About Our Founder

Beth Applegate has provided consulting services for two decades to nonprofit organizations, governmental agencies and socially responsible for-profit corporations. She brings a rich and diverse portfolio of experience and a solid grounding in theory pertaining to organizational behavior, management, political science and grassroots organizing. Beth has served in executive staff and board leadership positions with statewide and national organizations and understands how to put sound theory into practice in order to build sustainable enterprises.

Beth is known as an insightful, forthright and compassionate person who holds a deep concern about racial equity and social justice. She approaches her work and life with a sense of inquiry, possibility and purpose. As an organization development (OD) practitioner, coach and facilitator, Beth values differences and upholds the idea of multiple realities. For Beth, organization transformation begins in the heart and mind of each individual, and she strives to help clients recognize the interconnectedness of the individual, the organization and society. While working with each client system, Beth supports the client in evaluating whether the espoused core values—those deeply held views we hold as a compass for ourselves, regardless of whether or not we are rewarded—are congruent with the behavior and actions of the organization as a whole.

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Education

Beth earned a B.S. in Political Science from Indiana University where she was chosen to be a Fellow by The Center of the Study of the Presidency, Washington, D.C. She earned an M.S. in Organization Development (MSOD) from the American University/National Training Laboratory, Institute for Applied Behavioral Sciences (AU/NTL) where she was inducted into the Phi Alpha Alpha national honor society. Beth’s graduate school cohort bestowed on her the Hal Kellner Award, presented to a class member whose characteristics include being “challenging, thoughtful, humorous…[and] someone who holds a deep concern about social justice.”

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International Experience

In the 1980s, Beth lived and worked in Nuremberg, Germany where she served as the Women’s Outreach Director for the Department of Defense. During her tenure she designed and conducted community needs assessments, evaluated results, and engaged the military leadership and community in the creation and implementation of a military dependent support program for 80,000 service members and their families. Beth’s legacy was the establishment of the first Europe-wide Army Community Services Women’s Outreach Program.

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Academic Experience

  • Adjunct Faculty, School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA), Indiana University, Bloomington.
  • Assistant Practicum Director, AU/NTL Masters of Science in Organization Development Program, American University. [Read the Announcement]
  • Adjunct Faculty, Business Administration Undergraduate Program, Trinity College of Arts and Sciences.
  • Adjunct faculty, AU/NTL Masters of Science in Organization Development (MSOD).
  • Faculty, Office of Personnel Management, Presidential Fellows Program.

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Grassroots Organizing Experience

Beth served as the National Field Director for Pro-Choice America, known at the time as the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League (NARAL). As a member of NARAL's senior management team, Beth developed and supervised the field department's affiliate capacity building and training programs, which were the cornerstone of the department's work with the organization's 38 state affiliates. The Field Department provided technical assistance to strengthen affiliate organizations in the areas of board development, strategic planning and nonprofit management, as well as to help ensure the development of integrated political plans including federal and state legislative and electoral campaigns. Beth directed the field department's annual planning process, developed and managed its budget and worked directly with NARAL's national board of directors.

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Publications

  • Embracing Cultural Competency: A Roadmap for Nonprofit Capacity Builders. Editor: Patricia St. Onge, Contributing Authors: Beth Applegate, Vicki Asakura, Monica Moss, Brigette Rouson, Alfredo Vergara-Lobo [Read Flyer]. Order book.
  • "Organization Development a Catalyst for Soical Change," Tamara Journal for Critical Organization Inquiry, Vol 8, Issue 8.3 & 8.4, December 2010. ISSN 1532-5555.
  • “Diversity and Inclusion: The Next Step in Social Responsibility.” for ASAE and the Center for Association Leadership Associations Now magazine [Read Article]
  • The Sustainable Enterprise Field book – When It All Comes Together. Edited by Wirtenberg, J., Russell, W., and Lipsky, D. 2008. Co-published by Greenleaf Publishing ( UK ) and AMACOM. To order book visit www.amazon.com and visit the Living Fieldbook at www.TheSustainableEnterpriseFieldbook.net
  • "Challenges and Opportunities in Nonprofit Capacity Building ," NONPROFIT WORLD JOURNAL, Vol. 26, No. 3, published by the Society for Nonprofit Organizations [Read Article]
  • Wirtenberg, J., Backer, T., Chang, W., Applegate, B., Lannan, T., Conway, M., Abrams, L. & Slepian, J., (2007 pages 179-195). "The Future of Organization Development in the Nonprofit Sector," OD Journal, Third Special Issue of "Best Global Practices in Internal OD", Volume 25(4). [Read Article]
  • Wirtenberg, J., Backer, T., Chang, W., Conway, M., Abrams, L. & Slepian, J., "The Future of Organization Development: Enabling Sustainable Business Performance Through People" article in the Organization Development Journal, Summer 2007 (Volume 25 No. 2), pp. 11-22 special edition. Applegate a contributor to this article. [Read Article]
  • Applegate B., Illif, H., Kloth, C. (2005) “Organization Development and Social Change – A Practitioner’s Dialogue,” OD Network 2005 Conference Proceedings. [Read Article]
  • Applegate B. (2005) “Racial Equity as a Prism for Effective Consulting,” Alliance for Nonprofit Management Enhance Newsletter. [Read Article]
  • Applegate B. & Kloth C. (2004) “Inter-Organization Collaboration & Partnerships: A Critical Analysis,” Ohio Coalition on Sexual Assault Exchange newsletter. [Read Article]
  • Applegate B. (2002) “Allies for Democracy,” OD Practitioner. [Read Article]
  • Applegate B. (2002) “The Case of Camwell High School,” OD Practitioner. [Read Article]

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Presentations

  • Service Learning and Leadership Webinar: Sponsored by NTL and the AmeriCorps Alumnis Association: May 18, 2011.
  • Race, Power & Privilege in Sustainability: 12th Annual White Privilege Conference: Bloomington, MN, April 13-16, 2011.
  • The Critical Liberation of White Women: Who Am I-U?: An Inclusive Conference on Identities: Bloomington, IN, March 3-4, 2011.
  • Embracing Cultural Competency: Who Am I-U?: An Inclusive Conference on Identities: Bloomington, IN, March 3-4, 2011.
  • Understanding Privilege and Racial Equity: Sustaining 21st Century Organizations During Difficult Economic Times: ODN Conference: New Orleans, LA, October 17-20, 2010.
  • Creating a Global Sustainability Culture,
    NTL: Washington, DC,
    May 4-6, 2010.
  • White Awake Affinity Group,
    Insight Meditation Community of Washington:
    February – May, 2010.
  • Organization Development A Catalyst for Social Change,
    Management and Organizational Inquiry Conference:
    March 27, Washington, DC
  • The Critical Liberation of White Women - What Are We Fighting For?
    The 11th Annual White Privilege Conference:
    Lacrosse WI,  April 7-10, 2010
  • Embracing Cultural Competency,
    The 11th Annual White Privilege Conference:
    La Crosse, WI April 7-10, 2010
  • World Work – Deep Democracy,
    The 11th Annual White Privilege Conference:
    Lacrosse, WI April 7-10, 2010
  • Embracing Cultural Competency,
    CBODN Conference:
    Washington, DC, and April 30, 2010
  • Embracing Cultural Competency,
    Maryland Council for Dispute Resolution quarterly membership meeting:
    March 15, 2010
  • Insight Meditation Community of Washington,
    Embracing Cultural Competency Institute for Policy Studies (SALSA):
    February 23, 2010
  • Sustainable Organizations: Race, Class and the New Green Economy,
    We Are Building Open Opportunity Structures Together (We Are BOOST):
    February 21, 2010
  • Open Space Technology and Polarity Management:
    Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, Clergy Conference,
    April 28-30, 2009
  • Voices in Cross-Cultural Capacity Building:
    Alliance Conference,
    Palm Springs, CA. July 16, 2009
  • The Critical Liberation of White Women - What Are We Fighting For?
    The 10th Annual White Privilege Conference,
    April 1-4, 2009, Memphis, TN.
  • The Critical Liberation of White - What Are We Fighting For?
    Montgomery College Super Saturday Diversity Conference,
    November 2, 2008
  • The Future of Organization Development:
    Alliance for Nonprofit Management Webinar,
    December 3, 2008
  • Racial Identity Panel:
    Montgomery College,
    December 1, 2008
  • Sustainability Series,
    Executive Treasury Institute's,
    September 2008, Washington , DC
  • The Future of Organization Development:
    Alliance for Nonprofit Management Webinar,
    December 3, 2008, Washington , DC
  • The Critical Liberation of White Women – What Are We Fighting For?
    White Privilege Conference,
    April 2-5, 2008, Amherst, Massachusetts
  • The Future of Organization Development:
    Chesapeake Bay Organization Development Network (CBODN),
    March 7, 2008, Washington, DC
  • Use of Self: Understanding Race, Power, And Privilege In An Organizational Change Process:
    OD Network Conference,
    October 21-24, 2007, Baltimore, Maryland
  • Becoming A Culturally Competent Leader through Understanding Privilege:
    Alliance for Nonprofit Management Conference,
    July 19-21, 2007 Atlanta, Georgia
  • Cultural Competency Remix:
    Advanced Peer Exchange: Alliance for Nonprofit Management Conference,
    July 19-21, 2007, Atlanta, Georgia
  • White Nonprofit Leaders Against Racism:
    Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organization’s Conference,
    2005
  • Organization Development and Social Change – A Practitioner’s Dialogue:
    Organization Development Network Conference,
    2005
  • Interorganizational Collaboration:
    Organization Development Network Conference,
    November 2004
  • White OD Practitioners As Partners for Change - Doing Our Work:
    Organization Development Conference,
    November 2004

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Certificates

  • Advanced Enneagram and Organization Development - 2009
  • Myers Briggs Type Indicator - December, 2008
  • Ennegram Train the Trainer Program - 2008
  • Study Circle Facilitation – 2006
  • Practitioners Program – 2004

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Awards

  • Best of Takoma Park Award in Management and Consulting Services, 2010.
  • Best of Takoma Park Award in Management and Consulting Services, 2009.
  • Alliance for Nonprofit Management Cultural Competency Award, 2009.
  • Hal Kellner Award, American University, Washington DC, 2003.
  • Phi Alpha Alpha National Honor Society, American University, Washington, DC, 2003.
  • Outstanding Community Contribution Award, Department of Defense, Family Support Division, Army Community Services, Nuremberg, Germany, 1988.
  • The Center of the Study of the Presidency Fellow, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, 1982.

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Professional Affiliations

  • Alliance for Nonprofit Management
  • ASAE and the Center for Association Leadership
  • Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action
  • Association of Training and Development
  • AU/NTL Association
  • Chesapeake Bay Organization Development Network
  • Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations
  • Montgomery County Public Schools Study Circle Program
  • Organization Development Institute
  • Organization Development Network
  • NTL Institute for Applied Behavioral Science
  • White Women's Caucus for Equity and Justice
  • Women Consultants Network