What is a facilitator?
A facilitator orchestrates change.

A facilitator’s role is like that of an orchestra conductor. A maestro brings together a mix of musicians, just as a facilitator brings together leaders and teams. The role of the conductor is to highlight the individual parts and blend the sounds so that the piece is cohesive, resonating as a piece of music to the listener. The role of the facilitator is to structure group processes and meetings so that individual points of view can be heard and validated, while moving the group towards decisions on key priorities.

“The great leaders are like the best conductors…
they reach beyond the notes to reach the magic in the players.”

– Blaine Lee

A facilitator is like a conductor as she guides a group of talented individuals so that the best in the group can rise up. A facilitator understands her role through clear communication with leaders, just as a conductor would have a clear vision of her desired outcome for the score. A facilitator asks questions and guides discussion and interactions among participants with structure and guidelines that encourage everyone to participate without one person dominating or derailing the objective of the meeting. The structure of the meeting and gentle guidance of the facilitator helps groups to respect individual contributions and work collaboratively to make decisions. Both maestro and facilitator encourage individuals to contribute to the group’s symphony.

About Michele

Michele Lis, Principal

Michele is a results-oriented facilitator and problem-solver whose personal mission is to help leaders build on organizational strengths, sort out key dilemmas and capitalize on opportunities for growth.

Michele Lis founded ML Consulting, LLC after twenty years’ training, and management and facilitation experience in both the public and private sector. Michele consults with leaders and facilitates planning, meetings and processes to help groups achieve consensus and results. Michele’s Master’s Degree is in Adult Education and Training from Cornell University where her research culminated in a thesis on education and social change. She considers herself a lifelong learner of collaboration, consensus-building and adaptive change.

Since 2010 Michele has worked with clients in the public sector including strategic planning projects for community development, non-profit and funder organizations. A client list is included below.

Current and Past Clients

Education
Bernalillo Public Schools
Communities in Schools of New Mexico
Cooperative Educational Services
Farmington Municipal Schools
Grants Cibola County Schools
New Mexico School for the Arts
Saint Michael’s High School
Santa Fe Preparatory School
Santa Fe Public Schools

Non-Profits
Alliance for Science
Big Brothers Big Sisters Mountain Region
CHRISTUS St. Vincent Regional Medical Center – Community Health Department
Drug Policy Alliance
Esperanza Shelter
Growing Up New Mexico, formerly known as United Way of Santa Fe County
Homewise, Inc.
La Familia Medical Center
National Dance Institute
Recovery Inside Out
Resolve
Santa Fe Conservation Trust
Solace Crisis Treatment Center
The Center for Contemporary Arts (CCA)
The Food Depot
The New Mexico Early Childhood Development Partnership

Funders/Foundations
CHRISTUS St. Vincent Regional Medical Center – Community Health Department
Community Health Funder Alliance
Mesa Verde Foundation
Santa Fe Community Foundation

Other
Campo Conejos Neighborhood Association
City of Santa Fe – Child and Youth Commission
Hestia Fund
Institute for Integrative Health
OptumHealth New Mexico
Santa Fe County – Community Services, Senior Services, and DWI Programs
Santa Fe Restaurant Association
Site Santa Fe
State of New Mexico – Children, Youth and Families Division, Department of Health and Behavioral Health Services Division