Clients

Diana Banzet, Manager, Employee Benefits, County of Orange:

As health coach for the County of Orange, Susan was very effective at building the foundation of wellness coaching for our employees. Her proficiency in coaching on a wide range of wellness topics demonstrated her capacity as a well-rounded healthcare expert. Susan made wellness fun through wellness seminars, activities and challenges that engaged our diverse audience, allowing many to participate on all levels and seek improvements to their overall health.

Holly Bartecki, SVP, Jascula/Terman & Associates:

There are many reasons to select Susan to speak to your group. The first is that she is a connector. She can tell a story that drives the message home in a very personal, authentic way. Second, she knows her audience. Her presentations are customized and she spends time to understand the needs of your group and then delivers a story that will resonate. Third, she is a funny and confident presenter, often using interactive techniques to engage and draw people in. And finally, her background in both the corporate and health and wellness worlds means you get the benefit of her ability to relate on both of these levels. She’s a win-win.

Marie Dever, VP, Healthcare Products Manufacturer, Orange County, CA:

Susan was a big help to me as I tried on my own with no success to fit exercise into my busy work life. This was a source of stress as well! Susan engaged me from the start with her ‘small steps’ approach and week by week, I got more exercise on a regular basis and was able to use stress management techniques to balance other parts of my life for more harmony overall. She uses science to back up her approach, but she made it fun, too.

Caitlyn Monaghan, CEO, Swift River Consulting:

Susan has provided strategic and comprehensive guidance for me at several different points in my career. Whether it was helping me get promoted through interview prep, expertly navigating my senior management team or ensuring my presentation skills were top notch, Susan gave me the capabilities and confidence to get to the next level!”

David V. Hicks, Chief Academic Officer, Meritas Family of Schools:

At Meritas, Susan jumped into a barrel of monkeys and sorted them out in short order. She quickly adapted her rich experience and marketing savvy to the challenges of the school cultures in which we work. She listened, and she also responded with an informed point of view and effective work products that helped us differentiate and tell the story of our schools in their respective markets.

Chris Hall, Communications Manager, Rancho Solano Preparatory School:

Susan Kolon is a rare find. Her straightforward and skillfull approach to marketing and communication strategies is refreshing. Taking on a particularly challenging and complex situation in the academic arena, Susan successfully mapped out a master plan and resolution where other marketing professionals previously failed. Susan has a tenacious determination to see her clients succeed. What a remarkable and enlightening experience to work with an authority of such caliber in her field.

Hilary Bryant, Senior Director, Human Resources, Meritas Family of Schools:

Susan has been absolutely wonderful to work with over the past year. She is smart, funny, driven and very good at what she does. She is someone I would not hesitate to recommend and put my name behind. She is very professional in her work and also takes the time to get to know the people she works with on a personal level. I had the opportunity to collaborate with her on hiring for two positions within the marketing department and she was a great partner. She was responsive, thorough, results-oriented and fun to work with! I could not have asked for more when searching and hiring a marketing and communication consultant. Susan is a true pro and a huge value add.

Amanda Luther, Director of Marketing and Fundraising, Skills for Chicagoland’s Future:

Susan’s level of expertise and knowledge in creating an integrated marketing and communications plan was invaluable to our young organization. She took the time to learn about our organization and provided counsel on messaging for our staff and Board of Directors. Susan suggested realistic marketing tactics based on our organization’s budget, resulting in key, quick wins. During the three months with Skills for Chicagoland’s Future, Susan’s leadership, collaborative spirit and positive energy were welcomed and appreciated by our small staff. Susan remains a key adviser to our small organization almost a year after the project’s completion.

Monique Hanson, Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer, YMCA of the USA:

I worked closely with Susan for three years as we developed sponsorships and strategic alliances with the corporate and foundation community. Working together, we created significant growth in the organization’s sustainable contributed revenue. She added the marketing art and science to our relationships, with an acute awareness of fulfilling organizational strategy for all parties. She brought the YMCA into the online arena, navigating early versions of social media and website marketing, thereby extending our reach for our corporate partners.

Crystal Lynch, Senior Vice President, Development and Marketing, Junior Achievement of Northern California:

In my work with Susan, I found her to be a creative and strategic brand builder. Leveraging her extensive knowledge in research, Susan provides a disciplined and rational approach to developing brand and communications strategies. Her positive energy and collaborative style is engaging and enables Susan to get the most from her team and colleagues. She is a strong leader and valuable asset to any organization.

Tom Carroll, Chief HR Officer, RR Donnelley:

For seven years, I watched Susan expertly build and lead a marketing communications team and function from the ground up. Her focus on the customer was effectively reflected in the tools and tactics used by the sales team. Susan is a keen collaborator, particularly able to motivate and inspire in a cross-matrix environment. She is an excellent coach and advisor who has worked in numerous business sectors – for-profit, not-for-profit and consulting. A well- rounded marketing professional.

Cathy Harvey, Vice President, Coventry Health Care:

As a business strategist and product developer, I appreciated Susan’s expertise when it came to building a brand identity for a new market entry. She sought to build consensus among the various groups involved, and made a strong foray into the digital marketplace, the first in our category to do so. Susan was focused on ensuring that our communications resonated with the customer and that made all the difference.

Carrie Foor, Executive Director, American Association of Railroad Superintendents:

I have worked for Susan for more than a decade and found her focus on team orientation and empowerment to be unique in our business. An active listener, she understands how to motivate team members and effectively leverage the team’s varied skill sets to collective success. She seeks out opposing viewpoints and always makes sure our outcomes are aligned with company strategy.

Steve Zuccarini, Vice Chairman, Innerworkings and former President, RR Donnelley:

Susan successfully positioned RR Donnelley in the marketplace through creative marketing strategies as well as placements in key business publications as the growth and innovation leader. She has a unique ability to assess situations and create solutions that allow organizations to exceed their expectations.