| |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
  |
Romney
Associates is in its tenth year, providing services to a wide
range of clients. Our clients are independent schools, colleges and
universities, foundations, human service agencies, and arts organizations,
as well as professionals who work in those sectors.
The majority of our clients recontract, electing to work with us on
a repeat or ongoing basis - a testimony
to the trust they place in us and the results we produce for them. |
|
Our
clients have included:
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Case
Studies
|
| |
Case
Study #1 . . . Minority Student Achievement |
| |
A highly regarded independent school, with a mission to educate youth
from a wide diversity of backgrounds, engaged the services of Romney
Associates to: (1) assess the experience of Black and Latino students
and alumni; and (2) to assist the school in identifying what would
help students of color perform at their best.
The Challenge: To assess Black and Latino student performance
within the context of a climate for learning for all students.
The Process: Over a one year period, Romney Associates
consultants dedicated themselves to developing an intimate knowledge
of the school. We visited classes and participated in extracurricular
activities, researched the school's history, developed and administered
survey instruments, and reviewed the curriculum. Romney Associates
studied students' grades, and interviewed scores of students, faculty,
alumni and parents.
Results:
1. RA identified the key personal factors connected to achievement;
2. RA identified the key institutional factors connected
to achievement;
3. RA identified the unique way that Black and Latino students defined
achievement;and
4. RA identified twenty-one ways that the school could continue
to provide an outstanding education to all students. |
|
[top] |
|
|
| |
Case
Study #2 . . . Using Dialogue to Increase Organizational Effectiveness |
| |
During a time of staff turnover, a philanthropic organization requested
an organizational consultation from Romney Associates to assist them
in reviewing and revamping the existing staffing configuration.
The Challenge: At the time of the consultation, the
organization was still in its first decade of existence and was led
by its founder. Funding was national in scope, but the staff was largely
based in one region of the country. The small staff comprised a mixture
of employees new to the world of philanthropy and seasoned staffers,
some who fulfilled their employment obligations geographically distant
from the main office.
The Process: The consultation began with gathering the
perspectives and agendas of each member of the organization. While
some differences were aired, areas of agreement were more commonplace.
A collective agenda for the remainder of the consultation was developed.
Channels of communication were opened, and Four Frames analysis was
used to collectively assess areas of challenge within the organization
and directions for change.
The Results:
1. The consultation resulted in the development of a revised staffing
map. Some positions were changed. New positions were identified
and reporting lines were altered. Accountability was built into the
revised structure.
2. Decision-making was strengthened through collective understanding
of the issues, collaborative problem solving, and invigorated organizational
leadership.
3. The consultation provided specific tools for the philanthropic
organization to continue strengthening the internal structure
to better meet the needs of funders and grantees. |
|
[top] |
|
|
| |
Case
Study # 3 . . . Cross-Cultural Conflict Resolution Training |
| |
An organization serving people with disabilities requested training
from Romney Associates in the area of diversity and conflict resolution.
Through their own diversity initiative, the client contracted with
Romney Associates, Inc. to provide the training.
The Challenge: To maintain high-level service delivery
to its very diverse population, the organization needed to expand
its knowledge and expertise in the area of cultural awareness and
conflict resolution. In particular, they wanted to ensure that middle
managers and service coordinators were communicating and resolving
problems effectively within the workplace and with all the individuals
and families served by the agency.
The Process: Romney Associates developed and designed
a Cross-Cultural Conflict Resolution module specifically tailored
to the agency and its mission. Over a two-year period all middle managers
and service coordinators were trained in cross-cultural conflict resolution.
The Results:
1. Increased multicultural competence on the part of service
providers and managers.
2. Increased internal organizational capacity and competency
in handling conflict.
3. Accomplishment of one of the goals of their strategic plan for
diversity. |
|
[top] |
|
|
| |
Case
Study # 4. . . An Executive Prepares for the Next Step |
| |
An accomplished, high level college administrator sought Romney Associates'
services to enhance his already strong leadership capabilities. His
goal was to prepare himself for the number one position in the college.
The Challenge: The administrator needed to decide when
to reveal his interest, and whether to move to another institution
to accomplish the goal.
The Process: We began with several leadership assessments.
Grounding him with a firm knowledge of his own executive skills, we
then used actual work situations to coach the client in conflict resolution,
working with difficult people, and how to use symbolic, political,
human resource and structural perspectives to assess the functioning
of an organization.
The Results:
1. The client had a complete and detailed picture of his strengths
and challenges.
2. Together we developed a five year plan for advancement.
3. The client's management and leadership skills were enhanced.
4. The client learned how to work with his strengths to accomplish
his goals. |
| |
[top] |
|
|
|
|
Testimonials
|
| |
“This
was an excellent learning experience. I learned many new things
and got real skills and knowledge to take back to my workplace
now as well as skills for my future.”
Conflict Management Workshop Participant |
| |
|
| |
“Pat is a consummate professional and a remarkable human being, who brings a very broad repertoire of skills and a depth of experience to her work as an organizational change agent. She is very adept at holding the client’s organizational interests as central, while simultaneously respecting and responding to the needs and concerns of the people with whom she is working.
Whether she’s training managers on a new performance management system, guiding a management team through organizational restructuring, executive and managerial coaching or facilitating strategic planning, her extensive knowledge, organizational insights and perspectives and personable facilitation readily gain her the trust and confidence of the participants. She skillfully uncovers personal and organizational roadblocks and adeptly guides participants to a deeper understanding of the situation, and to a mutually agreeable course of action.”
Linda Marchesani, Director of Workplace, Learning at Development
University of Massachusetts at Amherst |
| |
|
| |
“Thank you for yesterday’s grand success – I’m hearing all sorts of happy comments, from both faculty and staff. You manage to make everyone in your audience feel spoken to; at the same time you are both knowledgeable and wise. I am very grateful for all that you gave us!”
Jane Shipp, Headmistress
Renbroook School, West Hartford, CT |
| |
|
| |
"Dr. Patricia Romney is a perceptive and generous facilitator, sensitive to the needs of the group, yet able to offer firm and clear guidance in the process of an organization's or an individual's self-discovery. She is able to identify and draw out underlying issues and root causes, and her insights are recognized and valued widely by participants. It's refreshing, and extremely important to us, to engage consultants who have a deep understanding of how issues of race, culture and diversity function in the work place. Our staff is very excited by the opportunity to continue working with her."
Andrea Assaf, Artistic Director
New WORLD Theater |
| |
|
| |
"Paul Wiley has delivered Anti-Bias Conflict Resolution training to our state clients for several years now. He is extremely personable and has the ability to draw participants into the topic to make the learning concrete and applicable to their work. His session encourages participants to think openly and creatively about the impact of culture on people with whom we work and live.
Pat Romney has a wide repertoire of training expertise and has delivered a variety of topics to our state and nonprofit clients. Pat’s warm demeanor and knowledgeable background engages participants and guides them through an exploratory learning process. Her sessions are thorough and lead the participant to greater understanding of a training topic and, frequently, to greater insight of themselves."
Sharon Faherty
Donahue Institute |
| |
|
| |
"By the end of the first session with Pat, we had identified and resolved a dilemma that for years had clouded my vision of where I want to go professionally. She connected the dots for me and the vision fell into place. She did that skillfully, with kindness and sensitivity, and conveyed confidence that I could do what I was setting out to do.
I was helped by Pat's skillful creation of assignments for me. They felt organic: that is they came out of our conversations, made sense and were doable. I could see that each assignment was a concrete step toward my goal. If I continued to fulfill these assignments week by week, I would indeed one day achieve my "impossible dream!"
Madeleine Pluhar, LICSW
Coaching Client |
| |
|
| |
"The
Romney Associates team was especially adept at listening and devoting
the requisite time to truly know our
school community. Like the effective psychologist she is, Dr.
Romney did not impose her own agenda on us. Rather, she reframed and
reflected back to us what we needed to understand about ourselves."
Rebecca M. Sykes, Associate Head of School
Philips Academy |
| |
|
| |
"Dr.
Patricia Romney is doing an outstanding job as diversity consultant
for our
church. Among her greatest gifts is her ability to be a bridge-builder
with people of different backgrounds and experiences. She is able
to balance a gentle style with a willingness to be assertive as the
need arises."
Rev. David Hughes, Pastor
Faith United Church |
| |
|
| |
"Pat
Romney has introduced catalytic ideas and brought depth to the Animating
Democracy Initiative's exploration of how arts and cultural organizations
can foster meaningful civic dialogue about contemporary civic issues.
As a consultant to several projects around the country, we have called
upon her expertise in designing and facilitating public dialogue,
her insights into organizational and community issues related to diversity,
and her ability to gently coach cultural and civic partners through
difficult steps of defining common ground and collaborating together.
Dr. Romney's direct work with organizations from small cities in the
Midwest and Maine to the Lower East Side of Manhattan, as well as
her reflections in writings and as part of a national team of project
advisors, have been important to the impact of the Animating Democracy
Initiative's efforts locally and the learnings derived from them for
the broader field."
Pam Korza, Co-director
Animating Democracy Initiative, Americans for the Arts
|
| |
|
|
[top] |
| |
To
see how you or your organization might benefit from our services,
call (413) 253-5630 or e-mail
us at info@romneyassociates.com
for a free consultation. |
| |
