Overview

Our Philosophy

Our Goals

Executive Bios

Associates

Program Partners

About Us InPartnership Consulting, Inc. Associates

Buck Davis, M.B.A., M.S.

Buck Davis is an InPartnership diversity and inclusion consultant specializing in leadership development, cross cultural communications in sales, effective teaming and communications. As a trainer, coach and program and curriculum designer, Buck has conducted hundreds of interventions in a variety of work environments. He brings to InPartnership extensive experience working with manufacturing and research professionals, sales teams, retail staff, executives, administrative personnel, and union and non-union workers.

Buck is certified as a Workplace Disputes Mediator by the Atlanta Justice Center and has served as an adjunct professor at The Art Institute of Atlanta. He holds an MBA from Brenau University, an MS in Professional Counseling from Georgia State University, and is Los Angeles based.

Lawrence Ellis, M.A.

Lawrence Ellis is an InPartnership consultant, executive coach and speaker specializing in organizational redesign, complex systems, strategic planning, and leadership and team development.

Lawrence pursued a Master's in individual and large-scale change at Oxford University on a Rhodes Scholarship. He is committed to assisting individuals, groups and organizations in staying true to their mission, vision and values while addressing complex issues such as conflict, growth and tougher competition. For over 25 years, he has led collaborative change efforts that balance focusing on clear and efficient processes, maintaining a healthy climate, and producing outstanding results. Based in the Bay Area, yet traveling internationally, he has worked with a broad mix of client groups from governors and community activists to frontline staff and CEOs/EDs.

For several years, Lawrence served as a Senior Associate and Director with Interaction Associates, internationally recognized for its breakthrough work in managing organizational and community change.

Healthcare has been an on-going focus of his work, with clients including American Hospital Association, Blue Shield, National Patient Safety Foundation and The California Endowment.

Susan Gore, Ph.D.

Susan Gore is an InPartnership trainer and speaker in the areas of diversity and inclusion, communications, leadership and organizational development. A Dallas-based consultant for corporate and not-for-profit organizations, Susan’s expertise includes the design and implementation of mentoring programs, strategic planning, marketing and communications. She brings to InPartnership a long history of advancing human equity and extensive accomplishments in her line of work.

Susan remains active in non-profit leadership at the local and national levels. She holds a Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University and a Managing Diversity certificate from The Equity Institute in San Francisco.

Gregory Hodge, J.D.

Gregory Hodge is an InPartnership organizational development and community building consultant who works with a range of groups from small non-profits and foundations to public agencies. As an active advocate and consultant for youth development and community building, Gregory has spearheaded a number of key initiatives in Oakland that have addressed such issues as youth health and safety, multicultural community building, and public agency systems reform. He brings to InPartnership a wealth of expertise in enabling effective changes in communities and organizations.

Gregory has worked as an attorney in private practice handling a variety of civil litigation matters and was elected to his second term as a member of the Oakland Unified School District Board of Education in March 2004. He holds a BA from Northwestern University and a law degree from Golden Gate University in San Francisco.

Carole Johnson, J.D.

Carole Johnson is an InPartnership consultant and program developer who specializes in litigation prevention, leadership development and executive coaching. Her cutting-edge, practical tools include the award-winning "Sticks, Stones and Stereotypes/Palos, Piedras, Y Estereotipos," which addresses issues of homophobia and racism and has been used in more than 5,000 schools worldwide. She brings to InPartnership over twenty-three years experience in developing tools for long-term organizational change and reconciliation skills training programs for corporate and non-profit leaders.

Dr. Johnson is a non-practicing lawyer with five years as a project director in the United States Federal Desegregation Centers Program. She is also a co-founder and President of the Bay Area based Equity Consulting Group. She holds a BS degree in Special Education and Juris Doctor from Western New England College, School of Law.

Jidan Koon, M.P.A.

Jidan Koon is an InPartnership consultant specializing in leadership and youth development. With strong political analysis and community organizing experience, she has worked with many social justice organizations to reach their leadership, diversity and sustainability goals. Whether mediating tough conflicts or facilitating a 13-organization retreat, Jidan excels at creating inclusive, collaborative environments.

A proud native of the Bay Area and first generation Chinese American woman, Jidan holds a BA in Political Science from University of California at Berkeley, and a Masters of Public Policy (M.P.A.) and certificate in Urban and Regional Planning from the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University. Prior to consulting, Jordan worked with the renowned Through Youth Together, managing the first four years of an on-site multi-service youth center serving Oakland high school students.

Akemi Matsumoto, M.E.

Akemi Matsumoto is an InPartnership consultant, speaker and coach who is a thought leader in promoting Asian Pacific Islander leadership in the workplace. A Seattle-based consultant, Akemi identifies how organizational issues affect employees and provides employee training that allows the organization to utilize all the resources employees bring to the workplace. She is a well-respected leader in promoting equity and cultural competence on college and university campuses with specialized training and expertise in implementing on-campus diversity and inclusion initiatives. She brings to InPartnership over thirty years of experience in higher education systems.

Akemi is a tenured faculty member and instructor at Bellevue Community College and trainer for APIA employee affinity groups and college-aged community leadership organizations for Asian Pacifics, Inc. She holds a Master of Education in Guidance and Counseling from Oregon State University and is a National Defense Language Fellow of Montery Institute of Foreign Studies.

Joshua Smith

Picture of Joshua SmithA San Francisco native and Berkeley resident since 1989, Joshua brings to InPartnership a deep understanding of administrative and executive support operations, with over ten years of experience supporting both executives and frontline customers. In addition to strong office management skills,Joshua's strengths include taking ownership of projects through completion and developing workable solutions using proven analytical and logical reasoning abilities. Joshua also brings over fifteen years of non-profit board leadership experience as the Founder and President of San Francisco LovEvolution, and Board Secretary of San Francisco LGBT Pride.

Susan Strasburger, M.A.

Susan Strasburger is an InPartnership executive coach, corporate trainer and group facilitator who excels in creating strategic personal and organizational change. From her Bay Area base, Susan designs effective and meaningful processes for learning, growth and change. She brings to InPartnership over fifteen years of coaching and training experience with top US corporations.

Susan’s work incorporates a strong theoretical framework and is deeply rooted in the collaborative model of Interaction Associates, whose Coaching and Facilitation courses she currently delivers nationwide. She holds degrees from Yale University and Mills College and certifications in Diversity Leadership and Re-Evaluation Counseling.

Nathaniel (Toby) Thompkins, M.S., Senior Consultant

Toby Thompkins is an InPartnership executive coach and consultant who designs, develops, and leads large-scale organizational development and change processes. He is an expert in a variety of topics, including personal growth, cultural diversity, leadership development, and process improvement. Toby brings to InPartnership over 20 years of experience working across industries in domestic and international settings.

Toby’s background includes serving in the corporate roles of Practice Leader for Organizational Culture and Diversity with Amoco Oil Corporation and Director of Worldwide Diversity at Baxter International. He is the author of two books: the Essence bestselling book, The Real Lives of Strong Black Women: Transcending Myths, Reclaiming Joy and The Real Lives of Strong Black Men: Releasing Pain, Reclaiming Love. He holds a BA in Psychology/Political Sciene and a Masters in Public Administration.

Panya Walker, Senior Consultant

Panya Walker is a New York-based InPartnership senior consultant who specializes in organizational assessment, branding development and marketing communications. Panya brings a decade of experience in the strategic development, launch and oversight of global philanthropic programs and trainings and has worked internationally as a writer and editor. In addition to her work, Panya has served on the Executive Committee of Corporate Volunteers of New York, as an Advisory Committee member of The Doe Fund, and continues to provide professional counseling within the non-profit community.

Panya also brings years of experience as a certified holistic health & wellness practitioner, working with individuals and groups to develop long-term wellness strategies and programs. She has earned two degrees from the University of Virginia, health and wellness certifications through the Achievement & Learning Centre in Canada, and has lived, worked and studied extensively in Africa and Asia.

Bradley Wilkinson, M.S.

Bradley Wilkinson is an InPartnership speaker, facilitator and instructional designer who works with organizations to create inclusive environments that tap the full potential of all people. Based in Atlanta, Brad has experience with a broad mix of client systems and industries and brings to each of these his focus on leveraging the power of diversity and human spirit. He brings to InPartnership a variety of learning methodologies including experiential workshop design, multimedia training and video-based instruction.

Brad's background includes serving as Associate Instructor at Keller Graduate School of Management and as part-time faculty at Georgia State University. He has additional experience in the financial services and extensive involvement in non-profit diversity initiatives in the Atlanta community. He holds a BS in Industrial Management from Georgia Tech and a MS in Industrial Relations from Georgia State University.

Akaya Windwood

Akaya Windwood is an InPartnership trainer and organizational development specialist. She has extensive experience on race, gender and class issues and is highly regarded as a coach for local and national non-profit leaders. Her contributions to public school, philanthropic and community organizations have been creative and profound. Akaya brings to InPartnership over 30 years of experience working for social justice and effecting change.

Akaya has served on the Alameda County Human Relations Commission, and the Alameda County Hate Violence Prevention Task Force. As an active member of her Bay Area community, she sits on several boards and was a co-founder of the Women's National Leadership Project. She holds a BA in Applied Psychology and has done her doctoral work in Clinical Psychology at the University of California, Berkeley.

Eva Young, M.A.

Eva Young is an InPartnership organization development practitioner who designs and delivers strategic interventions for profit and non-profit organizations interested in creating high performing, inclusive and culturally effective workplaces. Eva specializes as a project manager responsible for implementing national diversity programs. She also has expertise in leadership, coaching, retreat and group facilitation, train the trainer workshops, and team building and development. She brings to InPartnership over 17 years of experience in achieving long-term, sustainable change by working at all levels of an organization.

Based in Washington, DC, Eva is a founding member of the Diversity Leadership Forum, and a member of the International Coaching Federation. Eva is fluent in English, Spanish, and French. She holds a Master’s degree in Social and Organizational Learning from George Mason University and is a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.) Community Fellows.

 

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