BethMarie Ward, MA, CTF

BethMarie Ward is owner and principal of Regenerate Group. She has over 20 years of experience working in non-profits and higher education designing planning and whole systems change initiatives for colleges and universities throughout the United States. She received an Outstanding Community Service Award during her tenure at the University of Minnesota. Her practice specializes in working with leaders to help them create strong teams moving into bold, dynamic action and implementation. She holds an M.A. in Human Development with an emphasis on organizational development from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota and is a Certified Technology of  Participation® Facilitator and Trainer through the Institute of Cultural Affairs. She teaches community development courses at Cuesta College. Deeply committed to social change innovation, she facilitates art and creative writing for youth in-custody as a form of healing and restorative justice for the greater community. She is a producer, maker and social entrepreneur with a constant drive to work towards helping empower the lives of those whose voices are often not heard. Ms. Ward is a Commissioner for the San Luis Obispo County Commission on the Status of Women and Girls.

Connie Foster, PhD, CTF

Connie Foster is a certified facilitator specializing in working with colleges and universities on strategic and academic planning, action planning and implementation, organizational change, capacity building, and leadership development.

She worked at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls (UWRF), where she served in a number of administrative positions during her 25-year career. She has served as Interim Chancellor, Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Dean of the College of Education and Professional Studies, Chair of the Department of Health and Human Performance, Athletic Director, faculty member and coach.

Connie is a member of the Society for College and University Planning (SCUP), and a graduate of the SCUP Planning Institute (07). She has a B.S. in psychology from California State University-Long Beach, an M.A. in physical education from the University of Southern California, and a Ph.D in physical education/sport psychology from the University of Minnesota. She is an Institute of Cultural Affairs Certified ToP® Facilitator.

Karen Bane, M.A.

Karen Bane has 17 years of experience managing environmental projects and regional multi-stakeholder programs involving federal, state and local government agencies, scientists, non-profits and individuals. Having served in government grant funding, regulatory compliance consulting, and environmental litigation support roles, she appreciates the wisdom gained from fostering participation and collaboration with diverse stakeholders. Karen has a passion for strategically targeting applied research to areas of uncertainty for regulators, funders, and resource managers and facilitating the adoption and use of new information to support and advance policy and practice.

Karen earned a M.A. in biophysics at the University of California, Berkeley and a B.S. in physics at Pennsylvania State University.  She grounds her facilitation practice in the Technology of Participation.