Each January, nonprofits can apply for pro bono consulting from the Stanford Alumni Consulting Team (ACT) in Monterey Bay. The ACT team of business school alumni and business executives bring decades of private business sector management expertise to participating nonprofits. The Stanford ACT team works closely with the Executive Director and appropriate Board members to ensure the successful completion of each project.
Stanford ACT was established on the Central Coast in 2005. They have completed over 85 projects assisting 70 organizations in Monterey County since 2005. The team of fifteen consultants provides pro bono consulting with a core focus on utilizing for-profit management techniques in nonprofit organizations.
The services of the Stanford Alumni Consulting Team (ACT) in Monterey Bay are offered by the Stanford University Graduate School of Business Alumni Association with the Community Foundation for Monterey County as an outreach partner. The Stanford ACT in Monterey Bay is composed of fifteen consultants. The members of the team hold two doctorates and fourteen master’s degrees. In addition, the members average over 30 years of senior management experience. Their experience ranges from startups to key management roles in five corporations with revenues over a billion dollars each.
Barbara Bishop
Stanford ACT member since 2002 specializing in marketing and strategic planning. BA Economics, MBA, Stanford University. 18 years of management experience in Marketing, Business Planning, and Channel Development, 21 years at Hewlett Packard; several years at SRI International, and other consulting firms. Responsible for a $600M business at HP; strong services and process background.
George Dies
Stanford ACT member since 2011, since 2016 in Monterey Bay specializing in financial management. strategic planning and human resources.  BA in Economics and European Civilization/French Princeton University, MBA Stanford University. US Foreign Service Officer in Washington DC, Turkey, and Benin, West Africa. Nearly 30 years in Silicon Valley in finance, strategy, and human resources at small to Fortune 100 firms. Fellow at Marine Science Institute in Redwood City, and volunteer with other environmental organizations.
Jim Graber
Stanford ACT member since 1991 in Silicon Valley, since 2005 in Monterey. Led or worked on over 35 projects. Primary focus is general business, governance, administration and finance. BA Univ. of Pennsylvania, MBA Stanford University. 40 years senior management experience in finance and general management in a variety of industries, primarily as CFO. Firms varied from start up to mature organizations, both public and private.
Sandy HaleÂ
Stanford ACT member since 2013 specializing in strategic planning, finance and nonprofit management. BA Stanford University, MBA Harvard University, Ph.D. Economics University of Vienna. 30 years senior management experience. Former senior official U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; founded two international consulting firms, both sold to Fortune 100 companies; head of the business school and interim Dean, CSU Monterey Bay. Former Chair, President, and Board Member of several major nonprofits.
Jose Kofman
Stanford ACT member since 2021, specializing in Business Development, Project Management, General Management  & Strategic Planning,  BS in Industrial from his native Chile and MBA from Stanford University.   Jose spent most of his career in the wood products industry, both in his native Chile and in the US. His positions included President, CEO, and Board member. He enjoys the intellectual challenges provided by the Stanford Alumni Consulting Team
Hui Lancaster
Stanford ACT member since 2021, specializing in operational excellence disciplines: strategy & planning, portfolio and program management, budget management, metrics, and process improvement. BA in Psychology and English Literature, Swarthmore College and MBA from Stanford University. 25+ years of operations experience with Silicon Valley technology enterprises.
Alex Lilley
Stanford ACT member since 2005 specializing in project management, data analysis and strategic planning. BS in Electrical Engineering, Princeton; MBA, Stanford University. 30 plus years of management experience in Sales Support, Product Planning and Project Management at IBM. Led projects on a national level. Board chairman of a property management business, responsible for strategic and financial direction.
Brooks McChesney
Stanford ACT member since 2009 specializing in general management and strategic planning. BA History and Political Science, Stanford: JD Cornell University. 30 years of management experience. Founder and senior executive at several Silicon Valley HiTech companies, Led several VC and Corporate funded startups, Corporate Counsel for two Billion Dollar organizations.
Denny K. Paul, CFA
Stanford ACT member since 2006 specializing in financial, marketing, business planning, and general management. Bachelor of Electrical Engineering, Cornell; MSEE, Stanford; MBA studies at Stanford and Santa Clara University; Chartered Financial Analyst. 30 years of Management Experience, Four Silicon Valley Start-ups in Market Research, Computer Sales and Software Development; held financial, sales, and general management positions in the US, Canada, and Europe. Extensive acquisition experience.
Bert Rankin
Stanford ACT member since 2020 specializing in marketing and strategic planning, BA in Economics Harvard University, MBA Stanford GSB. 35 years of solving complex problems in marketing, with extensive experience in developing high impact branding and messaging, demand generation, and product definition to meet domestic and international challenges. Serial entrepreneur having successfully nurtured several companies from early stage through to IPO or acquisition.Â
David Warner
Stanford ACT member since 2016 specializing in general management, bank relations and finance, and strategic planning. BA Economics Dartmouth College, MBA Stanford GSB International Finance. 40 years of management experience in U.S. and Asian banking. Founder and management of several community banks. Peace Corps in Sri Lanka with World Health Organization project. David serves with several local nonprofit boards.
Larry Wells
Stanford ACT member since 2021, specializing in General Management,  Financial Management,  and Strategic Planning.  BA in Economics and MBA from Stanford University. 20 years in Venture Capital, initially with a major Investment Bank and later as a partner in a Venture Firm he founded. Has reviewed over 1,000 business plans, funded about 50 companies, sat on 25 corporate boards including 7 public companies. Prior to his VC experience he was a founder of a market research and consulting firm and was a consultant with The Stanford Research Institute.
Ron Wormser
Stanford ACT member since 2010 specializing in board development, financial planning, and build-outs of new and young organizations.  BA Political Science, Ohio University; MA Administration of Higher Education, Syracuse University. 40 years as executive with nonprofits in higher education, international research centers and performing arts. Since retiring in 2007, he has offered consulting in board development, finance, fundraising and executive coaching. Author of book on fundraising published by BoardSource.
Sunset Cultural Center
SCC turned to Stanford ACT for help with messaging our diverse programs and services while clarifying our need for public support. The team went above and beyond by studying each aspect of our organization and guiding staff through the development of a communication document as well as a fundraising plan and marketing strategy during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. We now have a concise communications document to use for Board Member orientations, staff training, and a guideline for marketing our various programs.
Center for Photographic Art (CPA)
The Center for Photographic Art Board of Trustees is grateful to the Stanford ACT team for the year of counseling we received in a number of organizational areas including governance, marketing and strategic planning. The process was useful, appreciated and yielded new clarity and energy. CPA reset its mission and is realizing the benefits of focused strategic planning.
Everyone’s Harvest
The Stanford ACT team shared an enormous amount of information and knowledge on how to strengthen the nonprofit board, moving our organization to the next step of governance. Our work with the Stanford ACT propelled our organization to the next level. Focused on market and organizational growth, the ACT team ensured we asked the right questions, stayed true to our goal, and achieved results!
Legal Services for Seniors
Legal Services for Seniors greatly benefited from the Stanford ACT’s experienced team. With their help we’ve focused our development strategy, resulting in enhanced development and fundraising.
Ladies First
It was a honor and a privilege to work with such caring, knowledgeable professionals. The belief and support they showed for Ladies First encouraged me to know that our organization and mission has value, and that we can strive for excellence. Their time and investment will allow us to take Ladies First to a higher level of success.
Middlebury Institute for International Studies at Monterey pairs nonprofits with teams of students as Practicum projects, including through its CoLab. Please contact Dr. Scott Pulizzi, Associate Professor, Graduate School of International Policy and Management.
Community Foundation for Monterey County
Monterey Office
2354 Garden Road
Monterey, CA 93940
Salinas Office
945 South Main Street, Suite 207
Salinas, CA 93901
Home page background photos
courtesy of Chris Burnham
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