Our People
Carver & Associates is a minority own business and a strategic alliance of independent business professionals with experience spanning corporate, government, academia, and non-profit organizations.
We represent a new approach to staffing that allows us to bring the most effective and knowledgeable consultant to any client. We maintain a roster of over thirty experienced experts across many fields and are very strategic when assigning projects.
Our goal is to provide truly customized training that is led by the person who has been integral in its design, and whose background, skills, and passion bring a level of insight and authenticity to every client we partner with.
Dr. Joy
Founder, CEO & Organizational Development Consultant
Dr. Joy is a management consultant, executive coach, dynamic speaker and presenter whose high energy programs inspire, motivate and bring about positive change in individuals and organizations.
Joy has served as a consultant for Franklin Covey, the world’s premiere time management and leadership development authority. Her client portfolio includes many Fortune 500 companies as well as government entities and educational institutions.
For the past 28 years, Joy has captivated and inspired audiences around the world. She magically engages listeners with her genuine approach: a unique blend of timely humor, insightful knowledge, contagious enthusiasm, and personal sharing. Joy plucks her poignant stories from a background rich in leadership development, sales and customer service.
Joy has an undergraduate degree from New York University, an M.P.A. from Rutgers University, and a Doctorate from Wisdom University in Counseling & Ministry.
She is the author of five books including Crying for Joy, Moving Toward Wholeness,, Faith Lessons, Speaking of Success, and Working Together: Diversity as Opportunity.
Ty Miller
Chief Operating Officer, Leadership Consultant, Facilitator, & Executive Coach
As a Leadership Consultant, Facilitator, & Executive Coach, Ty actively supports large consulting projects, including the design and execution of multi-year client engagements. Ty has supported large scale transformation projects with clients across global industries, with experience in healthcare and manufacturing related projects. For consulting projects, Ty contributes to leadership strategy work, coaching and experiential workshops that build alignment within organizations while bringing vision, creativity, and meaning to the workplace.
Ty has partnered with leaders in some of the world’s most notable corporate, governmental, and nonprofit entities. Clients he has teamed with include well-known organizations such as Johnson & Johnson, Cigna Health, Lockheed Martin, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Social Security Administration (SSA), Cox Media Group, and Meals on Wheels.
Previously, Ty served as a consultant for FranklinCovey, one the world leaders in consulting and training, enabling individuals to achieve results that require lasting changes in human behavior. Ty enjoys pulling vibrant stories from a background in education, management, sales, customer service, and hospitality.
Ty received his undergraduate degree from The College of New Jersey in Communications, with a concentration in Interpersonal and Organizational Skills.
Trish Thorne
Facilitator, Talent Management & Human Resource Consultant
Trish’s energy coupled with more than 15 years of human resources experience helps her offer a fresh look at the people and management challenges that keep leaders awake at night.
Trish developed her HR expertise while at J.M. Huber Corporation, one of America’s largest family-owned manufacturing companies, where she balanced her career between learning and development, and human resource management. She continued her work in human resources as an employee and then as a contractor with The Coca-Cola Company supporting the IT and Shared Services client groups, delivering training on performance management and interview skills, and leading restructure efforts for her client groups.
To enhance her experience, Trish attained an MBA from Auburn University allowing her to provide business-changing guidance to a diverse set of clients in technology, real estate, consumer products and education.
In addition to an MBA from Auburn University, Trish holds an undergraduate degree from Indiana University. She is a member of SHRM, ASTD, Rotary International and the Eufaula Barbour County Chamber of Commerce as the Director of Community Development. She attained PHR and Green Belt certifications, guest lectured at Kennesaw State University and Auburn University, and was recently a guest speaker for AARP.
Chuck Rose
Facilitator, Organizational Development & Talent Management Consultant
Chuck Rose has a passion for organization effectiveness. With over 30 years experience, he is a gifted facilitator and coach, having expertise in organization strategy, capability building, talent management and organization transformation. And unlike many consultants, Chuck has the real-world business chops to back-up his work. He’s worked for one of the world’s biggest and most respected brands, launched a start-up venture and has worked as a general manager of a small business.
Lately, considering the ever-shifting context we are all surviving, Chuck has focused much of his energy on how organizations can turn adversity in to opportunity. Using co-creation, cornerstone transformation methods and strategic road-mapping, he is helping executive teams pivot in times of crisis focusing heavily on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and pandemic recovery.
Chuck has worked in 30+ countries at the senior most levels navigating the complexities of many cultures. Past clients include: The Coca-Cola Company, IHG, Nabisco, Bayer, L’Oreal, Liz Claiborne, GlaxoSmithKline, McKesson, CARE USA, OXFAM America and the Atlanta Housing Authority among others.
Industry Sector Experience: Consumer Products, Pharmaceutical, Fashion, International Development / Non-Profit, Government (Housing), Manufacturing, Hi-tech, Defense
As an undergraduate, Chuck studied Economics and Business at Emory & Henry College. His post graduate work includes Cornell University’s School of Industrial Labor Relations as well as the Kauffman Foundation for Entrepreneurship.
Chuck lives in suburban Atlanta, where he and his partner occasionally provide foster care to children in crisis. He spends his free time in his garden with three rescued dogs. He is currently working on a series of articles related to creating a strategic talent agenda within high performing organizations.
Jeffrey Evans
C-Suite Consultant & Executive Coach
Jeff is a successful 20-year CEO and Board Chairman driving extraordinary results through building a team-oriented culture, professionalizing the organization, and rigorously implementing well-designed, aligned strategic initiatives. After executive experience in billion-dollar companies, Jeff’s last 25 years focused on middle-market firms, including roles as CEO, Chairman, and Lead Director. He has over 100 combined years of corporate board experience and combines real-world executive leadership with a strong educational background including post-graduate education, beyond his MBA, at Harvard Business School, The Wharton School of Business, Kellogg School of Management and the Center for Creative Leadership.
Examples of demonstrated successes:
- Turned a small, mid-west manufacturing firm into a $100M global juggernaut dominating its primary business internationally with 1,000% improvements in profits and shareholder value.
- Led the complete restructuring of a near-insolvent firm, resulting in record profits and shareholder value within 3 years.
- Transformed a US-based company into a global leader, driving international sales from 5% to greater than 50% while doubling sales in 5 years.
Christopher W. Jones, PMP, ODCP
Organizational Development Consultant
Christopher W. Jones is an Organizational Development professional who specializes in Change Management. He has 20+ years of experience in training and course development: delivering training and designing and writing courses for client organizations. He is an experienced professional speaker, published author and has a passion for delivering dynamic programs to the industry. He has a Masters Degree in Adult Education from Auburn University and this has given him extensive knowledge that he integrates into all of his training and educational events.
Mary H. Robert
HR Consultant & Change Agent
Mary H. Robert is a versatile Human Resources Executive with over 30 years of experience with an extensive record of driving results and leading organizational transformation in diverse industries. She has worked as a trusted Human Resources partner/consultant to her client groups within several fortune companies.
She is adept at establishing rapport and a high degree of credibility at all levels of the business. As a situational leader she known for strengthening culture built upon “doing the right thing for employees”. Excellent at influencing her clients through strategic partnerships, utilizing her extensive HR expertise. She recognizes individual differences and creates solutions to meet both professional and personal goals.
In her most recent role with Cox Media Group a subsidiary of Cox Enterprise she and her team were responsible for providing overall strategic HR leadership for Radio and Television operations in multiple Cox markets across the United States. She has served as a co-sponsor for CMG’s Diversity Advisory Group chartered to influence change and make recommendations to Senior Leaders on its diversity strategy. CMG was awarded the distinguished Diversity Councils Honor Award in 2013 for their Diversity and Inclusion initiatives. Earlier in her career in the banking industry she also designed and implemented the first Diversity Program that lead to increased awareness/ sensitivity.
She participates with the Urban League of Greater Atlanta, SHRM Atlanta, the Big Brother Big Sister program, and was a previous board member for The Jerusalem House. She is also an active member with missionary work focusing on those in need.
Mary, a Georgia native earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Management from Ft. Valley State University.
She has a zeal for life, a passion for giving back and loves time with her family
Laurel Hauck
Facilitator & Consultant
Laurel Hauck holds a Master’s Degree in Cultural Diversity and Education Equity from the University of Colorado. She has a bachelor’s degree in English from Metropolitan State University in Denver with a minor in Secondary Education.
She spent the last ten years working in public schools in Oakland, California and Boulder, Colorado, primarily as a high school English teacher.
During her time in the school system, Laurel focused her efforts on the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program. AVID is designed to help first generation college attendees navigate the school system through writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization, and reading.
Laurel enjoys building teams and creating leadership that invokes confidence and creativity in everyone. She is committed to equity, curiosity, bravery, and honesty. Her greatest assets as a teacher and facilitator are her abilities to find joy and purpose in the work. Her courses are interactive and provoking. You will laugh, think, and grow.
Tamara Park
Story Strategist and Leadership Trainer, Consultant and Coach
Tamara Park is an award-winning director, published author, patent holder and conscious leader. She has led teams on five contents—working on initiatives from the Amazon to Zanibar.
As she traveled the world, chasing and crafting compelling stories for TV shows, documentaries and short films, she noticed a big problem. Businesses and nonprofits were doing such important and innovative work. They had valuable stories to tell, yet most were leaving those assets untapped and untold. Many didn’t know how to articulate their own story, their stakeholders’ stories and their customers’ stories. And, that was costing them money and morale.
So, Tamara has dedicated her work to empowering leaders to unlock their stories to connect with their customers, engage their employees and grow their own leadership effectiveness.
She has now taught hundreds of leaders around the world on story and leadership. She has equipped them to not only use the power of story to get their key messages out but also as a vital way of creating a culture of authentic connection, trust and engagement.
Tamara revels coming alongside great organizations to boost their people, purpose and profit. She does this through a suite of trainings on story and leadership, as well as serving as a consultant and executive coach.
Lori Addicks
Performance Consultant, Master Facilitator & Executive Coach
Lori Addicks, President of Larkspur Group, is a performance consultant, master facilitator, and executive coach specializing in leadership, organization and team development, as well as multi-generational diversity.
Lori has more than 25 years of experience partnering with senior executives in North America, and 65 countries across Africa, Europe, Mid-East, Asia and Latin America to translate business goals into value-added people strategies across the spectrum of talent management. With expertise in selection, assessment, performance management, diversity and inclusion, team development and leadership development, she specializes in getting the right people in the right job at the right time. She knows how to inspire people to get the desired results, especially during times of transition.
Lori has worked with clients both global and domestic, across multiple industries including retail, consumer products, real estate, manufacturing, media, technology, automotive, health care and the nonprofit sector.
Her education and training include an undergraduate degree from Oregon State University, OD Certificate with University Associates, and a Certificate in Building Business Acumen from DePaul University. She holds numerous master certifications in leadership development curricula, and she is certified to administer and interpret HBDI®, the Hogan Suite, Birkman Method, EQ Index, and the Change Style Indicator assessments.
Dr. Patricia Reid-Merritt
Consultant & Facilitator
Dr. Patricia Reid-Merritt, consultant, trainer, educator, community activist and performing artist, is nationally recognized as a leading expert on issues related to race, racism, anti-bias, anti-racism, and ethnic and cultural diversity. She has more than 45 years of experience in academia as a teacher and administrator. The combination of professoriate and performing arts experiences serves her well. She is an extremely knowledgeable, effective and powerful communicator who successfully connects with her audience while simultaneously maintaining focus on sensitive and critical issues facing the American public and workforce.
Dr. Reid-Merritt has served as an educational and training consultant for inclusion, diversity, cultural sensitivity, race, racism and anti-racism to colleges, universities, local school districts, businesses, state and city governments.
The author of numerous publications, Dr. Reid-Merritt is a noted scholar. Her works include: the national Blackboard best-seller, Sister Power: How Phenomenal Black Women Are Rising to the Top; Sister Wisdom: Seven Pathways to a Satisfying Life for Soulful Black Women; Righteous Self-Determination: The Black Social Work Movement in America; Race in America: How a Pseudo-Scientific Concept Shaped Human Interaction; Tarnished Legacy: A Reluctant Memoir; A State by State History of Race and Racism in the United States; and, Race and Identity in Hispanic America: The White, the Black and the Brown.
Dr. Reid-Merritt received the Doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania, School of Policy and Practice in Race, Law and Social Policy. She earned a master’s degree from Temple University and the Bachelor of Arts from Cabrini University.
Reneé Maxwell
Organizational Development Consultant
L. Reneé Maxwell, B.A., M.S. SPHR and ODCP, currently serves as the Executive Director of Human Resources and Organizational Development for a German manufacture in North America. She is a member of North American Executive Leadership Team responsible for the design, execution and administration of all US Human Resources and Organizational Development functions. A 25+ year HR veteran senior professional she is a public speaker, executive coach and workshop facilitator in the areas of human resources, emotional intelligence and leadership and mid-level management development.
Ms. Maxwell has held HR leadership roles in multiple industries including parking and transportation, hospitality, consumer goods and manufacturing. She received her undergraduate degree from HBCU Talladega College and a master’s degree from the University of Alabama in Criminal Justice with a minor in Public Administration and holds her SPHR and holds her certification in organizational development.
Tim Sharples (he/him/his)
Consultant & Facilitator
Tim has over 25 years of professional experience focused on the implementation of innovative programs and training for law enforcement agencies. Influences from his early career role as a Neighborhood Resource Officer (NRO) are seen in his skills teaching conflict resolution, interpersonal communication, and crisis management.
Never satisfied with the status quo, Tim seeks out innovative ways to alleviate long-standing problems. When challenged to resolve a key training program that had become outmoded, he researched and successfully implemented a more effective model. This initiative not only addressed the training issue, but evolved into a leadership and development program to mentor future supervisory staff.
As an instructor for the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT), he is constantly seeking ways to improve the response of emergency services professionals to people who experience an active crisis. Tim is an advocate for people living with mental health challenges by raising awareness, giving real-world examples of hope, and demonstrating positive action.
Tim received his undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice from University of Massachusetts at Amherst, MS in Public Administration from Central Michigan University, and is currently in dissertation for his PhD in Industrial/Organizational Psychology exploring the correlation between emotional intelligence and procedural justice responses in the public safety workplace.
Melanie Miller
Facilitator & Senior Consultant
Melanie Miller, inclusion strategist, facilitator and senior consultant, has more than 20 years of experience in the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion arena. She has achieved great success in linking persuasive human relations skills with sound business practices for leading companies.
Melanie works in partnership with clients to customize and deliver high impact learning experiences and programs that strategically align inclusion with the values, goals and mission of each organization.
A strong focus is placed on mitigating unconscious bias as the largest impediment to inclusion.
She has spent many years studying best practices for inclusion, and specializes in diversity, belonging, unconscious bias, gender bias, sexual harassment, cultural dexterity, and consults to and supports employee resource groups (ERGs) and diversity councils.
She draws on her many years of organizational effectiveness, engagement and productivity through inclusion and has worked across varied industries including healthcare, pharmaceutical, hospitality, legal, education, finance, banking, energy, consumer goods, technology, aerospace, governmental agencies, and nonprofits.
Melanie has a BS in marketing from Jacksonville State University and has spoken at Harvard University’s Women’s Leadership Institute, IBM’s Minority Women in Leadership Institute, and The Diversity Leadership Academy. She is frequently featured in magazines, blogs and podcasts, and television, and she has designed and delivered keynotes and training for many Fortune 100 and other top organizations. Her high-energy and engaging style keeps her clients coming back for more!
Benjamin Evans
Communications Consultant
After attending Miami University, Benjamin Evans founded Pyne Ridge Productions, a marketing, communications and video production firm. In over 15 years of managing the firm, Ben has helped companies create communications, training, and marketing programs both internally and externally across a wide variety of industries. Ben’s clients include large multi-national firms, large and small Employee-Owned Companies (ESOPs), as well as churches and education entities. Ben provides his entrepreneurial zeal and technical skills to Strategic Executive Partners, serving as the company’s Vice President of Communications.
Mel Auston
Program Designer, Master Trainer & Facilitator and Executive Coach
Mel Auston is the Founder & President of Auston and Associates, a consulting, training and coaching company. With his direct and compassionate approach, he is a potent catalyst in transforming organizational cultures by aligning individuals, teams, workgroups and departments around a shared vision or business objective by integrating interpersonal skills and customer-focused business practices. Through customized program design, facilitation, coaching and consulting, he partners with clients to produce breakthroughs in communication, collaboration, cooperation and coordination that result in extraordinary employee, customer and vendor relationships and increased profitability, productivity and fulfillment.
He was the VP of Education & Design at Molloy LLC Business Development Group and the VP of Training & Program Design for Roundstone International. He has been a senior member and team leader for numerous consulting engagements. He joined Carver & Associates as a member of the design and delivery team and Project Manager for “Valuing Diversity: A Matter of Respect”, a diversity training program provided to the entire Department of Health and Social Services for the State of Delaware. As part of a Sportsmind team, he was a co-designer, trainer and Executive Coach that delivered leadership and management programs to Business Units of AT&T and the Fertilizer Division of Cargill Corporation. At Augusta Newsprint Company, a division of Abitibi-Consolidated, a multinational paper company, the Roundstone International team transformed the mill through a week-a-month “Workplace of the Future” culture change initiative resulting in production increases yielding $2-$5 million annually. At ANC, he also trained an employee team of Internal Consultants (both staff and union members) whose mission is to support, sustain and promote the collaborative environment at the mill that achieved their breakthrough results.
He co-facilitated “Accelerated Coaching” programs for managers at Chrysler Motors plants in the US and Canada to create a more involved, accountable and responsible workforce, and has facilitated team-building and executive leadership programs combined with executive coaching for Rolls Royce, Conoco Oil Company, The National Pool and Spa Institute, Roche Pharmaceuticals Research Division, Comcast Spotlight Mid-Atlantic Division, Charter Communications, BCG, AT&T, KPMG, CapitalOne, Conoco Oil, Cemex, Thomson Financial, Singapore Airlines’ Service Quality Centre in Singapore, The Discovery Channel and Microsoft.
Mel is a graduate of Brooklyn College in New York with a BA in communications, speech and theater. He also has completed a 3-year Masters equivalency program in Ontological Design, the philosophical and phenomenological inquiry into what it “is” to be a human being, and is certified to teach Centering and The Five Rings of Power, transformational somatic practices.
Dionne Boyd
Strategist, Facilitator, & Coach
Dionne Boyd has a passion for leadership development and supporting the organizational changes required to make work and the world better. With over 18 years experience, she is a strategist, facilitator and coach, having expertise in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, organizational design, talent development and organizational transformation. She’s worked for some of the world’s largest and most respected brands and launched multiple start-up ventures.
Dionne is the former Director of Global Diversity and Inclusion at Tiffany & Co. where she established the Office of Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) and built D&I into the culture, leadership development and customer experience. Prior to this role, Dionne was a Human Resources Manager at General Electric (GE) where she served as a strategic business partner and trusted advisor to senior executives in Risk Management and led the global Risk Management Program, a 24-month early career leadership development program.
Lately, Dionne has focused much of her energy on the topic of well-being for leadership and organizations. Dionne’s work is uniquely rooted in global well-being traditions and believes that personal balance and well-being are key leadership characteristics for effective change work.
Industry Sector Experience: Luxury, Aviation, Financial Services, International Development/Non-Profit, Mental Health, Consumer Products, and Pharmaceutical.
Dionne holds a B.A. in Sociology with honors from Brown University and an International M.B.A. and M.S. of Human Resources from the Fox School of Business, Temple University. Dionne is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer and Certified Diversity & Inclusion Professional of Cornell University. Dionne lives in suburban Washington, DC. and loves to travel. She has studied in and visited 25+ countries honoring, experiencing and engaging in the complexities of many cultures. She speaks, basic Spanish.
Contact
Carver & Associates is based in Atlanta, Georgia, with offices in Florida, New Jersey, Montana, and Colorado.
Phone
Address
4645 Kempton Place, Marietta, GA 30067