What our clients have to say.
Kathy guided our Board and Staff through our strategic planning process, deftly weaving together everyone’s input to give us a beautiful plan to which we can refer for the next 3-5 years. Coming out of an organizational pivot during the pandemic, Kathy was able to help our Board and Staff to see that there were
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many more commonalities than differences in each individual’s perspective. We now have a clear and inspiring plan to carry our organization forward, which both honors the past and directs us toward an ambitious future.
Dana B. Fleming - Executive Director
Kathy facilitated and synthesized the ideas of multiple agencies in Florence…into a coherent and workable proposal that was funded. She has helped the program grow from a mere idea to a vital and vibrant program that is highly valued in our community. Kathy is always looking at the “big picture”, making innovative and timely suggestions
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for program sustainability and service growth. I do not believe the MCR program would have been as successful as it is today if it were not for Kathy’s wisdom, guidance, and direction. She is an absolute pleasure to work with.
Lori Severance LCSW, Mobile Crisis Response Program Coordinator
We’re a board of strong personalities and individual leadership styles. Hiring a facilitator to help manage the interactions among the group, allow everyone to be heard, and conclude with specific goals and actions was critical to us. Kathy’s style was perfect for this work. The pre-work she conducted helped assure success when we all got
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in the room. We plan on hiring Kathy in the future to help us continue the great work we started this year.
Kim Parker-Llerenas, Executive Director
In my career I cannot count the number of STRAPs that I’ve been involved with or participated in creating in the non-profit, public and community sectors. The one we created with Kathy is the only one that has had a presence that is beneficial at its launch and three years later. Even more impactful is
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that the goals and targets remain visible across the organization. Her approach and direction to our board of directors, executive and management team, was nothing short of outstanding. She had us focus on the most critical elements, use a combination of qualitative and quantative data to outline our history, mission and values, which helped drive our priorities going forward. She was remarkable in her ability to get clear, consistent and excellent engagement in very little time – highly important to our healthcare entity with a very busy board. She led a vocal and easily distractable group to a resounding success well within in our projected timeframe, avoiding the dreaded volume of work that so often comes after an event.
Eric Van Houten, Chief Executive Officer
Kathy is a highly-skilled professional who is able to identify the needs of the group and facilitate desired outcomes. She is a caring professional who listens to the needs of key stakeholders and works with them toward their desired outcomes. Kathy understands how to maximize group processes to enable groups to attain their highest potential.
Margaret A. Hamilton, Ph. D., President
I have worked with Kathy multiple times, both with the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce board and the Lane Community College Board. On all occasions, Kathy was instrumental in helping the board advance their functionality as well as in strategic planning. Kathy’s effectiveness stems from several things: 1. She is very thoughtful and thorough in
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preparation and planning prior to the event.
2. She is highly experienced so she can work effectively with any situation that arises.
3. She is highly skilled. I’ve worked with many facilitators over the years. Kathy is among the best.
2. She is highly experienced so she can work effectively with any situation that arises.
3. She is highly skilled. I’ve worked with many facilitators over the years. Kathy is among the best.
Mike Eyster, Chair
Our Lane County Superintendent Council chose KJ Smith Associates to facilitate a Regional CTE Feasibility Study. This was a very complicated study that involved many different stakeholders and partners. Throughout the entirety of the study, Kathy was tremendous. She was professional, enthusiastic, reflective and steered us toward a plan that we are excited about implementing.
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From the start, Kathy took the time and the steps to fully understand the issues involved. This was done by listening carefully and not being afraid to ask clarifying questions. Once she gained the necessary understanding, Kathy organized a process that engaged educators, parents, students, and leaders from business, industry and other key organizations. The process included surveys, one-on-one interviews, and research. On several occasions, I received unsolicited feedback from an interviewee, praising Kathy’s comfortable communication style. It should be noted that on this project, Kathy brought along a partner — Tracy Ellis. Tracy is also a great communicator and the two of them worked together seamlessly. We were very pleased with the process and the product. I would strongly recommend the services of KJ Smith Associates and would be glad to talk with anyone who wishes to get more details.
Tony Scurto, Superintendent
Amazing work… expertise and professionalism… Kathy managed to facilitate some emotional, intangible concerns and challenges into bona fide recommendations which, I believe when implemented, will have a positive impact on Willamalane’s work culture and environment going forward.
Michael Wargo, Superintendent
Kathy Smith proved to be an excellent partner in helping RAIN Eugene design and execute a strategic planning process. Specifically, our organization looked to Kathy to help a diverse group of board members navigate towards consensus on the key elements of RAIN Eugene’s programs and outreach activities. She did this skillfully and in a time-efficient
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manner. The resulting strategic plan document is now a framework we can refer to and work from to grow the organization. I highly recommend working with Kathy to get your team aligned and moving together towards a goal.
Sarah Cheesman, Chair of the Board
Working with Kathy was awesome. She helped us to unpack some very complex topics and helped us to develop a framework to think about, talk about, and ultimately create a plan for, the future of our organization. The process was enjoyable and educational, and the results were more than we could have hoped for. The
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value that this has created for our organization cannot be overstated. It was, and will continue to be, crucial to our mission.
Joe Maruschak, Chief Startup Officer & Executive Director
Kathy was instrumental in directing our board to achieve a strategic plan for our upcoming year. Kathy spent an enormous time digging deep into understanding our unique profession. Kathy helped the board assess its value, deficiencies, and taking the right steps in moving forward toward our strategic plan. Her breakout sessions eased communication with both
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the old board and new board members so that there was value from everyone in the meeting. The process went so much better than I had ever expected. Thank you so much, Kathy.
Dustin Degman CRNA, President
Heartfelt thanks for an outstanding retreat. I told my colleagues I think it may be the best policy governance retreat I have ever participated in.
Rosie Pryor, Board Chair
Kathy Smith of KJ Smith Associates facilitated our Board of Education annual retreat at a pivotal time in Lane’s history as the college onboards a new president. Productive working relations among members and the college president are critical to effective planning and decision-making. Kathy designed sessions to respect a diversity of opinions and achieve desired
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outcomes. Kathy was terrific and set the tone for a successful retreat.
Margaret A. Hamilton, Ph.D., President
Kathy Smith delivered for us. We asked her to guide us through an accelerated process to refine our strategic vision and help our organization look into the future. What we received exceeded our expectations. Kathy involved both our volunteer board and our paid staff, giving every individual a voice and knitting our team closer together.
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She facilitated a meeting for employees to talk freely without management. She extracted different viewpoints from board members, then steered the group to consensus decisions surrounding our strategic vision and strategies to achieve that vision. She boiled the process down to fit onto a single page, and gave us ideas, appropriate for the size and resources of our organization, for monitoring how we implement the vision. Well done!
Jamie Porter, Superintendent
Kathy played an integral part in the development of our strategic plan. Her guidance and expertise allowed us to document a plan that is both a reflection of our current goals and it also allows us to continue to be innovative and purposeful as we live out the mission of our school.
Tammy Conway, Principal
It has been my pleasure to work on several projects over the last five years with Kathy Smith including board retreats, project management and strategic planning. Kathy is a first class facilitator, project manager and thought partner. She knows how to organize and run effective meetings leading to the desired goals. I have received many compliments
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about Kathy’s facilitation skills from project members. I have also found Kathy to be completely honest and ethical in her work. Another trait I rarely experience and really appreciate is Kathy’s follow-through. She does what she says she is going to do on time and on budget.
Rick Yecny, Chief Administrative Officer
Kathy Smith has served our organization and its leadership in a surprisingly broad array of capacities—governance, strategic planning, business planning, marketing strategy, project management and meeting facilitation. I have repeatedly sought Kathy’s advice and support for clarity and direction. Kathy worked with the Lane Blood Center senior leadership, management team and board of directors to
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evaluate our changing business environment and set out in a new strategic direction. As an exceptional listener, researcher and thinker, Kathy helped us frame and pursue a vision to preserve the long-term interests of our organization while securing a new operating model. She facilitated our progress through our learning and decision-making and instilled a sense of urgency and confidence in the process. Her support was a key to our success.
Douglas Engel, former CEO
In 2010, the Springfield School District Print Services operation embarked upon a process to identify a Strategic Business Plan for the subsequent 5 years. KJ Smith Associates was the primary driver of this process. Specifically, Kathy Smith leveraged her vast knowledge, background and professional experience to bring an incredible document together identifying strategic goals, and
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a step-by-step plan to move the operation toward these goals. Because of Kathy’s insights and staff engagement during the planning process, the Print Services Operation staff was able to achieve all of the goals within the five-year threshold. Kathy completed subsequent Strategic Business Plan for the Print Services operation in May of 2015 to carry us forward through the 2015-2020 planning window. Again, Kathy hit a home run. In my 33 years of service to the Springfield School District, I have seldom experienced an individual with the broad background and business acumen to pull together such an insightful, well-organized, and achievable plan benched in moving an organization or department forward in a positive direction. I highly recommend KJ Smith Associates.
Greg James, CPPO, CPPB
I have had the pleasure of working with Kathy Smith as she consulted with three very different organizations to come together and develop a strategic plan for the Central Oregon Coast Health Alliance. Private, non-profit PeaceHealth Medical Center, health system Lower Umpqua Hospital District, and the City of Yachats came together to identify and develop
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a plan to address health care issues for the central Oregon coast. Kathy facilitated this process. Three years later we have been successful, have received a federal planning grant and a Coordinated Care Organization outreach grant that will enable nurse practitioners to establish visiting clinics to the more remote areas of the central coast. So successful was Kathy’s work in this area, she is now leading a similar strategic planning process for improving mental health services for the central Oregon coast. I highly recommend Kathy Smith for any project in which planning and consensus-building skills are needed.
Read more “Highly Recommended for Planning and Consensus Building”
Sandra Reese, CEO & Administrator