Navigation

Katheryn Wiedman, Ph.D.

Self-development gurus and coaches tell us that we need to have a mission in life. But as often as I have guided organizations in writing or revising their mission statements, I was uncertain about my own mission --  until the day I realized that mine is to be of service. Plain and simple, I like to do things for people -- my clients, my family, and organizations I belong to. When people ask me for help with a project, I throw my energy, imagination, and experience into the work and it brings meaning to my life.

So it is natural that I’ve been in the nonprofit sector one way or another most of my career – as volunteer, staff, executive director, board member, student, writer, researcher, and consultant. Among the services Centerpoint provides, my particular specialties are governance, strategic planning, mission and vision development, facilitation, project management, and coaching.

Over the years, I have established credibility and developed productive relationships with many different groups of people, including teens, residents of low-income neighborhoods, local leaders of community-based organizations, foundation leaders, academicians/researchers, CEOs of national nonprofits, and leaders of NGOs in other nations -- each is as much fun as the next.

I earned the Ph.D. from the University of Illinois and have regularly invested in seminars to increase my professional capacity. In addition to extensive training in a number of facilitation methods, I am a BoardSource Certified Governance Trainer, hold a certificate in mediation from the Nebraska Office of Dispute Resolution; have attended sessions understanding and healing racism; and attended seminars on fundraising at The Fund Raising School, Indiana University Center on Philanthropy.

I live near Chicago and am able to travel easily to client locations. Except when I’m gardening.

 

Jessica Schumacher

As a Centerpoint consultant, I use the servant leadership philosophy to help organizations find direction in today’s changing environment. Using the ten characteristics of servant leadership – listening, empathy, healing, awareness, persuasion, conceptualization, foresight, stewardship, commitment to the growth of people, and building community – I enjoy working with organizations as together we set goals, plan for success, and measure achievement.

My specialties include project management and planning, conference and event planning, group facilitation, strategic planning, fund development, and grant writing.  I have experience working with various types of organizations – from large, private foundations and universities to smaller community foundations and grassroots organizations – and with very diverse groups of stakeholders.

I have received training from multiple organizations including the University of Kansas, The Fund Raising School at Indiana University, the Institute of Cultural Affairs, and the National Resource Center for the Healing of Racism.

I live in the southwestern Chicago suburbs with my husband, son, dog, cat, and parrot…yes, it’s quite a full house!