Loretta's Mission

is to support peacebuilding and empowerment while cultivating the highest potential in individuals, teams, organizations, and communities.

Loretta specializes in the design and delivery of customized programs in leadership development, change management, conflict transformation, team development, and strategic planning. She has extensive experience creating custom designs and facilitating large group meetings and retreats using Dialogue, Appreciative Inquiry, Future Search, Open Space and World Cafe.

Loretta employs a variety of methodologies and experiences to help clients increase their capacity and productivity. She individually tailors programs using participative group process work, data gathering, and feedback. Her work helps organizations build integrated change strategies to sharpen their focus, enhance working relationships and develop leadership capability. She has a solid reputation among her clients and colleagues for her optimistic outlook, collaborative spirit and pragmatism.

Loretta’s international activities include fifteen years of experience with United Nations staff around the world in Vienna, Geneva, Addis, Nairobi, Santiago, Bangkok and New York delivering programs on Collaborative Negotiations Skills, Global Diversity, Mediation, Team Building and Ethics. At the International Court of the Tribunal in Rwanda, Loretta delivered customized programs in Conflict Resolution. Throughout Europe and the United States, she trained and coached over four hundred AstraZeneca executives in state-of-the-art global leadership development programs. Having worked in over twenty countries worldwide, Loretta brings a strong knowledge of group dynamics and organizational behavior that enables transformative change within multicultural environments.

As team leader with Mediators Beyond Borders International Loretta has worked throughout Sierra Leone to build unity for peaceful elections through coalition building, dialogue and conflict transformation training. Now that peaceful elections have been achieved, Loretta and her international team continue to work with local partner NGO’s to build sustainable peace in Sierra Leone through leadership development. Programs will include a leadership/empowerment program for women political leaders and aspirants, mediation training for tribal chiefs, training of trainers for community leaders and a leadership/empowerment program for youth.

Conflict Transformation / Peacebuilding (1997 - present)

For seventeen years Loretta has worked with communities, corporations, higher education and non- profit organizations as a partner in building peace. Projects have included highly successful training and conflict coaching in collaborative negotiation and mediation skills, expert facilitation of dialogue among diverse perspectives in intra and intergroup settings and the engagement of large groups of stakeholders in resolving complex conflicts. Her work has resulted in transformative and creative change, skill development for individuals and groups, and a common ground agenda for communities and organizations.

  • Taught graduate level courses in Conflict Resolution at the International Center for Cooperation and Conflict Resolution, at Teachers College, Columbia University. Courses included the Basic Practicum in Conflict Resolution, the Advanced Practicum in Conflict Resolution, and Managing and Resolving Conflicts through Large Group Methods. Loretta has taught over 500 students playing a significant role in preparing them for careers in Peace Building.

  • Conducted customized Conflict Resolution Programs including conflict coaching for thousands of United Nations staff at duty stations around the world. Participants have reported increased ability and empowerment to resolve conflicts and disputes, and engage in difficult conversations. In addition highly interactive skills oriented training programs have been designed and delivered for many organizations including Independence Blue Cross, Lincoln Financial, Pfizer, University of Pennsylvania, CIGNA, NASA and Quest Diagnostics.

  • Assessed needs, custom designed, and facilitated a comprehensive yearlong common ground project in the state of New Jersey with the Funders Network for SMART Growth and Livable Communities. Participants included the Executive Directors of twenty organizations specializing in environmental, conservation, and planning. Results included collaborative task forces, which have influenced policy change for a “shared land use agenda” in the state, while also improving interagency and interpersonal relationships.

  • Mediated workplace and community conflicts/disputes for Astro Apparel, AstraZeneca, U of PA, GlaxoSmithkine, Pfizer, University of PA, CIGNA, WomenCare, NJ Future, NJ Audubon Society, NJ Conservation Foundation, Pinelands Preservation Alliance, PlanSmart NJ, Regional Plan Association, Stoney Brook-Millstone Watershed Association, and Clean Water Action/NJ Environmental Federation. Results included resolved differences, negotiated agreements, and concrete plans for productive work relationships.

  • Moderated dozens of civic engagement forums for Penn Civic Engagement at the University of PA and WHYY. Topics included Mental Health, City and State Budget, Immigration, The Arts, Open Space, Decision Delaware and Zoning. Facilitated highly charged public participation forums for the City of New Orleans post Katrina, and for the city of New York post 9/11.

Leadership Development (1984 - present)

Throughout her career, Loretta has provided leadership development to thousands of leaders. In addition to the design and implementation of leadership development programs, her work has included one-on-one executive coaching, facilitating action learning groups, building leadership competency models, and developing 360 degree leadership assessment tools. The following are examples of leadership development projects:

  • Designed and facilitated global leadership programs using action learning and peer coaching for AstraZeneca. Results included unifying two company cultures post merger, enhanced leadership capabilities and improved working relationships across cultural and country boundaries. Over 500 leaders including the senior executive team participated in the year long "GOAL" program (Growing Our AstraZeneca Leadership).

  • Designed and facilitated "Building and Managing Effective Work Relationships," a mid-level management development program for the University of PA. The program supported managers in an environment of complexity and change. Results included enhancing self- awareness, understanding the impact of personal styles and behaviors, improved coaching around performance and development, and creating and implementing strategies for managing change.

  • Developed and validated leadership competency models for three levels of leaders at Amerigas, Advanta, Broadband Technology, and CIGNA. Projects were fully integrated into Human Resource practices including selection, assessment and development, and succession planning. Designed and developed a 360-degree assessment tool, a “Coaching for Competence” workshop, and a developmental planning workshop for leaders.

  • Designed and implemented a five-day experiential workshop for leaders called "Leadership, Teams and Empowerment," allowing participants to make transitions from traditional structures to team-based environments. Leaders from throughout the organization reported improved skills and knowledge, increased self-awareness, and the establishment of an ongoing leadership support and resource network.

  • Designed and facilitated “The Penn Supervisor,” a six-day supervisory development program. Conducted organization-wide assessment prior to program development. The program integrated Human Resource policies and procedures with focused skill development. 

Team Development (1984 - present)

  • Designed and facilitated hundreds of customized team-building programs for AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, AstroApparel, University of Pennsylvania, Penn State Brandywine, Time Inc., American Institute of Architects, CIGNA and the United Nations. Conducted team assessment, designing sessions based on specific client needs. Results included enhanced interdependence, improved ability for working in cross-cultural teams, and implementation of action plans for managing organizational change. Team building programs have included teams of all levels: senior executive, multifunctional, task force, and international.

  • Ongoing consultation and coaching with senior leadership teams for AstraZeneca. Worked with a multifunctional, international team from start up to completion of team goals. Results included enhanced ability to lead through change, clarity of purpose, increased productivity, understanding of inter-group dynamics and team development, and the appreciation of diversity within the group. Teams reported additional benefits, including accelerated development and high performance.

Strategic Planning / Whole Systems Change (1989 - present)

  • Facilitated dozens of whole systems strategic planning meetings utilizing Future Search and Open Space Technologies. Multi-stakeholder groups have ranged in size from 35 to 750 participants. Client systems and communities include Fortune 500 companies, communities throughout the U.S. and nonprofit organizations. Results have included compelling visions, plans for the future with clear strategic direction, the formation of self-managed action teams made up of committed stakeholders, and implementation of plans. Sample of client organizations:

Social Justice

WomenCare Shelter, Bellingham, WA
Lower Merion Vocational Center, Lower Merion, PA Family Violence Coordinating Council, Chicago, Illinois

Alliances and Networks

Future Search Network, Philadelphia, PA
Forum for Early Warning Early Response, London, England

Communities

Sustainable Lawrence, Lawrence Township NJ Sustainable Cherry Hill, Cherry Hill, NJ
Suburban Jewish Community Center, Havertown, PA PeeDee Region of South Carolina

Mayors Commission on Literacy, Philadelphia, PA Historic Downtown Elizabeth, Elizabeth, NJ
Toms River Jewish Community Center, Toms River, NJ

Corporations

AstraZeneca Prudential Astro Apparel Lehigh Hospital CIGNA

Education

PA School Systems Newman College University of Penn

  • Managed, designed and facilitated a strategic planning process and an organization redesign with the Health Care Division of CIGNA. Utilized a whole systems conference approach to engage a cross section of stakeholders representing employees from the service centers throughout the United States. Participants were engaged and involved in working together to produce several redesign models, presenting the prioritized top three models to senior leadership for selection.

Employment History

1997 - present: Raider Consulting Group, Principal, Organization Development Firm

2012 - present: Drexel University, Executive Leadership in Academic Technology and Engineering,
Presenter and Coach

2015 - present: Drexel University, Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine, Coach

1997 - 2007: Columbia University, Teachers College, International Center for Collaboration and Conflict Resolution (ICCCR), Adjunct Professor

1994 - 1997: The Touchstone Partnership, Partner, Management Consulting Firm

1989 - 1994: CIGNA Corporation, Systems Division, Human Resources Department, Manager, Organization Transformation, Organization Development Consultant, Reengineering Consultant to Property and Casualty Division

1984 -1989: University of PA, Human Resource Department, Organization Development Consultant

Education

1975: M.Ed. in Organization Behavior from Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

1968: B.S Elementary Education from Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

1991: Certification in Benchmarks from The Center for Creative Leadership, Greensboro, N.Carolina, USA

2008: Certification in The Whole Brain Creativity Assessment from C – Global Consulting, NY, NY

1984 - 89: Workshops in Team Building and Conflict Resolution, National Training Laboratories Bethel, Maine, USA

1992: Program in Collaborative Negotiations, MIT, Boston, MA, USA

Professional Organizations

Loretta served as Chair of the Philadelphia Organization Development Network and is a founding partner of Future Search Network. She is also a member of the Alliance for Peace Building. Loretta is a past President of WIL, (Women International Leaders) of Greater Philadelphia. She is a member of Mediators Beyond Borders International where she actively serves as team leader of the Sierra Leone Project, “Building Sustainable Peace through Leadership Development and Conflict Transformation” and is on the faculty of the International Training Institute (ITI) training women mediators, community leaders and peace builders.