RESULTS
WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY ABOUT US

Strategic Thinking and Growth Planning

Melissa's approach to strategic planning is challenging, productive, and rewarding.  She forced us to look way down the road — 20 years out — and then work backwards to get there.  We let our minds run to what we could realistically become.  Her method blends visioning dreams with practicality, and sent us in a direction that we never would have purposefully arrived at.
Ange Fatta, Former Chair
Cradle Beach

I've been pleasantly surprised at the results of our strategic planning process.  Our operations team was challenged to put aside our biases and think strategically — a good growing experience for all of us.  Just a few months later, we're already realizing the effectiveness of the plan.  We're thinking and operating differently —  vacating small margin projects for higher margin work — and have the confidence to stick to our plan and our vision.
Louis P. Ciminelli, CEO
LPCiminelli, Inc.

Melissa has reinvented strategic planning.  She helps you envision your future in a way that's fun and engaging, and that really works.  With her guidance, our strategic planning process five years ago uniquely prepared us to take advantage of market and technology changes that have come along.  The impact on this organization is powerful and enduring.  We think and act strategically, which is a sea change she was instrumental in creating.
Donald K. Boswell, President & CEO
Western New York Public Broadcasting

Strategic planning doesn't have to be long and drawn-out.  Clear Intent helped us get it done, and gave us focus.  After the first fiscal year of our strategic plan, we reported a 23% increase in service stats and a $200k increase in sales... all on a smaller operating budget.  That was five years ago, and the plan we developed then still works and pushed us in a direction that we wouldn't have gone to on our own.  It's amazing what can happen when you have a plan and people to execute it.
Nancy Blaschak, Executive Director
Great Buffalo Chapter, American Red Cross

[Our funding partner] loves, loves, loves our plan. Loes that it's a living document. Loves that the board was so involved and that our Goverance Committee is going to accountable for it. Could see that the partners had influenced it. Just loved it!
Linda Ray, Executive Director
Family Justice Center of Erie County, Inc.

Executive Strategy Coaching

Working with Melissa was a turning point for our company.  She challenged us to figure out what was most important to us, and then commit to plans, projects, and deadlines.  Our company’s sales and profits have since doubled, and we are light years ahead of where we would have been otherwise.  We’ve spent millions on capital improvements over the years, but the money we spent with Melissa created the largest impact on getting us to where we are today.
Doug Bolton, President
The HomerWood Corporation

Melissa has an indefinable spirit, and genuine energy and enthusiasm.  She is one of the smartest people I've ever met, and possesses remarkable wisdom.  Her kindness and real love for people comes out every day when you work with her, making even the toughest projects enjoyable and rewarding.
Ange Fatta, President
Bufflink, Inc.

As an executive coach, Melissa has helped me see things I may otherwise miss, and to ask questions I hadn't considered before.  Her outside perspective works almost like a partnership.  I have tremendous respect for her intellect, judgment and perspective, which help me to break down challenges and clearly see the full picture.
Donald K. Boswell, President & CEO
Western New York Public Broadcasting

Board Development

Melissa smoothly facilitated what could have been a tricky board-staff retreat at a very critical time for our organization.  Her thorough preparation, hard questions, and methodical approach kept us on track with what we needed to accomplish.  She challenged us throughout the process to be certain that we were headed in a direction we really wanted to go, and helped us come away with the results we needed.
Curtis Jewell, President and CEO
Excel Management Systems, Inc.
Chairman of the Board, National Black Programmers Consortium

You did a marvelous job [for us].  Even I understand, for the first time, the clear demarcation line between Board and Operation responsibilities.  The concept of putting it in the perspective of Outcomes and Predictors was fabulously demonstrated.
Bill Singh, former President and CEO
MANEX

The strategic thinking session at our Board meeting went very well.  The Board members seemed truly engaged and excited to be talking about the big picture.
Lynn Witten, President
Kentucky Technology Services

Excellent session!  The [board] discussion is evidence that you guided them to focus on very sensitive but important issues.
Sam Kramer, Kramer & Associates
Deputy Director (retired)
National Institute of Standards and Technology

Melissa transformed our board into a dynamic and highly functional unit.  That was six years ago, and the board still talks about it.  She has a way of establishing immediate credibility, and blends directness, a can-do attitude, and gentle prodding to take a board where it needs to go.  Our board is so transformed that others have mimicked what we’ve done, but none had the 'Melissa factor', so I’m not sure they can be as successful.
Terri Helmlinger Ratcliff, Vice Chancellor
Extension and Engagement, North Carolina State University
Executive Director, North Carolina Industrial Extension Service

Professional Facilitation

Melissa did an outstanding job speaking and facilitating.  It would have been nice to have more than one of her.  She's a skilled speaker with an engaging style, and sets up material clearly and effectively.  A quick thinker and very adaptable, she took the inevitable glitches of the day easily in stride.  She brings an unusually good combination of skills to the table.
Paul Hogan, President
Western New York Grantmakers Association

Melissa is an exceptional facilitator.  She sensitively helped our board shed the organizational history and sacred cows that before had stood in the way of innovative thinking.  She skillfully built up the confidence of the group, encouraging intellectual thought and self-direction by the participants.  And she simultaneously managed the talkative personalities while drawing out the quieter people to guarantee full participation by everyone.  The result: a thoroughly productive, engaging, and enjoyable retreat that catapulted our board ahead.
Ralph J. Pontillo, CAE, President
Manufacturers' Association of Northwest Pennsylvania

Compensation System Strategy

Ms. Kelly-McCabe appears to be a natural leader whose energy level is always high.  She is able to accomplish what seems to be the impossible in a short amount of time with lasting results.
Emily Demeritte, Manager Human Resources/Training
Bank of The Bahamas

Keynotes and Workshops

Melissa created the most successful curriculum in our corporate university.  She teaches using an emergent style, where she allows participants to determine the most relevant and appropriate pathway to learning, while keeping the course objectives in focus.  This style is wildly successful and popular with adult learners.  Melissa thrives in an atmosphere that others may think is chaotic, but for her never is at all.
Anne Marie Chester, Project Manager
MEP University and VP Outsourced Solutions
Atlantic Management Center, Inc.

I have already benefited from the strategies you taught us last week.  I used the coaching process to resolve a recent personal challenge, and what a difference it made.  I've gained new life in resolving personal and professional conflicts.  You did a fantastic job.  It is obvious you really know your stuff and are very good at it.
Chuck Beasley, Manufacturing Consultant
Tennessee MEP

Those of us who attended the training continue to have a special bond as a result.  We often talk about how much we learned and laugh about the fun we had.  You and the other instructors did a fabulous job!!
Lisa Scolnick
Insyte Consulting