Dr. Melanie Ohm, CEO

“Melanie is a joy to work with – meticulously prepared, creative, responsive and collaborative. She is by far the best facilitator I have ever worked with.”

C.J. Eisenbarth HagerAssociate Director, Community Health Policy, St. Luke’s Health Initiatives

“Melanie is an innovative thinker. She broadens the experiences of many who are involved in business with her by building collaborative environments, being trustworthy, hardworking and creative. She inspires others to see how their work matters in the larger scope of community.”

Vivian (Wessel) Highton, MBA, Strategy and Business Development ConsultingFormer executive director, Arizona Alliance for Arts Education

“Melanie Ohm is the type of person who comes immediately to mind when I think, What type of person would I most like to work with, on any project? She is personable, incredibly talented, conscientious, thorough, easy-to-get-along-with, and absolutely passionate about everything she does (which is a lot!).”

Daniel SchneckProfessor of Engineering Science and Mechanics, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

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.

The Consultant Collaborative

Concepts Consulting Group, Inc. is committed to deep collaboration in practice – not just theory. These are a few of the talented partners who help make the practice excellent every day.

Shawna Fletcher, MS, BME

Partner, Diversity & Inclusion for the Workforce, ArtVentures in Engineering

An equity and inclusion expert for over 20 years, Ms. Fletcher has served as director of women in engineering programs at three of the largest, research I institutions in the US. Her expertise includes developing practical tools to engage women in non-traditional careers, promoting women in leadership, and fostering strategies that embed inclusive practices within organizations.

Her academic accomplishments include B.S. degrees in Microbiology and Physiological Psychology (Neuroscience), with minors in Chemistry and Women’s Studies, and an M.S. in Bioengineering from Arizona State University. 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 and Brazos Valley Branches for the American Association of University Women (AAUW); and serving on boards for the Women in Engineering Pro-Active Network (WEPAN) (wepan.org) and TECH CORPS. She has also been a small business owner (2002-2015) and is an accomplished musician and cellist.

Mary Pierce, MHRD

Co-developer, Workplace Competencies Training and Coaching

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.

“Mary Pierce is one of the most exceptional people, and one of the best consultants I’ve ever engaged. Mary’s style ensures her clients receive great results, personable interaction and personal attention, expert advice and perspective, fantastic value, on-time delivery of work product, unrivaled integrity and truly creative, innovative thinking…Mary’s unique and intuitive abilities make her the bedrock of any consultative process in which she is involved.”

Chantal SheehanED/CEO, New Global Citizens

Judy Butzine, MSW

Partner in arts for facilitation training and Thoughtful Warrior youth development

Judy is a social worker and former health care professional for 30 years. In 2003 she formed ArtWeb at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix, designing & facilitating youth development programming with an emphasis on literature based, arts/cultural participation processes. Judy was the education coordinator at The Bead Museum, interfacing once again in community settings with meaningful thematic lesson units, researched and made available on the internet. She co-founded and directs a non-profit, Cultural Arts Coalition: celebrating global connections (CAC). This organization fills a void in various communities by creating safe spaces to engage in civic dialogue and providing opportunities for critical inquiry/problem solving while focusing on issues of human rights, reformative justice and self-determination.

In 2008, Ms. Butzine co-designed a pilot, 45 hour program working with juveniles in the Lower Buckeye Jail, Thoughtful Warrior, which received the 2013 Innovative Program of the Year award from Arizona Correctional Educators. She also designed and facilitated the Balsz Promise Neighborhood Youth Advisory Councils for teens at both Camelback and Gateway Early College High Schools and published a children’s book that is incorporated into curriculum as a tool supporting acts of kindness and tolerance/respect for all persons.

Keith Johnson, Teaching Artist

Master Drummer, Craftsman of Traditional Instruments, Facilitator

Keith Johnson is a performing artist and a master teaching artist. He facilitates for Thoughtful Warrior and is a guest artist for our Leader Preparation Experiences.

Keith’s journey as a percussionist led him to Africa to learn about traditional drums. He met and studied for a number of years with YacubAddy of Ghana, learning that the tonal language of drums was the way of communication in Africa. After many years of study, Keith’s African teachers designated him a master drummer. Extensive travels to West Africa include Bamako, Mali, Dakar, Senegal and Accra Ghana. Through dedicated research and practice, Keith is also a craftsman of traditional musical instruments, including Membranophones (talking drums, water drums, panlogo, djembe); Chordophones (Kora 21- stringed harp, gonji, violin, riki harp, lute); Aerophones (whistle, panpipes, signal flutes, transverse flutes); and Idiophones (gourd rattles, seed pods, thumb piano, balaphon, cocoon). His interest in traditional instruments took him to the Caribbean Island of Trinidad and Tobago, where he learned of the Steel Drums, on which he is now fluent as an artist and a teacher.

“I’ve worked with Melanie in various arts partnership development projects, both as a PhD candidate and as a faculty member. She has a particular ability to listen to individuals, to attend to project goals, and to weave these elements together into a working partnership that demonstrates relevant outcomes to the communities and people involved. Her work connecting community-based groups through the arts has led to long term and systemic change.”

Dr. Lori HagerProfessor and associate director, University of Oregon Arts and Administration Program

“Melanie is a knowledgeable and talented leader and advocate for our community. Her work consistently demonstrates her personal and professional goals to pursue excellence as a Consultant regardless of the subject matter. I highly recommend her and believe we are quite privileged to have her work with our organizations as a Consultant, Facilitator and Trainer.”

ErLinda C. Tórres President & CEO, ALAC (Advocates for Latin@ Arts and Culture)

Connect to find out how we can work together.

Contact our Team

Experience Makes a Difference!

A Sampling of Clients

Municipal, County

Maricopa Association of Governments
City of Phoenix Office of Arts & Culture, AZ
Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Education Section
Town of Guadalupe, Arizona

K-12 Education

Arizona Department of Education
Gilbert and Higley Public Schools, AZ
Murphy School District No. 21, Phoenix

Higher Education

College of Public Programs Student Engagement, Arizona State University
LEARN Office, University of Wyoming
School of Dance, Arizona State University
A Women’s Engineering Program at a University in the State of Ohio
Workforce Education and Development Office, Arizona State University

Social Sector

Advocates for Latin@ Arts & Culture (ALAC)
Cultural Coalition, Inc
Life Paradigms, Inc
Native Health
Partners of the Americas, WY-Goias
PSA Behavioral Health
Redwood Coast Charitable Alliance
St. Luke’s Health Initiatives