ABOUT US

Before opening my consulting practice I worked for many years as a senior Human Resources executive for a number of successful, venture-funded high-tech start-ups. Now, I use that experience to help social ventures and other companies and non-profits better manage all aspects of their relationships with their employees.

For all of this time building sustainable workforces, I must say that I have a hard time with what I consider the typical “HR mindset”.

I got into HR because I have a passion for helping organizations succeed. I got into HR because, early in my career, I noticed that many people are unhappy in their work and I couldn’t see why that had to be. I got into HR because I love to fix things that don’t work right and making life better for people. We spend a lot of time at work… shouldn’t we get the most out of it that we can?

Over the past 25 years, I have worked with a number of small, scrappy for-profit companies and not-for-profit agencies and I had the opportunity to explore many different industries along the way. I came to understand that all organizations – regardless of their size, product or service, location or tax status – rely on their employees to accomplish absolutely everything. I came believe that there was a better way for organizations to work more effectively with their employees; the Background page of this web site details my current thinking on this “better way”.

The story behind the name “First Third”:
All organizations need three forms of capital: Human, Natural, and Financial. A truly sustainable organization requires the successful management of all three. People provide your company with its Human Capital. People are your agency’s constantly renewable source of creativity and innovation. Human Capital is what gives your business the ability to adapt, improve, and grow. While all three forms of capital are essential, I believe that you must sustainably manage your Human Capital first – only then can you successfully manage your financial and natural capital. Of the three forms of capital, then, Human Capital is the “First Third.”

Education and Professional Certification:

• BA in Cultural Anthropology, University of Colorado, Boulder
• MBA in Sustainable Management, Presidio School of Management, San Francisco
• SPHR (Senior Professional in Human Resources) certified since 1995

For more about my background, take a look at my LinkedIn profile.

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