What Our Clients Say About Us
Caryn Stein
Vice President, Communications, American Forest Foundation
I work with subject matter experts who focus on complicated issues (deforestation and climate change). This sometimes lends complexity to our message instead of simplifying it. Nancy and her team helped us sift and prioritize our work to get clear on the essence that matters. Because they didn’t share our assumptions, their well-informed outside perspective helped bubble up the things we don’t always recognize as the most interesting or compelling. They gave us processes, discipline and structure we can use going forward.
Angel St. Jean
Assistant Director for Strategic Initiatives, Mayor’s Office of Employment Development (Baltimore, MD)
Nancy helped a group of people with strong opinions, and different perspectives and priorities get on the same page and commit to accomplishing something together. Our first meeting was really high stakes for me. People were skeptical about the communication project and about working with an outside consultant. She not only helped address all of their concerns, but actually got people excited and agreeing to a path forward.
Kantahyanee Murray, Ph.D.
Senior Research Associate, Annie E. Casey Foundation
CSR Communications is extremely knowledgeable about their craft and the nonprofit sector. They offered tools, talking points, and techniques that helped dispel myths and connect more clearly with our constituents. We felt well-prepared for communication with funders and stakeholders. They were equal parts directive (when needed) and flexible. Not only did we accomplish the goals we’d set forth, but we also learned so much. It was a capacity-building opportunity for us.

Our new strategic plan fits my overall need for making sense of our work and connecting the dots between our vision-mission and all the activity we do in the community.
It will help us have meaningful and productive board-staff conversations in the future, as it provides the framework we need to make the hard decisions. Nancy’s process was flexible in meeting the diverse needs of board members and the staff while getting us to a great result in a reasonable timeframe.
Board Chair, JF Maddox Corporation
Leslie Boissiere
Vice President, External Affairs, Annie E. Casey Foundation
With Nancy as my retreat planning partner for our 40+-person team, I’m confident I can hand over my vision for the day and she’ll make it happen. She’s led multiple retreats for us, each one custom designed to accomplish exactly what we needed. Thanks to Nancy’s engaging, yet firm, facilitation style, I could really participate instead of assuming responsibility for keeping us on track.
Fran Atkinson
Deputy Director of Member Services, American Public Health Association
Nancy facilitated a team retreat that resulted in a positive change in our department. We needed to get at the root cause of some tension and figure out how to work together after a merger of two teams. We’re now a close-knit team since discussing our vulnerabilities and how we can help one another.
David Fouse
Director, Marketing and Communications, Association of Public Health Laboratories
When it came time to plan my first team retreat in a new leadership role, I knew I needed a partner I could trust and depend on to help me get it right. From our first conversation through the end of the retreat, Nancy kept the planning on track, created buy in from my staff and colleagues across the organization, and struck the right balance of fun and focus in her facilitation. I was thrilled with the entire process and the outcome.
Angel St. Jean
Assistant Director for Strategic Initiatives, (Baltimore) , Mayor’s Office of Employment Development
The meeting tips and tools Nancy introduced to us in our directors retreat have been a game changer. We’ve completely restructured the way we meet – from the frequency and types of meetings to rotating responsibilities for agenda development and note taking. These changes helped us move from operating in silos to a more effective, productive and stronger team.

Our new messages really resonate with our key stakeholders – from Fellows to alumni, Hill staffers and Members of Congress to partners.
It was great to see lots of different heads nodding as I spoke at our annual awards ceremony – using our new messages throughout. It’s like everyone can see themselves in these messages and hears something that speaks to what’s important to them.
Shannon Maynard, Executive Director, Congressional Hunger Center
Kate Shearer
Senior Manager, Office of Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility, Sodexo
CSR Communications brought clarity, insight, and structure to a project (sustainability case study development) that needed it. Nancy’s stakeholder engagement resulted in greater efficiencies and increased credibility with our multiple audiences at the end.
Javier La Fianza
Chief Executive Officer, Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership
My career has been spent working within large organizations… experiencing rapid growth or in turnaround situations. Nancy created an environment for testing new ideas, adjusting strategies and developing a stronger, more focused team.
Rose Khalifa
CEO, Metro Solutions
CSR Communications’ thorough research and assessment of our competitive environment and unique contribution to clients helped us make key decisions about our future. The team is not only detail-oriented and prompt, but also flexible, helping us keep on track and on task.

She helped us create a very clear strategic plan for the corporate program.
(former) Director of Major Gifts, African Wildlife Foundation
Ann Utterback
Board Chair, JF Maddox Foundation
The SHIFT lessons are just the right length and there’s always a morsel I can use in my day. I want to watch them over and over and over. SHIFT isn’t a nonprofit-only program. It’s not even a work-only program. Every leader, team, organization and family will benefit from it.
Angel St. Jean
Assistant Director for Strategic Initiatives, Mayor’s Office of Employment Development (Baltimore, MD)
I didn’t even know I was an intrapreneur until Nancy helped me see myself as one. I’ve learned that all the strategy and tactics in the world don’t make a difference if you can’t get others on board with the broader vision and build alliances with the skeptics. Leading big change hasn’t been easy, but Nancy has been there every step of the way with advice, tools, ideas and an empathetic ear.
Javier La Fianza
Chief Executive Officer, Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership
The Intrapreneurs Influence Lab did so much more than show me I was not alone. My career has been spent working within large organizations, particularly those experiencing rapid growth or in turnaround situations. Nancy created an environment for testing new ideas, adjusting strategies and developing a stronger, more focused team. I’m a better leader, and our organization is better, because of the Intrapreneurs Influence Lab.
Olga Yakimakho
Director, Leadership and Organizational Development, Special Olympics International
Participating in the Intrapreneurs Influence Lab created so many ‘a-ha’ moments for me and provided the tools for me to act on that insight. Nancy elicited from me the ‘why’ behind my work. She helped me reconnect with the reason I originally came to work for Special Olympics and that story’s role in my approach to leadership. By getting clearer on my personal change story, I can enroll others more effectively in the vision for organizational change.