Jan brings more than 25 years of professional experience in nonprofit and social impact organizations to Pear Associates where she serves in both internal and external capacities. Internally, Jan leads all aspects of business operations for Pear Associates, including finance, marketing, human resources, legal and compliance, administration, and vendor management. Externally, Jan uses her diverse skillset to help small and mid-size nonprofits identify and implement efficient and effective operational strategies.
As a certified Master Change Agent and Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, Jan is both a “people person” and a “systems thinker.” She is the rare individual who sees the big picture and also revels in the details. Jan thrives on connecting what needs to be done to why it matters, while understanding who is doing the work, identifying how they can be successful, and managing when each task is due. Jan is an expert on change management and has experience facilitating the work of teams of all sizes looking for alignment, consensus, efficiency, and progress. Jan’s unique style focuses on helping clients blend strategic, big-picture thinking with results-oriented, practical strategies for implementation.
In addition to her operational expertise, Jan has strengths in writing, strategic planning, assessment, facilitation, and coaching in the education, health, and human services sectors.
Jan holds a Master of Arts in Communication and Media Studies from DePaul University in Chicago and a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Montevallo near Birmingham, Alabama. Jan lives in a suburb of Chicago with her wife and two children. She enjoys reading, writing, games of all kinds, biking, hiking, and playing sports with her kids.
