Dr. Stephanie A. ParsonDr. Parson is a world authority on 21st Century Leadership. A proven consultant, speaker, trainer, author and executive with Fortune 100 global experience in leading teams in the public and private sector. She brings over 20 years of charismatic leadership, executive management and extensive problem solving skills in strategic planning, talent development, program management and organizational change.
She coaches global CEOs and their leadership teams on how to confront effectively and create powerful results through transformational leadership.
Dr. Parson has consulted with agencies surrounding their strategic direction, technology strategies, business growth strategies, innovation, project management strategies, succession planning and productivity strategies. She has also conducted leadership development workshops, seminars and events for over 7000 individuals within the public and private sector in the United States, Mexico and Brazil. As an executive, she has also provided one-on-one coaching sessions to over 300 executives in the public and private sector.
Dr. Parson’s background includes roles in executive management, strategic planning, training and development and program management within Fortune 100 companies. Prior to creating Crowned Grace she served as a Vice President at Walt Disney World, where her duties entailed day-to-day operations of the strategic planning process, research and development, fiscal planning process, procurement, Program Management Office, Training and productivity improvement. She implemented the first strategic planning process for Walt Disney World’s IT Group, leading to a Strategic Plan (Balanced Scorecard). While working with operational business partners, her team delivered customer facing technologies which positively impacted annual revenue. She also implemented the first Program Management Office for Walt Disney World, leading to a rollout of standard practices for project management across the Walt Disney Company. In this role, her team sourced and delivered over 1200 training seats and implemented a training provider network.
Dr. Parson’s other leadership experience includes serving as a Vice President and Chief Information Officer for Parsons Brinckerhoff Inc, one of the world’s oldest continuously operating engineering firms; ranked number one in transportation engineering and has major practice areas in energy, power, aviation planning, environmental and facilities engineering from over 200 offices worldwide with over 8000 employees. She also led a global staff of 112 professionals for new development and ongoing support for Seagram Spirits and Wine Group. As a Director, she owned financial responsibility for an annual $15M operating budget with a separate $24M capital budget. Dr. Parson is also a military veteran, having served as a decorated officer in the United States Air Force prior to entering the corporate sector.
Areas of Expertise/Topics
Conflict Resolution / Difficult People / Emotional Intelligence
8. Warning – Conflict Within & Without Can Kill You
9. Your IQ Gets You In The Door – Your EQ Keeps You In & Gets You Promoted
10. The Power of P.I.E. – Performance, Image & Exposure
Project Management
11. Watch Out For The Pitfalls – Avoiding Project Scope Creep
Special Interest Topics For Special Occasions
Please Contact Dr. Stephanie A. Parson directly at 240.454.3624
Lt. Colonel Jennifer R. Cobbs-GrantJennifer Cobbs-Grant is a woman of many talents and much experience. Currently Cobbs-Grant uses her skills as a Project Manager, which in brief requires oversight, business development and capture, management, training, and development of policies and procedures. A genius at multitasking, Cobbs-Grant hopes that her post COVID-19 future includes at least a form of a hybrid work model. Clients have been amazed at how much work continued to get done, even during the onset, and continuance of the COVID-19 pandemic. While safety of employees and clients will forever be paramount, certain types of productivity require in person work, as does socialization. People across the globe are missing the simple human interaction of brief greetings, shared stories over coffee, and emotional support.
Cobbs-Grant is proud to say she was able to retire from the military after a 28-year career and was able to immediately begin work in the civilian sector. “The transition went much easier than I expected. I learned I still have a work family, just a different family.”
If you want to put a smile on her face, just let Cobbs-Grant wander a mall or PX with her sister or family! Girl time is spent with her sister shopping on less-crowded days. Always on the hunt for a bargain, they take joy in the freedom to choose items and explore stores. When it’s safe, Cobbs-Grant loves to travel with her family including her husband, her daughters, one local, and one farther away, and of course her sister!
Cobbs-Grant holds a M.A. in Human Resources Management, and a B.A. in Business Administration.
Key areas of expertise:
Sergeant Major Kenya L. BerryRetired Sergeant Major Berry currently serves as a Program Manager. She is an adept leader with 28 years of experience in management, motivation, group dynamics and performance with high calibre professionals. Her interpersonal and communication skills inspire diverse group members to create positive professional relationships.
The most important take-aways Berry has internalized since the beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic are: “We can function virtually, successfully! We can definitely facilitate transitions from military service to civilian service. We can easily liaison more virtually because of fewer interruptions. Working online has increased self-awareness, and decreased expenses. Our work relationships seem to be maintained, but they do require structure and consistency.” Post- pandemic goals include looking to expound on our program, “Coffee and Connect” with clients and to increase opportunities for them to transition from working in the military to working in the civilian sector.
For fun Berry enjoys’ -ing’…. traveling, shopping, landscaping, decorating. Clearly possessing a creative streak and high energy, Berry is a self-proclaimed extrovert. “People make me laugh- l love to be around them and love being able to talk.”
Berry holds a M.A. in Human Service: Health and Wellness.
Key areas of expertise:
Shernice CooperMs. Shernice Cooper is currently a Senior Transitional Analyst for Crowned Grace International, “linking business leaders to results.” Her role requires her to ensure “that Soldiers, Spouses, and their Families have meaningful employment solutions and services developed to support their transition.”
Cooper’s research and experience includes the study of human responses in workplace environments and how those responses affect organizational routines, drawing on theory, methods and principles from such disciplines as psychology, sociology, cultural preservation, and diversity and inclusion. Cooper continues to use her professional experience to build and maintain solid business partnerships.
When you’ve described Cooper’s ability and accomplishments- you’ve said a lot! But what does she do for fun? A little known but completely plausible fact is that she loves to build and decorate! Her creative side continues into her secret skill- singing! But when all is said and done, “I love the arts, we (my husband and I) love to watch movies, but for just me, it’s a book and a pillow!” Finally- this woman stops!
Key areas of Education and Expertise:
Harold L. HillHarold L. Hill is a consultant and coach of Crowned Grace International. Harold has a passion for and expertise of enabling Fortune 500 organizations, teams and leaders to improve their effectiveness and increase their capacity. With over 20 years of relevant organizational development (OD), coaching and change management experience, Harold’s clients range across many professional sectors including retail, health care, technology, hospitality, financial services, education, entertainment, government and utility. Harold also manages his own consulting firm with clients that include The Walt Disney Company, Right Management, Vantage Solutions, University of Miami, Zebra Technology, Teleos Leadership, University of Vermont Medical Center, Merrill Lynch, City of Jackson, MS, University of Texas A&M Engineering Services and Partners Federal Credit Union among others.
Before joining Crowned Grace International, Harold was a Senior Consultant with North Highland Consulting. Prior to that he was an OD manager with Walt Disney Parks & Resorts in Orlando, Florida for over 10 years. He was responsible for coaching and developing executives and providing consultation in employee engagement, business assessment, strategic development, change management and leadership training. Harold also worked for a Chicago utility, ComEd, for over 15 years in the areas of OD, project management and engineering at the Braidwood Nuclear Power Plant.
With over twenty years of team and organizational facilitation experience, Harold has designed and delivered training and learning experiences for groups as large as 500 participants. He has also coached executives at all levels of the organizations including C-Suite, Executive and Senior VPs and Board Chairpersons. Harold is a faculty member and practicum supervisor at the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland and the International Organization and System Development program. He is also a facilitator and trainer for the National Training Laboratory (NTL). With these organizations, Harold delivers coaching and work sessions on topics of leadership, change, conflict, diversity, feedback, communication and culture.
Harold earned a BS from Bradley University and holds an MBA in Operations Management from DePaul University. He earned a Professional Human Resources (PHR) certification from SHRM and has completed the Principles & Practices of Organization Development program at Columbia University. Harold is certified in the Prosci Change Management methodology and tools and holds an ICF coaching certification.
Debbie FarahPassionate Change Maker, skilled in Strategy and Executive Consulting – Leadership, Executive Coaching, Marketing, Operations, Culture Change and Start-ups. Internationally recognized authority on globalization, organizational development, and cultural competence for leaders and corporations.
Strategic thought leader and speaker versed in all areas of global development and international business, she ignites energy, growth and development of organizations and individuals in all sectors while strengthening the c-suite leadership pipeline. Her clients include Government Agencies, Fortune 100, including Multinational Public and Private Sector.
She is expert at identifying the key changes and challenges in leadership and organizational behavior that lead to accelerating positive movement throughout an organization. Her vision is a world where accountability, engagement, caring, and personal and corporate health are common denominators in business. As a certified coach, strategic communications and change consultant, educator, author, and conference speaker. She works with leaders, coaches, and consultants who want to align people toward a compelling vision, unite teams, and strengthen leadership skills required for the delivery of sound business performance and exponential growth into productive, innovative and collaborative corporate cultures. Her programs have helped thousands of corporate executives and their organizations to be more effective in local and international settings.
Her background includes managing large-scale leadership development and culture change initiatives for multinational organizations. She is a catalyst for leaders in organizations helping them reignite their passion for work, family and community.
Working with internal functional departments, external stakeholders, media or celebrity partners She can share a vision and bring the ideas to supernatural execution, with a lot of humor along the way. Excellent financial management, budgeting and project management skills. 30+ years of business, management and creative leadership experience working with diverse demographics and diverse cultures. Understands the messiness of emerging economies.
She is a passionate coach to Social Entrepreneurs and their organizations and how they contribute to creating a business for impacting the world for change. She uses her intellectual curiosity and creative thought leadership to envision new ways to work globally and contribute to a better world.
Debbie is creative visionary, who leads teams to excellence through bridging cultures and executing on complex business ideas. Debbie understands telling a story and finding a press strategy in the difficult environment of social media, web content and new influencer journalism. She is versed in finding and communicating the best and most relevant story of a person or organization. Assisting C-suite leaders with building their personal and professional brand through speaking, writing and public appearances. Well versed in crisis media management.
Extensive experience in the gender space and has lead initiatives, for diversity and inclusion in innovative organizations who wish to succeed in the global arena. designs, organizes and implements programs that support Cultural Competence, Global OD, Global Leadership, and Virtual Workforce.
For over twenty years, her work in 25+ countries on 4 continents has honed her global perspective and developed her awareness of the intricate dynamics of human interactions and complexities of organizational systems and culture. Specialization in Africa, Mid-East, Hispanic and Asian markets. Traveled extensively to those markets to consult with leaders while creating domestic and international programs.
In 2011, Farah was named one of “150 Women Who Shake the World” by The Daily Beast for her work with BIG. She serves on several non-profit and advisory boards, Collaborating with the US Department of State, Farah developed a new model for entrepreneurship training for men and women in developing nations. She also developed an apprenticeship for business cross-cultural programs that has become a model for working with global entrepreneurs, and received an award for the “BIG Idea” from the US Department of State.
Ms. Farah was on the founding community and advisory board at Rollins College for the Social Enterprise and Sustainability Initiative (SESI) and participated in the Ashoka Change Maker initiative. She is active with the Blackstone Launch Lab at the University of Central Florida, speaking, assisting and mentoring students in launching new fashion and consumer good companies. Ms. Farah serves as a member of Artisan Alliance Resources through the Aspen Institute; she has also served on the Host Committee as a cross-cultural consultant for Dr. Amel Chakara from Iraq, as well as other visiting scholars as part of the Tupperware Global Links Program. During the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, she developed a program to help families who were relocated to Dallas, Texas. The program was praised by the Red Cross and used as a model for other non-profits and emergency response organizations for natural disasters.
Debbie has been recognized as Bright House Networks 2016 Regional Small Business of the Year in Central Florida, and BIG was nominated as “Best Artisan” by HSN.
Debbie is passionate about local and global social initiatives such as: WeVenture Founding Board Member, Athena Powerlink Orlando Alumna, NAWBO Orlando Member, Orlando Museum of Art Council of 101 Member, Advisory Board Member of Women’s Worth, Rollins College Social Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Initiative (SESI) Advisory Board, Alliance of Artisans Enterprise Steering Committee Member, and Winter Park Chamber of Commerce Member. Debbie is a frequent speaker nationally and internationally on women’s empowerment, social enterprise, sustainability, ethical fashion, entrepreneurship, job creation, poverty alleviation emerging economies, transparency in the supply chain and sustainable fashion.
Debbie is an international traveler and speaks Arabic, English and very limited Dari, and Hindi. She is a Jacksonville, Florida native, spending most of her career in Dallas and Atlanta before returning to Florida. She presently resides in Washington D.C. and travels globally.
Taye HailuTaye Hailu is on a mission- a mission to provide private and federal agencies solutions in their efforts to improve the health, safety, and human service needs of individuals, communities, and nations. To this end, Hailu has worked over 21 years as a meeting planner, project coordinator and trainer. Hailu currently serves at Crowned Grace International as a Meeting Planner. He states the pandemic “…reminded us in unique ways we were …not making the main thing, the main thing.” Hailu will take away from the experience of living and working during a pandemic that “… as professionals, we have an ever increasing need to consistently seek to be innovative, to stretch our creativity and not just think outside of the box, but live outside the box. The pandemic forced us to harness technology in every aspect in life. Business learned from the experience of working during this pandemic to develop teleworking policies; business that had hesitated before found out it can be done, and done well!”
Given the ability to thrive under pressure, Hailu often manages multiple projects working under the pressure of a fast-paced environment. Even so, he is able to communicate effectively with diverse populations ranging from government officials and senior executives, to staff, contractors and related stakeholders. When given the chance for some R & R, likes to be around people- “I get charged and rejuvenated by being around great people, having great conversation- but also by reading books.” Few people know that Hailu is a thrill seeker- “I would love to bungee jump or skydive!”
Always interested in improving not just his client’s lives, but his own, Hailu is actively seeking his degree in Business Administration.
Areas of expertise:
Roseline JosephMs. Roseline Joseph proudly currently serves as a controller, handling numerous accounting functions and financial reports. Prior to joining Crowned Grace International, she worked in affordable housing for a decade. Roseline first became interested in accounting while in high school. “When I was in tenth grade, a teacher came in recruiting students for the schools Business and Technical Program.” Roseline learned it was a two-year program and it sounded interesting, so she decided to sign up. After a brief, rocky start, she began acing her tests and found “…great satisfaction when the debits equaled the credits!” After high school graduation, she joined the Navy and quickly learned it was not really what she wanted. Roseline remembered accounting came easily to her, so she went to college for accounting. Presently, Roseline continues to grow her skills in accounting and finance, leadership and entrepreneurism. “COVID-19 has forced me to readjust and sharpen my time management skills; it has taught me how to balance things- made me more tech savvy- especially regarding ZOOM meetings. My multi-tasking abilities have improved…,all while juggling responsibilities as a mom.” Roseline hopes the flexibility of telework continues after this experience with this pandemic. In the near future, she hopes to be more well versed in various types of contracts and business development so she will be able to provide a greater contribution to Crowned Grace International. In the distant future she would love to get to know co-workers again in a face-to-face environment and get her children back in the traditional school model. Roseline’s hidden talent is writing poetry for herself. Outside of the office, she likes to watch Family Feud, and read biographies of inspiring people.
Roseline holds a B. S. degree in accounting from University of Maryland- Global Campus and is a CPA candidate with Maryland Department of Labor.
Key areas of expertise:
Christiana “Chrissy” DuBoseMs. DuBose currently serves as Office Manager and Junior Contract Analyst for Crowned Grace International. Her success in this position is due largely to her superior abilities in coordination, management, organization, planning and problem solving. She also possesses strong interpersonal skills, analytical skills, and communication skills.
Like all professionals, Dubose has reflected on the impact of the current pandemic. “It’s amazing how adaptive and resilient we are when faced with adversity. I’ve noticed that everyone is much friendlier and understanding to each other as well as we are all going through this pandemic together. The pandemic has forced us to be appreciative, innovative, and creative.”
Outside of work DuBose says, ” I’m pretty introverted, so you would likely find me in bed with my dog, Cody, reading or writing fiction novels or relaxing and spending time with family and close friends. I also have been playing volleyball for almost 10 years—I help coach my high school club team and am one of the captains on the Bowie State University volleyball team.”
“Little known fact about me: I used to write short stories on a user-based publishing website when I was in middle school to high school. One of my stories went viral—it was read by almost 100,000 people around the world! One day I wish to publish at least one work of fiction in my lifetime.”
No doubt about it- DuBose is destined for greatness!
Education:
Graduated from Western New Mexico University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. DuBose is currently attending Bowie State University to pursue a Master of Arts degree in Mental Health Counseling.
DuBose has earned her Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt.
