Engage the Board’s Team
Practical Experience Backed with Scholarly Research
Engage the Board’s governance and leadership consultants bring over 70 years of experience working with nonprofit boards and group development to improve diversity and engagement. They bring a unique combination of both practical and scholarly research experience working with nonprofit organizations, and nonprofit boards and volunteers serving on the boards. The team includes:
- Dr. Kathy Adelman, Prinicipal & Founder
- Dr. Elizabeth Valicenti, Associate
- J. R. Philp, Associate
Other consultants may be brought in as needed, depending upon the needs of the organization and its requirements. Learn more about our primary team members below.
Dr. Kathy Adelman, Prinicipal & Founder
Dr. Adelman brings both practical and research experience working with nonprofit boards. As a retired healthcare executive, she brings direct knowledge of the governance function in the nonprofit sector and has served on many non-profit boards as a volunteer. She earned her Ph.D. from Fielding Graduate University in Human and organizational systems. She is also an ISI Fellow (Institute of Social Innovation) at Fielding Graduate University.
Her passion and research focus on ways to develop greater accountability in the nonprofit sector working with nonprofit boards to increase engagement, effectiveness, and accountability. She is best known for successful strategic planning and engaging task groups in designing strategic directions and new clinical services. She has a keen sense of developing inclusive group dynamics in designing systems and decision-making. Her research specifically examines the factors and conditions that influence the engagement of volunteers serving on non-profit boards. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin and has earned a dual Masters in accounting and business from Chatham University.
Dr. Elizabeth Valicenti, Associate
Dr. Valicenti brings both a unique background of research and practical experience working with nonprofit boards. She is a retired professor with research and consulting experience revolving around boards of directors and governance in organizations in crisis. Her experience brings extensive knowledge in understanding nonprofit systems and their unique dynamics.
She is a graduate of Ohio University, earned an MS in Health professions and MBA from the University of Pittsburgh, and Ph.D. in Leadership and change from Antioch University.
JR Philp, Associate
JR is a nationally known Human Resource Consultant, specializing in Executive and Career Coaching. He works with clients to gain clarity, strategic thinking and balance. He gained his knowledge and experience while serving the Hillman Company as Vice President of Human Resources in Pittsburgh, PA. In this position, which he held for 27 years, he was responsible for leading the Human Resources functions at the corporate headquarters and within the Hillman subsidiaries. Prior to his career at The Hillman Company, his background includes human resources management positions at Rockwell International, Ford Motor Company, Auerbach, Inc. and a sales management position with Hewlett Packard. In addition to the corporate world, JR has been an adjunct professor at the The University of Pittsburgh and Florida Gulf Coast University.