After more than 20 years leading organizations across various industries domestically and internationally, Shelly Holden joined Graves Consulting as a management consultant in January 2020. Shelly has an extensive background in multiple disciplines including Human Resources, Business Development, and Operations, serving in roles such as VP of People Systems for The Bama Companies, EVP of Global Accounts with East Balt Bakeries, and most recently COO of NPI-Nameplates, Inc. Areas of expertise include strategic planning & operational execution, new business start-up, business integrations/acquisitions, organizational design & restructuring, workflow design, process improvement, business development, and project management. In addition to helping organizations build, integrate, and align business systems, Shelly is also an ontological coach trained in strategies to facilitate transformative change in individual and team performance.

In addition to earning a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership, Shelly has extensive training, certifications, and credentials from The Levinson Institute (Strategic Organizations), Deming Management Method, EQ Strategies & Practices (Staub Leadership), Franklin Covey (certified in 7 Habits Signature Series), Hogan Assessments (certified in HPI, HDS, MVPI), Six Sigma Design & Process Improvement, and Newfield Network ICF Accredited Coaching Program. Shelly is a member of the International Coaching Federation and also actively involved in the community as a Board Member of CASA-Tulsa and previous Board President of YWCA-Tulsa.

Eric Marburger has an extensive background in Human Resources and Compensation. Eric ran his own successful consulting firm, ESM Consulting Services, Inc for over 20 years. He began partnering and working with Graves Consulting in 2016. Before consulting, he served as the HR Director for El Paso County, Colorado, a diverse organization with over 2,500 employees. He has been an HR executive in a number of unionized environments in the private and public sectors.

Eric has consulted with scores of public sector organizations throughout the Rocky Mountain Region and has worked with the Health Care Sector in hospital, clinic, and administrative environments. The majority of Eric’s clients based-work has been in Classification and Compensation, Employee Relations and in interim executive leadership positions.

Eric has a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Maryland and a Masters of Business Administration from Hood College with a concentration in Public Administration. He has been certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources from the Society for Human Resource Management and as a Certified Professional from the International Personnel Management Association. Eric has served on the IPMA-HR/Colorado Board of Directors and on numerous IPMA-HR/National Committees.

Helen’s expertise in project management, process improvement, research and records management enhances our process efficiency as well as that of our clients. Her ability to translate customer needs into defined process steps and timelines adds clarity and impact to our work.

Previously, Helen was the Deputy Director at a software company that creates and distributes automation software to a variety of large public library systems throughout the world. In this role she was responsible for software development and implementation including collection of development requirements, delivery of customized contractual software development, data conversion, staff training, and contract management. Helen later gained finance project management skills as a closing officer, managing a portfolio of commercial real estate and large construction loans on behalf of the Small Business Administration.

Helen has a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Wisconsin and a Masters of Library and Information Science from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York.

Wendy has more than 20 years of experience in Human Resources in both private and public sector organizations. Most recently, she served as the HR & Risk Management Director for the City of Steamboat Springs for over 8 years. Her previous HR experience is broad and includes organizations with 5000+ employees, global organizations, union and non-union environments, start-up companies needing HR development from the ground up and municipal HR.

Wendy started her career as a therapist for in-patient mental health facilities. It was this career that launched her ability to connect and engage with people, and to listen and provide guidance. These attributes led to an outstanding ability to build trust and relationships with stakeholders at all levels and to a highly successful HR career.

Wendy has a strong understanding of the challenges and nuances that municipal and other public sector organizations face. Her areas of expertise, specifically in public sector HR operations, are:

• Employee Relations
• Compensation & Benefits
• Employee Recruitment, Engagement & Retention Strategies
• Hiring & Onboarding
• DEI Strategic Planning
• Facilitation of City Council Evaluations for CM and CA
• Strategic Planning (Including prioritization processes during budget development)
• Risk Management (WC, PC, Safety Campaigns)
• Organizational Culture
• Policy Development
• Investigations
• Performance Management

Wendy achieved a Master of Education from the University of Toledo with a focus on Psychiatric Therapy. She also served on the Board of Directors for a non-profit serving victims and survivors of domestic and sexual violence, providing fiduciary oversight and HR guidance.

In her personal time, Wendy enjoys spending time with her husband and their fur child, Smalls (a Great Dane). Together they have four adult children and love spending time with them doing all the wonderful outdoor activities CO offers: ATV rides, boating, hiking, skiing, snowmobiling, and ice fishing.