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Jim’s
focus is on making the CEO’s job easier. He solidified his belief in
the power of strategic planning while working in the world of
Venture Capital as a Managing Member of a DC area early-stage tech
fund. His frequent strategic planning facilitation with the
executive teams of the fund's 14 portfolio companies highlighted the
profound impact of having the entire team on the same page with a
shared sense of where they were, wanted to be in the future, and the
action they had to take to get there. Having worked with Myrna
Associates on individual projects over the years, it was a natural
transition to join their elite team of facilitators.
He has played a broad range of key roles
in multiple business sectors: leading US salesforce of a European
Telecomm leader, facilitating a Health Care software company’s
negotiation and acquisition of a portion of a rival firm’s product
line, thus re-framing their relationship from adversarial into
cooperative, developing and executing win-back campaigns. In the
Federal arena, Jim facilitated Martin-Marietta Data Systems
transition from declining Timesharing business into a booming
Systems Integration practice. 
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Before becoming a Myrna Associates facilitator, Suzanne Giesemann served twenty years as a U.S. naval officer. Her leadership skills were honed at nine duty stations on three continents as she rose through the ranks to senior management with the rank of Commander. Each new assignment gave her an opportunity to view current processes with fresh eyes and to facilitate changing the status quo for the better.
She discovered her talent for bringing out the best in groups while assigned as a facilitator of the Navy’s Total Quality Leadership program. Later, as an Inspector General, she identified problems within organizations and facilitated constructive solutions. A Masters degree in public administration earned her a position as a political science instructor at the U.S. Naval Academy. She was promoted to Deputy Director of the Humanities Division, where she led five departments in an infrastructure design effort which improved facilities for years to come.
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Confucius says to find something you love to do and you’ll never work another day in your life. Maria found her love at a family reunion when she facilitated the campfire discussions of happy family memories and old wounds. For the first time she realized she wanted to be a facilitator – she didn’t know there was such a thing, but knew she could be great at it. With this newfound goal, and the encouragement of the other love of her life – husband Charly – she set out to be the best in the world.
She was quickly certified by Zenger Miller to facilitate interpersonal skills training. She’s trained front line people as well as management, giving her an uncommon insight into company issues as seen from both sides. Her custom designed sessions covered everything from performance management and conflict resolution to lean manufacturing and visual systems.
She joined the International Association of Facilitators (IAF) and studied the art of facilitation extensively. She is one of only 175 Certified Professional Facilitators in North America and one of 35 CPF Assessors in the world. Maria serves as the US Representative on the Board of Directors for IAF...
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George Fowler has been facilitating problem solving over his entire career. He joined the Navy after graduating from Houston’s Rice University with a BA and BS in Architecture. His Seabee battalion built airfields, roads, bridges and facilities
across Asia. In Thailand he honed his political skills working closely with the US Ambassador and his staff.
Recognized for his management skills, he was asked to provide contract administration and inspection services for construction contracts and then financial management of all the financial aspects of Military Construction
in Taiwan, Australia and the Philippines. He solidified his field obtained financial acumen with an MS in Financial Management from the US Naval Postgraduate School. He honed his school learning and field knowledge in the Republic of South Vietnam where he coordinated the financial resources and requirements of the military with the capabilities of civilian contractors.
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