor & Practice Lead
Rebecca brings a passion for making authentic connections at every interaction through transparency and setting realistic expectations. Whether in conversations, projects, or identification of risks, she has an innate sense of what to expect and how to plan for change. She holds a strong desire to bring others along on any change journey.
Her years of experience have equipped Rebecca with an impressive set of talents and skills:
She lives by the philosophy “Whether you think you can or you can’t… you’re right”. She believes that success is elusive for those who don’t believe in themselves, but for those who believe, they will always find success. In her eyes, the difference between success and failure lies within your mindset.
Outside of work, Rebecca soaks up as much family time as possible, while balancing that with tackling outdoor activities like a long-distance run or a challenging hike. When she’s not outdoors with family and friends, you can find her researching, planning, and bringing home improvement projects to life!
Advisor
One of Rob’s favorite process steps when he's consulting with a client is to draw pictures.
Draw pictures?
Yes, draw pictures! He leads his team to consider the dimensions of an issue, examine the data and discuss the challenge. Then, they draw pictures to help them reveal the details of the problem.
He finds when you make a problem visual, it’s easier to develop a descriptive narrative. It draws people in and generates discussion. Solution ideas emerge organically. There’s more alignment around next steps with less stress and handwringing.
Rob has years of management consulting experience in multiple industry sectors, and it’s helped him build a solid array of practical business skills and abilities.
He earned his BS degree in Business Administration from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Rob also has an MS degree in Labor & Industrial Relations from the same university. He also has his Prosci Change Management Professional (CMP) certification.
Rob’s business philosophy is direct and to the point: treat others as you would want to be treated and don’t be a jerk. I think almost everyone would agree with him.
Away from work, Rob spends most of his time with his wife and two kids and following along with their activities. And when he's not doing that, he loves live music.
Advisor
Despite his youthful appearance, Ryan has more than 20,000 hours of team and group facilitation under his belt. He’s trained leaders, managed change initiatives, facilitated professional development, and provided project management across multiple organizational settings. Ryan’s an ace problem solver, a collaborative project team member, and he gets a charge out of seeing a creative solution implemented to solve a persistent problem.
His broad experience in many different environments has equipped Ryan with an impressive array of skills and tools.
- Critical listening
- Considering multiple points of view and proposing a unified solution
- Able to work well across different roles and organizational levels
- Organizational development
- Strategic assessments and strategic planning
- Quality assurance and resource management
- Meeting facilitation and public speaking
- Project management
- Learning and curriculum development
- Budgeting and financial reporting
- Scheduling and logistics coordination
Ryan earned his BS degree in Organizational Leadership from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. He also has an Outdoor Leadership certificate from Greenfield Community College in Greenfield, Massachusetts.
In terms of how he lives his life, “I care for the wellbeing of people and relationships,” Ryan said. “I foster and maintain a collaborative and inclusive life through clear communication, transparent goal setting, and complete integrity.”
Outside of work, Ryan, his wife and their 2 ½ year old daughter lead active lives. They camp, hike, canoe, and enjoy other outdoor fun in all types of weather. And when they can’t do that, they love to explore the great food, drinks and entertainment the Madison-area has to offer.
Advisor
Sarah Pieper's professional approach is defined by her ability to ask the right questions and build relationships from a place of trust. Recognizing her strengths and knowing when to seek expert help, she's committed to delivering the best information to clients. Her wide-ranging experience across roles in sales, marketing, procurement, and data analytics, and industries including insurance, CPG, and Software + Services, equips her with a unique perspective on business solutions.
Sarah takes pride in her career adaptability, having successfully pivoted across various roles and industries. Colleagues and clients value her accountability, ability to deliver beyond expectations, and clear communication. Her approach to work is guided by a straightforward philosophy: "Do the next right thing," a principle that keeps her aligned with her values.
Outside of work, Sarah enjoys spending quality time with her family, attending sporting events, and experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen. She also has a keen interest in home design and improvement.
Director - Client Solutions
Shane’s clients know him to be a master relationship builder, an individual who can quickly assess a room of people and execute strategies to bring everyone together. He is collaborative, team focused, and understands the human impacts during organizational transformation.
Shane is committed to bringing resilience to the people, process, and technology affected by change no matter the size or type of transformation. He also has a unique talent for visually representing problems and solutions that make them easily understood and actionable for organizations.
Shane’s personal toolbox contains a wide breadth of approaches, disciplines, and experience including:
Shane earned a BA degree in Public Relations from Monmouth College and is currently in the process of obtaining a MS in Organization Leadership and Change from Edgewood College. He is a certified Professional Scrum Master (PSMII).
His philosophy revolves around helping individuals and organizations find structure and order in a world of constant chaos and change. “By meeting people where they are at, deploying the right tools and strategies, we can create valuable and consumable opportunities to bring everyone along for the change,” he says.
When Shane is not client-side, he is spending time with his family, gardening, getting on the water as much as possible, and spending time at his cabin connecting with nature. He loves to learn and is passionate about environmental issues, blockchain technology, and finance subject areas.
Advisor
Shannon Flasch is a seasoned problem-solver and crisis manager with an insatiable appetite for learning and an innate ability to truly listen. Her approach to work is rooted in understanding the perspectives, concerns, and challenges others face, which ensures that any action taken will be informed and effective.
One of Shannon’s proudest achievements was at Zendesk, where she developed comprehensive guides and templates tailored to non-project managers. She distilled her own project management experience into user-friendly resources, simplifying complex processes into a series of questions and actionable steps. This exercise honed her skills in identifying crucial elements and delivering practical solutions that resonate with specific organizational needs.
Among colleagues, she is known for her calm demeanor and ability to lower a room's emotional temperature. In stressful and frantic situations, she chooses to be deliberate in her actions and communication, effectively diffusing tension and promoting clarity.
Shannon lives by the mantra of, “nothing is ever as good or as bad as it seems.” This outlook reflects her pragmatic nature and reminds her to seek opportunities for growth and improvement amidst adversity. She also firmly believes in the collective intelligence of teams, trusting that collaborative problem-solving yields optimal outcomes even in the face of uncertainty.
In her home life, Shannon finds joy in spending time with her cat, Igmu (which means “cat” in Lakota). She also enjoys reading and is on a quest to explore Wisconsin and discover all the hidden gems within the beautiful state. From visiting architectural wonders like House on the Rock and Taliesin to exploring the picturesque landscapes of Door County, she relishes every opportunity to expand her horizons.
Advisor
Shawn has a BS degree in Education from UW-Whitewater, an MS in Project Management from UW-Platteville, and a Doctorate in Leadership from the University of the Cumberlands. He’s also earned several professional certifications and designations, including Project Management Professional (PMP,) Agile Certified Professional, Certified Scrum Professional, and Registered Scrum @ Scale Practitioner. Shawn is the author of two books: Succeeding with Agile Hybrids and Remotely Possible.
He says one of his favorite phrases is “Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.” Given how accomplished Shawn is, it’s no wonder this philosophy speaks to him.
Even when he’s away from work, Shawn is a lifelong learner, reading extensively. Otherwise, he likes to exercise, cook and listen to music and travel.
Advisor Emeritus
With a career rooted in relationships, Stephanie Tervort has consistently demonstrated the power of connection, curiosity, and a touch of humor in fostering trusted partnerships. Stephanie understands that success is a collective effort and thrives in environments where positive team dynamics are prioritized. One of her proudest achievements is the development and implementation of a strategic plan for a customer marketing department, which successfully generated $11M in new revenue within its first year. It was also one of the most fun and productive teams she has been a part of!
Colleagues commend Stephanie for her leadership skills and mentorship qualities. Her genuine care for the well-being and success of those around her, coupled with an ability to provide the necessary tools and support, has earned her a reputation for being a trustworthy leader. She is guided by the philosophy of “Why not?” and embraces opportunities for new experiences and personal growth.
Stephanie is a fan of the Milwaukee Brewers and an avid bobblehead collector. Her love for travel has taken her to many destinations like Iceland and Malaysia, fueling her ambition to become a true global citizen. Weekends are often spent at concerts, ballgames, or enjoying a good, old-fashioned Wisconsin meat raffle. She also spends family time with her husband, two children, and her quarantine mutt, Whiskey.
Advisor
Steve is the kind of IT professional you want to lead your team. He has the experience, skills, and natural talent to help teams align, perform at a high-level, and deliver exceptional results. Steve has managed large organization-wide projects, such as ERP implementation, and still get complimented on his relationship skill and how he treats everyone with respect.
With more than 25 years of experience under his belt, Steve boasts a long list of practical business knowledge and skills.
He has a BS degree in Public & Environmental Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. Steve has also done Administrative Science graduate work at the same university.
Steve’s guiding personal philosophy is to show respect to everyone. “I believe I should treat everyone as if they were my best customer, whether it’s the CEO or a janitor,” he said.
When he’s not at work, he and his wife like to travel. They’re also huge Milwaukee Brewer fans, and he says they like to hike. Apparently, some of these hikes involve a search for seriously errant golf shots. Steve’s also an enthusiastic church-league dartball player, at least when the Packers aren’t playing.
Advisor
Steve is FarWell’s Co-founder and President. In this role, he’s leads the firm's day-to-day business operations. He leads strategy as part of the Strategic Leadership Team. Steve works with this team on cross-functional decisions, priorities, and improvements. He also serves as an account manager for several of our clients, and he’s the primary liaison for our partner relationships.
He knows how to build strong client relationships and long-term strategic partnerships. Steve understands market trends and has an eye for opportunity. He approaches change strategically and simplifies complex situations to help leaders implement sustainable organizational solutions.
Steve earned his BS degree in Education with a minor in History from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Out of college, he taught in Milwaukee before he transitioned to technical training and consulting. He consulted as a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer and Microsoft Certified Trainer, and then shifted to consulting sales and solution development. Before he joined FarWell, he led the sales organization at a medium-sized regional staffing and consulting firm.
He says, “We have a short time on this planet, so it’s best to figure out what’s important and stay dedicated to it as best we can. For me, it’s God, Family, and FarWell.” Steve values individuality and independence, even within a team.
Apart from work, Steve likes to grill, fish, travel, watch sports, and play games with friends and family.
He also boasts a unique family story. His wife Amy’s grandfather pitched for the 1951 New York Giants team. This was the team that featured Bobby Thomson’s famous “shot heard ‘round the world,” a walk-off home run that propelled the Giants into the 1951 World Series. Dave Koslo (Amy’s grandfather,) started two games of that World Series, winning the first game and losing the sixth.
Co-Founder & CEO
With over 38 years of diverse experience across business operations, IT technical roles, and project management, Susan Riley brings a unique perspective to every challenge she encounters. This multifaceted journey has given her a deep appreciation for cross-functional collaboration and an understanding of the distinct challenges faced by different teams within an organization. It has also made Susan an excellent listener, and she recognizes that each voice contributes valuable insights.
As a project manager, she loves when complex implementations succeed seamlessly. Being a part of a team that goes through a meticulous planning period, that leads to a flawless execution fills her with immense pride. When her team can experience that sense of accomplishment, she is honored to be a part of the leading the effort.
Susan’s adaptability and flexibility in navigating through new challenges makes her an invaluable part of any team. She combines this with a genuine concern for her colleague’s well-being, and stives to make lives easier while fostering a collaborative environment. Embodying Ghandi’s philosophy of, “Be the change you want to see in the world,” Susan is driven by a purpose to spread kindness, generosity, and empathy in her sphere of influence.
Outside of work, Susan enjoys spending time in Puerto Rico whenever she can. She loves the laid-back atmosphere, vibrant culture, pristine beaches, and would love to retire there someday. While there, she enjoys snorkeling trips, listening to live music, laying on the beach, and sampling all the new cuisines and restaurants. She also loves spending time with her three adult children, and her five beautiful grandchildren.
Advisor
Teddy is a special kind of project manager. He’s organized, efficient and he knows how to blend strategy and tactical execution to deliver results. The big difference he displays is the degree to which he can empathize with client needs and maintain a consistently cheerful and easy-going demeanor. Simply put, he’s fun to work with.
Teddy’s extensive experience has taught him the skills he displays today. He’s been a business analyst and senior financial analyst at several large organizations. At every step, he’s created useful analytics and skillfully managed multiple successful projects and initiatives.
He has earned his BS in Business Finance from Miami University. He’s also certified as a Professional Scrum Master (PSM 1.)
Teddy’s life philosophy is captured by this wonderful and well-known quote from the late basketball coach Jimmy Valvano: “Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up.”
When he’s not working on behalf of a FarWell client, Teddy likes to travel with his wife Kristen and daughter Camilla. And when travel's not on the docket, he likes to play golf. And he's always up to watch - and root for - his favorite teams.
Advisor
Terri’s clients know her to be an excellent resource to help leaders unify their organizations around transformational change. The results are increased revenue, reduced operational costs, and the creation of raving fans among customers and employees. She’s a skilled leader, and her enthusiasm inspires individuals and teams to accomplish what they initially thought was impossible. Terri leverages empathy and creativity to build trust, engage matrix groups, and foster problem-solving to deliver sustainable practices and results.
Her professional experience has provided Terri with an impressive array of skills and tools:
Terri earned her MA in Organizational Communication from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She’s also a Certified Change Practitioner, a SAFe 4.0 Program Consultant (SPC), and a Certified Facilitator/Coach/Trainer (FCT).
Her business philosophy is “human first.” Whether technology disruption, agile transformation, merger & acquisition, humans are the actors at the core. Focusing there means the difference between a completed implementation and an organization that thrives. Terri says, “more than just lead a project, I want to enroll people in a movement that unleashes their passions and untapped potential to drive an ongoing flywheel of success.”
Away from work, Terri’s active in her church, leading worship and mentoring teens. She also likes to camp, kayak and gather with friends around enjoy big bonfires in the warm weather months, and says, “I don’t even mind winter if I can experience it in tiny snippets.”
Advisor
Tiffany handles almost all of FarWell’s people-related activities and handles them remarkably well. In more formal terms, this means she’s responsible for benefits administration, state and federal compliance, Human Resource Information System (HRIS) management and implementation, and more.
In her own words, she describes what she does at FarWell this way: “I deliver seamless onboarding and general HR support to enhance the internal employee experience.” She went on to say, “It’s exciting be part of FarWell during this fast-growth period and to help scale this awesome company culture!”
Tiffany’s good at what she does primarily because she refuses to accept the status quo without a good reason why. She knows there are always things that can’t change, but if there’s an available avenue to make things better, Tiffany will explore it.
She earned her BA degree in Mathematics from Blackburn College in Carlinville, Illinois. Tiffany’s also a member of the national Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) and the Greater Madison Area Society of Human Resource Management (GMASHRM.)
Tiffany says, “If you have to make a choice, choose to be happy.” She went on, “Life is too short to be anything but happy. It’s a choice we can make in almost any situation.”
Outside of work, Tiffany has a small photography business with her husband. They shoot primarily family photos and weddings. She’s also a big Cubs fan, and she’s set a personal goal to visit all the professional baseball parks. Finally, she admits to being a math nerd. She bakes math-themed pies to celebrate Pi Day (3/14) every year.
Employee Experience and Operations Manager
Tim is an experienced Senior Advisor at FarWell. In his role, he engages with clients to understand their current situation, helps teams envision the future and then builds the capabilities and plans to realize that future. He leads with passion and humility and looks to bring fun into work with intent and purpose.
Tim has a Bachelor of Administration from University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and an MBA in Sustainable Business from Green Mountain College. Tim had the privilege of returning to his alma mater as an Adjunct Professor in the Sustainable MBA Program where he improved and instructed a comprehensive curriculum on sustainable business practices, empowering students with the knowledge and tools to develop innovative strategies that integrate environmental, social and economic sustainability into business decision-making. In addition, he has multiple certificates: one as a Design Thinking Navigator from the Illinois Institute of Technology, another for Human-Centered Service Design from IDEO U, a Leading with Design Thinking certificate from Cornell University, he is a Certified SAFe Product Owner/Product Manager and a certified permaculture designer from the Permaculture Institute.
Tim’s guiding philosophy is paraphrased from Diane Ackerman; “When I get to the end of my life, I hope to have lived the width and not just the length.” He enjoys exploring and trying new things, expanding his horizons, and bringing fresh perspectives and ideas to his clients.
In his personal life, Tim enjoys spending time with his wife and teenage daughter. They love to travel, spending time outside hiking and urban farming, and walking their new puppy, Kingsley. Tim has a passion for holistic wellness with a meditation practice and enjoys Bikram yoga 5-6 times a week.
Advisor
Tim Podolske has built a career around making complex ideas accessible and finding ways to improve systems. A lifelong learner, he earned dual bachelor’s degrees in journalism and history from UW-Madison and, years later, decided to return to school to complete an associate’s degree in computer science and Programming Analysis at MATC. This background allows him to blend analytical thinking with a deep understanding of communication, which he uses to bridge gaps in technical and team environments.
Colleagues often praise Tim for his communication style and teaching ability. He has a knack for transforming highly technical concepts into language that can be easily understood and simplifies processes to eliminate waste. His passion for the Agile mindset brings a fresh approach to team learning, engaging people in ways that keep energy high and focus on outcomes.
Tim believes that we should “leave things better than when we found them,” and he always looks for ways to improve. He also lives by his favorite question: “What have you learned from this?” It’s a reminder to step back, reflect, and take the emotion out of tough situations by viewing them as opportunities for growth. As a personal inspiration, he turns to George Harrison’s words, “Try to realize it’s all within yourself, no one else can make you change.” This serves as a reminder that while challenges are inevitable, keeping an open mind and believing in oneself can make anything achievable.
Away from work, Tim enjoys culture, community, and adventure. He collects vinyl records, watches film noir movies, and boats with family and friends. He also loves to make people laugh, challenge conventional wisdom, solve puzzles, answer trivia, and find hidden gems off the beaten path.
Advisor
Wendy Vysoky is a driven project management professional known for her exceptional organizational skills, analytical prowess, and unwavering attention to detail. With a knack for balancing the micro and macro perspectives, she ensures that goals and objectives are being met while effectively addressing complexities that arise along the way.
One of Wendy’s proudest achievements stems from her role as a program manager on a challenging project where the business and IT teams were struggling. By redefining the team's way of working and introducing a new approach to project deliverables, she fostered cohesion among team members and steered the project to successful completion, even with an aggressive and demanding timeframe.
Wendy’s personal philosophy revolves around the importance of relationships, both in the professional and personal spheres. She feels that the key to success can be found in effective communication and clear expectations, and, if you focus on honing these skills, you will have a solid foundation to build upon in the future. She pairs this philosophy with an unwavering passion for her work and an infectious positive attitude. Her coworkers find that her boundless energy and optimistic outlook foster an environment of team motivation and productivity.
Outside of work, Wendy loves to ride her bike and adventure in and upon beautiful bodies of water. She enjoys indulging in activities such as snorkeling, scuba diving, and paddle boarding. She also embraces the opportunity to travel with her wife and experience diverse cultures to enrich both their personal and professional lives.
Advisor
FarWell’s Employee Experience (EX) team is committed to growing an organizational culture, grounded in our shared Values, where team members are empowered to flourish personally and professionally.
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