Solve Big Challenges Get Better Results
We help groups work together to become more innovative, effective, and responsive.
What We Do
We know what it feels like when you’re trying to lead a group to transform itself or become innovative. Our clients get customized solutions that work—we don’t take a cookie-cutter approach.
Innovation & Change Initiatives
Real innovation doesn’t happen by edict or by hoping it into existence...
Strategy Development & Planning
Successful organizational strategies ensure that the why, how, and...
GROUP FACILITATION & ACTION PLANNING
If your team or organization faces disorganized processes, unclear priorities...
PROGRAM & INITIATIVE DEVELOPMENT
When you have the opportunity to start or redevelop an initiative...
Innovative Training
We help your team to collaborate and innovate in our new world.
Our team not only facilitates change and innovation; we also train others in our methods!
Who We Serve
Our ideal client is someone who’s stuck in dealing with a complex challenge. We listen to you to understand your situation. Then, we’ll work with you to develop a process to address it. We work with your team to gain clarity, make decisions, and move forward in achieving results.
We specialize in higher education, government, and healthcare. But, we’ve worked with all sectors, from Fortune 500 companies to small non-profits.
We’ve served the following organizations through direct contracts, subcontracts, and other arrangements.
Government
- California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office
- California Department of Public Health
- California Department of Social Services
- California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)
- California Innovation Playbook for Government Change Agents (Cal-IPGCA)
- California Office of the State Public Defender
- City of San Rafael, California
- County of Los Angeles
- County of Marin, California
- Marin County Health and Human Services
- Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD)
- State Public Health Coordinating Center for Autism
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
- U.S. Army
- U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
- U.S. Department of Energy
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
- Western Area Power Administration
Healthcare
- Kornhauser Health Sciences Library
- Norton Healthcare
- Physicians for a Healthy California (California Medical Association Foundation)
- Internal projects at University of Illinois, University of Louisville, and University of the Pacific to co-develop programs with health sciences schools (e.g., Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing)
- State Public Health Coordinating Center for Autism
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Higher Education
- Academic Impressions (provider of professional development for leaders in higher education)
- California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office
- California State University, Sacramento
- Claremont Lincoln University
- Sacramento City College
- Sierra College
- University of California, Davis
- University of California, Los Angeles
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign – RECRUIT Online Program for Underrepresented STEM Teachers
- University of Louisville Online Learning
- University of the Pacific, Benerd School of Education
- University of the Pacific, General Education Program
- University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law
- University of the Pacific, Teacher Education Programs
Corporations
- Abt Associates
- Adidas
- Caterpillar Corporation
- Charles River Laboratories
- Excel Automotriz
- Evergreen Marine Corp
- Hewlett Packard
- Maersk Sealand
- Manpower Group Panamá
- Tribal Tech, LLC
- Shoe Sensation, Inc.
Non-Profit
- Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs (AMCHP)
- Community Partnership Families of San Joaquin (CPFSJ)
- Family Voices of California
- Girl Scouts Heart of Central California
- Impact Foundry
- Junior League of San Joaquin County
- New Jersey Society for Public Health Education
- Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Pacific
- Stockton Shelter for the Homeless
- The Nonprofit Partnership
- United Way of San Joaquin County
- United Way of Stanislaus County
Excellence in Practice Award
We received an international award of excellence for our project with Norton Healthcare. Their CEO had a vision of achieving a world-class learning culture among the 13,000 employees. We worked with stakeholders from their 40 locations to make this vision real. The participatory process resulted in a stakeholder-informed roadmap for achieving the vision. The Academy of Human Resource Development Recognized our work for effective evidence-based practice.
Testimonials from
Clients and Participants
California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office
“California Senate Bill 206 legislated that we establish and conduct a participatory government working group regarding a topic of emerging visibility in the state and nationally. Anyone who has been tasked with establishing and running an investigative working group, consisting of a variety of professions, personalities, interests, and timelines knows that the work is of strategic importance. Not all facilitators are the same, and not all facilitation methods render complete and accurate products. Githens and Associates is a highly professional group who brought deep expertise in working with diverse groups of people, keeping the meetings moving in a positive direction, and extracting the most from each group member.
In addition to facilitation, Githens and Associates worked with us to identify the people the working group needed to call on as informed experts regarding the current legal scenarios at local, state, and national levels. The expertise that each of the suggested presenters Githens and Associates brought to us were highly regarded, and the research the team conducted to answer the group’s questions was invaluable. All of this work was done in a very responsive manner, and their deliverables were on time and well-articulated.
Each team member was responsive and helpful with questions or additional information needed throughout the project. Rod Githens and his team helped me and our System work through many issues and to meet our obligations and responsibilities to the California State Legislature. Not only were they knowledgeable and professional, but nice people to work so closely with.”
-Dr. LeBaron Woodyard
Dean, Academic Affairs
California Community Colleges
University of Louisville
“Rod’s understanding of group dynamics and the intricacies of working with a variety of personalities really served us well. Rod was delightful to work with and is someone that I will call on in the future.”
~Dr. Gale Rhodes
Vice Provost , University of Louisville
University Dean
“Rod was able to work effectively with a contentious group of faculty and staff, to facilitate an identification of obstacles that would interfere with goal attainment and a strategic plan to accomplish their goals. He has a structured approach that respects differing personal views, opinions, and personalities, yet systematically moves groups towards consensus. He is calm and patient, yet moves the group forward to accomplish goals.”
~University Dean
Norton Healthcare
~ Strategic Planning Participant
Norton Healthcare
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Pacific
“Rod designed, executed and facilitated a strategic plan for our Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. The plan was developed over three half days with our advisory board.
The results have been great so far. Most beneficial is that it allowed our advisory board to set goals together. Creating a vision as a group has helped the board become more invested in the implementations and outcomes of those goals. The action steps have set us on a path to achieve those goals. I am grateful to Rod and his skillful way of leading the Strategic Plan in an efficient and professional manner. His way of leading us through the plan helped the members of the advisory board enjoy the experience and feel that their voices and opinions were being heard.”
~Jennifer Juanitas, Director, OLLI at Pacific
Latest Resources
Four Essential Conditions For Innovation To Flourish In Any Organization
This is the first of four articles by Rod Githens describing aspects of our Multi-Faceted Approach...
A Recipe for Using Participation to Change Culture
Creating Organizational Change with the Right People, Right Environment, and Right ProcessesOh,...
Communication Resources for Online Meetings
Any technology you identify should support meeting goals. We shouldn’t add another fancy tool...