About Us
Values that drive us
Fiercely Inclusive
We believe in and promote models where everyone belongs, at all levels of any organization.
Data Driven, result & growth oriented
Collecting data and intelligence is the foundation to growth-oriented models. (whatever growth means to your organization)
Incubator of talent
Organizations should be intentional about staff development and help them identify their gifts, and grow in their talents.
Collective thinking
Combined talents, second opinions and diverse approaches always deliver better outcomes.
Deliver excellence, be a game changer
We work to help organizations reach outcomes that exceed their expectations.
Be bold
We think big, and help design bold goals that will take clients further than they could imagine.
Meet the team
ALEX BARROUK Founding director, consultant, business development, vision activator.
Strategy – planning and execution – business growth and profitability – leadership development and executive coaching – change design and management – culture – stakeholders engagement – communications – workshop design and facilitation.
As the founder of ABCD consulting, and a growth strategy consultant, Alex’s role is to serve as your company’s primary care provider: he diagnoses organizations, and helps them find the path to healthier dynamics and growth-oriented models. He sees people, systems, and organizations for their potential rather than focusing on where they are currently stuck.
Throughout his career, he has focused on three distinct areas of expertise: business management, project management, and psychology. Combining these experiences with best practices learning, Alex has designed a unique consulting approach that focuses on vision and execution, organizational psychology and leadership development.
Alex’s clients have included top-level decision makers at all types of medium-to-large organizations over the years, and his ability to untangle problems to find a strategic path has been demonstrated across cultures, countries, and a broad variety of organizations. Alex is also part of the Coaching Bureau at Gonzaga’s University’s Leadership Training and Development department.
Alex’s vision for ABCD is to gather a team of subject matter experts with extraordinary skills that will serve leaders and ‘change the game’ of any organization. We never drop knowledge and leave. We walk the path with our clients, to train them and their teams to become execution experts.
Our group is continuously growing and evolving. Our areas of expertise include and are not limited to:
- Data/Market Research & Analysis
- Strategic Planning & Facilitation
- Execution & Facilitation
- Culture, Diversity, Equality & Inclusion, HR
- Marketing
- Workshops & Trainings
- Business Development
ALLISON CONNELLY, MBA Senior Consultant
Allison Connelly has extensive experience in strategy development and execution, fundraising, communications, and stakeholder engagement across corporate and nonprofit sectors. Her expertise includes corporate strategy, business operations, brand development, stakeholder and board engagement, organizational development, and change management. With a deep understanding of strategic business challenges, Allison drives change and achieves organizational goals by synthesizing best practices with innovative strategies.
Allison holds a BA in International Studies and Public Policy from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and an MBA with a concentration in Healthcare Administration from Eastern Washington University (EWU). An active community member, she has served on several nonprofit boards in Spokane, WA.
In her current role as Senior Director of Corporate Strategy and Communications at The Geneva Foundation, Allison leads the development and execution of enterprise-wide strategic initiatives and communications efforts, aligning them with business objectives to amplify Geneva’s visibility and impact across key sectors. She plays a pivotal role in the development and execution of strategic and operational priorities, ensuring the organization’s relevance, growth, and long-term sustainability. Prior to her tenure at Geneva, Allison was the Fund Development Manager for the Washington Environmental Council in Seattle, Washington, where she honed her skills in fundraising, event management, Board development, and strategic partnerships.
Throughout her career, Allison has been highly regarded for her expertise in organizational transformation, strategic planning, leadership activation, and partnership building. Her ability to strategically leverage stakeholder relationships to strengthen mission impact and drive long-term, sustainable growth has solidified her reputation as a powerful force in the nonprofit sector.
JENNIFER FANTO Senior Consultant
Jennifer Fanto has over a decade of achievement in the marketing and advertising industry. Her expertise focuses on driving operational excellence, project management efficiency, and systems and processes design. Her core competencies include production workflow optimization, team leadership, strategic communication, business development, software implementation, and the development of processes that promote high-performance teams.
Jennifer’s diverse background spans operations management, marketing, and web development, allowing her to approach challenges from multiple perspectives and craft tailored solutions. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Whitworth University and an Associate’s degree in Graphic Design from SFCC.
An active leader within the local community, Jennifer has contributed over 11 years to the AAF Spokane Board, holding key roles such as President, Executive Director, and advisor. She is also a member of the SFCC Graphic Design Program Advisory Board, where she mentors emerging talent and advises on curriculum development.
At the heart of Jennifer’s leadership philosophy is a commitment to fostering organizational alignment and leveraging individual strengths to create thriving work environments. Her focus on business operations consulting helps organizations clarify their goals, build systems that enhance employee satisfaction, and drive productivity and profitability.
Jennifer served as Senior Production Manager at Desautel Hege, a behavior change marketing agency serving national clients. She led the operations team in implementing initiatives that increased retention, productivity, and profitability through software deployment and workflow enhancements.
As former Executive Director of American Advertising Federation Spokane, Jennifer ensured smooth organizational transitions, provided mentorship on recruitment and project management, and collaborated on leadership training and strategic retreats.
Jennifer’s passion for understanding organizational dynamics drives her continued success in aligning business objectives with operational strategies, empowering teams to achieve sustainable growth.
SUSAN FOSTER-DOW, MA Senior Consultant
Susan’s career work has promoted organizational capacity building and leadership development at home and abroad for thirty years, primarily for non-profit organizations. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University (focus area: China and Taiwan), and a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Gonzaga University (focus: cross-cultural engagement and policy development).
Susan worked in academic administration at Gonzaga, has worked with a wide variety of nonprofit organizations as an independent consultant for two decades, and as part of CCEW senior leadership since 2015. Her experience in a wide variety of administrative and teaching roles relies on strategic thinking and creativity, clear and compassionate communication, and a deep commitment to capacity building. Her volunteer commitments range from safeguarding work on the Diocesan Review Board, to civic and community engagement, to work for USAID/Catholic Relief Services Farmer to Farmer program as a volunteer, where she recently had the great privilege of training and coaching an Ethiopian NGO through leadership team development.
Susan loves travel by plane, train or sailboat and has lived, studied, volunteered in and explored Asia, Europe and Africa. She has been serving as the Chief Mission & Strategy Officer for Catholic Charities Eastern Washington.
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