OUR TEAM
DR. CARL JEFFERSON
Chief Consultant, Managing Partner
Dr. Jefferson is the Founder and Practice Lead at the Performance Principles LLC, a performance management firm located in Atlanta, GA. Dr. Jefferson developed the Performance Principles in response to his private and public sector clients’ need to improve their people performance. These principles constitute a guiding heuristic for transitioning average organizational performance to that of a sector or industry leader. Carl is a Lifetime Member and Officer on the national board of directors of the National Association of African Americans in Human Resources and brings twenty years of leadership accomplishments to his role as the Association’s Vice Chairman.
Dr. Jefferson is a Human Resources and Organizational Leadership Executive whose career assignments have included Chief People Officer with Al Copeland Investments, VP of Human Resources and Organization Development Consulting with Wachovia Corporation, and Head of Denny’s People Division, Sr. Director of HR & Talent Management with Denny's Restaurants. In each of these roles, he served as a senior business partner to executives and community leaders in customizing enterprise-wide employee engagement and people leadership initiatives. He earned a BA in Psychology from the University of Baltimore, and two graduate degrees from The Johns Hopkins University -- MS in Organization Development & Human Resources Management and an MBA in General Management. He completed his Ph.D. coursework and research in Organizational Leadership at the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore.
Carl is passionate about HR, Equity-centered Leadership Models, Diversity & Inclusion, and Talent Management and believes that organizations who invest in strategic human capital planning, mass career customization, and inclusion initiatives outperform organizations that operate the HR function as an administrative cost center. For Dr. Jefferson, iconic business and organization success is achieved through high levels of employee engagement and quantifiable performance management solutions.
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Carl is based in Atlanta, GA and serves on non-profit boards to build communities and support youth in achieving positive career and education outcomes. He is frequently interviewed and quoted in the national media and is a sought-after speaker, lecturer, and facilitator on human resources, inclusion, and people leadership themes. He is also a member of the Society for Human Resource Management and International Leadership Association.
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Interested in Executive Coaching with Dr. Carl Jefferson? Click the link below.
LISA ROZZELLE, J.D.
Vice President, Client Relations
Lisa Rozzelle has over fifteen years of experience in leading organizations from both the private and public sector with a background in Program Management, Performance Management, and various continued learning platforms for the Performance Principles. She currently serves as VP of Client Relations and her background includes contract administration, resource allocation, and extensive experience directing multi-million dollar education and performance management programs.
In this role, she provides visible leadership, accountability, and authority delivered to Performance Principles. She is adept at understanding the needs of the client and articulating the ability of our company to meet the clients' needs via our suite of products or services. She is primarily responsible for client acquisition, customer satisfaction, and client retention.
She has worked with agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Transportation, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Federal Aviation Administration to assist in creating educational programs that support them in investing and growing their employee base.
She has also supported Spelman College, Clark Atlanta University, and Morehouse College in their efforts to prepare students for post-graduate success through summer internships, mentoring programs, and self-marketing workshops. She appreciates working with those who enjoy continuously improving themselves and their work environment through education. Lisa holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Stockton University and a Juris Doctorate from John Marshall Law Atlanta.
STEVE GREEN, M.S.
Lean, Six Sigma Black Belt
Senior Consultant, Partner
Steve Green has over 25 years of federal government and private industry Lean Six Sigma and Management Systems consulting experience in multiple industries and environments. He is passionate about process improvement and facilitating teams to achieve results.
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Steve is a retired United States Air Force (USAF) veteran. During his service he held senior positions leading efforts that resulted in substantial achievements in Supply Chain and personnel support operations. He also served as a civil servant for with the USAF where he held senior positions as Enterprise Architect for Supply Chain Operations business processes, and later as Course Director/Lead Instructor for the USAF Lean Six Sigma Black Belt course. He brings in-depth process improvement experience including defining and executing strategies, implementing management systems, curriculum development and delivery, training, coaching, and mentoring.
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As a consultant and certified Lean Six Sigma Blackbelt, Steve has in-depth experience leading multifaceted process improvement teams delivering sustainable improvements. His experience and knowledge coupled with his ability to motivate and facilitate change has enabled teams to reduce operational cycle times and waste, and to improve quality while delivering exceptional product and customer experiences.
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Mr. Green earned a Master of Science in Management degree from Troy University in Troy, Alabama. He also received a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Education, Major Business Administration from Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, Texas.
DR. MIKAL ANDERSON
Senior Consultant, Partner
Dr. Mikal Anderson leverages years of expertise in instructional pedagogy, school operations and redesign, education policy, human capital, public finance, nonprofit management, and organizational development to lead the organization’s education, economic development, and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) ventures. Dr. Anderson is experienced in leading system-wide initiatives focusing on the acquisition, retention, and diversification of educator pipelines, which include talent development endeavors concentrating on the cultivation of new teachers and school administrators. He manages relationships between universities and K-12 institutions to enhance teacher preparation and community-based programs and has guided partnerships between local educational agencies and the private sector in the areas of career and technical education and workforce development.
Dr. Anderson supports organizations with strategic planning, talent acquisition and management, talent development, and program evaluation processes; and he delivers professional development and coaching to numerous organizations on the topics of race, equity, diversity and inclusion, cultural competence, culturally responsive pedagogy, culturally responsive leadership, and restorative practices.
Dr. Anderson is a second-generation graduate of The Episcopal Academy located in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Sociology from the University of Pennsylvania, a Master of Education in Secondary Education from Temple University, and a Doctor of Education degree in Global Education from the University of Southern California Rossier School of Education.
DR. RONALD W. WHITAKER II
Senior Consultant, Partner
Known as an Equity and Anti-Racist Freedom Fighter, Dr. Ronald W. Whitaker, II is the appointed Culturally Responsive Pedagogy Assistant Professor of Education and the Director of the Center for Urban Education, Equity, and Improvement (CUEEI) at Cabrini University. Further, Dr. Whitaker also holds the distinction of being a Schouver Fellow at Duquesne University. As a Schouver Fellow, Dr. Ron engages in improvement projects that seek to build system capacity within organizations. Additionally, Dr. Whitaker is the current Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Equity Expert, a Board of Trustees member for Tacony Academy Charter School, and a Board of Directors Member for the National Association of African Americans in Human Resources (NAAAHR).
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As a researcher and scholar, Dr. Whitaker publishes articles that focus on the psychology of race and racism, issues related to diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI), culturally relevant and sustaining pedagogy, and the societal and educational disenfranchisement of African American males. Dr. Whitaker presents his research at both national and international scholarly conferences, and within K-12 educational milieus. He is revered amongst colleagues for engaging in “tough conversations” in a respectful manner.
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Dr. Whitaker completed his Doctoral Degree in Educational Leadership at Duquesne University. He also earned a master’s degree in Education at the University of Pennsylvania, a master’s degree in Business Administration at Eastern University, and two undergraduate degrees from Geneva College where he graduated magna cum laude. Additionally, Dr. Whitaker earned a Certificate in Culturally Sustaining Teaching from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC), and a Certificate in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University.
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STACEY GORDON, MBA
Senior Consultant, Partner
Stacey A. Gordon is an Executive Advisor and Diversity Strategist who works to reduce bias in recruiting and barriers to hiring. Stacey is the creator of the number one resume course at LinkedIn Learning and her unconscious bias course has been translated into several languages for consumption globally. She is a highly rated coach practitioner who has facilitated coaching of Chief Diversity Officers and other diversity and inclusion practitioners at several Diversity and Inclusion forums.
Stacey is the author of a best-selling interview guide titled The Successful Interview: 99 Questions to Ask and Answer (and Some You Shouldn't) and four LinkedIn e-learning courses – Recruiting for Diversity, Awareness of Unconscious Bias, Making a Career Change, and Writing a Resume – which collectively have accumulated more than one million views. As a consultant and career strategist, Stacey has written career and diversity related articles and provided content for SHRM, FastCompany, Skillsoft, Forbes, NPR Radio, BBC Radio, Essence Magazine, and Monster.com, to name a few. She was also a career segment guest contributor to Fox Business.
Stacey holds a Master of Business Administration in Entrepreneurial Studies from Pepperdine University’s Business School in Malibu, California and earned a Bachelor of Science, cum laude, from St. John’s University in Queens, New York. She earned both her Inclusive Workplace Culture credential and her Senior Certified Professional certification from SHRM.
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