Creating Strategic Alignment Across Diverse Professions and Geographies
State Government Agency
The Challenge
A state government agency was tasked by a federal funder with developing a three-year strategic plan that reflected the needs of more than 20 service provider, collaborator, and client groups across every geographic region of the state.
With diverse professions, communities, lived experiences, and regional priorities represented, the agency needed a planning process that could gather meaningful input, build trust among stakeholders, identify shared priorities, and translate extensive qualitative and quantitative data into a clear, actionable strategy.
Statewide
Voice
Perspectives gathered from service providers, partners, and client populations across the state
Shared
Priorities
Diverse stakeholders aligned around common needs and strategic goals
Evidence-Based Strategy
Qualitative and quantitative data translated into actionable priorities
Continued
Funding
Strategic planning supported ongoing federal funding for the state agency
My Approach
I designed and facilitated an inclusive strategic planning process centered on safety, transparency, collaboration, and meaningful stakeholder voice. The process combined extensive stakeholder engagement, data collection and analysis, collaborative planning, and comprehensive documentation to create both an actionable three-year strategy and a model the agency could use for future planning efforts. The trauma-informed approach ensured that lived experience, professional expertise, and regional differences meaningfully informed the final plan.
Engage
Recruited a representative planning team that included leaders in the field, tribal representatives, community partners, and representatives of client populations to ensure a broad range of perspectives helped guide the process.
Listen
Developed data collection tools designed to promote psychological safety, transparency, choice, and meaningful participation. Gathered statewide input through anonymous electronic surveys distributed to approximately 2,000 potential participants, virtual focus groups representing all geographic regions, and individual interviews with key community partners.
Align
Analyzed qualitative and quantitative findings and facilitated the planning team through identifying shared priorities and developing goals, objectives, and strategies grounded in the needs identified through the research.
Develop
Created the comprehensive three-year strategic plan, documenting stakeholder roles, methodology, findings, conclusions, goals, objectives, and strategies while clearly communicating how identified service provider and client needs would be addressed.
Areas of Expertise
Strategic & Action Planning
Strategic Planning
Organizational Analysis
Visioning & Goal Setting
Action Planning & Implementation Roadmaps
Needs Assessments
Stakeholder Engagement
Organizational Wellness & Culture Change
Trauma-Informed Practices
Leadership & Culture Support
Project Coordination & Management
Stakeholder Communication
Cross-Functional Team Coordination
Process Development & Documentation
Lasting Impact
Representative
strategic priorities informed by diverse professions, communities, geographic regions, and lived experiences
Clear
understanding of service provider and client needs to guide statewide priorities and organizational response
Evidence-Based
framework for decision-making and resource allocation grounded in qualitative and quantitative data
Sustainable
trauma-informed planning model that strengthened organizational capacity and supported continued federal funding
Project
Director
I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside Jennie in multiple contexts and can confidently say she is exceptional at bringing people together around a shared purpose. Even in groups that begin far apart in perspective or priorities, she has a remarkable ability to foster alignment and move everyone toward a common goal—often more quickly than seems possible.
Vice
President
Jennie is able to share her knowledge and experience in a way that connects with clients in impactful ways, and provides a basis for proactive and effective interactions moving forward. Her flexibility and positive approach to her work makes Jennie a pleasure to work with.
Stacey Popejoy, Clinical Professor of Social Work
I’ve had the privilege of calling Jennie my colleague for more than 20 years and have worked with her in the role of educator, organizer, and strategic planner. Jennie brings deep knowledge, skill, organization and compassion to all areas of her work.
Michelle McCormick, Nonprofit Leader
I have found Jennie to be an exceptional communicator, unfailingly reliable, and exceeding my expectations with the outcome. I highly recommend Jennie because of her expertise, as well as her empowering approach towards collaboration.
