Laura (Ceara) Peterson

Experience

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  Wells Fargo Bank

  Dec 2002 - May 2004

  Senior Financial Analyst

  Managed extensive process and system project work including assisting the CTS systems support group with design, programming, analysis, testing and implementation aspects. Collaborated on development and implementation of new hire mentoring program. Part-time from 2005 to 2010.

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  Patterson Park Community Development Corp.

  Sept 2004 - Sept 2007

  Director of Construction

  Managed all activities of three project teams composed of 25+ construction personnel in the construction of high-density urban infill residential and mixed-use commercial construction.Oversaw department budget and served as point person for construction projects, including through coordinating with head of architecture on construction challenges; and interfacing with real-estate developers, neighborhood associations, and city officials during construction.Pioneered leadership training program to expand business capabilities and enhance organizational culture in construction business.Upon being tapped for the director position, increased employee morale and productivity through fostering an environment that encouraged and rewarded team work, knowledge sharing, individual and team accountability, and professional growth. Show less

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  Starfish Practice

  Dec 2006 - Apr 2012

  Change and Management Consultant, Director

  Consulted for a client list that included Arcelor Mittal, SUNPRO Services, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore City Public Schools, and private organizations in DC and Cleveland. Worked in tandem with senior leadership team at client site to create and implement a plan to integrate 125 staff from recent merger and acquisition.Advised on major re-organization and collaborated with VP of HR on strategy and organization design. Conducted staff interviews to identify failure points in operations and management. Performed 360-feedback on leadership team and provided subsequent coaching. Led complex change initiatives on improving business effectiveness through strategic change, culture enhancement, operations excellence, business development, and process redesign. Planned, designed, and facilitated large-scale meetings for up to 150 people with the purpose of building conflict management, emotional intelligence, and other skills integral to leadership.Designed and facilitated robust Appreciative Inquiry summits managing four project teams over three-month design phase for four unique clients. Provided executive coaching to leaders and entrepreneurs in construction, accounting, and law.Developed and delivered interactive multi-day talent development programs focused on Strategic Change, Culture Change, Operations Excellence, Accountability, Emotional Intelligence, Performance Management, Business Development, Process Redesign, Team & Talent Management, and Interpersonal Communication. Headlined for speaking engagements on Authenticity, Visionary Conversations, Emotional Intelligence, Coaching for Performance Improvement, and Women in Leadership.Long-term clients included: Stocks in the Future/Johns Hopkins University, 2009-2010,Growth and Culture change with Staff Development. Patterson Park Public Charter School, 2009-2011, Leadership & Staff Development, Fundraising Development/CRM Show less

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  Baltimore Green Construction

  Sept 2007 - Apr 2009

  Director of Production & Organizational Development

  Led operations management for high-end residential and light commercial construction firm.Oversaw management related aspects including human resources; hiring, training, and mentoring 18 team members; project planning and scheduling; managing 3-5 project budgets up to $3M each and operations budget; and analyze P&L for development targets. Identified need for culture transformation. Led steering committee on defining culture and values while improving employee engagement. Facilitated business owners in crafting and implementing actions that addressed employee attrition.Developed training initiatives focused on growing leaders at all levels, deepening team engagement, and project management. Evaluated each staff member to ensure the holistic approach was effective. Led operations re-design and installed process-controls to maximize operational effectiveness. Show less

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  Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group

  Apr 2012 - Sept 2014

  Senior Organization Development Consultant

  Engaged as an organization development consultant on five multi-phased projects over several years. Featured projects include: Culture Change within a large multi-specialty medical hub, Strategic Transformation with the MAP Research Institute, and Leadership Development for physician chiefs as they emerge into their role. Identified a need for leadership development at all tiers of leadership and spear-headed the creation, development, and deployment of the Emerging Leaders Institute, a year-long program for physicians to become Emotionally and Socially Intelligent Leader who motivate, inspire and influence others. Participants learned to transform their strengths to meet goals through channeled messaging, whole team inclusiveness, by honing their self and social awareness. I leveraged public speaking skills along side industry SME's, University professors, and best selling authors. The institute included a year of one-on-one coaching. Project managed 4-5 training workshops annually, including script writing, participant material development, presentation development, facilitation, assessment, and train-the-trainers. Example of projects included: assessed, developed, and delivered a series of 4 communication skills intensives focused on improved patient-clinician relationships aimed at increasing Member-Patient Satisfaction scores. Managed 2 staffers on event management. Implemented and directed a new Learning Management System (LMS) for increased delivery of eLearning, reducing logistical burdens of event management of live training and maximizing access to learning. Lead and trained a team of 3 staff members to facilitate and coordinate LMS.Coached to (60+ of 1,300) physicians including line physicians and department heads on topics as varied as conflict management, mindfulness, managing peers, leadership competencies, confidence, messaging, leading diverse teams, and clinician-patient communication skills. Show less

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  Resonant-Consulting

  Sept 2014 - Jan 2023

  I provided leadership development through executive coaching and management consulting with professionals across sectors. Change is inevitable in business. I believe it’s important to align employees with the change and have their behavior match the expected outcomes. I support change efforts at the personal, team, and organizational level. Change Mangement: Managed culture change and value clarification through organizational development initiatives from assessment/interview to execution. Guided strategy development using an appreciative approach. Led client meetings, acting as trusted advisor to leadership teamLearning Management: Created, developed, and facilitated dynamic multi-course talent transformation programs, leadership development workshops and group retreats for professional services firms, nonprofits, and start-ups. Delivered custom leadership programs, board retreats, and executive team building courses. Produced, directed and delivered blended learning programs that include face-to-face, small group coaching, large group facilitation, and e-Learning modules. Facilitated Train-the-Trainer programs on small-group facilitation, performance management, becoming a coach based manager, influence style, etc.Coaching: Cultivated the emotional and social intelligence of mid-level and senior leaders. Challenged division heads and business owners to dig deeper into their strengths and support their growth. Collectively brainstormed through new ideas while holding leaders accountable to change. Show less

  • Head Consultant

    Sept 2014 - Jan 2023

  • Organization and Leadership Development Consultant

    Sept 2014 - Dec 2015
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  Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University

  Sept 2014 - Jan 2018

  Executive Coach

  I provided confidential executive coaching to global clients on behalf of Weatherhead School of Management's executive education program.Projects of interest:U.S. Treasury Department, Office of Financial ResearchEtihad Airways, Dubai, UAEDubai Air Navigation Services (DANS)Cleveland Institute for the Arts

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  ChangeFusion, LLC

  Apr 2015 - Apr 2016

  Director, Client Solutions

  As an Organization Development Consultant and Director of Clients Solutions, I support ChangeFusion's mission. We help organizations achieve change, define strategy, shift culture, and build the capacity of their leaders and employees. We do it all with hard-hitting business acumen, heart, and soul.

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  RTI International

  Apr 2016 - Apr 2022

  As the leader of the GTOD division, my responsibility is to create a vision and implement a strategy that supports the organization's development needs while delivering high-quality talent development programs focused on Leadership and Management, Change Management, Strategic Talent Development, Executive Coaching, and professional development connected to our business strategy. This agency approach is common in most external consulting firms with the added benefit of seeing our hard work come to fruition through the organization. It's an incredibly exciting role that is the best of both worlds - consulting expertise, client management, and project execution like an external consultant married to the internal satisfaction of improving the employee experience and enabling the realization of the organizations mission. Managing a 10 person professional services department within a large organization requires applying innovative and creative client-centric solutions. As a white glove consultancy, our senior consultants are focused on providing outstanding client relationship management that incorporates a matrix of solutions from the broader team so each of us can work at the top of our professional calling. We leverage the latest technology to support talent development through @CSOD for learning management, @Fuel50 for Career Pathing, Mentor management, and Gig Market place. We rely on our in-house leadership experts to design and deliver world-class scaled leadership development that includes cohorts, longitudinal learning, 360s, coaches and mentors. We hire external support to ensure we can quickly and efficiently scale all of our offerings, both OD and LD, to match the organizations needs effectively. This is a delightful team of exceptional consultants and experts which I am honored to lead. Show less Institute-level role oversees Global Talent Development (L&D) for the enterprise. The responsibilities include: -Developing and executing a cohesive and integrated learning and development vision and strategy that meets the needs of RTI International employees across the globe-Managing a team of global talent development experts while partnering with learning advisers and advocates across the Institute- Managing RTI’s talent needs assessment ensuring strategic development of knowledge, skills, and capabilities for RTI talent. Identifies learning and development needs arising from a range of organizational diagnostics, including training needs analysis, employee surveys, employee focus groups and change management initiatives, as they arise.- Serving as a subject matter expert and consultant to the Institute on latest developments, trends, and leading practices on the most critical talent development issues- Owing the design, development, and deployment of Leadership Development for all employees- Leading RTI’s Strategic Talent Planning process ensuring effective program design and management, adoption, and successful outcomes for the identification, tracking, and development of RTI’s key talent. - Deploying programs or enhancing current best practices such as micro-rotations, mentoring, virtual learning pathways, communities of practice (live and virtual), career pathing, and manager support tools-Collaborating and consulting with senior leaders, human resource businesses, partners, and stakeholders to ensure effective design and high-quality delivery of learning and development strategies and outcomes for RTI. - Exploiting technology to ensure machine learning and learning/talent analytics inform every decision and clear the path for future best practicesThis exciting role sets RTI International apart as an outstanding employer that is fully vested in making RTI a great place to work and an even better place to grow. Show less I was dedicated to a broad portfolio including:-Organization Development consulting with the specific aim to expand the knowledge and effectiveness of staff and ensure a positive change management experience for several of RTI's enterprise level initiatives within the International Development Group (1400+ person organization with 200 domestic staff/1200 international staff), International Regional offices (70 international staff), University Collaboration Consortium, and special projects for the President's office. Key contributions as an OD consultant includes:- Support full cycle change and strategy management, facilitate retreats/meetings/large scale events, conducting design think sessions, synthesize recommendations, advising senior leaders and their teams, craft strategic communication, and support multiple levels of staff through the change process- Lead cultural integration of acquired firms (1/2017 acquired IRG approximately 50 domestic staff, 200 international staff)-Create, develop, and deliver custom and culturally appropriate leadership development program in East Africa-Lead dozens of project and senior management teams through strategy setting retreats-Design and facilitate custom kick-off meetings for new cross-institute collaborations with 40-100 participantsI balanced the business unit portfolio while also leading and/or supporting several institute-wide initiatives including Dynamic Development (performance management), Leadership Development Program, Diversity and Inclusion, Lead Forward (Institute competencies), and Strategic Talent Planning (HiPo /successor identification). 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  • Vice President of Global Talent and Organization Development

    Mar 2021 - Apr 2022

  • Senior Director Global Talent and Organization Development

    Aug 2020 - Mar 2021

  • Senior Director of Global Talent Development

    Oct 2017 - Aug 2020

  • Director of Organization Development

    Apr 2016 - Oct 2017
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  Cummins Inc.

  Jun 2022 - now

  Executive Director, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Culture

  I am responsible for developing and deploying a comprehensive global DEI change management strategy as well as processing Cummins DEI learning and development efforts and measurement, analysis, and reporting strategy. I partner with the Corporate Talent Management group to embed DEI across the Employee Life Cycle, including talent acquisition, learning & development, performance management, and advancement practices and policies.

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  Georgetown University

  Apr 2024 - now

  Adjunct Faculty

  Part of the outstanding faculty team delivering the DEI Executive Certificate program at Georgetown University.