Concepts Consulting Group, Inc. is committed to deep learning and collaboration in practice – not just theory – and we practice excellence every day.
My work has evolved from a background in the social sector, business, university-community leadership and the performing arts. Concepts Consulting Group, Inc. has been my business since 2007, and everything I learned from my practiced excellence in a number of disciplines informs my enterprise today. That includes 7 years in the commercial insurance industry early on, many years dedication to achieving a doctorate in music and performance (DMA) while performing and teaching, and 10 years establishing a nationally recognized arts partnerships office at Arizona State University. I aspire to purposeful relationships that accomplish real work, work that benefits individuals, their organizations, and the communities of which they are a part. I work side by side with leaders and developing leaders, through facilitation and consultation, to empower communication, build teams around work, and create an environment for organizations and individuals to take action, with planning and assessment for sustainable results.
My abilities include focus on detail with an eye to the broader context and a talent for collaboration in diverse environments, through facilitation, strategic visioning, planning and development, training and experiential learning in interdisciplinary contexts, documentation, assessment, reporting, program and training design, and the arts for human development. My experience encompasses organizational development, coalitions, and communities of practice. Facilitation in various settings includes focus groups, residencies, retreats, workshops, arts for human development and conferences with a variety of collaborative processes that may include the arts.
Dr. Dianne Anderson-Nickel has been dedicated to teaching and learning her entire career. Dianne was a full-time teacher in Arizona for over 20 years. Dianne’s artistry uses the medium of education and the many projects and programs she has brought to her campuses are her brushes. Her masterpieces are students who use learn to use their creativity and critical thinking skills to impact their communities in positive, musical ways. Dianne has brought many unique music and arts-based programs to her students in Murphy School District as well as Phoenix Elementary District No. 1, during and outside of school time.
A native of Alabama, Dianne received her first degrees from Tennessee Temple University and Georgia State University before moving West to earn two additional degrees from ASU, including a Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) degree in General Music. Dianne currently lives in Foley, AL where she teaches general music and high school choir, while maintaining a private music studio.
Dr. Maggie Mangini has dedicated her life to teaching and learning. She retired in 2011 after 31 years at Arizona State University where she served as Director of the Bureau of Educational Research and Services (BERS) for many years, taught graduate courses in Education Leadership, and worked with cohorts of doctoral students, most notably Navajo Fellows. Following “retirement” she took on the role of Executive Director of the Workforce Education Development Office, a unit of the Department of Agricultural Education at the University of Arizona. The office worked with Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, second and post-secondary, in the areas of assessment, professional development, and research and leadership for workforce development.
Dr. Mangini earned her B.S. in Secondary Education (1964) and M.Ed. in Guidance and Counseling (1969) from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania; her Ed. D. in Educational Administration (1986) from Arizona State University. Prior to moving to Arizona in 1976, Dr. Mangini taught high school English and served as a high school guidance counselor in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Her experiences include teaching, counseling, administration, and business experience. Dr. Mangini has led consultant teams on studies for school districts and other educational entities addressing topics such as demographics, facilities, curriculum/instruction/assessment, school improvement, and leadership profiles prior to nationwide executive searches for school administrative personnel.
Dr. Shawna Fletcher was recently honored at the Leadership Texas Luminary Dinner for her contributions as Director of Women in Engineering (WE) Program at Texas A&M University. Shawna has held similar positions at both The Ohio State University and Arizona State University for over two decades. Her expertise includes developing practical tools to engage women in non-traditional careers, promote women in leadership, and strategies to embed inclusive practices within organizations. Her academic accomplishments at Arizona State include B.S. degrees in Microbiology and Physiological Psychology (Neuroscience), with minors in Chemistry and Women’s Studies, and an M.S. in Bioengineering. She earned a PhD in Interdisciplinary Engineering at Texas A&M in May 2022. Shawna has directed STEM outreach, recruitment and retention programs to excite and engage young female students to pursue engineering careers through hands-on projects and robotics. She has been at the forefront of statewide and national efforts for FIRST robotics, the STEM Equity Pipeline Project, TECH CORPS, Project Lead the Way (PLTW), and university-level competitive engineering project teams. Her leadership experience includes serving as President of AZ Promoters of Applied Science in Education (APASE), a non-profit organization and host of the National Underwater Robotics Challenge (NURC) (2007 – 2014); President of Columbus, OH and Brazos Valley, TX Branches for the American Association of University Women (AAUW); and has served on boards for WEPAN (wepan.org), TECH CORPS, and Girl Scouts of NE TX (GSNETX). She has also been a small business owner (2002-2015), an accomplished musician and cellist, and is a graduate of Leadership Texas (class of 2015), and Leadership International (class of 2016).
A masterful trainer, facilitator and business consultant, Mary has worked with a variety of healthcare organizations as well as other corporations, non-profits, and small businesses. Mary’s work originates from her belief that connection with others and continuous learning are the fuel for life – for individuals and organizations. Mary is a gifted communicator with a profound capacity to help people connect. She finds innovative ways for people to engage in meaningful and fruitful dialog. Her passion for learning is expressed in the experiences she designs and facilitates – whether the focus is leading others, expanding and sharing knowledge, building capacity and skills, or implementing new technology, processes or standards. People from all walks of life are engaged and inspired to action by Mary’s wisdom, sense of humor and contagious enthusiasm for life.
Mary earned a Master’s degree in Human Resource Development at Vanderbilt University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.
