principal consultant 

Jo-Ann Byrne Sockolov, M.A., CFRE, SPHR

Jo-Ann is highly regarded for her ability to listen deeply and quickly establish trusting and strong relationships. She is able to decipher the unique and complex interconnections of people and systems and develop keen insights into the conditions affecting organizational dynamics and performance .  She is genuinely respectful, collaborative, and culturally aware.  She is an innovative strategist and creative problem solver who also loves the challenge of the on-the-ground hard work and heavy lifting. 

An inspirational leader and coach, she helps others hone their talents and abilities to enhance individual, team, and organizational performance.  A central tenant of her work is that it deliver increased and sustainable value to the organization and its stakeholders.  She brings the additional resource of a strong network of colleagues who are experts in a variety of areas complementary to her own, who can provide specialized project support for her clients when needed.

Jo-Ann has held management and executive leadership and consulting roles in the business and nonprofit sectors.  Her experience spans a wide breadth of organizational life cycles, including leading start-ups, to facilitating reorganizations, building and scaling operational functions, developing strategic partnerships, and helping to lead rapid growth.  For well over a decade she has served in community and civic leadership roles and proudly serves on a number of nonprofit boards and civic commissions.

Jo-Ann holds a M.A. and B.A. in Speech Communications Studies, with concentrations in interpersonal, small group, organizational, and cross-cultural communication and a B.S. in Business Administration, with an emphasis in management, from San Francisco State University.  She represented the United States as a Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholar to New Zealand to promote peace and foster international goodwill. There, she attended the University of Auckland, where she studied cultural anthropology and linguistics.

 Jo-Ann is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) and holds a lifetime designation as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR).  She earned certificates in Specialized Studies in Nonprofit Management through U.C. Irvine Extension Program and Human Resources Management through the U.C. Berkeley Extension Program, completed The Standards for Excellence, Ethics & Accountability Program through the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University, is a graduate of the Community Advocates Leadership Academy through Green Foothills, an environmental advocacy organization, and the Redwood City-San Mateo County Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program.