Lisa Fitzhugh // Creative Ground

“I can honestly say Lisa Fitzhugh of Creative Ground “made a real difference” for us.  Her facilitation was invaluable in helping us to establish trust and norms with both our senior management team and the larger leadership team. She brought activities to our teams that provided space to learn about each other in different ways which, in turn, helped us to get better at healthy, fun, meaningful and productive teamwork.  Our foundational work together continues to have genuine positive impacts on the Division’s culture and how we’re seen by our agency partners and the community.  We are stronger, better and moving in a positive direction.”

     –Darrell A. Rodgers, PhD, Director, King County Public Health Environmental Health Services Division  

“Creative Ground triggered major change in our team by providing a safe place and encouraging honest discussion without destructive judgment.  We felt heard and it gave us the courage to acknowledge our own voice in a manner that was constructive to the team as well as to us as individuals.  Lisa helped us remember we all have something to contribute.  We all have the same goals in mind.  Further, we all have a voice in whatever success we realize.  We so appreciate her help in putting us all back on track that is not only successful but filled with continual learning, openness and fun.”

–Michael Lowe, Seattle Center, McCaw Hall Facility Lead

“Lisa served as a consultant to our office on a cultural change and inclusion project.  Lisa was brought in to help design and facilitate a process of discovery, learning and improvement.  I served on the employee steering committee but also serve as a deputy director so my own style, privilege and positional authority were included in the cultural issues to be addressed.  Lisa’s creativity, grace, energy and belief in a more inclusive work environment allowed our leadership team and staff to increase our mutual respect, deepen our interpersonal connections, and explore difficult topics.  Through her expert facilitation, guided self examination, creative story telling (and even silly hat wearing), our office grew more cohesive and trusting with new norms and patterns of behavior.  Lisa’s role in the work was essential and I, and many others, have been profoundly changed through our interactions with her and her ideas.  Our leadership team as a whole is more responsive, open and willing to tackle difficult interpersonal and power dynamics that previously would have been ignored or papered over.  Rarely has a consulting experience changed so much with such lasting impact.”

       –Michael Jacobson, Deputy Director, King County Office  of Performance, Strategy & Budget

“We worked with Creative Ground over several productive months when I took over a section of Metro Transit that was struggling with trust and communication issues.  Her team developed an inclusive program for our 60+ person team, gathered information through interviews and surveys, rapidly assessed core organizational and personality concerns and put together a plan to address those.  Lisa is an insightful, compassionate truth teller who will provide useful feedback and tools.  She truly cares yet she’ll tell you what she sees, not necessarily what you want to hear.  If you are willing to acknowledge the true state of affairs, and buy into a plan you’ll jointly develop to address areas of concern, you’ll not be disappointed. From organizational development, to executive coach, or anywhere in between, Creative Ground provides a positive view of personal, staff, or organizational challenges and an achievable path to improvement.”

       –Peter Melin, previous Manager, King County Transit Design & Construction

“As a leadership coach, Lisa has shown me how to wrestle with competing forces–even the ones I had labeled irreconcilable.  With her support and guidance, I have found ways to energize inside of conflict, whether it be actual “on the ground” issues, or the sparring of my own internal demons and better angels.  I am finding ways to cast off the archetypes of traditional leadership in favor of expressing myself genuinely.  And my team, my whole organization, for that matter, is refreshingly responsive.  Lisa is interwoven grace and tenacity; equal parts gunnery sergeant and zen master.”

–Rob Gannon, King County Transit General Manager

Lisa worked with our leadership team to assess, heal, and transform the culture of our organization. Her approach is creative and intuitive, and at the leading edge of where organizational and leadership development are heading. She both challenges and supports her clients, helping them generate self-awareness and insights that form the basis of transformational change. Working with Lisa resulted in tremendous personal and professional growth – for me and for the members of our staff. Her coaching has helped me to up my game – and my humanity.”

   -Lauren Smith, Director of Regional Planning, King County Executive’s Office

“Creative Ground’s work with clients exemplifies the creative habits they are trying to cultivate in us, particularly tolerance for ambiguity, challenging assumptions, risk-taking, self-reflection and persistence. Lisa’s approach to designing and implementing projects allows for a truly creative collaboration between her vision and that of her client’s to achieve the greatest possible impact.

-Michele Finnegan, Director of Finance, Seattle Parks & Recreation

“For 14 years, I’ve seen Lisa in numerous professional situations—motivational speaking, retreat facilitation, community visioning, and leading. She is a deep listener and sows seeds for change that resonate long after she has left the room. Witnessing participants reconnect with their own creative rocket fuel is something to behold! Her authentic spirit leads us to new places where we can tap into our full potentials and see the vision for a world healed and enlivened by collaboration and creativity. Lisa IS the rocket fuel that everyone needs.”

–Sarah Davis, Board Member, Going Elemental

“I was looking for a consultant who could work with a team who has great passion for their work and at the same time needed to heal some hardships and just focus on themselves. Lisa was the perfect person. We worked together on a possible agenda for the day leaving room for spontaneity.  To lift the lid on our ‘over thinking,’ Lisa got us using our creative and imaginal intelligence. We cried, we laughed and found meaning in the symbolism hidden in the stories told through our art projects. Lisa led us to a safe space where we felt anchored as a team.  I am so grateful for Lisa’s ability to really listen and respond to our needs in such a creative and graceful way.”

        –Brenda Kramer, previous Director, Lifelong Recreation & 
Special Populations, Seattle Parks Department

“Lisa is an excellent facilitator, particularly gifted at helping groups of people navigate through fraught situations.  She has an uncanny ability to ferret out the source of tension – which can be unvoiced yet palpable in a group – then adeptly address the anxiety, resentment or dissatisfaction in a way that does not accuse, shame or lay blame on any individual.  Lisa’s calm and generous demeanor conveys to groups wrestling with difficult situations an optimism that inspires people to work together on finding a way forward that includes everyone.  I cannot recommend her highly enough.”

–Tree Swenson, Director, Hugo House