Colleen M. Nolan

Senior Consultant

Colleen is always "reaching for the unreachable star." An advocate at heart, she believes no problem is unsolvable, and no pathway to success is ever truly blocked. The more complex, multi-layered and extensive the challenge - the more she wants "in."

Colleen sees the personal stake in every management decision and policy issue and develops strategic solutions that "feel good" as well as succeed. In the words of one organization's president "she does not just learn your issues - she lives them!"

She has dedicated her career to serving an industry that most of us take for granted - nonprofit associations and organizations. And she is skilled at applying lessons learned through her experience in the for-profit sector.

Building and partnering to direct the power of organizations is what Colleen finds fun. Her biggest kick is tilting at windmills. Why? Because if you are good at it, you get to knock some big ones down. A few of her recent direct hits have included:

• Designing and managing the internal communications program for the Sears, Roebuck and Co. IT Process Improvement Project.  Program involved developing messaging, training materials, talking points, a Web site, technical reading library and articles to educate 1,400 IT associates and 280,000 associates company-wide on the critical need to support this program which will deliver $610 million dollars in operational savings by the end of 2003. 
  
• Providing legislative affairs support for Premier Inc. during a highly visible summer 2003 hearing before the U.S. Senate.  Support includes the development of internal and external talking points, strategic research and counsel, and development of a responsive media relations strategy.
  
• Conducting a yearlong community affairs and media relations campaign for the law firm of Winston & Strawn in celebration of the firm’s 150^th anniversary in 2003, including creation of special events, marketing and educational materials, negotiations with community partners and overall message development and communications.
  
• Providing internal communications and strategic marketing counsel to national nonprofit associations such as: National Futures Association, American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Society, American Society of Dentists Anesthesiologists, American College of Environmental and Occupational Medicine and American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.