MLBennett Consulting LLC (MLBC)

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Some of the ways in which MLBC serves you:

>maximizing the contributions of your talent through coaching, mentoring, executive and partner development and accountability, and performance management programs
> maximizing opportunities of changing markets and teams through business development and service development consulting and programming
> ensuring the retention and advancement of all top talent to support succession planning and organizational viability through talent development, coaching and leadership programs
> creating inclusive environments to support organizational viability and new market development through best practice inclusiveness programs
> fostering leadership capable of addressing the increasing complexity of our marketplace through customized leadership development programs

MLBC has extensive experience in organizational development for CPA firms.  MLBC also offers individual developmental coaching for those who lead these organizations.  Please review our client testimonials.   Also please click on service areas below to learn more.
                                           

Advancement of Women

Diversity and Inclusion

Leadership Development & Succession Planning

Competency Models: Development & Alignment

Executive and Developmental Coaching

Career Life & Talent Retention Programming

Customized Human Capital and Organizational Development 

Outsourced Organizational Development: Flexible & Affordable



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Speaking, CPE and Seminar Topics:

All topics listed are examples of the type of content available.  All sessions
are customizable in terms of the actual topics covered and the length and format
of the session.  Each of these sessions may be done on site or virtually.  Each topic is also flexible in terms of the length and format, ranging from one hour to a full day workshop or seminar.  Consulting is also available in each of these areas as well as others.   
         
 
Succession Planning
Exit strategies are on the mind of many
firms.  Planning for succession,whether internal or external is essential for practice owners today.  Whether in the top ten or a sole proprietor, firm owners are increasingly concerned with succession planning. The M&A market for accounting firms is heating up and forecasted to be a buyer’s market as baby boomers begin to retire in force. Traditional sale may not be available
for all of the firms that have planned on this strategy for retirement. This
session will cover important considerations for internal and external succession
planning. Specific information for both small and large firms will be
included.  The session will touch on common planning options, diagnosing your firm needs, custom approaches that fit your philosophy or culture, strategic approaches for small and large firms, and leadership development for succession.  
 

 Partner Accountability
Partner accountability has become a top issue for most CPA firms.  The intensity of competition for growth, the need for focused business development and client retention, the cost of turnover or underdeveloped staff are all driving firms to become more targeted in managing expectations with the partner group.  Accountability, when done well, will not negatively impact culture and may in fact improve culture as the firm builds clarity in communication, expectations and results.  Participants will be introduced to important considerations for partner
accountability and how to customize approaches based on a specific firm’s needs,
culture, challenges and opportunities.


Managing a Flexible Workforce
Managers today are part of a workforce that desire more flexibility in terms of location, career path, schedule and work styles in general. This session will help to train managers on the best practices for managing flexibility in the work place with an approach that balances client needs, firm needs and individual
needs.


 Niche Practice Development- Best Practices
Growth is the number one concern of public accounting firms today.  Niche
practice development is one aspect of growth many firms are turning to
following the recent economic downturn. Participants in this seminar will learn the best practices of Niche Practice Development including strategies for business development,organizational design within your firm, accountability, staffing and much more.


 Diversity& Inclusion
Our talent pools, clients, and markets are all becoming much more diverse. 
One key to business sustainability is to begin to harness the business
benefits of diversity and inclusion in our firms. Participants in this seminar will learn best practices in designing and executing a program that is specifically targeted to the firm and its strategies for growth and profitability. Participants will discuss concepts key to building an inclusive environment and will build a personal impact plan to support the firm’s goals.  
 

Managing  Diversity
 Our work environments are rapidly becoming more diverse.  Diversity is broadly
defined not only encompassing gender and ethnicity but lifestyle, career path,
educational background, and more. This session will help the participants to
understand core concepts of unconscious thinking patterns and bias, sensitivity
in cross cultural communication and the basics of inclusive behavior.  The session will also help the participants understand how these elements play out in the workplace and how to continuously improve inclusivity and cross cultural relationship building skills.


Women’s Leadership Forum             
Comprehensive offering for women leaders including introduction to the status of women in the profession, skill building in key areas important
to women in the profession including:  Building a network, managing career-life integration, building your personal brand as a leader, executive presence, business development, communications and more.  Offering may be .5 to 1.5 days with content expansion available. 


Career/LifeIntegration
This session is for individuals who want to take a more organized approach to the integration of their life and career.  Best practices in self management of a customized plan of career/life integration will be discussed.   Each person will spend time on a personal career/life integration plan that aligns with their values.  Participants will learn how to constructively discuss career/life planning with their managers and firm leaders. 


Women’s Leadership – Market Focused Initiatives
This seminar trains firm leaders on building a market focused Women’s Leadership Initiative. In challenging economic times it is critical that initiatives support the bottom line focus and growth focus of the Firm.  The session will focus on building components of a program to development women while tying the results of the program directly to the market, growth andbottom line of the Firm.  This
session is also available related to broader diversity programs.


Coaching Training for Career Coaches
This session offers skill building for career development coaches. 
Professional service firms depend on the development of our people for
the development of our firms.Day to day performance coaching is not enough to get our talent resources ready for future leadership roles.  Career coaches
need to be trained to effectively develop our emerging leaders and prepare them
for the leadership roles of the future.  This seminar is all about building the capabilities of your firm for the future.  
 

Coaching for Performance Management & Accountability
This session offers skill building for management related specifically to performance management and building accountability in teams. One of the most challenging skills for managers is learning to build accountability and positive team environments simultaneously.  It is possible to accomplish both goals and participants of this session will take away skills and practical tips for beginning this process or improving existing skills.


Leadership Development Skill Building
This seminar is customized for the firm or organization.  Each firm has a
unique blueprint of skills and capabilities they feel are most critical to the
development of leaders at any given time. This blue print is called competency
modeling.  This seminar is customized to reinforce skill building in the areas most important to your firm(s).  Leadership assessment and
developmental planning consulting is available as part of the program if
desired.  If the competency model is not fully formed, consulting is available to assist in formation of the competency model.


                                                        
Sponsor (Advocate) & Protégé Program Orientation
One of the essential success factors for career advancement in the accounting profession is adequate access to career advocacy and sponsorship.  Advocacy
is a critical component of succession planning and development of future
leaders to ensure sustainability of firms.  Participants of this seminar will learn
the business case for such programs and key components of a successful
sponsorship program.  The program can be structured to train organizations to implement a sponsor program.   State societies or firm associations often opt to offer a sponsor program informational session for all firms in building a program inside of the firm.  In the latter option, sponsors and protégé’s will learn together in this seminar and practice key skills necessary to build a successful relationship that will benefit the individual and the Firm.  

 
 
Flexible Work Cultures; Career-Life Programming- Management Training
Flexibility is not just a women’s issue but also a concern for many emerging leaders, both male and female.  Men have increasing responsibilities related to family; many of the younger generations require flexibility as part of their chosen lifestyle. Research shows that those individuals who feel they have quality integration of career commitments with life commitments are more engaged at work. This employee engagement increases profitability for the organization.
Engagement is also positively related to client satisfaction.  Participants in this webinar will learn best practices related to building a flexible work culture, not just flexible work arrangements but a culture that supports flexibility for all employees who value this as an important component of their work environment. Concerns and conflicts with business operations will be discussed and management will be trained on how to handle such conflicts.  This
offering represents a business focused approach to flexibility.


Best Practices for Women’s Initiatives
This session outlines the best practice for women’s initiatives.  The session
will also outline the myths regarding efforts to retain and develop women in the
profession.  These initiatives are not about women’s only groups, quotas, or promoting women before men.  These efforts are about ensuring that
men and women lead together for the best possible future of the profession.  
 

Career Navigation Strategies for Women         
This session outlines career navigation strategies for women in accounting.  The session will enable participants to understand the ways in which a woman’s journey in the profession may still be different today than her male peers. 
The session also engages in skill building on key topics to empower women
to own their career progress. 


Career Navigation Strategies for Professionals
This session will outline the five key strategies for navigating successfully through a career in the accounting profession.  Participants will learn what these strategies are and will be introduced to techniques and skill building to effectively use these
strategies.


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About Mary L. Bennett:
Mary L Bennett has over twenty years of experience in the accounting and consulting industry.   Seventeen years of this experience has been with Crowe Horwath LLP, a top ten accounting and consulting firm.   For ten years of her career Mary served as a client service partner at Crowe.  Mary’s roles have included Practice Leadership, Market Development, Business Development, Client Service, Large Engagements, and Organizational Development. Areas of expertise include Enterprise Risk Management, Internal Audit, Leadership Development, Talent Development, Inclusiveness Programs, and Women’s Leadership Programs.  Mary has founded MLBennett Consulting and is working with professional services firms and other organizations in Talent and Organizational Development. Services include Succession Planning, Leadership Development, Women’s Leadership Initiatives, Inclusiveness, Career Life Programs, Business and Service Development Capability Development and Executive Coaching.  Long term outsourcing arrangements are available.

 Expertise Summary
-Human Resource Development
-Client Service
-Risk Management
-Internal Audit
-Organizational Development
-Women’s Leadership Initiatives
-Leadership Development
-Inclusiveness
-Social Media Marketing
-Career/Life Programs
-Business Process and Shared Services
-Niche Practice Development

Professional Activities and Certifications
Awarded:  Samaritan Counseling Center Family Values in Business Award
Awarded:  2003 Woman of The Year, American Society of Woman Accountants
Awarded:  2004 Indiana Commission for Woman, Torchbearer Award
Awarded 2008 Presidential Citation Award- American Women’s Society of CPA’s
Member, AICPA Women’s Initiative Executive Committee
Chair Elect, AICPA Women’s Initiative Executive Committee
Harvard Women’s Leadership Board
Institute for Women’s Leadership, Master Sempaii
Past Chair, Women Into Leadership Steering Committee
Partner Sponsor, Employee Resource Networks
Member, Executive Inclusivess Advisory Board
Member, American Society of Woman Accountants (ASWA)
Prior Board of Directors & Executive Committee, United Way of St. Joseph County
Prior Board of Directors & Executive Committee, Regional Museum of Art
Board of Directors & Executive Committee YWCA Greater Atlanta
Member, AICPA, GSCPA, IIA
Member, Minorities Committee GSCPA

CIA: Certified Internal Auditor, Institute of Internal Auditors
CEC: Certified Executive Coach, College of Executive Coaching
CEC: Certified Empowerment Coach, Empowerment Institute

Education
B.A.  Applied Behavioral Sciences, Lewis University
M.B.A., Emphasis Organizational Theory & Development, Indiana University
 
 

MLBennett Consulting LLC