Our business combines two strong sets of services and two standard product offerings focused on the general goal of helping people “Visualize Change.” The core team in our San Francisco office provides the leadership that brings these to our clients as integrated solutions. This group is connected to a network of associates (practitioners who work with and through The Grove) and affiliates (organizations that are integrally networked with The Grove).

Grove Design and Consulting Services

DAVID SIBBET
is president and founder of The Grove Consultants International. He has been an organizational consultant and information designer for more than 30 years, building on eight prior years of experience in public-affairs leadership development at the Coro Foundation. He is the author of our leading-edge group process tools and models for facilitation, team leadership, and organizational transformation. He is a master facilitator of large-scale group processes, strategic visioning and creative, future-oriented symposia. His coaching and design expertise is always available to Grove project teams. David received a master’s degree in journalism from Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University and a bachelor’s degree in literature from Occidental College in Los Angeles.

>>>David Sibbet's blog

ROBERT PARDINI
is director of the design solutions group. For more than 15 years, he has managed The Grove’s design team and worked with clients in the design and production of numerous learning systems, process tools, Grove Storymaps™, and any manner of customized communication materials. He coordinates an extensive network of design and production specialists. Robert received a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri, Columbia and a bachelor’s degree in English literature from the University of California, Berkeley. He is a published author and is currently working on a graphic novel with one of his brothers.

LAURIE DURNELL
is director of consulting. She is a senior consultant with more than 15 years of experience in organizational consulting, team development and management. A seasoned graphic facilitator and trainer, she has designed and delivered programs incorporating Grove Storymaps™ and experience-based training for many corporations and public-benefit organizations. Laurie received a master’s degree in business from Simmons Graduate School of Management, with an emphasis on organizational development, and a bachelor’s degree in conservation of natural resources from the University of California, Berkeley.

KARA NICHOLS
is director of strategic development. She previously held a variety of leadership roles around the world, orchestrating development, communications strategy, and transformation/innovation planning efforts for Fortune 500s, start-ups and non-profits alike. Kara was Senior Vice President of Strategic Operations at Siegel & Gale for the UK/Europe/Middle East. She served as Director of Public Affairs for American Express Hong Kong/China. As both Director of Marketing and Director of Brand Strategy for Studio Archetype/Sapient Corp., she was instrumental in critical growth and integration strategies in San Francisco and London. She also spent a number of years with Ogilvy & Mather Hong Kong and Crawford Ellis Associates in Kenya. Kara serves on the Board of Directors for The VisionWorks Foundation and counsels patients on living and working with a chronic illness. She is an advocate for children’s arts education and is involved in organizing charity art auctions. Kara is a writer and graduated from the University of Missouri, Columbia, School of Journalism.

TOMI NAGAI-ROTHE
is a senior consultant with 12 years of experience in both private and public-benefit organizations. She draws on group process, graphic facilitation and visual design skills in her consulting practice, focusing mainly on the public sector. She especially enjoys working with clients on collaborative, creative meetings that lead to action. Tomi received a bachelor’s degree in East Asian Studies and Creative Writing from Oberlin College, and she is an internationally certified instructor of Shintaido (a spiritual martial art form) at the second degree black belt level. She joined the Grove Consultants International in 1988.

DANA WRIGHT
a senior consultant with The Grove Consultants International, more than 15 years of experience working with organizations, teams and individuals to help clarify their purpose and vision, and create powerful action plans that move them forward. She has worked in the public and non-profit sector, as well as with multi-nationals, mid-sized businesses and start-ups. She works as a graphic facilitator to help draw out the big picture of what people are trying to achieve. Her success has been driven by her understanding of the organizational and individual importance of clear communications, direction and purpose. Dana received a Masters of Science degree in Organization Development from the University of San Francisco. She also trained with the Coaches Training Institute in San Rafael as a personal and professional coach.

TIFFANY FORNER
is a senior designer and project manager on a variety of communication-design projects, ranging from hand-drawn illustrations to computer-generated information pieces with a focus on the design of complex Grove Storymaps™. Tiffany has a bachelor’s degree in design from the University of California, Los Angeles and is an exhibiting painter.

EDWARD PALMER
is the Information Technology Coordinator with over 15 years of hands-on enterprise support experience. Edward's educational background is steeped in nearly a decade of cross-cultural education theories and practices. A graduate of Haskell Indian Nations University, and a double major graduate of Humboldt State University, Edward has balanced his role in both cultural worlds. Excelling in both his IT Career, and continuing his donations to the local Tribal communities, Edward has found the necessary balance to bring unique innovations to the needs of the Grove and it's clients.

KRISTEN SCHAEFER
is the Client Relationship Coordinator. She works closely with The Grove's consultants and designers to assess prospective clients' needs and ensure they are met with appropriate and timely solutions. She also provides clients with information about The Grove, its people, products, and services. Kristen is a graduate of the University of California, San Diego where she received bachelor's degrees in sociology and communication. For the past six years she has volunteered for the California Association of Student Councils, a not-for-profit association that trains middle school and high school students in leadership development, facilitation and presentation skills. She also interned with the Ken Blanchard Companies in San Diego.

Grove Product and Training Services

THOMAS SIBBET
is director of the product-fulfillment group, which involves managing the sale and distribution of all Grove products. He manages The Grove on-line store, catalogs, and licensing operations. In addition, he coordinates product-development projects. Thomas has worked for The Grove for 20 years in various capacities and has a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Humboldt State University.


DONNA LAFAYETTE
is office and workshop coordinator. She is a member of the customer-service team and has more than 20 years of customer-service experience in a number of industries. She was a team leader at a call center that handled escalated customer-service issues, email requests, and quality assurance. She has an art background, having attended art school in New York, and is currently working on her teaching credential.

JUANCARLOS SAGASTUME
is a customer-service representative and shipping coordinator. He has extensive experience in customer service for Peet’s Coffee and Tea, winning the Customer Service Award in 2004 for the San Francisco district. He is from Guatemala, Central America, where he was president and graphic designer of his own publicity firm. In 1997, Juancarlos developed a process to design graphic materials for non-literate people currently used by most not-for-profits in Guatemala. He graduated cum laude from Rafael Landivar University.

NOEL SNOW
is a member of The Grove s Customer Service team. With a background in performing & fine arts, Noel s award-winning customer-focused work experience has spanned the recreation and hospitality industries in Lake Tahoe, San Francisco and the U.S. Armed Services in Europe. Noel studied hand typesetting and pre-electronic graphic arts and has continued to build her knowledge since with digital graphics, web development and advanced photography. She has also held numerous leadership roles as a student and entrepreneur. Noel feels her role at The Grove brings all of these experiences together and truly enjoys interfacing with the organization s unique clients from around the world

Grove Business Office

MEGAN HINCHLIFFE
is chief administrative officer and assistant to David Sibbet. She brings more than 15 years of administration experience at a not-for-profit school for emotionally disturbed children to her role managing all facets of administration and accounting at The Grove. Megan received a bachelor's degree in American studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz and holds a certificate in human resource management from San Francisco State University.

CALLIE BLOEM
is business office associate and provides accounting and administrative support to the business office. Her professional experience includes financial compliance, administration, and customer service in both private and not-for-profit sectors. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Madison where she received her bachelors' degrees in sociology and political science.