Collective Minds was founded in 1998 by Joe Morrison and Polly Sheppard to provide a collective consultant approach to a variety of management opportunities. We were formally organized in 1999 as Collective Minds, LLC.
We originally started out with thirteen Charter Members that included a variety of talented people with diverse backgrounds. We were able to work on a variety of projects that allowed many of us to work on projects with people that we normally would not have been able to collaborate with.
Over time, we had over twenty consultants working with us and our monthly meetings were lively with a variety of opinions and options discussed as to where we were going. During all of this time, our revenues continued to increase, and the workloads increased significantly for the Principals.
We were awarded the managing contract with the Capital Area Health Alliance, that was a Health Care Consortium in Lansing Michigan. A few years later we also took on the management of the Michigan Universities Coalition on Health that originally included all of State Public Universities.
In 2003, Mr. Morrison was approached by a Japanese company TopEcology International to invest in its U.S. operations and later to work with them on the initial start up. At the same time, Ms. Sheppard decided to adopt another child and it was decided we would downsize and only work on our current contracts, and a few outside pet projects with our individual consulting companies.
We finished our last contract with the Michigan Universities Coalition on Health (MUCH) in late 2007, and the plan was to put Collective Minds, LLC to rest. A funny thing happened along the way, and through a variety of conversations Mr. Morrison decided to revamp and restructure the group with a more narrow focus with a smaller group of high level professionals to research potential projects. We want to utilize the synergy of the group to look at possible projects that as individual companies we probably would not attempt on our own.
It is significant to note that Ms. Sheppard has decided not to be involved with the future of Collective Minds as a partner and has resigned from her position as a founder and partner of Collective Minds, LLC. We wish her all of our best as she scales down her consulting activities to projects that she is able to take on her own, and especially to be able to set her own schedules for work loads. Polly was the inspiration for Collective Minds, LLC and we are forever grateful for her contributions to our success in the past decade and we only hope we can maintain the high standards that she set for the organization.
We are now going to restart with a small group of highly regarded professionals and their companies to focus on projects that we identify that as a group we will be able to offer a signicant contribution and solutions to a variety of management opportunites.
To help you understand the breadth and experience of former Collective Minds consultants of the past that we have had relationships with, the following is a partial list of professionals that have been associated with the Collective Minds family.
A SAMPLE OF OUR CONSULTANT ALUMNI:
Martha W. Aills -Consultant
Urban/Community Planning & Development
Martha has 15 years experience in urban planning and real estate, with a particular interest in design, livability, revitalization and adaptive reuse. She served as Director of a Downtown Development Authority where she developed expertise in project and facilities management, municipal administration, real estate and economic development, and program design and implementation. She has also worked as a real estate investment broker. As a consultant, she works in both the private and nonprofit sectors and with organizations and coalitions from grassroots and neighborhoods to governments and financial and educational institutions. She sits on a township parks and recreation board, and has been involved with strategic planning and fund development for the arts and women’s issues.
John C. Austin
Public Policy Planning
As a senior partner of a national public policy firm in Lansing, John serves as an advisor to city, state and federal governments, national foundations, corporations and labor organizations on a range of issues, including workforce and employment policies, economic development, urban policy, education, and the environmental and health care challenges facing states and communities. John was president of a multi-sector CEO leadership organization in Genesee County, where he developed nationally recognized education and community development programs. His experiences have made him a renown speaker and author on education, training, urban/community development and government reinvention. He also served as the chairman of a county road commission, assistant chair of the Michigan Democratic Party and as a member of numerous other community organizations and initiatives.
Jim Barrell- Principal & CEO
Actionweb Services
Web Application Development
Jim Barrell is a graduate of Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan where he received a Master of Science Degree in Computer Science and Engineering. Jim’s undergraduate studies were at the University of Michigan, Flint, Michigan culminating in a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration. Jim is a principle and CEO of ActionWeb Services, a web application firm with offices in Flint and Troy Michigan. He has been with ActionWeb Services since 1998, and in December 2001, transitioned into the principle and CEO role. In 2001, Jim helped ActionWeb Services achieve ISO 9001 registration. Prior to working with ActionWeb Services, Jim worked with General Motors developing systems and programs as a network administrator. Under Jim’s guidance, ActionWeb Services has successfully completed numerous projects with clients including tier 1 Auto Supplier, Advanced Accessories Systems - http://www.advancedaccessorysystems.com, the U.S. District Court of Eastern Michigan - http://www.mied.uscourts.gov/, The Flint Cultural Center family of sites http://www.flintculturalcenter.com/, TEAM EAP - http://team-eap.com and Princing & Ewend - http://princing.com/intro.html, to name a few (54 projects completed in 2001). Six ActionWeb projects won industry awards in 2001.
Atanu Bhattacharya
Healthcare/Managed Care Consulting
With more than 20 years of experience, Atanu has a solid and diverse background in health care and managed care management. Atanu established a health care consulting team to offer his clients his expertise in project management and implementation, process and quality improvement, product evaluation, managed care product and network development, practice management analysis, financial analysis and decision support. His clients range from independent physicians to health systems in Ohio and Michigan. Prior to consulting, Atanu served as vice president for a 100,000 member HMO. He has also served as a manager, senior financial analyst and medical technologist both overseas and at multi-hospital systems throughout Michigan.
Stacey Borin- Principal and Vice President
Actionweb Services
Stacey Borin is a principal and Vice President of ActionWeb Services with offices in Flint and Troy, Michigan. She has been with ActionWeb Services since 1999 and became a principal in December 2001. Specializing in Information Architecture, she creates the plans that are used for web site development. Stacey is responsible for developing new avenues for attracting quality business to ActionWeb Services, maintaining relationships with existing clients, as well as creating strategic partnerships with other companies that can bring added value and services to AWS clients.Stacey represents ActionWeb Services throughout the community in business and service organizations. She is a member of Flint Rotary, the Flint Area Chamber of Commerce, the Grand Blanc Chamber of Commerce, the Troy Chamber of Commerce and Business Networking International (BNI). Stacey serves in leadership positions within several of the organizations and is active on numerous committees. She has served as an Ambassador to the Flint and Grand Blanc Chambers of Commerce since 1999.Since 1995, Stacey has worked with business owners and non-profit organizations throughout Michigan to design and develop solutions for marketing programs. Her experience includes financial services, real estate, sign design, advertising layouts, yellow page advertising and web site architecture.
Tammy Calhoun, CPA- Principal
Walker, June, Calhoun, CPA’s
Tammy is a Certified Public Accountants and a principal of Walker, June, Calhoun, CPA’s PC a Burton based accounting firm. The firm in 1974 and are now providing bookkeeping, accounting, computer software setup and support, tax, and financial organizational services. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan and a members of the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the Flint Estate Planning Council. Tammy brings 20 years of professional experience with her. The firm participates in the AICPA Peer Review Program to ensure quality work in the profession. Under their management the firm staff was downsized by fifty percent while the client base increased three hundred percent. This was accomplished by better identifying client needs and increasing staff productivity through organization and better matching employee strengths to assigned tasks. While they provide many accounting related services to a broad range of businesses Tammy specializes in small business services, computer setup and support, organizational issues, estate planning and tax services.
Robert L. Curtner
Robert Curtner Consultants
Corporate Training, Performance Consulting, Facilitator
Rob has 15 years of corporate experience with training system development and management, needs analysis, process facilitation, training design and evaluation, and organizational development strategies. Mr. Curtner is an experienced facilitator/trainer, course developer and organizational change consultant. When an organization’s focus is on total quality, continuous improvement, restructuring or organizational development, they often need assistance. Performance consultants can implement and develop needs and introduce change plans that identify and implement strategic objectives. The change process offers an opportunity for organizations and individuals to learn and integrate a more solid and complete sense of self, of leadership and purpose.
William F. Diedrich
Transformative Leadership Systems
Organizational Consultant, Speaker, Facilitator & Personal Coach
Bill works with people in the areas of Education, Health Care, Manufacturing, Banking and Finance, Government and Not for Profits. He develops and presents highly interactive workshops for leaders, facilitates planning processes, and consults with teams. In a coaching role, he assists leaders in personal and organizational change efforts. In addition to leadership presentations, he has established successful workshops in communications, conflict management, negotiations, team building, basic literacy and Math skills, customer service, stress management, change management and behavioral styles.
Carol Dowsett, Ed.D.
Dowsett Consulting
Educator, Administrator, Speaker, Motivational Consultant
Carol has an extensive background in the field of education as both an educator and as an administrator She has served in a variety of capacities since she entered the education profession as a student, teacher, principal, adjunct professor, human resources director and superintendent of a school district. She is highly regarded as an expert in leadership, training and motivational issues. She is a dynamic speaker, and has received various awards and honors thoughout her career, including a regional “Principal of the Year award”. She has published many articles and given numerous presentations during her career on leadership, team building and motivational topics. She also is recognized as an excellent facilitator, and has helped several employers overcome sensitive issues with a variety of tried and true methods she has perfected over the years.
Dallas C. Dort - President
EKG Research Associates
Customer Satisfaction Surveys and Research
Dallas is the founder and president of a customer satisfaction firm which offers his clients two services: the Customer Satisfaction EKG™ - a performance benchmarking tool used by companies around the nation to measure strengths and weaknesses, identify customer priorities, and to establish proof of performance for selling purposes; and VI/P Performance Improvement Program™ - which, using EKG surveys as its platform, helps companies achieve higher profits and growth by increasing their competitive advantage, and helps them migrate successfully to meet customers’ changing needs.
Sharon Hacker
Human Resources, Marketing and Events Planning
Sharon’s consulting expertise provides clients expertise and know how in the areas of human resources, marketing, advertising, corporate event planning and operations management. She brings over 20 years of experience to Collective Minds. Her most recent endeavor was as Regional Human Resource Manager for a Fortune 500 company. She has coordinated the marketing and advertising for one of the largest energy providers in the Midwest. In addition, she served in many capacities for the energy trade association, culminating as the chairperson of the public information committee and editor of the quarterly magazine.
Robin June, CPA - Principal
Walker, June, Calhoun, CPA’s
Robin June is a Certified Public Accountant and a principal of Walker, June, Calhoun, CPA’s PC a Burton based accounting firm. The firm was started in 1974 and are now providing bookkeeping, accounting, computer software setup and support, tax, and financial organizational services. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan and a member of the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the Flint Estate Planning Council. Robin brings 20 years of professional experience with her. The firm participates in the AICPA Peer Review Program to ensure quality work in the profession. Under their management the firm staff was downsized by fifty percent while the client base increased three hundred percent. This was accomplished by better identifying client needs and increasing staff productivity through organization and better matching employee strengths to assigned tasks. While they provide many accounting related services to a broad range of businesses Robin specializes in small business services, organizational issues, small non-profit organizations, and tax services.
Leslie A. Miller, Ph.D.
Strategic Planning, Trainer, Facilitator, Personal Coaching
Leslie has over 15 years of clinic and corporate experience with training system development and management, needs analysis, process facilitation, training design and evaluation and organizational development strategies which demonstrates her commitment and success. Leslie is an experienced facilitator, trainer, course developer and organizational change consultant. When an organizations focus is on total quality, continuous improvement, restructuring or organizational development, they often need assistance. Performance consulting can predict training and development needs and introduce change plans that identify and implement strategic objectives. A few of Leslie’s projects have been working as a Facilitator for UAW -Daimler Chrysler, a Trainer for HAP and a Strategic Planning Consultant for Seafood International and National Safety.
Michael Novak, CPA
InternationalTechnology Consulting
Mr. Novak has more than 20 years experience in the high tech industry in Silicon Valley, and another 10 years of experience in international technology transfer and joint ventures. After a 15 year successful involvement in the software industry, Mr. Novak’s first work with tech transfer was as a consultant to Xerox Technology Ventures, as part of an effort by that company to leverage Xerox’s intellectual property. As President of Clarke Consulting Group, Mr. Novak managed that company with collaborations to strengthen international communications capabilities of companies like Canon, Hitachi, Sumitomo, Honda, Intel KK, Proctor & Gamble KK, and Dell KK.
He most recently has been involved with projects in Silicon Valley, Japan and Michigan. He was the first non-Japanese Kyakuin Kenkyuin in the history of the Japan Management Association, and has also consulted to Fujitsu companies and others regarding various US and Europe market opportunities. Mr. Novak also serves as of member of the Board of Directors of Equal Access, an NGO in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme regarding the satellite distribution of education and information in developing Asian countries.
Kent Nickol
Health Care Writing
Kent started freelance writing in 1989 after working several years at a Detroit advertising agency. He specializes in videos, web sites, brochures, community reports and other collateral materials for the health care industry. He’s worked with all levels (from CEOs to patients), on all types of topics (from neurology to urology, mergers to moves, HMOs to PPOs), and with the largest health systems, hospitals and health plans in southeastern and mid-Michigan.
Karl Olmsted
Karl Olmsted Associates, Inc.
Graphic Design/Advertising
As founder and creative director of a local advertising firm, Karl represents a diverse team of highly creative individuals, each committed to creating innovative, effective marketing communications. Known for its award-winning work and long-term relationships with clients, his agency is one of mid-Michigan’s most respected advertising and design firms. Karl and his team specialize in providing a diversified client base with creative thinking for many forms of communications.
Michael W. Radke, Ph.D
Radke Consulting
Mike has had an impressive set of management positions and skills that related to education, the medical field and business. Mr.Radkehas served in management positions with large regional hospitals, leading state business organizations and also managed time to teach; as a professor in a highly regarded University Medical School. He currently serves in a high level state government position with responsibility for educational issues. Mike is highly regarded for his expertise in training and management performance issues. He is adept at strategic planning and training for high level executives and professional; personnel; He has published numerous articles and has been the keynote speaker at many events over the years for his management insights.
Laurence S. Rosen, Ph.D. - Principal
Synchronys Group
Information Resources and Strategic Services
Dr. Rosen currently focuses on the use of quantitative research and statistical information for strategic development, planning and marketing, environmental scans, and quality improvement. Dr. Rosen provides his clients with particular expertise in the use and interpretation of patient and demographic data for health care planning, marketing and quality improvement. Before joining Collective Minds, Dr. Rosen was the Executive in charge of the Michigan Inpatient and Outpatient Data Bases, he established the Michigan Patient Outcome Measures Program, and was Michigan’s first State Demographer. Larry Rosen has had 20 years of consulting experience in the areas of research design, implementation and analysis, methodological and substantive research training, and expert witness services for a variety of large and small organizations. Dr. Rosen serves as Senior Research Scientist affiliated with the Michigan Public Health Institute and is an assistant professor (adjunct) for Western Michigan University’s graduate program in public administration.
Polly Sheppard - Principal
Sheppard Consulting
Former Principal
Collective Minds, LLC
Strategic Planning & Marketing
Polly has more than 25 years of experience in strategic planning and marketing for the health care and nonprofit industries. As the former vice president of system development for a major health system and senior vice president at a nonprofit HMO, she established herself as one of the area’s most respected and strategically adept leaders in health care and in creating healthier communities. In addition, she has served as the Executive Director of two healthcare coalitions, The Michigan Universities Coalition on Health (MUCH) and the Capital Area Health Alliance (CAHA). She has also served as the Interim Executive Director for a Childrens Abuse and Neglect Coalition. As one of the two Principals in Collective Minds she shared her expertise in planning and marketing, with a focus on vision and strategy development. Polly has recently contracted with The Flint Cultural Organization, The Bobby Crim Organization and Hurley Medical Center on management organization and strategic planning issues. She has also served as a adjunct instructor at the University of Michigan.
Masahiro Shintani
Management Consulting
Mr. Shintani has been specializing in successful globalization of Japanese companies for more than 15 years, and is regarded as one of the leading experts for Japanese international communications and team building. He has worked with UNESCO affiliated organizations and oversaw development projects for various Asian countries. Mr. Shintani continues to consult for businesses both domestically and abroad in sales and marketing as well as performance and information management. As a former member of Clarke Consulting Group, Mr. Shintani was an integral member of the team that launched Motorola in Japan. He also has been a consultant to Honda R &D in Marysville, Ohio for more than 5 years. Specifically, he helped them to manage their communications with Honda R & D headquarters in Japan. Mr. Shintani has also consulted with NEC regarding their international cross-border interactions.
Donna Strugar-Fritsch
Strategic Planning, Public Relations, Health Policy, Communications
Donna is an independent consultant based in Lansing, Michigan, and serves a variety of health and human service clients. Donna has more than 20 years of experience in health care and nonprofit organizations. Her professional expertise includes research and demonstration, leadership training, administration, strategic planning, communication and public relations, health policy, public health, program design, managed care, clinical services, and more. Donna recently served four years as director of planning and development for the Michigan Public Health Institute, and has held a variety of positions with the Michigan Health and Hospital Association and Blue Care Network of Michigan.
Young S. Suh
Special Advisor
Nationally recognized as a health care visionary, Young is sharing his unparalleled leadership and strategic insight with Collective Minds by acting as a special advisor. Young served as president and CEO of Genesys Health System for 18 years. He recently served as the acting president of the Flint Cultural Center. He had also been an active leader for the Michigan Hospital Association, the Greater Flint Hospital Assembly, the FOCUS Council, United Way, the Flint Area Chamber of Commerce and the Flint Rotary. Young is known throughout the country as a widely respected healthcare leader.
Abner Tansil, J.D. - Principal
Center for Human Resource Solutions
Attorney / Human Resources
Abner is a licensed attorney, specializing in employment and labor law matters. He is also a former personnel director executive with General Motors, with over 20 years of practical “hands on” experience in all areas of human resources and labor relations. He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, Genesee County Bar Association, American Bar Association, and National Bar Association, as well as the Society for Human Resources Management. Mr. Tansil owns his own business which is a consortium of employment and labor law attorneys and human resource professionals dedicated to helping private and public employers find value added and cost effective solutions to complex problems in the workplace. He has had extensive experience with diversity training and EEO issues in the work place.
Marc Thomas - President
The TECH Group
Full Cycle Product & Development, Engineering & Manufacturing Consulting Services
Marc served as a senior level Engineer at both Ford Motor Company and General Electric. Marc is well known within the automotive industry in both the United States and Europe. He has was the lead Engineer for the design, engineering and manufacturing startup of the Escort/Lynx instrument panel program. At General Electric, Marc was responsible for the the coordination of the engineering aspects of supporting the marketing and sales efforts between suppliers, engineers, product development and manufacturing. His efforts in that area brought him the Global Marketing Master Award awarded for outstanding service by General Electric Plastics. Mr. Thomas holds 5 US and 3 European patents and is Vice Chair of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). In addition to being the President of the TECH Group and engineering consulting firm, Marc is a partner with his wife Susan of Devek Performance Products, Inc. This firm specializes in performance enhancements for Porsche products. It is significant to note that Susan currently holds the worlds record for open road driving speed at more than 210 mph in one of their performance enhanced vehicles.
Robert B. Wangen
Great Lakes Training and Consulting
Business Improvement Performance Manager, Quality Assessment/Audits
Bob is ASQ certified and specializes in business performance improvement. He has developed a variety of programs for quality assessment, leadership training, strategic planning, contingency planning and project management. Mr. Wangen is a former Military Officer and has done extensive work for the government and military in a variety of areas over the past several years. Bob has done an extensive amount of work in the area of organizational self assessment. He is a firm believer in the idea that “if you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it”. His team building skills have received excellent ratings from many of his former students and clients.
Jamie Whitten
Corporate Communications/ Events Planning
Jamie specializes in strategic communications planning and coordination for community/business development and health care initiatives. Her services include development of corporate communications, such as image development, corporate identification and collateral materials, and planning and coordinating special events. Prior to becoming an independent consultant, Jamie worked for over seven years as a communications specialist at a managed care organization, responsible for writing/producing corporate communications, managing advertising campaigns and planning special events