Janine Sergay

Welcome Message from the President

Whether you are visiting our website because you have a specific problem, you want to enhance performance, or you just want tips to develop, I am glad you have stopped by.

Navigating through the labyrinth of choices that face us today can be daunting. The need to be proactive, flexible, and strategically agile adds to the pressure. I hope the respite you gain while moving through our website will help you gain insights and that you find what you are looking for.

At The Sergay Group, we love the challenge of guiding companies to implement new strategies, to achieve new growth, and to improve bottom-line results. There is nothing more satisfying than enabling individuals, teams, or organizations to face their challenges as they move into the future.

We believe in the potential of each individual.

We believe in asking the difficult questions.

We believe in building relationships.

The reason we win time and time again is because we

	listen to your needs
	customize each solution to your specific circumstances
	work in collaboration with you
	orientate each intervention within your broader system, and
	build internal capacity for, and ownership of, all efforts

In each case, we care about the people we deal with, and we care about the results they obtain.

Our clients range from Fortune 500 companies, public sector organizations, non-profit organizations, associations, to small entrepreneurial ventures.

Our Mission

The Sergay Group is a diverse team of solution providers that partners with clients through consulting, facilitating, training, speaking, and coaching to empower sustainable improvements in performance and results.

Our Philosophy

The Sergay Group believes in the potential of individuals and will work for their growth rather than their limitations. We engender ownership by individuals of their own development and actions, and foster leader and peer mentoring where applicable. When consulting with strategy and change, the emphasis is on empowering the organization, division, or team to achieve what is required.

Our Approach

The method adopted by the Sergay Group, is highly flexible and differs for every intervention and every organization. We do, however, endeavor to ensure highly practical, impactful, and experiential interventions. Interventions, designed and planned through thorough organizational consultation. All parties involved must first agree and show commitment to the proposed process, before any interventions are run. Interventions are often facilitated processes. This ensures maximum participation and buy-in to the process, and results. Thorough follow-up and feedback processes, are also implemented.

We work in partnership with you and operate from a systemic frame of reference. Our processes remain flexible. Discussions are held constantly with the client organization and variations to the process can be made at any stage to ensure that the needs are met, even if this means adapting a process while in progress. This approach ensures that individual, group dynamic and the organization's needs are met.

Our Team

Prof. Daniel Swartzman, J.D., M.P.H.

"Managing a not for profit takes more than just common sense. It takes hard work, strategic thinking, wisdom, a willingness to make decisions, good skills at motivating people, and the vision to be a leader of the organization and of the community it serves."

Expertise:

• Teaches students and professionals how to run organizations effectively, efficiently and ethically.
• Teaches graduate courses in Principles of Management, Social Ethics and an introductory course on law.
• Currently writing a textbook on management, based upon "Thirteen Principles of Good Management" (to be published by Wiley and Sons in 2010).
• Teaching online courses for over a decade.
• A practicing lawyer, a former lobbyist and an experienced political analyst.
• A decorated teacher, having won numerous university and national awards.
• Consulting and training expertise based on both "book learning" and practical experience.

Experience:

Prof. Swatzman has been on the faculty of the University of Illinois at Chicago since 1978. He has been an administrator at the School for over 20 years. He has edited three books and monographs, authored over 100 articles, papers and reports, and given hundreds of lectures on law, management and ethics across the country, and in the U.K. and France.
Dan has held a number of leadership positions in local, state and national organizations. He practices law and is currently the managing partner for his law firm. He received his law degree from Northwestern University and a Masters in Public Health from UIC. He is Fellow of the Honors College and an Adjunct Professor at Chicago-Kent College of Law.

As part of The Sergay Group, Dan helps clients with; 

	Designing organizational ethics programs
	Learning basic principles for new managers
	Leading organizations and communities
	Managing not for profit organizations
	Strategic planning for not for profits
	Understanding the basics of law
	Analyzing public policy making
	Lobbying and advocacy

Cynthia Rodgers Maignan

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, but that we are powerful beyond measure"
(Marianne Williamson)

Expertise:

• Global marketing and business strategy expert who has successfully resolved a number of business challenges in the USA and in international markets such as the UK, Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico, as well as a joint venture in Japan.
• Has effectively led strategic initiatives for corporate change for more than 20 years; identifying new opportunities in emerging and consumer markets and working with cross-functional teams to facilitate organizational change and execute the process improvements required to improve performance and increase profits.
• Frequently selected by CEO's to launch, re-engineer and execute strategic business initiatives in the areas of strategic planning, system implementation, merchandising, store development, and private brands.

Experience:

Cynthia's corporate experience has included internet startups for a Fortune 500 corporation with multiple channels of retail and marketing. She has a unique backround that includes extensive P and L, strategy and planning which is complemented by strong competitive market analysis skills, and to support diversity in customer-centric business initiatives.
She has successfully uncovered millions in hidden revenue for companies, identifying opportunities in overlooked and under served consumer markets.
Most recently, Cynthia served as a Strategic Retail Consultant for a global retailer in Brisbane, Australia. Prior to this, she was Vice President Strategy for Whitehall Jewelers where she provided critical leadership in the Company's re-engineering effort. She also served as Director of Multicultural Management and Vice President of Market Analysis for Sears Roebuck & Co and Claire's Accessories respectively. She has consulted to many other prominent retailers.

As part of The Sergay Group, Cynthia helps clients;

	Implement strategic plans that deliver results for multi-generational organizations, that build stronger teams and delivers on the timely executions required for performance improvement
	Identify potential revenue opportunities from existing sources and recognize new prospects that will enhance the business both nationally and within the global market place
	Utilize consumer and analytical data to improve decisions about marketing, product offerings and geo-demographic locations
	Provide project management support and training to implement process changes and deliver on corporate initiatives.

Lisa Kaplin, Psy. D.

"When we are no longer able to change a situation - we are challenged to change ourselves."
(Victor Frankl)

Expertise:

• Group dynamics
• Business etiquette
• Interpersonal relationships
• Business communication skills
• Dealing with difficult people and relationships
• Stress management and relaxation techniques
• Systems analysis for relationships (both personal and professional)

Experience:

Lisa has over 15 years of training experience, providing education on topics ranging from parenting and family functioning, to stress management and dealing with difficult people.
She utilizes her education in both business and psychology to provide a unique experience for her clients that combines business sense with emotional intelligence.
Lisa has provided training for large and small companies including: Kraft, AT&T, Allstate, AMA, Cigna, Aetna, Lifecare, and Lifeworks.
Lisa's seminars are highly interactive, humorous, and designed to promote contemplation and change. She is highly skilled at managing difficult situations and conflicting relationships.

As part of The Sergay Group, Lisa helps clients;

	Observe their own behavior in relation to problems and solutions
	Manage stress reactions to improve employee relationships and productivity
	Optimize group relationships and efficiency
	Conduct performance discussions
	Build effective teams
	Improve social skills

Sharon Cramer, PMP MBA

"Action is the foundational key to all success."
(Pablo Picasso)

Expertise:

• IT Trainer
• Data Analysis
• Programming
• Project Management
• Process Guidance and Coaching
• Business Analysis and Requirements Documentation
• An MBA from Lake Forest Graduate School of Management and a BS degree in Mathematics and Computers, and certification in Project Management from the Project Management Institute: PMP 2005

Experience:

Sharon has over twenty years of systems experience and has worked at several major corporations including IBM, CNA, Amoco Oil, and Allstate Insurance Company. Her roles of responsibility have included Consultant Programmer, Business Analyst, Quality Control Coordinator and Project Manager. She has worked with business units and systems developed both locally and outside of the USA to ensure that projects were kept on track and that all stakeholders were kept up to date with project progress, issues and risks. Sharon has also helped develop processes and coached team members to follow these processes. As a Business Analyst, Sharon has worked with business units to gather and document requirements to be used by program developers. She has also enabled countless learners as an IT instructor. Sharon has the ability to assess needs in different work environments and make astute recommendations.

As part of The Sergay Group, Sharon helps clients;

	Assess their needs through audits and analysis
	Optimize their project management
	Gather business requirements
	Enhance their IT skill sets
	Conduct data analysis

Ruth Mastron

"If I am not for myself, then who will be for me? And if I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?"
(Rabbi Hillel)

Expertise:

• Intercultural communication (training, coaching, research, consulting)
• Expatriate adaptation (from/to North America/Europe)
• The cultural dimension of mergers and acquisitions
• Expat family issues (partner, children)
• Intercultural teambuilding
• Cultural due diligence

Experience:

Ruth has lived, studied and worked in the USA, UK and France, and has travelled extensively to over 18 countries. She is bilingual and bicultural in English and French. She has an MA in Intercultural Relations from Antioch University.
Ruth has over 15 years experience training and coaching clients in the high-tech and IT areas, as well as industries as diverse as hospitality, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, government and agribusiness, French and international schools. She is a keynote speaker for organizations such as Alliance Francaise (National Speakers Bureau), the French-American Chamber of Commerce and, Meeting Professionals International. She has also co-authored several books and specialized articles.

As part of The Sergay Group, Ruth helps clients;

	Understand their own and their colleagues' cultural values, norms, motivations and perspectives, and the effects of these elements on business and social interactions
	Anticipate and identify cultural matches as well as points of friction in living, working and communicating across cultures
	Develop strategies to bridge cultural gaps in order to leverage the strengths of cultural differences

Mark Tauber

"In managing people, recognize that people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care."

Expertise:

• Team dynamics
• Interpersonal skills
• Conflict management
• Performance management
• Helping people make the transition to the "next level" in organizations and life.

Experience:

Mark has 35 years training experience with clients ranging from non profit associations and organizations, to public traded manufacturing and service companies.
Work experience includes being vice president at GCG Inc, a financial services company in the Chicago area, as well as professor of management at The Lake Forest Graduate School of Management, and a nationally recognized speaker and trainer with The American Management Association.

As part of The Sergay Group, Mark helps clients;

	Become more knowledgeable and effective in people skills
	Improve the effectiveness of individuals and organizations

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